Mad Monkey: The Great Sage, Heaven's Equal

The Tathagata’s second disciple, the Golden Cicada, traveled throughout the Four Great Continents. At Flower-Fruit Mountain, he preached to a stone, and at last the obstinate rock nodded, giving birth to Sun Wukong. Wukong later went to the Three Stars Cave on Slanting Moon Mountain to study the arts, where he happened upon the Golden Cicada being hunted by Mount Ling for “stealing scriptures.” The Golden Cicada took refuge at Flower-Fruit Mountain, indirectly passing his teachings on to Wukong. Eventually, the Golden Cicada was cast down into the cycle of reincarnation. Wukong searched everywhere for him, battling the Celestial Court and all manner of other forces along the way. He became the mad monkey, Great Sage Equal to Heaven, and ultimately reached a compromise: he would “return the scriptures” to Mount Ling.