A Mythical Jade Emperor from the Start, Yet Buddhism Still Wants the Great Revival of Journey to the West

The Jade Emperor, recognized throughout the Three Realms, is merely the ruler who wields authority in the Heavenly Court. His cultivation is no more than that of a Great Encompassment Golden Immortal, and he is constrained by the Three Pure Ones and the Buddhas of Spirit Mountain. He must yield to Buddhism in all things, watching helplessly as the Buddhist sect uses the journey to the West to lay its plans, dilute the Daoist sect’s fortune, reap the incense offerings of the mortal world, and gradually devour the foundations of the Three Realms.

A modern soul transmigrates into the Journey to the West world and is reborn as the Jade Emperor. He awakens to his true cultivation: a Primordial Great Encompassment Golden Immortal, equal in rank and generation to the Three Pure Ones, Jieyin, and Zhunti. He commands the Heavenly Court’s countless immortal soldiers and the authority of the stars across the heavens, and secretly possesses a supreme treasure left over from the creation of the world. He sees through the shocking conspiracy behind the pilgrimage from beginning to end, a scheme devised by the two Western Sages: to convert mortal monks and demons, gather the faith of all beings, weaken the fortune of the Mystic Sect and humanity, and ultimately overturn the order of the Three Realms so Buddhism can rise above the Three Teachings.

Outwardly, he remains the seemingly timid Jade Emperor of the Three Realms, who turns to the Buddha whenever trouble arises, maintaining the illusion of balance among the Three Realms and Three Teachings. He maneuvers around the three Daoist sages, Taishang Laojun, Yuanshi Tianzun, and Tongtian Jiaozhu, feigning compliance while keeping his own plans in reserve. In secret, he lays one elaborate scheme after another, repeatedly thwarting the Buddhist pilgrimage, unraveling the calculations of the two Western Sages, and stirring up turmoil among the immortals, Buddhas, humans, demons, and underworld beings.

Every step of the pilgrimage is shrouded in suspense and conspiracy:

The reincarnation of Jin Chanzi hides a secret, and it was not simply a matter of him showing disrespect for Buddhist teachings;

The subjugation of Sun Wukong beneath Five Elements Mountain conceals a plot by the West to steal Pangu’s essence;

The various demons are either secret pieces on Buddhism’s board or pawns in the Sages’ power games. The Jade Emperor secretly stirs them up and turns their strength against them;

The sages of the Three Teachings each have their own designs, and divisions within the Three Pure Ones conceal a struggle for power.