CATDOLL: Indian media: "The Return of the Great Sage" is adapted from Chinese mythology

According to recent statistics, the domestic animated film "Journey to the West: Hero is Back" has surpassed "Kung Fu Panda 2" to become the box office champion of animated films in the history of mainland China. While this event has attracted attention and discussion in China, it has also attracted the attention of the Indian media. Interestingly, the Indian media also specifically noted the Indian background of "Journey to the West" and Sun Wukong when reporting.

The Times of India reported on the record-breaking of "The Monkey King: Hero is Back" in an article titled "Chinese animated film based on story about India breaks record" on the 26th. The newspaper said that "The Monkey King: Hero is Back" is adapted from "Journey to the West", which tells the story of a "funny" monkey protecting Tang Sanzang on his way to India. This funny and sometimes "mischievous" monkey is deeply loved by Chinese children and is an important reason why Chinese children start to understand India from an early age.

The prototype comes from the Indian monkey god "Hanuman"?

Learn about India from Sun Wukong? The Indian media believes that Sun Wukong is very similar to Hanuman, the monkey god in the Indian epic Ramayana. "The Monkey King Sun Wukong has some characteristics, and his fighting and magic are the same as Hanuman in India."

In the story of Ramayana, the monkey god Hanuman has great magical powers and can fly on clouds. He helps the protagonist Rama defeat the devil and rescue Rama's wife Sita. Indian media believe that Sun Wukong is very similar to the monkey god "Hanuman" in the Indian epic "Ramayana". The picture shows the statue of the monkey god "Hanuman".

In fact, some Chinese scholars have long explored the origin of the image of Sun Wukong. Some believe that Sun Wukong originated from Hanuman or was influenced by him, but some scholars disagree. Lu Xun believed that Sun Wukong evolved from the Huai River monster "Wuzhiqi" in ancient Chinese legends, and Wuzhiqi in the records "looked like a monkey."

Hu Shi said in his article "Research on Journey to the West", "I always suspect that this monkey with great magical powers is not a Chinese product, but an import from India. Perhaps even the myth of Wuzhiqi was imitated under the influence of India... In the oldest Indian chronicle poem "The Story of Rama" (i.e. "Ramayana"), I found a Hanuman, who can probably be regarded as the back of the Monkey King."

Ji Xianlin said in his article "Ramayana in China" that "this monkey (Sun Wukong) at least partly resembles Hanuman, the monkey god in Ramayana. No matter how unconventional one tries to be, this cannot be denied."

It is difficult to have a final conclusion on this issue, but "The Monkey King" is indeed meaningful in promoting the development and progress of Chinese animated films. Indian media also mentioned that this film is seen as a "great success" after China's years of hard work to create works that can rival international excellence.