Reading Notes: The Monkey King, Part B

This story is part of the The Monkey King unit. Story source: "The Ape Sun Wu Kung" in The Chinese Fairy Book, ed. by R. Wilhelm and translated by Frederick H. Martens (1921).

(Saints; Pixabay)

Notes on The Great Saint:

• They were all sitting at the table when the King asked whaat kind of title Stablemaster was
• The master replied that it was an official title
• The King then asked about ranking
• The master explained there was no rank
• The Master said it was not a high title, it was just a title you would get for taking care of the steeds and making sure they don't fall down or get too thin
• The Ape King got angry and wondered why he came all this way just to take care of horses, when, back at home, he was the King in Ruling
• He went to return to his people, and they asked why he was gone for ten years!
• He then said he wasn't there for more than 10 days, and the Heavens tried to make him the stable master and he was so embarrassed by it.  He then said he was back and ready to begin again
• His people then prepared a welcome home banquet for him
• He then had his people make a flag that said "The Great Saint Who is Heaven's Equal", and from then on that is the name he went by