Sun Wukong is known as Syun Ng Hung in Cantonese, Son Oh Gong in Korean, Tôn Ngộ Không in Vietnamese, Son Gokū in Japanese and Sun Go Kong in Indonesian (derived from Hakka).
Listed in the order that they were acquired:
Shí Hóu (石猴) "The Mountain-Rock Monkey" or the "Stone monkey". This refers to his physical birth after millennia of spiritual incubation of his soul inside a rock in Bloom Mountains/Flower-Fruit Mountain. Měi Hóuwáng (美猴王) Meaning "Handsome Monkey-King", or Houwang for short. The surname Měi means "beautiful, handsome, pretty", as well as "satisfactory"; it also means "self-satisfied" and "to be pleased with oneself", connecting it to his ego. Hóu ("monkey") also means "clever boy, smart chap", as well as describing someone as "naughty and impish". Sūn Wùkōng (孫悟空) The name given to him by his first master, Subhuti. The surname Sūn, "grandchild" (sūnzǐ for "grandson", sūnnǚ for "granddaughter"), was given as an in-joke about Houwang. Another form of "monkey-king" is húsūnwáng, húsūn meaning a literal or figurative "monkey" (or "macaque"); a "king of monkeys" is a term for a teacher of small children, and a "monkey entering a cloth bag" (húsūn rù bùdài) means someone submitting to discipline reluctantly (both of which could easily apply to Wukong). "Grandchild"-sūn and "monkey"-sūn are pronounced the same, and would look the same except for the latter having the radical "dog" (quǎn) in it to denote the character's animal form. The given name Wùkōng means "awakened to emptiness". This is translated into Japanese as Son Gokū. Bìmǎwēn (弼馬溫) The title of the keeper of the Heavenly Horses, a punning of bìmǎwēn (辟馬瘟; lit. "avoiding the horses' plague"). A monkey was often put in a stable as people believed its presence could prevent the horses from catching illness. Sun Wukong was given this position by the Jade Emperor after his first intrusion into Heaven. He was promised that it was a good position to have, and that he, at least in this section, would be in the highest position. After discovering it was, in actuality, one of the lowest jobs in Heaven, he became angry, smashed the entire stable, set the horses free, and then quit. From then on, the title bìmǎwēn was used by his enemies and opponents to mock him. Qítiān Dàshèng (齊天大聖) Meaning "Equal of Heaven, Great Sage". Sun Wukong demanded this title from the Jade Emperor and was eventually granted it. This is translated into Japanese as seiten-taisei ("great sage", dàshèng and taisei, is a Chinese and Japanese honorific). The title originally holds no power, though it is officially a high rank. Later the title was granted the responsibility to guard the Heavenly Peach Garden, due to that many Heavenly Officials noticed that Sun Wukong had nothing to do. Xíngzhě (行者) Meaning "ascetic", it refers to a wandering monk, a priest's servant, or a person engaged in performing religious austerities. Xuanzang calls Wukong Sūn-xíngzhě when he accepts him as his companion. This is translated into Japanese as gyōja (making him Son-gyōja). Dòu-zhànshèng-fó (鬥戰聖佛) "Fight-victorious-buddha". Wukong was given this name once he ascended to buddhahood at the end of the Journey to the West. This name is mentioned during the Chinese Buddhist evening services, specifically during the eighty-eight Buddhas repentance.
In addition to the names used in the novel, the Monkey King has other names in different languages:
* Kâu-chê-thian (猴齊天) in Taiwanese (Taiwan): "Monkey, Equal of Heaven". * Maa5 lau1 zing1 (馬騮精) in Cantonese (Hong Kong and Guangdong): "Monkey Imp" (called by his enemies)
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sorry for much copying. i am obsessive.
Date: 2008-05-10 04:01 am (UTC)Sun Wukong is known as Syun Ng Hung in Cantonese, Son Oh Gong in Korean, Tôn Ngộ Không in Vietnamese, Son Gokū in Japanese and Sun Go Kong in Indonesian (derived from Hakka).
Listed in the order that they were acquired:
Shí Hóu (石猴)
"The Mountain-Rock Monkey" or the "Stone monkey". This refers to his physical birth after millennia of spiritual incubation of his soul inside a rock in Bloom Mountains/Flower-Fruit Mountain.
Měi Hóuwáng (美猴王)
Meaning "Handsome Monkey-King", or Houwang for short. The surname Měi means "beautiful, handsome, pretty", as well as "satisfactory"; it also means "self-satisfied" and "to be pleased with oneself", connecting it to his ego. Hóu ("monkey") also means "clever boy, smart chap", as well as describing someone as "naughty and impish".
Sūn Wùkōng (孫悟空)
The name given to him by his first master, Subhuti. The surname Sūn, "grandchild" (sūnzǐ for "grandson", sūnnǚ for "granddaughter"), was given as an in-joke about Houwang. Another form of "monkey-king" is húsūnwáng, húsūn meaning a literal or figurative "monkey" (or "macaque"); a "king of monkeys" is a term for a teacher of small children, and a "monkey entering a cloth bag" (húsūn rù bùdài) means someone submitting to discipline reluctantly (both of which could easily apply to Wukong). "Grandchild"-sūn and "monkey"-sūn are pronounced the same, and would look the same except for the latter having the radical "dog" (quǎn) in it to denote the character's animal form. The given name Wùkōng means "awakened to emptiness". This is translated into Japanese as Son Gokū.
Bìmǎwēn (弼馬溫)
The title of the keeper of the Heavenly Horses, a punning of bìmǎwēn (辟馬瘟; lit. "avoiding the horses' plague"). A monkey was often put in a stable as people believed its presence could prevent the horses from catching illness. Sun Wukong was given this position by the Jade Emperor after his first intrusion into Heaven. He was promised that it was a good position to have, and that he, at least in this section, would be in the highest position. After discovering it was, in actuality, one of the lowest jobs in Heaven, he became angry, smashed the entire stable, set the horses free, and then quit. From then on, the title bìmǎwēn was used by his enemies and opponents to mock him.
Qítiān Dàshèng (齊天大聖)
Meaning "Equal of Heaven, Great Sage". Sun Wukong demanded this title from the Jade Emperor and was eventually granted it. This is translated into Japanese as seiten-taisei ("great sage", dàshèng and taisei, is a Chinese and Japanese honorific). The title originally holds no power, though it is officially a high rank. Later the title was granted the responsibility to guard the Heavenly Peach Garden, due to that many Heavenly Officials noticed that Sun Wukong had nothing to do.
Xíngzhě (行者)
Meaning "ascetic", it refers to a wandering monk, a priest's servant, or a person engaged in performing religious austerities. Xuanzang calls Wukong Sūn-xíngzhě when he accepts him as his companion. This is translated into Japanese as gyōja (making him Son-gyōja).
Dòu-zhànshèng-fó (鬥戰聖佛)
"Fight-victorious-buddha". Wukong was given this name once he ascended to buddhahood at the end of the Journey to the West. This name is mentioned during the Chinese Buddhist evening services, specifically during the eighty-eight Buddhas repentance.
In addition to the names used in the novel, the Monkey King has other names in different languages:
* Kâu-chê-thian (猴齊天) in Taiwanese (Taiwan): "Monkey, Equal of Heaven".
* Maa5 lau1 zing1 (馬騮精) in Cantonese (Hong Kong and Guangdong): "Monkey Imp" (called by his enemies)