Major Characters: Journey to the West

This page will be updated as the podcast progresses through the novel.

Images created with AI tools

Pilgrims

Sun Wukong

Sun Wukong

孙悟空
A monkey born from stone

Pronunciation

Tang San Zang

Tang San Zang

唐三藏
A monk on a divine mission

Pronunciation

Zhu Bajie

Zhu Bajie

豬八戒
A pig in body and deed

Pronunciation

Sha Zeng

Sha Zeng

沙僧
River monster / super nice guy

Pronunciation

Little White Dragon

Little White Dragon

小白龙
A dragon turned into a horse

Pronunciation


Gods and Deities

Jade Emperor

Jade Emperor

玉皇大帝
The ruler of Heaven

Pronunciation

Bodhisattva Guanyin

Bodhisattva Guanyin

观音菩萨
Goddess of compassion

Pronunciation

Nezha

Nezha

哪吒
Lotus-bodied warrior boy

Pronunciation

The Buddha

Buddha

如来佛祖
The original Buddhist

Pronunciation

Master Zhenyuan

Master Zhenyuan

镇元大仙
Senior immortal; part-time arborist

Pronunciation

Dragon King of the East Sea

Dragon King of the East Sea

东海龙王
Sun Wukong’s reluctant neighbor

Pronunciation

Bodhisattva Lingji

Bodhisattva Lingji

灵吉菩萨
Weasel whacker

Pronunciation

Li Jing

Li Jing (Pagoda-Wielding King)

托塔李天 王
Celestial commander; Nezha’s dad

Pronunciation

Fire Virtue Star Lord

Fire Virtue Star Lord

火德星君
Runs heaven’s Department of Fire

Pronunciation

Water Virtue Star Lord

水德星君
Runs heaven’s Department of Water

Pronunciation

Bodhisattva Wenshu

文殊菩萨
Lion wrangler (and rider)

Pronunciation

Lao Zi

Lao Zi

太上老君
Founder of Daoism

Pronunciation


Demons and Other Obstacles

Black Bear Demon

Black Bear Demon

黑熊精
Cassock thief

Pronunciation

Lord Yellow Wind

Lord Yellow Wind

黄风大王
Windy weasel

Pronunciation

White Bone Demon

White-Bone Demon

白骨精
Tricky demon mistress

Pronunciation

Yellow-Robe Demon

Yellow-Robe Demon

黄袍怪
Actually kind of a reasonable guy

Pronunciation

Golden-Horned King

Golden-Horned King

金角大王
Good at drawing caricatures

Pronunciation

Silver-Horned King

Silver-Horned King

银角大王
Good at moving mountains

Pronunciation

Blue-Maned Lion Demon

Blue-Maned Lion Demon

青狮精
Actually, a pretty good fake king

Pronunciation

Red Boy

Red Boy

红孩儿
Prepubescent punk

Pronunciation

Tiger Power Immortal

Tiger Power Immortal

虎力大仙
Actually he CAN summon the rain

Pronunciation

Deer Power Immortal

Deer Power Immortal

鹿力大仙
A gut-wrenching character

Pronunciation

Goat Power Immortal

Goat Power Immortal

羊力大仙
Loves jacuzzis filled with oil

Pronunciation

King of Numinous Power

King of Numinous Power

灵感大王
Trades good weather for edible kids

Pronunciation

Single-Horned Rhino King

Single-Horned Rhino King

独角兕大王
It’s all about the ring

Pronunciation

Queen of the Kingdom of Women

Queen of Kingdom of Women

西梁女国女王
Somehow yearns for a patriarchy

Pronunciation

Ruyi Immortal

Ruyi Immortal

如意真仙
Hoarder of magic spring water

Pronunciation