After the world was created by Pangu (Pangu is a mythological figure in Chinese culture, believed to have separated the heavens from the earth, giving birth to the world as we know it), the world was divided into four great continents, each holding its own unique characteristics. These continents were named: Dongsheng Shenzhou (Eastern Continent of the Gods), Xiniuhezhou (Western Oxhead Continent), Nanzhanbuzhou (Southern Continent of Bliss), and Beijuluzhou (Northern Continent of the Realm).In Dongsheng Shenzhou, there was a kingdom called Aolai. Off the coast of this kingdom, stood a towering mountain known as Huaguo Mountain (Flower-Fruit Mountain). This mountain was considered the ancient source, the very root of the Ten Great Continents. Majestically rising from the sea, it was a site of awe with strange and unique rocks scattered across its surface, creating an otherworldly atmosphere. The mountain was home to vibrant flowers, rare herbs, and all sorts of unusual and exotic creatures, from colorful birds to wild beasts. It was a true paradise, a treasure of the earth, beyond comparison.
At the peak of Huaguo Mountain (Flower-Fruit Mountain), there stood a mystical stone. The stone was three meters and six feet tall, and two meters and four feet wide. It had nine openings and eight holes, with no tall trees growing nearby, only some rare lingzhi mushrooms (a type of medicinal mushroom in Chinese medicine) and orchids scattered around it. Since the beginning of the world, when Pangu (a mythological figure who separated the heavens and the earth in Chinese creation myths) opened up the world, this stone had stood at the top of the mountain, enduring countless seasons of wind, rain, and sunlight, over the passing days and years. Gradually, with the passage of time, the stone began to show signs of spiritual awareness.
One day, the stone suddenly cracked open, and from within it sprang a stone egg, as large as a ball. The egg, touched by the wind, transformed into a stone monkey. This monkey had all its physical features—eyes, ears, nose, and mouth—fully formed. It quickly learned to crawl and walk, and before long, it was able to run with ease. The monkey's eyes were particularly extraordinary, shining with a dazzling golden light that shot up to the sky.
The golden light continued to shoot all the way up to the Celestial Court, where Jade Emperor (The supreme deity in Chinese mythology, often regarded as the ruler of heaven and all deities) sat on his throne in the Lingxiao Hall (the highest and most revered palace in heaven). Not knowing the source of the light, he ordered his two most trusted officials, Qianliyan (The "Thousand-Mile Eye," a divine being with the ability to see great distances) and Shunfeng'er (The "Wind-Following Ear," a divine being with the ability to hear far-off sounds), to open the South Gate of Heaven and investigate.
After completing their investigation, Qianliyan and Shunfeng'er returned to report to the Jade Emperor: "Your Majesty, the golden light is coming from a stone monkey on Huaguo Mountain (Flower-Fruit Mountain) in the kingdom of Aolai on the Eastern Continent. Your Majesty need not worry; once this monkey drinks the water of the human world and eats human food, it will no longer emit golden light."
The Jade Emperor replied, "This stone monkey was born from the essence of Heaven and Earth, so its extraordinary abilities are not surprising."
After the stone monkey was born, it quickly learned to walk and leap. It spent its days living freely on Huaguo Mountain, enjoying its carefree existence. When it was hungry, it would pick fruits from the trees of the mountain; when it was thirsty, it would drink from the mountain's springs. It roamed the mountain with no particular care, befriending wolves, forming packs with tigers and leopards, and growing close to deer. The monkeys of the mountain were its kin, and together they lived harmoniously.
At night, it slept beneath the stone cliffs, and during the day, it would play, wander through the peaks, and explore the caves. For many years, it lived this carefree, untroubled life.
One hot and sweltering day, Sun Wukong (the Monkey King) and a group of monkeys took shelter under the shade of some pine trees to escape the heat. Some monkeys were jumping and playing from tree to tree, climbing and making noise, picking flowers, and searching for fruit. Others were playing with pebbles and sand, digging sandpits, and making sand sculptures. A few monkeys were chasing dragonflies, catching grasshoppers, or weaving hats out of vines. Some sat together, picking lice off each other and grooming their fur, creating a lively scene of playful activity.
After a while, a few monkeys suggested they go for a swim in the mountain stream. They noticed that the stream kept flowing, and the monkeys, curious, began talking among themselves: "Where does this water come from? Since we don't have anything else to do right now, why don't we follow the stream upstream and see where it originates from?"So, the monkeys set off together, running and climbing their way up the mountain to find the source of the water. Eventually, they arrived at a waterfall. The waterfall cascaded down forcefully, with water splashing everywhere. The sound was deafening, like thunder, and the white mist of water hung in the air like a curtain of pearls. The monkeys gazed at it and clapped their hands in excitement, saying, "What wonderful water! The waterfall flows all the way to the base of the mountain and eventually into the sea!"
Then, one monkey stepped forward and said, "We've found the waterfall, but we don't know where the water actually comes from. Whoever can get into the waterfall, find the source of the water, and come out safely without harm, we will crown them as our king!"
Just as the words left the monkey's mouth, Sun Wukong jumped out from the group, saying, "I'll go and check!" With a leap, he sprang into the waterfall.Sun Wukong swam behind the waterfall and discovered that there was no water behind it—just a wide iron bridge. He climbed up onto the bridge, looking around. In the middle of the bridge, he saw a stone tablet with an inscription: "Huaguo Mountain, a blessed land. The Water Curtain Cave, a heavenly grotto." He continued into the cave and found that it was not only spacious and cool, but it also contained stone furniture: tables, chairs, beds, stoves, and even wine bowls. In the corners of the cave, there were bamboo plants and plum trees, filling the air with a pleasant fragrance.
Upon seeing this, Sun Wukong was overjoyed and immediately jumped out of the Water Curtain Cave. He excitedly shouted to the other monkeys, "This is amazing! This is amazing!"
The monkeys gathered around him, asking what was behind the waterfall and whether the water was deep. Sun Wukong replied, "There's no water behind it—only an iron bridge. Beyond the bridge is a cave, and inside, there is everything you could need." The monkeys, still puzzled, eagerly asked what exactly was inside. Sun Wukong explained, "The waterfall is like a door that hides the scene inside. There's a stone tablet with the inscription: 'Huaguo Mountain, a blessed land. The Water Curtain Cave, a heavenly grotto.' There are flowers and trees beside the bridge, and inside the cave, there are stone beds, stone benches, stone bowls, stone pots, and stone stoves. It's spacious and cool. You could fit a thousand monkeys in there, and it wouldn't feel crowded. We should all move in there! That way, we won't have to suffer in the heat outside!"
The monkeys were overjoyed upon hearing Sun Wukong's words, and they couldn't contain their excitement. They immediately said, "Then lead us in now!" Sun Wukong gave a loud shout, "Follow me!" and jumped into the Water Curtain Cave. The bolder monkeys followed him right away, while the more timid ones hesitated, scratching their ears and rubbing their heads, but they eventually followed along.Once through the Water Curtain, the monkeys discovered that, as Sun Wukong had said, there was indeed a hidden paradise. The monkeys immediately began to argue over who would get what: some grabbed the pots and bowls, others fought for the stoves and beds. They were moving things around, making a great deal of noise and fuss, and the cave soon became quite a lively place.
Seeing this, Sun Wukong stood up and said, "Everyone, just a moment ago outside the cave, we agreed that whoever could enter and leave safely would be crowned as king. Well, I've come in, gone out, and now I've brought all of you to this cool and comfortable place. So, why don't you crown me as your king?"Upon hearing these words, all the monkeys knelt down before him and proclaimed him "King of the Thousand Years." Sun Wukong was overjoyed. Without hesitation, he sat down on the stone throne in the middle of the cave, officially becoming the king of the monkeys. From that day forward, he dropped the "stone" from his name and called himself the Great Sage, Equal to Heaven (his new title after becoming king).
In the days that followed, the Great Sage led the monkeys, including the apes, macaques, and baboon-like monkeys, to live in the Water Curtain Cave. During the day, they would go out to pick wild fruit, play, and explore. In the evening, they would return to the cave to rest. This peaceful cycle continued for many years, and the Great Sage lived a carefree life that seemed more divine than that of any immortal.