CGTN releases the second part of its "Black Myth: Wukong" game companion guide today – The New West. On August 23 we released Part 1: Origin. In the third chapter of "Black Myth: Wukong," players arrive in The New West and encounter characters such as the Macaque, Kang-Jin Loong, Cyan Loong, Yin tiger and Yellowbrow.
In the 1986 TV series "Journey to the West," Yellow Eyebrows said to Sun Wukong, "This is Lesser Western Heaven," which was very impressive. According to the description in the original novel, Lesser Thunder Monastery also appears in the scene of Lesser Western Heaven. Follow CGTN to uncover the second part of the guide!
Screenshot of a game scene from "Black Myth: Wukong" (above); screenshot from the 1986 TV series "Journey to the West" (below). /CGTN
Part 2: The New West
Character: Macaque
In the game, he is one of the Yaoguai (a type of demon in Chinese mythology) Chiefs that the Destined One must face.
In the original novel, the description of the red-rumped man-dril (the name in the original novel) appears in Chapter 58. The Bodhisattva once mentioned that there are four other monkeys similar to Sun Wukong, and the red-rumped man-dril is one of them, but he was not described in detail.
(The above content is referenced from Chapter 58 of " Journey to the West": Two Minds Throw Heaven and Earth into Uproar; One Body Cannot Achieve True Nirvana)
Screenshot of a game scene from "Black Myth: Wukong" featuring Macaque. /CGTN
Character: Kang-Jin Loong
In the game, Kang-Jin Loong is the first Yaoguai King that players encounter in the third chapter.
In the original novel, Metal Dragon (the name in the original novel) is one of the Twenty-eight Constellations and an important divine general in Heaven. He aids Sun Wukong in escaping from the golden cymbals of Yellow Eyebrows in the Lesser Thunder Monastery.
(The above content is referenced from Chapter 65 of " Journey to the West": A Demon Creates a False Thunder Peak; All Four Pilgrims Meet with Disaster)
Screenshot of a game scene from "Black Myth: Wukong" featuring Kang-Jin Loong. /CGTN
Character: Cyan Loong
Cyan Loong is one of the strongest and the most challenging Yaoguai Kings encountered by players in Chapter 3, but in the original novel, it is only mentioned in the 43rd chapter from the narration of the Dragon King of the West Sea.
In the original novel, he is the son of the Dragon King of Jinghe River, and there are eight brothers like him.
(The above content is referenced from Chapter 43 of "Journey to the West": At the Black River a Monster Carries Off the Priest; The Dragon Prince of the West Captures an Alligator)
Screenshot of a game scene from "Black Myth: Wukong" featuring Cyan Loong. /CGTN
Character: Yin Tiger
In the game, when the player defeats Yin Tiger, it is revealed through their conversation that Yin Tiger is one of the Six Ding and Six Jia. In "Journey to the West," the Six Ding and Six Jia are the guardian gods of heaven, twelve in total. In the original description, they provided a lot of support to Tang Sanzang and his three disciples.
The Six Ding and Six Jia are mentioned in many chapters of the original novel.
(The above content is referenced from Chapter 15 of "Journey to the West": On the Coiled Snake Mountain the Gods Give Secret Help; In the Eagle's Sorrow Gorge the Thought-Horse is Reined In)
Screenshot of a game scene of "Black Myth: Wukong," introduction of Yin Tiger. /CGTN
Character: Yellowbrow
Yellowbrow is the final boss to appear in the third chapter of the game. Maitreya, mentioned in the game's plot, reveals that Yellowbrow had been impersonating him and was waiting for an opportunity to take his revenge.
In the original novel, Yellow Eyebrows was a yellow-browed page who used to strike Maitreya's stone chime. Later, he stole a magical weapon, came to the human world, and became a demon. He then established a Lesser Thunder Monastery and pretended to be Tathagata Buddha. He captured Tang Sanzang and trapped Sun Wukong in the cymbals mentioned above. In the end, it was Maitreya who came to the human world in person to subdue Yellow Eyebrows.
Maitreya is an impressive character in "Journey to the West," and there are many passages describing his formidable strength.
(The above content is referenced from Chapter 65 of "Journey to the West": A Demon Creates a False Thunder Peak; All Four Pilgrims Meet with Disaster)
Screenshot of a game scene from "Black Myth: Wukong" featuring Yellowbrow. /CGTN
Stay tuned for Part 3!
In the next issue, CGTN will publish part three of its Journey to the West vs. Black Myth: Wukong companion guide – Uncover the Story of The Webbed Hollow and Flaming Mountains. Stay tuned, and please leave your comments and questions below!
(The names of the game characters are referenced from "Black Myth: Wukong." Other names are referenced from the third edition of "Journey to the West," published by Foreign Languages Press in 2001.)
Read more
Black Myth: Wukong - Secrets from 'Journey to the West' Pt. 1