As China’s first 3A game masterpiece 《Black Myth: Wukong》 gains explosive popularity in the global gaming market, Sun Wukong—the superhero in the hearts of every Chinese person from ancient mythology—has finally gained worldwide recognition among gamers. While global players’ fondness for the Monkey King may stem more from their appreciation of the game itself, for Chinese people, their love for Sun Wukong is simply because he is Sun Wukong.
SuWuKong: A super big IP that lasts forever
In the long river of Chinese history, the earliest recorded mention of a figure resembling Sun Wukong dates back to the Song Dynasty around 800 years ago, where he was not yet named “Sun Wukong” but was referred to as the “Monkey Pilgrim.” A century later, the name “Sun Wukong” first appeared in a zaju opera. Another 200 years passed, and by the Ming Dynasty approximately 500 years ago, with the publication of Journey to the West—one of China’s Four Great Classical Novels—the character of Sun Wukong, as a protagonist, truly became widely known. From this moment, a cultural icon that would dominate Chinese popular culture for centuries was born. Over the past several hundred years, Sun Wukong has continuously evolved—transitioning from stage performances to film and television, and now to video game protagonists—remaining an inseparable part of China’s cultural evolution. Today, his image is deeply ingrained in the hearts of Chinese people, recognized by everyone regardless of age or gender. If you were to ask a Chinese man which mythical figure he admires most, he would unhesitatingly answer: Sun Wukong.
Why is Sun Wukong so beloved?
Across centuries of artistic works featuring him, Sun Wukong has undeniably remained the protagonist. Why has he dominated this role so enduringly? The answer lies in his extraordinary virtues: his unparalleled power, his rebellious spirit, his wit and courage, his clear distinction between love and hatred, his defiance of authority, and his unyielding resolve. Everyone yearns to be a hero like Sun Wukong, yet few possess such qualities.
When crafting mythical protagonists like Sun Wukong, the Chinese have traditionally endowed them with exceptional traits rarely found in ordinary people. Through this character, audiences imagine themselves rising against oppression, persisting through adversity, and retaining integrity despite life’s trials. Yet Sun Wukong is not flawless—his arrogance and impulsiveness make him more human, transforming the dream of “becoming Sun Wukong” from an impossibility into something relatable.
Rather than simply admiring a fictional hero, the Chinese are celebrating the countless individuals throughout their millennia-old civilization who embody the “Sun Wukong spirit.” It is a tribute to resilience, defiance, and the enduring fight for justice in the face of overwhelming odds.
