| Category: | Chinese Myths and Legends |
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Outraged by Sun Wukong's defiance, the Jade Emperor summoned all the gods, celestial warriors, and magical beings to capture the unruly Monkey King. Sun Wukong, however, was not easily intimidated. "I am the Great Sage, Equal to Heaven!" he declared boldly. "If the Jade Emperor himself wants to stop me, he'll have to come down and fight!"
The Jade Emperor sent his most powerful generals, but Sun Wukong defeated them all. He summoned the wind with a wave of his staff, called down lightning with a clap of his hands, and transformed into countless creatures to confuse and overwhelm his enemies. With his magical abilities and unmatched strength, he caused chaos in the Heavenly Court.
Desperate, the Jade Emperor sought help from Buddha, who agreed to intervene. Buddha appeared before Sun Wukong and said, "You may be powerful, but your arrogance blinds you. Let us make a bet. If you can leap out of my palm, I will acknowledge your title as the Great Sage, Equal to Heaven."
Sun Wukong laughed. "Leap out of your palm? That's easy!" He shrank himself down and jumped high into the sky, flying far beyond the clouds and the stars. He flew until he reached the very edge of the universe, where five enormous pillars stood. "I've done it!" he shouted triumphantly and left a mark on one of the pillars before flying back to Buddha.
"I've leapt out of your palm!" Sun Wukong declared. But Buddha only smiled and slowly opened his hand. To Sun Wukong's shock, he saw the five pillars—Buddha's fingers—right there in his palm. He had never left Buddha's grasp at all.
With a swift motion, Buddha trapped Sun Wukong under a mountain, sealing him there with a mystical talisman. "You will remain here until you learn humility and respect," Buddha said. And so, the Monkey King, despite his immense power, was humbled by the wisdom of Buddha.