Last updated: 05-15-2024
A common misconception on the internet is that Sun Wukong’s magic staff was originally used to hold down the Milky Way (fig. 1), suggesting that since the immortal can effortlessly wield the weapon, he is strong enough to lift the weight of a galaxy. (This misconception usually pops up in forums and battle wikis during debates on the lifting strength of particular mythological or fictional characters.) It ultimately stems from a mistranslation in the widely read W. J. F. Jenner edition (see the 02-12-23 update for a PDF). [1] The passage in question reads:
The piece of miraculous iron that anchors the Milky Way in place (emphasis added) has been shining with a lovely rosy glow for the last few days, and creating a most auspicious atmosphere (Wu & Jenner, 1993/2020, p. 55).
However, the original Chinese reads:
The problem lies in the partial mistranslation of the characters Tianhe dingdi (天河定底). Tianhe is the Chinese name for the Milky Way, while dingdi means to “fix or set the depth or base of.” This refers to setting a fixed measurement for the “Heavenly River” and has nothing to do with anchoring or weighing down anything.
Fig. 1 – A panorama of the top arch of the Milky Way galaxy as seen from Chile (larger version).
The far more accurate Anthony C. Yu translations reads:
Inside our ocean treasury is that piece of rare magic iron by which the depth of the Heavenly River is fixed (emphasis added). These past few days the iron has been glowing with a strange and lovely light (Wu and Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 135).
Most importantly, the novel is quite clear on how much the staff weighs:
Immediately adjacent to one of the hoops was the inscription, “The Compliant Golden-Hooped Rod. Weight: 13,500 catties” (17,560 lbs./7,965 kg) (based on Wu and Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 135). [2]
Update: 08-05-18
I’ve written a follow up discussing Monkey’s greatest feat of strength.
Sun Wukong’s Greatest Feat of Strength: An Allegory for Cultural or Religious Conflict?
Update: 02-06-21
I have written an article that discusses the magic powers of the staff. These include the ability to shrink and grow, control the ocean, astral project and entangle with Monkey’s spirit, multiply endlessly, pick locks, and transform into various objects. It also has sentience to a certain degree.
The Magic Powers of the Monkey King’s Iron Staff
Update: 07-04-21
Here is my theory on why Sun Wukong’s staff weighs 13,500 catties (Yiwan sanqian wubai jin, 一萬三千五百斤; 17,560 lbs./7,965 kg). I believe the number is an embellishment on the 300 to 500 catty (san wubai jin, 三五百斤) stone block lifted by the bandit Wu Song in the Water Margin (Shuihu zhuan, 水滸傳, c. 1400).
The Weight of the Monkey King’s Staff: A Literary Origin
Update: 05-15-24
Sun Wukong claims that his staff can hold up the sky in chapter 67:
Old Monkey isn’t bragging, but this rod I hold in my hands can even hold up the sky—if it collapses!” Wu and Yu, 2012, vol. 3, p. 241)
I should note, however, that this is never demonstrated.
Notes
1) This is the first edition I read as a youngster.
2) Anthony Yu’s (Wu & Yu, 2012) original translation says “thirteen thousand five hundred pounds” (vol. 1, p. 135). However, the Chinese version uses jin (斤), known in English as “catty.” The catty and pound are two different measures of weight, the former being heavier than the latter. Therefore, the English text has been altered to show this. The catty during the Ming Dynasty when the novel was compiled equaled 590 grams (Elvin, 2004, p. 491 n. 133), so 13,500 catties would equal 17,560 lbs.
Sources
Elvin, M. (2004). The Retreat of the Elephants: An Environmental History of China. New Haven (Conn.): Yale university press.
Wu, C. & Jenner, W. J. F. (2020). Journey to the West (Vols. 1-4). Beijing: Foreign Languages Press. (Original work published 1993)
Wu, C., & Yu, A. C. (2012). The Journey to the West (Vols. 1-4) (Rev. ed.). Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Press.
Hello!
I was wondering how you would interpret the phrase:
“Inside our ocean treasury is that piece of rare magic iron by which the depth of the Heavenly River is fixed.”
I’m not aware of any myths about the Milky Way having any depth, more it was meant to prevent Zhinü from reaching Niulang.
It’s just a literal interpretation of 天河. The novel treats it like a physical, albeit cosmic river.
Ah I see, thank you.
I was wondering if I could get your opinion on Subodhi.
Subodhi talks about 360 divisions of the Dao, but I can’t find any mention to that outside of the book to cross-reference it with (since I’ve found translations miss some of the background cultural and religious significance of the text).
Another one which confused me was The Silence Division, I wanted to get your opinion on if you think it might be discussing the practice of Wu Wei.
The original Chinese calls the divisions “side gates.” My article on Subodhi cites a source that states the side gates, which number 3,600 in Daoist literature, were historically considered “unorthodox training methods of limited benefit.” So, I interpret Subodhi offering to teach these to Monkey a kind of test of spiritual intellect. Wukong passes when he refuses to learn them.
I can’t answer your second question because I’ve never really look into it.