Kwong Wa
Tang Sanzang


Journey to the West is a Hong Kong television series adapted from the classical novel of the same title. Starring Dicky Cheung, Kwong Wah, Wayne Lai and Evergreen Mak, the series was produced by TVB and was first broadcast on TVB Jade in Hong Kong in November 1996. A sequel, Journey to the West II, was broadcast in 1998, but the role of the Monkey King was played by Benny Chan instead, due to contract problems between Dicky Cheung and TVB. Cheung later reprised the role in another television series The Monkey King: Quest for the Sutra, which was broadcast on TVB but not produced by the station.
The stone monkey is born from a magic rock and disturbs the heavens with his power. The Jade Emperor imprisons him under the Five-Finger Mountain to atone for his arrogance.
Tian Peng and Wu Gang both fall for the moon goddess Chang’e, leading to jealousy and chaos in heaven. Meanwhile, the monkey learns from a great master and becomes Sun Wukong.
Wukong trains for decades to master immortality and learns the seventy-two transformations. He escapes the underworld by tricking the King of Hell and alters the Book of Life and Death.
Wukong becomes keeper of the heavenly stables but grows rebellious when mocked by other immortals. He quits heaven in anger, leading the Jade Emperor to declare him an outlaw.
Wukong wreaks havoc in heaven and steals the peaches of immortality. The Buddha traps him beneath a mountain for five hundred years as punishment.
Tian Peng is banished to earth and accidentally reincarnates into the body of a pig. Rescued by Guanyin, he becomes Zhu Bajie, destined to help the future scripture pilgrim.
The monk Tang Sanzang begins his pilgrimage and frees Wukong from his mountain prison. He also recruits Bajie and the river demon Sha Wujing to aid his holy mission.
The pilgrims face the Fiery Mountain and Wukong seeks the magic fan to extinguish the flames. His first attempt to borrow it from Princess Iron Fan ends in failure.
While Wukong searches for the fan, a Dream Demon attacks the sleeping monks. Wukong allies with the Bull Demon King to outsmart the demons and retrieve the fan.
The Dream Demon manipulates Red Boy into turning against his parents and attacking Wukong. Red Boy’s misuse of his fire powers brings ruin until he learns the demon’s deceit.
Wukong is blinded and gravely wounded in a trap set by Red Boy and the Dream Demon. Through Tang Sanzang’s compassion and prayer, he miraculously recovers.
Guanyin heals Wukong and guides him to subdue Red Boy. Seeing his parents’ suffering, Red Boy repents and becomes the child Buddha Sudhana.
The travelers rest at a manor run by Lady Mo, who secretly tests their purity. Wukong exposes her illusions, saving his master from moral temptation.
Wukong kills a disguised White-Bone Spirit, but Tang Sanzang mistakes it for murder. Heartbroken, Wukong is banished from the group while the real demon captures his master.
Wukong returns to defeat the White-Bone Spirit and rescues Tang Sanzang. The group reconciles and continues westward, while Bajie’s vanity causes new trouble.
Bajie marries a princess and forgets his vows, living in luxury as a prince. Tang Sanzang and Wukong remind him of his duty, and he repents his earthly desires.
Bajie is deceived by a vengeful demon and believes he has killed Tang Sanzang. Overcome with guilt, he tries to hang himself but is saved by Guanyin’s mercy.
In a drought-stricken kingdom ruled by false Taoist priests, Wukong challenges three demons posing as holy men. Through cunning miracles he exposes their deceit.
Wukong outwits the tiger, deer, and ram demons in a series of deadly wagers. Each is slain after their magic fails, restoring peace to the kingdom.
Tang Sanzang is captured by seductive spider demons, but one named Shishi shows compassion. Wukong rescues his master and senses Shishi’s tragic past.