Reading Notes: The Monkey King, Part B

The Queen-Mother of the West ed. by R. Wilhelm and translated by Frederick H. Martens (1921)

• Since Sun Wu Kung had nothing to do during his time up in the Heavens, the gods were afraid he would be up to more mischief, so the Lord of the Heavens gave him the job to watch the Queen-Mother's peach garden. 
• When he went to the garden, he found out about the different types of fruit that was grown. Each had the ability to either extend longevity or ameliorate health. 
• The Saint, Sun Wu Kung, would try to get rid of the gardeners somehow and eat the peaches that gave him eternal life.  
• Every year, the Queen-Mother of the West has a banquet where she invites all of the gods in Heaven. She sent her fairies to pick the peaches. 
• They went to pick the peaches, but there was only a half-ripe peach for the last row, which are the peaches of eternal life. 

(Peaches: Pixabay) 

- I love this story so much! I think it can have a nice twist on it with the Queen-Mother of the West somehow tricking the Saint with the peaches. I would change the story, so that he gets punished and learn his ways. It doesn't make sense on why the gods keep giving him chances. They need to find a weakness of his and attack that. I would probably keep the same story but change the ending a little.