Goku's Roots: The story of Sun Hou-tzu
"Long, long ago in a deep dark forest far from civilization,
beyond a towering range of... well, you get the idea. It's the kind of
place a story like this HAS to begin..."
-from the Viz translation
of Dragon Ball Volume One; Issue One; Page One.
The
character of Goku, the monkey-tailed boy from the wilderness has his origins
in the very popular Chinese legend of the Monkey Fairy or God: The Hsi
Yu Chi (in Japanese, the Sai Yuki, aslo the title of another anime
base around the legend) or Journey to the Western Paradise. Although
the character of the Monkey God doesn't quite fit the lovable, and fairly
righteous Son Goku, many elements reflect personalities and themes which
Toriyama-san used in writing Dragon Ball.In
the story, Sun Hou-tzu was defeated by Buddha, and then trapped
in a series of mountains. He was released on one condition: that he be
a guide and friend to Hsüan Chuang, the priest who was to take the
journey to the West and retrieve the Buddhist Text.
The four beings who take the journey to the west to retrieve the Buddhist
Canon (or text) are as follows:
Chu Pa-Chieh, the Pig Fairy is known
for his inherent greed and symbolizes all the naughty things that humans
are prone to do. This sounds a great deal like Oolong, and indeed, Chu
Pa-Chieh is said to have the head of a pig and the body of a man. He is
also able (as many other characters are) to change his shape.
Sha Ho-Shang once held a place in the godly pantheon, but he was
cast out and became a bit of a terrorist. He lived under a bridge and
ate people. He was pardoned when he came into the service of Hsüan
Chuang and became their baggage carrier. (Yamcha? Piccolo?)
Hsüan
Chuang is the pilgrim who stands for the good things that come from
a person who has amended his ways and followed Buddha. This character
is closest to Krillin. When we first meet Krillin he is a crafty, little
kid. Son Goku wins him over however and he's a good guy ever afterwards.
Krillin's being a Shaolin monk also adds to the link between his character
and that of Hsüan Chuang.Other
Characters and Elements:
The Ox-head Demon or King Ox-head and Flaming Mountain.
In the early chapters of Dragon Ball, little Goku encounters The Ox King
(Gyuumao) and his daughter Chi-chi who live in the area called Fry Pan
Mountain (this location is totally obscured in the English Anime dub).
In order
to continue on his journey, Sun Hou-tzu had to cross Flaming Mountain,
which apparently he created 500 years prior. This is home to King Ox-head.
Sun must extinguish Flaming Mountain with a magic fan, just as Goku extinguished
Fry Pan Mountain. After this, the Ox-demon gave up his evil ways and followed
the way of Buddha instead.
The Iron Wand of Sun Hou-tzu supposedly represents the good that
can come from heeding Buddha. He received it from Ao Kuang, the Dragon
King of the Eastern Sea. This tool was greatly useful and could both become
invisible and, just by telling it to, become long enough to span the distance
between Heaven and Earth. This reflects the final resting place of Goku's
Nyoibou: between Korin Tower and Kami's Lookout.
Sun Hou-tzu,
like many Chinese Gods, uses a cloud to transport himself. In color
illustrations, the clouds are usually yellowish, like Kinto'un (at right).
The landscape in the Dragon Ball world is reminiscent of old illustrations
from Chinese stories, and indeed China itself. Chi-chi also dresses herself
and her son Gohan in Chinese-style garb.At the right is the color version
of Page one of Issue one of Dragon Ball, showing the Chinese landscape
and the monkeys who greet 
Son
Goku at the begining of his own journey.If you would like to know more
about Chinese Mythology and Legend, please buy and read the following:Bibliography:
Werner, E.T.C. Myths and Legends of China. Dover Publications Inc.,
NY. 1994 (original publishing by G.G. Harrap, London UK, 1922).
Toriyama, Akira. Dragon Ball. Viz Comics, CA. 1999. (original publishing
by Shueisha, Japan, 1985).
This article © by Aoi Kami Sarah,
The Son House, 2000. http://aksarah.com/sonhouse
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