Each entry lists English, Chinese characters, pinyin, and a one-line meaning. This glossary will grow as we publish more Culture articles.
How to use this glossary
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Pinyin tip
Tone marks matter for pronunciation — they are included for accuracy, not decoration.
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Core characters
| English | Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monkey King | 美猴王 | Měi Hóuwáng | “Handsome Monkey King”; early title for Wukong |
| Sun Wukong | 孙悟空 | Sūn Wùkōng | The Monkey King; “awakened to emptiness” |
| Great Sage Equal to Heaven | 齐天大圣 | Qítiān Dàshèng | Title Wukong demands after rebelling against heaven |
| Tang Sanzang | 唐三藏 | Táng Sānzàng | The monk; “Sanzang” = three collections of Buddhist scriptures |
| Zhu Bajie | 猪八戒 | Zhū Bājiè | Pig disciple; “eight precepts” |
| Sha Wujing | 沙悟净 | Shā Wùjìng | River-ogre disciple; “awakened to purity” |
| White Dragon Horse | 白龙马 | Bái Lóng Mǎ | Dragon prince who serves as Tang Sanzang's horse |
| Guanyin | 观音 | Guānyīn | Bodhisattva of compassion; guides the pilgrimage |
| Jade Emperor | 玉皇大帝 | Yùhuáng Dàdì | Supreme ruler of the Taoist Heavenly Court |
Places & realms
| English | Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flower-Fruit Mountain | 花果山 | Huāguǒ Shān | Wukong's birthplace |
| Heavenly Court | 天庭 | Tiāntíng | Taoist heaven ruled by the Jade Emperor |
| Western Heaven | 西天 | Xītiān | Destination of the scripture pilgrimage (India) |
| Flaming Mountains | 火焰山 | Huǒyàn Shān | Famous obstacle; home of the Bull Demon King arc |
| Diyu (underworld) | 地狱 | Dìyù | Realms of judgment and punishment after death |
Concepts & items
| English | Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yaoguai | 妖怪 | yāoguài | Supernatural being; central to Black Myth's “yaoguai” identity |
| Ruyi Jingu Bang | 如意金箍棒 | Rúyì Jīngū Bàng | Wukong's size-changing iron staff |
| Cloud somersault | 筋斗云 | Jīndǒuyún | Cloud travel; one somersault = 108,000 li |
| Havoc in Heaven | 大闹天宫 | Dà nào Tiāngōng | Wukong's rebellion against the celestial court |
| Scripture pilgrimage | 取经 | qǔ jīng | The monk's quest for Buddhist texts |
| 81 tribulations | 八十一难 | bāshíyī nàn | Trials the pilgrims must endure on the road west |
| Immortality pill | 金丹 | jīndān | Elixir of immortality; Wukong steals from heaven |
More reference coming
- → We are expanding this hub with character deep-dives and episode guides.
- → Future: Game Terms ↔ Novel Concepts quick reference article.
- → Spot an missing term? It likely appears in a future Culture article first, then lands here.