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2024

Journey to the West

The Six-Eared Macaque (六耳猕猴, Liù Ěr Míhóu), also known as the Fake Monkey King, is a powerful demon from the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West. He is a key antagonist during the pilgrimage, acting as a doppelganger to Sun Wukong.

Born with the unique ability to "hear the sounds of all beings," the Macaque possesses intelligence, power, and skill nearly identical to the Monkey King. He learns Wukong's magic, obtains a duplicate staff, and even steals a copy of Wukong's armor, allowing him to perfectly impersonate the pilgrim. This causes widespread chaos and confusion.

He challenges the real Sun Wukong's position, creating a crisis for the Tang Monk's journey. Numerous attempts to identify the true monkey fail. The Macaque's power and near-perfect imitation make him almost indistinguishable from Sun Wukong, leading to a trial involving various deities and ultimately culminating in his unmasking and subsequent defeat by the Buddha.

The Six-Eared Macaque is often interpreted as a symbol of the internal conflict and shadow self present within Sun Wukong, representing the darker, more rebellious aspects of his personality that must be overcome for enlightenment.