Journey to the West: who's who, timeline and places

A stone monkey wins kingship, fears death, and finds Patriarch Subhuti, who names him Sun Wukong.

Wukong obtains a shape-changing cudgel and erases the monkeys’ names from the records of death.

The Buddha defeats Wukong’s challenge and imprisons him beneath a mountain.

The Buddha sends Guanyin east to find a scripture pilgrim, and she recruits prospective helpers.

Xuanzang volunteers to seek scriptures in the West and leaves Chang’an with imperial support.

Tang Sanzang frees Wukong, but their conflict over killing leads Guanyin to supply a controlling circlet.

Zhu Ganglie joins the pilgrimage after defeat, and Xuanzang names him Bajie.

Guanyin’s intervention brings Sha Wujing into the pilgrimage and enables the travelers to cross the river.

Guanyin restores the damaged ginseng tree, ending the pilgrims’ conflict with Zhenyuan.

Sanzang expels Wukong after he strikes a demon appearing in three disguises.

Bajie persuades Wukong to return, and Wukong rescues his master from the Yellow-Robed Demon’s spell.

Wukong revives a murdered king and exposes the demon who has taken his throne.

Guanyin traps Red Boy and binds him with golden bands after he renews his attack.

Guanyin captures the river monster, and a white turtle carries the rescued pilgrims across.

Wukong arranges a false marriage agreement to escape the Kingdom of Women, but a woman abducts Tripitaka.

The Tathagata identifies Wukong’s double as the Six-Eared Macaque, and the reunited pilgrims resume their journey.

Divine reinforcements help defeat the Bull Demon King, and Wukong uses the fan to extinguish Flaming Mountain.

Maitreya helps Wukong defeat the Yellow-Browed King and frees the captured travelers.

The Buddha and two Bodhisattvas subdue three demon kings after Wukong seeks help for his captured master.

Wukong persuades Fengxian’s governor and people to embrace goodness, allowing rain to end their drought.

Wukong exposes the false princess as the Jade Hare, and the real princess rejoins her parents.

The pilgrims reach the Buddha, receive blank scriptures, and exchange Tripitaka’s alms bowl for written scriptures.

Guanyin orders another ordeal, and the turtle drops the pilgrims and scriptures into the Tongtian River.

The pilgrims deliver the scriptures to Chang’an and return to Spirit Mountain, where the Tathagata rewards their service.