What is Black Myth Wukong Based On? – Lore Explained

Many of the greatest stories ever told in media are based, whether entirely or loosely, on classic novels of the past. Black Myth: Wukong is no different, taking massive inspiration from classic Chinese literature and folklore, telling the tale of Tang Sanzang and the characters who followed him. So, what is Black Myth: Wukong based on? Continue reading to learn more about its lore and story.

Black Myth Wukong’s Story and the Journey to the West

The story in Black Myth: Wukong is based on the 16th-century classic Chinese novel “Journey to the West“, written during the Ming Dynasty and attributed to Chinese novelist Wu Cheng’en. The story details the adventures of Buddhist monk Tang Sanzang and his adventures to India to obtain the sacred Buddhist texts known as sutras, with a mix of imagination, folklore, and Chinese mythology.

In his journey, Tang Sanzang is given three protectors to aid him in his quest: Sha Wujing, Zhu Bajie, and Sun Wukong. Although the exploits of Sun Wukong are only one part of the greater tale in Journey to the West, Black Myth: Wukong focuses mainly on his story.

In a Journey to the West, Sun Wukong is “a monkey born from a stone nourished by the Five Elements”. He learns the art of the Tao, the ability to polymorph into “anything that exists”, and the secret of immortality. His staff, the Ruyi Jingu Bang, is said to weigh 17,550 pounds and was once a pillar that supported the undersea palace of the Dragon King of the East Sea. Sun Wukong is able to transform the staff’s size at will, shrinking it down to the size of a needle when he’s not using it. In the story, his power grows so much that it matches all of the Eastern deities, and he eventually earns a spot amongst the gods. However, Sun Wukong is a rebellious force, and his immense pride eventually leads to his downfall after the Buddha traps him underneath a mountain and seals him away for five hundred years. This event is what we see in the introduction of Black Myth: Wukong.

The protagonist of Black Myth: Wukong, surprisingly, is not Sun Wukong, but another monkey known as the Destined One. Although not the Monkey King himself, the Destined One’s story closely follows that of Sun Wukong, and you will often meet characters described in the novel that relate to Wukong in one way or another.

Almost everything in Black Myth: Wukong, from characters, bosses, and even weapons and items, are references to Journey to the West.

Since its inception in the 16th century, Journey to the West has gone on to inspire countless stories in all forms of media – from literature to movies and from manga to anime. One of the biggest and most obvious results of Journey to the West’s inspiration is the story of Dragon Ball, as Goku (also known as Son Goku) is literally seen with a monkey’s tail and a staff in earlier iterations. Characters from Journey to the West directly inspire many other characters from the Dragon Ball universe.

Each time a new enemy is slain in Black Myth: Wukong, an entry detailing the lore behind them is added to the player’s journal. Reading these entries is a great way to dive a little deeper into the lore of the characters and their impact on the greater story of Black Myth: Wukong.

For more information on this epic tale, check out how many chapters are in Black Myth Wukong.