CIVILIZATION DOSSIER
Bull Demon King牛魔王
A demon king in the mythology of Journey to the West, sworn brother of Sun Wukong, titled the Great Sage Who Pacifies Heaven.
- DIRECT FIGURES
- 9
- RELATION RECORDS
- 12
- SOURCE WORKS
- 1
RELATIONSHIP COMPASS
Bull Demon King, and the people around them.
Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.
01KINSHIPKinship
Blood, marriage and sworn bonds
6 figures · 7 records＋
Kinship
Blood, marriage and sworn bonds
Sun Wukong (Monkey King)—Bull Demon Kingsworn brothers
Bull Demon King—Red Boyfather-son
Bull Demon King—Princess Iron Fanspouse
Bull Demon King—Princess Jade Facespouse
Ruyi Zhenxian—Bull Demon Kingbrothers
Bull Demon King—Niu Shengyingfather-son
02CONFLICTConflict
Battles, captures and defeat
3 figures · 4 records＋
Conflict
Battles, captures and defeat
Sun Wukong (Monkey King)→Bull Demon Kingfight
Nezha→Bull Demon Kingsubdue
Four Heavenly Kings→Bull Demon Kingbesiege
03THE UNSEENMythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
1 figure · 1 record＋
Mythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
Li Jing→Bull Demon Kingshine on
10 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.
In fiction · Journey to the West
Bull Demon King is the sworn brother of Sun Wukong, calling himself the Great Sage Who Pacifies Heaven. His son is Red Boy, his wife is Princess Iron Fan (Rakshasi), and he also takes Princess Jade Face as a concubine. Because Sun Wukong asked Guanyin to subdue Red Boy, Bull Demon King bore a grudge against Sun Wukong. Later, in the battle at Flaming Mountain, he fought with Sun Wukong and eventually submitted to Buddhism.
History vs. fiction
The title 'Great Sage Who Pacifies Heaven' of the Bull Demon King is purely fictional in the novel.
- novel inventionThe Bull Demon King is an original demon king in 'Journey to the West' with no religious basis.
In Chapter 004 of "Journey to the West", the Bull Demon King and Sun Wukong become sworn brothers, and he styles himself the Great Sage Who Levels Heaven. In neither Buddhist nor Taoist scriptures is there any deity with this title or image; it is entirely the creation of the novelist. The original text: "此时又会了个七弟兄，乃牛魔王、蛟魔王、鹏魔王、狮驼王、猕猴王、𤟹狨王，连自家美猴王七个。" (Chapter 003 of "Journey to the West")
Relationship network
- sworn brothers← Sun Wukong (Monkey King) → Bull Demon KinglitJourney to the West, ch. 3Journey to the West, ch. 4Journey to the West, ch. 40Journey to the West, ch. 41Journey to the West, ch. 60
Original text (5)
又会了个七弟兄，乃牛魔王
Original relation: sworn brothers · Journey to the West, ch. 3
内有牛魔王忽然高叫道：“贤弟言之有理，我即称做平天大圣。”
那牛魔王曾与老孙结七弟兄
与我老孙结为七弟兄，让他做了大哥
五百年前曾拜为七弟兄
Original relation: sworn brothers · Journey to the West, ch. 60
- fight← Sun Wukong (Monkey King) → Bull Demon KinglitJourney to the West, ch. 60Journey to the West, ch. 61
Original text (2)
两条棍响振天关，不见输赢皆傍寸
只为芭蕉扇，相逢各骋强
Original relation: hostile · Journey to the West, ch. 61
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
又被托塔天王将照妖镜照住本像
- father-sonBull Demon King → Red BoylitJourney to the West, ch. 40Journey to the West, ch. 41Journey to the West, ch. 42Journey to the West, ch. 53Journey to the West, ch. 59
Original text (5)
我乃牛魔王的兄弟。前者家兄处有信来报我
乃大力牛魔王妻也
他是牛魔王的儿子
你令尊叫做牛魔王
父王，孩儿拜揖。
Original text (1)
将缚妖索子解下，跨在他那颈项上
Original text (2)
大力王乃罗刹女丈夫
我妻许你共相将
Original text (1)
乃大力牛魔王妻也
Original text (2)
情愿倒陪家私，招赘为夫
就是他爱妾玉面公主
Original text (1)
我乃牛魔王的兄弟
Original text (1)
把我小儿牛圣婴害了
Original text (1)
四面八方都是佛兵天将