How did Pig God become skinny?

Pig God, or Zhu Bajie (猪八戒), from Journey to the West, is traditionally depicted as a fat, gluttonous, and lustful character. However, in some adaptations, there are instances where Pig God becomes skinny or at least sheds some of his excess weight. This transformation typically happens either as a form of redemption or in humorous moments that reflect his character's development.

1. In the Original Journey to the West:

In the original classic novel, Zhu Bajie is consistently portrayed as a chubby, lazy, and indulgent character who is always craving food and women. His gluttony and lust are central to his character arc. However, there isn't a specific mention of him becoming skinny in the traditional sense. The story focuses more on his redemption and the moral lessons he learns rather than a literal physical transformation.

Despite his flaws, Zhu Bajie is a loyal and helpful companion to Xuánzàng (Tripitaka) and has moments of courage and virtue during their journey. His flaws, including his weight and greed, serve as a humorous foil to the more serious and disciplined characters like Sun Wukong (the Monkey King) and Sandy (Sha Wujing). By the end of the journey, Zhu Bajie is somewhat redeemed, but his physical appearance doesn’t drastically change.

2. In Some Adaptations:

In more recent adaptations, especially in television shows, films, and video games, there are instances where Zhu Bajie is depicted as becoming skinny or at least losing weight. This can occur in several ways:

• Redemption Arc: As Zhu Bajie matures and learns from his mistakes, some adaptations might show him shedding weight as a symbol of his spiritual growth and self-discipline. Losing weight in this context represents his attempt to overcome his gluttonous and lustful tendencies, showing that he has learned the virtues of moderation, self-control, and humility.

• Humorous Transformations: In some comedic adaptations or retellings, Zhu Bajie might briefly become skinny as part of a joke or plot device. For instance, he might get involved in a magical incident where his body is altered temporarily. These transformations can highlight his lack of self-control or serve as a means of providing comic relief.

3. Symbolic Meaning:

• Physical Transformation as Moral Lesson: In Chinese folklore and many modern retellings of Journey to the West, a character’s physical change often reflects a moral or spiritual change. Zhu Bajie’s weight loss can symbolize his overcoming negative traits like gluttony and greed. When he sheds his weight (in some versions of the story), it may indicate that he is no longer burdened by his former indulgent nature and is becoming more virtuous or disciplined.

• Moral of Moderation: The physical transformation also underscores the idea that spiritual growth involves learning moderation in all things, including food and desires. Zhu Bajie’s transformation may be symbolic of his attempt to become more balanced and less driven by base desires, reflecting the broader moral lesson of Journey to the West.

4. In Black Myth: Wukong (Video Game)

In video games like Black Myth: Wukong, where Zhu Bajie might be depicted in various forms, it's possible that he may be portrayed differently based on the game’s design choices. These adaptations often present Zhu Bajie as a character who can change physically or psychologically, but again, this is a modern twist on the classic character.

Conclusion:

In the original text of Journey to the West, Zhu Bajie does not undergo a drastic physical transformation from fat to skinny, but his character does go through significant spiritual and moral growth. In various modern adaptations, however, Zhu Bajie might become skinny or undergo physical changes as a symbolic representation of his redemption, growth, or simply as part of the plot or humor.

In essence, while Zhu Bajie’s physical appearance may change in some retellings, these transformations are usually symbolic of his journey toward self-improvement, where he moves away from his gluttony and lust in favor of more positive traits like loyalty and discipline.