Is Zhu Bajie a human?

No, Zhu Bajie (猪八戒), also known as Pigsy, is not a human. In Journey to the West, he is originally a celestial being who was banished from Heaven. He was once a Heavenly Marshal before his rebellion and indulgence in gluttony and lust. As punishment, he was transformed into a pig (with the head of a pig and a human-like body). This transformation reflects his base desires and imperfections.

While Zhu Bajie retains human-like intelligence and behavior, his physical form is that of a half-human, half-pig creature. His character is a mix of human-like qualities, such as the ability to speak, think, and form relationships, but he also embodies the animalistic traits of a pig, such as gluttony, laziness, and lust.

Zhu Bajie's non-human status plays an important role in his development throughout the story, as it represents his struggle with his flaws and his eventual journey toward redemption as he accompanies Xuánzàng (Tripitaka) on the pilgrimage to retrieve the Buddhist scriptures.