Who put Wukong under the mountain?

In Journey to the West, Sun Wukong (the Monkey King) is imprisoned under the Five Elements Mountain (五行山, Wǔ Xíng Shān) by the Buddha of the Western Paradise, Sakyamuni. Here's a breakdown of the events leading to his punishment:

1. Sun Wukong’s Rebellion:

Sun Wukong, after gaining immense powers through Taoist practices and his mastery of the 69 transformations (including turning into a rock, a tree, and even a fish), became extremely arrogant and disobedient. He attempted to achieve immortality by seeking out immortality elixirs, eventually gaining divine powers from Buddhist and Taoist immortals.

He later challenged Heaven by declaring himself the "Great Sage Equal to Heaven" (齐天大圣, Qí Tiān Dà Shèng). His rebellion against the Celestial Court led to his involvement in several conflicts with the gods, such as:

• Impersonating a god: Sun Wukong took on the title of the Protector of the Horses in Heaven but, finding the position beneath his dignity, he wreaked havoc.
• Defying the gods: He caused a series of disasters in Heaven, such as eating the Peaches of Immortality, drinking the Elixir of Life, and even stealing Laozi's magic pills.

2. The Buddha’s Intervention:

After Sun Wukong continued to defy and disrupt Heaven, the Jade Emperor (the ruler of Heaven) sought the help of Buddha to deal with the Monkey King. Buddha, known for his wisdom and immense powers, intervened in the situation.

Buddha issued a challenge to Sun Wukong, claiming that he could not escape from the Five Elements Mountain. Sun Wukong, with his immense strength and cunning, thought he could break free from any trap, but Buddha's challenge proved him wrong.

• The Mountain Trap: Buddha led Sun Wukong to the Five Elements Mountain and asked him to jump out. Sun Wukong, confident in his ability to leap out of anything, tried to escape by jumping from one mountain peak to another. However, Buddha had already placed an invisible magical seal on the mountain. No matter how far Wukong jumped, he was still trapped.

Buddha then revealed that Five Elements Mountain was a prison where Wukong would be bound forever. In some versions, Buddha also used a golden band (the Headband Sutra) that he placed on Sun Wukong's head, which could be tightened by Tripitaka (Xuánzàng) when Wukong misbehaved, causing him intense pain as a form of control.

3. Sun Wukong’s Imprisonment:

Sun Wukong was then imprisoned under the Five Elements Mountain for 500 years. This imprisonment was meant to punish him for his rebellion and teach him humility. During this time, he was trapped and powerless, unable to use his abilities to escape.

4. Release by Xuánzàng (Tripitaka):

After 500 years of imprisonment, Sun Wukong was eventually freed by Xuánzàng (Tripitaka), the monk on his way to retrieve the sacred Buddhist scriptures from India. When the monk, guided by the Buddha, came across the mountain, he was told of Sun Wukong’s predicament. Xuánzàng released him with the understanding that Wukong would accompany him on the pilgrimage and serve as his protector, in exchange for a chance at redemption.

Thus, Buddha is the one who originally trapped Sun Wukong under the mountain, as part of his punishment for his arrogance and defiance of Heaven. The story symbolizes the theme of spiritual growth and redemption, with Sun Wukong's journey toward enlightenment beginning with his release and continuing through the many challenges he faces during the pilgrimage.