What does the Monkey King say to Jin?

In the Journey to the West (《西游记》), Sun Wukong (the Monkey King) has an iconic interaction with the Jingubang, his magical Golden Staff. However, if you’re asking about what the Monkey King says to the Jingubang itself, there’s no specific phrase he directly says to the staff as if it were a character with which he communicates. The Jingubang is an inanimate object, a weapon of immense power, and Sun Wukong typically commands it with his own will and magic.

However, there is a well-known moment in the story that involves Sun Wukong and his staff where he speaks to the weapon, particularly during his struggles to master it. When he first acquires the Jingubang in the Dragon Palace of the East Sea, he learns that the staff can change size at his command. Sun Wukong uses his magical incantation to control it, making it shrink or grow as needed. This ability to manipulate the staff is a major part of Sun Wukong’s power and his many adventures.

Example of Commands:

• Sun Wukong’s Command: When Sun Wukong first acquires the staff, he uses his magical power to make it grow or shrink. He would often say something like:
  • "变!" (Biàn! — "Change!") or
  • "变大!" (Biàn dà! — "Grow bigger!") or
  • "变小!" (Biàn xiǎo! — "Shrink!")
    These are the types of commands he might give to the staff, instructing it to change size according to his will.

The Staff and the Golden Hoop:

The staff is also called the Golden Hoop (金箍棒), and it was originally given to Sun Wukong by the Dragon King of the East Sea. There’s a key moment in the story when the Tathagata Buddha places a golden hoop on Sun Wukong's head to control him. This hoop can be tightened by Xuánzàng (the monk Tripitaka), and whenever Sun Wukong misbehaves or gets too unruly, the tightening of the hoop causes him intense pain, essentially serving as a magical leash.

So while Sun Wukong doesn't speak directly to his Jingubang in a conversational way, his ability to command it and use it effectively is tied to his own magic and the immense spiritual power he possesses.

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