Another project initiated by Swordmaster.... hope you enjoy the works! <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0"> For more pics and the cast lists - please see Swordmaster's site (which I am sure he will post below somewhere). I will do the daily summaries as they appear on the TVB site - just the overview there at the moment which I will do in 2 parts (because I am tired!) <IMG SRC="smilies/tongue.gif" border="0">
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****WARNING MAJOR SPOILER ALERT****
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The Monkey King - Quest for the Sutra
(Canto: Chai Tin Dai Sing Suen Ng Hung)
Story Overview
Every twenty million years, the sun’s black spots will explode and create a universal storm, the strength of the gods in the heavens will weaken and the great demon representing the dark powers will appear. The only way to defeat the great demon is for a person who is born in a certain year, certain month, certain day, certain hour, certain minute and certain second to go to the West and collect the “Sam Jong Sutra” and when the demon appears to use the strength given in the scripture to defeat it, otherwise the heaven and earth will become adjoined and return to their amalgamated form and the plethora of demons will reign.
Among the scripture collectors was Suen Ng Hung (Monkey). Because Monkey has absorbed the essence of the sun and the moon and is naturally intelligent, he quickly became a powerful immortal monkey. Meanwhile, Lee Ching’s wife Yan gave birth to Na Ja after a three year pregnancy. Na Ja is gifted and quick to learn, but his relationship with his father is rocky.
To go to the East Sea to request a weapon, Monkey wreaks havoc in the Dragon Palace and takes away the magical treasure – Ocean Calming Magic Needle of the East Sea to use as a weapon, becoming his Golden Staff, but causing earthquakes and tidal waves. The third prince of the East Sea Ngo Bing is sent by his father to retrieve the waves and coincidentally meets Na Ja, who doesn’t realise what he is doing and thinks that he is causing these winds and waves and pulls out Ngo Bing’s central nerve as a punishment. The East Dragon Emperor is angry and goes to the Heavenly Palace to plead his case. Lee Ching is horrified to hear of Na Ja’s actions and decides to kill Na Ja to repay his guilt. Mistress Yan anxiously sacrifices herself to save her son. Na Ja deeply hates his father for causing the death of his mother and cuts his flesh and bones to repay his father. Finally his soul is rescued by Tai Yuet Venerable Man and he follows Tai Yuet to learn magical skills.
After Monkey has obtained the Golden Staff, he holds a “Showing Pole and Showing Strength Ceremony” where he meets the White Bone Demon. At this time, the gods in heaven find that Monkey has great power and decide to use a soft approach on him and make him an official of the court. In the Heavenly Palace, Monkey meets with the greatest of the ten thousand flowers in the Palace Gardens – Purple Orchid Fairy, it turns out that Purple Orchid was the flower, which grew 10 million years ago on the meteor which landed on Flower and Fruit Mountain. During his time in the palace, Monkey meets with Na Ja and after a couple of fights, the two become good friends. Na Ja and Purple Orchid’s little sister Purple Rose fall in love. One day, Monkey finds that his ranking is low and once again wreaks havoc in the palace and the Peach Ceremony, causing the reason for his punishment. Eventually, Buddha lends a hand and traps Monkey for eternity under his Five Finger Mountain. Na Ja tries but cannot rescue him and becomes trapped in Lee Ching’s Pagoda. Purple Orchid also begs mercy for Monkey, but is punished herself by having to face the wall and consider her wrongs for five hundred years.
Over 480 years later, Tang Sam Jong from the Golden Hill Monastery reaches the age of 18; Tang has special powers and has a memory which remembers anything which passes his eyes, he is fluent in Sanskrit and is a language expert.
At this time, a black spot in the sun explodes and there are massive changes in the heavenly palace, Buddha and Guanyin predict that there will be a major explosion in the sun’s black spots within the next ten or so years, Buddha uses the power of the emperor Tang Tai Chung to find Tang Sam Jong. Under the guidance of Buddha and Guanyin, Monkey is fitted with the Golden Ring and is given the task of protecting Tang on his journey to the West on his Quest for the Sutra.
In the early stages of the journey, Tang also takes on the White Dragon Horse, Sandy and Piggy as disciples and companions for the journey. Monkey is proud and hot-headed, often clashing with the views of the sympathetic Tang because of the difference in their opinions.
On the way, Tang is not happy with Monkey killing a living being and scolds him, Monkey leaves in anger and returns to the Fruit and Flower Mountain. However, Tang and his companions meet with a strange Snake Demon and Monkey cannot fight his will to rescue his master and rushes to help them. After this, they build on their teacher-pupil relationship with each other.
The White Bone Demon eats the Flower of Love which can corrupt the thoughts of all life and is manipulated by the Great Demon to make Na Ja evil. Purple Orchid is released from the cells and escapes from the Heavenly Palace to look for Monkey.
The troupe arrives at the Fiery Heat Mountain where they meet with the Red Boy, the Six Eared Monkey, Ox Demon King and Fire Wing Priest who all plan an ambush, finally Monkey fights them all off. Lee Ching father and son are entranced by the White Bone Demon and fight each other, Na Ja is finally affected by the Great Demon and becomes truly evil.
(To be continued...)
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