The following is a list of characters in the Chinese classical 16th century novel Journey to the West, including those mentioned by name only.
Main characters Sun Wukong (), better known as the Monkey King in translations, is a monkey born from a stone on Mount Huaguo who acquires magic powers by learning from Master Bodhi. After starting a rebellion against Heaven, he is subdued and imprisoned under a mountain by the Buddha for 500 years. After his release, he agrees to become a disciple of the monk Tang Sanzang and protect the latter on his quest to obtain sutras from Tianzhu and bring them back to the Tang Empire.
Tang Sanzang (), based on the historical figure Xuanzang (), is a Buddhist monk who is the reincarnation of Golden Cicada (), a disciple of the Buddha. After taking an oath of brotherhood with Emperor Taizong of the Tang Empire, he is sent by the emperor on a quest to Tianzhu to bring Buddhist sutras back to the Tang Empire.
Zhu Bajie (), also known by his Buddhist name Zhu Wuneng (), is originally the Marshal of the Heavenly Canopy () who was banished from Heaven for attempting to seduce Chang'e and reincarnated as a humanoid monster with a pig's head. He becomes Tang Sanzang's second disciple and accompanies the monk on his quest for the sutras as a means of atoning for his past sins.
Sha Wujing (), is originally a Curtain-Lifting General () who was banished from Heaven for breaking a goblet or vase during a festival and reincarnated as a hideous-looking humanoid monster living in Flowing Sand River (). Later, he is told by Guanyin that he has a chance to redeem himself by protecting Tang Sanzang on his quest for the sutras. He initially fights with Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie when they arrive, but after learning that they are Tang Sanzang's disciples, he asks them to bring him to their master and becomes Tang Sanzang's third disciple.
The White Dragon Horse () is the third son of Ao Run, the Dragon King of the West Sea. He was originally supposed to be executed for accidentally destroying a pearl gifted by the Jade Emperor, but Guanyin saved him and brought him to Yingchou Stream () in Shepan Mountain (). When Tang Sanzang and Sun Wukong pass by the stream, the Dragon devours Tang Sanzang's horse and retreats after realising he is no match for Sun Wukong. Later, the Dragon transforms into the White Dragon Horse to serve as Tang Sanzang's steed for the rest of his journey.
Buddhist pantheon The Buddha, referred to as Tathāgata Buddha () in the novel, is based in Leiyin Temple () on Vulture Peak in the Western Pure Land. When Sun Wukong is wreaking havoc in Heaven, the Buddha shows up to subdue him and imprison him under a mountain for 500 years. During their journey to Leiyin Temple, the protagonists have to occasionally seek help from the Buddha to deal with certain yaoguai along the way. At the end of their quest, the protagonists obtain the scriptures from the Buddha. Ananda () and Mahākāśyapa () are the Buddha's disciples who have been instructed to pass the scriptures to the protagonists. When they ask for offerings in return for the scriptures, Tang Sanzang has nothing to offer them so they give him blank copies of the scriptures instead. Mahamayuri () is the Golden Winged Great Peng's sister and the Buddha's godmother. Both of them were born to the Fenghuang. The Eight Wisdom Kings () and the Four Heavenly Kings () stand guard at Leiyin Temple. The Eight Wisdom Kings: Kuṇḍali () Padanakṣipa () Acala () Yamāntaka () Trailokyavijaya () Aparājita () Mahācakra () Hayagrīva () The Four Heavenly Kings: Vaiśravaṇa () Virūḍhaka () Dhṛtarāṣṭra () Virūpākṣa () The Eighteen Arhats () The Arhat Who Rides a Deer () The Joyous Arhat () The Arhat Raising an Alms Bowl () The Arhat Who Holds a Pagoda () The Arhat Who Meditates () The Arhat Who Crossed Rivers () The Arhat Astride an Elephant () The Arhat Who Plays With a Lion () The Arhat Who Reveals His Heart () The Long-Armed Arhat () The Arhat Deep in Thought () The Arhat Who Cleans His Ears () The Cloth Bag Arhat () The Banana Arhat () The Arhat With Long Eyebrows () The Gatekeeper Arhat () The Arhat Who Mastered a Dragon () The Arhat Who Tamed a Tiger () The Guardians of the Five Positions () Vairocana () Akṣobhya () Ratnasambhava () Amitābha () Amoghasiddhi () The Twenty-Four Protective Deities () Maheśvara () Chandra () Guhyapāda () Pañcika () Skanda () Pṛthvī () Spirit of the Bodhi Tree () Hārītī () Mārīcī () Sāgara Yama () Kinnara King () Emperor Zi Wei () Emperor Dongyue () The Thunder God () The Eighteen Sangharama ()
Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva (), better known as Guanyin Bodhisattva () or simply Guanyin () in the novel, is based on Mount Potalaka. During their quest, the protagonists seek help from Guanyin from time to time to deal with yaoguai that they cannot overcome, such as Great King of Numinous Power and Sai Tai Sui.
Lingji Bodhisattva (), who might be based on Mahasthamaprapta, shows up to help the protagonists deal with the Yellow Wind Demon.
Manjusri Bodhisattva () shows up to help the protagonists deal with the Lion-Lynx Demon and Azure Lion, which are actually the Azure Lion he rides on.
Maitreya Buddha () shows up to help the protagonists deal with the Yellow Brows Great King.
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva () offers his steed, the Diting (), to help in distinguishing between Sun Wukong and the Six-Eared Macaque when the latter pretends to be Sun Wukong. Ox-Head and Horse-Face ()
Pilanpo Bodhisattva (), who might be based on Ākāśagarbha, shows up to help the protagonists deal with the Hundred-Eyed Demon Lord. She is also the mother of the Sun Rooster of Hairy Head, one of the 28 Mansions.
Samantabhadra Bodhisattva () shows up to help the protagonists deal with the Yellow Toothed Elephant, which is actually the White Elephant he rides on.
Zen Master Wuchao (), who might be based on Niaoke Daolin, teaches Tang Sanzang the Heart Sutra.
Dipankara Buddha () sends his disciple Baixiong Zunzhe () to inform the protagonists that Ananda and Mahākāśyapa had given them blank copies of the scriptures.
Guoshiwang Bodhisattva (), who might be based on Sangha, subdued the Shuimu a long time ago when it was causing trouble in Si Prefecture. Little Crown Prince Zhang () is Guoshiwang Bodhisattva's disciple. Under his command are the Four Great Divine Generals ().
Taoist pantheon The Jade Emperor (), who is based in the celestial palace in Heaven, is the supreme ruler of the Three Realms. The Lishan Laomu (), in the novel, is the matriarch deity in the Taoist pantheon. She disguised herself as a grieving widow and helped Sun Wukong seek the help of Pilanpo, in order to defeat the Hundred-Eyed Demon Lord. The Queen Mother of the West (), also referred to as Lady Queen Mother () in the novel, is the matriarch deity in the Taoist pantheon. She reports Sun Wukong to the Jade Emperor for stealing the peaches meant for a feast she is hosting. The Three Pure Ones () are the three highest ranked deities in the Taoist pantheon: Yuanshi Tianzun () Lingbao Tianzun () Daode Tianzun (), often referred to as Taishang Laojun () in the novel, manages to subdue Sun Wukong when he is wreaking havoc in Heaven. Sun Wukong is then trapped in Taishang Laojun's bagua furnace for 49 days to be destroyed, but he survives and acquires the "Fiery Golden Eye" ability instead. Later, when the protagonists are on their quest, Taishang Laojun occasionally shows up to help them deal with some yaoguai they encounter along the way.
Xuanwu (), also known as Zhenwu Great Emperor () The Turtle and Snake Generals () serve under Xuanwu Taixuan Shuijing Heiling Zunshen () Taixuan Huojing Chiling Zunshen ()
The Six Ding and Six Jia () The Six Ding () Jade Maiden of Yin () Sima Qing of Dingmao () Cui Juqing of Dingyi () Shi Shutong of Dingwei () Zang Wengong of Dingyou () Zhang Wentong of Dinghai () Zhao Ziyu of Dingchou () The Six Jia () Jade Man of Yang () Wang Wenqing of Jiazi () Zhan Zijiang of Jiaxu () Hu Wenchang of Jiashen () Wei Yuqing of Jiawu () Meng Feiqing of Jiachen () Ming Wenzhang of Jiayin () Li Jing, the Pagoda Bearing Heavenly King (), is a warrior deity carrying a miniature pagoda which can trap any spirit, deity or yaoguai. When Sun Wukong rebels against Heaven, Li Jing is ordered to lead a celestial army to attack the monkey at Mount Huaguo. Jinzha () is Li Jing's eldest son. Muzha () is Li Jing's second son and a disciple of Samantabhadra and Guanyin. Nezha, the Third Lotus Prince (), is Li Jing's third son and a warrior deity. He fights with Sun Wukong when the latter rebels against Heaven but loses to the monkey's trickery. Juling Shen () leads the vanguard to attack Sun Wukong.
Erlang Shen () is a maternal nephew of the Jade Emperor and a warrior deity. Among all the warrior deities in the Taoist pantheon, he is the only one who manages to defeat and capture Sun Wukong when the latter rebels against Heaven. The Howling Celestial Hound () and the Six Brothers of Mount Mei () serve under Erlang Shen The Five Elders of the Five Positions () Guanyin of the South () Chong'en Holy Emperor of the East () Baidi White Emperor of the West () Xuanling Doumu Yuanjun of the North () Yellow Horn Immortal of the Central ()
The Lords of the Five Elements () Wood Lord of the East () Fire Lord of the South () Metal Lord of the West (), often referred to as in the novel, shows up occasionally to help the protagonists deal with yaoguai. Water Lord of the North () Earth Lord of the Central ()
The Ten Yama Kings () Qinguangwang () Chujiangwang () Songdiwang () Wuguanwang () Bianchengwang () Taishanwang () Pingdengwang () Dushiwang () Zhuanlunwang () Weather deities: The Duke of Thunder () The Mother of Lightning () The Marquis of Wind () The Master of Rain () Taiyi Leisheng Yinghua Tianzun () Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun (), better known as Taiyi Zhenren () in the novel, shows up to help the protagonists deal with the Grand Saint of Nine Spirits. Emperor Wenchang () The Deity of the Moon (), also known by her incarnation Chang'e () The Deity of the Sun ()
Marshals: Marshal of the Heavenly Canopy () Marshal of Heavenly Blessing )
Patrol deities: The Day Patrol Deity () The Night Patrol Deity () Watcher deities: Gao Ming, the Thousand Li Eye () Gao Jue, the Wind Following Ear () The Twelve Earthly Branches () Zi () Chou () Yin () Mao () Chen () Si () Wu () Wei () Shen () You () Xu () Hai () The 28 Mansions () The Azure Dragon of the East () The Wood Jiaolong of Horn () The Golden Dragon of Neck () The Earth Tanuki of Root () The Sun Rabbit of Room () The Moon Fox of Heart () The Fire Tiger of Tail () The Water Leopard of Winnowing Basket () The Black Tortoise of the North () The Wood Xiezhi of Dipper () The Golden Ox of Ox () The Earth Bat of Girl () The Sun Rat of Emptiness () The Moon Swallow of Rooftop () The Fire Pig of Encampment () The Water Ya Yu () of Wall () The White Tiger of the West () The Wood Wolf of Legs () The Golden Dog of Bond () The Earth Pheasant of Stomach () The Sun Rooster of Hairy Head () The Moon Bird of Net () The Fire Monkey of Turtle Beak () The Water Ape of Three Stars () The Vermilion Bird of the South () The Wood Bi An () of Well () The Golden Sheep of Ghost () The Earth Water Deer of Willow () The Sun Horse of Star () The Moon Deer of Extended Net () The Fire Snake of Wings () The Water Earthworm of Chariot () The Dragon Kings of the Four Seas () Ao Guang, Dragon King of the East Sea () Ao Qin, Dragon King of the South Sea () Ao Shun, Dragon King of the North Sea () Ao Run, Dragon King of the West Sea () The Four Time Guardians () Li Bing, Guardian of Years () Huang Chengyi, Guardian of Months () Zhou Deng, Guardian of Days () Liu Hong, Guardian of Hours ()
The Five Gates () Golden Light Gate ()