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China's first 3A game, ‘Black Myth: Wukong,’ is simply on fire.
In the global bestsellers on the gaming platform Steam, ‘Black Myth: Wukong’ has consistently topped the charts.
With its stunning graphics, rich storytelling, and strong cultural output appealing to overseas players, the entire internet has fallen in love with Sun Wukong once again.
But as we all know, there are many versions of Sun Wukong.
Aside from the currently popular ‘Black Myth,’ who is the true god in your heart?
The version of Sun Wukong by LiuXiaolingTong is the ‘Monkey King’ that the entire internet adores
(Guangzhou WeiMuKaiLa Wax Museum 'Journey to the West’ area)
(Xiamen WeiMuKaiLa Wax Museum 'Journey to the West’ area)
(Jinan WeiMuKaiLa Wax Museum 'Journey to the West’ area)
(Dalian WeiMuKaiLa Wax Museum 'Journey to the West’ area)
'Monster, where are you going', this classic line from the 86 version of ‘Journey to the West’ brings back familiar background music echoing in our ears. As a pinnacle of domestic dramas, ‘Journey to the West’ holds a special place in the summer memories of countless people.
(WeiMuKaiLa Wax Museum's work - Sun Wukong)
The versatile Sun Wukong, who can transform into seventy-two different forms, dares to challenge the Heavenly Palace and venture into the Underworld. He defies constraints and disregards trivialities, showing more commitment than anyone else to the big task of obtaining the scriptures. Upon spotting a monster, his eyes sparkle with excitement, eager to defeat it and move on to the next challenge.
When he needs something from others, he sweet-talks his way in, saying, ‘Big Brother Niu, do you still recognize your little brother?’ He prefers to resolve things without using force—what a clever monkey!
When they encounter a high mountain, Tang Seng worries about how to get past it. Wukong famously reassures him, saying, ‘Where there are high mountains, there are always paths for travelers; where the waters are deep, there are always ferrymen. There must be a way up the mountain; let’s just keep going.’ His optimistic attitude is simply top-notch!
With the ability to fight monsters, comfort others, and sweet-talk his way through, this charismatic monkey has captured everyone’s hearts. People simply adore him, using his image as avatars, creating memes featuring him, dubbing short videos with his voice, and even affectionately calling him ‘Kong Kong.’
Even more astonishing, a poll was launched on Douban asking, ‘Who is the pinnacle of male characters in domestic dramas?’ The highest number of votes surprisingly went to ‘Kong Kong! ’
The beloved ‘mischievous monkey’ has taken the internet by storm, and LiuXiaoLingTong, the actor who portrayed Sun Wukong in the 86 version, authorized the creation of a wax figure back in 2016. If you want to get up close with Kong Kong, you can visit the WeiMuKaiLa Wax Museum to see his figure!
(The Founder of WeiMuKaiLa Museum- Zhou Xuerong and Mr.LiuXiaoLingTong)
To closely match the image of Sun Wukong from the drama, Zhou Xue rong, the founder of the wax museum, along with her team, traveled to Beijing to take measurements and collect body data from Liu XiaolingTong. This ensured that the wax figure would closely resemble the original character.
(The team of WeiMuKaiLa Museum are measuring for Mr.LiuXiaoLingTong)
Meanwhile, creating a wax figure of Sun Wukong also requires careful attention to the color and texture of the monkey's fur. Zhou Xuerong brought out various fur samples and conducted detailed comparisons, confirming the final hair design with Liu XiaolingTong to ensure the wax figure accurately represented Sun Wukong’s iconic look.
(The Founder of WeiMuKaiLa Museum- Zhou Xuerong and Mr.LiuXiaoLingTong)
In creating the wax figure of Sun Wukong, the team focused not only on achieving a lifelike appearance but also on capturing his classic poses, dynamic expressions, and fitting costumes to convey his essence and vitality.In 2017, the Sun Wukong wax figure was unveiled alongside wax figures of Tang Seng, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing at the Changsha WeiMuKaiLa Wax Museum , showcasing the beloved characters from ‘Journey to the West.’
(Changsha WeiMuKaiLa Wax Museum Wax Figure Unveiling Ceremony)
The wax figure unveiling ceremony was graced by the actors themselves: Liu XiaolingTong, who portrayed Sun Wukong; Chi Chongrui, who played Tang Seng; Ma Dehua, who depicted Zhu Bajie; and Liu Dagang, the actor for Sha Wujing. Their participation made the event even more special and meaningful for fans of ‘Journey to the West.’
Donnie Yen's version of the Monkey King redefines the character's image, bringing a fresh and dynamic interpretation
(The wax figure of WeiMuKaiLa Museum and Donnie Yen)
In the 2014 film ‘Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons,’ starring Donnie Yen, Sun Wukong's character underwent a significant transformation. His appearance exudes a heroic aura, featuring a red battle robe and armor, wielding the magical golden hooped rod, and standing triumphantly on a golden dragon pillar of the Heavenly Palace while laughing with abandon. This depiction marks a stark departure from previous versions, emphasizing a more dynamic and powerful portrayal of the Monkey King.
(WeiMuKaiLa Wax Museum's work - Sun Wukong)
As a movie, ‘Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons’ adapts only the first eight chapters of the classic tale due to time constraints. It narrates the growth of Sun Wukong from a spiritual monkey to his role as the Horse Keeper and ultimately to the title of Great Sage Equal to Heaven. The story culminates in his rebellion against the Heavenly Palace, which incites a grand battle between gods and demons across the Three Realms. This focus allows for a dynamic exploration of his character development and the background of his legendary exploits.
Aaron Kwok’s portrayal of the Monkey King embraces a wild and fierce interpretation of the character
The 2016 film ‘Journey to the West: The Monkey King’ starring Aaron Kwok adds yet another classic interpretation of Sun Wukong.
Aaron Kwok's version of the Monkey King is more realistic, with thick hair, highlighting the wildness of the monkey. There is less emphasis on the traditional sense of ‘beauty’ in the styling of the Monkey King, but more emphasis is placed on embodying the Monkey King's primitive sense of power and animal qualities, and the design of his costumes and props are more in line with the overall style and atmosphere of the film.
(The wax figure of WeiMuKaiLa Museum and Aaron Kwok and Lei Gung)
(The Founder of WeiMuKaiLa Museum- Zhou Xuerong and Liu Zhen)
It has to be mentioned that once in 2015, in order to promote the film, the film side has also customised 100 wax figures of the Monkey King in Grand Orient Wax Art for placing in various cinemas.
(WeiMuKaiLa Wax Museum's work - Sun Wukong)
Behind the creation of a wax figure, apart from restoring the appearance of the figure, it is also important to understand the story behind the figure and to interpret the figure in order to infuse the wax figure with a unique soul. Welcome to Wax Figures Revealed and interpret the Monkey King with Miss Zhou!