Sun Wukong, known in the West as the Monkey King, is a main character in the classical Chinese epic novel Journey to the West (西游记). In the novel, he accompanies the monk Xuanzang on the journey to retrieve Buddhist sutras from India. There are parallels between the character and Hanuman, the Hindu monkey god of India.

Sun Wukong possesses an immense amount of strength; he is able to lift his 13,500 jīn (8,100 kg) golden cudgel with ease. He is also superbly fast, able to travel 108,000 li (54,000 kilometers) in one somersault. Sun knows 72 transformations, which allows him to transform into various animals and objects; he has trouble, however, transforming into other people, because he is unable to complete the transformation of his tail.

He is a skilled fighter, capable of holding his own against the best generals of heaven. Each of his hairs possesses magical properties, and is capable of transforming either into a clone of the Monkey King himself, or various weapons, animals, and other objects. He also knows spells that can command wind, part water, conjure protective circles against demons, and freeze humans, demons, and gods alike.