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We will:
◦ Collect formal papers
◦ Begin background information on Chinese myth and
The Monkey King
 Lecture
 Reading together
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Homework: read American Born Chinese pg. 6-160
◦ Keep list of characters/personalities and actions
 Monkey King– king of the monkeys, prideful, wants to be accepted
 Wong Lai Tsao- humble, disciple to god
◦ Keep list of conflicts
◦ Be prepared for reading quiz
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Sun Wukong
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Journey to the West (Xīyóujì)
◦ 孫悟空; Sūn Wùkōng
◦ Creation: the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit (hua guo shan)
emerged from the chaos, large boulder at the top of the
mountain, soaked up the sun and the wind from the four
directions
◦ Stone became a monkey; led all monkeys to the Water Curtain
Cave (shui lian dong) and killed the Tiger Spirit
became King of the Monkeys
Was mocked by Heaven– not considered their equal
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Tragic flaw: pride
Motivated by revenge: mastered the disciplines immortality:
Studies Taoism & Kung Fu: Gains immense strength: 33,554 mi in
one somersault, lift 17,881 lbs, transform into 72 different shapes
Declares himself “Equal of Heaven”
◦ Heavenly Dieties couldn’t contain him (Ao Kuang– Dragon King,
god of death; Lao Tzu, ambassador of immortality; Yama,
caretaker of the underworld; Jade Emperor, ruler of
heaven/universe), so they asked Tze Yo Tzuh (creator of all
existence) for help
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Tze Yo Tzuh
◦ Emissaries are The Lion, The Ox, The Human and
The Eagle
◦ Challenges the Monkey King that he couldn’t
escape him; Monkey King leapt to the end of the
world where there were 5 pillars– turned out to be
Tze Yo Tzuh’s fingers
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Monkey King is humbled
To atone for sins,
◦ trapped under a mountain
◦ Joins the monk Wong Lai Tsao--humble disciple of
Tze Yo Tzuh, to get the Buddhist sutras
◦ Was faithful and protective of Wong Lai Tsao
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Quest made him forget his pride
Chapter 1
1. What are the psychological transformations the Monkey King
experiences in the first chapter?
Chapter 2
1. p 23 - 24 What is the message of the parable? What is its
relevance to ABC?
2. p 27 - 28 What is the significance of the conversation with the
herbalist? His response? Her "warning?" How does this work as a
foreshadowing device?
3. p 30 - 31 What do we learn about Jin's new life in comparison to
his life in San Francisco's Chinatown?
4. p 33 The kids who calls Jin "bucktooth" is drawn with buck teeth
himself. What purpose does this serve?
5. p 36 What happens that makes Jin want to beat up Wei-Chen?
Chapter 3
1. What does the use of the clap clap clap and ha ha ha mean to you?
Why does the author do this? What about the title, "Everyone Ruvs
Chin-Kee?"
2. What stereotypes are exploited in this section? Make a list of
them. Be sure to note stereotypes for both Chin-Kee and Danny.


Read American Born Chinese pg. 6-160
Keep list of characters/personalities and actions
 Monkey King– king of the monkeys, prideful, wants to be
accepted
 Wong Lai Tsao- humble, disciple to god
◦ Keep list of conflicts


Be prepared for reading quiz
There are discussion questions on the website to
help you understand the book if you need them