Sun Wukong and Niu Mowang

In his early years, while Sun Wukong was gathering the monkeys on Mount Huaguo, he kept company with Niu Mowang and five other demon kings, and after the seven swore brotherhood Niu Mowang took the title Great Sage Who Levels Heaven and Wukong that of Great Sage Equal to Heaven. During the years Wukong lay under Five Elements Mountain, Niu Mowang moved to Mount Cuiyun and Mount Jilei, and the two met again only when the pilgrims were halted at the Flaming Mountains.

Wukong came to the Moyun Cave to borrow the plantain fan, and Niu Mowang refused him because Guanyin had taken Red Boy; the two fought from the cave mouth into the hills and chased each other through the shapes of birds and beasts.

Wukong stole the water-parting golden-eyed beast, took Niu Mowang’s shape and tricked the true fan away; Niu Mowang then took Bajie’s shape and tricked it back. Li Jing, Nezha and the vajra guardians of the Buddhist gate closed in at last, and though Niu Mowang showed his white bull form he could not break out, and put down his weapons when the fire wheel caught his horns.