Every time Tang Sanzang was captured, Sun Wukong would take Zhu Bajie to rescue him but leave Sha Seng to watch their luggage in the wilderness. Was it really necessary? Who would steal it there?
Answer 1:
Sha Seng’s actual height was roughly triple that of the Monkey King.
TV adaptations never showed this.
The guard must be the most intimidating.
Honestly, only formidable demons dared attack the master-disciple group.
Tang Sanzang said: “…My second disciple, surnamed Sha, monastic name Monk Wujing, stands twelve feet tall, with arms spanning three pauses, an indigo face, a mouth like a bloody basin, flashing eyes, and teeth lined like iron nails. His fearsome appearance is why I dared not bring him to court.”
—Journey to the West, Chapter 29
In the Ming Dynasty, one zhang (丈) ≈ 10 chi (尺), and one chi ≈ 32 cm. Thus, Sha Seng’s height was about 3.2 meters. This likely explains why monster scouts targeted the shortest, vegetarian monkey first—he seemed weak in comparison!
Answer 2:
Because Wu Chengen had wilderness survival experience—and you don’t! You’ve clearly never camped outdoors!
In the wild, animals quickly sniff out food. Larger ones like bears or monkeys will rummage through it. Example: Loggers working in mountains packed lunches to maximize work time.
If lunchboxes weren’t secured, monkeys would steal the food, then neatly reseal and return the empty box! At mealtime, monkeys watched closely to see where you stored it.
Stealing lunches was mild. Once, a logger took a smoke break—monkeys stole his ax! Imagine: He turned back to see a large monkey dragging the ax away, baring its teeth in a fierce grin while others swung from trees, cheering it on. Pursuit was impossible.
Smart aleck: “Why not throw stones to scare them?”
Won’t work. I once saw a logger return bruised. Monkeys mimic—if you throw one stone, they’ll pelt you with dozens. How do you block that?
Wu Chengen surely suffered losses—not just food, but likely carrying poles too. Lose food in the wild? Fine. Lose the pole? How would Sha Seng haul luggage to the Western Heaven?
- Reply 2.1: As a kid, I learned: Never pick stones from the ground to throw at monkeys. Put stones in your pockets first—monkeys have no pockets to retaliate!
- Reply 2.2: So that’s why the Golden Cudgel shrunk into his ear—monkeys lack pockets! [facepalm]
- Reply 2.3: Monkey: Noted. Steal clothes first! [smirking]
- Reply 2.4: Pro strat: Pretend to swallow a pebble, then “retrieve” it from your butt to throw. Watch monkeys try copying that! [dazed]
- Reply 2.5: In Don’t Starve, monkeys throw poop looted from their butts! [pondering]
Answer 3:
Never overestimate the morals of Journey’s demons.
A minor demon reported: “Great King! Sun Wukong fled in terror at your command—he dropped the luggage!”
The demon king laughed: “’Tis but a monk’s ragged robe and old hat in that bundle. Bring it in—we’ll tear it for patches!”
A demon obediently carried it in.
