Monkey King Stamps From Republic of China, Issued by Taiwan Post. Monkey King on Clouds Writing Calligraphy. Set of three. Mint Condition. Unused. The stamp depicts a scene from the story, Journey to the West, the fabulous and funny 16th century tale of Sun Wukong, also known as the Monkey King The Monkey King is a main character in the 16th century Chinese novel Journey to the West authored by Wu Cheng'en. Wukong is also found in many later stories and adaptations. In the novel, he is a monkey born from a stone who acquires supernatural powers through Taoist practices. After rebelling against heaven and being imprisoned under a mountain by the Buddha, he later accompanies the monk Xuanzang on a journey to retrieve Buddhist sutras from India. Sun Wukong is a skilled fighter, capable of holding his own against the best warriors of heaven. Also, each of his hairs possess magical properties, capable of being transformed into clones of the Monkey King himself, and/or into 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. One of the most enduring Chinese literary characters, Sun Wukong has a varied background and colorful cultural history and is amply represented in Chinese visual arts.

40 USD LimitedAvailability