Most Chinese, and folks around the world, only know about the Monkey God, base on the novel - Journey to the West (西游记), by Wu Cheng En (吴承恩), written in the 16th century, during the Ming dynasty.
Earlier Version of the novel - Journey To The West (西游记)
During the end of Yuan Dynasty and beginning of Ming Dynasty Period, there was already a playscript, by the Mongolian play-writer, Yang Jing-xian (杨景贤), also Titled: "Journey to the West", which contains an autobiographic line by a certain "Itinerant Monk Sun (Sun Wu Kong [孙悟空] - The Monkey)" (recycled into the much later novel as a common title for Sun Wu Kong).
Itinerant Monk Sun (Sun Wu Kong [孙悟空] - The Monkey) said:
"I have five brothers and sisters. Big sister is the Old Lady of Mount Li (驪山老母 - Li Shan Lao Mu); little sister is the Wu-Zhi-Qi Sage (巫枝祗聖母); elder brother is the Heaven Rivaling Great Sage (齐天大圣 - Qi Tian Da Sheng); I am the Heaven Reaching Great Sage (通天大圣 - Tong Tian Da Sheng); and 3rd youngest brother is Shua Shua San Lang (耍耍三郎)."
《元·楊景賢·西遊記·第三本》 - "小聖弟兄、姊妹五人，大姊驪山老母，二妹巫枝祗聖母，大兄齊天大聖，小聖通天大聖，三弟耍耍三郎"
In this earlier version of Journey To The West, Monkey Sun Wu Kong said he was (通天大圣 - Tong Tian Da Sheng) , who had a elder brother, known as Qi Tian Da Sheng (齐天大圣).
Origin of Monkey Gods Worship In Fu Zhou , China
People in Fuzhou, China were worshipping Monkey Gods, long before the novel made the character a household name. The two traditional mainstream religions practiced in Fuzhou are Mahayana Buddhism and Taoism. Traditionally, many people practice both religions simultaneously. However, the origins of local religion dated back centuries. These diverse religions incorporated elements such as gods and doctrines from other religions and cultures, such as totem worship and traditional legends.
As the most popular religion in the Min River Valley, the worship of Lady Lin Shui (临水夫人) is viewed as one of the three most influential local religions in Fujian, the other two being the worship of Mazu (妈祖) and Bao Sheng Da Di (保生大帝).
Base on records in Lin Shui Sect / Lineage:
There were 3 Monkey Sages (三圣王) of Lin Shui Palace, who were once Monkey Demons, being subdued by Empress Lin Shui Madam Chen Jing Gu (陈靖姑):
- Dan Xia Da Sheng (丹霞大圣) - The Red Face Monkey Sage
- Tong Tian Da Sheng (通天大圣)- The Black Face Monkey Sage
- Shua Shua San Lang (耍耍三郎) / Shuang Shuang San Lang (爽爽三郎) - The White Face Monkey Sage
In the 1990s, Qi Tian Fu Temple (齐天府屏山祖殿), located in Ping Shan Mountain (屏山) in Fuzhou, is regarded as the Monkey God's Original Ancestral Temple, with registration of more than 200 offshoot temples , including Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore.
The 5 Monkey Gods worshipped in Qi Tian Fu Temple of Ping Shan Mountain (齐天府屏山祖殿):
- Qi Tian Ta Sheng (齐天大圣) - Sun Da Sheng - 斗战胜佛孙大圣 (孙悟空 - Sun Wu Kong)
- Tong Tian Da Sheng - 通天大圣 - 伏魔陀佛黑大圣 黑圣王
- Mi Tian Da Sheng - 弥天大圣 - 耍耍三郎 - 啰哩沙佛白大圣
- Dan Xia Da Sheng - 恒河沙佛丹霞大圣
- Chi Xia Da Shen - 监河圣佛赤霞大圣
Chinese Videos Of The Origin Of Chinese Monkey God(s)-(齐天大圣)
Video Of Taoist Spirit Medium Trancing Qi Tian Ta Sheng (齐天大圣) / Sun Wu Kong(孙悟空) - Folk Taoism
Video Of Indian Taoist Spirit Medium Trancing Chinese Monkey God - Folk Taoism