Baigujing () is a
demon
A demon is a malevolent supernatural entity. Historically, belief in demons, or stories about demons, occurs in religion, occultism, literature, fiction, mythology, and folklore; as well as in media such as comics, video games, movies, ani ...
from the 16th century novel ''
Journey to the West
''Journey to the West'' () is a Chinese novel published in the 16th century during the Ming dynasty and attributed to Wu Cheng'en. It is regarded as one of the greatest Classic Chinese Novels, and has been described as arguably the most popu ...
''. The name is translated into English as ''White Bone Spirit'' in the
William John Francis Jenner
William John Francis "Bill" Jenner (; born 1940) is an English sinologist and translator, specialising in Chinese history and culture, and translator of Chinese literature.
Biography
From 1958 to 1962, Jenner studied sinology at Oxford and ...
translation. Baigujing is a shapeshifting
demoness
A demon is a malevolent supernatural entity. Historically, belief in demons, or stories about demons, occurs in religion, occultism, literature, fiction, mythology, and folklore; as well as in Media (communication), media such as comics, video ...
, and in her true form she is depicted as a skeleton.
[Wu Cheng-en: Journey to the West, chapter 27.]
Baigujing was a demon who desired to eat the flesh of
Tang Sanzang
Tang Sanzang () is a central character in the 16th century novel ''Journey to the West'' by Wu Cheng'en. Tang Sanzang is based on the historical Buddhist monk Xuanzang. He is also widely known by his courtesy name, Tang Seng, () or Sanzang ().
...
. She disguised herself as a village girl and offered him and his disciples poisonous fruits. Due to her strong powers, only
Sun Wukong
The Monkey King, also known as Sun Wukong ( zh, t=孫悟空, s=孙悟空, first=t) in Mandarin Chinese, is a legendary mythical figure best known as one of the main characters in the 16th-century Chinese novel ''Journey to the West'' ( zh, ...
could detect that she was a demon. He hit her with his staff, seemingly killing her. The group's leader Tang Sanzang is angered at Sun Wukong and performs the Band-tightening spell but
Sha Wujing
Sha Wujing () is one of the three disciples of the Buddhist pilgrim Tang Sanzang in the 16th century novel ''Journey to the West'' written by Wu Cheng'en in the Ming dynasty, although versions of his character predate the Ming novel. In the sour ...
placates the situation. Sun Wukong tried to explain to everyone what she was but they didn't believe him. Tang Sanzang believed she was an innocent and buried her. Having survived the attack, she dug underground to recover.
She returned a second time disguised as an elderly woman. She lied to the group, causing them to believe that the village girl from earlier was her daughter. Sun Wukong sees through her disguise once again and kills her. The group's leader Tang Sanzang is angered again at Sun Wukong and performs the Band-tightening spell again but Sha Wujing placates the situation and the group continues to not believe him. She returns a third time as an elderly man who lies about having a daughter and wife. The group immediately felt guilty as they believed they were the two women Sun Wukong had slain. She taunts Sun Wukong, provoking him, and engaging him into attacking her by using his powers, and only he could hear her.
Having a short-temper due to his provocation by her, he finally beats her with his staff and kills the demon, revealing that she was just a skeleton spirit. Sun Wukong shows this to Tang Sanzang, who initially believes him, but
Zhu Bajie
Zhu Bajie (), also named Zhu Wuneng, is one of the three helpers of Tang Sanzang and a major character of the 16th century novel ''Journey to the West''. Zhu means " swine" and Bajie means " eight precepts". Buddhist scholars consider that both e ...
convinces Tang Sanzang that Sun Wukong transformed the corpse into a skeleton to evade the Band-tightening spell. Tang Sanzang is angry at Sun Wukong at his reckless slaying and scolds him. He cuts his ties with Sun Wukong and sends him away. Hurt by his master's words, Sun Wukong leaves and returns to Water Curtain Cave.
[ In his absence, Tang Sanzang gets caught by another demon – the Yellow Robe Demon that Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing cannot defeat. Zhu Bajie has no choice but is forced to ask for Sun Wukong's help to save Tang Sanzang and the group finally starts to believe in Sun Wukong — who also forgives them after they apologized to him for their misunderstandings due to Baigujing's deception — for what he can see what others can't see and continue to their journey West.
]
Adaptations
In The Monkey King Conquers the Demon
''The Monkey King Conquers the Demon'' is a 1985 Chinese donghua feature film directed by Te Wei, Lin Wen Xiao, and Ding Xian Yan and produced by the Shanghai Animation Film Studio. The film serves as a loose sequel to ''Havoc in Heaven'', and a ...
, Baigujing is the main antagonist. This film has a few differences from the novel:
* When she took on the identity of a young woman, she claimed that she's a widow.
* Her second impersonation is a young boy who is the son of her first.
* In her last impersonation, she did manage to avoid being killed by the Monkey King hence, succeeded in capturing the Tang Priest.
* She is the daughter of the Nine-Tailed Vixen (the mother of the Golden and Silver Horned Kings in the novel), with the film adapting the plot of Sun Wukong killing and replacing her.
In the film '' Kung Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny'', Baigujing is a major antagonist.
In the TV series ''Lego Monkie Kid
''LEGO Monkie Kid'' () is a LEGO theme inspired by ''Monkey King'' and ''Journey to the West''. It is licensed from the LEGO Group. The theme was first introduced in May 2020. The toy line is also accompanied by an animated television series that ...
'', Baigujing (referred as Lady Bone Demon) is the main antagonist in the second and third season.
References
Journey to the West characters
Chinese deities
Fictional demons and devils
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