How was Wukong killed?

Sun Wukong, also known as the Monkey King, was never truly "killed" in the traditional sense, thanks to his immortality and divine powers. However, there is a significant event in his backstory where he is defeated and imprisoned by the Buddha, which plays a major role in his character development and journey.

Here’s a summary of the events leading to his defeat and imprisonment:

1. Rebellion Against Heaven

Sun Wukong’s journey begins with his immense arrogance and ambition. After attaining great power through Taoist magic and defeating many celestial beings, he becomes an infamous rebel against the Celestial Court. He demands a high rank in Heaven, but when he is given a minor position (the title of “Protector of the Horses”), he becomes offended and causes chaos in Heaven, claiming he is as powerful as the gods themselves.

• He defeats various celestial beings, including the Heavenly Army, and refuses to bow to the Jade Emperor (the ruler of Heaven). This rebellion is one of the reasons the Celestial Court decides to deal with him once and for all.

2. Imprisonment Under the Five Elements Mountain

In response to Sun Wukong’s uprising, the Buddha intervenes. Using his supernatural abilities, Buddha traps Sun Wukong by making a wager. Buddha tells Wukong that if he can jump out of his hand, he will be allowed to go free. Sun Wukong, confident in his abilities, leaps from Buddha’s hand but finds himself trapped under a mountain, unable to escape.

• How it happens: Buddha tricks Sun Wukong into thinking he has escaped by making him travel through different realms. Sun Wukong, in his arrogance, believes he is free, but when he returns to the Buddha's palm, he is crushed under the weight of a magical seal and imprisoned beneath the Five Elements Mountain (Wu Xing Shan). This imprisonment lasts for 500 years, during which he is bound by powerful spells.

3. The Buddha’s Seal

While Sun Wukong is imprisoned, he cannot die or be destroyed because of his immortality, but he is effectively neutralized. The Five Elements Mountain holds him captive, and his powers are suppressed by the Buddha’s seal, which prevents him from using his magic or escaping.

• This event marks a turning point in Sun Wukong’s character arc. Though he cannot be killed, he is humbled and isolated, which begins his long path of spiritual growth and self-discipline.

4. Rescue and Redemption

Sun Wukong is eventually freed by the Bodhisattva Guanyin, who persuades the Buddha to release him. He is tasked with accompanying the monk Xuánzàng (Tripitaka) on a pilgrimage to retrieve the Buddhist scriptures. The journey is meant to help Sun Wukong atone for his past misdeeds and learn the virtues of humility, discipline, and wisdom.

• Throughout the journey, Sun Wukong undergoes significant character development, learning to control his impulsiveness, pride, and anger. His powers are not completely gone, but he is guided and controlled by the magical headband placed on him by Xuánzàng. This headband tightens when Xuánzàng prays, causing Sun Wukong great pain if he disobeys.

Conclusion: Sun Wukong Was Never Truly Killed

Although Sun Wukong is defeated and imprisoned for his rebellion against Heaven, he is never killed. His immortality makes him impossible to destroy by conventional means. His ultimate "death" is not a physical one but a symbolic one, representing the death of his arrogance and rebellion. His journey toward enlightenment involves overcoming these flaws, making him a much more humble and disciplined figure by the end of Journey to the West.

In essence, Sun Wukong’s “death” is his transformation from a prideful, rebellious being into a wiser, more enlightened one.