Journey to the West (1996)
Journey to the West is a Hong Kong television series adapted from the classical novel of the same title. Starring Dicky Cheung, Kwong Wah, Wayne Lai and Evergreen Mak, the series was produced by TVB and was first broadcast on TVB Jade in Hong Kong in November 1996. A sequel, Journey to the West II, was broadcast in 1998, but the role of the Monkey King was played by Benny Chan instead, due to contract problems between Dicky Cheung and TVB. Cheung later reprised the role in another television series The Monkey King: Quest for the Sutra, which was broadcast on TVB but not produced by the station.
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Episode 1 - Episode 1
Release Date: 1996-11-18A god monkey is created at the Fruity Mountain. The Fairy Emperor sends TIN FUNG to exterminate this monkey in lest that it will bring the world disaster. However, goddess, KWUN YIN, stops him as the god monkey is created by the essence of the universe. It will eventually become a god after overcome plenty of difficulties and disaster. The god monkey lives with other monkeys at the Water Cave. He lives happily. He even becomes the leader of the monkey tribe. Unexpectedly, an old money passed away. The god monkey then comes across the concept of 'living forever'. The god monkey goes to the market and learns the human language. Everybody chases for him to make money. The god monkey flees away by a ride on the donkey. He even flies away during the emergency.
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Episode 2 - Episode 2
Release Date: 1996-11-19FUNG'S Palace has just been topped off. It is built by KONG. All gods come to celebrate with him. SHEUNG NGOR arrives and is chased by a golden arrow. Fortunately, KONG rescues NGOR before FUNG did. The Fairy Empress sympathizes NGOR and grants her to the fairy status. KONG and FUNG fall in love with NGOR at the same time. However, NGOR only loves KONG. In order to win NGOR, FUNG reverse the time and re-play the scene of 'Hero saving the beauty'. Unexpectedly, he cannot change fate. He could not succeed. He hurts KONG and the Love God in a towering anger. LEUNG punishes him. Though FUNG succeeds in being the hero in the scene, NGOR still does not love him. NGOR only loves KONG.
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Episode 3 - Episode 3
Release Date: 1996-11-20The god monkey rides the donkey and arrives the Three Star Cave. He become JOE SZE's student and got the name 'SUEN NG HUNG'. He becomes classmate with IRON FAN, BULL DEVIL, NIGHT WANDERER and T AO KW AN (a Child). SZE knew that HUNG wants to learn a way for 'living forever'. He then abandons him in the remote mountain for fifty years. HUNG faces volcano explosion, earthquake and attack of the Big Black Bear during the time he was at the mountain. HUNG is then enlightened and develop his talent. He eventually learns the 'Seven -Two Chapters Translation'. He even throws the Big Black Bear down the hill and backs to his original place. HUNG backs to the Water Cave. He meets Bull Devil. Bull is driven away by SZE as he has an affair with IRON FAN. BULL and FAN had given birth to a baby, RED CHILD. Unexpectedly, HUNG and BULL change their identity and appearance during the transformation. It takes at least two hours for recovery.… ...
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Episode 4 - Episode 4
Release Date: 1996-11-21HUNG rescues BULL during the emergency. In order to take revenge, HUNG swallows the 'Life and Death Record Book'. He even takes the record book of the monkey tribe. It is a big offense to the Emperor of Hell. KONG and FUNG secretly admire NGOR. The case is disclosed. The three are punished. FUNG punishes severely due to his high position in the fairyland. He is being sent to the human world so that he will taste all kind of difficulties. HUNG questions the East Sea Dragon Emperor after the heavy rain and flood. He picks the TA! YU Magic Needle and stops the flood. Unexpectedly, the magic needle follows HUNG and becomes a powerful weapon - the Lucky Gold Stick. HUNG could change its size according to his need. The Dragon Emperor and the Emperor of the hell report the case to the Fairyland Emperor. He sends ERR LONG God to lead a troop over hundred thousand soldiers to catch HUNG. However, the TA! P AK GOLD STAR stops them.… ...
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Episode 5 - Episode 5
Release Date: 1996-11-22HUNG is designated as the stable-keeper. HUNG decides to resign when he found out that it is just an unimportant position. The Fairyland Emperor is very angry. TA! PAK GOLD STAR recommends the Emperor to bestow HUNG the title 'King of Monkey' and let him to stay in the Great Palace to learn the rules of ceremony and courtesy. However, HUNG does not correct himself at all. He thinks that it is just an empty name. He even invites the monkeys to the Great Palace and steals the Goddess's saucer peach. He makes great trouble. ERR LONG God is ordered to catch HUNG. HUNG plays trick on him. Later, the soldiers of heaven surrenders HUNG. However, his magic arts is very powerful, no one could suppress him. He is then sentenced to be burnt in the 'eight diagrams stove' for forty-nine days. However, he learns the 'golden eye' magic instead. The Emperor could not stop HUNG. The Buddhist appears and bets with HUNG.… ...
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Episode 6 - Episode 6
Release Date: 1996-11-25FUNG is being driven to the human world to suffer. He bets the Emperor of Hell to set him free but is in vain. He falls into the 'Animal' tunnel and will become an animal in his next life. There is a 'Pig Head, Human Body' monster named KAI in the market. KWUN YIN helps him and advises him to become the disciple of a man who is going to the west to get the bible. FUNG could then compensate his sin. KWUN YIN also peaches HUNG at the Five Finger Mount. YIN advises him to follow the man who is going to get the Bible in the west. The Dragon Emperor wants to kill the Emperor, TA! CHUNG of the Human World. It is because the Dragon Emperor had bet with a fortune teller in forecasting weather. The Dragon Emperor disobeys the law and changes the time arbitrarily. The Heaven sentences the Dragon Emperor to death. The Dragon Emperor asks CHUNG to bet a mercy for him. Unexpectedly, CHUNG eats his word unintentionally.
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Episode 7 - Episode 7
Release Date: 1996-11-26The Dragon Emperor was executed to death. He then takes revenge on CHUNG. The monks pray for CHUNG. A monk, TSANG, tries to convince the Dragon Emperor to repent. CHUNG rewards TSANG by sending troops accompanying him to the Purple Bamboo Bush to pursuit his goal. TSANG meets KWUN YIN. YIN guides him to get the bible in the west. YIN gives him the name 'TONG SAM JON'. TONG sets off. On his way he meets HUNG and KAI separately. He accepts them to be his students. They arrive the Sinking Sand River. TONG is drowned. He encounters a cannibal, SHA, and the Third Prince of Dragon. TONG's life is at stake.
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Episode 8 - Episode 8
Release Date: 1996-11-27HUNG and KAI are very anxious. HUNG asks the Sea Dragon Emperor to lend him the Holy Sea Pearl so that it could divide the water into two parts and rescues TONG. TONG does not fear of SHA and the Prince. SHA finds him very strange. SHA then tells TONG about his story. TONG convinces SHA to stop his bad habit rationally. SHA is then enlightened. Meanwhile, KWUN YIN appears. YIN appoints SHA to follow TONG to the west. SAM then becomes a horse. TONG then continues his way with three students and a horse. The four arrive the Hot Fame Hill. It is too hot that they cannot proceed. HUNG then goes to see the IRON FAN PRINCESS with the aim to borrow her Big Banana Fan for extinguishing the fire.
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Episode 9 - Episode 9
Release Date: 1996-11-28Unexpectedly, the RED CHILD is very naughty and blocks HUNG's way. HUNG is in vain. TONG sleeps. He meets the Dream Devil who wants to eat him up. Meanwhile, HUNG returns. He asks KAI and SHA to jump in TONG's dream so as to rescue TONG. However, SHA still sleeps. SHA cannot defeat the Dream Devil. He decides to die together with TONG. Unexpectedly, SHA pierces the Dream Devil in confusion. SHA and TONG then awake. The Dream Devil then flees away to the Fire Cloud Cave. HUNG asks BULL to help. BULL lends the Wind-Controlling Pearl to HUNG so as to regulate the wind. HUNG eventually got the Iron Fan. However, he still could not extinguish the fire. IRON FAN wants HUNG to make BULL repent, otherwise, she will not help them. HUNG succeeds. IRON FAN and BULL reconcile. They punish RED CHILD who was naughty.
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Episode 10 - Episode 10
Release Date: 1996-11-29The four pass the Hot Fame Hill and continue their way. The Dream Devil helps RED CHILD to make IRON FAN and BULL quarrel again. RED is then set free and gets acquainted with the Dream Devil. The Dream Devil arranges RED to get into the dream and make trouble at the Heaven Palace. He even instigates RED to defeat HUNG and eat TONG. However, RED must get the 'Three Favour Fire Pill' to strengthen his power. RED cheats the pill from his parents. He takes the pill. He then attacks HUNG. However, he could not defeat HUNG. HUNG finds out that HUNG's weakness, that is, smoke get into his eyes. RED then sets a trap at the Hot Fame Hill.
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Episode 11 - Episode 11
Release Date: 1996-12-02HUNG does not listen to TONG's advice. He falls into RED's trap. His eyes are hurt. Fortunately, he could escape away in time. HUNG backs to TONG's place. He is seriously injured. HUNG asks KAI to transform into his appearance so as to divert the enemy's attention. However, the enemy sees through KAI's trick. They burst into the village. The headman of the village informs TONG and advise him to flee immediately. HUNG is so sick that he has already become a small monkey losing hair. It seems that he will die very soon. TONG cries. TONG's tear drops on HUNG's body. Miracle comes. HUNG recovers because of having TONG's tear. HUNG then goes out to rescue the villager. However, HUNG is still very weak. SHA brings HUNG to see KWUN YIN.
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Episode 12 - Episode 12
Release Date: 1996-12-03Soon SHA and HUNG find KWUNYIN. HUNG is recovered. YIN even gives him a lotus and a Five Golden Ring to suppress RED. TONG is kidnapped by RED and the Dream Devil. They intend to eat TONG. HUNG defeats RED with the lotus. He also defeats the Dream Devil and rescue TONG. HUNG wants to bring RED to see YIN. BULL and IRON FAN stop HUNG. Meanwhile, the Dream Devil enters RED's dream for revenge. BULL and IRON FAN also get into his dream to rescue their son, RED. However, the Dream Devil takes the chance to threaten them hurting each other. RED sees that his parents are suffering for his sake. RED repents. Fortunately, HUNG gets into the dream in time and defeats the Dream Devil. RED is enlightened and reforms. He decides to follow KWUN YIN.
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Episode 13 - Episode 13
Release Date: 1996-12-04The four continues their journey. They meet three young ladies who are chatting happily together. Their mother, Madam Mok, invites them home. KAI is attracted by women. Madam MOK asks one of them to marry one of her daughters and becomes their family's leader. All refuses. However, KAI does not mean what he said. KAI secretly proposes to marry Madam Mok's daughter. MOK promises. The next morning, the four awakes. They find that they are sleeping on the grassland. KAI is hanged up on the tree. HUNG knew that Madam MOK and her family are transformed from the Buddhist to test them. KAI decides to reform.
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Episode 14 - Episode 14
Release Date: 1996-12-05BONY SPIRIT always wants to taste TONG's flesh. However, she always turns into a skeleton when she gets close to her husband, YIP. Therefore, YIP intends to abandon her. BONY SPIRIT transforms into a young girl so that she could get close to TONG. HUNG sees through her plot. However, TONG does not believe HUNG. He thinks that it was just an excuse. HUNG is difficult to get at the truth. BONY tries to spoil the relation between TONG and HUNG. She transforms into the young girl's father and mother. She creates chances for HUNG to hit them to death. HUNG is now in trouble as he had killed three persons. TONG drives HUNG away. HUNG decides to go to the South Gate to get the 'See Through Monster Mirror'. However, KAI breaks the mirror carelessly. HUNG has no way out. He backs to the Fruity Mountain.
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Episode 15 - Episode 15
Release Date: 1996-12-06TONG eventually knew the truth and is kidnapped by BONY. He has wronged HUNG. Fortunately, HUNG arranged something to protect TONG by strengthening KAI and SHA's power. The two joins together to defeat BONY. SHA even kills YIP mistakenly. BONY is heart-broken as YIP had died. She swears to take revenge. The three continues their journey. They stay in the BO Nation. Meanwhile, the princess of the BO Nation is looking for a husband. The princess leaves home secretly as his father has put too much pressure on her. The soldiers chases the princess. KAI transforms into a handsome man and saves the princess. The princess admires KAI.
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Episode 16 - Episode 16
Release Date: 1996-12-09The King of Bo Nation arranges the princess to marry KAI. KAI is tempted. He pretends to be dead so that he could leave TONG and cut off relation with him. He could then enjoy wealth and woman. The King is getting old. He will pass the throne to KAI very soon. However, TONG and SHA meet KAI. They recognize him. However, KAI does not repent at all. A prince, YIP, who has disappeared for a long time suddenly appears during KAI and the princess wedding.
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Episode 17 - Episode 17
Release Date: 1996-12-10TONG, SHA and KAI are shocked. YIP is BONY's husband who was killed by SHA. BONY has transformed her soul into YIP's dead body. She plans to take revenge. YIP points out that TONY is actually a black bear. YIP locks him up and beats him. The King believes in his word. He orders KAI to kill TONG. TONG flees away. BONY stops TONG and SHA. She makes TONG to become a big black bear. SHA is seriously hurt. KAI arrives. He thinks that the bear ate TONG. He tries to kill the bear with a sword. SHA risks his life to save the bear and dies. KAI commits suicide. The dragons horse becomes the third prince again. He stops KAI and tells him that the bear is TONG. They try hard to rescue TONG. However, they fall into BONY's trap. The third prince dies. KAI flees away. He goes to ask HUNG to help.
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Episode 18 - Episode 18
Release Date: 1996-12-11HUNG defeats BONY. TIN appears and makes the third prince and SHA alive again. The teacher and disciples continue their journey. CHA cm Nation has a great drought for three years. The abbot cannot solve this problem. The King is vexed. The Deer Monster, Sheep Monster and the Tiger Monster transform into the taoist priests and accuse the abbot. The King believes into their words and punishes all monks. The King even grants titles to the three monsters. TONG and his disciples pass through this nation. They find that the monks are being tortured. HUNG then transformed into a taoist priest to investigate. They rescue the monks. HUNG, SHA and KAI even play trick on the three monsters.
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Episode 19 - Episode 19
Release Date: 1996-12-12In order to get rid of their enemy, they bet with TONG before the King, see who could bring rain to the nation. HUNG controls the Wind God and the Cloud God and defeat the three monsters. The tiger monster does not give up. He competes with TONG to ride a missile. HUNG helps TONG. TONG wins again. The Deer Monster competes with TONG of eyesight. HUNG again helps TONG to in. The tiger monster bets HUNG his life. HUNG again wins. He even makes the tiger monster turns back to a real tiger. The tiger dies. HUNG then suppressed the Deer and the Sheep. Till then the King knew that he has wronged the monks. He forgives them and remits the punishment.
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Episode 20 - Episode 20
Release Date: 1996-12-13The four continue the journey. They meet the Spider Monster this time. TONG is kidnapped. The Spider Monsters try to deduce TONG but TONG is not tempted at all. In fact, the spiders had harmed many men in the town. The spiders absorb the men's essence and make them into old men. It is very difficult for them to find the Spider Cave. HUNG thinks of a good device. He transforms into a handsome young man to tempt the spider. KAI becomes the man's wife and SHA becomes an old man. Consequently, the spiders fall into the trap. The spiders bring them to the Spider Cave. HUNG, KAI and SHA are going to kill the spider. However, TONG stops them. Why TONG stops them ? Is her bewitched by the Spiders?
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Episode 21 - Episode 21
Release Date: 1996-12-16Five hundred years ago, SZE, a spider monster, transformed into a human being. She met SHU. They became lovers. Later, Monk T AI TO made SZE become a spider again. The villager burnt her to death. SHU died together with SZE. HUNG finds out SHU's whereabouts from the Emperor of Hell. SHU is now the noble's son at the SZE CHUAN Nation. TONG allows SZE, YAN and her mother to join him to look for SHU. They eventually arrive the SZE CHUAN Nation. They directly go to the noble's place. However, SHU stays in the pavilion to wait for SZE. SHU dies at the pavilion. SZE cries at SHU's coffin. Her tears drops on SHU's face.
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Episode 22 - Episode 22
Release Date: 1996-12-17HUNG preaches YAN. YAN secretly admires HUNG. The Chicken Spirit loves YAN. However, YAN refuses him. TONG and his students pass through a village. The village think that they are monsters and set a trap against them. Consequently, they fall into their trap. SZE picks a picture with SHU's portrait on it. They are shocked to find that this Taoist priest with the picture is SHU. He is good at exterminating monsters and spirits. One night, SZE takes a walk outside and meet the priest, SHU, and the Flower Monster. They want to exterminate monsters. They pierce at SZE. Fortunately, HUNG rescues her in time. FUNG eventually convinces SHU to continue his not-yet-ending love story with SZE. Unexpectedly, SHU is, actually, a centipede monster .
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Episode 23 - Episode 23
Release Date: 1996-12-18SHU lies to SZE. He waits for a chance to absorb essence from TONG. SZE witnesses that SHU and the Flower Monster are absorbing essence from the Wolf Monster in the chamber. SZE is shocked and leaves. The Flower Monster catches her. It takes the chance to absorb SZE's essence. Fortunately, SHU stops it in time. SZE then flees away. Is it fate? SZE returns. She asks SHU to let her stay so that she could help him to catch monsters. SHU is glad to let her stay. TONG and his students proceed. Suddenly there is thunder and storm. It signals that an extraordinary monster is coming to earth. HUNG flies to find this monster. YAN follows him.
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Episode 24 - Episode 24
Release Date: 1996-12-19HUNG and Y AN fly to the Killing Monster Villa. They see SHU, the Centipede Monster, is performing the Thousand-Faces Magic. SHU is clam. SZE bets HUNG to forgive SHU. YAN also stops HUNG. HUNG let him go in the hope that he will reform himself. However, SHU does not reform. He even kidnaps TONG. HUNG burst into the villa to save TONG. He finds two TONG in the villa. He cannot identity who is the real one. SHU is a very senior monster, even the magic mirror cannot help. Fortunately, the Hymen helps them and points out who is TONG. KAI and SHA then could identify the real TONG. SHU is defeated. He kidnaps SZE and flees away. TONG stops HUNG to chase after SHU. Meanwhile, TONG is seriously injured.
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Episode 25 - Episode 25
Release Date: 1996-12-20HUNG asks YIN to cure TONG. HUNG draws a Monster Circle. HUNG asks the monsters not to go further than the circle so as to avoid danger. Consequently, SHU transforms into HUNG. He pretends to be seriously injured. YAN falls into his trap. SHU absorbs YAN's essence. YAN then turns into a spider. SHU absorbs SZE's essence. He finally learns the Transformation Magic. He is now ready to start a great fight with HUNG. SHU hurts HUNG. Fortunately, the Chicken Monster arrives and rescues HUNG. Centipede Monster is fear of chicken. Both SHU and the Chicken Monster are hurt. HUNG helps the Chicken Monster to transform into a human being again .
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Episode 26 - Episode 26
Release Date: 1996-12-23SZE awakes. The villagers want to burn SHU to death. Thus, SZE is mother allows SZE to say good-bye to SHU. Unexpectedly, SZE dies together with SHU. The Chicken Monster brings YAN and her mother back into the Spider Cave. TONG and students continue their journey. They arrive a desert. There are nine suns. It is extremely hot. They are very hungry and exhausted. TONG and his students eventually pass through the desert and enter the Female Nation.
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Episode 27 - Episode 27
Release Date: 1996-12-24The population of the Female Nation is all female. Therefore, they find TONG and his students very special. TONG and his students' arrival creates chaos to the Female Nation! FU brings TONG and his students to meet the Female Emperor. The Emperor and her daughters are shocked and glad to see men. The Emperor admires TONG who is so handsome. She gives TONG the title of Empresses, HUNG and SHA be the Emperor's concubines and KAI the Title of General. TONG agrees to accept the titles after three days for the sake of getting the permit. FU objects. He even explodes a bomb to kill TONG and his students. He then kills herself by some poisoned wine. However, FU has taken HUNG's magic pill, he eventually comes to life again .
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Episode 28 - Episode 28
Release Date: 1996-12-25TONG and his students continue their journey to the west. The Generals try to stop them. HUNG freezes them. The Emperor then let them go. YIN devises to make them drink the water from the 'Mother and Son Spring'. They are sick and have to stay in the Female Nation. They are going to give birth to babies within ten days after drinking water from the 'Mother and Son Spring'. FU wants them to stay and dries up the water of the 'Mother and Son Spring'. HUNG asks KWAN to give them the antidote. YU plays trick on them and gives them some potion which is good for pregnant woman. They soon become pregnant. HUNG again asks KWAN to give them the antidote. They take the antidote!
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Episode 29 - Episode 29
Release Date: 1996-12-26YU does not listen to KWAN. She leaves angrily. YU is still mad at KWAN. She again plays tricks on them and leave four babies beside them when they are in coma. The four are shocked to find the baby when they awake! The Emperor think that they will stay. Unexpectedly, TONG brings the babies together and leave. However, the babies are sick and hungry. They are forced to return. The Emperor does not allow anyone to be the wet-nurse for their babies. TONG and HUNG then send the babies to the temple. They then become monks. YU burns the temple. TONG and his students burst into the temple to rescue their babies.
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Episode 30 - Episode 30
Release Date: 1996-12-27Conflicts arise because of the babies. KAI and SHA decide to stay. They are not going to accompany TONG to the west. HUNG sends the two babies to the Fruity Mountain. Meanwhile, YIN arrives. She agrees to take care of the babies. TONG and HUNG then continue their journey. FU kidnaps KAI and SHA. She forces TONG to marry her. TONG requests one day to think over. TONG is very confident in convincing FU. He eventually convinces FU. FU now understands that love is something very fragile and delicate. TONG takes FU's sword. He swings the sword and cuts FU's hair. FU's hair blows down to the ground as leaves .