Earthman/Saiyan: the identity of Monkey King or Kakarot

Alana 2021-12-31 08:02:48

Earthman/Saiyan: the identity of Monkey King or Kakarot

"Dragon Ball Super: Broly" released at the beginning of this year can be regarded as the most exciting movie in the Dragon Ball series. It is not only the starting point for Akira Toriyama to officially arrange Broly into the Dragon Ball universe (previously Broly) The image is actually made by Toei), and the visual experience brought about by its excellent action graphics is also very enjoyable. But while the viewer is enjoying its visual spectacle, they may overlook the meaningful ending of the film. When Monkey King finds Broly and brings him food, Broly’s friends ask Wu Kong’s name, and Monkey King asks him what his name is. Answered, "Monkey King, and... Kakarot".

Because this detail is too ordinary—because everyone seems to have long believed that Monkey King is Kakarot, and the two are interchangeable—it obscures its cultural connotation. But in fact, the inquiry and answer of Monkey King's name is actually the process of Monkey King's own subjectification. The two names imply two different identity attributes. "Monkey King" corresponds to the people on Earth, while "Kakarot" corresponds to the Saiyans. The two are superimposed on the Monkey King. This is actually for two different cultural orders. (Earth and Vegeta) recognition.

In fact, the formation of Monkey King’s animation image itself has some complexity: on the one hand, it is derived from the Monkey King in the Chinese classical novel "Journey to the West", which is reflected in the name, tail, somersault cloud, etc.; On the one hand, the Monkey King in the "Dragon Ball" series is rooted in Japan's adaptation of "Journey to the West" into popular cultural works since the 1950s, such as Osamu Tezuka's "My Monkey King." At the same time, Akira Toriyama responded to the request of Shueisha to incorporate Chinese Kungfu elements in the creation process, and he is also a fan of Kungfu movies, so the shadow of Hong Kong Kungfu movies can be seen in the action design. Therefore, the first "Dragon Ball" in the "Dragon Ball" series in the early years was able to enter the Chinese market and was very popular.

However, "Dragon Ball" has deviated from the color of "Journey to the West" from the end: Monkey King went to the gods to practice, and the gods completely removed his tail. Perhaps it can be seen as a link between "Dragon Ball" and "Journey to the West". fracture. Especially Piccolo (actually refers to Piccolo here, but in fact, the name of the first Piccolo Demon King and the second-generation Piccolo Demon King are the same) after the battle with Monkey King, the marriage of Wukong and Qiqi reflected this break even more. For obvious. As for the sequel "Dragon Ball Z", the color of "Journey to the West" is completely absent. Toriyama introduces the story into the struggle of the universe, even after one third of "Dragon Ball Z", even Dragon Ball itself It has also become a dispensable foil. But while doing this, it also increased the complexity of Monkey King's image.

From the very beginning of "Dragon Ball Z", Monkey King was told that he was not a human being on earth, but a killing "machine" sent by Saiyans to conquer the earth. However, due to the trauma of his brain when he was a child, he forgot his mission and his personality From violent to docile, he even became the guardian of the earth in continuous cultivation, and the identity of the earthlings has already been engraved in his mind. Therefore, facing his Saiyan bloodline and his real name "Kakarot", Sun Wukong naturally refused, and said to his brother Latiz: "I am not a Kakarot, I am the earthling Son Wukong. "Latitz was then knocked down even at the expense of his life, and the two died together. However, the combative blood of Saiyans in their bodies cannot be changed, and the characteristics of Saiyans' strength after recovering to health at an endangered time, and the extreme increase of strength when angry, often become a sharp weapon for Sun Wukong's cultivation and fighting. After he was resurrected with the power of Dragon Ball, he became a legendary Super Saiyan when he went to Namek to fight Frieza. He even said to Frieza: "I am a Saiyan who grew up on the earth. I came here from Earth in order to defeat you. I originally had a peace-loving heart. Now I am awakened by my anger and become a legendary warrior... Super Saiyan Monkey King!"

At this point, Monkey King recognized the identity of Saiyan. However, behind the Super Saiyan, what he added was actually not Kakarot’s name, but the earth’s name Sun Wukong. He still bears the conflict of both blood and culture, but the difference between the two Simultaneous appearance means a consensus. Therefore, Monkey King defeated Frieza at the same time as Saiyan’s revenge against Frieza and Sun Wukong’s pursuit of peace in the universe under the nourishment of earth culture. Therefore, the Namek star chapter of "Dragon Ball Z" has become a very charming chapter. .

After the end of the Namekist chapter, Toriyama once wanted to seal the pen, but because Shueisha would not easily end the popular manga, the subsequent Sharu and Buu chapters appeared, and Toriyama once wanted to give up the image of Goku. I hope to develop Gohan as the main character (Saru chapter), but because Wukong's popularity is too high, he has to give up. Gohan is even jokingly called "Nobifan" (Nobi Nobita + Son Gohan). Akira Toriyama's move may prove the mission of Wukong's image. When his identity is no longer a problem, his mission is over.

In 2017, when the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee announced that nine cartoon characters including Monkey King became its ambassadors, it was Monkey King in the center of the screen, but the vitality bomb he held in his hand was replaced with the Olympic rings, a kind of The identity that connects the people of the earth and other people in various countries has been formed, and perhaps once again illustrates the cultural connotation of this image.

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Extended Reading
  • Aimee 2021-12-31 08:02:48

    The anime that defines what passion is

  • Rhiannon 2022-03-25 09:01:10

    Make up for a big show ||| It turned out to be following the comics... I originally planned to make up the original plot, but I didn't want to make up for it... The problem that could have been solved by Baidu Encyclopedia ended up being 100G and then discarded ...

Dragon Ball Z quotes

  • [to an android]

    Vegeta: If you give up now I promise to turn you into something useful, like a toaster or a washing machine.

  • Frieza: [after blowing up Krillin] Pop goes the weasel!