Huangmei Dawang

Huangmei Dawang (Chinese: 黃眉大王; trans. "the Yellow-Browed Great King") is a major antagonist featured in the 16th-century Chinese classic novel Journey to the West. He appears as one of the most challenging adversaries for Sun Wukong and his fellow pilgrims. His story is notable for his immense power, the high-level celestial beings he defeats, and his direct connection to the future Buddha, Maitreya.

Unlike most demons in the novel, who are escaped animals or spirits, the Yellow-Browed Great King has a celestial origin. He is, in fact, the yellow-browed pageboy who serves Maitreya Buddha. Having grown bored with his heavenly duties, he stole two of his master's most powerful magical treasures and escaped to the mortal world.

Appearance in Journey to the West

As Tang Sanzang and his disciples journey through the West, they see a magnificent temple complex that bears a striking resemblance to the Thunder Monastery on Vulture Peak, the home of the Buddha. Tang Sanzang, earnest in his faith, insists on entering to pay his respects, despite Sun Wukong's deep suspicions. Upon entering, the temple is revealed to be a trap. The Yellow-Browed King, who had created the entire complex through magic, captures Tang Sanzang and the other disciples.

Sun Wukong manages to escape and confronts the demon, who proves to be a formidable adversary. The demon's power derives from two magical items he stole from Maitreya: the Golden Cymbals (金铙; jīn náo), a pair of enchanted cymbals capable of trapping anyone within them, and the Human-Race Pouch (人种袋; rénzhǒng dài), a magical bag that can capture and imprison gods, immortals, and heroes regardless of their number. During their confrontation, Sun Wukong is trapped inside the Golden Cymbals and can only be freed when the celestial Kang Jinlong (亢金龙; "the Golden Dragon of Neck") uses its horn to pry them open. As Sun Wukong calls upon a wide range of celestial allies for aid—including the Twenty-Eight Mansions, the Five Great Dragon Kings, and various heavenly generals—the Yellow-Browed King captures each of them with the Human-Race Pouch. This string of defeats represents one of Sun Wukong's most vulnerable moments throughout the pilgrimage, leaving him utterly powerless.

Under the guidance of the heavenly official Gongcao, Sun Wukong sought assistance from Guoshiwang Bodhisattva (國師王菩薩), who sent Little Crown Prince Zhang (小張太子) and the Four Great Divine Generals to aid him. The Yellow-Browed Great King provoked Little Crown Prince Zhang with harsh words and subsequently engaged in battle against multiple opponents, with neither side gaining a decisive advantage. After some time, the Yellow-Browed King used the Human-Race Pouch to capture Little Crown Prince Zhang and the Four Great Divine Generals, forcing Sun Wukong to flee once again.

After exhausting all his options, Sun Wukong is finally advised to seek the demon's true master. He travels to the paradise of Maitreya and tearfully explains his plight. Maitreya recognizes the demon as his escaped pageboy and agrees to help. To defeat his own disciple, Maitreya devises a plan. He transforms himself into a melon farmer. When the demon, who has been tricked by Sun Wukong into a contest, comes to eat a melon, he is unknowingly swallowed by Maitreya (in his melon form). Trapped inside his master's stomach, the demon is tormented until he surrenders. He returns the stolen treasures and is taken back to heaven by Maitreya to face punishment.

Character evaluation

Qing dynasty Taoist Wuyizi said that "the Yellow-Browed Great King borrowed the all-encompassing 'cloth bag' that contained everything to collect the desires of all living beings, which was truly sorrowful. Fortunately, a single melon was enough to subdue it."

Zhu Hongbo, a professor at the Chinese Department of East China Normal University, analyzes the Yellow-Browed Great King's role:

The Yellow-Browed Demon as an unexpectedly formidable character. Despite his humble-sounding name, the Yellow-Browed Demon is one of the most persistent and troublesome foes encountered by Tang Sanzang and his disciples on their journey to the West. Unlike other demons who rely mostly on brute force to capture Tang Sanzang, the Yellow-Browed Demon cleverly sets up the Little Leiyin Temple as a trap, effectively using a "please enter the urn" tactic, demonstrating notable intelligence. However, his initial success is only part of the story. The Yellow-Browed Demon's great strength largely comes from two powerful magical weapons: the Golden Cymbals and a white cloth bag. Equipped with these, he is able to consistently gain the upper hand against Sun Wukong, causing him to become confused and desperate, rushing to call for help without first investigating the demon's true nature. In the end, it is Maitreya Buddha, the master of the Yellow-Browed Demon, who intervenes. Disguised as a melon farmer, Maitreya orchestrates a plan where Sun Wukong lures the demon deeper into the trap, allowing a coordinated inside-outside attack to finally subdue this formidable foe.

In popular culture

Further information: List of media adaptations of Journey to the West

The Yellow-Browed Great King is featured in the video game Black Myth: Wukong, with the game expanding on his character. Presenting him with a unique philosophical motivation, in this interpretation, he seems driven by a cynical view of human and demon nature, believing that desire is an inescapable part of existence. He serves as the final boss of a major chapter and engages the protagonist, the "Destined One", in battle twice. the Yellow-Browed Great King also managed to not only subdue Kang Jinlong into his service but also successfully slaying the Snake General by forcing the New West into an unexpected winter, causing both the snake and turtle generals to hibernate. Alongside 4 disciples that are opposites to the companions of Tang Sanzang, which include Non-White (the opposite of Bai Longma), Non-Able (the opposite of Zhu Bajie), Non-Pure (the opposite of Sha Wujing), and Non-Void (the opposite of Sun Wukong), as well as taking in a group of Heluo Fish due to them seemingly bowing towards him in reverence. As well as turning the Third Prince of Flowing Sand's 4 divine generals into twisted monstrosities, such as Captain Kalpa-Wave getting beheaded and turned into a lotus flower that leaked poisonous blood and puss.