Some enemies can be fought with weapons. Others can be defeated with wisdom. But the most dangerous enemies of all are the ones that attack not the body, but the heart.
Tripitaka had faced demons, monsters, and the forces of Heaven itself. But nothing had prepared him for what he found on the road through the western kingdoms — a land where no man had set foot in three generations.
The Kingdom of Women was called the Kingdom of Lion Camels — or, more simply, the Country of Queens. The city was magnificent: clean streets, beautiful gardens, fountains that sang with fresh water. The people were kind, the air was sweet, and everything looked peaceful.
But there was something unusual about the city. The citizens — the guards, the merchants, the dancers — were all women. Not a single man lived within the walls.
When the pilgrims entered the city, they were treated with extraordinary hospitality. The Queen herself came out to greet them — a beautiful woman named Empress Wu. She was young, gracious, and seemed genuinely pleased to see them.
What Tripitaka did not yet know was that the Queen had been waiting for a man to come to her kingdom for over twenty years. And when she saw the handsome monk from the East, she knew exactly what she wanted.
Over the following days, the Queen's interest in Tripitaka became obvious. She invited him to court, served him the finest food, and spoke to him with warmth and admiration. The other disciples noticed — Pigsy more than anyone, because he was starting to develop feelings for the palace servants himself.
Then came the day of the proposal.
The Queen sent her servants to Tripitaka's chambers with a message. She offered him the throne — he would be King, she would be his Queen, and together they would rule the Kingdom of Women for the rest of their lives. All he had to do was stay, marry her, and forget about the pilgrimage to the West.
Tripitaka was horrified. He was a monk, sworn to a life of chastity and dedication to Buddha. He had taken a vow — and he would never break it.
But the Queen would not take no for an answer. She sent another message: if Tripitaka would not marry her willingly, she would keep him prisoner. The pilgrimage would end here, in this beautiful city with no way out.
Stay and abandon his sacred vow to reach the West — or refuse and face imprisonment that would doom his mission forever. Neither option was acceptable.
Sun Wukong saw the danger clearly. His master was trapped — not by chains, but by the Queen's affection. And there was nothing they could fight, because the Queen was not a demon. She was simply a woman in love, and love can be as powerful as any monster.
But the Monkey King was clever. He had an idea.
While the Queen was distracted with her attempt to win Tripitaka's heart, Sun Wukong used his magic to create a double — a fake Tripitaka that looked exactly like the real one. The fake Tripitaka stayed in the palace, acting in every way like a man who was slowly falling in love.
The real Tripitaka was smuggled out of the city in the middle of the night, carried on a cloud by the Monkey King himself. They flew through the darkness, putting as much distance as possible between themselves and the Kingdom of Women.
When the Queen discovered that Tripitaka had escaped, she was heartbroken. But she was also — unexpectedly — understanding. She sent no one after them. She simply returned to her palace, alone.
The pilgrims moved on quickly. But what they left behind was a Queen who would spend the rest of her days wondering what might have been. It was a sad ending to what had started as a hopeful meeting.
But this was the nature of the pilgrimage. Not every battle was won with weapons. Not every challenge was overcome with strength. Sometimes, the most difficult victories were the ones that left everyone wounded — even the victors.
Tripitaka had been tested in a way that was different from any demon encounter. He had been tempted with something he truly wanted — not power, not immortality, not the destruction of his enemies. He had been offered love. And he had chosen his path anyway.
The road to the West continued. But the memory of the Kingdom of Women stayed with them all.
Would you be like the steadfast Tripitaka who chose his path over temptation? Or like Pigsy who couldn't resist? Find out which Journey to the West character matches your personality!
Take the Character Quiz →