The Chinese tale of Sun Wukong, the great Monkey King, is also the inspiration behind a major TV show! Which one?

There is a great abundance of Chinese literature with some unusual and fascinating figures. An old, famous Chinese tale that describes the life of the Monkey King is one of them.

In short, the Monkey King can transform himself to gain strength. He rides around on a cloud with his staff helping people. His name is Sun Wu-Kong, or Son Goku, as he’s known in Japan. Sound familiar? It's thought that the story of the Monkey King was the inspiration for the manga and later TV show Dragon Ball Z

Asian culture has included elements from the legend of the Monkey King for many centuries. Novels, films, and television shows have been produced centering around the theme of this character. In fact, different versions of the story have become such a staple of Asian culture, that even Western cultures have not been uninfluenced by them.

The character of the Monkey King has gotten the attention of critics because of his complicated nature, which seems to have contradictions. The monkey is said to embody a trickster mentality, while the child is supposed to represent a heroic, godlike personality.

But what do they have in common? Both parts of the Monkey King must face the challenges of childhood and escape from trouble. Being partially god and partially human presents a lot to think about and raises questions about what it means to be either one.

(See the source for a much more complete examination.)

(Source)