Wong Tai Sin Sign 35 · Tang Monk's Journey to the West

This stick refers to Xuanzang, a Buddhist monk who lived during the Tang Dynasty (602-664 CE). Known as Tang Sanzang or the Tang Monk, he begined on an epic 17-year journey to India to collect Buddhist scriptures. He traveled over 25,000 kilometers through deserts, mountains, and hostile kingdoms, facing bandits, extreme weather, and political intrigue. His journey wasn't just physical — it was a spiritual quest that transformed both him and Chinese Buddhism forever. When he returned to Chang'an (modern Xi'an) in 645 CE, he brought back 657 Buddhist texts and spent the rest of his life translating them. His story became the foundation for 'Journey to the West,' one of China's four great classical novels, where he's accompanied by the Monkey King and other magical companions. For Chinese culture, Xuanzang represents the ultimate example of perseverance through hardship to achieve something meaningful.