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Monkey King Festival

Monkey God aka Monkey King is a major character in a Chinese novel called Pilgrim to the West.  It is a story about Tang Xuan Zang's pilgrimage to India to get the Buddha's pray.  He was accompanied by 3 apprentices and Monkey King is one of them. 

The monkey was originally an outcast from the heaven.  By helping the monk to the West, he regained Buddhist immortality.

As the monkey was renowned for his magically ability, in the old days during the festival, a "possessed person" would run on hot surface barefoot and climb a ladder which the steps are made of knives and the possessed person will not be injured.  But they don't do it this way any more.  It's back to the standard worshipping formality like burning paper offerings and incense sticks.

A Monkey King or Monkey God Temple can be found in Sau Mau Ping in Kowloon and the Festival is celebrated on the 16th day of the 8th lunar month.

Other Chinese Gods:

- Kwan Tai
- Kwun Yum
- Che Kung
- Tam Kung
- Tin Hau (Sea God)

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