Journey to the West－The Flaming Mountains
The widely celebrated mythological tale Journey to the West symbolizes the spirit of intellectual liberation and progressive social thought. For over 500 years, its mythical elements have continuously influenced the evolution of literature, theater, film, and music.
Journey to the West－The Flaming Mountains draws from the episode where Sun Wukong borrows the Banana Leaf Fan. On their pilgrimage to the West, Sun Wukong, Tang Sanzang, Sha Wujing, and Zhu Bajie encounter blazing flames. To obtain the magical fan from Princess Iron Fan, which can extinguish the fires of Fiery Mountain, they battle against Princess Iron Fan, the Bull Demon King, and Red Boy. This piece, born in an era of East-West cultural fusion, blends the appearance of porcelain figurines with the essence of Greek mythology, Disney characters, and even Japanese anime. It becomes a modern rendition of Journey to the West – The Fiery Mountain, transcending time into the 21st century.
Features of the Porcelain Figurines
◎ Red Boy soars above in a blaze of blue fire, while fiery red-orange flames swirl around each character.
◎ Princess Iron Fan, holding the Banana Leaf Fan, appears in perfect proportion, dressed in elegant robes, her poised figure gazing upwards at Red Boy.
◎ Perched atop the flames, Red Boy is guided by Princess Iron Fan’s delicate fingers and gaze, confronting Sun Wukong.
◎ Sha Wujing, a heavenly general, has broad shoulders and a face tinted indigo. His demon-subduing staff, crafted by Lu Ban from sacred lunar wood, resembles a modern-day Aquaman weapon.
◎ Sun Wukong makes a heroic entrance with the dashing charisma of a Korean drama protagonist. The Monkey King’s cleverness, charm, and supernatural abilities are vividly portrayed.
◎ The Bull Demon King is reminiscent of the Minotaur from Greek mythology, gripping a golden flail with overwhelming might.
◎ At Princess Iron Fan’s side stands her warrior attendant, Xiao Cui, brandishing a blue-bladed sword and wearing upturned embroidered shoes. Her swift and confident posture contrasts sharply with the bumbling Zhu Bajie.
◎ Zhu Bajie resembles one of the dwarfs from Snow White, stumbling forward with comical awkwardness.
◎ Nezha, the Prince of the Heavens, rides his Wind Fire Wheels—one spinning wind, the other shooting flames—while wielding the powerful Universe Ring.
◎ The netherworld emissary, part beast, part demon, evokes the eerie image of Gollum from The Lord of the Rings, invoking fear and mystery.
◎ Tang Sanzang wears a kasaya robe and a Pilu hat, holding a monk’s staff. Though he rides the divine White Dragon Horse with magical horns, he appears worried and uneasy amid the battle, striving to maintain his balance.
◎ Sitting atop a rocky outcrop is the Earth God of the Fiery Mountain. Sent to command the ghostly troops and mediate between sides, his flowing white hair and beard emit a gentle, immortal aura.
Forged Through Fire
◎ Developed over years, the globally pioneering “720-degree full-view sculpting technique” allows for seamless appreciation from both horizontal and vertical angles, with no visual blind spots.
◎ Fired at a high temperature of 1300°C using reduction techniques, the porcelain achieves an exceptionally pure glaze with minimal porosity.
◎ This breakthrough symbolizes an ancient craftsmanship reaching new heights, while its visual form reflects a worldview uniting East and West.
◎ The fantastical atmosphere where humans, demons, and deities appear on the same stage—yet remain distinct—masterfully brings to life a beloved myth of gods and spirits.
