Dragon Ball is one of the most popular anime in history, with millions of fans around the world. Some die-hard fans may be aware of its origins, but others may find Dragon Ball surprising roots. Before Goku achieved intergalactic combat experience and powerful transformations, his adventures were more Earth-centric and directly inspired by myths.
In truth, Dragon Ball came about thanks to the famous Chinese folklore of the 16th century, Journey to the West. Understanding the connections between the two offers a deeper understanding of the plot as it evolves throughout the franchise. Understanding the links with Journey to the West it also creates a deeper appreciation for Akira Toriyama's work and the thought he put into putting his own spin on the story.
Reference for every journey to the west in Dragon Ball explained
Dragon Ball characters were inspired by those in Journey to the West
The first chapters of Dragon Ball had parallels with Journey to the West in abundance. Goku shares similarities with Sun Wukongthe legendary Monkey King in Journey to the Westand not just in their names. Wukong was born from a mystical stone on Mount Huaguo, while Goku was raised on Mount Paozu after being found on a spaceship. Goku's Nimbus and power pole are directly inspired by Wukong's Cloud Somersault, which allows him to travel great distances, and his golden bow pole can grow and shrink. Just like Goku, Wukong was capable of great and powerful transformations.
In addition to Goku, there are many more references to Journey to the West, like Bulma's connection with Tang Sanzang. Bulma meets Goku for the first time and brings together Oolong and Yamcha, similar to Tang Sanzang, who brings together similar warriors throughout his journey. Oolong, for example, is a direct reference to Zhu Bajie, a comically powerful and morally gray pig-man. Yamcha's counterpart is Sha Wujing, a bandit from the desert. Even Master Roshi, despite having a completely different personality, may be related to Sun Wukong's teacher, who was also a hermit.
How Journey To The West still influences Dragon Ball even Daima
The influence of the original mythos on Dragon Ball varies far and wide
As the series grew and evolved, the influence of Journey to the West could still be seen, echoing through Dragon Ball Z and even the last installment, Dragon Ball Daima. The Saiyan's ability to transform into a Super Saiyan is a tribute to Sun Wukong's ability to achieve new forms with greater power. The enemies Goku faces also reflect the battles Wukong faces throughout his journey, such as Prince Vegeta and Nezha, the Third Lotus Prince.
More modern examples include the fact that Goku and Sun Wukong have visited and escaped the afterlife several times throughout their journeys. The Demon Realm in Daima could easily have been directly inspired by Wukong's travels and the trials he faced while in the underworld. While Goku intends to save Dende and fight the Tamagamis, Sun Wukong intends to escape and fight his way out after erasing his name from the kill list. As Goku's story progresses Dragon Ballthere could be even more subtle references or nods to the tradition that Toriyama based the original story on.