$Journey to the West: Could a Chinese story from several hundred years ago really become a global Meme culture IP?
Answer: Yes, it could. And Journey to the West isn’t starting from scratch on its journey around the world.
You may not know that Sun Wukong, the protagonist of Japan’s globally popular Dragon Ball, was originally inspired by the Monkey King from China’s Journey to the West.
Then there’s Black Myth: Wukong, which sold 20 million copies just one month after its release in 2024.
What does this tell us?
Eastern culture isn’t lacking international appeal. It just needs to find ways of presenting itself that make the world want to learn about it.
In the past, Journey to the West spread mainly through novels, film and television, and games.
Today is different.
We have AI, short-form videos, Meme culture, and Web3 communities that can transcend national borders.
Sun Wukong can be turned into comics, animation, and stickers.
Zhu Bajie can use humor to reveal the greed and desires of human nature.
The eighty-one trials can remind people in different countries of the challenges they’re facing in their own lives.
You’ll find that:
Languages and cultures may differ, but human desires, fears, courage, convictions, and growth can resonate across cultures.
That’s the real strength of Journey to the West.
But one thing must be made clear:
The success of Dragon Ball and Black Myth: Wukong doesn’t mean a Journey to the West Meme is guaranteed to succeed.
Cultural influence doesn’t automatically translate into community influence, let alone token value.
What truly determines the outcome is whether people can keep creating content that users around the world love.
That’s exactly what the Journey to the West community is here to do.
Chinese creators share Eastern wisdom.
Creators overseas reinterpret it in their own languages.
Some write articles, some make animation, some create Memes, and others share the story with more people.
Answer: Yes, it could. And Journey to the West isn’t starting from scratch on its journey around the world.
You may not know that Sun Wukong, the protagonist of Japan’s globally popular Dragon Ball, was originally inspired by the Monkey King from China’s Journey to the West.
Then there’s Black Myth: Wukong, which sold 20 million copies just one month after its release in 2024.
What does this tell us?
Eastern culture isn’t lacking international appeal. It just needs to find ways of presenting itself that make the world want to learn about it.
In the past, Journey to the West spread mainly through novels, film and television, and games.
Today is different.
We have AI, short-form videos, Meme culture, and Web3 communities that can transcend national borders.
Sun Wukong can be turned into comics, animation, and stickers.
Zhu Bajie can use humor to reveal the greed and desires of human nature.
The eighty-one trials can remind people in different countries of the challenges they’re facing in their own lives.
You’ll find that:
Languages and cultures may differ, but human desires, fears, courage, convictions, and growth can resonate across cultures.
That’s the real strength of Journey to the West.
But one thing must be made clear:
The success of Dragon Ball and Black Myth: Wukong doesn’t mean a Journey to the West Meme is guaranteed to succeed.
Cultural influence doesn’t automatically translate into community influence, let alone token value.
What truly determines the outcome is whether people can keep creating content that users around the world love.
That’s exactly what the Journey to the West community is here to do.
Chinese creators share Eastern wisdom.
Creators overseas reinterpret it in their own languages.
Some write articles, some make animation, some create Memes, and others share the story with more people.