Some of the Sun Wukong effigies and artifacts collected by Taipei-based Journey to the West enthusiast Jim McClanahan. Jim McClanahan shows off his forearm tattoo of one of the Monkey King’s alternative names, Great Sage Equaling Heaven. The first icon McClanahan purchased after relocating to Taiwan in 2017 features Lei Gong (雷公, “Sire Thunder”) and Dian Mu (電母, “Mother of Lighting”). Photo: Steven CrookSince then, McClanahan’s collection has steadily grown. Of his 40-plus religious statues, 17 depict the Monkey King, while several are of Hindu deities.
