Black Bear Guai

The Black Wind King, also known as the Black Bear Guai, resides in the Black Wind Cave on Black Wind Mountain, near Guanyin Temple. He has a fondness for meditation and alchemy and is on good terms with the abbot, Elder Jinchi. They often discuss and meditate together. The Black Wind King also has two close friends: Whiteclad Noble and Lingxuzi, with whom he frequently exchanges alchemical knowledge.

Greedy and Unfaithful, Stealing the Kasaya

The Black Wind King saw that Guanyin Temple was on fire. He quickly rode a cloud to the scene, intending to help put out the fire. However, upon discovering a brocade kasaya (a valuable Buddhist robe), he abandoned his rescue efforts and seized the opportunity to steal it.

Clever and Strong

After obtaining the kasaya, the Black Wind King invited Whiteclad Noble and Lingxuzi to appraise the treasure with him. They planned to hold a “Buddhist Robe Gathering” on the Black Wind King’s birthday. At that time, Sun Wukong arrived at Black Wind Mountain in search of the stolen kasaya. Learning that the Black Wind King had taken it, Sun Wukong confronted him. In the ensuing battle, Whiteclad Noble was killed, while the Black Wind King and Lingxuzi retreated to the Black Wind Cave. The cave was ingeniously designed, making it impossible for Sun Wukong to enter. Frustrated, he tried to lure the Black Wind King out. Annoyed by the noise, the Black Wind King emerged and fought Sun Wukong for several rounds without a clear winner. He then proposed a break for lunch and retreated back into the cave to arrange his birthday celebration, sending out invitations to nearby Yaoguai kings for the Buddhist Robe Gathering.

Unaware that Elder Jinchi had died, the Black Wind King also sent an invitation to him. Sun Wukong intercepted the invitation and, after reading its contents, disguised himself as Elder Jinchi to attend the banquet. The Black Wind King, surprised by Elder Jinchi’s swift arrival, suspected he might be there to reclaim the kasaya and ordered his minions to hide it. During their conversation, a patrol Yaoguai discovered a dead Yaoguai killed by Sun Wukong and quickly informed the Black Wind King that Elder Jinchi was actually Sun Wukong in disguise. The two fought again, from inside the cave to outside, until nightfall. The Black Wind King proposed a truce and retreated back into the cave, leaving Sun Wukong unable to breach it.

Conversion to Buddhism

Returning to Guanyin Temple, Sun Wukong had a sudden insight: since the Temple was named after Guanyin, Guanyin must be held responsible for this. He decided to seek her help. The next morning, he went to the South Sea to ask for her assistance. Together, they returned to Black Wind Mountain, where they encountered Lingxuzi carrying a tray with two elixirs to the Buddhist Robe Gathering. Sun Wukong killed him with a single blow, ate one elixir, and transformed himself into the other elixir on the tray. Guanyin then disguised herself as Lingxuzi.

The fake Lingxuzi presented the elixirs to the Black Wind King, who, unaware of the trick, swallowed the elixir that was actually Sun Wukong. Inside the Black Wind King’s stomach, Sun Wukong caused immense pain, forcing the Black Wind King to beg for mercy. Guanyin revealed her true form and placed a golden hoop on the Black Bear Demon’s head, urging him to convert to Buddhism. The Black Bear Guai agreed, and Guanyin performed a ritual to ordain him, taking him to Mount Luojia (Mount Potalaka) to serve as a guardian deity.