一
Recently, the buzz in nerd culture has centred around the highly anticipated video game "Black Myth: Wukong," which has sparked a worldwide resurgence of interest in an iconic figure from Chinese mythology: Sun Wukong (孙悟空), commonly known as the Monkey King. This legendary character is not only a cornerstone of Chinese folklore but also one of its most celebrated and multifaceted heroes.
Sun Wukong's story, originating from the 16th-century epic novel Journey to the West (西游记), unfolds a mesmerizing narrative filled with adventure, transformation, and enlightenment. This masterpiece of Chinese literature attributed to Wu Cheng'en, has inspired a wide array of adaptations, including films, animations, and video games. Its vibrant characters and intricate storytelling have enthralled audiences for centuries.
As the central character in this Chinese classic, Sun Wukong faces numerous challenges and adversaries, addressing timeless questions about human nature, wisdom, and enlightenment. His journey highlights significant personal growth and explores themes of self-discovery and redemption.
In Chinese, the name "Wu (悟)" translates to "enlighten" or "comprehend," while "Kong (空)" means "emptiness" or "in vain." The name Wukong was bestowed upon him by his first master, Patriarch Bodhi, an ancient sage representing the integration of Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. Together, the name signifies "awakened to emptiness" or "aware of vacuity," a reflection of his journey from a mischievous, unruly monkey to the "Victorious Fighting Buddha," a figure of profound wisdom and enlightenment.
The release of "Black Myth: Wukong" not only reintroduces this iconic figure but also invites global audiences to delve into the rich legacy of Sun Wukong and the broader Chinese culture and society. I’m currently rereading Journey to the West to uncover more references to the Yaoguai featured in the game. If you have any questions while playing and need context, feel free to leave a comment!
二
During the pandemic, I took part in the 30 Days Writing Challenge initiated by James Altucher, a trader, investor, writer, podcast host, and entrepreneur.
I had previously researched the notion of Third Culture Kids (TCK) during a period of identity crisis. When James announced the writing challenge, I gathered my notes and transformed them into a novella.
So, what did I learn from this month-long writing challenge?
1. A Deadline is Crucial
Without a deadline, it’s easy to procrastinate and never complete your writing goals. My journey started with writing in Chinese as a child. After migrating to English-speaking countries, I felt a strong urge to write a novel in English but never took the plunge. James’s challenge provided the motivation I needed.
2. Actions Define You
To achieve my goal of becoming a prolific bilingual writer, I had to fully embrace the role of a writer. This meant consistently engaging in the act of writing to solidify my identity.
3. Focus on What You Can Control
While working on my first English novel, I faced rejections from traditional publishers. Undeterred, I chose to self-publish on Amazon, bypassing the gatekeepers. Although I know my first novel may not be perfect, it allowed me to complete the writing process and learn about self-publishing.
4. Writing as a Healing Process
Revisiting painful memories through writing helped me confront and address unresolved issues that caused stress and chronic pain. As Jordan B. Peterson suggests in Beyond Order, writing about upsetting memories can aid in healing. I created a character with experiences similar to mine and explored solutions from a third-person perspective, which helped me process and alleviate my own pain.
5. Honouring Your Influences
I chose to release my book on June 8, the same date George Orwell published Nineteen Eighty-Four. I also incorporated names of people who have been important in my life and mentioned some of my favourite locations in the novel.
You can read my novella, The Invisible Third Culture Adult, which is currently available for free for a limited time. No man is an island in the current world. Everybody is connected. We all have stories to tell. Let’s listen to each other one by one with a curious and open mind.
三
I first came across Balaji Srinivasan through Tim Ferriss's podcast. That nearly four-hour episode was truly enlightening and had a profound impact on me.
Balaji believes that many traditional media outlets operate within an ecosystem that produces a large amount of junk information, relying on monopolies or large distribution channels to spread it. If code is the script for machines, then media content is the script for humans.
In today's digital age, many traditional media platforms resort to sensationalism or fake news to grab attention and generate clicks, often with the power to destroy reputations. While media reform is challenging, Balaji advocates for each individual to become their own media brand, using decentralisation to counter the control of large media corporations.
To experiment with this new media model, Balaji launched a community called 1729, which some may recognise as a famous number in mathematics. Along with other sponsors, Balaji posts tasks on the website related to cutting-edge technology, longevity, and wealth education, rewarding community members who complete them within a set timeframe. This community serves as an experimental prototype for what Balaji calls a "Network State." I was fortunate enough to join this community early on, and I’ve participated in various activities, including online writing challenges and offline meetups.
The changes we've seen in the world from 2000 to today far exceed those between 1980 and 2000, and the next 20 years are likely to bring even more unimaginable transformations. Balaji envisions a future with limitless territory, wealth, and longevity. He believes good leaders should act like startup CEOs, prioritising innovation: building infrastructure for remote work, setting regulations through smart contracts, and using VR/AI technology to simulate and crowdsource city-building.
At the beginning of 2022, Balaji organised an 18-week VR course within his 1729 community. The knowledge gained from this course became the foundation for his book The Network State. By leveraging new technologies to first build a decentralised online community, this community can gradually establish shared norms, customs, and governance. Eventually, they could form a government constrained by smart contracts, crowdfund physical territory, and conduct on-chain censuses to prove they have sufficient population, income, and real estate to gain some level of diplomatic recognition. This new form of state would combine crowdsourced storytelling with digital currency incentives.
As of early 2021, only about 50% of the world's population had stable internet access, but that number will grow significantly with advancements in satellite technology and infrastructure. At the same time, the rise of "decentralised technology" and "no/low-code platforms" will bring massive changes to our lives. Personally, as a rational optimist, I remain hopeful for the future and actively engage with the waves of new technology.
During my years in Europe, I’ve noticed more knowledge workers adopting a digital nomad lifestyle, breaking free from geographical constraints to live and work anywhere in the world. This trend will have a major impact on how cities and countries attract talent in the long run. The decline of Silicon Valley and the rise of Miami are examples of how tech-savvy leaders are building competitive offline cities.
Globalisation has also changed our sense of identity. We no longer belong solely to one country, organisation, or community. Human identity is complex and ever-changing, and through the power of the internet, we can find like-minded communities and individuals around the world. More people will break free from centralised institutions, becoming autonomous sovereign individuals—an emerging class.
When enough autonomous individuals come together with a shared goal or vision, they form a DAO (Decentralised Autonomous Organisation). Simply put, a DAO is a new way of collaborating on project financing, community management, and value-sharing. It operates on blockchain technology, using web3 principles without a top-down hierarchy, and gives decision-making power to stakeholders.
For individuals, collaboration is key to success in the future. Sometimes, a simple direct message on social media can lead to project partnerships or the discovery of like-minded friends. The online world is filled with millions of opportunities, and communication and collaboration between individuals are much easier and cheaper than between companies. Today, speed is a competitive advantage, and constant experimentation is the foundation of success.
As we spend more time in the digital world, the lines between our online and offline lives are becoming blurred. New business models are emerging, and our ability to earn money is no longer constrained by geography or physical limitations. We are rapidly approaching a singularity in the new world, where traditional institutions and organisations will no longer meet the needs of the digital era. This shift will have a profound impact on how we interact with society and how governance evolves.
Balaji has even got a small island near Singapore and established "The Network School." From September 23 to December 23, the school will be offering a 90-day learning program, now open for global enrollment. I'm thrilled to have secured a spot and can't wait to move there, immerse myself in the experience, and share my journey with you all. Stay tuned!
Thank you for the post! I recently listened to "Monkey", an older translation of "Journey to the West" into English. It was fascinating for me, and started me on a journey of working through some of the other Chinese classics. Thus far, I can see why they are on the list; I have been greatly enriched by exploring that literature.
Haven't tried the game yet, but it looks fun. :-)
This is all very uncanny and timely. I recently bought a hard-cover book (beautiful bound with a red ribbon and gold-edged pages): Chinese Myths & Folktales; a 1928 compendium of collected stories (Barnes & Noble). I wanted to learn more about Chinese culture and history. I have the book beside my pillow and read a short story every night, if I can and do not doze off :)
The stories are strange and weird (to Westerners) but I do love the unexpected narrative and point of view. Fascinating world! I also started watching the Chinese drama 24 episode Judge Dee's Mystery. I adore this fascinating series. The sub titles are displayed fast but its a great way to improve my Mandarin. So thanks for the Wu Kong and Journey To The West reference, more items on the ever expanding list to read !
Busy at the moment,so back to Chinese Ink painting! it is all about trusting your instincts, finding freedom within the rules, not sacrificing you creative identity and translating your experience into art -- and having good enjoyable time with occasional laughter !
You are highly motivated with Balaji ideas. 惊人的
谢谢
我喜欢你的乐观。我希望你实现计划和目标