Tradition: Chinese Mythology
Alternative Names: Tongbei Ape, Tongbi Yuanhou, 通臂猿猴
Category: Monkey
The Myth
The Tongbi Shenhou is a legendary ape traditionally associated with the gibbon, whose unusually long arms allow it to climb, swing, and leap between trees with remarkable agility. Its arms extend below its knees, making it a distinctive figure among mythical primates. The characteristics of this ape also inspired the principles of Tongbi Quan, a Chinese martial art that studies the creature’s physical abilities and movements rather than simply copying its actions.
In Journey to the West, the Tongbi Shenhou is counted among the Four Divine Monkeys, alongside the Lingming Stone Monkey, the Chikou Horse Monkey, and the Six-Eared Macaque. It possesses extraordinary supernatural abilities, including grasping the sun and moon, shrinking vast mountains, discerning fortune and misfortune, and manipulating the workings of the universe. These powers place it among the remarkable beings whose abilities reach far beyond those of ordinary monkeys.
In the television adaptation Journey to the West II, starring Benny Chan, the Tongbi Shenhou calls himself the Chaotian Dasheng, or Great Sage Who Defies Heaven.
Sources
“Tongbi Macaque” (通臂猿猴). Chinese Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 20, 2026. https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%80%9A%E8%87%82%E7%8C%BF%E7%8C%B4