In Journey to the West, Zhu Bajie symbolizes humanity’s greed, desires and base instincts. Throughout the novel, he serves as the comic relief, constantly boasting. The author often arranges for him to suffer humiliating setbacks right after his empty boasts, creating a strong comedic effect. For instance, when King Baoxiang asked the pilgrims to capture the demon (Sun Wukong had temporarily left the group), Zhu Bajie bragged about his weapon:“Your Majesty, you know not. Though my rake looks clumsy and crude, it has been my lifelong companion. I once commanded eighty thousand naval soldiers as Marshal of Heavenly Water Palace, and this rake was my greatest reliance. Now that I dwell in the mortal world and protect my master, I have used it to destroy tiger dens on mountains and overturn dragon caves beneath waters.” Among all his boastful words, the only truthful line is “my rake looks clumsy and crude”. Their opponent in this chapter is Kui Mulang, widely known among Chinese readers as “the Pig Slayer”. The reason can be found in the original text:“Bajie and Sha Wujing fought the demon for thirty rounds with no clear winner. Yet there is a reason for this stalemate. In a true contest of skill, even twenty monks like them together would not stand a chance against the fiend.” Thus Kui Mulang earned his nickname, for twenty Bajies combined are still no match for him.