In response to the 4^th Festival of Chinese Culture organised by the Centre for Chinese History and Culture of the University of Macau, Moon Chun Memorial College, University of Macau hosted a talk titled “Wukong and You — A Journey of Life Through the Journey to the West”, attracting a large number of students. The talk was delivered by Mr. Paul Pang, a renowned children’s literature writer in Macao. Mr. Pang is a former president of the Macao Writers Association, currently serves as the supervisor general of Macao Children’s Literature Association. He also founded the “Kaiyuan Storytelling Method”, dedicated to promoting story-based education and fostering young people’s interest in reading and creative writing. With years of experience in children’s literature, he offers unique insights into story education.

Using vivid fairy-tale storytelling, Mr. Pang analyzed the educational and entertaining qualities of Journey to the West, guiding the audience to appreciate the work’s original intent and uncover its profound meanings. Furthermore, he discussed the life lessons embedded in the novel from the perspectives of Chinese culture, philosophy, and humor. During the Q&A session, Resident Fellow, Alice Hong served as the moderator, facilitating interaction between students and the speaker. The discussion covered deep topics such as the meaning of life, choices, and challenges. Drawing on the growth journey of Sun Wukong, Mr. Pang encouraged students to discover passion in life and embrace uncertainty. When facing setbacks, he advised focusing on what one already has and regaining their sense of value and strength by helping others.

Finally, Mr. Pang presented his new book Wukong, Please Answer to the college. The college representative expressed gratitude and hoped that students would gain further inspiration from the book. This talk not only deepened students’ understanding of Chinese classical literature but also guided them to explore meaning in life, fully embodying the college’s educational philosophy of “whole-person development.”

“Wukong’s experiences have taught me that the true distinction between an immortals and a demons lies in character. On life’s journey, we too must continually cultivate virtue, temper ourselves, strive upward, and ultimately realize the value of our existence.” – Zhao Siyi

“The speaker’s sharing made me realize that life is not as complicated as we imagine. Many times, we exaggerate the difficulties and setbacks in front of us. Why not view the world through the eyes of a child? Perhaps then we can glimpse its purest essence and truth.” Zhu Xu Chen

“Today’s event made me deeply appreciate the power of ‘helping others to help oneself.’ The speaker’s sharing reminded me that Wukong, while helping others succeed, also achieved his own growth. I hope that in my future life, I can be braver and more proactive in helping others, and through helping, become a better version of myself.” – Wu Junhao