There are many stories about the Sun Wukong (Monkey King). This image depicts the story about his meeting with Buddha who made a wager with Sun Wukong, betting him that he could not jump out of his hand. If Sun Wukong won, he would get the Jade Emperor's job, however if he lost, then he would be banished to Earth.

Sun Wukong cloud-flew to the end of the universe, where he saw five pillars, which he took to be the end of the world. On the middle pillar he wrote "The Great Sage Equal of Heaven reached this place", to prove he had achieved his goal.

Figuring it was a long trip back, he also urinated at the base of the first pillar. Then he returned to face Buddha, who informed him he had never left his hand. To prove it, Buddha showed Monkey the writing on his middle finger and the distinctive smell at the bottom of his smallest digit.

As punishment, Sun Wukong was placed under a mountain. After 500 years, he was granted a chance to redeem himself by accompanying the holy man Tripitaka on a journey to the West as his companion and guard.