Why Goku Is Called Son Goku
Who is the character Goku?
Goku is the protagonist of the famous anime and manga show Dragon Ball, by Akira Toriyama. Because of his incredible strength, sincerity, and hope to get stronger, Goku has earned a place as a legendary anime hero.
However, have you ever asked yourself why he is known as Son Goku? Even apart from anime, this name is linked to culture, mythology, and art in many ways.
🔥 Meaning Behind the Name: “Son Goku” (孫悟空)
1. 🏯 Inspired by Chinese Mythology: Sun Wukong
That name, Son Goku, is taken from the Chinese Monkey King called Sun Wukong (孫悟空), from the famous novel “Journey to the West” (西游记).
- Son (孫) stands for family name, for example, might be “Sun” in Chinese.
- Goku’s name means someone who is “Aware of Nothingness” or “Awakened to Emptiness.”
In the story itself, it says:
- Sun Wukong is the name given to a mischievous monkey created from stone with amazing powers.
- Together with the monk Tang Sanzang and others, he makes a spiritual journey to India to get the Buddhist scriptures.
- He has a magic wand, can fly around in groups of clouds, and his experiences dealing with rebellion and redemption are similar to what happens to Goku.
- When making Goku’s first character, Toriyama used this Monkey King for influence, including the monkey tail, flying cloud, and the magical elongating staff.[Why Goku Is Called Son Goku]
2. 🧒 Goku’s Full Name in the Anime:
- His name is Son Goku on Earth.
- In the Saiyan language, his name is Kakarot (Carrot-based pun)
- The Japanese way of naming places is “Son” as the family name and “Goku” as the given name.
- The Western translations (as with the English version) refer to him as Goku and not Goku Son.
🔍 The name “Goku” holds a secret meaning in Dragon Ball.
- よみがeur (Go) means “Awakening” or “Enlightenment”.
- Ku is understood as “the Void,” “Sky,” or “Emptiness.”
Both “Sun” and “Wukong” together mean that Wukong had found the meaning of emptiness, which is a central idea in Buddhism. This shows Goku’s efforts to better himself by working on calmness, inner strength, and spiritual abilities, instead of pure might.
🧬 Something New: Modern Relevance and Goku’s Evolution
🧠 1. Over the years, philosophical thinking has been added to theistic beliefs.
While Dragon Ball at first was mainly about excitement and fun, the plots in Super, Z, and GT developed Goku into a figure who represents growing past one’s potential.
For instance, Ultra Instinct (身勝手の極意) is exactly what Zen Buddhists call a lack of attachment and mastery. Martial arts are not only about conflicts; they are also about being humble.
🌐 2. The popularity of Goku in the global pop culture
- Goku has become an icon outside of the anime world.
- Music from ‘Bazooka’ was featured at the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony.
- It was celebrated at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade by carrying a huge balloon for the character.
- Representing Japan’s culture while traveling the world.
- The worldwide success of DBZ proves how much Goku and the title Son Goku have inspired people all over the world.[Why Goku Is Called Son Goku]
📚 3. Use of the term “Son Goku” in Other Anime
- There are other characters in anime called “Son Goku” as well.
- The anime/manga “Saiyuki” has a character named Son Goku who is inspired by the Monkey King.
- Son Goku is the name for Naruto’s Four-Tails Beast, as another reference to the Monkey King tale.
- Wukong, the character in the game, was inspired by the myth of the Monkey King appears in.
- It proves that “Son Goku” is not only a character in one comic; it is a type that appears often in other Eastern stories.
✍️ Conclusion:
Goku has the name of Son Goku to pay tribute to Sun Wukong, a famous character in Journey to the West. The fact that he has monkey features and became a martial artist is seen in his name, which stands for progress, awareness, and peace.
Where it started as a playful monkey-boy, Walt Disney’s company has turned Mickey into a sign of hope worldwide. Whether you refer to him as Kakarot, Goku, or Son Goku, his popularity increases over the years with new fans.[Why Goku Is Called Son Goku]
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