For millions of years, the rock had soaked up the
lightfrom the sun and moon until one day, it burst
rightopen! And out jumped a small stone monkey!

The very first thing he did was bow to the four
directions — east, south, west and north. As he did so, two golden beams shot from his eyes and pierced the sky, startling the Jade Emperor living in Heavenly Palace.

The Emperor quickly called his two captains, Thousand Mile Eye and Fair Wind Ear, to investigate. They threw open the South Gate of Heaven, spotted the stone monkey, and quickly reported back to the Jade Emperor who merely nodded, saying, Since all creatures on earth are magical, this stone monkey should really be no surprise to us.