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Chinese Lore Podcast

Chinese Lore Podcast

Journey 057: Labor Pains

Jun 29, 2026 · 26 min · 10 segments

Comedic fun, or 16th-century Chinese rumination on the yin and yang of abortion access?

Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube Amazon Music Website

Speakers: John ZhuHost

Show signals: SuitabilitySafeBiasNot politicalAudience≈1k followers

Top entities: The Monkey King×96 Longevity Monk×31 Zhu Bajie×26 Taoism×10 Court

Show Opening & Previous Episode Recap0:03 – 0:42

0:03

Welcome to the Chinese Lore podcast, where I retell classic Chinese stories in English.

0:07

This is episode 57 of Journey to the West.

0:11

[gentle music] Last time, while crossing a river near the Kingdom of Women, Sanzang and Zhubajie made the mistake of drinking some of the river's water.

0:27

Turns out, that was the River of Motherhood, and its water made you pregnant regardless of sex or gender.

0:33

When we left them, Sanzang and Bajie were both in severe labor pains, and we still had not answered the question of exactly how would an infant come out of a man.

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The Monkey KingEntityMythological character
96%96 mentions
Longevity MonkEntityFictional character
88%31 mentions
Zhu BajieEntityMythological character
79%26 mentions
TaoismEntityReligion
71%10 mentions
CourtEntity
63%1 mention
Red BoyEntityMythological character
54%3 mentions
EnglishEntitySpoken language
46%1 mention
SudhanaEntity
38%2 mentions
Bull Demon KingEntityMythological character
29%2 mentions
BuddhismEntityReligion
21%2 mentions
GodEntitySupreme being
13%1 mention
BodhisattvaEntity
4%1 mention

Society
Narrative StructureEntertainment > Literature > Fiction
Cultural BeliefsCulture > Folklore > Mythology
Character DevelopmentEntertainment > Literature > Fiction > Narrative Structure
Cultural NormsSociety
Gender RolesSociety > Cultural Norms
Reproductive HealthHealth
AbortionHealth > Reproductive Health
LiteratureEntertainment
FictionEntertainment > Literature
MythologyLiterature > Fiction
MythologyCulture > Folklore
FolkloreCulture
Health
Entertainment
Culture
Literature
FictionLiterature
Chinese FolkloreLiterature > Fiction > Mythology
Journey to the WestLiterature > Fiction > Mythology > Chinese Folklore
Cultural PracticesHealth > Reproductive Health > Abortion
Folklore PracticesHealth > Reproductive Health > Abortion > Cultural Practices
Pregnancy and Abortion PracticesCulture > Folklore > Mythology > Cultural Beliefs
Folklore InfluenceSociety > Cultural Norms > Gender Roles
Women in SocietySociety > Cultural Norms > Gender Roles > Folklore Influence

Show Opening & Previous Episode Recap0:03 – 0:42

0:03

Welcome to the Chinese Lore podcast, where I retell classic Chinese stories in English.

0:07

This is episode 57 of Journey to the West.

0:11

[gentle music] Last time, while crossing a river near the Kingdom of Women, Sanzang and Zhubajie made the mistake of drinking some of the river's water.

0:27

Turns out, that was the River of Motherhood, and its water made you pregnant regardless of sex or gender.

0:33

When we left them, Sanzang and Bajie were both in severe labor pains, and we still had not answered the question of exactly how would an infant come out of a man.