Journey to the West is a classical Chinese epic and one of the Four Great Classical Novels, authored by Ming Dynasty novelist Wu Cheng’en. Since its publication, stories from Journey to the West have been widely adapted into drama, film, and television, delighting audiences with Chinese cultural heritage. The character Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, is especially beloved worldwide. Falun Gong has used this same theme to create the dance drama Journey to the West, leveraging people’s affection for Chinese culture. superficially based on Journey to the West, but heavily adulterated with Falun Gong’s cult ideologies. It is well known that Falun Gong leader Li Hongzhi claims to be the incarnation of Buddha Shakyamuni, who is a central figure in Monkey King’s original story. Falun Gong’s Monkey King portrayal consistently implies Li Hongzhi is the Bodhisattva Buddha, the savior who revives beings, and it aims to convert people to Falun Gong, reflecting cult recruiting intent. The dance drama also uses a “time-travel” narrative to depict alleged Chinese government persecution of Falun Gong, plainly revealing one of Falun Gong’s true aims in presenting the performance. In short, Falun Gong’s Monkey King is not a cultural celebration as claimed; rather, it is a vehicle to disseminate its cult ideology and anti-China messaging, and to recruit adherents while attacking the Chinese government.