Guanyin, may not seem a key character at first, but she is perhaps one of the most important throughout the story. There are many times, this journey would have failed, if it was not for her. When Sanzang lost his original bodyguards, Guanyin was there to help him seek out Wukong, Bajie, and Wujing. When the danger of a situation was too much, or seemed hopeless, she would step in provide some type of aid or support, that would turn the tide of the situation. When the Monkey King, felt completely lost, that he could never stop the anger in him, and was about to give up on everything, she calmed his spirits, made him see how he needed to change, and gave him the encouragement he need to return, and to continue the journey. She informed all those involved of their great place in the quest, which allowed most of them to reach enlightenment. She can almost be seen as a “deus ex machina” figure, in “Journey to the West”. Guanyin, can be found in many other Chinese folklore stories, where she is often referred to as the “Goddess of Mercy”.