Tripitaka is a pious and humble Buddhist priest chosen to travel from China to India to retrieve sacred scriptures. Originally named Hsüan Tsang, he is rescued from a murderer as an infant and raised in religion before being selected by Kuan-yin for the mission. He possesses a gentle nature and strict adherence to Buddhist principles, completely rejecting earthly wealth. While devoted to his faith, he frequently experiences fear and relies heavily on his magical disciples for physical protection.

Monkey is an intelligent, highly skilled, and restless magical creature who rules the Water Curtain Cave. Worried about his own mortality, he seeks out religious instruction and learns cloud-soaring along with seventy-two transformations. His immense magical power feeds a massive ego, leading him to challenge the authority of Heaven itself. After being imprisoned under a mountain for five hundred years, he is released to serve as a disciple for a traveling priest.

Pigsy is a former marshal of Heaven banished to earth for inappropriate behavior and reborn in a pig-like form. He possesses great physical strength and is highly capable in aquatic battles, but he retains strong appetites for food, comfort, and earthly pleasures. Reluctant to accept the ascetic lifestyle of a Buddhist monk, he often complains about the journey's hardships and plots ways to secure his own comfort.

Sandy is a banished heavenly marshal condemned to live as a river monster with red hair and a necklace of nine skulls. Punished for accidentally breaking a crystal dish in Heaven, he eagerly accepts Kuan-yin's offer of salvation in exchange for assisting the scripture pilgrim. Among the traveling disciples, he is the quietest and most levelheaded, focusing on the mission rather than personal glory.

Kuan-yin is the goddess of mercy and compassion who organizes the quest to bring holy scriptures to China. She operates as a steady, guiding force behind the scenes, selecting the pilgrim and arranging for his magical protectors. Unlike the easily offended deities of the heavenly court, she focuses on practical solutions and long-term salvation for humanity.

The Jade Emperor serves as the supreme god of Heaven, managing a massive bureaucracy of spirits, marshals, and deities. He is quick to hand out severe punishments for minor infractions, such as breaking dishes or altering weather patterns. When faced with genuine threats, he relies heavily on his military commanders and outside divine assistance to maintain order.

Erh-lang is a powerful heavenly magician and military commander. He brings his brothers to assist in pacifying rebellions against the heavenly court. With his own mastery of transformations and magical combat, he represents one of the few heavenly warriors capable of fighting a fair duel against highly skilled adversaries.

Hui-yen is a spirit and devoted disciple. He acts as an envoy and protector, traveling between the heavens and the earthly world to deliver messages and magical items. He is brave enough to enter combat when commanded, though he primarily serves as a divine messenger.

Buddha is the supreme enlightened being residing in the Western Paradise. Observing that the people of the Southern Continent are greedy and quarrelsome, he initiates the quest to send them sacred scriptures. He possesses unmatched wisdom and power, utilizing psychological insight and overwhelming scale rather than conventional weapons to maintain cosmic order.

The Emperor of T'ang is the human ruler of China. Following a terrifying near-death experience and a journey through the underworld, he becomes deeply committed to organizing a mass for the dead. He acts as the earthly sponsor for the scripture journey, sending his chosen priest off with supplies and royal backing.

Patriarch Subodhi is an Immortal teacher who runs a religious school. He instructs his students in etiquette, philosophy, and advanced magical arts. While willing to teach secret techniques to promising students, he enforces strict discipline and dismisses those who show off or attract unwanted attention.

Yama is the King of Death who manages the underworld and the cycle of reincarnation. He oversees the registers of life and death, ensuring that mortal lifespans align with the decrees of fate. He is reasonable but bound by bureaucratic rules regarding souls and lifespans.

The Dragon King is a powerful aquatic ruler who manages the oceans and stores ancient, magical treasures. He prefers to avoid direct conflict when intimidated, choosing instead to hand over valuable items and complain to higher authorities later.

Lao Tzu is a high-ranking heavenly figure known for his alchemy and the creation of life-restoring elixirs. He operates out of a specialized palace in Heaven and occasionally assists the heavenly armies by deploying magical snares and alchemical fire from a distance.

Mr. Kao is a human farmer who inadvertently accepts a monstrous creature into his household as a worker and son-in-law. He cares deeply for his daughter and represents the ordinary humans who are helpless against the supernatural forces wandering the earth.

Originally the son of a dragon king, this magical creature is condemned to execution for misbehavior. Following a plea to the Jade Emperor, Kuan-yin transforms him into a white horse to serve as Tripitaka's mount for the journey to India.

Ch'ên O is a human scholar whose act of mercy in saving a carp seals his destiny. Murdered by ferrymen on his way to a new post, his soul is preserved by the dragon king he previously saved, allowing his tragic story to shape the early life of his son.

Wei Chêng is a human minister serving the Emperor of T'ang. He possesses the unique ability to act across worlds, famously executing a dragon king in his dreams while falling asleep in the Emperor's company.