Untangling the web: Shifting gendered symbols of the spider demon from Journey to the West to Black Myth: Wukong

This paper examines the reinterpretation of the spider demon as a traditional Chinese gendered symbol, from Journey to the West (Wu Cheng’en, 1592) to the modern video game Black Myth: Wukong (2024). Using cultural semiotics and monstrous-feminine theory, it compares materials from the novel and game through textual analysis and sentiment analysis of the 1,000 most-liked comments on related Bilibili videos. Sentiment analysis reveals predominantly positive reception (69 %), though criticism regarding gender representation persists. The findings show that through narrative reconstruction in the game, the spider demons evolve from one-dimensional seductresses into multidimensional figures with more humanized designs. Their characterization not only reflects deeper emotions, moral dilemmas, and self-awareness but also incorporates Tang Dynasty-inspired aesthetics to reinforce their cultural background, while still retaining certain monstrous traits and a sense of tragic fate. Moreover, the paper highlights that rather than abandoning traditional archetypes, the game reinterprets them with emotional depth and symbolic continuity, illustrating how cultural symbols can be adapted to reflect broader shifts in gender discourse and narrative complexity.