Animal Metaphor for the Bladder: The Monkey 猴
The monkey is the animal metaphor for the Bladder. In dreams, the monkey can symbolize the playful, mischievous side of the dreamer, and may symbolize an immature yet instinctively wise aspect of the dreamer’s consciousness that may require expression. This is very similar to the symbols that come up with the country of Chu, which had a reputation for being lewd and shamanistic. A healthy Bladder allows a person to work outside of the boundaries.
Squirrel Monkey
In the east the monkey can symbolize the untamed, chattering mind that needs to be stilled by meditation. Here is the idea of refinement of our talents that needs to occur before they can be properly put to use. This correlates with the Jing and the necessity to refine it in the body so that it can be used. Even though the Kidney stores the Jing, the Bladder certainly has a relationship with it’s refinement.
One of the defining characteristics of monkeys is that they live in social groupings. Just as with the sheep, this is done in order to protect the members of the group. This points toward the protective, Taiyang functions of the Bladder. Also, once again, there is a highly social aspect to the Bladder. The ability to know one’s place within the group, and understand social boundaries is probably a part of a healthy Bladder function. Part of evolution is understanding how to work together in social groups like this.
The monkey has a lot to do with evolution. It’s almost as if, as an animal, it was picked up by the bridge of it’s nose and now stands upright. If the Bladder channel contracted, it would lift the head up and extend the spine in a straight manner. Even with this evolution, the monkey still has a sense of humility and walks around most of the time in a bowing position.
Of all the animals in the Chinese zodiac, the monkey most closely resembles the human being. We are, in fact, in the same grouping: primates. Something about the Bladder channel and it’s energies is highly associated to the abilities of the primates to group together, to work as we do in the evolutionary process and to be the “troublemakers” of the animal world. Unlike any other animals, the primates can bend and stretch and constrict their bodies in ways that sometimes seem miraculous. Our social functioning is highly dependent on language, and many of the lower primates depend on sound-based communication. This connection with sound and the ear is highly important when considering both the Bladder and Kidneys.
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