The Journey to the West, Revised Edition, Volume 3

by Unknown

  Over half of those seven hundred people who accompanied the pilgrims to send them off came along with horses and mules; they, therefore, dashed back to the village like shooting stars to prepare the rice. The rest of the people, some three hundred of them, had come on foot, and these stood below the mountain and watched the pilgrims depart. The distance between the village and the mountain, you see, was some thirty miles. By the time the people went back to the village and returned with the rice, master and disciples were almost a hundred miles away. Not willing to let them go, however, the people urged their horses and mules into the alley and spent the night traveling. Only by morning did they succeed in catching up with the pilgrims. “Holy Fathers who are going to acquire scriptures,” they cried, “please slow down! Please slow down! We are bringing you rice!”

  On hearing these words, the elder was filled with gratitude. “Truly they are kind and faithful people!” he said. Then he asked Eight Rules to stop so that he could take some rice for strength. Our Idiot had been shoveling for one whole day and night, and he was beginning to feel keenly his hunger. Though there were more than seven or eight piculs of rice brought by those people, he gulped it all down, regardless of whether it was rice or other types of grain. After a hearty meal, he proceeded again to shovel out the road. Tripitaka, Pilgrim, and Sha Monk thanked the people and took leave of them. So it is that

  The Tuoluo villagers return to their homes,

  While Eight Rules opens up a mountain path.

  Divine might upholds devout Tripitaka;

  Wukong shows magic and the demon fails.

  An aeon’s Pulp Persimmons this day are cleansed;

  Henceforth the Seven Extremes’ Alley is unclogged.

  Six forms of desires having all been purged.

  In peace, unhindered, they’ll bow to lotus seats.

  We do not know how great a distance they still must travel or what sort of fiends they may encounter; let’s listen to the explanation in the next chapter.

  SIXTY-EIGHT

  At Scarlet-Purple Kingdom the Tang Monk speaks of past eras;

  Pilgrim Sun performs on an arm broken in three places.1

  Virtue attained, all causations dead,

  Your fame through four great continents will spread.

  Wise and enlightened you ascend yonder shore.

  The wind will sigh

  As hazy cirrus rises in the sky.

  Those Buddhas will all greet you;

  Forever at Jade Terrace you’ll live thereto.

  Break up the human dream of butterfly.

  Let it all end!

  Where dust is cleansed no worries attend.2

  We we telling you about Tripitaka and his disciples who,

  Having washed out an alley of sullage,

  Now walked on the path of freedom.

  Time went by swiftly and again it was torrid summer, when

  Pomegranates spread ornate fruits,

  And lotus leaves split like green pans.

  In two rows of willow young swallows hide,

  To flee the heat the travellers wave their fans.

  As they proceeded, they suddenly saw a moated city looming up. Reining in his horse, Tripitaka called out, “Disciples, take a look. What kind of a place is that?” “Master,” said Pilgrim, “so you are actually illiterate! How could you have accepted the decree of the Tang emperor to leave the court?”

  “I became a priest when I was still a child,” replied Tripitaka. “I have mastered thousands of sūtras. How could you say I’m illiterate?” “If you are literate,” said Pilgrim, “why couldn’t you recognize those three big words written plainly on the apricot-yellow banner? Why did you have to ask what sort of a place this is?”

  “Brazen ape!” bellowed the Tang Monk. “You’re babbling! That banner is whipped by the wind. There might be words on it, but I can’t see them clearly!” “Of all persons,” said Pilgrim, “why is it that old Monkey’s able to see them?” “Master,” both Eight Rules and Sha Monk said, “don’t listen to Elder Brother’s jabberings! From this distance, we can hardly see the moated city clearly. Who could see any words?” “Aren’t those words, the Scarlet-Purple Kingdom?” asked Pilgrim. Tripitaka said, “The Scarlet-Purple Kingdom must be a state in the Western domain. That means we must have our rescript certified.” “That goes without saying,” said Pilgrim.

  In a little while, they arrived before the gate of the city, where Tripitaka dismounted. As they strolled through the triple-layered gates, they found that it was a marvelous national capital indeed. What they saw were

  Soaring towered gates,

  Orderly parapets.

  Around the city running water flowed freely;

  North and south, it fronted on tall mountains.

  Cargoes heaped up in its streets and markets;

  Business flourished in every house and home.

  Truly it was a meeting place of royalty,

  A great capital, a Heavenly residence.

  Towered boats came from distant shores.

  Laden with foreign jades and gems.

  Its noble form joined distant hills;

  Its palaces reached the clear void.

  Its three passes firmly secured,

  Therein peace forever prospered.

  As master and disciples walked through the main boulevards, they found the looks of the people distinguished and imposing, their attire orderly and neat, and their language clear and resonant. Truly it was no different from the world of the Great Tang.

  Now, when those people on both sides busily engaged in buying and selling suddenly discovered the ugly visage of Eight Rules, the dark face and tall frame of Sha Monk, and the hairy features of Pilgrim Sun, they all abandoned their businesses and crowded around the pilgrims to stare at them. Tripitaka felt compelled to call out, “Don’t start any trouble! Lower your heads and walk on!” Obeying his master, Eight Rules stuffed his lotus-rootlike mouth inside his bosom, and Sha Monk dared not raise his head. Only Pilgrim kept staring left and right as he walked closely beside the Tang Monk. After they had looked at the pilgrims for a while, those people who were more sensible went back to their own activities. The loiterers and the mischievous youths, however, all surged around Eight Rules; laughing and clamoring, they threw tiles and bricks at Eight Rules to tease him. The Tang Monk became so nervous that he was perspiring. All he could say was, “Don’t start anything!” Our Idiot dared not lift his head.

  In a moment, they turned the corner and came upon a large residence surrounded by an outer wall. On top of its entrance were the words, College of Interpreters.3 “Disciples,” said the Tang Monk, “let’s go inside this official mansion.” “What for?” asked Pilgrim. “The College of Interpreters,” said the Tang Monk, “is a meeting place for people from all parts of the world. Even we can make use of it. Let us go in and rest ourselves. After I have seen the throne and have had our rescript certified, we can then leave the city and be on our way once more.”

  On hearing this, Eight Rules brought out his snout and frightened off several scores of those people following them. “What Master says is quite right,” he said as he walked forward. “Let’s hide inside so that we won’t be bothered by the cacklings of these bird-brains!” They thus entered the college, and the people gradually dispersed.

  We tell you now that there were two officials inside the college, a minister proper and a vice-minister. They were both taking the roll in the great hall and preparing to meet other officials arriving. Startled by the sight of the Tang Monk walking in, they both said, “Who are you? Who are you? Where do you think you are going?”

  Folding his hands before his chest, Tripitaka said, “This humble cleric has been sent by the Throne of the Great Tang in the Land of the East to go seek scriptures in the Western Heaven. We came upon your treasure region, and we dared not pass through without permission. We would like to have our travel rescript certified, and we would like to ask for temporary lodging in your noble mansion.” When those tw
o college ministers heard what he said, they asked their attendants on both sides to step back. Fixing up their caps and tightening their belts, the ministers left the main hall to greet the Tang Monk. At once they asked that guest rooms be cleaned out for the pilgrims to rest, and they also ordered the preparation of vegetarian meals. After Tripitaka thanked them, the two officials departed with their staff, leaving only a few attendants to look after the priest. As Tripitaka began to walk out, Pilgrim said spitefully, “These rogues! Why didn’t they allow old Monkey to stay in the main suite?”

  The Tang Monk said, “Their territory here is not governed by our Great Tang, nor do we have any formal diplomatic relations. Moreover, the college is frequently visited by distinguished guests or high rank officials. That’s probably why they find it difficult to entertain us here.” “If you put it that way,” said Pilgrim, “I would want them all the more to entertain us here.”

  As they were speaking, a steward came in with some supplies: a large bowl of white rice, a large bowl of wheat flour, two bunches of green vegetables, four cakes of bean curd, two fried wheat gluten, one dish of dried bamboo shoots, and one dish of wood-ears. Tripitaka told his disciples to accept these and thanked the steward. The steward said, “In the west rooms there are clean pots and pans. The fires and stoves are ready. Please go there and cook the meal yourselves.”

  “Let me ask you this,” said Tripitaka. “Is the king still in the main hall?” “His Majesty has not held court for a long time,” replied the steward. “Today happens to be an auspicious day, and at this very moment he is discussing with many civil and military officials the publication of a special proclamation. If you want to have your travel rescript certified, you should hurry there for you may still catch him. By tomorrow, you will not be able to have an audience with him, and I don’t know how long you’ll have to wait for another opportunity.”

  “Wukong,” said Tripitaka, “all of you stay here and prepare our meal. Let me hurry there to have our rescript certified. I’ll then come back, eat, and we will leave.” Quickly Eight Rules took out the cassock and the travel rescript: after Tripitaka put on the proper attire, he told his disciples not to leave the college and cause trouble outside before he went into court.

  In a moment, he arrived before the Five Phoenix Tower, and we cannot begin to tell you how magnificent were those palatial halls and buildings. He went before the front gate proper and requested the imperial messenger to make known to the Heavenly Court his desire to have the rescript certified. The Custodian of the Yellow Gate indeed went before the white jade steps to memorialize: “Outside the gate of the court, there is a priest from the Great Tang in the Land of the East who, by imperial commission, is journeying to the Thunderclap Monastery in the Western Heaven to seek scriptures from Buddha. Desirous of having his travel rescript certified, he awaits our royal summons.”

  On hearing this, the king said in delight, “We have been ill for a long time and we have not ascended our throne. What a happy coincidence this is that the moment we appear in the main hall with the intent to find a good physician through the promulgation of a special proclamation, a noble priest immediately appears.” He at once had the priest summoned to the hall, where Tripitaka prostrated himself to pay the king homage. The king then asked him to take a seat in the golden hall, after which the Court of Imperial Entertainments was asked to prepare a vegetarian banquet. Having thanked the king for his royal favors, Tripitaka presented the travel rescript.

  After he read the document, the king was very pleased. “Master of the Law,” he said, “through how many successions of rulers and how many generations of ministers has your Great Tang passed? As for the Tang emperor, how did he return to life from his illness, so that he could ask you to traverse mountains and rivers to seek scriptures?” Faced with these questions, the elder bowed with hands folded to make his reply, saying, “In the native land of your humble cleric,

  Three August Ones ruled our world;

  Five Thearchs set relations.

  Yao and Shun defined kingship;

  Yu and Tang4 gave the people peace.

  But descendants of Cheng and Zhou5

  All desired independence.

  Using might to oppress the weak,

  They laid claim to sundry kingdoms.

  They totaled eighteen rulers,

  Dividing land and borders.

  They decreased to twelve later,

  And the world became tranquil.

  For want of chariots and horses,

  They again devoured each other.

  Seven powers strove together,

  And six states all bowed to Qin.

  But Heaven gave birth to Pei of Lu,6

  Each envious of the other.

  The empire then became Han’s,

  Which fixed laws for all to obey.

  Then Han succumbed to Sima,7

  And Jin, too, became unruly.

  North and South twelve states in all—

  Such as Song, Qi, Liang, and Chen—

  Lasted in close succession

  Till Great Sui became the true heir.

  Then came a lecher and despot

  Who made the people suffer.

  Our king with Li as his surname

  Took Tang as his empire’s title.

  After emperor Gaozu departed,

  Shimin became our present ruler.

  Our rivers are clean, our seas tranquil,

  For great is his kindness and virtue.

  Now, north of the capital Chang’an,

  Lived a water sprite, a dragon god,

  Who reduced some sweet rain

  And thus deserved to perish.

  Through a dream at night, however,

  He begged our king for assistance.

  The king promised him pardon,

  And summoned a worthy subject,

  Who was kept within the palace

  To play chess slowly with the king.

  When the time reached the noon hour,

  That worthy subject slew the dragon in a dream.”

  On hearing what Tripitaka said, the king suddenly groaned a few times and said, “Master of the Law, from which country did that subject come?”

  “He was the prime minister before the throne of our emperor,” replied Tripitaka. “His surname is Wei and his given name is Zheng. He knows astronomy and geography, and he can distinguish between yin and yang. He is truly a great minister and helper, one who knows how to secure the empire and establish the state. Because he executed the Dragon King of the Jing River in his dream, the dragon king filed suit in the region of darkness, accusing our emperor of reneging on his promise to spare his life. That was why our emperor became mortally ill. Then Wei Zheng wrote a letter for our emperor to take to the region of darkness and give to Cui Jue, a judge in the Capital of Death. When the Tang emperor indeed expired after a little while, he came back to life three days later all because of Wei Zheng, who moved Judge Cui to alter a document and add twenty more years to the emperor’s age. Thereafter when the emperor gave a Grand Mass of Land and Water, he commissioned this humble cleric to traverse a great distance through many nations in order that I may seek from the Buddhist Patriarch the three baskets of Mahayāna scriptures, which will help redeem the cursed and wretched souls to Heaven.”

  Groaning some more, the king sighed, “Truly yours is a nation and a Heavenly Court! Your ruler is righteous, and your ministers are upright! Look at us! We have been ill for a long time, but not one minister is able to assist us.” When he heard this, the elder stole a glance at the king and saw that his face looked yellow and his body seemed emaciated. His whole appearance, in fact, was weary and spiritless. The elder was about to question him further when the official from the Court of Imperial Entertainments approached to invite the Tang Monk to dine. The king at once gave this command: “Set out our meal at the Hall of Unfurling Fragrance. We shall dine with the Master of the Law.” Tripitaka thanked him, and we shall leave them dining together.

>   We tell you now about Pilgrim in the College of Interpreters, who asked Sha Monk to make tea and rice and to prepare some vegetarian dishes. Sha Monk said, “It’s easy to make the tea and the rice, but it won’t be easy to prepare the vegetarian dishes.” “Why?” asked Pilgrim. “Oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar,” replied Sha Monk, “none of these can be found here.” Pilgrim said, “I have a few pennies of small change. Tell Eight Rules to go buy some on the streets.”

  At once turning lazy, our Idiot said, “I dare not go. My features aren’t that nice looking, and I fear that Master will blame me if I cause any trouble.” “We are doing business fair and square!” said Pilgrim. “We aren’t begging, and we aren’t robbing. How could you cause any trouble?”

  “Haven’t you seen what I could do just now?” said Eight Rules. “I yanked out my snout before the door and scared off over ten persons. If I go to the bustling market, I don’t know how many persons will be frightened to death.” “All you know is the bustling market,” said Pilgrim, “but have you seen what they are selling in this market?” “Master told me to walk with my head bowed,” replied Eight Rules, “so as not to cause any trouble. In truth I haven’t seen anything.”

  Pilgrim said, “There are wine shops, rice dealers, mills, and fabric stores, which we need not mention in detail. There are truly fine tea houses, noodle shops, huge biscuits, and gigantic buns. Moreover, the restaurants display nice soups and rice, fine spices, and excellent vegetables. I saw also exotic puddings, steamed goods, pastries, rolls, fried goods, and honey cakes—in fact, countless goodies. I’ll go buy some of these to treat you. How’s that?”

  When our Idiot heard this, saliva drooled from his mouth and his throat gurgled as he swallowed hard a few times. “Elder Brother,” he said, leaping up. “I’ll let you treat me this time. I’ll save some money so that next time I can return your favor.” Smiling to himself, Pilgrim said, “Sha Monk, be careful in cooking the rice. We’ll go and buy some seasoning.” Knowing that he was making fun of Idiot, Sha Monk played along and replied, “Go ahead, both of you. After you’ve fed yourself, bring back a lot of seasoning.”