by Wu Cheng-En
“We humble monks know how to pray for things,” said Monkey with a smile.
Hearing this, the king ordered that the altars be swept clean and sent for his carriage as he was going to watch the ritual from the Tower of Five Phoenixes. The officials then moved him in his carriage to the tower, where he was soon seated. The Tang Priest stood at the foot of the tower with Monkey, Friar Sand and Pig, while the three Taoist masters sat with the king in the tower. Before long an official galloped in to report, “Everything is ready at the altar. Will the Teacher of the Nation please come to the altar?”
The Great Immortal Tiger Power bowed to take his leave of the king and descended from the tower. Brother Monkey blocked his way and said, “Where are you going, sir?”
“To the altar to pray for rain,” the immortal replied.
“You're being too arrogant,” said Monkey. “Why don't you show some courtesy to us monks from far away? Oh well, 'a mighty dragon can't crush a snake in its lair.' You go first, but you'll have to explain to His Majesty.”
“Explain what?” the Great Immortal asked.
“If we both pray for rain at the altar,” Monkey replied, “how will we know whether it's your rain or mine? It'll be hard to tell who should get the credit.” When the king heard this up on his tower he was discreetly delighted as he said, “That little monk talks sense.”
Friar Sand too hid a smile as he thought, “The king doesn't realize that Monkey hasn't even started showing how much sense he has in him.”
“No explanations will be needed,” said the immortal. “Of course His Majesty will know whose the rain is.”
“I'm sure he will,” said Monkey, “but we monks from far away have never met you before. If later on both sides made false claims that would be terrible. We must have it all sorted out before we start.”
“When I go to the altar,” said the Great Immortal, “this magic wand of mine will give the signal. When it first sounds, the wind will come. The second time the clouds will rise. The third time it will bring thunder and lightning. The fourth time it will rain. The fifth time the clouds will break up and the rain will finish.”
“Splendid,” said Monkey with a laugh. “I've never seen anything like that. Please go ahead.”
The Great Immortal then strode straight to the gates of the altar compound followed by Sanzang and his disciples. They looked up to see a raised terrace over thirty feet high. To the left and right of it were planted banners bearing the sign of the twenty-eight zodiacal constellations, and clouds of fragrant smoke rose from an incense-burner on a table set at the highest point on the altar. At each end of the table was a candle-holder with candles burning brightly. Beside the incense-burner was a golden tablet inscribed with the titles of the gods of thunder, and below the burner were five great vats all filled with clean water. Sprigs of willow floated on them, and on the willow was an iron plaque bearing the talisman of the Commander of Thunder. To the left and right of these were five stout posts on which were written the names of the five barbarian thunder heralds. By each post stood two Taoist priests ready to strike them with iron hammers. Behind the terrace many Taoist priests were writing things out, and in the middle of them was a stove for burning paper and some model figures representing the messengers who carried the charms and the local gods who supported the Taoist teachings.
The Great Immortal walked straight into the altar enclosure and without any show of modesty went straight up the altar mound and took his place. A young Taoist at his side handed him several yellow pieces of paper that had spells written on them and a precious sword. Holding the sword the Great Immortal recited a spell and burnt a spell on a candle. Two or three of the young Taoists standing below the altar mound passed him a model figure holding a spell and a written document, both of which he also lit and burnt. Then there was a loud report from the wand, and up in the sky the signs of a wind blowing up could be seen.
“This is bad,” muttered Pig. “The Taoist really has got some powers. He just had to sound his wand once to make the wind blow.”
“Keep quiet, brothers,” said Monkey, “and don't say anything else to me. Look after the master while I get busy.”
The splendid Great Sage then plucked out one of his hairs, blew on it with magic breath, called “Change!” and turned it into an imitation Monkey who stood by the Tang Priest while his true self escaped, rose up into the air and shouted, “Who's in charge of the wind?” This threw Granny Wind into such a fluster that she held her cloth bag closed while Young Master Xun tied the string round the mouth. They both came forward and bowed to him.
“I'm protecting the holy priest from Tang on his journey to the Western Heaven to fetch the scriptures,” Monkey said. “We're now having a rainmaking competition with an evil Taoist in the country of Tarrycart. Why are you helping him instead of me? If you put your wind away I'll let you off, but if there's even enough wind to move a whisker in that Taoist's beard I'll give you twenty strokes each with my iron cudgel.”
“We wouldn't dare help him,” said Granny Wind, and the wind then stopped.
In his impatience Pig started to yell wildly, “Give up, give up. You've sounded your wand and there's not a breath of wind. Come down now and let us go up.”
Once again the Taoist took his magic wand, burnt spells, and made a report with the wand. The sky filled with clouds.
“Who's spreading the clouds out?” the Great Sage asked up overhead. Boy Cloudpusher and Young Lord Mistspreader bowed to him. Once again Monkey explained what had happened; Cloudpusher and Mistspreader put the clouds away, and the sun shone brightly once more in a clear sky.
“This teacher has been fooling the king and hoodwinking the common people,” laughed Pig. “He doesn't really have any powers at all. His wand has sounded for the second time, and there's not a cloud to be seen.”
By now the Taoist was getting anxious. Leaning on his sword he let down his hair, said the words of a spell, and cracked his magic wand for the third time. From the Southern Gate of Heaven the Heavenly Lord Deng led Grandfather Thunder and Mother Lightning to bow to Monkey in mid-air. Monkey told them what had happened and asked, “Why are you being so dutiful? What sort of orders are they you're obeying?”
“That Taoist really does know the Five Laws of Thunder,” the Heavenly Lord Deng replied. “He issued the right document, burned the summons, and alarmed the Jade Emperor, who issued an edict to the offices of the Universal Honoured One of the Ninth Heaven Who Responds to the Primal with the Sound of Thunder. We are going on imperial orders to help Grandfather Thunder and Mother Lightning make rain.”
“In that case you'd better stay where you are and let me sort things out,” said Monkey; and indeed the thunder did not sound, nor did the lightning flash.
The Taoist was becoming more anxious than ever. He lit more incense-sticks, burnt charms, said incantations, and sounded his wand once more. The dragon kings of the four seas all gathered in mid-air. “Where are you going, Ao Guang?” Monkey asked. The four dragon kings Ao Guang, Ao Shun, Ao Qin and Ao Run came up and bowed to him.
He told them what had happened then said, “When I troubled you the other day you didn't succeed. I hope you will help me again today.”
“We hear and obey,” replied the dragon kings.
Monkey then thanked Ao Shun: “I am very grateful to your son for capturing the monster and saving my master the other day.”
“That wretch is being kept in chains in the sea,” the dragon king Ao Shun replied. “I have not ventured to deal with him on my own initiative, and I would like to ask you, Great Sage, to decide on his sentence.”
“Deal with him however you think fit,” replied Monkey. “Now I would like you to do me a good turn. That Taoist has now sounded his wand four times, so it's my turn to perform now. As I don't know how to use charms, burn talismans, or sound a magic wand I'll have to ask you gentlemen to help me out.”
“We would not dare disobey a command from the Great Sage,” Heavenly Lord Den
g replied. “But we can only act when proper orders are given. Otherwise the thunder and the rain will happen at the wrong times, and the Great Sage will lose his credibility.”
“I'll give the signs with my cudgel,” said Monkey, to the horror of Grandfather Thunder, who protested, “But my lord, none of us can take your cudgel.”
“No,” said Monkey, “I won't be hitting you with it. When I point up with it the first time I want wind.”
“We'll let the wind out,” promised Granny Wind and Young Master Xun.
“The second time I point up I want clouds.”
“We'll spread out the clouds,” said Cloudpusher and Mistspreader.
“The third time I point up with the cudgel I want thunder and lightning.”
“We shall obey, we shall obey,” said Grandfather Thunder and Mother Lightning.
“The fourth time I point up with the cudgel I want rain.”
“Your orders will be carried out,” the dragon kings replied.
“And the fifth time I point up with the cudgel I want the sun shining in a clear sky. I won't have any disobedience or mistakes.”
Having given his orders Monkey brought his cloud down, shook his hair, and put it back on his body. None of those with mortal, fleshly eyes could see what had happened. Monkey then called out in a loud voice, “Please finish now, teacher. You have sounded your magic wand four times without producing any wind, clouds, thunder or rain. It's my turn now.” The Taoist could stay at the altar no longer; he had to come down and allow Monkey to take his place while he went with a long face to climb the tower to see the king. “Wait while I go up with him and hear what he has to say,” said Monkey.
He heard the king asking, “Why was there no wind or rain when you sounded your magic wand four times? We are listening most carefully.”
“The dragons are all out today,” the Taoist replied.
“Your Majesty,” yelled Monkey, “today the dragons are all in. It was just that the Teacher of the Nation's magic didn't work and he couldn't get them to come. Just watch how we Buddhist monks can make them come.”
“Climb to the altar then,” said the king. “We shall remain here and await rain.”
As soon as he received this command Brother Monkey hurried to the altar compound, tugged at the Tang Priest's clothes, and said, “Master, please climb the altar mound.”
“But I do not know how to pray for rain, disciple,” said Sanzang.
“He's trying to murder you,” said Pig. “If there's still no rain they'll bring firewood along and send you up in flames.”
“You may not know how to pray for rain,” said Monkey, “but you're good at reciting scriptures. I'll help you.” Only then did the venerable elder start to climb to the altar. When he reached the top he sat down with great dignity, settled his nature, brought his spirit under control, and quietly recited the Prajna-paramita Heart Sutra. As he sat there an official messenger galloped up to him to ask, “Monk, why aren't you sounding a magic wand or burning charms and summonses?”
“He doesn't need to,” Monkey shouted back. “We pray in stillness and silence.” The official returned to the king to report this reply.
When Monkey heard that his master had finished reciting the sutra he produced his cudgel from his ear, waved it in the breeze to make it about twelve feet long and as thick as a ricebowl, and pointed it towards the sky. As soon as Granny Wind saw it she opened her leather bag while Young Master Xun untied the rope round its mouth. There was then the howling of a wind that tore off tiles and sent bricks flying throughout the city. It was evidently a splendid wind, not at all like ordinary ones:
Willow were broken and flowers hurt,
Trees blown down in devastated woods.
The walls collapsed in halls of nine stories;
Beams and columns were shaken in the Five Phoenix Tower.
In the sky the red sun turned dark,
And the yellow dust of the earth began to fly.
The officers before the reviewing stand were scared;
Terror struck the civil officials in their hall.
The beauties of the harem had their hair blown untidy;
The royal consorts' coiffures were all ruined.
Tassels fell from the coronets of nobles;
The black silk hat of the premier took wing.
The king was too terrified to speak,
The eunuchs could not hand in their reports.
Senior officials stood in disorder,
High-level functionaries broke ranks.
Coloured pavilions and turquoise screens were ruined;
Green windows and crimson doors were wrecked.
Bricks and tiles flew from the throne hall;
In the Brocade Cloud Chamber doors leaned and partition were smashed.
Vicious indeed was this terrible gale,
Making hard for the king to see his sons,
And driving the people from streets and markets:
Every household firmly shut its doors.
Just as this gale was at its height Brother Monkey gave another display of his divine powers as he pointed his gold-banded cudgel up into the sky for the second time. What could then be seen was:
The Boy Cloudpusher,
Young Lord Mistspreader.
The Boy Cloudpusher showed his divine magic,
Making great rocklike heaps that hung down from the sky;
Young Lord Mistspreader used his powers.
To cover the earth with thick, dense fog.
All was dark in the three markets;
Black were the six main streets of the city.
Leaving the sea together with the wind,
They appeared with the rain in the Kunlun Mountains,
Filled heaven and earth in an instant,
Immediately covered the mortal world.
All was reduced to obscurity
And the doors of the Five Phoenix Tower disappeared.
In an instant there was dense fog and thick clouds everywhere. Monkey then pointed his gold-banded cudgel into the air a third time, with alarming results:
Grandfather Thunder was angry,
Mother Lightning was furious.
Grandfather Thunder was angry
As he rode backwards on his fire beast down from Heaven;
Mother Lightning was furious
As she left her Dipper Palace lashing out with her golden snake.
The thunder crashed and roared,
Shaking the Iron Fork Mountain;
Brilliant flashes of red silk
Flew from the Eastern Ocean.
The noise rumbled like carts;
The flashes were like rice plants gleaming in the wind.
The spirit of all living shoots revived,
Many a sleeping insect came to life.
It terrified monarch and subject alike;
The sound made merchants nervously active.
The thunder roared with the noise of an earthquake or a landslide, so frightening the people in the city that they all burnt incense and imitation money. “Deng,” shouted Monkey familiarly, “make sure that you kill me a few more corrupt officials who twist the laws and disobedient sons who do not do their duty to their parents as an example to the people.” The thunder became louder than ever, and Monkey pointed his cudgel upwards for the fourth time.
The dragons gave their orders
And ram filled Heaven and earth,
As if the river in the sky was filling the heavenly gulf,
And as fast as clouds passing over the ocean's gates.
It pattered on the roof of the tower,
Splashed against the windows.
Now that the river in the sky had flooded,
White waves rolled along the streets.
They moved around like a dish being picked up,
Splashed like water being tipped from a bowl.
The lonely farm's houses were almost covered by the flood,
Which was nearly as high as the bridge across the ri
ver.
The mulberry fields indeed were turning into sea,
And dry land was under water in an instant.
This was the help the dragons gave,
As they lifted the Yangtse and poured the water down.
The rain started at about eight in the morning and lasted till around noon, by when all the streets inside and outside the capital of Tarrycart were running with water. The king then issued a command: “Enough rain has fallen now. If there is any more the growing crops will be drowned and it will be a disaster.”
The officer on duty at the foot of the Tower of Five Phoenixes whipped his horse and rode through the rain to say, “Holy monk, that is enough rain.” Hearing this, Monkey pointed his gold-banded cudgel towards the sky again, and at once the thunder stopped, the wind fell, the rain ceased and the clouds scattered.
The king was delighted, and all the civil and military officials said in admiration, “What a marvellous monk. How true it is that however good you are at something there's always somebody better. Our Teachers of the Nation are very effective at making rain, but when they ask for fine weather the drizzle goes on for hours before clearing up. However can this monk make the skies clear the moment he gives the word, so that the sun shines bright on the instant and there isn't a cloud to be seen for miles around?”
The king ordered that his carriage be taken back to the court, where he would return the Tang Priest's passport with an exit permit and allow him to go. Just when he was placing the royal seal on the document the three Taoists came in to stop him, saying, “Your Majesty, that rain was caused not by the monk but by our efforts.”