The Journey to the West, Revised Edition, Volume 4

by Unknown

  No sooner had he finished this memorial when a celestial court attendant arrived, leading the local spirit, the city deity, and the spirits of land and grain at the Prefecture of Phoenix-Immortal. All the gods bowed to the Jade Emperor and memorialized, “The prefect and the entire population of our region have repented. There is not a single household, indeed not a single person, which has not embraced the fruit of virtue by worshipping Buddha and revering Heaven. We beg you now, therefore, to extend your mercy and let the sweet dew descend to succor the people.”

  Filled with delight by what he heard, the Jade Emperor at once issued this decree: “Let the Bureau of Wind, the Bureau of Clouds, and the Bureau of Rain follow our instruction to go to the Region Below. Within the territory of the Prefecture of Phoenix-Immortal at this day and hour, let them sound the thunder, deploy the clouds, and lower three feet and forty-two drops of rain.” The Four Celestial Masters transmitted this decree to the various bureaus, the deities of which all roused themselves to exercise their divine power in the world below.

  Pilgrim and the thunder gods, meanwhile, were telling the Mother of Lightning to ply her tricks in midair when they were joined by the other arriving deities. In no time at all, clouds and wind came together and sweet rain descended in torrents. Marvelous rain!

  Endless dense clouds,

  Boundless black fog,

  Thunder cracking,

  Lightning flashing,

  Violent wind churning,

  Sudden rain pouring.

  This is how one thought could move Heaven

  And all people realize their hopes.

  Since the Great Sage has caused decisive change,

  The empire grows dark for ten thousand miles—

  A good rain likes seas and rivers upturned,

  Obscuring land and sky.

  A cascade hangs before the eaves,

  And chimes resound beyond the screens.

  In every door people chant the Buddha’s name,

  And water runs wild through six streets and marts.

  Rivers, east and west, are filled to the brim;

  Streams are flowing freely both north and south.

  Shriveled sprouts are moistened;

  Withered woods now revive.

  In the fields hemp and wheat flourish;

  In the village grains and beans increase.

  The traders find joy in commerce;

  The farmers once more love their plowing.

  From henceforth millet and grain will prosper,

  Their tillage yield naturally rich harvests.

  With rain and wind in season the people rest

  And in calm seas and rivers enjoy peace.

  In a single day there descended the full measure of three feet and forty-two drops of rain. As the various deities gradually halted their activities, the Great Sage cried out in a loud voice: “Let the deities of the Four Bureaus temporarily stay their cloudy attendants. Allow old Monkey to go ask the prefect to make his proper expression of thanks. All of you can then sweep aside the mist and cloud to reveal your true forms. When these common mortals have seen you with their own eyes, they will then believe and sacrifice to you with constancy.” On hearing this, the gods had no choice but to remain in midair.

  Lowering the direction of his cloud, Pilgrim went to the prefecture, where he was met by Tripitaka, Eight Rules, and Sha Monk. The prefect made a bow with each step he took to express his gratitude. “You shouldn’t thank me,” said Pilgrim, “but I have managed to detain the deities of the Four Bureaus here for the moment. Assemble many of your people quickly and thank them, so that they will return in the future to grant you rain.” The prefect accordingly sent out an immediate dispatch to all the people that they should hold lighted incense and bow to the sky. When the mist and clouds moved apart, what the people saw were the revealed true forms of the deities of the Four Bureaus, these being the Rain Bureau, the Thunder Bureau, the Cloud Bureau, and the Wind Bureau. This was what they saw:

  The dragon king’s revealed form,

  The thundergod’s exposed body.

  The Cloud-Boy’s appearance,

  The Earl of Wind’s true image.

  The dragon king’s revealed form:

  Such silver beard and hoary face matchless in the world.

  The thundergod’s exposed body:

  Such incomparable hooked mouth and forceful mien.

  The Cloud-Boy’s appearance:

  Who could rival his jadelike face and head of gold?

  The Earl of Wind’s true image:

  Who resembles his round eyes and bushy brows?

  Jointly they emerge in the blue heavens,

  Each showing in turn his holy presence.

  Phoenix-Immortal people then believe;

  Worship with incense, and their evils leave.

  Once they have seen Heaven’s warriors this day,

  They cleanse their hearts and virtue now obey.

  The various deities lingered for an hour, and the people did not cease in their worship. Pilgrim Sun rose again into the air to salute them, saying, “We’ve troubled you! We’ve troubled you! Please return to your bureaus, all of you. Old Monkey will make certain that the households in this prefecture are faithful in their offerings and make oblation in due season to thank you. From now on, please return every fifth day to give the people wind, and every tenth day to give them rain. Do come back, all of you, and vouchsafe your salvation to them.” The deities agreed, and they all returned to their bureaus, where we shall leave them.

  We tell you instead about the Great Sage, who dropped down from the clouds and said to Tripitaka, “Our affair’s concluded, and the people are safe. We can pack and move on.” On hearing this, the prefect quickly saluted them, saying, “How could you say that, Venerable Father Sun? What you have accomplished here are kindness and merit without limits. This lowly official has already asked for a small banquet to be prepared as a token of our gratitude for your great kindness. We intend also to buy some land from the people so that we may build a monastery, in truth, to establish a living shrine to you. Your names will be inscribed on steles so that you may enjoy our offerings in all four seasons. But even if I were to engrave your deed on my bones and carve it on my heart, I could not repay a fraction of your kindness. How can you say, then, that you want to leave?”

  “Though you may find it appropriate to say what you said, Your Excellency,” said Tripitaka, “you must realize also that we are but mendicants journeying to the West. We dare not stay long. In a day or two we shall certainly leave.” The prefect, of course, would not let them go. He gave the order that preparations for the banquet be made immediately, and also that work begin that very night for the building of the shrine.

  The next day a grand banquet was given, in which the Tang Monk was asked to take the honored seat. The Great Sage Sun, Eight Rules, and Sha Monk all had their own tables, while the prefect and his subordinates, high and low officials, all took turns to present food and drinks to the accompaniment of fine music. The entertainment lasted one whole day, and it was a delightful occasion indeed, for which we have a testimonial poem:

  After a long drought the fields meet sweet rain.

  Commerce and rivers freely flow again.

  We have to thank the divine monks’ advent

  And the Great Sage who to Heav’n’s Palace went.

  Three things of former evil now undone,

  One thought contrite has fruits of virtue won.

  Henceforth may it e’er be like Yao-Shun times:

  Rich harvests and rains due in all four climes.

  There was a party one day, and there was a banquet the next—it went on like that for almost half a month, during which time they were also waiting for the monastery to be built and the living shrine to be finished.

  One day the prefect asked the four pilgrims to go look at the building. “It’s an enormous labor,” said an astonished Tang Monk. “How can you get it finished so quickly?”

  “T
his lowly official,” replied the prefect, “has ordered the laborers to work night and day in order that they might complete their task speedily. Now I’m inviting the Venerable Fathers especially to go see it.” “You’re indeed a worthy prefect,” said Pilgrim with a smile, “one who has not only virtue but ability as well!”

  They thus went to the new monastery. When they saw the towering edifices and the magnificent gates, they were full of praise. Pilgrim then requested his master to name the monastery, and Tripitaka said, “Yes, let us call it the Monastery of Salvific Rain.” “Very good! Very good!” exclaimed the prefect. Brushed gold notices were then set up to recruit qualified priests to attend the fires and incense. On the left of the main hall, living shrines were erected to the four pilgrims, at which offerings would be made in all four seasons. There were plans also to build shrines to the thunder deities and dragon deities as tokens of gratitude for their divine works. After witnessing all of this, the pilgrims decided to leave.

  Knowing that their benefactors could no longer be detained, the populace of the entire prefecture came with gifts and cash, but not even a penny was accepted. Thereupon the officials and the civilians of the entire region formed a huge entourage, with the waving of banners and the beating of drums, to escort the pilgrims out of the city. Even after some thirty miles they could not quite bring themselves to part with the pilgrims, whom they escorted yet another distance with tearful eyes. Only when the pilgrims disappeared from sight did the people turn back. Thus it is that

  A virtuous divine monk leaves Salvation behind;

  The Great Sage, Equal to Heaven, spreads his kindness wide.

  We do not know how many days must pass before they get to see Tathāgata; let’s listen to the explanation in the next chapter.

  EIGHTY-EIGHT

  Reaching Jade-Flower, Chan convenes an assembly;

  Mind Monkey, Wood, and Earth instruct disciples.

  We were telling you about the Tang Monk, who took leave of the prefect. Riding along, he spoke most amiably to Pilgrim: “Worthy disciple, your virtuous fruit this time far surpasses even that of the occasion when you rescued the children of the Bhikṣu Kingdom. This is entirely your merit!”

  “At the Bhikṣu Kingdom,” said Sha Monk, “only one thousand, one hundred and eleven young boys were saved. How can that compare with this torrential rain, which provided moisture everywhere and revived hundreds and thousands of lives? This disciple, too, has been secretly admiring Elder Brother for his great magic strength which can move Heaven and for his compassion which covers the Earth.”

  With a giggle, Eight Rules said, “Yes, Elder Brother has kindness, and he has virtue! Unfortunately, he practices benevolence and righteousness only on the outside, and he harbors malicious designs within. Whenever he walks with old Hog, he steps on people!”

  “When did I ever step on you?” asked Pilgrim.

  “Enough! Enough!” said Eight Rules. “Frequently you took care to see that I was bound, that I was hung up, that I was cooked, that I was steamed! Since you have extended your kindness and mercy to hundreds and thousands of people at the Phoenix-Immortal Prefecture, you should have stayed there at least half a year. That way I would have been able to enjoy a few leisurely meals, eating my fill. But all you did was hurry us on our way!”

  On hearing this, the elder snapped at him, “This Idiot! All you can think of is something to stuff down your throat! Get moving quickly, and don’t you dare talk back!” Not daring to utter a word, Eight Rules pouted a little; he toted the luggage and guffawed a few times as master and disciples headed down the main road. Time went by like a weaver’s shuttle, and soon it was late autumn. You see

  Water lines recede,

  Mountain rocks turn bare.

  Red leaves flutter about,

  A time of yellow blossoms.

  The frost glows, you feel the night lengthen;

  The white moon pierces the paper screens.

  Fire and smoke in all households, the twilight’s long;

  The lake surfaces a cold gleam every where.

  Fragrant white duckweeds,

  And dense red smartweeds.

  Oranges yellow and green,

  Droopy willows and handsome grains.

  The wild geese drop by a hamlet midst rush like snow;

  Soy beans are reaped as the inn’s roosters crow.

  After the four of them had journeyed for a long time, they again saw the shadow of city walls looming. Lifting his crop to point toward the distance, the elder called out: “Wukong, look! There’s another city over there. I wonder what sort of a place it is?”

  “You and I haven’t even reached it,” said Pilgrim. “How could we know? Let’s go up there and ask some people.” Just as he finished speaking, an old man walked out from a clump of trees. Holding a bamboo staff in his hands, he wore a light garment on his body, a pair of coir sandals on his feet, and a thin belt around his waist. The Tang Monk was so startled that he rolled down from his saddle at once, walked up to him, and saluted him. Leaning on his staff, the old man returned his greetings and asked, “Where have you come from, Elder?”

  Pressing his palms together in front of him, the Tang Monk said, “This humble cleric is someone sent by the Tang court in the Land of the East to Thunderclap to seek scriptures from Buddha. Arriving at your treasure region, I see a rampart ahead of us. Since I do not know what place it is, I ask the old patron especially for instruction.”

  On hearing this, the old man exclaimed, “A Chan Master who possesses the Way! Our humble region here happens to be the lower prefecture of the Kingdom of India. The name of this place is the Jade-Flower District. As the county magistrate is a member of the royal household of the King of India, he has been appointed the Jade-Flower Prince. He is a most virtuous ruler, one who pays special reverence to Buddhists and Daoists and loves the common people dearly. If the old Chan Master goes to have an audience with him, he will undoubtedly grant you special honor.” Tripitaka thanked him, and the old man left by walking through the forest.

  Then Tripitaka turned to give a thorough account to his three disciples, who were all delighted and tried to help their master to mount. “It’s not too far,” said Tripitaka. “I need not ride the horse.” The four of them, therefore, walked up to the city streets to look around. Most of the households over there, you see, were busily engaged in buying and selling. The place seemed to be densely populated, and business too seemed to be flourishing. Listen to their voices and look at their features: they seem no different from those of China. “Disciples,” admonished Tripitaka, “do be careful and don’t be rowdy.”

  Eight Rules at once lowered his head and Sha Monk put a hand over his face. Pilgrim, however, took his master’s arm to give him support, and soon people on both sides began to crowd them, vying to take a look at these strange travelers. “We have here noble priests who can tame dragons and subdue tigers,” they cried, “but we have never seen such hog-taming and monkey-subduing monks!”

  Unable to contain himself, Eight Rules stuck out his snout and said, “Have you ever seen a hog-taming king of a priest?” He so frightened those people on the street that they stumbled and fell, scattering right and left. “Idiot,” said Pilgrim, laughing, “hide your snout quickly. Stop being so histrionic, and watch your steps. You’re about to cross a bridge.” Lowering his head, our Idiot kept giggling as they crossed the drawbridge to enter the city gates. On the big boulevards they could see many wine shops and song houses, all prospering and bustling in activities. It was indeed a capital city right out of China, for which we have a testimonial poem. The poem says:

  A royal city and fortress ever strong

  Where all things seem fresh near hills and rivers long.

  The marts with a hundred goods the lake-boats ply;

  To sell wine a thousand shops their banners fly.

  On each tower and terrace the people bustle;

  In every street and lane the traders hustle.

  This sce
ne’s as lovely as that of Chang’an’s fame:

  Roosters crow, dogs bark—they all sound the same.

  Secretly delighted, Tripitaka thought to himself, “I have heard people speaking of the various barbarians in the Western Territories, but I have never been here. When I look carefully at the place, however, I find that it’s no different from our Great Tang. It certainly lives up to its name of Ultimate Bliss!” He overheard, moreover, that a picul of white rice cost no more than four mace of silver, and that a mere penny would fetch a catty of sesame oil. It was truly a region blessed with bountiful harvests of the five grains.

  They walked for a long time before they reached the residence of the Jade-Flower Prince. On both sides of the residence, there were also the residence of the Administrator of a Princely Establishment, the Investigative Hall, the Refectory, and the Guest Hostel. “Disciples,” said Tripitaka, “this is the royal residence. Let me go in to have an audience with the prince and have our rescript certified.”

  “If Master is going inside,” said Eight Rules, “should we stand in front of this official residence?”

  “Don’t you see the sign on the door here?” replied Tripitaka. “It says ‘Guest Hostel.’ You may enter and take a seat inside. Find some hay to feed our horse. After I have seen the prince, and if he bestows some food on us, I’ll call you to share it with me.” “You may go in without worry, Master,” said Pilgrim. “Old Monkey will take care of things.” Sha Monk then toted the luggage into the hostel. When the attendants inside saw how hideous they looked, they dared not question the visitors, nor were they bold enough to ask them to leave. They had, in fact, to permit the pilgrims to sit down, and there we shall leave them for the moment.

  We tell you instead about the old master, who changed his attire, took up the travel rescript, and went to the royal residence. He was met by a protocol officer, who asked, “Where has the elder come from?”

  Tripitaka answered, “I’m a priest sent by the Great Tang in the Land of the East to seek scriptures from the Buddhist Patriarch at the Great Thunderclap. Having arrived at your treasure region, I would like to have my travel rescript certified, and that is why I have come especially to have an audience with His Highness.” The protocol officer immediately announced his arrival.