Journey to the West

Greatest of all is the art of improvisation.

With four or five bounds both of him was in the wood. He searched until he saw a pair of stone doors standing
ajar. Not daring to charge in, he shouted, "Open the doors."

The little she−devil on the doors was so startled that she opened one of them wide. "Where are you from?" she
asked.

"We've been sent from the Lotus Flower Cave on Flat−top Mountain with an invitation for the old lady," said
Monkey, and the little she−devil invited both of him in. When he reached the inner doors he peeped round
them and saw an old woman sitting in the middle of the cave. Do you know what she looked like?

A map of snow white hair,

Star−shining bright.

A ruddy, wrinkled countenance,

Few teeth, and a majestic manner.

She looked like a chrysanthemum amid the frost,

With a face the color of old pine−trees after rain.

A white silk scarf was wrapped around her head,

And jewels studded her golden ear−rings.

When Sun the Great Sage saw her he did not go in, but covered his face with his hands and started to sob
outside the inner doors. Do you know why he was crying? Could it be because he was afraid of her? But even
if he had been afraid, crying would have been no use. Besides, he had tricked them out of their treasures and
killed the little demons, so what did he have to cry about? He had never shed a single tear the time when he
had been put inside nine cauldrons and deep−fried in oil for eight or nine days on end.

It was only the thought of the Tang Priest's suffering in his quest for the scriptures that upset him so badly that
he wept as he reflected thus: "I've used my powers to turn into a little demon and come with an invitation for
this she−devil. It wouldn't do for me to stay upright when I talk to her: I'll have to kowtow to her. In my life
I've only kowtowed to three people: Lord Buddha in the Western Heaven, Bodhisattva Guanyin in the
Southern Ocean, and the Master−−I kowtowed to him four times when he delivered me from the Double
Boundary Mountain, and for him I'd wear out the six blades of my lungs and liver and the three hairs and
seven apertures of my heart. But is it really worth banging my head on the ground before this she−devil for a
roll of scripture? If I don't, I'll give the game away. This is terrible. I suppose it's only because the master is in
trouble that I'll humiliate myself like this." As he had no choice he rushed in, knelt down, and announced that
he was kowtowing to the old lady.

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"Get up, my child," said the she−devil. Monkey was delighted that his announcement had worked. "Where are
you from?" the old devil asked.

"I have been sent at the command of the two kings of the Lotus Flower Cave in Flat−top Mountain to invite
you, Ma'am, to a meal of the Tang Priest's flesh. They also ask you to bring your Dazzling Golden Cord to
capture Sun the Novice with." The old devil was very pleased indeed.

"What good, dutiful boys," she said, sending for her carrying−chair.

"Good lord," said Monkey to himself, "fancy a demon being carried in a chair." Two she−devils came up from
behind with a chair made of fragrant rattan. They set it down outside the doors, then lifted the green gauze
curtain. The old devil left the cave and got into the chair. Some young she−devils followed her with
comb−boxes, mirrors and stands, towels and a scent box.

"What are all you here for? I'm going to visit my own sons, and there'll be no shortage of people to look after
me there. I won't need you lot to fuss over me and natter. Go back in, shut the doors, and look after the place."
All the little demons apart from the two chair−porters did indeed go back in. "What are you two messengers
called?" asked the old she−devil.

"He's called Mountain Tiger," Monkey quickly replied, "and I'm Ocean Dragon."

"You two take the lead and clear the way for me," said the old she−devil.

"Stinking luck," thought Monkey. "No scriptures yet, on top of which I've got to be her slave." As there could
be no question of refusing he had to lead the way, chanting loudly, "Lift the chair!"

When he had covered a couple of miles or thereabouts he sat down on the edge of a precipice. When the
chair−porters caught him up he suggested, "What about a little rest? Your shoulders must be aching under the
weight." Not realizing that this was a trick the little devils put the chair down. Standing behind it Monkey
pulled a hair from his chest and turned it into a sesame bun that he ate as he held it.

"What are you eating, sir?" the chair−porters asked.

"It's a bit awkward to explain," replied Monkey. "We came a very long way to invite Her Highness, but as I've
been given no food I'm hungry. When I've eaten some of these dry rations I brought with me we can be on our
way."

"Give us a bit," the porters pleaded.

"Come over here, then," said Monkey. "There's no need to be too careful within the family."

Unaware of what was up, the little devils crowded round Monkey for a share of his dry rations, whereupon he
produced his cudgel. The one he hit on the head was smashed to pulp when trying to ward the blow off; the
other, who was only grazed, survived to groan aloud. Hearing these groans the old demon poked her head out
from the chair to take a look. Monkey leapt round to the front of the chair and brought his cudgel down on her
head, denting her skull and making blood and brains spurt out. Dragging her out of the chair for a good look
he found she was really a nine−tailed vixen.

"Vicious brute," he said, "fancy you having yourself called 'Your Highness'. If you're a 'your highness' then
you ought to address me as Supreme Ancestral Lord." The splendid Monkey King then found her Dazzling
Golden Cord, and gloated as he tucked it up his sleeve, "Those lousy demons may have their magical powers,

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but three of their treasure are mine now." He then pulled out two more hairs that he turned into doubles of
Mountain Tiger and Ocean Dragon, as well as two more that he turned into the chair−porters. He then made
himself look like the old lady, sat in the chair, and had it carried straight back the way he had come.

It was not long before they were at the entrance to the Lotus Flower Cave and the two hairs turned
chair−porters were clamoring for the doors to be opened. The little devil on the doors asked whether
Mountain Tiger and Ocean Dragon were back.

"Yes," replied the hairs.

"Did you persuade Her Highness to come?"

"Can't you see her in the chair?" asked the hairs, pointing.

"Wait a moment while I report inside," said the little devil, who went in to announce, "Your Majesties, Her
Highness is here." At this the two demon kings had a table of incense−sticks set out to greet her. Monkey was
quietly delighted to hear all this.

"What luck," he thought. "It's my turn to do it in style now. I had to kowtow with the invitation to the old
she−devil when I turned myself into a little devil. Now that I've turned myself into her I'm their mother, and
they'll have to kowtow four times to me. It may not mean much, but at least I'll be a couple of kowtows up."

The splendid Great Sage got out of the carrying chair, straightened his clothes, and put the four hairs back on
his body. The little devil on the doors carried the empty chair inside, and Monkey walked slowly in behind
him, imitating the old she−devil's affected wiggles. As he went straight in devils big and small knelt in
greeting. A drum and fife band started to play, and clouds of incense rose from the Boshan burners. On
reaching the main hall he sat down, facing regally South, while the two demon kings kowtowed to him with
the words, "Mother, your children kowtow to you."

"Get up, my children," said Monkey.

Pig, still hanging from a roof−beam, began to roar with laughter. "You're a fine one, brother," said Friar Sand,
"laughing while hung up."

"I know what I'm doing," said Pig.

"And what are you doing?" asked Friar Sand.

"I was afraid that when the old woman came we'd be cooked and eaten. But it's not her: it's the old story."

"What old story?" asked Friar Sand.

"The Protector of the Horses is here," said Pig.

"How can you tell?" asked Friar Sand. "When she leant forward and said, 'Get up, my children,' a monkey's
tail stuck out behind her. I can see better than you because I'm hung up higher."

"Stop talking," said Friar Sand. "Let's listen to what they say."

"Yes, yes," said Pig.

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"Well, boys, why have you asked me here?" asked Monkey as he sat between the two demon kings.

"Mother," they replied, "we've been most discourteous to you for many days and not done our duty by you.
But this morning we captured the Tang Priest from the East, and we wouldn't dream of eating him by
ourselves. So we invited you over to present him to you live. We'll cook him and offer him to you to eat: he'll
prolong your life."

"I won't eat the Tang Priest's flesh, dear boys," Monkey replied, "but they do say that Pig's ears are delicious.
Could you cut them off and have them prepared? They'd go down well with a drink."

"A pox on you," exclaimed Pig in panic when he heard. "So you're here to cut my ears off. What I'll have to
say won't make pleasant listening."

Oh dear! Because the idiot's remarks gave the game away the Monkey King's cover was blown. In burst a
crowd of little demons, mountain rangers and doorkeepers to report, "Disaster, Your Majesties. Sun the
Novice has killed the old lady and disguised himself as her."

The moment the demon kings heard this there was no time for arguments: the Seven−star Sword was brought
out, and it cut straight at Monkey's face. The splendid Great Sage moved in a flash: the cave was full of red
light, and he was gone. A trick like that really was fun: he could concentrate himself into solid form, or
disperse into vapor. The Senior Demon King was out of his wits with terror, while all the other devils hit their
fingers and shook their heads.

"Brother," said the senior king, "let's give the Tang Priest, Friar Sand, Pig, the white horse and all their
baggage back to Sun the Novice and end the quarrel between us."

"What a thing to say," replied the Junior King. "Goodness only knows how much trouble we went to in our
plan to capture all those monks. But now you're so intimidated by Sun the Novice's amazing transformations
that you want to give everything back to him. You really are a coward. No man would act like that. You sit
down and stop being so terrified. I've heard you tell of his tremendous magical powers, but I've never tried my
skill against his although we did meet. Bring me my armor. I'm going to find him and fight three rounds with
him. If he can't beat me in those three rounds then the Tang Priest will be ours to eat; and if I can't beat him
we'll give him back the Tang Priest."

"You're right, brother," said the older demon, who then ordered that the armor be brought out. This was done.

When the Junior Demon King was fully accoutered he took his sword in his hand and went outside calling,
"Sun the Novice, where have you gone?" The Great Sage, who was now up in the clouds, turned round to look
as soon as he heard his name called and saw that it was the Junior Demon King. This was how he was
dressed:

The phoenix−helmet on his head outdid the winter snow;

His battle armor shone with the glint of steel.

The girdle at his waist was woven from dragon sinews;

Soft leather boots had folds like plum blossom.

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A face like a living True Lord of Guankou,

A countenance no different from the Mighty Miracle God.

The Seven−star Sword was brandished in his fist;

Great was his wrath that rose to the clouds.

"Sun the Novice," roared the Junior King, "give back our treasures and our mother and we will free your Tang
Priest to go to fetch the scriptures." The Great Sage could not restrain himself from abusing him:

"You revolting demon, you don't know what you're up against in me. Give me back my master, my brothers,
the white horse and our baggage, and throw in some travelling expenses for our journey West too. If so much
as the hint of a 'no' slips out between your teeth you'd better start making your own rope to save me the
trouble of doing it myself."

On hearing this the Junior Demon King sent a cloud shooting up and sprang into mid−air, swinging his sword
round to cut through Monkey, who struck at his face with his iron cudgel. The fight between them in the sky
was magnificent:

Well−matched chess−players,

A general against a worthy foe.

A well−matched chess−player must show his mettle;

Only against a worthy foe can a general win glory.

When these divine warriors clashed

It was like tigers fighting in the Southern hills,

Or dragons struggling in the Northern seas.

Where dragons struggle

Their scales glisten.

When tigers fight

Claws and teeth wreak havoc.

The claws and teeth wreak havoc, falling like silver hooks;

The scales as they glisten are iron leaves.

The one twists and turns,

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Performing a thousand maneuvers;

The other moves to and fro,

Never relaxing for an instant.

The gold−banded cudgel

Comes within inches of the skull;

The Seven−star Sword

Strives for a thrust to the heart.

The one strikes fear into the stars;

The other's wrath is more terrible than lightning.

The two of them fought thirty rounds, but neither came out on top. Monkey was delighted, though without
showing it. "So this vicious devil is a match for my iron cudgel. As I've already got his three treasures I'm
only wasting my time slogging it out with him like this. It'd be much better to pop him into the gourd or the
vase. But that's no good," he reflected further. "As the saying goes, 'a possession is at its owner's disposal.' If
they don't do what I tell them, everything will be ruined. I'll have to lasso him with the Dazzling Golden
Cord."

Using one hand to parry the magic sword with his cudgel, the splendid Great Sage raised the rope in the other
and sent it whistling through the air to lasso the demon king. Now the king had a Rope−tightening Spell and a
Rope−loosening Spell. When he lassoed others he would say the tightening spell, and nobody would be able
to get free, and if he lassoed his own people he would say the loosening spell, and no one would be hurt.
Recognizing this rope as one of his own family's treasures he said the loosening spell, at which the noose slid
open. He got free and threw the rope back at Monkey, catching him. Before the Great Sage could apply some
slimming magic to escape the demon had recited the tightening spell. Monkey was held fast, unable to free
himself; he was locked tight by a gold ring at his neck. The demon jerked at the rope and pulled him over,
then struck seven or eight blows at his head with the magic sword. This did not even redden Monkey's scalp.

"If your head's that hard, you ape, I'll not hack at you any more," the demon said. "I'll take you back to kill
later. Give me my two treasures back at once."

"I haven't got any treasures of yours," Monkey replied, "so why ask me?" The demon king searched him very
carefully, found the gourd and the vase, and dragged him back into the cave by the rope.

"Brother, I've got him," he announced.

"Who?" the Senior King asked.

"Sun the Novice," replied the Junior King. "Come and see."

When the Senior King saw that it was Monkey his face was wreathed in smiles. "It's him," he said, "it's him.
Tie him to a pillar with a very long rope and we'll have some fun with him." And indeed Monkey was tied up

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while the two demon kings went into the back hall for a drink.

Monkey's fidgeting at the foot of the pillar disturbed Pig. As he hung from his beam the idiot mocked
Monkey: "So you didn't manage to eat those ears."

"Fool," said Monkey, "do you like hanging up there? If I get out I guarantee that I'll rescue you all."

"You're shameless," said Pig, "quite shameless. You can't escape yourself, and you want to rescue others. I've
had enough. Let's all die with the master, then at least we'll be able to ask the way for him in the Underworld."

"Stop talking such nonsense," said Monkey, "and watch me get out."

"How?" Pig asked. While the Great Sage told Pig he was keeping a sharp eye on the two demon kings, who
were feasting inside while little demons brought them dishes of food and jugs of wine. The two of them were
staggering all over the place, and security was very relaxed.

Seeing that there was nobody in front of him Monkey used his magic powers to slide his cudgel out. He blew
on it and said "Change!" turning it into a pure steel file. Tugging at the ring at his neck he filed it apart with
four or five strokes of the file, then removed the file, freed himself, plucked out a hair, turned it into a replica
of himself, and left it tied up there. Then in a flash he changed into a little devil and stood beside it.

Up by the roof−beam Pig started to shout, "This is terrible, terrible. The one tied up is a fake. The genuine
article is hanging up here."

The Senior Demon King put his wine cup down to ask, "Why is Pig yelling?" Monkey, now in the guise of a
little devil, came forward to report, "Pig was inciting Sun the Novice to transform himself and escape. Sun
refused to do so, and so Pig is yelling."

"Who said that Pig was well−behaved?" asked the Junior King. "Now we know just how cunning he is. He
must be hit twenty times on the snout."

When Monkey fetched a rod to hit him with, Pig said, "Don't hit me hard, because if you do I'll start shouting
again. I know who you are."

"It's only for your sakes that I'm making all these transformations," replied Monkey. "Why ever did you have
to give the game away? None of the demons in the cave knew who I was. It would have to be you who found
out."

"You may have altered your face," Pig replied, "but you can't change your backside. You have a patch of red
on either cheek down there, don't you? That's how I know it's you." Monkey went through to the inner
quarters, slipped into the kitchens, rubbed the underneath of a pan, smeared the soot on both his buttocks, and
went back to the front part of the cave.

"Where's that monkey been messing around?" mocked Pig when he saw him. "His bum's all black."

Monkey was still standing in front of them, trying to steal their treasures. Being extremely wise he entered the
main hall, tugged at the old demon's leg, and said, "Your Majesty, Sun the Novice is fidgeting around where
he's tied to the pillar, trying to wear his way through the golden rope. It would be best to change it for a
thicker one."

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"You're right," said the Senior Demon King, taking off the belt of lion−hide he wore at his waist and handing
it to Monkey, who used it to tie up the imitation Monkey. The golden rope he tucked loop by loop into his
sleeve before plucking out a hair, blowing on it with magic breath, and turning it into a copy of the Dazzling
Golden Cord, which he respectfully returned to the demon with both hands. The demon was too preoccupied
with his drinking to look at it carefully as he accepted it. Thus it was that the Great Sage used his power of
improvisation and turned a hair into the Dazzling Golden Cord.

Now that he had this treasure he bounded out of the cave as fast as he could, turned back into himself, and
shouted, "You devils."

"Who are you, yelling like that?" the devils on the doors asked.

"Go inside at once and announce to your lousy demon kings that the Novice Sun is here." When the little
devils passed on the message the Senior King was greatly shocked.

"We've captured Sun the Novice, so how can there be another Novice Sun?"

"He's nothing to be frightened of," said the Junior King. "We have all our treasures back. I'll fetch the gourd
and put him inside it."

"Do be careful, brother," said the Senior King.

The Junior King went outside carrying the gourd to see someone just like Sun the Novice except that he was a
little shorter. "Where are you from?" he asked.

"I'm Sun the Novice's brother," Monkey replied. "I've heard that you've captured him, which is why I'm here
to have it out with you."

"Yes, I have got him," said the Junior Demon King. "He's tied up in the cave. As you're here you must want a
fight, and I'm willing to cross swords with you. But do you have the guts to answer if I call your name?"

"If you call my name a thousand times," said Monkey, "I'll answer ten thousand times."

The demon leapt into mid−air with his treasure, which he held upside−down as he called out, "Novice Sun."
Monkey did not dare reply.

"If I reply," he thought, "he'll have me inside."

"Why don't you answer me?" the demon asked.

"I can't hear you," replied Monkey, "I'm a bit deaf. Shout louder."

"Novice Sun," the demon shouted again. Down below Monkey pinched his own fingers as he thought things
out: "My real name is Sun the Novice. Novice Sun is only a false name I've made up. With my real name I
could be put in the gourd, but I reckon that with a false name I can't be." Unable to restrain himself any longer
he replied this time. With a roaring of wind he was sucked into the gourd and the label was put on it. As it
happened it made no difference to that treasure whether a name was real or false: any response was enough to
get you put inside.

The Great Sage found it pitch−black inside the gourd. When he tried to raise his head he could not move it at
all, so tightly was he squeezed in it. He now began to feel very anxious. "The two little devils I met on the

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mountain," he thought, "told me that any one put in the gourd or the vase turns to pus in three and a half
hours. Perhaps that's going to happen to me." Then he started on another line of thought: "No problem. I won't
turn into pus. When I made havoc in the Palace of Heaven five hundred years ago Lord Lao Zi put me in his
Eight Trigram Furnace and fired me for forty−nine days, and this gave me a heart and liver of gold, lungs of
silver, a brazen head, an iron back, eyes of fire and golden pupils. I couldn't possibly be turned to pus in three
and a half hours. I'll let him take me inside and see what he does."

Taking Monkey inside, the Junior Demon King said, "I've got him, brother."

"Who?" the Senior King asked.

"I've got the Novice Sun packed in my gourd," the Junior King replied.

"Do sit down, dear brother," said the Senior King, "and don't move. We must shake the gourd till we hear him
sloshing around inside before taking the label off." Hearing this, Monkey wondered, "How could they shake
my body till they heard it sloshing around? They wouldn't hear anything unless I'd turned runny. I'll take a
piss, then if they shake me and hear is sloshing around they're bound to take the label and the lid off, and I'll
be able to get the hell out of here. No, that won't do. Piss would sound right but it would get my tunic filthy.
When he shakes the gourd I'll have my mouth full of saliva that I can swish around noisily to fool him into
opening up. Then I'll be off." The Great Sage got ready, but the demons were too thirsty for their wine to
shake the gourd. So he thought of a way to trick them into shaking it.

"Heavens," he shouted, "my knuckles have turned to pus." But the demons still did not shake it. Then he
shouted, "Mother, my waist has gone now."

At this the Senior Demon King said, "If he's turned to pus as far as the waist he's finished. Take the label off
and let's have a look."

When the Great Sage heard this he plucked out another hair, told it to change, and turned it into half of his
own body, which he left in the bottom of the gourd. He turned himself into a tiny insect that perched near the
mouth of the gourd. As soon as the Junior Demon King took the paper cover off he flew out, did a roll, and
turned into Ocean Dragon, the little devil who had gone with the invitation to the old lady. In this guise he
stood beside the path while the Senior King removed the stopper from the gourd, craned his neck, and saw the
half body still moving. Not realizing that it was a fake he called out in panic, "Shut it again, brother, shut it.
He hasn't rotted down yet." The Junior King put the cover back on. The Great Sage was discreetly delighted
that they did not realize where he actually was.

The Senior Demon King took the gourd, filled a cup to the brim with liquor, and offered it with both hands to
the Junior King, saying, "Please accept this drink from me."

"Elder brother," replied the Junior King, "I've drunk a great deal. I can't accept another."

To this the Senior King said, "Your capture of the Tang Priest, Pig and Friar Sand was nothing special; but I
insist on offering you some drinks to congratulate you on your achievement in tying up Sun the Novice and
putting the Novice Sun into your gourd." As his elder brother was showing him so much honour and respect
the Junior King would have to accept the cup. But he was still holding the magic gourd, and it would have
been rude to accept the cup in one hand. So he passed the gourd to Ocean Dragon to allow himself to receive
the cup with both hands, unaware that Ocean Dragon was Monkey in disguise. Just watch Monkey
respectfully holding the gourd as he stands in attendance. When the Junior King had drunk the liquor he
wanted to return the courtesy.

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"No need," said the Senior King, "I'll drink one with you." They were both being very modest. Monkey held
the gourd and fixed his gaze on the two of them as they lost count of how many drinks they were giving each
other. He slipped the gourd up his sleeve, pulled out a hair, and turned it into an exact facsimile of the gourd
that he offered to the kings. After giving each other so many drinks the two kings did not check its
authenticity but simply took their treasure, went to their places, sat down, and carried on drinking. The Great
Sage got away. He was very pleased at having captured the treasures.

"In spite of these demon kings' magic powers, the gourd is now mine," he thought.

If you don't know what he had to do to save his master and destroy the demons, listen to the explanation in the
next installment.

Chapter 35
The Power of Heterodoxy Oppresses the True Nature

The Mind−Ape Wins the Treasures and Beats the Demons

Lucid the true nature; the Way explains itself;

With one turn one jumps out of the net.

To learn transformations is very hard indeed;

To become immortal is no common deed.

Pure yields to foul and foul to pure as fate's wheel turns:

Break through the kalpas and travel freely.

Wander at will through countless billion years,

A spot of sacred light ever shining in the void.

This poem is an apt but indirect description of how wonderful the Great Sage's powers were. Now that he had
won the demons' treasure and had it tucked into his sleeve he thought with delight, "The damned demon went
to such a lot of trouble to capture me, but it was, as they say, like trying to fish the moon out of water. But for
me to try to capture you would be like melting ice on a fire."

Concealing the gourd about him he slipped outside, reverted to his own form, and shouted at the top of his
voice, "Open up, you devils."

"Who do you think you are, shouting like that?" asked the devils who were there.

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"Tell your damned demon kings at once that Novice the Sun is here," he replied.

The demons rushed in to report, "Your Majesties, there's a Novice the Sun or something at the doors." The
Senior King was shocked.

"This is terrible, brother," he said. "We've stirred up a whole nest of them. Sun the Novice is tied up with the
Dazzling Golden Cord, and the Novice Sun is inside the gourd, so how can there be a Novice the Sun as well?
They must all be brothers and all have come."

"Don't worry, brother," the Junior King replied. "I can put a thousand people into my gourd, and at present
I've only got the Novice Sun inside. No need to be afraid of Novice the Sun or whoever. I'm going out to take
a look and put him inside too."

"Do be careful," said the Senior Demon King.

Watch as the Junior King goes out through the doors with his gourd, as heroic and impressive as the previous
time.

"Where are you from?" he shouted at the top of his voice, "and how dare you rant and roar here?"

"Don't you know who I am?" Monkey said.

"My home is on the Mount of Flowers and Fruit;

Long have we lived in Water Curtain Cave.

For making havoc in the Heavenly Palace

For ages did I rest from war and strife.

Since my delivery from woe,

I've left the Way and now I serve a monk.

As a believer I go to Thunder Shrine

To seek the Scriptures and come back to Truth.

Now that I've met with you damned fiends,

All of my magic powers I've had to use.

Give back to us the priest who's come from Tang,

To travel West and visit the Lord Buddha.

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The rival sides have fought for long enough:

Let all of us now live in peace together.

Don't make old Monkey lose his fiery temper,

For if he does he'll surely wipe you out"

"Come here," said the demon. "I won't hit you. I'll just call your name. Will you answer?"

"If you call my name," said Monkey, "I'll reply. But will you answer if I call your name?"

"If I call you," said the demon, "I have a miraculous gourd that people can be packed into. But if you call me,
what have you got?"

"I've got a gourd too," Monkey replied.

"If you have, then show me," said the demon.

Monkey then produced the gourd from his sleeve and said, "Look, damned demon." He flourished it then put
it back in his sleeve in case the demon tried to snatch it.

The sight was a great shock to the demon. "Where did he get his gourd?" he wondered. "Why is it just like
mine? Even gourds from the same vine are different sizes and shapes. But that one is identical." He then
shouted angrily at Monkey, "Novice the Sun, where did you get your gourd?"

As Monkey really did not know where it was from he answered with another question: "Where did you get
yours?"

Not realizing that this was a trick Monkey had learned from experience, the demon told the true story from the
beginning: "When Chaos was first divided and heaven separated from earth there was this Lord Lao Zi who
took the name of the Goddess Nuwa to smelt a stone to mend the heavens and save the Continent of Jambu.
When he put in the missing part of the Heavenly Palace he noticed a magic vine at the foot of Mount Kunlun
on which this gold and red gourd was growing. It has been handed down from Lord Lao Zi to the present
day."

Hearing this, Monkey carried on in the same vein: "That's where my gourd came from too."

"How can you tell?" the demon king asked.

"When the pure and the coarse were first divided," the Great Sage replied, "heaven was incomplete in the
Northwest corner, and part of the earth was missing to the Southeast. So the Great Taoist Patriarch turned
himself into Nuwa to mend the sky. As he passed Mount Kunlun there was a magic vine with two gourds
growing on it. The one I've got is the male one, and yours is the female one."

"Never mind about the sex," said the demon. "It's only a real treasure if it can hold people inside."

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"Quite right," said Monkey. "You try to put me inside first."

The overjoyed demon sprang into mid−air with a bound, held out his gourd, and called, "Novice the Sun."
Without hesitation the Great Sage replied eight or nine times, but he was not sucked inside. The monster came
down, stamping his feet, pounding his chest, and exclaiming, "Heavens! Who said that the world never
changes? This treasure's scared of its old man! The female one hasn't the nerve to pack the male inside."

"Put your gourd away now," said Monkey. "It's my turn to call your name." With a fast somersault he leapt
up, turned his gourd upside−down with its mouth facing the demon, and called, "Great King Silver Horn."
The demon could not keep quiet; he had to answer, and he went whistling into the gourd. Monkey then
attached a label reading:

To the Great Lord Lao: to be dealt with urgently in accordance with the Statutes and Ordinances.

"Well, my boy," he thought with pleasure, "today you've tried something new."

He landed his cloud, still carrying the gourd. His only thought was to rescue his master as he headed for the
Lotus Flower Cave. The mountain path was most uneven, and he was besides bow−legged, so as he lurched
along the gourd was shaken, making a continuous sloshing sound. Do you know why this was? The Great
Sage's body had been so thoroughly tempered that he could not be putrefied in a hurry. The monster, on the
other hand, though able to ride the clouds only had certain magical powers. His body was still essentially that
of an ordinary mortal, which putrefied as soon as it went into the gourd.

Not believing that the demon had already turned to pus, Monkey joked, "I don't know whether that's piss or
saliva, my lord, but I've played that game too. I won't take the cover off for another seven or eight days, by
when you'll have turned to liquid. What's the hurry? What's so urgent? When I think how easily I escaped you
deserve to be out of sight for a thousand years." As he was carrying the gourd and talking like this he was
back at the doors of the cave before he realized it. He shook the gourd, and it kept making that noise.

"It's like a fortune−telling tube that you shake a stick out of," he thought. "I'll do one and see when the Master
will be coming out." Watch him as he shakes and shakes it, repeating over and over again the spell, "King
Wen's Book of Changes, Confucius the Sage, Lady of the Peach Blossom, Master Ghostvalley."

When they saw him the little devils in the cave said, "Disaster, Your Majesty. Novice the Sun has put his
Junior Majesty in the gourd and is shaking it." The news sent all the Senior King's souls flying and turned his
bones and sinews soft.

He collapsed, howling aloud, "You and I sneaked out of the world above to be reborn among mortals, brother.
Our hope was to share glory for ever as rulers of this cave. We never dreamt that this monk would kill you
and part us." All the devils in the cave wept and wailed.

The sound of all this howling was too much for Pig hanging from his beam. "Stop howling, demon," he could
not help himself shouting, "and listen to me. Sun the Novice who came first, the Novice Sun who came next,
and Novice the Sun who came last all have the same name shuffled around, and they are all my fellow
disciple. He can do seventy−two transformations. He got in here by changing, stole your treasure and put your
brother inside it. Now that he's dead there's no need for all this misery. Have your cooking pots scrubbed clean
and cook some gill mushrooms and button mushrooms, tea shoots, bamboo shoots, beancurd, gluten,

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tree−fungus, and vegetables. Then you can invite my master, my fellow−disciple and me down to say a Life
Sutra for your brother."

"I thought Pig was well−behaved," roared the demon king in fury, "but he most certainly is not, mocking me
like that." He then called on the little devils, "Stop wailing, and let Pig down. Cook him till he's nice and
tender, and when I've had made a good meal of him I'll go out and take my revenge on Sun the Novice."

"Wonderful," grumbled Friar Sand at Pig. "I told you to keep your mouth shut. Your reward for blabbing will
be to be cooked first."

The idiot was quite frightened by now. A little devil standing beside him said, "Your Majesty, Pig will be hard
to cook."

"Thank heavens," said Pig. "Is this brother winning himself some merit? It's true I wouldn't cook well."

Then another little devil said, "He'll cook if he's skinned first."

"Yes," said Pig in desperation, "I'll cook. My skin and bones may be coarse, but they'll boil tender. I'm done
for! I'm done for."

Before Pig had finished shouting a little devil came in from outside to report that Novice the Sun was there
again and being very abusive.

"Damn him. He thinks we're completely useless," exclaimed the Senior Demon King with horror. "Hang Pig
up again," he told the little demons, "and check what treasures we have left."

"We still have three in the cave," reported the steward devil.

"Which three?" the demon king asked. "The Seven−star Sword, the Plantain Fan, and the Pure Vase," replied
the steward.

"The vase is useless," said the demon king. "All you used to need to do was to call someone's name and get a
reply for them to be put inside. But now Sun the Novice has learned the words of the spell and put my brother
in it. We won't need that−−leave it here. Fetch me the sword and the fan at once."

The steward immediately fetched them for the old demon, who tucked the fan inside the back of his collar and
took the sword in his hand. Then he mustered all three hundred or more of his devils and drilled them in the
use of spear, staff, rope and sword. The Senior Demon King then put on his helmet and breast plate, over
which he threw a cloak of fiery red silk. The demons fell into battle formation, ready to capture the Great Sage
Sun. The Great Sage meanwhile, now aware that the Junior Demon King had rotted down inside the gourd,
tied it up very tight and fastened it to his belt, then prepared to fight, his gold−banded cudgel in his hand. The
old demon, his red battle−flag unfurled behind him, leapt out through the doors of the cave. This was how he
was dressed:

Dazzling bright the tassels on his helmet,

Brilliantly coloured the belt at his waist.

The armor he wore was made of dragon scales,

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Covered with a cloak of burning fire.

Lightning flashed from his glaring eyes,

Smoke curled up from his bristles of steel.

Lightly he lifted the Seven−star Sword,

His shoulders covered by the Plantain Fan.

He moved like clouds drifting from an island,

Sounded like thunderbolts shaking the mountains.

His mighty prowess would oppress Heaven's warriors

As he wrathfully led his devils from the cave.

He ordered the little devils into battle positions at once, then started hurling abuse: "Thoroughly ill−mannered
ape. You've murdered my brother and ruined our fraternal love. You're utterly loathsome."

"Detestable monster," replied Monkey in kind. "You hang on to your devilish life for all you're worth, but
how do you expect me to stand for my master, my fellow−disciples and horse all being hung up in your cave
for no good reason at all? It's intolerable. Hand them over to me this moment and throw in some generous
travelling expenses. Then I'll cheerfully be on my way and spare your rotten life." With no more ado the
demon lifted his sword and struck at Monkey's head, while Monkey raised his iron cudgel to meet him. It was
a fine battle they fought outside the gates. Indeed!

The Gold−Banded Cudgel and the Seven−star Sword,

Flashing like lightning as they meet.

The chill wind from them makes one cold,

While mighty banks of cloud blot out the ridges.

One, moved by brotherly love,

Would do no act of kindness;

The other, out to save the pilgrim,

Showed no touch of mercy.

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The two sides seethed with equal hatred,

Each of them sharing the same loathing.

They fought so hard that

Heaven and earth were thrown into darkness,

Gods and demons were terrified,

The sun went pale in the dense smoke,

Dragons and tigers trembled.

One gnashed his teeth, as if filing nails of jade;

The other's glaring eyes burned with golden fire.

Moving to and fro they showed off their valour,

In an endless play of sword and cudgel.

When the old demon had fought twenty rounds with Monkey and neither had emerged the victor he waved the
scabbard of his sword and called all his little devils forward. Over three hundred of them all rushed up and
surrounded Monkey. The splendid Great Sage, quite unperturbed, used his cudgel to strike and parry to either
side, before and behind. The little devils all had great skill, and they fought their way ever closer to him, tying
him up as if in a tangle of silk floss as they tugged at his waist and legs. They would not retreat. The Great
Sage was so alarmed by this that he used extra−corporeal magic. Plucking a bunch of hairs from under his left
ribs he chewed thew to pieces that he blew out with the shout, "Change!" Every piece turned into another
Monkey. Just watch as the biggest ones wield cudgels, the short ones use their fists, and the tiniest ones, with
no other way of attacking grabbed knuckles and sank their teeth into muscles.

The little devils were put to rout. "Your Majesty," they yelled, "it's going all wrong. We're in terrible trouble.
The whole mountain and everywhere else is swarming with Sun the Novices." Now that his little devils had
been thrown back by the extra−corporeal magic the demon king was hard−pressed; rush around as he might,
there was to escape for him.

In his alarm the demon took his precious sword in his left hand and reached behind his neck with right hand to
bring out the Plantain Fan. Then he turned towards the fire−gods of the Southeast and the Constellation
Ligong he waved the fan. At once flames shot out of the ground, for such was the power of that treasure. The
monster was truly ruthless. He waved the fan seven or eight times, setting great fires burning heaven and
earth. It was a fine blaze:

Not a heavenly fire,

Nor a fire in a furnace,

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Nor a fire on the mountain,

Nor a fire under the pot.

But the miraculous fire that comes from the Five Elements.

The fan is no ordinary object,

Nor was it fashioned by human skill:

It is a treasure made when Chaos was first parted.

The fire caused by this fan

Shines and dazzles

Like red silk lightning;

Burns and blazes

Like crimson gauze sunsets.

Not a wisp of smoke,

Only a mountain covered in flame,

Turning the pines on its ridges into trees of fire,

And the cypresses by its crags into lanterns.

The beasts in their dens, fearful for their lives,

Rush hither and thither;

The birds in the woods, to save their feathers,

Fly far and high.

The magic fire that roars up to the sky,

Destroys the rocks, dries up the streams, and makes all red.

The Great Sage trembled with fear at the sight of this evil fire. "This is terrible," he said. "It may do me no
harm, but I can't save those hairs of mine. If they are caught by the fire they'll burn the way hair does."

So he shook himself and took the hair back on his body, leaving just one behind as a facsimile of himself.
Then, to avoid disaster by fire, his real self somersaulted upwards, reciting a spell to ward off the fire, and
escaped from the inferno. He went straight back to the Lotus Flower Cave in the hope of rescuing his master.
He rushed to the cave doors, brought his cloud down to land, and found over a hundred little devils there with

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smashed heads, broken legs, and open wounds. They had all been wounded by his magical other selves and
were now standing there howling in agony. At the sight of them the Great Sage could not restrain his evil and
murderous nature; he laid into them, swinging his iron cudgel. The poor devils, who were the fruit of so much
hard work to acquire human form, became so many pieces of worn and hairy hide once more.

Having wiped out all the little devils the Great Sage stormed into the cave to free his master. Seeing more
dazzling flames inside he was struck by a thought that filled him with panic: "That's done it. The fire's come
in through the back door. There's no way I'll be able to rescue the Master." Terrified though he was, he looked
more carefully and saw that it was not flames but a golden glow. Pulling himself together he looked inside
and saw that the light came from a vase in "mutton−fat" jade.

"What a beauty," he thought with glee. "That's the vase that shone on the mountain when those two little
devils were carrying it. I took it off them, then the demon king found it when he searched me later. Now I see
that it shines when they keep it here too." Watch him as he takes such pleasure in stealing the vase that instead
of rescuing his master he gets out of the cave as fast as he can. He was just outside when the demon king
appeared from the South, brandishing his magic sword and the fan. Before the Great Sage could take evasive
action the demon raised the sword and hacked at his face. But the Great Sage immediately soared into the air
on a somersault cloud and disappeared without trace.

Back at the cave mouth the demon king was so distressed by the sight of the corpses of his spirits all over the
place that he threw back his head and groaned, and could not help wailing loudly at the pain of it. This is
proved by a poem that goes:

Wicked the ape, and stubborn the evil horse,

That had their souls reborn in mortal form.

Because in their folly they left the halls of Heaven

They forgot themselves and landed in these hills.

Woeful the swan that loses the flock;

Tearful the demon soldiers whose race is destroyed.

When will their sin be done and their bonds released

So that they may return to their heavenly home?

Overcome with remorse, the Senior Demon King sobbed at every step as he went into the cave. Although all
the objects and furniture were still in the cave it was silent and deserted. It made him even more lonely and
depressed. He sat alone in the cave, slumped on the stone table, the sword leaning against it, and the fan
behind his neck again. Thus he drifted into sleep. Indeed:

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Happiness braces the spirit;

Sorrow just sends you to sleep.

The story goes on to tell how the Great Sage Sun turned his somersault cloud round and brought it to a stop in
front of the mountain. As he wanted to rescue his master he fastened the vase securely at his waist and went
back to the cave to reconnoiter. The doors were wide open, and the silence was unbroken, so he crept
stealthily inside to find the old demon slumped against the stone table, fast asleep. The Plantain Fan stick out
from his clothes at his shoulder, half covering the back of his head, and the Seven−star Sword was still
leaning against the table. Monkey made his way forward very quietly, pulled the fan out, then turned and
whooshed out. This was because the fan had rubbed against the monster's hair, waking him up. As soon as he
looked up and saw that Monkey had stolen the fan he grabbed for his sword and went after him. By now
Monkey was already outside the doors, the fan safely tucked in his belt and his iron cudgel in his hands as he
met the monster's onslaught. It was a splendid fight.

The angry demon king,

Beside himself with fury,

Angry enough to swallow Monkey whole.

Unable to let off his rage,

Viciously he cursed the ape;

"You're always trying to fool with me.

You've killed so many of my people,

And you've taken away my treasures.

There'll be no mercy in this fight:

We'll see who's to survive."

The Great Sage yelled back at the demon:

"You haven't a lick of sense.

For a beginner like you to fight against me

Would be like trying to smash a rock with eggs."

The sword was met by the iron cudgel

As both sides fought without giving quarter.

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In clash after clash they struggled for mastery,

Turning and twisting to show their skill in arms.

To rescue the pilgrim priest,

And visit the Buddha on Vulture Peak,

Metal and Fire would not yield to each other,

And the chaos of the elements destroyed their friendship.

As they showed their martial prowess and magic powers,

They sent stones and sand flying with their display of skill.

As they fought the sun was slowly setting;

The frightened demon was the first to quit.

After thirty or forty rounds of fighting against Monkey, by when the day was almost over, the demon king
could hold out no longer and he broke away, defeated. He made off to the Southwest, heading for the Crushed
Dragon Cave.

Monkey then brought his cloud down to land and rushed straight back into the Lotus Flower Cave, where he
freed the Tang Priest, Pig, and Friar Sand. The three of them thanked Monkey for delivering them from dire
peril, then asked where the demons had gone.

To this Monkey replied, "The Junior Demon King is inside the gourd, and I reckon he must have dissolved by
now. I've just beaten the Senior King, and he's gone back to the Crushed Dragon Cave. As for the little devils
from the cave, I killed half of them with my magical extra bodies, then wiped out the wounded survivors of
the rout who came back here. That's how I was able to get in here to rescue you."

The Tang Priest thanked him no end: "I'm so grateful to you for your great efforts, disciple."

"You're telling me it was a great effort," laughed Monkey. "You lot only had to put up with the pain of being
hung up, but I wasn't allowed to stand still for a moment. I was more rushed than a postal courier with an
urgent message, having to charge around all over the place without stopping. I was only able to put the
demons down because I stole their treasures."

"Show us the gourd, brother," said Pig.

"I think he must have dissolved by now." Monkey took the vase from his belt and then produced the Dazzling
Golden Cord and the fan before bringing the gourd out in his hands.

"Don't look inside," he said, "don't. When he put me in there I tricked him into taking the lid off and letting
me get away by swilling saliva round in my mouth. We absolutely mustn't take the lid off in case he plays a
trick on us and escapes too." In their happiness master and disciples found the rice, noodles and vegetables in
the cave, cleaned up the stove and cooking pots, and made themselves a vegetarian meal. When they were full

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they went to sleep in the cave. Nothing worth recounting happened that night, and before long the new day
dawned.

The Senior Demon King meanwhile had gone straight to the Crushed Dragon Mountain, where he called
together all the she−devils and told them how his mother had been murdered, his brother put in the gourd, the
devil soldiers all killed and the treasures stolen.

At this the she−devils all wept. After they had been wailing for a long time he said, "Try not to upset
yourselves. I still have my Seven−star Sword, and I'm going to parade all you women soldiers behind the
Crushed Dragon Mountain, where I'll borrow some troops from my relatives. My mind is made up: I'll capture
Sun the Novice and have my revenge on him."

The words were not out of his mouth before a little devil from outside the doors reported, "Your Majesty, your
lord uncle from the other side of the mountains is here with soldiers." At this news the Senior Demon King
quickly put on white mourning garments and went out to greet him in person. This lord uncle was King
Septimus Fox, the younger brother of the demon king's mother, and he had heard from devils of his who were
out patrolling the mountains how Monkey had killed his sister then impersonated her to steal his nephew's
treasures and was fighting him in the battle of Flat−top Mountain that same day. Septimus Fox was bringing
over two hundred of his own devil troops to help in the battle when he called for news at his sister's place on
the way. As soon as he stepped inside and saw the demon king in mourning for his mother the two of them
started to weep aloud. After weeping for some time the demon king bowed to him and told him what had
happened. In his anger Septimus told the demon king to change out of his mourning clothes, pick up his
sword, call the roll of women soldiers and join forces with him. They then set off on winds and clouds
towards the Northeast.

The Great Sage had just told Friar Sand to get the breakfast ready as they would set off straight after eating it
when he heard the sound of a wind. Going outside to look he saw a host of demon soldiers approaching from
the Southwest. This alarmed him, so he ran back in a hurry and shouted to Pig, "Brother, that evil spirit is
back again with reinforcements."

Sanzang went pale with fright at the news. "Disciple," he asked, "what can this mean?"

"Don't worry," chuckled Monkey, "don't worry. Fetch me all their treasures." The Great Sage then tucked the
gourd and the vase in his belt, put the Dazzling Golden Cord in his sleeve, stuck the Plantain Fan behind his
shoulder, and whirled the iron cudgel around with both his hands. Friar Sand he ordered to stay put inside the
cave guarding the master, while he asked Pig to come outside with his rake to meet the enemy.

When the demons' line of battle was drawn up King Septimus Fox took command. He had a jade face and
long whiskers, a brow of steel and ears like swords. His helmet was of refined gold, he wore chainmail armor
and he held a heaven−square halberd.

"I'll get you, you bold and impudent ape," he shouted. "How dare you treat people so badly? You've stolen the
treasures, wounded my relations, killed the demon soldiers, and to top it all occupied their cave palace. All of
you stretch your heads out to be executed while I avenge my sister's family."

"You hairy crowd, you misery−makers," replied Monkey, "you can't realize what powers I have. Don't
go−−take this from my cudgel." The monster twisted round to avoid the blow, then struck back at his head
with the heaven−square halberd. The two of them fought three or four rounds on the mountain−top until the
monster was too weak to continue. He fled from the field, followed by Monkey until he was blocked by the

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Senior Demon King. When these two had fought three more rounds Septimus Fox came back into the attack.
Seeing this from where he was at the edge of the battle Pig brandished his nine−toothed rake to stop him. The
battle went on undecided for a long time with each fighter blocked by another until the demon king called up
all the demon troops to surround Pig.

Sanzang meanwhile was sitting in the cave hearing the shouts and the shaking of the ground. He told Friar
Sand to go outside and see whether or not his brother was winning. Friar Sand raised his demon−quelling staff
and charged out with a roar, putting the devilish horde to flight. Seeing that things were going badly, Septimus
turned to flee, only to be caught a blow on the back from Pig's rake as Pig came after him. At this nine jets of
blood gushed out of him, and the poor spirit's true being carried on ahead of him. When Pig grabbed him and
tore off his clothes he saw that Septimus was in fact a fox spirit.

At the sight of his uncle being wounded the demon king broke away from Monkey and raised his sword to
strike at Pig, who parried with his rake. While the two of them were fighting it out Friar Sand came up and
struck at the demon king with his staff. This was more than the demon could cope with, so he set off on his
wind and cloud, fleeing South with Pig and Friar Sand close on his heels. Seeing this the Great Sage at once
went soaring up into the sky on his cloud. He brought out the vase to catch the old demon in.

"King Golden Horn," he shouted, and the old demon, imagining that one of his defeated little devils was
calling, turned to reply. Into the vase he whistled, and Monkey put on a label reading:

To the Great Lord Lao: to be dealt with urgently in accordance with the Statutes and Ordinances.

The Seven−star Sword fell to the ground, and it too was now Monkey's. "You've got the sword, brother," said
Pig as he came towards him, "but where's the evil spirit?"

"He's done for," laughed Monkey. "I've got him in this vase." Like Pig, Friar Sand was delighted when he
heard.

Now that all the evil spirits had been wiped out the disciples went back into the cave to tell the good news to
Sanzang: "The mountain has been cleaned up and the demons no longer exist. Please mount, Master, and we'll
be on our way." Sanzang was beside himself with joy. Master and disciples ate their breakfast, got their
baggage and horse ready, and hurried on their way West.

As they were walking along a blind man suddenly appeared beside the path, went up to them, and seized
Sanzang's horse.

"Where are you going, monk?" he asked. "Give me back my treasures."

"That's done it," said Pig with horror. "It's the old demon here to demand his treasures back."

When Monkey looked carefully and saw that it was the Supreme Lord Lao Zi he rushed up to him, greeted
him and asked, "Where are you going, old fellow?"

The venerable elder at once rose up to his throne in the realm of jade, drew himself upright amid the nine
mists and called, "Sun the Novice, give me back my treasures." The Great Sage rose into the air and asked.
"What treasures?"

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"I use the gourd to keep cinnabar and the vase to hold water," replied the Lord Lao. "The precious sword I use
for refining demons, the fan for fanning my fire, and the cord for tying round my gown. One of those two
demons was a servant boy who looked after my golden furnace, and the other a servant who looked after my
silver furnace. They stole my treasures and came down to the mortal world. I could not find them anywhere.
You have done a very good deed in capturing them."

"You're very rude indeed, old fellow," said the Great Sage. "You deserve to be charged with laxity for
allowing members of your household to become evil spirits."

"Don't blame the wrong person," said Lord Lao. "It was nothing to do with me. It was the Bodhisattva from
the sea who asked me for the loan of them three times, and sent them here to be turned into monsters to test
whether your master and his disciples truly wanted to go to the West."

On hearing this the Great Sage thought, "That Bodhisattva is a terrible old liar. When she delivered me and
told me to protect the Tang Priest on his journey to the West to fetch the scriptures I said that the journey
would be tough and difficult. She promised to come and help me whenever things were really desperate. But
so far from helping she's sent evil spirits to play me up and give me a hard time. The liar. She deserves to be
an old maid all her life. If the old fellow hadn't come here himself I most certainly would not have given them
back to him. But now that you've told me all this you'd better have them."

When the Lord Lao had his five treasures back he took the stoppers out of the gourd and the vase and tipped
out two wisps of immortal vapor. As he pointed at them they turned into his two servants of the gold and
silver furnace who waited on him on either side. Then a myriad rays of coloured light appeared and they
floated back to the Tushita Palace and drifted straight on up to the Daluo Heaven.

If you don't know what happened afterwards, or how the Great Sage Sun protected the Tang Priest, or when
they reached the Western Heaven, listen to the explanations in the next installment.

Chapter 36
When the Mind−Ape Stands Correct All Evil Causes Submit

When the Side−Gate Is Smashed the Moon Appears in Its Brightness

The story tells how Sun the Novice brought his cloud down to land and told the master and his
fellow−disciples all about the Bodhisattva borrowing the two servant lads and Lord Lao recovering his
treasures. Sanzang expressed his thanks at great length, then with great determination and pious sincerity
prepared to head West for all he was worth. As he climbed into the saddle, Pig shouldered the luggage, Friar
Sand held the horse's bridle, and Monkey cleared a path straight ahead down the mountainside with his iron
cudgel. We can give no full account of how they slept in the rain, dined off the wind, were wrapped in frost
and exposed to the dew. When they had been travelling for a long time they found the way forward blocked
by another mountain.

"Disciples," shouted Sanzang from the back of his horse, "just look at how high and craggy that mountain is.
You must be very careful and on your guard; I'm afraid that monsters may attack us."

"Stop your wild imaginings, Master," replied Monkey, "and calm yourself. Of course nothing will happen."

"But why is the journey to the Western Heaven so hard, disciple?" asked Sanzang. "As I recall I have been
through four or five years of springs, summers, autumns and winters since leaving the city of Chang'an. Why

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haven't I got there yet?"

The question made Monkey chuckle: "It's early yet. We're not even out of the front door."

"Stop lying, brother," said Pig. "There's no such front door on earth."

"But we're still wandering around in the hall," said Monkey.

"Don't try to intimidate us by talking so big," said Friar Sand. "There couldn't possibly be a hall as large as
this: there's nowhere you could buy roof−beams big enough."

"If you look at it my way, brother," said Monkey, "the blue sky is the roof tiles, the sun and the moon are the
windows, and the Four Mountains and Five Peaks are the pillars and beams. Heaven and earth are just like a
big hall."

"That's enough of that," said Pig. "Why don't we just stroll around for a while then go back?"

"Don't talk nonsense," said Monkey. "Keep going with me."

The splendid Great Sage shouldered his iron cudgel, calmed the Tang Priest down, and cleared their way
forward through the mountains. As the master gazed at it from his horse he saw that it was a splendid
mountain view. Indeed:

The towering peak touches the Dipper's handle;

The tops of the trees seem to reach the clouds.

From banked−up mists of blue

Comes the cry of the ape in the valley−mouth;

Deep in the turquoise shadows

Cranes call among the pines.

As the wind howls mountain sprites appear in the gullies,

Playing tricks on the wood−cutters;

Crafty foxes sit on the edge of rock−faces,

To the terror of hunters.

A splendid mountain,

Its every face towering and sheer.

Strange−shaped pines spread their bright green canopies;

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From withered old trees hang vines of wisteria.

As spring waters fly through the air

The cold breeze cuts through and chills.

Where the crag towers aloft

A pure wind strikes the eye and startles the dreaming soul.

Sometimes the roar of the tiger is heard,

And often the songs of the mountain birds.

Herds of deer and muntjac make their way through the brambles,

Leaping and jumping;

River−deer and roebucks look for their food,

Rushing and scurrying.

Standing on the grassy slope,

No traveler can one see;

Walking deep in the hollows,

All around are jackals and wolves.

This is no place for a Buddha's self−cultivation,

But a haunt of birds and beasts.

The master trembled as he advanced deep into these mountains, his heart gripped with terror. Reining in his
horse, he called out,

"After I grew in wisdom and took my vows,

His Majesty escorted me from the capital.

On my journey I met three wayward ones

To help me along as I rode in the saddle.

Over Hillside and gully I seek the scriptures,

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Climbing many mountains to worship the Buddha.

Guarding myself as if behind a fence,

When will I return to visit the royal palace?"

Monkey's reaction to hearing this was to say with a mocking laugh, "Don't worry, Master, and don't be so
anxious. Just take it easy and carry on. Besides, you're bound to succeed because you're such a trier." Master
and disciples strode forward, enjoying the mountain scenery. Before they realized it the sun had sunk in the
West. Indeed:

From the ten−mile pavilion no travelers leave,

In the ninefold heavens the stars appear,

On the eight streams the boats are all in harbor,

In seven thousand cities the gates have been shut.

From the six palaces and five departments the officials have gone;

On the four seas and three rivers the fishing lines rest.

In the two towers the drum and bell sound;

One bright moon fills the earth and sky.

Looking into the distance the venerable elder saw many lines of towers and great halls, one behind another.
"Disciples," said Sanzang, "it's getting late now. Luckily there are those towers and halls nearby. I think they
must belong to a Buddhist or Taoist monastery or convent. Let's spend the night there and be on our way
again in the morning."

"You're right, Master," said Monkey, "but be patient. Wait till I've had a look to see whether it's a good or an
evil place." The Great Sage leapt up into the air and examined it very closely. It was indeed a Buddhist
monastery. He could see

A tiled wall plastered with red,

Golden studs on both the gates.

Line behind line of towers, amid the hills,

Hall upon hall concealed within the mountains.

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The Building of Ten Thousand Buddhas faces the Tathagata Hall,

The Sunshine Terrace opposite the Hero Gate.

The seven−storied pagoda gathers night mists,

The three Buddha statues show their glory.

The Manjusri Tower next to the monks' dormitory,

The Maitreya Pavilion beside the Hall of Mercy.

Outside the Mountain Tower the green lights dance,

Purple clouds rise from the Void−pacing Hall.

The green of the pines joins the green of the bamboo,

All is purity in the abbot's meditation hall.

In quiet elegance the music is performed,

And all the streams rejoice as they return.

In the place of meditation dhyana monks teach;

Many instruments play in the music room.

On the Terrace of Wonder the epiphyllum flower falls,

Before the preaching hall the palm of scripture grows.

The place of the Three Treasures is shaded by the woods;

The mountains guard the Indian prince's palace.

Along the walls the burning lamps shine bright;

The air is thick with smoke from incense sticks.

Bringing his cloud down to land, Sun the Great Sage reported to Sanzang, "Master, it's a Buddhist monastery,
and it will be a good place to spend the night. Let's go there." The venerable elder let his horse go forward
again, and they went straight on till they were outside the monastery gate. "Master," asked Monkey, "what
monastery is this?"

"It's most unreasonable to ask that," Sanzang replied, "when my horse has only this moment stopped and I
haven't even had the time to take my foot out of the stirrup."

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"But you've been a monk since childhood, venerable sir," said Monkey. "You were taught Confucian books
before you studied the sutras and the dharma. You're very widely educated and on top of that you've been
shown great kindness by the Tang Emperor. So how come you can't read those great big letters over the gate?"

"You stupid macaque," cursed the venerable elder, "you don't know what you're talking about. I was urging
my horse Westwards and had the sun in my eyes. Besides, the letters are hidden by the dust. That's why I
didn't see them." At this Monkey bowed, made himself over twenty feet tall, wiped the dust away with his
hand, and invited his master to read them. There were five words written large: IMPERIALLY FOUNDED
PRECIOUS WOOD MONASTERY. Monkey resumed his normal size and asked the master which of them
was to go into the monastery to ask for lodging.

"I will," said Sanzang. "You are all so ugly, coarsely spoken, abrasive and overbearing that you might give the
monks here such a fright that they refused to shelter us. That would be no good."

"In that case, Master," replied Monkey, "enough said. Please go in."

Sanzang laid down his monastic staff, removed his cape, neatened up his clothes, put his hands together and
went in through the monastery gates. Behind red lacquered railings on either side two vajrapani guardian gods
sat on high. These statues were both majestic and hideous:

One's iron face and steel whiskers seemed to be alive,

The other's scorched brow and bulging eyes were exquisitely carved.

On the left were fists knobbly like pig iron,

To the right were hands as rough as copper ore.

Their golden chainmail gleamed in the light,

Helmet and embroidered sash floated in the breeze.

Many worship the Buddha in the West;

Red glows the incense in stone tripods.

When Sanzang saw these statues he nodded, sighed and said, "If we had people in the East who could make
big statues like these to burn incense to and worship I'd never have needed to go to the Western Heaven."
With more sighs he went through the inner gates of the monastery, where could be seen statues of Four
Heavenly Kings, Dhrtarastra, Vaisravana, Virudhaka and Yirupaksa, set to the East, North, South and West to
ensure the proper amounts of wind and rain. Once inside the inner gates he saw four lofty pines, each with a
spreading canopy shaped like a parasol. He suddenly looked up to see the main Buddha hall. Placing his hands
together in homage he prostrated himself before the images, then rose, walked round the platform on which
the Buddha statues sat, and went out by the back door. He saw that at the back of the Buddha statues was one
of the Bodhisattva Guanyin saving all beings in the Southern Sea. The craftsmanship was superb: there were
figures of shrimps, fish, crabs, and turtles with heads and tails emerging from the composition as they leapt
and played in the ocean waves.

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The venerable elder nodded several more times, and sighed over and over again, "Oh dear! If all the creatures
of scale and shell worship the Buddha, why is it that man alone will not live virtuously?"

As he sighed a monk came out through the innermost gate. Seeing Sanzang's remarkable and distinguished
appearance he hurried up to him, greeted him courteously, and said, "Where are you from, reverend sir?"

"I have been sent by His Majesty the Tang Emperor," Sanzang replied, "to worship the Buddha in the Western
Heaven and fetch the scriptures. As we have reached your illustrious monastery at evening I request that we
be allowed to spend the night here."

"Reverend Sir," said the monk, "please don't be angry with, me, but it's not for me to decide. I'm just a lay
brother who sweeps and strikes the bell and does menial duties. We have a reverend abbot inside who is in
charge here and I'll have to report to him. If he allows you to stay I'll come out again with an invitation, but if
he doesn't then I'm afraid I won't be able to waste any more of your time."

"Thank you for your trouble," said Sanzang.

The lay brother hurried inside to report to the abbot, who was also the superintendent of ecclesiastical affairs,
"There's someone outside, sir." The abbot rose, dressed himself in his miter and his vestments, and quickly
opened the doors to let him in.

"Where is he?" he asked the lay brother.

"Can't you see him over there, behind the main hall?" the lay brother replied.

Sanzang, who was leaning against the gateway, was bareheaded and wearing a monastic habit made of
twenty−five strips of cloth and a pair of dirty, water−stained Bodhidharma sandals. At the sight of him the
abbot said to the lay brother, "You need a lot more floggings yet, brother. Don't you realize that I hold high
office in this monastery and only receive the gentry who come from town to burn incense here? How could
you be so empty−headed as to ask me to receive a monk like that? Just look at his face. You can see he isn't
honest. He's probably a wandering mendicant monk asking for lodging here because it's late. Our lodgings are
not to be disturbed by the likes of him. He can spend the night squatting under the eaves. Why tell me about
him?" With that he turned and walked away.

Sanzang, who heard all this, had tears running down his face. "Alas," he said, "alas. How true it is that 'a man
away from home is dirt.' I have been a monk since I was a boy. I have never

'Absolved the dead when eating meat

Or thought of doing harm,

Or read the Sutras angrily,

Or reflected without calm.

Nor have I

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Thrown roof tiles, or heaved a brick

To harm a temple building,

Or ever scraped from arhat's face

The very precious gilding.

Oh dear! Goodness only knows in what existence I did such harm to Heaven and Earth that I should always be
meeting evil people in this one. Even if you will not give us a night's lodging, monk, why did you have to say
such disgraceful things, and tell us to squat under the front eaves? It's a good thing you said nothing like that
to Wukong. If you had he would have come in here and smashed your feet with his iron cudgel."

"Oh well, never mind," thought Sanzang. "As the saying goes, manners maketh man. I'll go in, ask him and
see what he decides."

The Master walked in through the gate to the abbot's lodgings, where he saw the abbot sitting with his outer
clothes off and seething with fury. Sanzang did not know from the pile of paper on his table whether he was
reading scripture or writing out Buddhist pardons for somebody.

Not venturing to go any further in, Sanzang stood in the courtyard, bowed, and called aloud, "My lord abbot,
your disciple pays his respects."

The monk, apparently very irritated that he had come in, barely acknowledged his greeting and asked, "Where
are you from?"

To this Sanzang replied, "I have been sent by His Majesty the Great Tang Emperor to worship the living
Buddha in the Western Heaven and fetch the scriptures. It was because I have reached your illustrious
monastery at nightfall that I have come to ask for lodging. I'll leave before first light tomorrow. I beg,
venerable abbot, that you will show me kindness."

Only then did the abbot make a slight bow and ask, "Are you Tang Sanzang?"

"Yes, I am."

"If you are going to the Western Heaven to fetch the scriptures, how is that you don't know the way?"

"I've never been here before," said Sanzang.

"About a mile and a half to the West is Ten Mile Inn," said the abbot, "where they sell food and you can put
up for the night. It would not be convenient for you monks from far away to stay here."

"There is a saying, abbot," replied Sanzang, "that 'Buddhist and Taoist monasteries and convents are all
rest−houses for us monks; the sight of the temple gate is worth a big helping of rice.' You can't refuse us.
What do you mean by it?"

"You wandering monks," roared the abbot in fury, "you've all got the gift of the gab, haven't you?"

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"Why do you say that?" asked Sanzang, to which the abbot replied, "There's an old saying that goes,

When the tiger came to town,

Every household shut its door.

Although he'd bitten no one yet,

Tiger's name was bad before."

"What do you mean, 'Tiger's name was bad before?'" asked Sanzang.

"Some years ago," the other replied, "a group of itinerant monks came and sat down at our gates. Seeing how
wretched they were−−their clothes all torn, barefoot and bareheaded−−I was sorry for them being so ragged.
So I asked them into my quarters, gave them the best places to sit, provided them with a meal, lent each of
them an old habit, and let them stay for a few days. Little did I imagine that the free food and the free clothing
would put all thought of leaving out of their minds. They stayed for seven or eight years. Staying wasn't so
bad, but it was all the terrible things they did."

"What terrible things?" asked Sanzang. "Listen while I tell you," replied the abbot,

"When idle or bored they threw bricks around,

Or tore out the studs from the monastery walls.

On cold days they burnt all the window−frames up,

Slept outside in summer on dismantled doors.

"They ripped up the banners to make themselves foot−cloths,

Traded our incense and ivory for turnips,

Stole oil from the lamp that never goes out,

And gambled away all our cauldrons and dishes."

"Oh dear," thought Sanzang on hearing this, "I'm not a spineless monk like them." He was on the point of
tears, but then thought that the abbot might mock him, so he discreetly dried them with his clothes, held back
his sobs, and hurried out to see his three disciples.

At the sigh of his master's angry expression Monkey asked him, "Master, did the monks in there beat you up?"

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"No," replied Sanzang.

"They must have," said Monkey, "or why else did I hear sobbing? Did they tell you off?"

"No," said Sanzang. "They did not tell me off."

"If they didn't beat you or reproach you, why look so upset?" asked Monkey. "Don't tell me it's because you're
homesick."

"This is not a good place," said the Tang Priest.

"They must be Taoists here," said Monkey with a grin.

"You only get Taoists in a Taoist temple," retorted Sanzang angrily. "In a Buddhist monastery there are
Buddhist monks."

"You're hopeless," said Monkey. "If they're Buddhist monks they're like us. As the saying goes, 'All in the
Buddhist community are friends.' You sit here while I take a look around."

The splendid Monkey touched the gold band round his head, tightened his kilt, went straight into the main
shrine−hall, pointed at the three Buddha statues and said, "You may only be imitations made of gilded clay,
but you must have some feeling inside. I'm here this evening to ask for a night's lodging because I'm escorting
the holy Tang Priest to worship the Buddha and fetch the scriptures in the Western Heaven. Announce us this
instant. If you don't put us up for the night I'll smash you gilded bodies with one crack of this cudgel and show
you up for the dirt that you really are."

While Monkey was indulging in this bad temper and bluster a lay brother responsible for burning the evening
incense had lit several sticks and was putting them into the burner in front of the Buddhas. An angry shout
from Monkey gave him such a fright that he fell over. Picking himself up he saw Monkey's face, at which he
collapsed again, then rolled and staggered to the abbot's cell, where he reported, "Reverend sir, there's a monk
outside."

"You lay brothers really need more flogging," said the abbot. "I've already said they can squat under the
eaves, so why report again? Next time it will be twenty strokes."

"But, reverend sir," said the lay brother, "this is a different monk. He looks thoroughly vicious, and he's got no
backbone either."

"What's he like?" the abbot asked.

"Round eyes, pointed ears, hair all over his cheeks, and a face as ugly as a thunder god," said the lay brother.
"He's got a cudgel in his hand and he's gnashing his teeth in fury. He must be looking for someone to kill."

"I'll go out and see him," said the abbot. No sooner had he opened his door than Monkey charged in. He really
was ugly: an irregular, knobbly face, a pair of yellow eyes, a bulging forehead, and teeth jutting out. He was
like a crab, with flesh on the inside and bone on the outside. The old monk was so frightened that he fastened
the doors of his quarters.

Monkey, who was right behind him, smashed through the doors and said, "Hurry up and sweep out a thousand
nice clean rooms for me. I want to go to sleep."

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The abbot, hiding in his room, said to the lay brother, "It's not his fault he's so ugly. He's just talking big to
make up for that face. There are only three hundred rooms in the whole monastery, even counting my
lodgings, the Buddha Hall, the drum and bell towers and the cloisters, but he's asking for a thousand to sleep
in. We can't possibly get them."

"Reverend sir," said the lay brother, "I'm terrified. You had better answer him, however you will."

"Venerable sir," called the abbot, shaking with fear, "you ask for lodging, but our little monastery would be
most inconvenient, so we won't be able to entertain you. Please spend the night somewhere else."

Monkey made his cudgel as thick as a rice−bowl and stood it on its end in the courtyard outside the abbot's
cell. "If it would be inconvenient, monk," he said, "you'd better move out."

"But I've lived here since I was a boy," the abbot said, "my master's master passed the monastery on to my
master, who passed it on to my generation, and we'll hand it on in turn to our successors and our successors'
successors. Goodness only knows what he's up to, charging in here and trying to move us out."

"No problem at all, reverend sir," said the lay brother. "We can go. He's already brought his pole into the
yard."

"Stop talking nonsense," said the abbot. "There are four of five hundred of us monks, old and young, so where
could we go? If we went there would be nowhere for us to stay."

"If there's nowhere you can move to," said Monkey, who had heard the conversation, "you'll have to send
someone out to take me on in a quarterstaff fight."

"Go out and fight him for me," the abbot ordered the lay brother.

"Reverend Sir," the lay brother protested, "you can't ask me to fight with a staff against a caber that size."

"You must," the abbot replied, adding, "'An army is built up for many years to be used in a single morning.'"

"Never mind him hitting you with that caber," said the lay brother, "it would squash you flat if it just fell on
you."

"And even if it didn't fall on you and squash you," said the abbot, "with it standing out there in the yard you
might be walking around at night, forget it was there, and give yourself a dent in the head just by bumping
into it."

"Now you realize how heavy it is, reverend sir, how can you expect me to go out and fight him with my
staff?" said the lay brother. This was how the monks quarreled among themselves.

"Yes," said Monkey, hearing all this, "you're no match for me. But if I were to kill just one of you with this
cudgel my master would be angry with me for committing murder again. I'd better find something else to hit
as a demonstration for you." Looking and seeing a stone lion outside the doors to the abbot's room, he raised
his cudgel and smashed it to smithereens with a single resounding blow. When the abbot saw this through the
window the fright turned his bones and muscles to jelly. He dived under the bed.

The lay brother climbed into the cooking−stove and kept saying, "Sir, sir, that cudgel's too heavy, I'm no
match for you. I beg you, I beg you."

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"I won't hit you, monk," said Monkey. "I've just got a question for you: how many monks are there in the
monastery?"

"We have two hundred and eighty−five cells all told," replied the abbot, shaking with fear, "and five hundred
monks holding official ordination licenses."

"I want you to draw those five hundred monks up on parade," said Monkey, "get them dressed in long habits,
and receive my master. Then I won't hit you."

"If you won't hit me, sir," said the abbot, "I'd gladly carry him in."

"Hurry up then," said Monkey.

"I don't care if the fright breaks your gallbladder, or even if it breaks your heart," said the abbot to the lay
brother. "Go out and tell them all to come here and welcome His Grace the Tang Priest."

The lay brother had no choice but to take his life in his hands. Not daring to go through the front door, he
squirmed out through a gap in the back wall and went straight to the main hall, where he struck the drum that
was to the East and the bell that was to the West. The sound of the two together startled all the monks young
and old in the dormitories on both sides.

They came to the main hall and asked, "Why are the drum and bell sounding now? It's too early."

"Go and change at once," said the lay brother, "then get yourselves into your groups under the senior monk
and go outside the main gates to welcome His Grace from the land of Tang." All the monks then went out
through the gates in a most orderly procession to greet him. Some wore full cassocks, and some tunics; those
who had neither wore a kind of sleeveless smock, and the poorest of all who had no proper garment draped
the two ends of their loin−cloths over their shoulders.

"Monks, what's that you're wearing?" demanded Monkey.

"Sir, don't hit us," they said, seeing his ugly and evil face, "let us explain. This is cloth we beg for in town. We
don't have any tailors here, so these are paupers' wrappers we make ourselves."

Monkey laughed inside at this, then escorted them all out through the gates to kneel down. The abbot
kowtowed and called out, "Your Grace of Tang, please take a seat in my lodgings."

Seeing all this, Pig said, "Master, you're completely useless. When you went in you were all tears and pouting
so much you could have hung a bottle from your lips. How come that only Monkey knows tow to make them
welcome us with kowtows?"

"Ill−mannered idiot," said Sanzang. "As the saying goes, even a devil's afraid of an ugly mug." Sanzang was
most uncomfortable at the sight of them all kowtowing and bowing, so he stepped forward and invited them
all to rise. They all kowtowed again and said, "Your Grace, if you would ask your disciple to show some
mercy and not hit us with that caber we'll gladly kneel here for a month."

"You must not hit them, Wukong," said the Tang Priest.

"I haven't hit them," said Monkey. "If I had, I'd have wiped the lot of them out." Only then did all the monks
rise to their feet. Leading the horse, shouldering the shoulder−poles with the luggage, carrying the Tang
Priest, giving Pig a piggyback, and supporting Friar Sand they all went in through the main gates to the

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abbot's lodgings at the back, where they took their seats in due order.

The monks all started kowtowing again. "Please rise, lord abbot," Sanzang said. "There is no need for any
more kowtows, which are oppressive for a poor monk like me. We are both followers of the Buddhist faith."

"Your Grace is an Imperial Commissioner," the abbot replied, "and I failed to greet you properly. You came
to our wretched monastery, but when I met you my mortal eyes did not recognize your illustrious status. May
I venture to ask, Your Grace, whether you are eating a vegetarian or a meat diet on your journey? We would
like to prepare a meal."

"Vegetarian food," replied Sanzang.

"And I imagine that these reverend gentlemen," said the abbot, "like to eat meat."

"No," said Monkey. "We are vegetarians, and have been all our lives."

"Good Heavens," exclaimed the abbot, "can even creatures like these be vegetarians?"

Then a very bold monk came forward to ask, "Sirs, as you eat vegetarian food, how much rice should we cook
for you?"

"Mean little monks," said Pig, "why ask? Cook us a bushel." The monks then moved as fast as they could to
clean the stoves and the cauldrons and serve food and tea in all the cells. The lamps were hung high and tables
and chairs brought to entertain the Tan Priest.

When master and disciples had eaten their supper the monks cleared the things away. Sanzang thanked the
abbot: "Lord abbot, we have put your illustrious monastery to great trouble."

"No, no," the abbot protested, "we have entertained you very poorly."

"May my disciples and I spend the night here?" Sanzang asked.

"Don't worry, Your Grace," the abbot replied, "we will arrange things." Then he called out, "Are there any lay
brothers on duty over there?"

"Yes, reverend sir," a lay brother replied.

"Then send a couple of them to see to the fodder for His Grace's horse," the abbot instructed, "and have some
sweep out and clean up the front meditation hall. Put beds in there for these venerable gentlemen to sleep in."
The lay brothers did as they had been told and arranged everything, then invited the Tang Priest to go to bed.
Master and disciples led the horse and carried their baggage out of the abbot's quarters to the meditation hall.
Looking in through the doors they saw the lamp burning brightly and four rattan beds set up at the ends of the
room. Monkey told the lay brother who was looking after the fodder to carry it inside, lay it in the meditation
hall, and tie up the white horse; the lay brothers were then all dismissed. Sanzang sat in the middle, right
under the lamp, while the five hundred monks stood in their two divisions waiting upon him, not daring to
leave.

"You may now leave, gentlemen," said Sanzang, bowing to them from his chair, "as we would like to go to
sleep." But the monks dared not withdraw.

The abbot stepped forward and said to them, "Help Their Graces to bed, then leave."

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"You have done that already," said Sanzang, "so you may all now go." Only then did they disperse.

On going outside to relieve himself the Tang Priest saw the moon shining in the sky. He called his disciples,
Monkey, Pig and Friar Sand, who came out to stand in attendance. He was moved by the brightness and purity
of the moon as it shone from high in the jade firmament, making all in heaven and on earth clearly visible. He
recited a long poem in the ancient style in the moonlight with a nostalgic feeling. It went:

A white soul hangs, a mirror in the sky,

Reflected whole in the mountain stream.

Pure light fills the towers of jade,

Cool air swirls round the silver bowls.

The same pure light shines on a thousand miles;

This is the clearest night of the year.

It rises from the sea like a frosty disk,

Hang in the heavens as a wheel of ice.

Sad the lonely traveler by the inn's cold window;

The old man goes to sleep in the village pub.

In the Han garden one is shocked by graying hair;

In the Qin tower the lady prepares herself for bed.

Yu Liang's lines on the moon are recorded by history;

Yuan Hong lay sleepless under the moon in a river boat.

The light that floats in the cup is cold and weak;

The purity shining in the court is strong and full of magic.

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At every window are chanted poems to the snow,

In every courtyard the icy crescent is described.

Tonight we share quiet pleasure in the cloister;

When shall we ever all go home together?

Having heard the poem, Monkey went up to him and said, "Master, you only know about the moon's beauty,
and you're homesick too. You don't know what the moon's really about. It's like the carpenter's line and
compasses−−it keeps the heavenly bodies in order. On the thirtieth of every month the metal element of its
male soul has all gone, and the water element of its female soul fills the whole disk. That is why it goes black
and has no light. That's what is called the end of the old moon. This is the time, between the last day of the old
moon and the first of the new, when it mates with the sun. The light makes it conceive. By the third day the
first male light is seen, and on the eight day the second male light. When the moon's male and female souls
each have half of it, the moon is divided as if by a string. That is why it is called the first quarter. On the
fifteenth night, tonight, all three male lights are complete, and the moon is round. This is called the full moon.
On the sixteenth the first female principle is born, followed on the twenty−second by the second. At this stage
the two souls are matched again and the moon is again divided as if by a string. This is what is called the third
quarter. By the thirtieth the three female principles are complete, and it is the last day of the old moon. This is
what is meant by 'prenatal absorption and refinement'. If we are all able gently to raise the 'double eight' and
achieve it in nine by nine days, it will be easy to see the Buddha and easy to go home again too. As the poem
goes:

After the first quarter and before the third,

Medicines taste bland, with all pneuma signs complete.

When it is gathered and refined in the furnace,

The achievement of the will is the Western Heaven."

On learning this the venerable elder was instantly enlightened and he fully comprehended the truth, and as he
thanked Monkey his heart was filled with happiness. Friar Sand laughed as he stood beside them. "What my
brother says is true, as far as it goes," he commented. "In the first quarter the male is dominant, and after the
third quarter the female. When male and female are half and half the metal element obtains water. But what he
did not say was this:

Fire and water support each other, each with its own fate;

All depend on the Earth Mother to combine them naturally.

The three meet together, without competing;

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Water is in the Yangtze River, and the moon on the sky."

Hearing this removed another obstruction from the venerable elder's mind. Indeed:

When reason fathoms one mystery, a thousand are made clear;

The theory that breaks through non−life leads to immortality.

Whereupon Pig went up to his master, tugged at his clothes, and said, "Pay no attention to all that nonsense,
Master. We're missing our sleep. As for that moon, well:

Soon after it's defective the moon fills up again,

Just as at birth I too was incomplete.

They complain my belly's too big when I eat,

And say that I drool when I'm holding a bowl.

They are all neat and blessed by cultivation;

I was born stupid and have a baser fate.

You'll achieve the Three Ways of existence by fetching the scriptures,

And go straight up to the Western Heaven with a wag of your tail and your head."

"That will do," said Sanzang. "Disciples, you've had a hard journey, so go to bed. I have to read this sutra
first."

"You must be wrong, Master," said Monkey. "You became a monk when you were very young and know all
the surras of your childhood by heart. Now you are going to the Western Heaven on the orders of the Tang
Emperor to fetch the true scriptures of the Great Vehicle, but you haven't succeeded yet. You haven't seen the
Buddha or got the scriptures. So what sutra will you read?"

"Ever since leaving Chang'an," Sanzang replied, "I have been travelling in such a rush every day that I have
forgotten the scriptures of my youth. As I have some free time tonight I shall relearn them."

"In that case we'll turn in first," said Monkey. Each of the three of them went to sleep on his rattan bed while
their master closed the door of the meditation hall, turned up the silver lamp, and opened out the scroll of
scripture, which he silently read. Indeed:

When the first drum sounds in the tower the people are all silent.

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In the fishing boat by the bank the fires have been put out.

If you don't know how the venerable elder left the temple, listen to the explanation in the next installment.

Chapter 37
The Royal Ghost Visits the Tang Priest at Night

Wukong's Magic Transformation Lures the Boy

Sanzang sat in the meditation hall of the Precious Wood Monastery reading the Litany of Emperor Wu of
Liang and the Peacock Sutra until the third watch, when he finally put the scriptures back into their bags. Just
when he was about to go to bed he heard a rushing noise and the whistling of a fiendish wind. Fearing that it
would blow out his lamp, the venerable elder shielded the lamp with his sleeve as quickly as he could. To his
consternation the lamp kept going on and off. By now he was so tired that he pillowed his head on the reading
desk and took a nap. Although he had closed his eyes and was dozing, his mind stayed wide awake as he
listened to the howling of the devil wind outside the window. It was a splendid wind. Indeed, there were

Soughs and whistles,

Much scudding away.

It soughs and whistles, carrying the fallen leaves,

Blows the clouds scudding away.

All the stars in the sky go dark,

And the earth is covered with flying dust.

Sometimes fierce,

Sometimes gentle.

When it blows gentle, pine and bamboo sound clear;

When it blows fierce, the lakes have turbid waves.

The mountain birds grieve, unable to reach their perches;

The fish jump restlessly in the ocean.

Doors and windows blow off the halls,

Spirits and demons glare in the side−rooms.

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All the vases in the Buddha hall crash to the ground;

The glass lamp is shaken loose and the flame blows out.

Incense−ash scatters as the burner tilts,

The candles flare when their stand leans over.

All the banners and hangings are torn,

As bell and drum towers are shaken to their roots.

As the wind died down for a while, the elder in his dozy state heard a muffled call of "Master" from outside
the meditation hall. He looked up, and in his dream he saw a man standing there soaking wet who was
weeping and saying "Master" over and over again.

Sanzang bowed towards him from his seat and said, "You must be a fiend, or a goblin, or an evil spirit or a
monster trying to trick me in the middle of the night. But I'm not one given to desire or anger. I'm an upright
monk on a pilgrimage to the West at the command of the Tang Emperor of the East to worship the Buddha
and fetch the scriptures. I have three disciples who are all demon−quelling, monster−exterminating heroes. If
they see you they will smash your body and bones to bits and pulverize you. But I am full of great compassion
and will do what is expedient for you. Make yourself scarce this moment and never come into my meditation
hall again."

The person stayed there and replied, "Master, I'm not a demon or a ghost or a fiend or an evil spirit."

"If you're none of these," retorted Sanzang, "what are you doing here in the middle of the night?"

"Take a good look at me, Master," he said. When Sanzang took a really careful look he saw to his surprise that

On his head he wore a heaven−touching hat,

And round his waist a belt of blue−green jade.

Dragons and phoenixes danced on his ochre robe;

His no−worry shoes were embroidered with clouds.

The white jade scepter he held was arrayed with constellations.

His face was like the eternal Emperor of Mount Tai,

His form like Wenchang, god of officialdom.

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At the sight of him Sanzang turned pale with shock. He bowed at once and called out at the top of his voice,
"Which monarch are you, Your Majesty? Please be seated." He hurried over to support the monarch, only to
find he was holding on to thin air. He looked again and saw that the man was still there.

"Your Majesty," said Sanzang, "which king are you? What country do you rule? I suppose that you must have
fled here in the middle of the night because your country is in chaos or because you are being put upon by
malicious ministers. Tell me your story."

Only then did the man tell what had happened, the tears streaming down his cheeks and his forehead creased
with frowns. "Father," he said, "I live only some fifteen miles to the West of here, in the walled city where my
dynasty was founded."

"What is it called?" Sanzang asked.

"I'm telling you the truth, Father," he replied. "When I established my regime I changed the name of the state
to Wuji."

"But why is Your Majesty in this terrible distress?" Sanzang continued.

"Father," the other said, "there was a drought here five years ago so bad that no vegetation grew and the
people were dying of starvation. It was appalling."

Hearing this Sanzang nodded and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, there's an old saying that Heaven favours
a well−governed country. I expect that you were not merciful towards your subjects. Even if there is a famine
you have no business to flee from your city. Go back, open up your granaries, and give the people relief.
Repent of your past sins and be good from now on. Pardon all those who have been wrongly condemned.
Heaven's heart will of itself be moved in harmony, and wind and rains will come as they should."

"But our granaries were empty," the other said. "We had no money or grain left. The salaries of the officials
and the military were in default, and we were eating no meat with our royal meals. We followed the example
of Yu the Great when he brought the waters under control, sharing weal and woe with our subjects, taking
baths to purify ourself, fasting, burning incense and praying day and night. This went on for three years, but
the drought continued to be so bad that the rivers and wells dried up. Just when the crisis was desperate a
Quanzhen Taoist wizard came from the Zhongnan Mountains. He could summon wind and rain, and turn
stones to gold with a touch. First he went to see our civil and military officials, and then he came to see us.
We invited him to come to the altar to pray, and he got results. Wherever he pointed his magic wand there
would be a torrential downpour. We thought that three feet of rain would be sufficient, but he said that it
would not be enough to restore fertility after so long a time and gave an extra two inches of rain. Seeing how
generous he was we kowtowed to him and took him as our sworn brother."

"Then Your Majesty is extremely fortunate," said Sanzang.

"In what way?" the other asked.

"If that Quanzhen wizard has the powers to make it rain whenever you like and you can get him to turn things
to gold at will, then what is so terrible that you have to flee here from your city?"

"We only ate at the same table and slept in the same room for two years. Then one spring day when the red
apricot and the peach tree were in blossom all the gentlemen, ladies and princes went out to enjoy the beauty
of the season. After the civil and military officials had returned to their offices and the royal spouses and
concubines gone back to their quarters we were strolling hand−in−hand with the wizard in the palace garden.

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When we reached the eight−sided well with a glazed−tile top he threw something into the well−−we don't
know what it was−−that made it shine with golden light. Luring us to the edge of the well to look at this
treasure he had the murderous notion of pushing us in with a splash and placing a flagstone over the top of the
well. He piled earth over this then put in a plantain on top of it. So we have already been dead for three years,
alas. We are the ghost of one who was wickedly murdered by being pushed down a well."

On learning that he was a ghost the Tang Priest felt weak all over, and his hairs stood on end. But he had to
bring himself to continue his questioning. "Your Majesty, what you say is all wrong. If you have been dead
for three years, why didn't the civil and military officials or your queens go looking for you when they
attended court for audiences with Your Majesty?"

"Father," the ghost replied, "his powers are ones rarely seen in the world. As soon as he had killed us he shook
himself and turned into an identical likeness of us. Now he is the master of our country, the secret thief of our
territory. Our civil and military officials, the four hundred courtiers, the three queens and the consorts and
concubines of the six compounds all now belong to him."

"You are a coward, Your Majesty," said Sanzang.

"How are we a coward?" the ghost asked.

"Your Majesty," said Sanzang, "even if the monster has the magic powers to turn into your double and steal
your kingdom, undetected by your civil and military officials or by your queens and consorts, so that only you
know the truth and you are dead, why have you not brought a case against him in the Underworld court of
King Yama? There you could lodge a complaint and complain of the wrongs you have suffered."

"But his magic powers are so extensive and he is so well in with all the relevant officials," replied the ghost.
"He's always drinking with the city god, and he's connected with all the dragon kings. The Heaven−equaling
God of Mount Tai is a friend of his, and all the Ten Kings of the Underworld are his sworn brothers. We have
nowhere to turn if we want to bring a case against him."

"Your Majesty," said Sanzang, "if you are powerless to bring a case against him in the Underworld then why
come to the world of the living?"

"Father," the other replied, "as a ghost of a man unjustly killed I would never have dared call upon you.
Outside the monastery gates are the Heavenly Kings who Protect the Law, the Six Dings and the Six Jias, the
Protectors of the Four Quarters and the Centre, the Four Duty Gods, and the Eighteen Guardians of the Faith,
all with their horses saddled up. It was only a magic wind created by the Patroller of the Night that brought me
here. He said that my three years of suffering were due to end and sent me to pay my respects to you, Father.
He told me that your senior disciple is the Great Sage Equaling Heaven and that he is a very powerful killer of
monsters and subduer of demons. I am here tonight to plead with you and beg you to come to my country,
capture the evil monster, and expose his wickedness. We will be deeply grateful and repay you, Master, for
your great kindness."

"Your Majesty," said Sanzang, "Have you come to ask that my disciple should go to rid you of this fiend?"

"Yes, that's right," the other replied.

"That disciple of mine is good for little else," said Sanzang, "but subduing demons and capturing monsters is
right up his alley. The only thing is, Your Majesty, that even if he's given the job he may not be able to carry it
out."

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"Why not?" the ghost asked.

"Well," said Sanzang, "That fiend must have stupendous magical powers if he can make himself so much like
you that all the civil and military officials at court are happy with him and every one of the consorts and
concubines in your harem is fond of him. Even though my disciple has some magic powers he should most
certainly not resort to arms lightly. If he is captured and charged with high treason we will be thrown into jail.
Then everything will be ruined."

"But I still have someone I can trust at court," the ghost said.

"That's splendid," said Sanzang, "quite splendid. No doubt it's a prince or a high official who was sent off to
command a garrison somewhere."

"No," replied the ghost, "it's my son the crown prince who lives in my own palace."

"But surely the crown prince must have been banished by that fiend."

"No, he hasn't been," the ghost replied. "He spends his time in the throne hall and the Tower of Five
Phoenixes studying with learned scholars or sitting beside that wizard on the throne. For the last three years
the crown prince has been banned from the queen's palace and prevented from seeing Her Majesty."

"Why?" Sanzang asked.

"It has all been planned by that fiend," said the ghost. "If the prince and his mother were to meet and start
talking about things the truth would get out. He can only keep that throne if the two of them don't meet."

"Your troubles, like mine, must have been sent from Heaven," said Sanzang. "My father was murdered by
pirates, one of whom seized my mother. Three months later I was born. I escaped with my life on the river and
was rescued by my benefactor, the abbot of the Jinshan Monastery, who brought me up. I remember what it
was like to be an orphan child, so I feel very sorry for a crown prince who has lost both his parents. But even
though you still have your crown prince in the palace, how ever will I be able to see him?"

"What would stop you?" the ghost asked.

"If he is under such close control from the fiends," Sanzang replied, "that he can't even see his own mother,
how will a mere monk like myself get to see him?"

"He will be going out tomorrow," said the ghost.

"Why?" Sanzang asked.

"After tomorrow's dawn audience," said the ghost, "he will lead three thousand people riding out of the city
with falcons and hounds to go hunting. You will certainly be able to see him. When you do, tell him
everything that I have told you and he'll trust you."

"But he is only a mortal," replied Sanzang. "The fiend has him fooled in the palace, and he calls the fiend
father several times a day. Why should he believe anything I say?"

"In case he doesn't I'll give you something that will be visible proof," said the ghost.

"What?" asked Sanzang.

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The ghost set down the gold−bordered white jade scepter he was holding and said, "This will be proof."

"Why?" asked Sanzang.

"When the wizard made himself look just like me," the ghost replied, "there was one treasure he failed to
copy. After he went back to the palace he said that the wizard has stolen it, and for the last three years it has
been missing. If the crown prince sees it he will be reminded of me and I shall be able to take my revenge."

"Very well then," said Sanzang, "I shall keep it and send my disciple to sort things out for you. Will you wait
for the crown prince there?"

"I dare not stay there myself," said the ghost. "I shall have to ask the Patroller of the Night to send another
magic wind to blow me into the palace harem to appear in a dream to my first queen to tell her to co−operate
with our son, with you, Father, and with your disciples."

Sanzang nodded and agreed. "Off you go then."

The ghost of the murdered monarch kowtowed to take his leave. Sanzang was just stepping forward to see the
ghost out when he tripped and went sprawling, giving himself such a fright that he woke up. So it had all been
a dream. In the dim lamplight he called, "Disciples!" with alarm.

"What's he going on about 'trifles, trifles' for?" muttered Pig as he woke up. "How happy I used to be in the
old days. I was a real tough guy. I lived on nothing but human flesh and I always ate my fill of it. You would
have to be a monk and make us protect you on your journey. You told me I'd be a monk, but now you treat me
more like your slave. I have to carry your baggage and lead your horse all day, and empty your chamber−pot
and lie at the foot of your bed to warm your feet by night. You never let me get any sleep. Why are you
calling for me now?"

"Disciple," said Sanzang, "I had a strange dream when I dozed off with my head on the table just now."

"Master," said Monkey, springing to his feet, "dreams come from the imagination. You get frightened of
demons before you've even started to climb a mountain. You worry if you will ever reach the Thunder
Monastery as it's so far away; and you miss Chang'an and wonder when you'll ever get back there. That's why
you're so full of anxieties and dreams. Now I'm sincere and single−minded about going to the West to see the
Buddha: no dreams ever come to me."

"Disciple," said Sanzang, "this dream of mine was no dream of home. No sooner had I closed my eyes than a
great wind blew up and a king appeared outside the doors of the meditation hall. He said he was the monarch
of the land of Wuji. He was soaking wet and in floods of tears." Sanzang was just about to tell Brother
Monkey all about the dream and everything he had been told in it.

"No need to tell me any more," said Monkey. "He came to see you in a dream and was evidently bringing me
some business. No doubt some fiend has usurped his throne. I'll have it out with the fiend. I'm sure I'll succeed
the moment my cudgel hits him."

"But he told me that the fiend has tremendous magic powers," warned Sanzang.

"Tremendous, my eye!" said Monkey. "As soon as he realizes that I've arrived he'll regret having nowhere to
flee to."

"I remember that the king also left me a treasure as proof," said Sanzang.

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"Don't talk such nonsense," replied Pig. "If you had a dream, that was that. Why all this chitchat?"

"'Don't trust what seems to be straighter than straight, and beware that kindness is not really unkindness,'" put
in Friar Sand. "Let's strike a light, open the doors, and see what we can see."

So Brother Monkey opened the doors, and when they all looked outside they saw by the light of the moon and
the stars that a gold−bordered white jade scepter was indeed lying by the side of the steps.

"What's this, brother?" asked Pig as he went over and picked it up.

"It's a treasure called a jade scepter that a monarch holds in his hands," said Monkey, "and it makes me
believe, Master, that the story's true. I'll take full responsibility for capturing the fiend tomorrow. But there are
three favours I'll want you to do me."

"This is great," said Pig, "really great. First you have a dream, then you have to tell him about it. He tricks
people at every turn. Now he's asking you for three favours."

Going back inside, Sanzang asked, "What three favours?"

"Tomorrow I want you to suffer on my behalf, be put upon, and catch a fever," said Monkey.

"Any one of them would be bad enough," smirked Pig. "I couldn't possibly take on all three." Being an
intelligent elder, the Tang Priest asked his disciple to explain why he wanted these three things done.

"There'll be no need for explanations," said Monkey. "Let me first give you a couple of things."

The splendid Great Sage plucked out a hair, blew a magic breath on it, called "Change!" and turned it into a
box of red and gold lacquer into which he placed the white jade scepter. "Master," he said, "at dawn tomorrow
you must put on your golden cassock and sit in the main hall of the monastery reciting scriptures with the box
in your hands while I go and give that city the once−over. If he really is an evil spirit I'll kill him, and that will
be one more good deed to my credit. If he isn't, then we won't get ourselves into trouble."

"Excellent, excellent," said Sanzang.

"If the prince doesn't ride out of the city, that will be that," said Monkey, "and if he does leave the city as your
dream predicted I'll definitely bring him here to see you."

"If he does come to see me, what shall I say to him?" asked Sanzang. "I'll give you a tip−off just before he
comes," said Monkey. "I want you to open the lid of that box a little while I turn myself into a tiny monk two
inches high, then take me into your hands with the scepter. When the prince comes into the monastery he's
bound to worship the Buddhas. No matter how much he prostrates himself you are to pay no attention to him
whatsoever. At the sight of you sitting there without moving he'll certainly have you arrested. Let him arrest
you. Let him have you beaten, tied up or even killed if he likes."

"Goodness!" exclaimed Sanzang. "With all his military authority he might really have me killed, and that
would be terrible."

"No problem," said Monkey. "I'll be there. If things get sticky I'll look after you. If he questions you, tell him
that you are the imperially commissioned monk sent from the East to go to the Western Heaven to worship the
Buddha, fetch the scriptures and offer some treasures. When he asks you what treasures, tell him about the
golden cassock and say, 'This is my third−grade treasure. I also have very fine treasures of the first and second

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grade.' When he asks you about them tell him that in this box you have a treasure that knows everything that
has happened or will happen for five hundred years in the past, five hundred years in the present era, and
another five hundred years after that−−fifteen hundred years in all. Then let me out of the box and I'll tell the
prince everything that you were told in your dream. If he believes me I'll go to capture the fiend. That will
avenge his father and do our reputation a lot of good. But if he still doesn't believe you, show him the white
jade scepter. My only worry is that he may be too young to remember it."

Sanzang was delighted with Brother Monkey's suggestions. "Disciple," he said, "this is a superb plan. When I
talk about my three treasures I can call one of them the golden cassock and another the white jade scepter. But
what shall I call the one you turn yourself into?"

"Call it the King−maker," said Monkey. Sanzang committed his instructions to memory. There was no way
that the master and his disciples were going to sleep that night as they waited for the dawn. They only wished
that by giving a nod they could make the sun rise, and blow away all the stars in the sky with a puff of breath.

Before long the Eastern sky did grow lighter. Monkey gave his parting instructions to Pig and Friar Sand:
"You mustn't disturb the monks or go rushing wildly about the place. As soon as we've succeeded in our
mission we'll continue on the journey with you." No sooner had he taken his leave of them than he leapt up
into mid−air with a whistling somersault. As he gazed due West with his fiery eyes he did indeed see the city.
You may wish to ask how this was possible. We were told before that the city was only some fifteen miles
away, so he would have been able to see it from that great height.

Brother Monkey went for a close look and saw thick clouds of demoniacal fog hanging over it, as well as an
abundance of evil winds and vapors of injustice. Up in the air Monkey sighed and said,

"Auspicious light would shine all around

If a true monarch now sat on the throne.

But black vapors hang over the gates of the palace

Now that a fiend has made it his own."

As he was sighing Monkey heard the clear report of a cannon. The Eastern gate of the city opened, and out
poured a column of people and horses. It was indeed an impressive hunting party:

Leaving the Forbidden City at dawn,

They fan out into the bush,

Their coloured flags bright in the sun,

White horses galloping into the wind.

Alligator−skin drums pound

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As fencing spears clash together.

Ferocious the corps of falconers,

Martial the masters of the bounds.

Cannons shake the heavens,

While sticky−poles gleam red in the sun.

Each man carries a crossbow;

Everyone has a bow at his waist.

The nets are spread at the foot of the hills,

And snares are set along the paths.

With a noise more frightening than thunder

A thousand horsemen surround a bear.

The cunning hare cannot save itself,

And the crafty river−deer is at its wit's end.

The foxes are fated to meet their doom,

And death now faces the roebuck.

The mountain pheasant cannot fly away,

Nor can its cousin on the plain escape.

They have taken over the mountains to catch wild beasts,

And are destroying the forests to shoot the flying birds.

After they all left the city they ambled through the Eastern outskirts and before long they were on high ground
some six miles away where there was a military encampment. There was a very short general wearing a
helmet, a breast plate, a sash round his waist, and eighteen metal plates. He held a blue−edged sword and sat
astride a yellow charger. At his waist hung a ready−strung bow. Indeed:

He was the image of a monarch,

With an emperor's noble visage.

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His manners were not those of a petty man;

He moved like a true dragon.

As Brother Monkey looked down from mid−air he was delighted. "It goes without saying that he must be the
crown prince. I think I'll play a trick on him." The splendid Great Sage brought his cloud down to land and
charged straight through the soldiers till he was before the crown prince's horse. Then he shook himself and
turned himself into a white hare that started to run around frantically in front of the prince's horse, to the
delight of the prince when he spotted it. Fastening an arrow to his bow, he drew it and hit the hare with his
first shot.

Now the Great Sage had deliberately made the prince hit him, and with the quickness of his hand and eye he
caught the arrowhead, dropped its feathers on the ground beside him, and started to run. Seeing his arrow hit
the jade rabbit, the crown prince gave his horse its head and galloped ahead of the field in pursuit. He did not
notice that when his horse galloped fast Monkey went like the wind, and that when the horse slowed down
Monkey slowed down too, keeping only a little distance ahead. Watch as he leads the prince for mile after
mile until he has lured him to the entrance of the Precious Wood Monastery. Here Monkey turned back into
himself. The hare was no longer to be seen. There was only an arrow stuck into the lintel. Monkey rushed
inside and told the Tang Priest, "He's here, Master, he's here." Then with another transformation he turned
himself into a tiny monk only two inches tall and squeezed into the red box.

Having chased the jade here as far as the monastery entrance the prince was most surprised when it
disappeared and all that could be seen was an arrow fletched with vulture feathers stuck in the lintel.

"That's odd," he exclaimed, "very odd indeed. I'm quite sure that I hit the jade here. It can't have disappeared,
leaving only my arrow here. I suppose that over the years the here must have become a spirit." Pulling his
arrow out he saw the words ROYALLY FOUNDED PRECIOUS WOOD MONASTERY written large over
the entrance.

"I remember," he said to himself. "Some years ago when my father was in the palace's throne hall he sent
officials with gifts of money and silk for the monks here to build a Buddha hall with Buddha statues. I didn't
expect to come here today; but, as they say,

To hear the monk's words when you pass a shrine

Is half a day's rest from the vanity of life."

The crown prince dismounted and was just on the point of going inside when his personal guards and the three
thousand horsemen galloped up in a great crowd, all pushing and shoving to get into the monastery. Deeply
alarmed, the monks all came out to kowtow in greeting and lead the prince into the monastery's main hall,
where he worshipped the statues of Buddhas. When he raised his head to look around before taking a stroll
along the cloisters to see the sights he noticed a monk sitting right in the middle of the hall. "What
effrontery!" he exclaimed. "I, the crown prince, have come to visit this monastery in person today, and
although the monks did not have to travel to meet me as they were not notified by royal decree, this monk
should at least have got up when I arrived with all my army. How dare he carry on sitting there?" He then

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ordered that the monk be arrested.

At the word "arrest" the officers standing to either side of the prince all seized Sanzang at once and got ropes
ready to tie him up with. Monkey was now silently praying in his box: "Heavenly Kings who protect the
dharma, Six Dings and Six Jias, I have a plan to subdue a demon, but this prince doesn't know what he's
doing, and he's going to have my master tied up. You must protect him at once. If you allow him to be tied up
you'll all be in trouble." None of them dared disobey the Great Sage's secret instructions, and they did indeed
protect Sanzang. The officers could not even touch Sanzang's shaven pate; it was as if he were surrounded by
a wall, and they could get nowhere near him.

"Where are you from, and how dare you insult me with this self−protection magic?" asked the crown prince.
Sanzang went up to him, greeted him respectfully, and said, "I have no self−protection magic. I am the Tang
Priest from the East going to worship the Buddha, fetch scrip−tares and offer treasures in the Thunder
Monastery."

"Your Eastern lands may be in the central plains," replied the prince, "but they are extraordinarily poor. What
treasures could you possibly have? Tell me."

"The cassock I am wearing," said Sanzang, "is the third−grade treasure. I also have treasures of the first and
second grade that are much better things."

"But that cassock only half covers you," objected the prince. "It can't possibly be worth enough to deserve
being called a treasure."

"The cassock may not cover both shoulders," replied Sanzang, "but there is a poem about it that goes:

Of course a monk's habit leaves one shoulder bare,

But it covers a true Buddha free from worldly dust.

This was the True Achievement of thousands of needles;

Nine Pearls and Eight Treasures formed its spirit.

Fairies and holy women sewed it reverently

As a gift to a dhyana monk to purify his body.

Failure to greet Your Highness may be overlooked,

But what use is a man who avenges not his father?"

Hearing this put the crown prince into a fury. "You're talking nonsense, you impudent monk," he shouted.
"You can use your gift of the gab to overpraise your tatty little garment if you like. But you'll have to tell me
what wrongs to my father I've failed to avenge."

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Sanzang took a step forward, joined his hands in front of his chest, and said, "Your Royal Highness, how
many great kindnesses does a man receive on earth?"

"Four," the prince replied. "What are they?" Sanzang asked. "There is the kindness that heaven and earth show
by covering and supporting him," said the prince. "There is the kindness of the sun and moon in giving him
light. There is the kindness of his monarch in giving him land and water. And there is the kindness of his
parents who rear him."

"Your Highness is mistaken," said Sanzang with a smile. "People are only covered and supported by heaven
and earth, lit by sun and moon, and provided with land and water by their monarchs. They are not brought up
by fathers and mothers."

"Monk," roared the prince in anger, "you shaven−headed food−scrounging tramp, you rebel, where would
people come from if they did not have parents to rear them?"

"That is something, Your Highness," said Sanzang, "that I do not know. But I have in this box here a treasure
called the King−maker who knows everything that has happened or will happen for five hundred years long
ago, five hundred years in the present era, and five hundred years in the future after that, making fifteen
hundred years in all. He will be able to tell us all about not knowing the kindness of being reared by parents.
He has made me wait here for a very long time."

"Bring him out and let me see him," said the crown prince. As Sanzang opened the lid of the box Brother
Monkey jumped out and started rushing around on both sides of it. "A tiny speck of a man like that couldn't
possibly know anything," said the prince.

As soon as Monkey heard this objection to his size he used his magic powers to stretch himself till he was
three feet four or five inches tall, to the amazement of the soldiers, who said, "If he went on growing at that
rate it would only be a day or two before he smashed through the sky."

Once Brother Monkey was back to his original size he stopped growing. Only then did the prince address him:
"King−maker, this old monk says that you know all the good and evil things of the past and the future. Do you
use tortoise−shell or milfoil for your divinations? Or do you do it by interpreting sentences from books."

"I don't use anything," said Monkey. "All I need is my three inches of tongue to know everything about
everything."

"You're talking nonsense again," said the prince. "Even since the olden days the Book of Changes has been the
best book for predicting the good and bad things that will happen in the world. It tells you what to avoid.
That's why predictions can be made with tortoise−shell or yarrow. Why should I believe a word you say?
You'll be making unfounded predictions of blessings and disasters to stir up trouble."

"Be patient, Your Highness," said Monkey, "until you've heard what I have to say. You are the eldest son of
the monarch of Wuji. Five years ago there was a disastrous drought in your country that caused your people
terrible suffering. The king your father and his ministers prayed devoutly for rain, but not a drop fell until a
Taoist wizard came from the Zhongnan Mountains who could summon up winds and rain and turn stone into
gold. Because the monarch was too fond of the wizard he took the wizard as his sworn brother. Is this all true
so far?"

"Yes, yes," said the crown prince, "go on."

"When the wizard disappeared three years later who was then on the throne?"

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"You're quite right that there was a wizard," said the prince, "and that His Majesty my father took him as his
sworn brother. They slept in the same room and ate from the same table. Three years ago they were enjoying
the beauty of the palace gardens when he used a gust of magic wind to seize my father's gold−bordered white
jade scepter and carry it back with him to the Zhongnan Mountains. My father still misses him. Without him
my father has no interest in any relaxation, and the palace gardens have been completely shut for the last three
years. If the king isn't my father I'd like to know who else he could be."

Monkey smiled, and kept on smiling without answering when the prince asked more questions. "Damn you,"
said the furious prince, "what do you mean by just grinning at me?"

"I have a great deal more to say," Brother Monkey finally replied, "but this is hardly the place to talk with so
many people around." Realizing that there must be something behind this remark the prince dismissed his
soldiers with a wave of his sleeve. The officers in attendance passed the order on at once, sending the three
thousand soldiers and their horses to pitch camp outside the monastery gates. Now that there was nobody else
in the hall of the monastery the prince took the best seat. The venerable elder stood beside the prince with
Monkey standing next to him. All the monks of the monastery withdrew.

Monkey then stopped smiling as he stepped forward and said. "Your Highness, it was in fact your very own
parent that was carried away by the wind, and it is the rain−making wizard who now sits on the throne."

"Nonsense," said the prince, "nonsense. Ever since the wizard went away my father has kept the weather well
regulated, the country strong and the people contented. But you say that he isn't my father. As I'm of such
tender years I'll spare you; but if His Majesty my father heard you uttering such treason he'd have you arrested
and hacked into ten thousand pieces." He then shouted at Monkey to go away.

"What did I say?" Monkey asked the Tang Priest. "I said he won't believe me. Oh, well. The only thing I can
do now is to give him that treasure in the hope of obtaining a passport so that we can carry on towards the
Western Heaven." Sanzang handed the red box to Monkey, who took it, shook himself, made it disappear−−it
was, after all, one of his own hairs transformed−−and put it back on his body. He then presented the white
jade scepter with both hands to the prince.

"A splendid monk you are, I must say," exclaimed the crown prince on seeing it. "Five years ago you came
here as a Quanzhen wizard to trick my family out of its treasure, and now you've come back as a Buddhist
monk to present it to me."

"Arrest him," the prince shouted, and as the order was passed on Sanzang pointed to Monkey in his terror and
panic and said, "You wretched Protector of the Horses. All you can do is cause gratuitous trouble in which
you get me involved." Monkey rushed forward to stop him.

"Shut up," he said, "or you'll give the game away. I'm not called King−maker. I have a real name."

"Come here," shouted the angry crown prince. "I want your real name so that I can hand you over to the legal
authorities for sentence."

"I am this elder's senior disciple," said Monkey. "My name is Sun Wukong. As I'm going with my master on
his way to fetch the scriptures from the Western Heaven, we took shelter here last night. My master was
reading sutras late last night, and he had a dream in the third watch. In this dream His Majesty your father told
my master that the wizard had murdered him by pushing him into the eight−sided well with glazed tiles in the
palace gardens. The wizard then turned himself into such a good likeness of your father that none of the
officials at court could tell the difference. You were too young to know any better and banned from the harem.
The garden was closed. This was because he was afraid that the truth would get out. His Majesty your father

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came last night specially to ask me to put the fiend down. I was worried in case the present king wasn't really
an evil spirit, but when I took a look from up in the air I saw that he definitely is. I was just going to grab him
when you rode out of the city to go hunting. The jade hare you hit with your arrow was me. I led you to this
monastery to meet my master. Every word I have told you is the truth. You can recognize that white jade
scepter; so why don't you bow in gratitude to the father who reared you and avenge him?"

At these words the crown prince was deeply distressed, and he said to himself in his grief, "Perhaps I
shouldn't believe what he says, but it does seem to be rather convincing. But if I do believe him, however can
I face my father in the palace?" He was indeed

Caught upon the horns of a dilemma,

Wondering what on earth he ought to do.

Seeing that he was unable to make up his mind, Monkey went up to him and said, "No need for all these
doubts, Your Highness. Why don't you ride back to the capital and ask Her Majesty the queen how the love
between her and your father is compared with three years ago. That's the only question that will prove that I'm
telling the truth."

That changed the prince's mind for him. "That's it," he said, "I'll ask my mother." He sprang to his feet, put the
scepter in his sleeve and was just about to go when Monkey tugged at his clothes and said, "If all your men
and horses go back it'll give the game away and make it much harder for me to succeed. You must ride back
alone and not draw attention to yourself or make a fuss. Don't go in through the main gate; use one of the back
gates instead. And when you enter the women's quarters in the palace to see your mother, don't shout or make
a lot of noise. You must keep your voice down and talk very quietly. That fiend probably has tremendous
magical powers, and once the cat is out of the bag your mum's life won't be worth tuppence."

The crown prince accepted these instructions with great respect, then went outside the monastery gates to give
these orders to his officers: "Stay encamped here and do not move. I have some business to attend to. Wait till
I come back and then we shall all return to the capital together." Watch him:

Giving his orders to the army to encamp,

He rides back to the city as if on wings.

If you don't know what was said when he met the queen, listen to the explanation in the next installment.

Chapter 38
Questioning His Mother, the Boy Sorts Right from Wrong

When Metal and Wood Join in the Mystery, Truth and Falsehood Are Clear

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If you speak only of the causation arising from birth,

You can be present at the Buddha's assembly.

The Buddha of the dusty world thinks only peaceful thoughts;

People of all quarters watch while the spirit is subdued.

If you wish to know who is the true monarch,

You must ask the mother who bore you.

You have never yet seen another world;

At every step a new flower appears.

Soon after taking his leave of the Great Sage, the crown prince of Wuji was back in the city. As instructed, he
did not make for the main palace gates or announce his arrival, but went straight to a back gate that was kept
by some eunuchs. Not daring to stop him, they let him in. The splendid prince rode his horse straight to the
foot of the Brocade Fragrance Pavilion, in which sat the queen attended by some dozens of consorts and
concubines holding fans. The queen was in tears, leaning against a carved balustrade. Do you know why? It
was because she half remembered but had half forgotten a dream she had had in the small hours of the
morning. Now she was deep in thought.

The prince dismounted, knelt at the foot of the pavilion and called, "Mother."

The queen forced herself to look cheerful and called to him, "What a pleasure to see you, my child, what a
pleasure. I've been worried about you for two or three years. Despite all my requests to His Majesty your
father in the hall of audience I haven't been able to see you. How ever were you able to get leave to see me
today? I'm so, so happy. But why do you sound so sad, child? Your father is getting on now. One day the
dragon will have to return to the jade−green sea and the phoenix to the crimson clouds. Then the throne will
be yours. So why be so miserable?"

To this the prince replied with a kowtow, "Mother, who is it who now occupies the throne? Who is it who
uses the royal 'we?'"

"The boy's gone mad," exclaimed the queen. "It's your father who's king. Why do you ask?"

"I beg you, Mother," said the prince, kowtowing again, "to forgive your son's crime so that I may ask once
more. If you can't pardon me, I can't ask."

"There can't be criminal proceedings between mother and son," the queen said. "You're forgiven. Now, hurry
up and ask."

"Mother," said the prince, "I want to ask you whether there is any difference in the affection between you and
my father now compared with three years ago."

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The moment the queen heard this her souls went flying and she rushed down to the foot of the pavilion to hug
the prince close to her. "Child," she said as tears flowed from her eyes, "why do you come to the harem after
we've been kept apart for such a long time to ask me this?"

"Mother," said the prince in great anger, "tell me at once what you have to say or you will ruin everything."

The queen ordered her attendants to withdraw, then said in a low and tearful voice, "If you hadn't asked me
about it I would have taken the secret to the grave with me. Now that you have asked, listen while I tell you:

He used to be so passionate and tender,

But three years later on he's turned to frost.

If I whisper to him warmly on the pillow

He pleads old age and says the urge is lost."

At this the crown prince broke away from his mother's embrace and remounted his horse. "What's up, child?"
the queen asked, holding on to him. "Why are you off before we've even finished our conversation?"

The prince then knelt before her and said, "I hardly dare tell you, Mother. When I went out hunting this
morning with the falcons and hounds His Majesty kindly lent me I happened to meet a holy monk who was on
his way to fetch the scriptures. His senior disciple is Sun the Novice, or Brother Sun. He is very good at
exorcising demons. It appears that His Majesty my father is dead in the eight−sided well with glazed tiles in
the palace gardens, and that the wizard turned himself into my father's double in order to usurp the throne. In
the middle of last night my father came to him in a dream. He asked the priest to come here to capture the
fiend. I came to ask you that question because I couldn't quite bring myself to believe them. From what you
have just told me, Mother, I'm now sure he is an evil spirit."

"You shouldn't believe what strangers tell you, my son," said the queen.

"I wouldn't have believed him at all," replied the crown prince, "except that His Majesty my father left proof
with him." When the queen asked what it was, the prince produced the gold−bordered white jade scepter from
his sleeve and handed it to her. The queen saw it and recognized it as the king's treasure. She could not hold
back her tears.

"My lord," she cried out, "why did you never come to me in the three years since you died? Why did you
appear to the holy monk and then to the prince first?"

"What do you mean, Mother?" the prince asked.

"My child," said the queen, "I too had a dream in the small hours of the morning. I saw your father standing
soaking wet in front of me. He told me himself that he had been killed and that his ghost had called on the
Tang Priest to ask him to capture the impostor on the throne and rescue him. I can remember him saying all
this, but only very vaguely. I was just wondering about it when you came, asked that question, and showed me
the scepter. I'll keep it, and you go and ask that holy monk to be as quick as possible. Then the evil mists can
be swept away, truth can be separated from falsehood, and you can repay His Majesty your father for his

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kindness in raising you."

The prince quickly remounted and went out through the back gate of the palace to get away from the city.
Indeed:

With tears in his eyes he took leave of his mother;

Bowed down with grief he returned to Sanzang.

He was soon out of the city and back at the gate of the Precious Wood Monastery, where he dismounted amid
the greetings of the whole army. It was now almost sunset. The crown prince ordered that the soldiers were to
make no unnecessary movements. He then went back into the monastery, neatened up his clothes, and went to
pay his respects to Brother Monkey just as he was swaggering out of the main hall.

The prince fell to his knees and said, "Master, I'm back."

Monkey went over to him to raise him to his feet and said, "Please get up. Who did you question when you
went into town?"

"I questioned my mother," the crown prince replied, going on to tell him everything that had happened.

Monkey grinned slightly as he said, "If he's that cold he must be a transformation of something icy. Never
mind. It doesn't matter. I'll wipe him out for you. The only trouble is that it's a bit late to do anything today.
Go back now and wait till I come to see you tomorrow."

The prince knelt down again, kowtowed and said, "Let me stay here to be at your beck and call till I go in with
you tomorrow."

"No," said Monkey, "that would be no good. If we two went into town together the fiend would have his
suspicions. He wouldn't think that I'd just met you by chance. He'd say that you'd asked me to come, and then
be angry with you."

"But−−he's going to be angry with me anyhow if I go back to the city now," replied the prince.

"Why?" asked Monkey.

"Because I'll have no way to face him when I go back without having caught a single thing after taking out so
many men, horses, falcons and hounds on his orders this morning," said the prince. "If he punishes me for
incompetence I'll be thrown into jail and you'll have nobody to help you when you go into town tomorrow.
And in this whole force there isn't a single friend of mine."

"No problem," said Monkey. "If you'd told me earlier I'd have a good bag ready for you now."

Splendid Great Sage. Watch him as he shows off his powers in front of the prince, leaping up into the clouds
with a single bound, making the magic with his fingers, and saying the esoteric words, "Om ram Pure Dharma
World."

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He made the mountain gods and local deities of the place bow to him in mid−air and say, "Great Sage, what
orders do you have for us humble deities?"

To this Brother Monkey replied, "I've escorted the Tang Priest this far and now I want to capture a demon.
The trouble is that the crown prince has caught nothing on his hunt, so he doesn't dare return to the palace. I'd
like to ask a favour of you all. Will you fetch some river−deer, antelopes, deer, hares, other birds and beasts to
send him back with?" None of the mountain gods or local deities dared not to accept this order.

When they asked how many of each were wanted the Great Sage replied, "It doesn't matter. Just get some."

The gods then mustered their invisible soldiers and made a magical animal−gathering wind blow. They caught
hundreds and thousands of pheasants, deer, antelopes, river−deer, foxes, badgers, raccoon dogs, hares, tigers,
leopards and wolves, which they presented to Monkey.

"I don't want them," he said. "I'd like you to hamstring them and set them out on both sides of the fifteen miles
of the road back so that the hunters can take them to the capital without having to use their falcons or hounds.
That will redound to your credit." The gods did as they were told, put their magic wind away, and set the prey
out beside the road.

Only then did Brother Monkey bring his cloud down to land and say to the prince, "You may go back now,
Your Highness. Your bag is set out by the road for you to collect." After the mid−air display of Monkey's
amazing powers the prince was utterly convinced that this had happened, so he could but kowtow and take his
leave. He then went out of the monastery and ordered the soldiers back to the city. There were indeed no end
of wild animals by the road that the soldiers could catch with their bare hands, not needing the falcons or
dogs. They all cheered the prince and said that this was due to his very good luck, not realizing that it was
Monkey's magical achievement. Just listen to the triumphant songs as they swarm back to the capital.

Monkey, meanwhile, was guarding Sanzang. Seeing how well the two of them were getting on with the
prince, the monks of the monastery had to treat them with great respect. They provided them with vegetarian
meals and looked after the Tang Priest, who was still resting in the meditation hall. For nearly a whole watch,
or about two hours, Monkey was too troubled to sleep.

He jumped up, went over to the Tang priest's bed and called, "Master."

Sanzang was still awake too, but he pretended to be asleep because he knew that Monkey was someone who
caused alarms and trouble. So Monkey rubbed Sanzang's shaven pate and shouted wildly, "Why are you
asleep, Master?"

"Wicked creature," said the Tang Priest angrily, "what are you shouting for at this time of night when you
ought to be asleep?"

"But Master," said Monkey, "there's something I want to talk about with you."

"What?" Sanzang asked.

"I can't sleep," Brother Monkey replied, "because when I was boasting to the crown prince yesterday about
how my magical powers were higher than mountains and deeper than the sea I said that I could catch that
fiend as easily as taking something out of a bag. I'd only have to stretch out my hand to grab him. Thinking
about it I realize it would be difficult."

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"If it is difficult," said the Tang Priest, "then give up the idea of catching the monster."

"He's certainly got to be caught," said Monkey, "but it isn't right."

"You're talking nonsense, ape," said the Tang Priest. "The fiend has usurped a throne. What do you mean by
'it isn't right?'"

"All you know about is reciting sutras, worshipping the Buddha, sitting in contemplation and seeking religious
instruction," said Monkey. "You've never seen the Legal Code. As the saying goes, 'You can't arrest someone
for theft without the loot as evidence.' That fiend has been king for three years now without giving the game
away. He sleeps with the consorts and concubines in the harem and shares the pleasures of the civil and
military officials at court. I have the power to catch him all right; but it'll be hard to make the charges against
him stick."

"What do you mean by that?" asked the Tang Priest.

"Even if he normally kept his mouth as shut as an unopened gourd," said Monkey, "he'll brazen it out with
you and say, 'I'm the monarch of Wuji. What crime have I committed against Heaven that you should come to
arrest me?' What written documentation have you got to back up your case against him?"

"How would you cope?" asked Sanzang.

"My plan's already made," said Brother Monkey with a laugh. "The only thing is that it affects Your
Reverence and your favoritism."

"How do I show favoritism?" the Tang Priest asked.

"Because Pig is so stupid he's rather a pet of yours."

"What do you mean by that?" the Tang Priest asked.

"Well, if he's not your favorite, be a bit bolder today and agree to stay here with Friar Sand while Pig and I go
ahead to the capital of Wuji, find the palace gardens, open up the glazed−tile well, fish out the remains of the
dead king, and wrap them up in a carrying−cloth. Then when we go into town tomorrow never mind about the
travel documents−−as soon as I see the fiend I'll have my cudgel out to kill him. If he tries to argue, show him
the remains and the clothes and say, 'This is the man you murdered.' Then bring the crown prince in to mourn
his father and the queen to identify the remains of her husband. Let all the civil and military officials see their
true lord, and then Pig and I will set to. That's the only way we'll be able to win a contested lawsuit
afterwards."

On hearing this the Tang Priest concealed his delight and said, "But Pig might not be willing to go."

"There you are," said Monkey, "I said you showed favoritism. How do you know he won't want to go? It's just
like the way you refused to respond for a whole hour when I kept trying to wake you. My three inches of
tongue could make Pig come with me even if he were a Pig−and−a−half."

"Very well," said Sanzang, "call him if you like."

Monkey then took his leave of the master, went straight to Pig's bed, and called his name. The idiot was lying
with his head hanging down, snoring heavily after his exhausting journey. Mere calling was not going to wake
him. Monkey grabbed him by his ears and his bristles, pulled him up, and shouted "Pig!" again. The idiot was

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still fast asleep.

When Monkey called him again Pig said, "Go to sleep, and stop fooling around. We've got to be on our way
again tomorrow."

"I'm not fooling," said Monkey. "There's a piece of business for us two to do."

"What sort of business?" Pig asked.

"Didn't you hear the prince telling us?" said Monkey.

"I didn't even see him," said Pig, "let alone hear him say anything."

"The prince told me that the fiend has a treasure that makes him a match for ten thousand men in a fight," said
Monkey. "When we go into town we'll have to fight him, and if he has that treasure he'll beat us. That would
be terrible. I reckon that if the other side is stronger than you the best thing to do is to strike first. Wouldn't be
best if the two of us went and stole his treasure?"

"You're trying to trick me into thieving, brother," said Pig. "I'll come in on this bit of business, and I'll be very
useful to you too, but first I want to get something clear with you. When we've stolen the treasure and
captured the demon I won't stand for any mean, small−minded sharing out of the treasure. I want the lot."

"Why?" Monkey asked. "I haven't got your gift of the gab. I can't wheedle food out of people. I'm clumsy and
rough−spoken, and I can't recite sutras. When I'm really on my uppers I can always swap it for food."

"All I'm interested in is fame," said Monkey. "I don't care about treasures. You can have it if you like." The
idiot was so happy to be promised the treasure that he rolled himself out of bed, dressed, and set out with
Monkey. It was a case of

Clear wine makes the cheeks go red;

Gold turns everybody's head.

The two of them opened the door very quietly, left Sanzang and took an auspicious cloud straight to the city.

They were soon there, and as they brought their cloud down to land they heard the drum on the tower being
beaten twice. "It's the second watch, brother," said Monkey.

"Just right," said Pig, "just right. Everybody's fast asleep." The two of them avoided the main gate and went
round to the back gate of the palace, where clappers and bells were being sounded. "Brother," said Monkey,
"it sounds as though there's an alarm at both front and back gates. How are we going to get in?"

"Who ever heard of burglars going in through the gates?" said Pig. "Let's go over the wall so that nobody sees
us." Monkey accepted his suggestion, and with a bound he was on top of the inner wall. Pig jumped up too,
then the pair of them crept inside and tried to find their way to the palace gardens.

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As they walked along they saw a gate−tower in front of them with triple eaves and white ornaments. On it
were two huge words, gleaming bright: ROYAL GARDENS. Going up to it for a closer look Brother Monkey
saw that layer after layer of sealing paper had been pasted over the gates, and the locks on them had rusted
hard. He then told Pig to get moving. The idiot raised his iron rake and brought it down with all his might on
the gates, smashing them to splinters. Monkey was just going to step inside when he was seized with an
irresistible urge to leap about and shout, to the horror of Pig who went up to him, grabbed him and said,
"You'll be the death of me, brother. Who ever heard of burglars yelling like that? You'll wake them up and get
us arrested and handed over to for trial. Then it'll be either a death sentence or being sent home as convicts."

"Brother," said Monkey, "do you know why I'm so upset? Just look!

Carved and painted balustrades all in a mess,

Precious pavilions leaning awry.

The sedge and nutweed on the bank are buried.

The peonies and raspberries have been ruined.

Gone is the fragrance of rose and jasmine;

Tree peony and wild lily flower in vain.

Hibiscus and rose of Sharon are overgrown,

And all the precious flowers choked.

The hillocks built from strange−shaped rocks have collapsed;

The fish are dead in the dried−up ponds.

Dry as tinder the pine and bamboo;

Mugwort and wormwood carpet the paths.

Broken the branches of peach and osmanthus,

Twisted the trunks of pomegranate and kerria.

Moss grows on the zigzag way to the bridge:

A desolate garden scene."

"What are you getting so upset about?" Pig asked. "Let's get on with our bit of business." Despite his distress
Monkey remembered how in his dream the Tang Priest had been told that the well was under a plantain. As he
went further he did indeed see a plantain that was most luxuriant, unlike all the other flowers and trees.
Indeed:

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It was a divine shoot

Born with an empty nature.

Papery strips came from every branch,

And all the leaves wrapped up fragrance.

A thousand fine stands of emerald green,

A touch of red at the heart.

It grieved in the cold of autumn rain;

It withered with fear of the autumn winds.

It was grown through the efforts of the gardener,

Raised through the Creator's work.

Wonderful its value as writing paper,

Marvellous its use for dripping water.

Would that phoenix feathers could have compared;

A phoenix tail was no match for its leaves.

When the ample dew dripped gently

The tree was lightly wreathed in mist.

Its green shade covered the window,

Its jade shadow fell on the frame.

The wild goose could not perch in its fronds,

Nor the charger be tethered to its trunk.

On a frosty day it looked withered;

It was dim in the moonlight.

It could only refresh one in summer's heat

And offer some shelter from the blazing sun.

It lacked the beauty of peach or plum,

Chapter 38 536