OriginChapter 3
It is said that the Handsome Monkey King returned in glory to his native land. Since he had exterminated the Demon King Hunshi and seized a great broadsword, he practiced martial arts every day, teaching the little monkeys to cut bamboo into spears, shave wood into knives, make banners and pennants, and beat whistles. They advanced and retreated, pitched camps and fortified strongholds, and frolicked thus for a long time. Suddenly, as he sat in quiet meditation, he thought: “If we remain here, I fear that play may become reality. We might alarm a human king, or some King of Birds or King of Beasts might recognize this offense and say that we are drilling troops and plotting rebellion, then raise an army to attack us. You are all using bamboo poles and wooden knives—how can you face the enemy? We must obtain sharp swords and halberds. What shall we do now?” When the monkeys heard this, each was frightened and said: “What the Great King sees is indeed far-sighted, but there is nowhere from which to obtain them.” As they were speaking, four old monkeys came forward. Two were Red-Buttocked Horse Monkeys, and two were Long-Armed Apes. They stood before him and said: “Great King, if you wish to make sharp weapons, that is exceedingly easy.” Wukong said: “How can it be easy?” The four monkeys said: “Two hundred li east of this mountain is a stretch of water, beyond which lies the boundary of the Kingdom of Aolai. Within that kingdom is a royal capital, with countless troops and commoners throughout the city. There must surely be craftsmen who work in gold, silver, copper, iron, and the like. If the Great King goes there, you may buy or have made some weapons, then teach us to drill with them and guard the mountain stronghold. Truly, this is the means of preserving peace and prosperity for a long time.” Wukong heard this and was filled with joy. He said: “You all amuse yourselves here. I will go and return.”
What a fine Monkey King! He immediately mounted a somersault cloud, and in an instant crossed the two hundred li of water. Sure enough, he saw a city there, with six streets and three markets, ten thousand households and a thousand gates, people coming and going beneath the broad daylight. Wukong thought to himself: “There must be ready-made weapons here. Rather than go down and buy several, it would be better to use a little supernatural power and find several for myself.” He formed a hand sign, recited a spell, drew in a breath from the Xun quarter, and blew it out with a whoosh. At once there arose a fierce wind, sending sand flying and stones rolling. How terrifying it was!
Where cannon-clouds arise, Heaven and Earth are swept away;
Black mists and gloomy haze make the great earth dim.
The rivers and seas surge in waves, frightening fish and crabs;
Mountain trees snap, while tigers and wolves flee.
All kinds of trade cease, with no merchants or travelers;
Every sort of livelihood vanishes, and no people are seen.
The monarch on the throne withdraws to the inner chambers;
The civil and military officials turn back to their offices.
The throne of a thousand autumns is blown down;
The Five-Phoenix Tower shakes to its foundations.
Where the wind arose, it scattered the ruler of Aolai. Throughout the three markets and six streets, people hurried to shut their doors and close their gates, and no one dared go out. Only then did Wukong lower his cloud-head. He charged straight through the court gate and went directly to the Armory and Military Storehouse. Opening the doors and looking inside, he saw weapons without number: knives, spears, swords, halberds, axes, yueh, mao, sickles, whips, pa, zhua, jian, bows, crossbows, forks, and spears—everything was fully provided. Delighted at the sight, he said: “How many could I carry alone? I had better use the body-separation method and move them all away.” The fine Monkey King plucked a handful of hairs, put them into his mouth and chewed them to pieces, then spat them out. He recited a spell and cried: “Transform!” They became hundreds and thousands of little monkeys. They all rushed about carrying and snatching: the strong ones took five or seven pieces, the weaker ones took two or three, until everything had been carried away and not a thing remained. Wukong mounted the cloud, used a wind-summoning spell, called back the fierce wind, and led the little monkeys all back to their own place.
It is said that the monkeys, great and small, of Flower-Fruit Mountain were amusing themselves outside the cave gate when suddenly they heard the sound of the wind. Looking up, they saw in midair a limitless, shoreless mass of monkeys, crisscrossing chaotically. Terrified, they ran about and hid. A short while later, the Handsome Monkey King lowered his cloud-head, dispersed the clouds and mist, shook his body and drew back his hairs, then piled all the weapons in disorder before the mountain and called out: “You little ones, all come and receive your weapons.” When the monkeys looked, they saw Wukong standing alone on the level ground. They all ran over, knelt, and asked what had happened. Wukong related from beginning to end how he had raised the fierce wind and carried off the weapons. After the monkeys had thanked him, they all went to seize knives and swords, grab zhua and axes, fight over spears, draw bows and bend crossbows, shouting and yelling as they played for the whole day.
The next day they arranged the camp as before. Wukong gathered the multitude of monkeys and counted more than forty-seven thousand of them. This soon alarmed the monsters throughout the mountain, including wolves, insects, tigers, leopards, deer, muntjacs, roebucks, wild beasts, foxes, civets, badgers, badgers, lions, elephants, suanni, orangutans, bears, deer, wild boars, mountain oxen, antelopes, blue rhinoceroses, crafty beasts, divine mastiffs, and so on. The various Demon Kings, numbering seventy-two cave lords in all, came to pay homage and honor the Monkey King as their lord. Each year they offered tribute; in each of the four seasons they reported for inspection. Some drilled with the ranks, while others requisitioned provisions according to the season. Everything was arranged in perfect order, and the whole of Flower-Fruit Mountain was made as secure as an iron barrel and a golden city. The various Demon Kings also brought in golden drums, colored flags, armor, and helmets. They came in a constant bustling stream, practicing drills and raising armies day after day.
While the Handsome Monkey King was rejoicing, he suddenly said to the assembly: “You are well versed in bows and crossbows and proficient with weapons, but this knife of mine is truly clumsy and does not suit my hand. What shall I do?” The four old monkeys stepped forward and said: “Great King, you are an immortal sage; ordinary weapons are unworthy of your use. But we do not know whether the Great King can travel through water.” Wukong said: “Ever since I learned the Way, I have attained the seventy-two Earthly Fiend transformations, and my somersault cloud possesses tremendous supernatural power. I can skillfully conceal and escape my body, raise spells and employ spells of capture. There is a road to Heaven and a gate into Earth; I can walk beneath the sun and moon without casting a shadow and enter metal and stone without hindrance. Water cannot drown me, and fire cannot burn me. What place could I not reach?” The four monkeys said: “Since the Great King possesses such powers, the water beneath our Ironboard Bridge connects with the Dragon Palace of the Eastern Sea. If the Great King is willing to descend and seek the Old Dragon King, asking him for some weapon, surely he would provide one that satisfies you.” Wukong was delighted when he heard this and said: “Wait here while I go and return.”
What a fine Monkey King! He leaped to the bridgehead, employed a water-avoidance spell, formed a hand sign, and plunged into the waves. Parting the waters, he went directly into the seabed of the Eastern Ocean. As he was traveling, a night patrol yaksha of the sea suddenly appeared and blocked his way, asking: “What divine being is pushing the water aside? Explain yourself clearly, so that I may report your arrival and arrange a welcome.” Wukong said: “I am Sun Wukong, the Heaven-born Sage of Flower-Fruit Mountain, your Old Dragon King’s close neighbor. Why do you not recognize me?” Hearing this, the yaksha hurried back to the Crystal Palace to report: “Great King, outside is a Heaven-born Sage named Sun Wukong from Flower-Fruit Mountain. He claims to be Your Majesty’s close neighbor and is about to arrive at the palace.” The Dragon King of the Eastern Sea, Ao Guang, immediately rose and went out with his dragon sons, dragon grandsons, shrimp soldiers, and crab generals to welcome him. “Immortal, please enter, please enter.” They went straight into the palace and met. After Wukong had taken the high seat and been offered tea, Ao Guang asked: “When did the Immortal attain the Way? What immortal arts were you taught?” Wukong said: “After I was born, I left home to practice cultivation and attained a body beyond birth and death. Recently, because I have been teaching my sons and grandsons and guarding the mountain cave, I lack a weapon. I have long heard that my worthy neighbor enjoys the delights of your jade palace and shell towers, and must possess surplus divine weapons. I have come especially to request one.” Seeing this, the Dragon King found it difficult to refuse. He ordered the Kuei Chief of Staff to bring out a great pole-knife and present it. Wukong said: “This old Sun does not know how to use a knife. I beg you to bestow another.” The Dragon King then ordered the Baku Commandant to lead the eel strongmen in carrying out a nine-pronged fork. Wukong leaped down, received it in his hands, and performed a series of movements with it. Then he set it down and said: “Light, light, light—and it still does not suit my hand. I beg you to bestow another.” The Dragon King smiled and said: “Immortal, you did not look carefully. This fork weighs three thousand six hundred jin.” Wukong said: “It does not suit my hand, it does not suit my hand.” The Dragon King grew fearful and ordered the Bian Inspector and the Carp Commander to carry out a painted-shaft Fangtian halberd. That halberd weighed seven thousand two hundred jin. When Wukong saw it, he ran forward, received it in his hands, tossed off several stances and performed two techniques, then planted it in the middle of the palace and said: “It is still light—light, light, light.” The Old Dragon King grew even more frightened. “Immortal, this is the heaviest halberd in my palace. There are no other weapons.” Wukong laughed and said: “The ancients said: ‘Would the Dragon King of the Sea lack treasures?’ Go search again. If there is something to my liking, I shall pay its price for each item.” The Dragon King said: “There truly is nothing more.”
As they were speaking, the Dragon Queen and the Dragon Princess emerged from behind and said: “Great King, observe this sage. He is certainly no ordinary person. In our sea treasury is that divine precious iron which stabilizes the bed of the Celestial River. These past few days it has shone with brilliant rosy light, and auspicious vapors have risen. Could it be that it is destined to appear now and meet this sage?” The Dragon King said: “That was a weight used when Da Yu controlled the waters, to measure the depth of rivers and seas. It is merely a piece of divine iron. What use could it be?” The Dragon Queen said: “Do not concern yourself with whether it is useful. Just give it to him. Let him alter it however he likes; once it has been sent out of the palace gates, that will be the end of it.” The Old Dragon King followed her advice and told Wukong everything. Wukong said: “Bring it out for me to see.” The Dragon King waved his hands. “It cannot be carried or lifted. The Immortal must go and see it himself.” Wukong said: “Where is it? Lead me there.”
The Dragon King indeed led him to the middle of the sea treasury, where they suddenly saw ten thousand rays of golden light. The Dragon King pointed and said: “The thing giving off that light is it.” Wukong lifted his robe, went forward, and touched it. It was an iron pillar about the thickness of a dou and more than two zhang long. He grasped it with both hands and exerted all his strength. “It is too thick and too long. It would be usable if it were shorter and thinner.” As soon as he finished speaking, the treasure shortened by several chi and became a circumference thinner. Wukong shook it again and said: “Thinner would be even better.” The treasure truly became several degrees thinner. Wukong was exceedingly pleased. When he brought it out of the sea treasury, he found that its two ends were encircled by two golden bands, while the middle was a length of black iron. Close against one band was a line of engraved characters, calling it: “The Ruyi Jingu Bang, weighing thirteen thousand five hundred jin.” He was secretly delighted and thought: “This treasure must indeed answer the will of its user.” As he walked, he thought and spoke, turning it in his hand: “Shorter and thinner would be even more wonderful.” When he brought it outside, it was only two zhang long and as thick as the mouth of a bowl.
Behold how he displayed his supernatural power, threw off several techniques, and struck about inside the Crystal Palace. The Old Dragon King was terrified, the little dragon sons were scared out of their wits, the turtles, softshell turtles, and alligators shrank their necks, and the fish, shrimp, sea turtles, and crabs all hid their heads. Wukong held the treasure in his hand, sat atop the Crystal Palace hall, and said with a smile to the Dragon King: “Many thanks for the generosity of my worthy neighbor.” The Dragon King said: “You are too kind, too kind.” Wukong said: “Although this piece of iron is good to use, there is still one matter.” The Dragon King said: “What other matter does the Immortal have?” Wukong said: “If I had not had this iron before, that would be one thing. But now that I hold it in my hand, I have no clothes to match my person. What shall I do? If you have armor and garments here, simply give me a suit as well, and I shall offer my thanks for all of it together.” The Dragon King said: “That, however, we do not have.” Wukong said: “One guest does not trouble two hosts. If you have none, I certainly will not leave this gate.” The Dragon King said: “Please cross another sea. Perhaps they will have some.” Wukong said again: “Visiting three households is not as good as sitting in one. I earnestly request a suit.” The Dragon King said: “There truly is none. If there were, I would certainly present it.” Wukong said: “Truly none? Then let me try this iron on you!” The Dragon King panicked. “Immortal, do not strike, do not strike! Let me see whether my younger brothers have any. If they do, I will give you a suit.” Wukong said: “Where are your younger brothers?” The Dragon King said: “My younger brothers are Ao Qin, Dragon King of the Southern Sea; Ao Shun, Dragon King of the Northern Sea; and Ao Run, Dragon King of the Western Sea.” Wukong said: “This old Sun will not go, will not go. As the saying goes, ‘Borrowing from three is not as good as seeing two.’ I only hope that you will accommodate me as best you can and give me a suit.” The Old Dragon said: “The Immortal need not go. I have here an iron drum and a golden bell. Whenever there is an emergency, if the drum is beaten or the bell struck, my younger brothers will arrive in an instant.” Wukong said: “Since that is so, quickly beat the drum and strike the bell.” Truly, the alligator general went to strike the bell, and the turtle marshal came at once to beat the drum.
Before long, at the sound of the bells and drums, the three Dragon Kings were indeed alarmed and arrived in an instant, meeting together outside. Ao Qin said: “Elder Brother, what urgent matter is there that you have beaten the drum and struck the bell?” The Old Dragon said: “Worthy younger brothers, it is difficult to speak of. There is some so-called Heaven-born Sage from Flower-Fruit Mountain who came this morning and claimed me as his neighbor. He then requested a weapon. He found the steel fork too small and the painted halberd too light. He took out a piece of divine precious iron that stabilizes the bed of the Celestial River and performed some techniques with it. Now he sits in the palace and demands armor and garments as well. I have none, so I struck the bell and beat the drum to summon you, my younger brothers. Do you have any armor or garments? Give him a suit and send him out the gate.” Hearing this, Ao Qin grew furious. “Shall we summon our troops and seize him?” The Old Dragon said: “Do not speak of seizing him, do not speak of it. If that iron merely catches you, you die; if it bumps you, you perish; if it brushes your skin, it breaks it; if it scrapes you, it injures your sinews.” Ao Run, the Dragon King of the Western Sea, said: “Second Brother must not fight him. Let us simply put together a suit of armor for him and send him out of the palace. Then submit a memorial to Heaven, and Heaven itself will punish him.” Ao Shun, the Dragon King of the Northern Sea, said: “That is well said. I have here a pair of lotus-root silk Cloud-Treading Boots.” Ao Run, the Dragon King of the Western Sea, said: “I have brought a suit of Golden Chain Mail.” Ao Qin, the Dragon King of the Southern Sea, said: “I have a Phoenix-Winged Purple-Gold Crown.” The Old Dragon King was overjoyed. He led them into the Crystal Palace, where they met Wukong and presented these things to him. Wukong put on the golden crown, golden armor, and cloud boots, then wielded the Ruyi Jingu Bang and beat his way out. He said to all the dragons: “What a clamor, what a clamor!” The four Dragon Kings of the Seas were deeply indignant and discussed submitting a memorial to Heaven; that matter need not be mentioned further.
Behold this Monkey King! He parted the waters and returned directly to the head of Ironboard Bridge, then sprang upward. The four old monkeys were leading the multitude of monkeys, all waiting beside the bridge. Suddenly they saw Wukong leap out of the waves, without a single drop of water on him. Gleaming with gold, he walked onto the bridge. The monkeys were so frightened that they all knelt and said: “Great King, what splendid finery! What splendid finery!” Wukong, his face full of springlike delight, climbed onto the throne and planted the iron staff upright in the middle. Those monkeys, unaware of its true nature, all came to lift the treasure, but they were like dragonflies trying to shake an iron tree: they could not move it in the slightest. One by one they bit their fingers and stuck out their tongues. “Grandfather! It is so heavy! How in the world did you manage to bring it here?” Wukong stepped forward, opened his hand, and seized it in one grasp. Smiling at the assembly, he said: “Things each have their master. This treasure had been sunk in the sea treasury for who knows how many thousands or hundreds of years, and only this year happened to give off light. The Dragon King merely thought it a piece of black iron and called it the divine treasure that stabilizes the bed of the Celestial River. None of them could lift or carry it, so they asked me to go and take it myself. At that time this treasure was more than two zhang long and about as thick as a dou. I grasped it once and thought it too large, and it became much smaller. I told it to become smaller, and it became smaller still. I told it to become smaller again, and it became smaller yet again. When I held it up to the light, I saw a line of characters upon it: ‘The Ruyi Jingu Bang, thirteen thousand five hundred jin.’ Stand aside, all of you, and wait for me to make it change again.” He turned the treasure in his hand and called: “Small! Small! Small!” At once it became like an embroidery needle, which he could tuck away inside his ear. The monkeys were astonished and cried: “Great King, take it out and play with it some more.” The Monkey King did just that, removing it from his ear and holding it on his palm. He called: “Big! Big! Big!” It immediately became about as thick as a dou and two zhang long. At the height of his delight, he leaped onto the bridge and went outside the cave. Holding the treasure in his hand, he employed the supernatural power of Modeling Heaven and Earth. He bent at the waist and cried: “Grow!” It grew ten thousand zhang high. Its head was like Mount Tai, its waist like a precipitous ridge, its eyes like lightning, its mouth like a basin of blood, and its teeth like swords and halberds. The staff in his hand reached above the Thirty-Third Heaven and below to the Eighteenth Layer of Hell. The tigers, leopards, wolves, insects, monsters filling the mountain, and the Demon Kings of the seventy-two caves were all so frightened that they knocked their heads to the ground and paid homage, trembling as their souls scattered and spirits fled. In an instant he withdrew the manifestation and changed the treasure back into an embroidery needle, hiding it in his ear before returning to the cave dwelling. The Demon Kings of the various caves, terrified, all came to offer congratulations.
At this time they greatly unfurled the flags and beat the drums, the bronze gongs resounded, and they laid out delicacies of every kind, filling cups with coconut liquor and grape wine. They feasted with the multitude for a long time, after which they resumed their drills as before. The Monkey King appointed the four old monkeys as strong generals. He called the two Red-Buttocked Horse Monkeys the Two Marshals Ma and Liu, and the two Long-Armed Apes the Two Generals Beng and Ba. All matters concerning the pitching of camps, the establishing of strongholds, rewards, punishments, and the rest were entrusted to the four strong generals to maintain.
His mind now at ease, he rose daily upon clouds and mist, roaming the Four Seas and taking pleasure among a thousand mountains. He displayed his martial arts and visited heroes everywhere; he employed his supernatural powers and made friends with worthy men far and wide. At this time he also formed a sworn brotherhood with six others: the Bull Demon King, the Flood Demon King, the Peng Demon King, the Lion-Camel King, the Macaque King, and the King of the Langur, together with the Handsome Monkey King himself, making seven brothers. Day after day they discussed literature and martial affairs, passed cups and handed goblets, played zithers and sang, blew instruments and danced. They departed in the morning and returned at dusk, with no sort of pleasure absent. The distance of ten thousand li seemed to them no more than the road across a courtyard; as the saying went, a nod carried them three thousand li, and a twist of the waist more than eight hundred.
One day, in his own cave, he instructed the four strong generals to arrange a banquet and invite the six kings to drink. They slaughtered oxen and horses, offered sacrifices to Heaven and Earth, and had the assembled monsters dance and sing. Everyone ate and drank until thoroughly drunk. After seeing the six kings off, he also rewarded the various large and small commanders. He reclined beneath the shade of the pines beside Ironboard Bridge, and in an instant fell asleep. The four strong generals led the multitude in guarding him and did not dare to speak loudly. In his sleep the Handsome Monkey King saw two men carrying a warrant on which were written the three characters “Sun Wukong.” They approached him without allowing any explanation, put a rope around him, and carried off his soul. Staggering along, they took him straight to the edge of a city. The Monkey King gradually sobered from the wine. Suddenly he raised his head and looked about. On the city wall was an iron tablet bearing three large characters: “Netherworld Realm.” The Handsome Monkey King suddenly realized and said: “The Netherworld Realm is where the King of Hell resides. Why have I come here?” The two men said: “Your allotted years among the living have now ended. We have received the warrant and come to summon you.” When the Monkey King heard this, he said: “This old Sun has gone beyond the Three Realms and is no longer within the Five Elements. I already submit to none of their jurisdiction. How could you have come blindly and dared to summon me?” The two summoners of the dead only tugged and dragged him, determined to pull him inside. The Monkey King grew angry. He drew the treasure from his ear and shook it once; it became as thick as a bowl. With a casual lift of his hand, he beat the two summoners into mincemeat. He freed himself from the rope, flung it aside, swung the staff, and fought his way into the city. The Ox-Head ghosts hid east and west, while the Horse-Face ghosts fled south and north. The ghost soldiers ran to the Senluo Palace and reported: “Great King, calamity! Calamity! Outside, a hairy-faced Thunder Duke is fighting his way here!”
The Ten Generations of Netherworld Kings hurriedly straightened their robes and came out to look. Seeing his fierce and terrible appearance, they arranged themselves in ranks and called aloud: “Immortal, give us your name! Immortal, give us your name!” The Monkey King said: “If you did not know me, why did you send people to summon me?” The Ten Kings said: “We would not dare. It seems our men must have made a mistake.” The Monkey King said: “I am Sun Wukong, the Heaven-born Sage of Water-Curtain Cave on Flower-Fruit Mountain. What offices do you hold?” The Ten Kings bowed and said: “We are the Ten Generational Kings, the sovereigns of the underworld.” Wukong said: “Quickly report your names, and I will spare you a beating.” The Ten Kings said: “We are King Qin’guang, King Chujiang, King Songdi, King Wuguan, King Yama, King Biancheng, King Taishan, King Dushi, King Biancheng, and King Zhuanlun.” Wukong said: “Since you have ascended the throne as kings and belong to the class of numinous, manifest, responsive beings, why do you not know right from wrong? This old Sun has cultivated immortality and completed the Way. I share the lifespan of Heaven, have risen beyond the Three Realms, and leaped outside the Five Elements. Why did you send men to seize me?” The Ten Kings said: “Immortal, calm your anger. There are many people throughout the world with the same names and surnames. Could the summoners of the dead have gone to the wrong person?” Wukong said: “Nonsense! Nonsense! As the saying goes: ‘The official messenger may err, and the clerk may err, but the person who comes does not err.’ Quickly bring out the registers of life and death for me to see!” Hearing this, the Ten Kings immediately invited him into the palace to inspect them.
Wukong held the Ruyi Jingu Bang and went straight up into the Senluo Palace, sitting in the center facing south. The Ten Kings ordered the judge in charge of the records to bring out the documents for examination. The judge did not dare delay. He went to the records office and brought out five or six registers of documents along with the ten-category registers. They examined them one by one: the naked creatures, hairy creatures, feathered creatures, shelled creatures, scaled creatures, and creatures with shells—none contained his name. They then looked among the monkeys. It turned out that monkeys resembled humans in form but were not entered among human names; they resembled naked creatures but did not dwell within the human realms; they resembled beasts that walked but were not subject to the qilin; they resembled flying creatures but were not governed by the phoenix. There was another register, which Wukong inspected himself. Only when they reached number one thousand three hundred and fifty under the character “soul” did they find the name Sun Wukong, with the entry: “Heaven-produced stone monkey, allotted lifespan of three hundred and forty-two years, to die a natural death.” Wukong said: “I do not remember how many years I was allotted. It is enough simply to erase the name. Bring me a brush.” The judge hurriedly brought him a brush thick with dark ink. Wukong took the register and, among the category of monkeys, crossed out every name that appeared. He tore the register down and said: “The account is settled, the account is settled. From this moment I submit to none of your jurisdiction.” He wielded his staff all the way out of the Netherworld Realm. The Ten Kings did not dare approach him. They all went to Cuiyun Palace to worship Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva and discuss submitting a memorial to Heaven. That need not be described further.
The Monkey King fought his way out of the city and suddenly tripped over a grass knot, taking a staggering fall. He abruptly awoke: it had all been a dream of Nanke. He had just begun stretching his waist when he heard the four strong generals and the assembled monkeys shouting: “Great King, how much wine did you drink? You have slept through the whole night and still have not awakened!” Wukong said: “Sleeping is a small matter. I dreamed that two men came here to summon me and brought me outside the city gate of the Netherworld Realm. Only then did I awaken. I displayed my supernatural powers and shouted all the way to the Senluo Palace, where I quarreled with the Ten Kings. I examined our registers of life and death, and wherever our names appeared, I crossed them all out. We no longer submit to those fellows’ jurisdiction.” The monkeys knocked their heads to the ground and offered thanks. From then onward, many of the mountain monkeys did not grow old, because they had no names in the underworld records.
After the Handsome Monkey King had finished recounting what had happened, the four strong generals informed the Demon Kings of the various caves, and they all came to offer congratulations. Within a few days, the six sworn brothers came again to pay their respects. Upon hearing why his name had been erased, they were all delighted, and every day they gathered to enjoy themselves. That matter need not be mentioned further.
It is said that the Great High God, the Jade Emperor, the Most High, the Supreme Emperor of the Mysterious Vault, the Great Heavenly Venerable, the Most Benevolent One, was one day seated in the Golden Watchtower Cloud Palace, the Lingxiao Palace, when the civil and military immortal officials had assembled for the morning court. Suddenly Perfected Qiu Hongji advanced and memorialized: “Your Majesty, outside the Palace of Manifest Illumination, the Dragon King of the Eastern Sea, Ao Guang, has submitted a memorial and awaits Your Celestial Majesty’s decree.” The Jade Emperor transmitted an edict: “Have him summoned.” Ao Guang was summoned before the Lingxiao Palace. After completing his obeisance, an immortal boy who introduced memorials took the document and presented it. The Jade Emperor read it from beginning to end. The memorial said:
“Your servant Ao Guang, the little dragon of the Eastern Sea in the Eastern Victory Divine Continent, subordinate to the Water Origin and dwelling in the lower realm, respectfully memorializes the Great Sagely Lord, the Mysterious Vault, the Most High Supreme Emperor:
“Recently, because there arose at Flower-Fruit Mountain and dwelt in Water-Curtain Cave a demon immortal named Sun Wukong, he bullied and oppressed your servant, forcibly sat in the water palace, demanded weapons, and displayed spells and might; demanding armor and garments, he flaunted ferocity and power. He frightened and injured the aquatic clans and terrified the turtles and alligators into flight. The Dragon of the Southern Sea trembled in fear, the Dragon of the Western Sea was wretched and miserable, and the Dragon of the Northern Sea bowed his head and submitted. Your servant Ao Guang bent his body and bowed, presenting the divine precious iron staff, the Phoenix-Winged Golden Crown, the Golden Chain Mail, and the Cloud-Treading Boots, sending him out with due ceremony. He continued to display his martial arts and supernatural powers, saying only: ‘What a clamor! What a clamor!’ Truly, he is invincible and exceedingly difficult to restrain. Your servant now memorializes this matter and humbly awaits Your Sacred Judgment. We earnestly beg that heavenly troops be sent to capture this demon, so that the seas and mountains may be clear and tranquil, and the lower realm may enjoy peace and security. Respectfully memorialized.”
After reading the memorial, the Sacred Emperor transmitted an edict: “Have the Dragon Deity return to the sea. I shall immediately dispatch a general to capture him.” The Old Dragon King bowed his head in thanks and departed.
Next, Celestial Master Ge Xianweng advanced and memorialized: “Your Majesty, King Qin’guang of the Netherworld has brought and presented a memorial from Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva, the Lord of the Netherworld.” A Jade Maiden who transmitted messages took the memorial and presented it. The Jade Emperor likewise read it from beginning to end. The memorial said:
“The realm of the Netherworld is the underworld office of Earth. Heaven has its gods, and Earth has its ghosts; yin and yang revolve. Birds are born, beasts die; male and female alternate. Life begets life and transformations unfold; females conceive and males are formed. This is the natural order and cannot be altered.
“Now there is a demon monkey, Sun Wukong, born of Heaven at Flower-Fruit Mountain and dwelling in Water-Curtain Cave. He indulges in evil and acts with violence, refusing summons and arrest. He employs supernatural powers and has beaten the ghost envoys of the Ninefold Darkness to death; relying on his strength, he has frightened and injured the merciful kings of the ten generations. He has greatly disturbed the Senluo Palace and forcibly erased his name. As a result, the monkey kind is without restraint, and the macaques and monkeys enjoy long lives; the cycles of rebirth and extinction are stilled, and none possess birth or death. This poor monk has prepared this memorial and ventured to offend the Celestial Majesty. I humbly beg that divine troops be dispatched to subdue this demon, restore order to yin and yang, and secure the eternal peace of the underworld. Respectfully memorialized.”
After reading the memorial, the Jade Emperor transmitted an edict: “Have the Netherworld King return to the underworld. I shall immediately dispatch a general to capture him.” King Qin’guang also bowed his head in thanks and departed.
The Great Heavenly Venerable summoned all the civil and military immortal officials and asked: “In what year was this demon monkey born? What was his origin? How has he attained such a degree of the Way?” Before he had finished speaking, Thousand-Mile Eye and Clairvoyant Ear stepped out of the ranks and said: “This monkey was a stone monkey born of Heaven three hundred years ago. At the time, we did not think him noteworthy and did not know where he had spent these years cultivating into an immortal, subduing dragons and tigers and forcibly erasing his name from the register of death.” The Jade Emperor said: “Which divine general shall descend to the lower realm and capture him?” Before he had finished speaking, the Star Lord Taibai Jinxing stepped from the ranks, knelt, and memorialized: “Most Holy One, among the Three Realms, any creature with nine apertures may cultivate immortality. This monkey, however, is a body formed by Heaven and Earth and a form conceived by the sun and moon. He too supports Heaven and treads the Earth, feeds on dew and eats mist. Now that he has cultivated into the Way of Immortality and possesses the power to subdue dragons and tigers, in what way is he different from a human? I, your servant, submit that Your Majesty might recall the compassionate grace of creation and issue an edict of pacification, summoning him to the upper realm and granting him an official position, large or small, entering his name into the celestial registers and binding him here. If he accepts the mandate of Heaven, he may later be promoted and rewarded; if he disobeys the mandate of Heaven, he may then be captured. Thus, first, we would not trouble the multitude by mobilizing an army, and second, we would receive an immortal through a proper method.” The Jade Emperor was greatly pleased and said: “We shall follow your memorial.” He then ordered the Star Official Wenqu to draft an edict and ordered Taibai Jinxing to pacify and recruit him.
Jinxing received the edict and went outside the Southern Heavenly Gate. Lowering his auspicious cloud, he went straight to Water-Curtain Cave on Flower-Fruit Mountain and said to the assembled little monkeys: “I am a celestial envoy sent by Heaven. I have an imperial edict here and request that your Great King ascend to Heaven. Quickly report this.” The little monkey outside the cave passed the message through layer after layer until it reached the depths of the cave-heaven: “Great King, outside there is an old man carrying a document under one arm. He says he is a celestial envoy sent from Heaven, bearing an imperial edict and inviting you to go there.” The Handsome Monkey King was delighted to hear this and said: “These past two days I have been thinking of going up to Heaven for a look, and now a celestial envoy has come to invite me.” He called: “Quickly invite him in.” The Monkey King hurriedly arranged his robes and crown and went outside to receive him. Jinxing entered directly to the center, stood facing south, and said: “I am Taibai Jinxing of the Western Heavens. I have received the Jade Emperor’s edict of pacification and descended to invite you to Heaven to receive enrollment in the register of immortals.” Wukong laughed and said: “Many thanks for the Old Star’s visit.” He ordered the little ones to prepare a banquet and entertain him. Jinxing said: “The imperial edict is upon me, so I dare not remain long. I invite the Great King to come with me at once. After your honorable appointment, we may leisurely converse.” Wukong said: “I am grateful for your visit. I shall not detain you, I shall not detain you.” He then summoned the four strong generals and instructed them: “Carefully continue teaching and drilling our sons and grandsons. I shall go to Heaven and inspect the road; perhaps I can bring you up to live there with me.” The four strong generals agreed.
The Monkey King and Jinxing rose upon their clouds and ascended into the high empyrean. Indeed:
He rises to the rank of a superior celestial immortal,
His name entered among the cloud ranks of the jeweled registers.
In the end, what sort of office and title was he granted? Let the explanation be heard in the next chapter.
Chapter Two: Wukong Comprehends the True Marvelous Principle of Bodhi; the Demon Is Severed and He Returns to the Source, Joining with the Original Spirit