OriginChapter 6
Not to speak of the Heavenly Gods surrounding him, the Great Sage went to rest.
It is told that the Bodhisattva Guanshiyin, the Greatly Compassionate and Greatly Merciful, the Savior from Suffering and Distress, of the South Sea’s Mount Potalaka on Mount Putuo, after the Queen Mother invited her to attend the Peach Banquet, ascended together with her first disciple, the Wanderer Hui’an, to the Precious Pavilion and Jasper Pool. There they found everything desolate and bleak, with the banquet tables in disarray and the remnants of the feast scattered about. Though several celestial immortals were present, none took their seats; all were there in noisy confusion, discussing what had happened. After the Bodhisattva had exchanged greetings with the assembled immortals, they told her all about the preceding events.
The Bodhisattva said, “Since there has been no grand banquet and no wine has been passed around, you may follow this poor monk to see the Jade Emperor.”
The immortals gladly followed her. When they reached the front of the Hall of Penetrating Brightness, the Four Great Heavenly Teachers, the Barefoot Immortal, and the others were already there. They welcomed the Bodhisattva and immediately reported that the Jade Emperor was troubled, that the Heavenly troops had been dispatched, and that they had not yet returned from capturing the monster.
The Bodhisattva said, “I wish to see the Jade Emperor. Pray, announce me.”
The Heavenly Teacher Qiu Hongji immediately entered the Hall of the Golden Mists and Jade Brilliance and reported that she had arrived, whereupon the Bodhisattva was summoned inside. At that time, the Supreme Venerable Lord Lao was above, and the Queen Mother was behind him.
The Bodhisattva led the assembled immortals inside. After paying their respects to the Jade Emperor, they greeted Lord Lao and the Queen Mother as well, and all sat down. She then asked, “What became of the grand Peach Banquet?”
The Jade Emperor said, “Every year we invite the immortals, and everyone rejoices together. This year, however, the demon monkey caused such disorder that the invitation was entirely in vain.”
The Bodhisattva said, “Where did this demon monkey come from?”
The Jade Emperor said, “The demon monkey was born from a stone egg on Flower-Fruit Mountain in the Aolai Kingdom of the Eastern Continent of Superior Divinity. At the moment of his birth, his eyes emitted golden light that shot upward and struck the Palace of the Dipper. At first we paid it no mind. Later he became a spirit, subdued dragons and tigers, and erased his name from the register of the dead. The Dragon Kings and the Kings of Hell duly submitted memorials. I wished to capture him, but the Star Lord Venus of Great Luminosity submitted a memorial, saying: ‘Among the Three Realms, any creature possessing the nine apertures may become an immortal.’ I therefore summoned him to Heaven to educate and transform him, and appointed him Bimawen, Protector of the Imperial Horse Office.
“That fellow thought the office too small and rebelled against the Heavenly Palace. I immediately dispatched Heavenly King Li and Prince Nezha to subdue him. Then I issued another decree to pacify him, summoned him to Heaven, and appointed him the Great Sage Equaling Heaven. He held office but received no stipend. Since he had nothing to do, he wandered east and west. Fearing that he might cause further trouble, I put him in charge of the Peach Garden. But he again disobeyed the laws, stealing and eating all the great peaches from the old trees.
“When the banquet was arranged, he was an official without a stipend and had not been invited. He therefore devised a scheme to deceive the Barefoot Immortal, then transformed himself into that immortal’s appearance and entered the banquet. He stole and ate all the celestial delicacies and celestial wine, then stole a quantity of Lord Lao’s elixirs and some imperial wine, taking them back to his mountain to celebrate with the monkeys. This is why I am troubled and have dispatched one hundred thousand Heavenly troops, with a net of Heaven and Earth, to capture him. They have not reported back today, and I do not know whether they have won or lost.”
When the Bodhisattva heard this, she immediately instructed the Wanderer Hui’an: “Go quickly down from Heaven to Flower-Fruit Mountain and investigate the military situation. If you encounter the enemy, render what aid you can. You must return with a truthful report.”
The Wanderer Hui’an straightened his robes, took an iron staff, mounted a cloud, and left the palace, proceeding directly to the mountain. He saw the net of Heaven and Earth spread in dense layers. At each camp gate, soldiers rang bells and shouted the countersigns, surrounding the mountain so tightly that not even water could pass through.
Hui’an halted and called out, “Heavenly soldier guarding the camp gate, pray report this: I am Mu Zha, the second son of Heavenly King Li—Hui’an, the first disciple of Guanyin of the South Sea. I have come especially to investigate the military situation.”
The Five Sacred Mountains’ divine soldiers in the camp immediately carried the message within the main gate. The Void Sun Rat, the Pleiades Sun Rooster, the Star Sun Horse, and the Chamber Sun Rabbit soon conveyed it to the central command tent. Heavenly King Li lowered his command pennant and ordered the net of Heaven and Earth opened to let him in.
It was just becoming light in the east. Hui’an followed the pennant inside and paid his respects to the Four Great Heavenly Kings and Heavenly King Li. When the formalities were complete, Heavenly King Li said, “My son, from where have you come?”
Hui’an said, “This foolish son accompanied the Bodhisattva to the Peach Banquet. When the Bodhisattva saw the banquet desolate and the Jasper Pool deserted, she led the assembled immortals and me to see the Jade Emperor. The Jade Emperor fully recounted how Father and the others had descended below to capture the demon monkey. Since no report had come in for a whole day and the victory or defeat was unknown, the Bodhisattva ordered me to come here and investigate the truth.”
Heavenly King Li said, “Yesterday we arrived and established camp. We had the Nine Luminaries challenge him, but that fellow displayed great supernatural powers, and the Nine Luminaries all fled back defeated. Later we personally led troops against him, and he likewise arrayed his forces. Our one hundred thousand Heavenly troops fought him in confusion until evening, when he used a body-division technique to defeat us and withdraw. When we gathered our troops and inspected the field, we had captured only wolves, insects, tigers, leopards, and the like; we had not caught even half a demon monkey. We have yet to engage him today.”
Before he could say more, someone came to report from outside the main gate: “The Great Sage has led a troop of monkey spirits outside and is calling for battle.”
The Four Great Heavenly Kings, Heavenly King Li, and the prince were discussing sending out troops when Mu Zha said, “Father, the Bodhisattva instructed this foolish son to come down and gather news, saying that if battle were joined, I might render some assistance. I now wish to go and see what sort of Great Sage he is.”
The Heavenly King said, “My son, you have cultivated with the Bodhisattva for these several years, so surely you have acquired some supernatural powers. Be very careful.”
The good prince whirled his iron staff in both hands, tightened his embroidered robe, sprang out through the main gate, and shouted loudly, “Which one is the Great Sage Equaling Heaven?”
The Great Sage raised his As-You-Will Cudgel and answered, “Your old grandsire is he. Who are you, that you dare question me?”
Mu Zha said, “I am Mu Cha, the second prince of Heavenly King Li. I now serve as a disciple before the precious seat of Guanyin Bodhisattva, protecting the Dharma. My Dharma name is Hui’an.”
The Great Sage said, “You are not cultivating in the South Sea. What have you come here to do?”
Mu Zha said, “My master sent me to investigate the military situation. Seeing how recklessly insolent you are, I have come especially to capture you.”
The Great Sage said, “You dare utter such boastful words? Do not run away—take this cudgel blow from your old grandsire!”
Mu Zha showed no fear at all and brought his iron staff up to meet it. The two stood halfway up the mountain, outside the main gate, and fought a splendid battle:
Though staff met staff, their irons were not the same;
Though weapons crossed weapons, their wielders were not the same.
One was the Great Sage, a Supreme Unity Loose Immortal;
The other was the True Primordial Dragon, Guanyin’s disciple.
The solid-iron staff had been forged beneath a thousand hammers,
With the divine arts of the Six Dings and Six Jiās at work.
The As-You-Will Cudgel was fixed in the River of Heaven,
A sea-calming divine treasure of mighty power.
When the two met, they found true opponents;
Their exchanges and techniques were without end.
One’s covert staff strikes were fierce by the myriad,
Circling the waist and piercing like a cord, swift as the wind.
The other’s crossing spears and staffs left no opening,
Blocking left and parrying right, allowing no passage.
On one side the banners flashed and glittered;
On the other the alligator drums thundered.
Ten thousand Heavenly generals surrounded them in rings,
While the demon monkeys clustered thickly around their cave.
Strange mist and gloomy clouds spread across the earth;
The baleful smoke and murderous aura shot toward Heaven’s palace.
Yesterday’s confused battle had been fierce enough,
But today’s struggle was fiercer still.
How admirable the Monkey King’s true ability:
Mu Zha was defeated once more and escaped alive.
The Great Sage and Hui’an fought for fifty or sixty bouts. Hui’an’s arms grew numb and sore, and he could no longer withstand his opponent. He made a feint, turned, and fled from the field. The Great Sage also recalled his monkey soldiers and stationed them outside the cave entrance.
At the Heavenly King’s camp gate, soldiers of every rank received the prince and opened a broad passage for him. He went directly inside the main gate and faced the Four Heavenly Kings, Li the Pagoda-Bearer, and Nezha, gasping angrily until his breath had steadied.
“A fine Great Sage! A fine Great Sage! His supernatural powers are truly immense. Your son could not defeat him and has been beaten back to camp!”
When Heavenly King Li saw this, his heart trembled. He immediately ordered a memorial requesting aid to be written, then sent the Powerful Ghost King and Prince Mu Zha to Heaven to submit it.
The two did not dare delay. They broke through the net of Heaven and Earth and rode auspicious clouds and radiant mists. In an instant they reached the Hall of Penetrating Brightness, where they met the Four Great Heavenly Teachers. They were led to the Hall of the Golden Mists and Jade Brilliance and presented the memorial. Hui’an again saw the Bodhisattva and saluted her.
The Bodhisattva said, “What did you learn?”
Hui’an said, “When I first received your command, I went to Flower-Fruit Mountain and had the gate in the net of Heaven and Earth opened. I saw my father and explained the purpose of my master’s command. Father said: ‘Yesterday we fought the Monkey King once, but captured only tigers, leopards, lions, elephants, and the like; we did not capture a single monkey spirit.’ While we were speaking, he again demanded battle. This disciple fought him with an iron staff for fifty or sixty bouts but could not win, and so fled back to camp. For that reason Father sent the Powerful Ghost King and me to Heaven to request aid.”
The Bodhisattva lowered her head and pondered.
Meanwhile, the Jade Emperor opened the memorial. Seeing the request for aid, he laughed and said, “That wretched monkey spirit—how great can his abilities be, that he dares resist one hundred thousand Heavenly troops? And now Heavenly King Li comes to request reinforcements. Which divine troops shall we send to aid him?”
Before he had finished, Guanyin pressed her palms together and submitted: “Your Majesty, I can recommend one divine being who will capture this monkey.”
The Jade Emperor said, “Which divine being do you recommend?”
The Bodhisattva said, “Your Majesty’s nephew, the Illustrious and Holy Erlang Zhenjun, currently resides at the Mouth of the Irrigated River in Guan Prefecture and receives incense offerings from the lands below. In former days he personally slew the Six Monsters. He also has the Plum Mountain brothers and twelve hundred grass-headed gods before his tent. His supernatural powers are immense. Unfortunately, he obeys commands but not summonses. Your Majesty may issue an order mobilizing troops and have him lend his strength. Then he can capture the monkey.”
Hearing this, the Jade Emperor immediately issued an order to mobilize troops and sent the Powerful Ghost King to deliver it.
The Ghost King received the decree, mounted a cloud, and proceeded directly to the Mouth of the Irrigated River. In less than half an hour he reached the Zhenjun’s temple. The gatekeeping ghost judge had already reported inside: “A Heavenly envoy is outside, bearing a decree.”
Erlang immediately went out with all his brothers to receive the decree. They burned incense and opened it for reading. The decree said:
The demon monkey of Flower-Fruit Mountain, the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, has caused disorder. He stole peaches, wine, and elixirs from the palace, disrupted the Peach Banquet, and was surrounded at the mountain by one hundred thousand Heavenly troops and eighteen formations of the net of Heaven and Earth for capture. They have not yet achieved victory. We now specially mobilize Our worthy nephew and his sworn brothers to proceed at once to Flower-Fruit Mountain and lend their strength in exterminating him. Upon success, he shall receive high promotion and rich reward.
The Zhenjun was delighted and said, “Heavenly envoy, return at once. I shall go immediately to draw my blade and lend assistance.”
The Ghost King returned to report; that need not be discussed further.
The Zhenjun then summoned the six Plum Mountain brothers—Kang, Zhang, Yao, and Li, the four Commandant Taiweis, and Guo Shen and Zhi Jian, the two generals—and gathered them before the hall.
“The Jade Emperor has just mobilized us to go to Flower-Fruit Mountain and capture the demon monkey. Let us go together.”
All the brothers gladly agreed. He then selected the divine troops of his own command, mounted an eagle and led the hounds, fitted the crossbows and strung the bows, and rode a wild wind. In an instant they had crossed the Eastern Ocean and reached Flower-Fruit Mountain.
Seeing the net of Heaven and Earth spread in dense layers, blocking their advance, they called out, “Listen, divine generals of the net of Heaven and Earth! We are the Illustrious and Holy Erlang Zhenjun, mobilized here by the Jade Emperor to capture the demon monkey. Quickly open the camp gate and let us pass.”
The message was relayed through layer after layer of the divine ranks. The Four Great Heavenly Kings and Heavenly King Li all came out through the main gate to welcome them. After they had exchanged greetings, they inquired about the victory and defeat. The Heavenly King fully recounted all that had happened.
The Zhenjun laughed and said, “Since the Lesser Sage has come here, I must fight him in transformations. Worthy commanders, do not stretch the net of Heaven and Earth over the top; keep it tight only on the four sides, and let me contend with him. If I lose to him, you need not assist me, for I have my brothers to support me. If I defeat him, you need not bind him, for my brothers will take care of that. I ask only that Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King and I use the demon-reflecting mirror together, standing in the air. If he should suddenly be defeated and flee elsewhere, you must illuminate him clearly with it and not let him escape.”
The Heavenly Kings each took their positions at one of the four quarters, and the Heavenly troops arranged themselves in formation.
The Zhenjun led the four Taiweis and the two generals—making seven brothers in all—out of the camp to issue a challenge. He instructed the generals to guard the camp closely and bring in all the eagles and hounds. The grass-headed gods received the command.
The Zhenjun reached the outside of the Water-Curtain Cave and saw a troop of monkeys drawn up in perfect order, arranged in a Coiled Dragon formation. In the central command stood a banner bearing the four characters “Great Sage Equaling Heaven.”
The Zhenjun said, “How can that reckless demon possibly be worthy of the title Equaling Heaven?”
The sixth Plum Mountain brother said, “Enough praise. Let us go and issue the challenge.”
The little monkey at the camp entrance saw the Zhenjun and hurried to report. The Monkey King immediately drew his Golden-Banded Staff, donned his golden armor, stepped into his Cloud-Treading Boots, adjusted his Purple-Gold Crown, and sprang out of the camp gate. He opened his eyes wide and looked carefully. The Zhenjun’s features were indeed clear and extraordinary, and his attire was handsome and elegant. Truly he was:
His bearing was clear and handsome, his features dignified;
His ears hung to his shoulders, and his eyes shone with light.
Upon his head he wore a Three-Mountain Flying-Phoenix cap;
His body was clad in a single robe of pale goose-yellow.
Golden-thread boots set off coiled-dragon socks;
A jade belt with clustered flowers adorned with the Eight Treasures.
At his waist hung a crescent-shaped pellet bow;
In his hand he held a three-pointed, double-edged spear.
With an ax he had split Peach Mountain and rescued his mother;
With pellets he had struck down the two phoenixes of Chanluo.
His strength had slain the Eight Monsters, and his fame spread far;
In loyalty he had formed the Seven Sages of Plum Mountain.
Proud at heart, he acknowledged no kinship with the Imperial House;
Arrogant by nature, he had returned to the gods and dwelt at the Irrigated River.
The Sacred One of Red Citadel, Illustrious and Merciful,
Manifesting without limit, was titled Erlang.
When the Great Sage saw him, he raised his Golden-Banded Staff with a laughing smile and shouted, “What petty general are you, that you dare come here so boldly to challenge me?”
The Zhenjun shouted, “You wretch, blind and without eyes—do you not recognize me? I am the Jade Emperor’s nephew, the titled King Zhaohui Lingxian, Erlang. By imperial command I have come here to capture you, the Bimawen macaque who rebelled against the Heavenly Palace. Do you still not know whether you will live or die?”
The Great Sage said, “I remember that in former years the Jade Emperor’s younger sister, having indulged in mortal passion, descended to the world below and married Yang Jun, bearing a son who split Peach Mountain with an ax. Was that you? I would like to curse you a few times, but unfortunately we have no grievance between us. I would strike you with one blow, but it would be a pity to take your life. Young sir, hurry back and call out the Four Great Heavenly Kings.”
Hearing this, the Zhenjun grew furious and said, “Reckless monkey! Do not be insolent. Take this blade!”
The Great Sage turned aside and avoided it, then swiftly raised the Golden-Banded Staff and struck back. The two fought a furious battle:
Zhaohui Erlang Spirit,
The Great Sage Equaling Heaven’s grandson.
One was the proud and overconfident Handsome Monkey King;
The other, a stranger of a face, was a true pillar who could subdue him.
When they first met, each was filled with the joy of combat;
Neither had ever known the other’s shallows or depths.
Only today did they learn each other’s lightness and weight.
The iron staff raced like a flying dragon;
The divine blade danced like a phoenix.
Left they blocked, right they attacked;
Front they met, behind they reflected.
On one side the six Plum Mountain brothers lent their might;
On the other, Ma and Liu, the four commanders, transmitted the military orders.
They shook banners and beat drums, each with a single heart;
Shouts and gongs resounded, adding zest to the battle.
The two steel weapons seized every opening,
Going and coming without the breadth of a hair between them.
The Golden-Banded Staff was a treasure from the sea,
Its transformations and soaring flight able to secure victory.
Yet should the body move too slowly and fate decree an end,
A single misstep would bring ruin.
The Zhenjun and the Great Sage fought for more than three hundred bouts without any sign of victory or defeat. Then the Zhenjun gathered his divine might and, shaking his body, transformed until he stood ten thousand zhang tall. In his two hands he raised the three-pointed, double-edged divine blade. He resembled a peak atop Mount Hua: his face blue, his fangs protruding, his hair vermilion-red. Fierce and savage, he brought the blade straight down upon the Great Sage’s head.
The Great Sage likewise employed supernatural powers and transformed until his body was the same size as Erlang’s, with the same face and features. He raised the As-You-Will Golden-Banded Staff, which became like the pillar supporting Heaven atop Mount Kunlun, and used it to withstand Erlang Spirit.
Ma and Liu, the marshals, were terrified and trembling, unable to shake their banners. Beng and Ba, the two generals, were weak with fear and could not wield their blades and swords.
At this moment Kang, Zhang, Yao, Li, Guo Shen, and Zhi Jian transmitted the order and released the grass-headed gods. Outside the Water-Curtain Cave they set the eagles and hounds loose, fitted crossbows and strung bows, and together launched a surprise attack. Alas, they scattered the four mighty generals of the demon monkeys and captured two or three thousand spirits and monsters. The monkeys flung away their halberds and cast off their armor; they abandoned swords and threw down spears. Some ran, some shouted, some fled up the mountain, and some returned to the cave. It was like night cats startling roosting birds, scattering like stars across the sky. The brothers’ victory need not be described.
As the Zhenjun and the Great Sage were transformed into bodies of Dharma and Heaven and Earth and were battling, the Great Sage suddenly saw the demon monkeys in his own camp scattering in alarm. He became anxious, withdrew his manifestation, drew back his staff, and fled.
Seeing him retreat, the Zhenjun strode after him and called, “Where do you think you are going? Submit at once, and I will spare your life.”
The Great Sage had no desire to continue fighting and simply ran. As he neared the cave entrance, he ran straight into the four Commandant Taiweis—Kang, Zhang, Yao, and Li—and the two generals, Guo Shen and Zhi Jian, who together led their men to block the way.
“Reckless monkey! Where are you going?”
The Great Sage was thrown into confusion. He pinched the Golden-Banded Staff until it became an embroidery needle and hid it inside his ear. Then he shook his body and transformed into a sparrow, flying to perch atop a tree.
The six brothers searched frantically before and behind but could not find him. Together they shouted, “The monkey spirit has escaped! The monkey spirit has escaped!”
While they were shouting, the Zhenjun arrived and asked, “Brothers, where did you chase him? How did he vanish?”
The divine troops said, “We had just surrounded him here, and then he disappeared.”
Erlang opened his phoenix eyes wide and looked around. He saw that the Great Sage had transformed into a sparrow perched on the tree. He withdrew his manifestation, set aside his divine blade, and removed his pellet bow. Then he shook his body and transformed into a hawk. Spreading his wings, he flew forward to strike.
Seeing this, the Great Sage gave a whoosh of his wings and flew upward, transforming into a great cormorant that soared into the heavens.
When the Zhenjun saw this, he swiftly shook his feathers and transformed into a great sea crane, boring up into the clouds to seize him with its beak.
The Great Sage lowered his body and entered a ravine, where he transformed into a fish and slipped into the water.
The Zhenjun pursued him to the edge of the ravine but saw no trace. He thought to himself, “That macaque must have gone beneath the water. He will certainly have transformed into something like a fish or shrimp. Let me transform again and capture him.”
He transformed into an osprey and drifted upon the waves downstream, waiting for a while.
The Great Sage, in the form of a fish, was swimming with the current when he suddenly saw a bird in flight. It resembled a green hawk, but its feathers were not green; it resembled an egret, but had no crest upon its head; it resembled an old stork, but its legs were not red.
“I suppose Erlang has transformed and is waiting for me!”
He swiftly turned his head, made a flourish, and swam away.
The Zhenjun saw him and said, “A fish making such a flourish: it resembles a carp, but its tail is not red; it resembles a mandarin fish, but its patterned scales are absent; it resembles a black fish, but there is no star upon its head; it resembles a bream, but there are no needles upon its gills. Why did it turn away when it saw me? It must be that monkey in disguise.”
He caught up and pecked at it with a sudden thrust of his beak.
The Great Sage sprang out of the water and transformed into a water snake. He swam toward the bank and slipped into the grass.
The Zhenjun had failed to seize him. Seeing a snake shoot away amid the sound of the water, he recognized it as the Great Sage. He quickly turned and transformed into a gray crane with a vermilion embroidered crest. Extending its long beak, resembling a pair of sharp-pointed iron pincers, it came directly to eat the water snake.
The water snake leaped once more and transformed into a flower-bird, a dull and foolish creature, standing on a reed marsh.
When the Zhenjun saw that he had transformed into something so lowly—the flower-bird being the most base and lewd of birds, indiscriminately mating with phoenixes, luan, hawks, and crows—he therefore did not approach him. He revealed his original form, went over, took up his pellet bow, drew it to the full, and shot him with a pellet, striking him and sending him tumbling.
The Great Sage seized the opportunity to roll down the mountain cliff. There he hid and transformed again, becoming a small earth-god temple. Its mouth was opened wide like a temple gate; its teeth became the leaves of the gate; its tongue became a Bodhisattva; its eyes became the lattice windows. Only his tail was difficult to conceal. He raised it behind him and transformed it into a flagpole.
The Zhenjun reached the foot of the cliff but could not find the flower-bird he had struck down. There was only a small temple. He quickly opened his phoenix eyes and examined it closely. Seeing the flagpole standing behind it, he laughed and said, “So it is this macaque. Now he is trying to deceive me again. I have seen temples before, but never one with a flagpole standing behind it. This is certainly that beast playing tricks. If he deceives me into entering, he will bite me in one mouthful. How could I go in? I will first punch the window lattice and then kick the gate leaves.”
The Great Sage heard this and was alarmed.
“Ruthless, ruthless! The gate leaves are my teeth, and the window lattice is my eyes. If he breaks my teeth and punches out my eyes, what shall I do?”
With a sudden tiger-leap, he sprang into the air and vanished.
The Zhenjun chased wildly in every direction. Just then the four Taiweis and the two generals arrived together and asked, “Elder brother, have you captured the Great Sage?”
The Zhenjun laughed and said, “That monkey had just transformed into a temple to deceive me. I was about to punch his window lattice and kick his gate leaves when he made a leap and vanished without a trace. Strange, strange!”
All were astonished and looked in every direction, but no form or shadow could be seen.
The Zhenjun said, “Brothers, remain here to guard and patrol. I will go up and search for him.”
He hurriedly leapt onto a cloud and rose into midair. There he saw Heavenly King Li holding the demon-reflecting mirror high, with Nezha standing beside him in the clouds.
The Zhenjun said, “Heavenly King, have you seen the Monkey King?”
The Heavenly King said, “He has not come up. I have been illuminating him here with the mirror.”
The Zhenjun finished recounting how they had wagered over transformations, employed supernatural powers, and captured the monkey troops. Then he added, “He transformed into a temple. Just as I was about to strike it, he escaped.”
Hearing this, Heavenly King Li once again turned the demon-reflecting mirror in all four directions. He laughed aloud and said, “Zhenjun, go quickly, go quickly! That monkey used a concealment technique, escaped from the camp’s encirclement, and has gone toward your Mouth of the Irrigated River.”
When Erlang heard this, he immediately took up his divine blade and returned to the Mouth of the Irrigated River in pursuit.
Meanwhile, the Great Sage had already reached the Mouth of the Irrigated River. He shook his body and transformed into the appearance of Lord Erlang. Lowering his cloud, he went directly into the temple.
The ghost judges could not recognize him and one after another kowtowed and welcomed him. He sat in the center and inspected the incense offerings. He saw the sacrificial animals returned by Li Hu after his worship, the documents in which Zhang Long had promised to pray for blessings, the written petition in which Zhao Jia sought a son, and the good vow in which Qian Bing reported his illness.
As he was examining these, someone reported, “Another Lord has arrived.”
The ghost judges hurriedly looked out, and every one of them was startled.
The Zhenjun, however, asked, “Has some Great Sage Equaling Heaven just come here?”
The ghost judges said, “We have not seen any Great Sage. There is only one Lord inside, inspecting the offerings.”
The Zhenjun crashed through the door. When the Great Sage saw him, he revealed his true form and said, “Young sir, there is no need to shout. This temple already bears the surname Sun.”
The Zhenjun immediately raised his three-pointed, double-edged divine blade and slashed straight at his face.
The Monkey King used a body technique to evade the divine blade. He drew out the embroidery needle, gave it a shake, and enlarged it to the thickness of a bowl. Advancing, he struck back face-to-face.
The two shouted and brawled their way out of the temple gate. Half hidden in mist and half concealed in clouds, they fought as they went, eventually battling back to Flower-Fruit Mountain.
The Four Great Heavenly Kings and the others were thrown into a panic and tightened their precautions even further. Commandant Taiweis Kang and Zhang and the others met the Zhenjun, joining hearts and exerting all their strength to surround the Handsome Monkey King. This need not be discussed further.
It is told that after the Powerful Ghost King had mobilized the Zhenjun and the six brothers to lead troops in capturing the demon, he returned to Heaven to report.
The Jade Emperor, Guanyin Bodhisattva, the Queen Mother, and the assembled immortal ministers were speaking in the Hall of the Golden Mists and Jade Brilliance.
“Since Erlang has already gone to battle, why has no report come back after a whole day?”
Guanyin pressed her palms together and said, “I ask Your Majesty and the Dao Ancestor to accompany this poor monk outside the Southern Heavenly Gate, that we may see for ourselves how the matter truly stands.”
The Jade Emperor said, “Your words are reasonable.”
He immediately ordered his carriage prepared and went with the Dao Ancestor, Guanyin, the Queen Mother, and the assembled immortal ministers to the Southern Heavenly Gate. Several Heavenly soldiers and strongmen were already there to receive them. The gate was opened, and they looked into the distance.
They saw the Heavenly soldiers spread nets and surround the mountain on all four sides. Heavenly King Li and Nezha held up the demon-reflecting mirror and stood in the air. The Zhenjun had surrounded the Great Sage in the center, and the two were engaged in a furious contest of transformations.
The Bodhisattva opened her mouth and said to Lord Lao, “What do you think of the Erlang Spirit whom I recommended? He truly possesses supernatural powers and has already trapped the Great Sage, but has not yet captured him. I shall now render him some assistance. He will certainly seize him.”
Lord Lao said, “What weapon will the Bodhisattva use? How will you assist him?”
The Bodhisattva said, “I will cast down my Pure Vase and Willow Branch. I shall strike the monkey on the head. Even if it cannot kill him, it will at least make him fall, allowing the Lesser Sage Erlang to capture him.”
Lord Lao said, “Your vase is made of porcelain. It will be well if it strikes him, but if it misses his head and collides with his iron staff, will it not shatter? Do not act yet. Let this old lord assist him instead.”
The Bodhisattva said, “What weapon do you possess?”
Lord Lao said, “I have one, I have one, I have one.”
He rolled up his sleeve, took a ring from his left arm, and said, “This weapon was forged from kun steel and refined by repeated smelting. I imbued it with an elixir of immortality, nurturing a body filled with numinous energy. It is skilled in transformations, impervious to water and fire, and able to entrap all things. It is called the ‘Diamond Cutter,’ and is also called the ‘Diamond Lasso.’ When I passed through Hangu Pass and transformed the Hu into a Buddha, I owed much to it. It is most useful for protecting oneself at any time. Let me cast it down and strike him once.”
Having said this, he flung it down from above the Heavenly Gate. It spun and whirled as it fell directly into the camp at Flower-Fruit Mountain, striking the Monkey King squarely upon the head.
The Monkey King was wholly occupied fighting the Seven Sages and did not know that the weapon had fallen from Heaven. It struck his crown, and he could not keep his footing; he fell. He crawled up and ran, but Erlang’s slender hound caught him, bit him on the calf, and pulled him down once more.
He lay sprawled on the ground and cursed, “You accursed beast! Why do you not go bother your master, instead of coming here to bite your old grandsire?”
He hurriedly rolled over but could not rise. The Seven Sages rushed upon him and pinned him down. They bound him with ropes and pierced his pipa bones with hooked blades, so that he could no longer transform.
Lord Lao retrieved the Diamond Cutter and invited the Jade Emperor, Guanyin, the Queen Mother, and all the immortals to return to the Hall of the Golden Mists and Jade Brilliance.
Below, the Four Great Heavenly Kings, Heavenly King Li, and all the other gods recalled their troops and dismantled the camps. They approached the Lesser Sage to congratulate him, all saying, “This is the Lesser Sage’s achievement.”
The Lesser Sage said, “This is the vast blessing of the Heavenly Venerable and the authority of the assembled gods. What merit is there in me?”
Kang, Zhang, Yao, and Li said, “Elder brother, there is no need to say more. Let us escort this wretch up to Heaven to see the Jade Emperor and request instructions for his disposition.”
The Zhenjun said, “Worthy younger brothers, you have not received Heavenly registers and therefore may not appear before the Jade Emperor. Have Heavenly soldiers escort him. I shall go to Heaven with the Heavenly King and the others to deliver our report. You lead the troops in searching the mountain. After you have searched it clean, return to the Mouth of the Irrigated River. When I have requested our rewards and secured our merits, I shall return and celebrate with you.”
The four Taiweis and two generals agreed and accepted his instructions.
The Zhenjun and the others then mounted their clouds, singing victory songs as they triumphantly proceeded toward Heaven. Before long they reached the outside of the Hall of Penetrating Brightness.
The Heavenly Teachers submitted their report: “The Four Great Heavenly Kings and the others have captured the demon monkey, the Great Sage Equaling Heaven. They have come here to await Your Majesty’s summons.”
The Jade Emperor issued an order, commanding the Powerful Ghost King, the Heavenly soldiers, and the others to escort the prisoner to the Execution Platform for Slaying Demons, where this wretch was to have his body chopped to pieces.
Alas! It is precisely as the verse says:
For deceiving Heaven and Earth, today he suffers the executioner’s law;
The hero’s spirit and bearing must now, for a time, come to an end.
In the end, what became of the Monkey King’s life? Listen to the explanation in the next chapter.
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Chapter Five: The Great Sage Disrupts the Peach Banquet, Steals the Elixir, and Rebels Against the Heavenly Palace; the Various Gods Capture the Monster
Journey to the West / Chapter 006
Chapter Seven: The Great Sage Escapes from the Eight-Trigram Furnace; the Mind-Monkey Is Subdued Beneath Five-Element Mountain
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