OriginChapter 22
It is said that Tang Sanzang and his two disciples, having escaped their ordeal, continued on their way. Before many days had passed, they crossed Yellow Wind Ridge, and beyond it to the west was a stretch of level, open land. Time passed swiftly; summer ended and autumn came, and they saw cold cicadas crying among withered willows, while the Great Fire flowed toward the west. As they traveled, they suddenly saw a great body of water, its wild torrents surging and its muddy waves billowing. Sanzang hurriedly called from horseback, “Disciples, look at how broad and violent the waters ahead are. Why do we not see any boats traveling upon them? How shall we cross?” Bajie, seeing it, said, “Indeed, the torrents are raging, and there is no boat by which to cross.”
The Pilgrim leaped into the air, raised his hand to shade his eyes, and looked. He too was startled and said, “Master, this truly is difficult, truly difficult. As for this river, if Old Sun were to cross it, I would only need to twist my waist once, and I would be over it. But for you, Master, it is genuinely a thousandfold difficult to cross, and ten thousand years difficult to travel.”
Sanzang said, “As I look from here, it seems boundless. Just how broad is it, in truth?”
The Pilgrim said, “It extends for about eight hundred li.”
Bajie said, “Brother, how did you determine its distance?”
The Pilgrim said, “I will not conceal it from you, worthy younger brother. With these eyes of Old Sun’s, in broad daylight I can often see the good and ill fortune upon roads a thousand li away. Just now, looking from the air, I could not tell how far this river extended upstream and downstream, but I saw that the stretch before us was a full eight hundred li.”
The Elder was full of worry and distress. He turned his horse around, and suddenly saw a stone stele on the bank. The three of them came together to look. Upon it were three seal-script characters: “Flowing Sands River.” On its face were four small lines of regular script:
Eight hundred li the realm of flowing sands,
Three thousand fathoms the depth of the Weak Water.
A goose feather cannot float upon it,
A reed flower, once placed, will sink to the bottom.
The master and disciples were looking at the inscription when they heard the waves surge like mountains and the billows roll like ridges. From the middle of the river, an ugly and ferocious demon suddenly bored forth:
A head of red-flaming hair, wild and unkempt,
Two round eyes shining bright as lamps.
Neither black nor green, but a blue-indigo face,
A voice like thunder, like the roar of an old dragon.
Upon his body he wore a cloak of goose-yellow,
Around his waist was bound a double-coiled white cane.
Beneath his neck hung nine skulls,
In his hand he held a precious staff, fierce and imposing.
With a whirlwind the monster rushed up onto the bank and made straight for Tang Sanzang. The Pilgrim hurriedly embraced his master, bore him up to the high bank, and turned to flee. Bajie set down his luggage, drew his nine-toothed rake, and thrust it toward the demon. The monster raised his precious staff to block it. The two of them displayed their heroism upon the bank of the Flowing Sands River. It was a fine battle:
The nine-toothed rake, the demon-subduing staff—
Two men opposed upon the riverbank.
One was the Grand Marshal Tianpeng,
The other the banished Curtain-Raising General.
In former years they had met in the Numinous Empyrean;
Today they contended, vying in ferocity and strength.
One rake probed like the claws of a dragon,
The other staff parried like the tusks of a grinding elephant.
They spread wide in the great four-flat stance,
They bored in, meeting the wind with crossed blows.
One grasped wildly at head and face,
The other struck without confusion, without an empty stroke.
One was the man-eating demon who had long occupied the realm of flowing sands,
The other was the cultivation general who upheld the teachings and practiced the Way.
The two went back and forth, fighting for twenty rounds without victory or defeat.
The Great Sage protected Tang Sanzang, leading the horse and standing guard over the luggage. Seeing Bajie battling the monster, he gnashed his teeth in anger, rubbed his palms, and clenched his fists. Unable to restrain himself from going to strike the demon, he drew his staff and said, “Master, sit here and do not be afraid. Wait for Old Sun to play with him a little.” His master tried desperately to hold him back but could not. He gave a whistle and leaped to the front.
Now, the monster and Bajie had been fighting at the height of their engagement, locked in a struggle that could not be unraveled. The Pilgrim swung up his iron staff and struck the monster upon the head. The monster swiftly turned around and hurriedly dodged it, then plunged straight into the Flowing Sands River. Bajie leaped about in frustration and said, “Brother, who asked you to come? That monster was gradually weakening and could barely withstand my rake. If we had gone three or five more rounds, I would have captured him. Seeing your ferocity, he fled the battle. What are we to do now?”
The Pilgrim laughed and said, “Brother, I will not deceive you. Ever since subduing the Yellow Wind Monster and coming down from the mountain, Old Sun has not played with his staff for this past month or so. When I saw you and him fighting so delightfully, I could not restrain the itch in my feet, and so I leaped over to play a little. Who knew that the monster did not understand play, and ran away?”
The two linked arms, talking and laughing, and turned back to where they saw Tang Sanzang. Sanzang said, “Did you manage to capture the demon?”
The Pilgrim said, “That demon could not withstand the battle. He was defeated and plunged back into the water.”
Sanzang said, “Disciple, this monster has lived here for a long time; he knows where the waters are deep and shallow. With such boundless Weak Water, and no boats or oars, we must find someone who knows the water and have him lead us across.”
The Pilgrim said, “That is exactly so. As the saying goes: ‘Those near cinnabar become red; those near ink become black.’ Since that monster is here, he certainly knows the water. We should capture him now, but must not kill him. We should merely make him carry Master across the river, and then decide what to do.”
Bajie said, “Brother, do not hesitate. Let me go and capture him first, while you watch over Master.”
The Pilgrim laughed and said, “Worthy younger brother, I dare not boast of this matter. Old Sun is not especially familiar with affairs in the water. If I walk through it in my ordinary form, I must still make hand signs and recite the water-avoidance spell before I can proceed. Otherwise, I would have to transform into some sort of fish, shrimp, crab, turtle, or the like before I could go. If we are comparing skills, whether you are in the high mountains or amid the clouds, whatever strange or unusual deed you might do, Old Sun can do it all. It is only that, in water, I am somewhat clumsy.”
Bajie said, “In former years I was Grand Marshal of the Celestial River and governed its eighty thousand water troops. I did learn something of watercraft. Yet I fear that there may be relatives and old and young ones in that water, all coming in seven nests and eight generations. Then I might not be able to handle him, and in a moment he might haul me away!”
The Pilgrim said, “If you enter his waters and fight him, do not linger in battle. You may be defeated, but you must not win. Lure him out, and then wait for Old Sun to lend you a hand.”
Bajie said, “That is well said. I will go.” With these words, he stripped off his blue brocade straight robe, removed his shoes, and brandished his rake in both hands. Parting the waters before him, he brought out the old skills of those former years, leaped through the waves and overturned the billows, and charged inside. He went straight beneath the riverbed and continued forward.
Now, after the monster had been defeated and returned, he had only just caught his breath when he heard someone pushing through the water with a great disturbance. He suddenly rose to look, and saw that it was Bajie wielding his rake and forcing a path through the water. The monster raised his staff and shouted directly at him, “Monk, where are you going? Take care, or I will strike you!”
Bajie raised his rake to block him and said, “What sort of demon are you, that you dare bar the road here?”
The demon said, “You do not even recognize me. I am neither some demon, devil, ghost, or monster, nor am I without a surname or name.”
Bajie said, “If you are not a demon, devil, ghost, or monster, then why are you here taking lives? What exactly is your name? Tell me plainly, and I will spare your life.”
The monster said:
From childhood I was born with divine vigor and strength;
Across ten thousand li beneath Heaven and Earth I once wandered.
My heroic name was famed throughout the world;
In the households of the bold and mighty I served as their example.
Through the myriad nations and the Nine Provinces I went as I pleased;
Across the Five Lakes and Four Seas I charged wherever I wished.
All because I studied the Way and roamed the ends of the earth,
Seeking a master as I traveled through the vast lands.
For many years I carefully kept my robe and bowl with me;
Each day my heart and spirit could not be allowed to slacken.
I wandered throughout the lands dozens of times,
And idled along everywhere more than a hundred journeys.
Thus I was fortunate to encounter a True Man,
Who opened for me the Great Way’s radiant golden light.
First he gathered the Infant and the Maiden,
Then he released the Wood Mother and the Metal Duke.
The water of the kidneys from the Bright Hall entered the Flowery Pool;
The fire of the liver from the Lofty Tower was cast into the heart’s organs.
When my three thousand merits were complete, I bowed before the Heavenly Countenance;
With single-minded devotion I paid homage, facing toward Bright Splendor.
The Jade Emperor then promoted me,
And personally bestowed upon me the title Curtain-Raising General.
Within the Southern Heaven Gate I was honored above all;
Before the Numinous Empyrean Hall I was called supreme.
At my waist hung a tiger-head tablet;
In my hand I firmly held a demon-subduing staff.
A golden helmet upon my head flashed in the sunlight;
Armor upon my body shone with brilliant rosy radiance.
Going and coming to protect the imperial carriage, I was always foremost;
Entering and leaving court, I stood above all others.
Only because the Queen Mother descended the flat peaches,
she set a banquet at the Jade Pool and invited all the generals.
I carelessly smashed the jade glass,
and every celestial god’s soul flew away in terror.
The Jade Emperor immediately gave vent to his anger,
yet ordered the Left Assistant Minister in charge of the court:
“Remove his cap, strip off his armor, and take away his official title;
send his body to the execution ground.
“Much thanks to the Barefoot Great Immortal,
who stepped out of order to memorialize and have me released.
“Spare my life and restore me to life without punishment,
but banish me to the eastern bank of the Flowing Sands River.
“When full, I lie here in this mountain in drowsiness;
when hungry, I turn the waves in search of food.
“Woodcutters who meet me lose their lives;
fishermen who see me all perish.
“Coming and going, I have eaten many people;
turning and overturning, I have harmed living creatures.
“You dare commit violence and come to my gate;
today my belly has something to hope for.
“Do not say that you are coarse and unfit to taste;
I shall seize you, chop you up, and make fish paste.”
Hearing this, Bajie grew furious and cursed: “You insolent creature! You have not the slightest bit of discernment. I, your old pig, can still squeeze out water foam; how dare you say I am coarse and want to chop me into fish paste? It seems you have mistaken me for some old smelter. Do not be rude—eat this rake from your ancestor!” Seeing the rake come, that monster used a “Phoenix Nods Its Head” to evade it. The two fought their way out of the water and onto the surface, each treading the waves and climbing the surging waters. This battle was different from the one before. Behold:
The Curtain-Raising General and Marshal Tianpeng,
each displaying supernatural powers, truly delightful to behold.
One’s demon-subduing precious staff rolled down upon the head,
the other’s nine-toothed iron rake moved swiftly with every stroke.
They leapt over waves and shook the mountains and rivers,
pushing the waters until the world grew dim.
Fierce as Tai Sui ramming a ceremonial banner,
vicious as the Gate of Mourning overturning a precious canopy.
One, with a blazing loyal heart, protected Tang Sanzang;
the other, laden with monstrous crimes, had become a water demon.
The rake left nine marks with a single grab,
while the staff struck and made the soul and spirit collapse.
Striving, they delighted in contending,
exerting their minds to vie with each other.
In the end, it was all for the man seeking the scriptures;
their anger soared to Heaven, and neither could endure.
They stirred the whitefish, carp, and mandarin fish until their fresh scales withdrew;
turtles, softshell turtles, giant turtles, and alligators injured their tender shells.
Red shrimp and purple crabs all lost their lives,
and the various gods of the Water Palace went up to court and bowed.
Only the waves overturning and the breakers rolling could be heard, like thunder roaring;
the sun and moon lost their light, and Heaven and Earth became strange.
The two fought steadily for two hours, without victory or defeat. This was truly a bronze basin meeting an iron broom, a jade chime confronting a golden bell.
Now the Great Sage, protecting Tang Sanzang, stood to one side, gazing anxiously at the two of them contending upon the water, but he was not in a position to intervene. He saw Bajie make a feint with the rake, pretend to lose, and turn his head to walk toward the eastern bank. The monster pursued him, and they came close to the shore. The Pilgrim could no longer endure it; he left his master, drew his iron staff, leapt to the riverside, and struck the demon squarely on the head. The monster did not dare meet him and, with a whoosh, drilled back into the river. Bajie shouted: “You, Bimawen, are truly an impatient monkey! If you had waited a little longer, letting me lure him to higher ground, you could have blocked him at the riverbank and prevented him from turning back. Would you not then have caught him? Now that he has gone in, when will he ever be willing to come out again?” The Pilgrim laughed and said: “Fool, do not shout, do not shout. Let us return first and go see Master.”
Bajie then went with the Pilgrim to the high bank, where they saw Sanzang. Sanzang inclined his body and said: “My disciples, you have worked hard.” Bajie said: “Let us not speak of hardship for now. Only after we have subdued the demon and sent you across the river will the plan be complete.” Sanzang said: “How was your battle with the demon just now?” Bajie said: “That demon’s abilities made him a match for your old pig. While we were fighting, I used a feigned defeat, and only then did he chase me to the shore. When he saw elder brother holding up his staff, he ran away.” Sanzang said: “In that case, what can we do?” The Pilgrim said: “Master, do not worry; do not be distressed. It is late again today. Let us sit here on this cliff bank while this old grandson goes to obtain some vegetarian food. After you have eaten, sleep; tomorrow we shall deal with it again.” Bajie said: “That is well said. Go quickly and return quickly.”
The Pilgrim hurriedly leapt up on his cloud and went off. He came to a household directly to the north, begged for a bowl of vegetarian fare, and brought it back to offer his master. Seeing that he had returned so quickly, the master called out: “Wukong, would it not be better for us to ask the household where we went to beg for food about a plan to cross the river, rather than contend with this monster?” The Pilgrim laughed and said: “That household is terribly far away. It is five or seven thousand li from here. How could they know the nature of the water? What benefit would asking them bring?” Bajie said: “Brother, you are lying again. If it is five or seven thousand li away, how did you go and return so quickly?” The Pilgrim said: “How would you know? This old grandson’s Somersault Cloud can leap one hundred and eight thousand li in a single bound. For a distance of five or seven thousand li like this, I need only nod my head twice and bend my waist once, and I have gone and returned. What difficulty is there?” Bajie said: “Brother, since it is so easy, carry Master on your back, nod your head and bend your waist, and leap over there. Why must you suffer through fighting this monster?” The Pilgrim said: “Can you not ride a cloud? Why do you not carry Master across?” Bajie said: “Master’s mortal flesh and bones are heavier than Mount Tai. How could my cloud-riding ability bear him? Only your Somersault Cloud will do.” The Pilgrim said: “My Somersault Cloud is also, in its way, cloud-riding; it merely travels a little farther or nearer. You cannot carry him, so how could I carry him? As the old saying goes: ‘To make Mount Tai light as a mustard seed, but to carry a mortal man is difficult to escape the red dust.’ As for such an insolent, venomous monster, he may use the art of levitation and manipulate the wind, but he can only tug and drag along the ground and cannot carry anyone through the air. I too know how to use and manipulate such methods. There are also the arts of concealment and shrinking the earth; this old grandson knows every one of them. But Master must thoroughly travel through foreign lands and cannot transcend the sea of suffering, and therefore must move forward inch by inch. You and I can only embrace and protect him, preserving his body and life; we cannot take these troubles in his place, nor can we obtain the scriptures. Even if we could go ahead and meet the Buddha, that Buddha would not willingly give the scriptures to you and me. It is precisely as the saying goes: ‘If it were easily obtained, it would be regarded as an ordinary thing.’” The Fool listened respectfully upon hearing this. He then ate some plain vegetarian food without vegetables, and the master and disciples rested beneath the eastern cliff of the Flowing Sands River.
The next morning, Sanzang said: “Wukong, what shall we do today?” The Pilgrim said: “There is nothing else to arrange; Bajie must still go into the water.” Bajie said: “Brother, if you want to keep yourself clean, simply make me go into the water.” The Pilgrim said: “Worthy younger brother, this time I shall not be impatient again. I shall merely let you lure him out, while I block the riverbank and prevent him from returning. We must capture him.”
Good Bajie wiped his face, gathered his spirit, took up the rake in both hands, and went to the riverbank. Parting the waterway, he once again descended to the lair. The monster had only just awakened when he suddenly heard the water being pushed aside. He quickly turned his head and opened his eyes to look. Seeing Bajie approaching with the rake, he leapt out and blocked him head-on, shouting: “Slowly, slowly! Look at my staff!” Bajie raised his rake to block it and said: “What kind of funeral staff are you, to order your ancestor to look at your staff?” The monster said: “You truly know nothing. Mine is this:
The precious staff’s fame was great from the beginning;
it originally came from the luó-han trees of the Moon Palace.
Wu Gang felled a branch of it,
and Lu Ban’s craftsmanship fashioned it beyond compare.
Within it was a golden core that suited the heart;
without it were ten thousand trails of jeweled silk.
Its name, the Precious Staff, was good for subduing demons;
it could forever suppress the Numinous Empyrean and subdue monsters.
Only because I was appointed a great general,
the Jade Emperor bestowed it upon me to carry at my side.
Whether long or short, it followed my heart;
whether fine or coarse, it depended on my will.
I once protected the imperial carriage at the Flat-Peach Banquet;
I once attended court and dwelt in the upper realm.
While serving before the palace, I had received the homage of all the sages;
as Curtain-Raising General, I had witnessed the worship of all the immortals.
Nurtured into a numinous spirit, it became a divine weapon;
it was not any ordinary implement of the human world.
Ever since I was banished beneath Heaven’s Gate,
I have roamed freely and crossed the seas.
I do not brazenly boast without cause:
the spears and blades beneath Heaven can scarcely compete with it.
“Look at that rusty nail-rake of yours; it is only good for hoeing fields and building vegetable beds.”
Bajie laughed and said: “I shall strike you, you wretched creature, until you can do nothing but build vegetable beds. I fear that if I swing it once, you will have nowhere to apply ointment, and all nine holes will stream blood at once. Even if you do not die, you will suffer from tetanus until old age.”
That monster cast aside his defensive stance, and there beneath the water he and Bajie once more fought their way to the surface. This bout was indeed even more different from the one before. Look at them:
The precious staff whirls, the nail-rake builds,
Their words do not accord; they are no kin.
Only because the Wood-Mother overcomes the Knife-Cinnabar,
They are made to clash and battle.
Neither yields, neither turns back,
They churn the waves and stir the water, in discord.
How can this one contain his rage?
How can that one bear the hurt and humiliation?
When the rake comes, the staff blocks it; each displays his valor.
The water boils, the quicksand turns vicious.
One is haughty with anger, one labors without rest;
All because of the Three-Treasures Master’s journey toward the Western Regions.
The nail-rake is fearsome indeed,
The precious staff is practiced to perfection.
One seizes the other and tries to drag him ashore,
The other grabs him and hurls him back into the water.
Their voices, like thunderclaps, stir fish and dragons;
The clouds darken, Heaven grows dim, and spirits and demons submit.
In this bout they came and went, fighting for thirty rounds, with neither stronger nor weaker. Bajie then employed a feigned-defeat stratagem and dragged away his rake. The monster followed close behind, pushing the waves and seizing the breakers, chasing him to the edge of the cliff. Bajie cursed: “I say, you wretched monster, come up here. On this high ground, with solid earth beneath your feet, it will be easier to fight.”
The demon cursed back: “You scoundrel, you are tricking me into going up there so that your accomplice can come at me. You come down; we shall continue fighting in the water.”
It turned out that the demon had grown clever and was no longer willing to come ashore. He merely quarreled with Bajie along the riverbank.
As for the Pilgrim, seeing that the monster would not come ashore, he grew anxious and explosive with impatience, wishing he could seize him in one grasp. The Pilgrim said: “Master, sit here yourself. Let me give him an ‘eagle snatching food’.”
He leaped on his cloud somersault, sprang into midair, and dropped swiftly down to seize the demon. The monster was just shouting at Bajie when suddenly he heard the wind. He turned his head in alarm and saw the Pilgrim descending from the clouds, but he withdrew his staff, plunged headfirst into the water, and vanished without a trace.
The Pilgrim stood on the bank and said to Bajie: “Brother, this monster has grown slippery indeed. He refuses to come ashore again. What are we to do?”
Bajie said: “Difficult, difficult, difficult. We cannot defeat him. We have used up even the strength we had as suckling babes, and at best we can only keep our hands level with his.”
The Pilgrim said: “Let us go see Master.”
The two of them returned to the high bank and met Tang Monk, to whom they fully recounted how difficult it was to capture the monster. Tears filled the Elder’s eyes as he said: “With such difficulties, how shall we ever cross?”
The Pilgrim said: “Master, do not trouble yourself. This monster lurks deep beneath the water, and it is truly difficult to proceed.──Bajie, you remain here and protect Master. Do not fight him again. I will go to the Southern Sea and return.”
Bajie said: “Brother, what will you do at the Southern Sea?”
The Pilgrim said: “The undertaking of fetching the scriptures was originally arranged by Guanyin Bodhisattva; and when we were delivered from our troubles, it was Guanyin Bodhisattva who did so as well. Today the road is blocked by the Flowing-Sand River, and we cannot advance. Without her, how can this be dealt with? Let me go ask her; it is better than battling this demon.”
Bajie said: “Indeed, indeed. Brother, when you go, be sure to convey a word from me: ‘For your former guidance, I remain deeply indebted.’”
Tripitaka said: “Wukong, if you are going to ask the Bodhisattva, there is no need to hesitate. Go quickly and return quickly.”
The Pilgrim immediately mounted his cloud somersault and headed straight for the Southern Sea. Ah! Before half an hour had passed, he already saw the boundaries of Mount Potalaka. In a moment he dropped from his cloud somersault outside the Purple Bamboo Grove, where he again saw the twenty-four divisions of the诸天 come forward to greet him, saying: “Great Sage, why have you come?”
The Pilgrim said: “My master is in trouble. I have come especially to pay my respects to the Bodhisattva.”
The诸天 said: “Please sit down while we make the report.”
The诸天 who was on duty that day went straight to the mouth of the Tidal-Sound Cave and reported: “Sun Wukong has come to seek an audience on a matter.”
The Bodhisattva was at that moment beside the Jeweled Lotus Pond, leaning against the railing and watching the flowers with the Dragon Girl Who Holds the Pearl. Upon hearing the report, she immediately turned through the cloud cliffs, opened the door, and called him inside. The Great Sage composed himself, paid his respects, and bowed.
The Bodhisattva asked: “Why are you not protecting Tang Monk? For what reason have you come to see me again?”
The Pilgrim reported: “Bodhisattva, my master previously reached Gao Laozhuang, where he took another disciple, called Zhu Bajie. Thanks to the Bodhisattva, he was also granted the Dharma name Wuneng. We had only passed Yellow-Wind Ridge when we came to the eight-hundred-li Flowing-Sand River. It is the Weak Water of three thousand li, and my master has already found it difficult to cross. In the river there is also a demon of formidable martial skill. Wuneng has fought him three times on the surface of the water, at great cost, but has been unable to defeat him. The demon has blocked our way, and we cannot cross. Therefore I have specially come to inform the Bodhisattva, hoping that you will show compassion and help us cross, help us cross.”
The Bodhisattva said: “You monkey, again you are showing your conceit. Are you unwilling to say that you are protecting Tang Monk?”
The Pilgrim said: “We only wish to capture him and make him carry my master across the river. As for matters in the water, I cannot handle them with precision. Wuneng merely found his lair and spoke with him; I suppose he did not reveal the business of fetching the scriptures.”
The Bodhisattva said: “The demon of the Flowing-Sand River is the Curtain-Raising General descended into the mortal world. He is also a good believer whom I converted, and I instructed him to protect those who journey to fetch the scriptures. If you are willing to tell him that you are people from the Eastern Land journeying to fetch the scriptures, he certainly will not contend with you; he will surely submit.”
The Pilgrim said: “That monster is now afraid to fight and refuses to come up onto the bank. He only hides his tracks in the water. How can we make him submit? How can my master cross the Weak Water?”
The Bodhisattva immediately called Huian, took a small red gourd from her sleeve, and instructed him: “You may take this gourd with Sun Wukong to the surface of the Flowing-Sand River and merely call, ‘Wujing.’ He will come out. First, you must lead him to take refuge with Tang Monk. Then string his nine skulls together in one place and arrange them according to the Nine Palaces. Place this gourd in the middle, and it will become a dharma boat, capable of carrying Tang Monk across the boundaries of the Flowing-Sand River.”
When Huian heard this, he respectfully obeyed his master’s command. Together with the Great Sage, he carried the gourd out of the Tidal-Sound Cave and, bearing the Dharma command, took his leave of the Purple Bamboo Grove. There is a poem as proof:
The Five Phases match and accord with Heaven’s truth;
They recognize the former master of old.
Refining the self and establishing the foundation make wondrous use;
Discerning the evil and the true reveals the cause.
Metal returns to nature and again joins its kind;
Wood goes forth to seek affection and together sinks once more.
The two Earths complete their work in solitude;
They harmonize Water and Fire without the slightest dust.
The two of them soon lowered their cloud heads and arrived at the bank of the Flowing-Sand River. Zhu Bajie recognized Mu Cha—also written “Zha”—and led his master forward to welcome him. After Mu Cha—also written “Zha”—had exchanged rites with Tripitaka, he met Bajie as well.
Bajie said: “Formerly, thanks to the Venerable One’s guidance, I was able to meet the Bodhisattva. This old pig indeed followed the Dharma teaching, and today I am delighted to have taken refuge as a Buddhist monk. We have been hurrying and laboring along the road and have not yet had the chance to offer our thanks. Forgive us, forgive us.”
The Pilgrim said: “Let us not yet recount our separation. We shall call that fellow out.”
Tripitaka said: “Call whom?”
The Pilgrim said: “I met the Bodhisattva and fully related what happened before. The Bodhisattva said that the demon of the Flowing-Sand River is the Curtain-Raising General descended into the mortal world. Because he had committed a crime in Heaven, he fell into this river, forgot his former form, and became a monster. He had once been converted by the Bodhisattva and was willing to accompany Master to the Western Heaven. But we never told him about fetching the scriptures, and so we have been bitterly fighting. The Bodhisattva has now sent Mu Cha—also written ‘Zha’—with this gourd, to make a dharma boat together with that fellow and carry you across.”
When Tripitaka heard this, he bowed repeatedly, then saluted Mu Cha—also written “Zha”—and said: “I earnestly hope that the Venerable One will make haste to go.”
Mu Cha—also written “Zha”—held the gourd firmly, half in cloud and half in mist, and went straight to the surface of the Flowing-Sand River. Raising his voice, he loudly called: “Wujing, Wujing, the one journeying to fetch the scriptures has been here for a long time. Why have you still not submitted?”
Yet that monster, fearful of the Monkey King, returned to the bottom of the water and was resting in his lair when he suddenly heard his dharma name being called. Knowing full well that it was Guanyin Bodhisattva, he then heard the words, “The scripture-seeker is here.” He was not even afraid of axes and battle-axes; he hurriedly churned the waves and thrust out his head, and recognized as well the attendant Mucha, also written “Zha.” You see him smiling broadly as he stepped forward and saluted, saying: “Venerable One, forgive me for failing to receive you. Where is the Bodhisattva now?” Mucha, also written “Zha,” said: “My teacher has not yet come, but first sent me to instruct you to become a disciple of Tang Monk without delay. Take the skulls hanging around your neck and this gourd, bind them into a Nine-Palaces pattern to make a dharma boat, and ferry him across this Weak Water.” Wujing said: “Where is the scripture-seeker?” Mucha, also written “Zha,” pointed with his hand and said: “Isn’t the one sitting on the eastern bank?” Wujing saw Bajie and said: “I do not know where this reckless creature came from. He has been fighting me for these two days—when has he ever mentioned a single word about seeking scriptures?” Then he saw the attendant and said: “This master is his helper, and exceedingly formidable. I will not go.” Mucha, also written “Zha,” said: “That is Zhu Bajie, and this is Sun Wukong. Both are disciples of Tang Monk, and both were persuaded and transformed by the Bodhisattva. What are you afraid of? Come, I shall go with you to meet Tang Monk.”
Only then did Wujing put away his treasure staff, straighten his yellow brocade zhiduo robe, leap ashore, and kneel before Tang Monk with both knees, saying: “Master, your disciple had eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai; I did not recognize your venerable countenance and have offended you repeatedly. I beg you to forgive my offenses.” Bajie said: “You blubbering fool, why did you not take refuge earlier, and insist on fighting me? What sort of talk is that?” The Traveler laughed and said: “Brother, do not blame him. It is only that we had not yet told him about seeking scriptures or given him our names.” The Elder said: “Are you truly willing to sincerely take refuge in our teaching?” Wujing said: “Your disciple previously received the Bodhisattva’s instruction and transformation. She gave me ‘Sha’ as my surname and bestowed upon me a dharma name, calling me Sha Wujing. How could I not obey my master?” Sanzang said: “Since that is so,” and called: “Wukong, bring the ordination razor and shave his head.” The Great Sage followed his words, took the ordination razor, and shaved his head. Wujing then came and paid obeisance to Sanzang, to the Traveler, and to Bajie, and they established their order of seniority. Sanzang saw that his manner of saluting truly resembled the conduct of a monk, and therefore again called him Sha Monk. Mucha, also written “Zha,” said: “Since he has received the jiachi, there is no need for further talk. Quickly make the dharma boat and come.”
Wujing did not dare delay. He immediately took down the skulls hanging from his neck and bound them with cords into the Nine-Palaces pattern, placed the Bodhisattva’s gourd in the middle, and invited the Master to come ashore. The Elder then boarded the dharma boat and sat upon it; indeed, it was as steady as a light skiff. Bajie supported him on the left, while Wujing held him up on the right; Sun Wukong led the dragon horse behind them, following amid cloud and mist; and directly overhead, Mucha, also written “Zha,” protected them. Only then did the Master drift steadily across the realm of the Flowing-Sand River. With the waves quiet and the wind calm, they crossed the Weak River. Truly, it was like flying and like an arrow; before long, they set foot upon the farther bank and escaped the raging waters. Nor did they drag mud or water along; happily, their feet and hands remained dry, pure and free from striving, and the master and disciples stood with their feet firmly on solid ground. Mucha, also written “Zha,” mounted an auspicious cloud and put away the gourd. Then they saw the skulls suddenly dissolve into nine coils of dark wind and silently disappear. Sanzang thanked Mucha, also written “Zha,” with a bow and paid homage to the Bodhisattva. It is precisely:
Mucha, also written “Zha,” straightway returns to the Eastern Ocean Sea;
Sanzang mounts his horse and turns instead toward the West.
In the end, when they will attain true fruition and obtain the scriptures is not yet known; listen to the explanation in the next chapter.