OriginChapter 42
The six valiant generals emerged from the cave entrance and headed straight southwest, following the road. As he walked, Xingzhe thought to himself: "He wants to invite the Great King to eat my master, and the Great King is surely the Bull Demon King. Since old Sun met him in years past, we were truly of one mind and heart, with very deep friendship. Now I have returned to the righteous path, while he remains an evil demon. Though we have long been apart, I still remember his appearance. Let me wait until old Sun changes into the Bull Demon King and fools them for a while, to see what happens."
Splendid Xingzhe, hiding himself from the six little demons, spread his wings and flew ahead. When he was some ten li away from the little demons, he shook his body and changed into the Bull Demon King; he plucked a few hairs and called out: "Change!" They immediately changed into several little demons. In that mountain hollow, he had them carry hawks and lead hounds, set crossbows and draw bows, pretending to be on a hunt, waiting for the six valiant generals.
As that band was dragging and pulling one another along, they suddenly saw the Bull Demon King sitting in the middle. Startled, Xinghongxian and Xianhongxing fell to their knees in panic and said: "So the Great King Grandpa is here." As for Yunliwu, Wuliyun, Jiruhuo, and Kuairufeng, they were all of mortal eyes and ordinary flesh, unable to tell true from false, and they too knelt down together, kowtowing and saying: "Grandpa, we have been sent by the Holy Infant King of Flaming Cloud Cave to invite Great King Grandpa to eat Tang Monk's flesh, that your lifespan may be extended a thousand years." Xingzhe answered in a borrowed voice: "Children, rise, and come home with me to change clothes." The little demons kowtowed and said: "We beg Grandpa's convenience—do not return to the mansion. The road is long, and we fear our king will blame us; we little ones beg to set out from here." Xingzhe laughed and said: "Good obedient children. Very well, very well. Clear the way ahead, and I will go with you." The six monsters roused their spirits and shouted out the path ahead. The Great Sage followed close behind.
Before long, they had arrived at the place. Kuairufeng and Jiruhuo dashed into the cave and announced: "Report to the king: Great King Grandpa has arrived." The demon king was delighted and said: "You are indeed useful, to have come so quickly." He then ordered all the various troop leaders to arrange the ranks, unfurl the banners and drums, and welcome Great King Grandpa. All the demons in the cave obeyed the command and filed out in orderly formation. This Xingzhe, with proud and majestic bearing, puffed out his chest, gave his body a shake, and took back onto himself all those hairs that had become the hawks and hounds. Striding forward, he entered straight through the gate and sat down facing south in the center. Red Boy knelt before him, facing upward and kowtowing: "Father King, your son pays his respects." Xingzhe said: "My son, dispense with ceremony." The demon king performed the four great bows, and after completing them, stood at the lower side. Xingzhe said: "My son, why have you invited me?" The demon king bowed and said: "Your unworthy son yesterday captured a man, a monk from the Great Tang of the East. I have often heard people say that he is a man who has cultivated for ten lifetimes, and that whoever eats a piece of his flesh shall have a lifespan like that of the immortals of Penglai and Yingzhou. Your foolish son did not presume to eat him alone, but specially invites Father King to share in Tang Monk's flesh and prolong his years by a thousand."
When Xingzhe heard this, he started in surprise and said: "My son, which Tang Monk is it?" The demon king said: "He is the one who has gone to fetch scriptures from the Western Heaven." Xingzhe said: "My son, is he the master of Sun Xingzhe?" The demon king said: "Exactly." Xingzhe waved his hands and shook his head, saying: "Do not provoke him, do not provoke him. Others may be provoked, but Sun Xingzhe is that kind of man. My worthy son, you have never met him—that monkey has vast supernatural powers and countless transformations. He once caused great havoc in Heaven, and the Jade Emperor sent a hundred thousand heavenly soldiers and laid down nets from heaven to earth, yet they could not capture him. How dare you eat his master? Quickly send him out and return him, and do not provoke that monkey. If he learns that you have eaten his master, he will not come to fight you; he will only take that Golden-Banded Staff and bore a hole into the mountainside, and carry off the whole mountain. My son, where would you find a place to settle? And on whom would I depend for support in my old age?"
The demon king said: "Father King, what talk is that? You boost others' spirit and dash your son's prestige. That Sun Xingzhe has three brothers in all, and they were escorting Tang Monk on my mid-mountain when I used a transformation and seized his master. He and that Zhu Bajie came straight to my gate and spoke of claiming kinship and old acquaintance, but I flew into a rage and fought them a few rounds; they were only thus, and I saw no great skill. That Zhu Bajie came from the side to join the battle, but your son spat out Samadhi True Fire and burned them to defeat in one bout. In panic he went to summon the Four Dragon Kings of the seas to bring rain, but they could not extinguish my Samadhi True Fire, and I scorched him till he was half-stunned. He hurriedly sent Zhu Bajie to invite the South Sea Guanyin Bodhisattva. I then disguised myself as Guanyin and tricked Zhu Bajie, who is now hung up in my Ruyi Sack, and I mean to steam him and eat him with all my little ones too. That Xingzhe came again this morning to shout at my gate, and I gave orders to seize him—so frightened was he that he dropped his bundle and fled. Only now did I go to invite Father King to come and see what Tang Monk looks like alive, so that he may be steamed for you to eat, and you shall prolong your life and achieve immortality."
Xingzhe laughed and said: "My worthy son, you only know that you have won against him with Samadhi Fire, but you do not know that he has seventy-two transformations." The demon king said: "No matter how he may change, I will recognize him; I am sure he would never dare enter my gate." Xingzhe said: "My son, although you recognize him, he does not always change into something large—something like a wolf or an elephant, which could not enter your gate. But if he changes into something small, you will find it hard to recognize him." The demon king said: "No matter what small thing he changes into, I have four or five little demons guarding each of my gates—how could he possibly enter?" Xingzhe said: "You do not know. He can change into flies, mosquitoes, fleas, or bees, butterflies, cicadas, and such, and he can also change into my likeness—how would you recognize him then?" The demon king said: "Do not worry. Even if he had an iron gall and a copper heart, he would not dare come near my gate."
Xingzhe said: "If that is so, my worthy son is truly resourceful and indeed able to overcome him—only then did you invite me to eat Tang Monk's flesh. But how is it that I will not eat today?" The demon king said: "Why will you not eat?" Xingzhe said: "I have grown old of late, and your mother often urges me to do good deeds. I thought of no good deed to do, so let me at least observe some fasting and abstinence." The demon king said: "May I ask whether Father King observes a perpetual fast or a monthly fast?" Xingzhe said: "It is neither a perpetual fast nor a monthly fast; it is called a Thunder Fast, and each month I only keep four days." The demon king asked: "Which four days?" Xingzhe said: "The three Xin days when they fall upon the sixth. Today is a Xin-you day: first, it is a fast day, and second, You does not receive guests. Wait until tomorrow, when I will personally wash and steam him, and then we shall share him together."
That demon king, upon hearing these words, thought to himself: "My father king has always lived by eating men, and now he has lived fully over a thousand years—how is it that he has now taken to vegetarian fasting? When I think of the many evils he committed in the past, how could three or four days of abstinence make up for it? These words are false—suspicious, suspicious." He immediately withdrew and walked out beneath the second gate, called for the six junior commanders, and asked: "From where did your elder king invite that old great king?" The little demons said: "He was invited from halfway along the road." The demon king said: "I thought you had come back quickly. Did you not return home first?" The little demons said: "No, we did not return home." The demon king said: "This is bad—we have fallen for his imposture. This is not the old great king." The little demons all knelt down and said: "Great king, can you not even recognize your own father?" The demon king said: "His appearance and bearing all resemble him, but his speech does not. I fear we have fallen for his deception and will suffer losses. All of you must be careful: those who can use blades, draw your blades from their sheaths; those who can use spears, sharpen your spears; those who can use staffs, wield your staffs; those who can use ropes, ready your ropes. Wait for me to question him again and see how he speaks. If he truly is the old great king, then it matters not whether we eat today or tomorrow—even delaying a month would be of no consequence. But if his words do not match, then at the sound of my grunt, all of you strike together." The various demons each acknowledged the command.
This demon king then turned back and entered the inner hall, and again bowed before 行者. 行者 said: "My child, within the family there are no constant formalities—there is no need to bow. If you have anything to say, simply speak it." The demon king prostrated himself on the ground and said: "This foolish son, first, has invited you to offer the flesh of Tang Monk for your enjoyment; and second, has a matter to ask of you: the other day I was strolling at leisure, riding on auspicious light, up into the ninth heaven, when I chanced to meet the Daoist Zhang, the elder of our ancestral lineage." 行者 said: "Would that be Zhang Daoling, the Heavenly Master?" The demon king said: "Exactly." 行者 asked: "What did he have to say?" The demon king said: "He saw that your son is born with well-proportioned features and balanced three sections, and he asked in which year, month, day, and hour I was born. Because I am young, I cannot remember clearly. The gentleman is well-versed in the art of divination and wished to cast my five stars for me. Now that I have invited my father king, I wished to ask this of you. Should I encounter him again, I would trouble him to cast the calculation." On hearing this, 行者 sat above and laughed to himself: "What a fine demon! Ever since I returned to the Buddhist fruit and have been protecting Master Tang, I have captured several demons along the way, but none so calculating as this one. Were he to ask me about family seniority and juniority, about being short of rice or without firewood, I could easily fabricate answers to fob him off. But now he asks me the year, month, day, and hour of my birth—how should I know?" But this monkey king was extremely clever: he sat in majestic dignity in the middle, without the least trace of fear, and with a face beaming with joy, he laughed and said: "Worthy son, rise. I am old, and these past days many matters have not gone as I wished, so I have indeed forgotten the hour of your birth. Wait until I return home tomorrow and ask your mother—then I shall know."
The demon king said: "Father king, you have always spoken of my eight characters without ceasing, saying that I have a lifespan equal to heaven and shall never age—how can you have forgotten them all of a sudden today? This makes no sense—he must be an impostor." With a grunt, the host of demons crowded around with spears and blades, thrusting at 行者 from every direction, at head and face alike. The Great Sage parried with his Golden Cudgel, revealed his true form, and said to the demon: "Worthy son, this is unreasonable—since when does a son strike his own father?" The demon king was covered with shame and dared not look back. 行者 transformed into a golden light and fled out of his cave. The little demons said: "Great king, Sun Wukong has fled." The demon king said: "Enough, enough, enough—let him go. I have suffered a loss this time. Close the gates, do not speak with him further; just wash and prepare Tang Monk, steam him, and eat him."
Now 行者, wielding his iron staff, laughed heartily and came from the other side of the stream. Sha Seng heard him and hurried out of the forest to meet him, saying: "Brother, you have been gone half a day—why are you laughing so? Have you rescued Master?" 行者 said: "Brother, though I have not yet rescued Master, your elder brother has gained the upper hand." Sha Seng said: "What upper hand?" 行者 said: "It turns out that Zhu Bajie was tricked by that demon, who falsely transformed into Guanyin, and lured back, and now hangs in a leather sack. I was about to devise a way to rescue him when I chanced that he sent six junior commanders to invite the old great king to eat Master's flesh. Your elder brother reasoned that the old great king must be the Bull Demon King, so I transformed into his likeness and slipped inside, sitting in the middle. When he called me 'father king,' I answered him; when he kowtowed, I received it directly. It was truly delightful—I indeed gained the upper hand." Sha Seng said: "Brother, you have gained such a small advantage, but I fear Master's life will be hard to save." 行者 said: "Do not worry—wait for me to go invite the Bodhisattva." Sha Seng said: "Your back still aches." 行者 said: "It does not hurt now. The ancients said: 'When a man meets with joy, his spirit is refreshed.' You watch over the luggage and the horse; I will go." Sha Seng said: "You have made an enemy of him—I fear he will harm our Master. You must go quickly and return quickly." 行者 said: "I will come quickly—only as long as it takes to eat a meal, and I shall be back."
So the Great Sage, as he spoke, left Sha Seng behind, and riding his somersault cloud, headed straight for the Southern Sea. In midair, in less than half a double-hour, he sighted the scenery of Mount Putuo. In a moment, he lowered his cloud and alighted directly on Luojia Cliff. As he walked with dignified composure, the twenty-four devas of the celestial guardians met him and said: "Great Sage, where are you going?" 行者 made his obeisances and said: "I wish to see the Bodhisattva." The devas said: "Wait a moment; allow us to announce you." At that time, the deva of the mother of demons came to the outside of Tide Sound Cave and reported: "May the Bodhisattva know: Sun Wukong has specially come to pay respects." Upon hearing the report, the Bodhisattva ordered him to enter. The Great Sage gathered his robes, composed himself, steadied his steps, and went straight inside, where he saw the Bodhisattva and prostrated himself in worship. The Bodhisattva said: "Wukong, why are you not escorting Jinchanzi on his journey west to seek scriptures, but have come here instead?" 行者 said: "I beg to report to the Bodhisattva: your disciple was escorting Tang Monk westward, and we came to a place called Fire Cloud Cave at Withered Pine Stream on Numbered Mountain. There is a demon called Red Boy, styled the Holy Infant King, who carried off my Master. Your disciple, along with Zhu Wuneng and the others, sought him out before his gate and engaged him in battle. He released samadhi fire, and we could not prevail, nor rescue our Master. In haste we went to the Eastern Sea and invited the four Dragon Kings of the seas, who poured down rain, but this could not quell the fire, and your disciple was scorched black, nearly losing my miserable life." The Bodhisattva said: "Since he commands samadhi fire and his powers are vast, why did you go invite the Dragon Kings instead of coming to invite me?" 行者 said: "I had intended to come, but your disciple was so smoked by the fire that I could not ride the clouds, so I sent Zhu Bajie to invite the Bodhisattva." The Bodhisattva said: "But Wuneng never came." 行者 said: "Exactly. Before he could reach this precious mountain, that demon falsely transformed into the Bodhisattva's likeness and lured Zhu Bajie back into the cave, where he now hangs in a leather sack, also to be steamed and eaten."
Hearing this, the Bodhisattva flew into a rage and said: "That vile demon dares to take my form?" With a grunt of anger, she hurled the precious pearl and pure vase in her hand with a splash into the middle of the sea. So startled was 行者 that his hair stood on end, and he immediately rose and stood respectfully below, saying: "This Bodhisattva's fiery temper has not subsided—she must be angry that your elder brother's words were ill-chosen and have damaged her virtue, so she threw away the pure vase. What a pity, what a pity! Had I known, she might as well have given it to me—would that not have been a fine thing?"
Before he had finished speaking, there was a churning of waves in the midst of the sea, and a vase emerged—borne on the back of a strange creature. 行��� looked closely at the creature carrying the vase—what was its appearance like?
Its origin and source are named "Helping Mud";
In the depths of water it enhances the light and alone displays its might.
The world's hidden ones can know the nature of Heaven and Earth;
The securely concealed are especially versed in the mysteries of ghosts and spirits.
Hiding his body, he shrinks—no head nor tail appear;
Stretching his feet, he moves as swiftly as in flight.
King Wen once cast his hexagrams and made his primal divination;
He was often kept in court and terrace, companion to Fuxi.
The cloud-dragon reveals a thousand kinds of grace,
Calling the waters, pushing the waves, and blowing the foam.
Golden threads pierce through to form his shell,
Dot by dot he is decked like a jewelled hawksbill.
The robe of Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams is fixed upon him,
Scattered pieces cover him in a brilliant green garment.
In life he was bold and enjoyed the Dragon King's favour;
In death he still bears the Buddha's stela on his back.
If you would know this creature's name and kind—
It is the evil turtle that raises wind and makes waves.
That turtle, bearing the pure vase, climbed up to the edge of the cliff and nodded to the Bodhisattva twenty-four times, counting as twenty-four kowtows. When the Great Sage saw this, he laughed to himself and said, "So this is the one who watches the vase. I suppose if the vase is missing, I should ask him for it." The Bodhisattva said, "Wukong, what are you saying down there?" The Pilgrim said, "Nothing." The Bodhisattva ordered, "Bring up the vase." The Pilgrim then went to take it. Alas! He could not move it in the least. It was just like a dragonfly trying to shake a stone pillar—how could he budge it even a fraction? The Pilgrim stepped forward, knelt, and said, "Bodhisattva, your disciple cannot move it." The Bodhisattva said, "You monkey, you only know how to boast. If you cannot even move the vase, how can you go to subdue demons and bind monsters?" The Pilgrim said, "To tell you the truth, Bodhisattva, I can usually move it, but today I cannot. I think I have suffered at the hands of the fiend, and my strength is weakened." The Bodhisattva said, "Usually it is an empty vase; but now the pure vase has been cast into the sea, and in this short time it has passed through the Three Rivers, Five Lakes, Eight Seas, Four Streams, and among the springs, pools, and caverns, and has borrowed a whole sea's worth of water inside it. How could you have the weight to carry a sea? That is why you cannot move it." The Pilgrim pressed his palms together and said, "Yes, your disciple did not know."
The Bodhisattva then stepped forward, gently lifted the pure vase with her right hand, and placed it in her left palm. Then the turtle nodded and dived into the water. The Pilgrim said, "So it is a brutish creature that keeps house and watches the vase." The Bodhisattva sat down and said, "Wukong, the sweet dew and water in my vase are not like the Dragon King's private rain—they can extinguish that fiend's samādhi fire. I would like to let you take it, but you cannot carry it; I would like to send the Sudhana dragon girl with you, but you are not of good heart—you are always intent on deceiving people. If you saw that my dragon girl is fair and that the pure vase is a treasure, and you managed to trick her and take it, then where would I find the time to come looking for you again? You must leave something with me as a pledge." The Pilgrim said, "How pitiful! Bodhisattva, you are so suspicious. Since your disciple took up the monastic life, I have long ceased such doings. If you ask me to leave a pledge, what can I offer? This cotton cassock on my body was given by you, Elder. This tiger-skin kilt is worth but a few copper coins. This iron staff I need to protect myself day and night. Only this fillet on my head is made of gold, but you have put it on me by your magic so that it has grown into my head and cannot be taken off. If you now want a pledge, I am willing to use this as the pledge. Just recite the Mantra of the Loosening Fillet to remove it; otherwise, what can I give as a pledge?" The Bodhisattva said, "You are quite carefree! I do not want your clothes, your iron staff, or your gold fillet—just pluck one of your life-saving hairs from the back of your head and give it to me as a pledge." The Pilgrim said, "This hair was also given to me by you, Elder. But I fear that if I pluck one, it will break up the whole set, and then it cannot save my life." The Bodhisattva scolded, "You monkey! You will not part with a single hair, and yet you expect me to give up my Sudhana—that is hard to do." The Pilgrim laughed and said, "Bodhisattva, you are too suspicious. As they say, 'If you will not consider the monk's face, consider the Buddha's face.' Please, by all means, save my master from this calamity." Then the Bodhisattva:
Joyfully and pleased, she descended from the lotus terrace,
Her fragrant steps wafting on clouds as she climbed the rocky cliff.
Only because the holy monk had encountered disaster,
She would subdue the fiend and bring him back.
The Great Sage Sun was greatly delighted and invited Guanyin to leave the Tide-Sound Immortal Grotto. All the heavenly deities were arrayed on Mount Potalaka. The Bodhisattva said, "Wukong, cross the sea." The Pilgrim bowed and said, "Please go first, Bodhisattva." The Bodhisattva said, "You go first." The Pilgrim kowtowed and said, "Your disciple dares not display his powers before the Bodhisattva. If I ride my somersault cloud, I would expose my body, and I fear the Bodhisattva would take it as disrespect." On hearing this, the Bodhisattva immediately told the Sudhana dragon girl to go to the lotus pond and split off a petal of lotus, placing it on the water below the rocky cliff. She instructed the Pilgrim, "Step onto that lotus petal, and I will ferry you across the sea." The Pilgrim looked and said, "Bodhisattva, this petal is light and thin—how can it bear me? If I step on it and tumble into the water, won't my tiger-skin kilt get wet? The alum will wash out, and when it turns cold, how can I wear it?" The Bodhisattva shouted, "You go up and see." The Pilgrim did not dare to refuse; he risked his life and jumped up. At first it seemed small and light, but once he was on it, it was a third larger than a sea-going ship. The Pilgrim said happily, "Bodhisattva, it can bear me." The Bodhisattva said, "Since it can bear you, why not cross over?" The Pilgrim said, "But there is no pole, oar, sail, or mast—how can I get across?" The Bodhisattva said, "No need." She blew one breath to open and draw it, and then one solid breath to blow it across the Southern Sea's bitter waters, so that he reached the other shore. The Pilgrim then set foot on solid ground and laughed, saying, "This Bodhisattva shows off her divine powers, ordering Old Sun about this way and that, all without the least effort."
Then the Bodhisattva instructed all the assembled heavenly deities to guard their fairy realms, and told the Sudhana dragon girl to close the grotto gate. She herself mounted the auspicious cloud and left Mount Potalaka, and going over there called out, "Where is Hui'an?" Hui'an—the second crown prince of Prince Li of the Pagoda, known in the world as Mokṣa—was the Bodhisattva's own disciple, never leaving her side, and was called the Dharma-Protector Hui'an Pilgrim. Hui'an immediately pressed his palms together and waited upon the Bodhisattva. The Bodhisattva said, "Go quickly to the upper realm, see your royal father, and ask him to lend me the celestial adamantine swords." Hui'an said, "How many does my master need?" The Bodhisattva said, "The entire set."
Hui'an accepted the command, mounted the clouds, entered the Southern Heavenly Gate, went to the Cloud Tower Palace, and bowed before his father. When the Heavenly King saw him, he asked, "Child, whence have you come?" Mokṣa said, "My master was invited by Sun Wukong to subdue a demon, and he sent me to bow before you, Father, and to borrow the celestial adamantine swords for use." The Heavenly King then summoned Nezha to take thirty-six swords and hand them to Mokṣa. Mokṣa said to Nezha, "Brother, when you go back, give many greetings to our mother. My business is urgent; I will kowtow again when I return the swords." He hurriedly took leave, descended his auspicious light, went straight to the Southern Sea, and presented the swords to the Bodhisattva.
The Bodhisattva took them in her hands, tossed them up, and recited a spell. The swords then transformed into a thousand-petalled lotus terrace. The Bodhisattva mounted it and sat solemnly in the center. The Pilgrim laughed to himself on the side and thought, "This Bodhisattva is frugal. In the lotus pond there is a five-coloured jeweled lotus terrace, but she would not sit on it; instead she had to borrow from someone else." The Bodhisattva said, "Wukong, do not speak—follow me." Then they all mounted the clouds and left the sea. The white parrot spread its wings and flew ahead, while the Great Sage Sun and Hui'an followed behind.
In a moment, they soon saw a mountain peak. The Pilgrim said, "This mountain is the Horn Mountain. From here to the gate of that fiend is about four hundred li." When the Bodhisattva heard this, she at once ordered the auspicious clouds to stop, and on the mountain peak she recited the spell of the syllable "Om." Then on both sides of the mountain there appeared many spirits and ghosts, who were the local deities of this mountain, all coming to the foot of the Bodhisattva's precious lotus throne to kowtow. The Bodhisattva said, "None of you must be alarmed. I have come now to capture this demon king. You must sweep clean this entire area for three hundred li around, and allow not a single living creature to remain on the ground. Take all the young beasts in the nests and the infant insects in the holes and place them safely on the summit." The deities obeyed and withdrew; in a short while they returned to report. The Bodhisattva said, "Since it is clean, go back each to your own shrine." Then she tipped over her pure vase and with a roar poured out water, which sounded like thunder. Truly:
It flooded over the mountain peak, burst through the rocky cliffs.
Flooding over the peak like the sea, bursting cliffs like an ocean.
Black mist rose to fill the sky with watery vapor;
Crimson waves cast the sun's light in cold gleam.
On every cliff dashed jade-white billows,
On the whole sea grew golden links.
The Bodhisattva grandly displayed her demon-subduing art;
From her sleeve she took the Body-fixing Dhyana.
Transformed into the realm of Mount Potalaka,
Truly like the South Sea itself.
Lush rushes thrust forth tender udumbara flowers;
Fragrant herbs spread out fresh pattra leaves.
A few purple bamboos where parrots rest,
Several clusters of green pines where partridges clamor.
Myriad layers of waves spread lotus flowers over the four fields;
Only the wind's roar and water flooding the sky are heard.
When the Great Sage Sun saw this, he secretly praised, "Truly she is a greatly compassionate and merciful Bodhisattva! If Old Sun had such magic power, he would just tip the vase over toward the mountain and what would he care about birds and beasts and snakes and insects?" The Bodhisattva called, "Wukong, reach out your hand." The Pilgrim at once rolled up his sleeve and stretched out his left hand. The Bodhisattva took the willow branch, dipped it in the sweet dew, and wrote a character "Maze" in his palm. She instructed him: "Clench your fist and go quickly to challenge that fiend to battle; you are allowed to lose but not to win. When you are defeated, come back to me here, and I will use my magic power to capture him."
The Pilgrim accepted the order, turned back his cloud light, and went straight to the cave mouth. With one hand making a fist and the other wielding his staff, he shouted loudly, "Fiend, open the gate!" Those little fiends again went in to report, "Sun Wukong has come again." The fiend king said, "Close the gate tightly and pay no attention to him." The Pilgrim called, "Good son! You drive your old father out of the gate and still won't open it?" The little fiends again reported, "Sun Wukong is cursing in that way." The fiend king only ordered, "Pay no attention to him." After calling twice and seeing the gate still not open, the Pilgrim grew furious, raised his iron staff, and struck the gate, making a hole in it. The little fiends were so startled that they tumbled in and said, "Sun Wukong has broken the gate." After several reports and hearing that the front gate was broken, the fiend king quickly leaped out, brandished his long spear, and cursed at the Pilgrim: "You ape, you have no sense of propriety. I let you have some advantage, yet you don't know when to stop and come again to bully me. Breaking my gate—what crime do you deserve?" The Pilgrim said, "My son, you drove your old father out of the gate—what crime do you deserve?"
The fiend king was ashamed and angry; he seized his long spear and thrust straight at the Pilgrim's chest. The Pilgrim raised his iron staff to parry and return. After they had engaged and fought four or five rounds, the Pilgrim clenched his fist, dragged his staff, and retreated in defeat. The fiend king stood before the mountain and said, "I am going to go wash and clean Tang Monk now." The Pilgrim said, "Good son, Heaven is watching you. Come on." When the fiend heard this, he grew even angrier, gave a shout, rushed to the front, and thrust again with his spear. The Pilgrim swung his staff, fought a few more bouts, and then fled again. The fiend king cursed, "Monkey, you used to have the skill to fight twenty or thirty rounds; why do you flee now just when we are in the heat of battle? Why?" The Pilgrim laughed and said, "Worthy son, your old father is afraid you will set fire." The fiend said, "I won't set fire; come up." The Pilgrim said, "Since you won't set fire, step aside; a true man does not strike people in front of his own home." The fiend, unaware of the trick, truly raised his spear and gave chase again. The Pilgrim dragged his staff and loosened his fist. The fiend king was beguiled and only pursued. The one running ahead was like a shooting star crossing the sky; the one chasing behind was like an arrow loosed from the bowstring.
Before long, they saw the Bodhisattva. The Pilgrim said, "Fiend, I am afraid of you; spare me. Now that you have chased me all the way to the place of the South Sea Guanyin Bodhisattva, why don't you go back?" The fiend king did not believe it; gritting his teeth, he kept on coming. The Pilgrim shook his body and hid within the radiant light of the Bodhisattva. When the fiend saw that the Pilgrim had vanished, he approached, opened his eyes wide, and said to the Bodhisattva, "Are you the rescue soldier that Sun Wukong invited?" The Bodhisattva did not answer. The fiend king turned his long spear and shouted, "Ho! Are you the rescue soldier Sun Wukong invited?" The Bodhisattva still did not answer. The fiend aimed a thrust at the Bodhisattva's heart. The Bodhisattva transformed into a golden light and flew straight up into the ninth heaven. The Pilgrim followed her and said, "Bodhisattva, you can fool me easily enough, but that fiend asked you again and again; why did you pretend to be deaf and dumb, not daring to make a sound, and let him drive you away with a single thrust of his spear, leaving even that lotus throne behind?" The Bodhisattva only said, "Do not speak; watch what he will do next."
At this moment, the Pilgrim and Mu-cha were both in the air, watching side by side. They saw the fiend give a cold laugh and say, "You reckless ape, you have mistaken me. He does not know what sort of person he takes my Holy Infant for. Several times he could not defeat me in battle, and now he has gone to invite some worthless Bodhisattva—but I drove her away with a single thrust of my spear, leaving her without form or trace, and she even abandoned her precious lotus throne. Wait till I go up and sit on it." Good fiend! He also imitated the Bodhisattva, crossed his arms and legs, and sat down in the middle of it. The Pilgrim saw this and said, "Fine, fine, fine—the lotus throne is given away." The Bodhisattva said, "Wukong, what are you saying?" The Pilgrim said, "What? What? The lotus throne is given to someone. That fiend is sitting on it with his backside; surely you don't want it back?" The Bodhisattva said, "I want him to sit on it." The Pilgrim said, "His body is small and delicate; he sits even more steadily than you." The Bodhisattva called, "Do not speak; watch the magic power."
She pointed downward with the willow branch and called out, "Withdraw!" Then all the floral splendor of the lotus throne vanished, and the auspicious light scattered completely. It turned out that the fiend king was sitting on the tips of knives. She at once ordered Mu-cha: "Take the demon-subduing pestle and strike the knife handles." Mu-cha descended from the clouds and, as if building a wall, struck with the demon-subduing pestle over a thousand times. The knives pierced through the fiend's two legs, the tips emerging, blood spurted and the flesh split. But the monster—watch him—he gritted his teeth, endured the pain, dropped his long spear, and used his hands to pull at the knives. The Pilgrim said, "Bodhisattva, that monster is not afraid of pain; he is still pulling out the knives." When the Bodhisattva saw this, she called Mu-cha back and said, "Do not harm his life yet." Then she lowered the willow branch again, recited the spell of the syllable "Om," and the Dipper knives all turned into barbed hooks like wolf's fangs, impossible to pull out. Only then did the fiend grow panicked; grasping the knife points, he cried out in pain: "Bodhisattva, your disciple has eyes but could not recognize your vast magic power. I beg you to have mercy and spare my life; I will never again rely on my evil ways. I am willing to enter the Dharma door and observe the precepts."
The Bodhisattva, upon hearing this, then together with the two Pilgrims and the White Parrot, lowered their golden light and came before the demon king, asking, "Will you accept my precepts and discipline?" The demon king nodded his head and said with tears, "If you spare my life, I am willing to accept precepts and discipline." The Bodhisattva said, "Will you enter my gate?" The demon king said, "If you indeed spare my life, I am willing to enter the Dharma-gate." The Bodhisattva said, "If that is so, I shall anoint your crown and confer the precepts upon you." She then took from her sleeve a small golden razor, drew near, and shaved several strokes atop the monster's head, shaping it into the style of "Mount Tai pressing down on the crown," leaving three topknots and twisting up three coiled locks. The Pilgrim stood by and laughed, saying, "This fiend has met with great ill luck—he's been made neither man nor woman, and looks like no one knows what." The Bodhisattva said, "Now that you have received my precepts, I shall not treat you lightly. I shall call you Sudhana, the Boy of Good Wealth—how does that sit with you?" That monster nodded his head and accepted, only hoping for his life to be spared. The Bodhisattva then raised her hand, pointed, and called out, "Withdraw!" With a crash, the Heavenly Gang Blades all fell to the dust, and the boy's body was unharmed.
The Bodhisattva called out, "Hui'an, take these blades back to the Heavenly Palace and return them to your royal father. Do not come to meet me; go first to Mount Potalaka and await me there among all the devas." Moksha received the command, took the blades up to the heavens, and returned to the sea—but of that no more.
Now that boy's wild nature was still unsettled. Seeing that the pain in his legs had ceased, the wounds on his haunches were healed, and his head was twisted into three topknots, he went and snatched up his long spear, pointed it at the Bodhisattva, and said, "Where is there any true magic power that subdues me? This is nothing but a trick of disguise! I'll accept no precepts—take this spear!" And he thrust it straight at the Bodhisattva's face. This so enraged the Pilgrim that he raised his iron staff to strike. But the Bodhisattva only called out, "Do not strike—I have my own way of dealing with him." She then took from her sleeve a golden headband and said, "This precious object was originally given to me by Tathāgata Buddha when he sent me to the Eastern Land to seek a scripture-taker—the three headbands known as the Golden, the Tightening, and the Constricting. The Tightening headband I first put on you; the Constricting headband I used to subdue the Great Sage Who Guards the Mountain; this Golden headband I have never yet bestowed upon anyone. Now, seeing that this monster is without propriety, I shall give it to him." The excellent Bodhisattva then waved the headband in the wind, called out, "Change!" and it immediately transformed into five headbands, which she flung at the boy's body, shouting, "Strike!" One clasped itself upon his crown, two upon his left and right hands, and two upon his left and right feet. The Bodhisattva said, "Wukong, step aside a little, while I recite the Golden Headband Spell." The Pilgrim, alarmed, said, "Bodhisattva! I asked you to come here to subdue this fiend—how is it that you would recite a spell against me?" The Bodhisattva said, "This spell is not the Tightening Headband Spell to curse you; it is the Golden Headband Spell to curse that boy." Only then did the Pilgrim feel at ease, and he stayed close by her side, listening to her recite the spell. The Bodhisattva pressed her fingers together in a mudra and silently recited it several times, whereupon that fiend rubbed his ears and scratched his cheeks, curled up his limbs and rolled about. And so it is said:
One word can reach across all worlds of sand—
Vast and boundless is the depth of Dharma-power.
But if you do not know how that boy at last took refuge, pray listen to the explanation in the next chapter.