Chapter 87

The Great Way is deep and obscure; how can it be told? If spoken, it would startle ghosts and spirits. It harbors the cosmos, distinguishes the mystic light— true joy unmatched in the world. Before Vulture Peak, a precious pearl is held forth, brightly reflecting five kinds of radiance. It illumines all beings above and below heaven and earth; those who know it live as long as the mountains and seas. Now to resume: Tang Sanzang and his three disciples, having taken leave of the woodcutter, descended from the Hidden Mist Mountain and set out upon the main road. After traveling several days, they suddenly saw a city close ahead. Sanzang said, "Wukong, do you see that city ahead? Is it the kingdom of Tianzhu?" Wukong waved his hand and said, "No, no. Though the Tathāgata’s place is called the Ultimate Bliss, it has no city—it is a great mountain, with terraces, pavilions, and halls within, called Spirit Mountain’s Great Thunderclap Monastery. Even if we reach Tianzhu, that is not where the Tathāgata dwells; Tianzhu is still who knows how many leagues from Spirit Mountain. That city is probably an outlying prefecture of Tianzhu—we shall only know for certain when we get to its border." Before long they arrived outside the city. Sanzang dismounted and entered through the three gateways. He saw that the people’s affairs were desolate, the streets and lanes deserted. When they came to the market crossroad, they saw many persons dressed in blue standing in ranks left and right, and several men in caps and belts standing under the eaves. As the four of them walked along the street, those people made no effort to step aside. Zhu Bajie, coarse and boorish, stuck out his long snout and called out, "Make way, make way!" Those people suddenly looked up, and when they saw their appearance, each one’s bones went soft and sinews limp; they stumbled and staggered, all crying, "Monsters are coming! Monsters are coming!" The men in caps and belts under the eaves were so frightened that they trembled and bowed, asking, "From what direction do you come?" Sanzang, fearing that his disciples might cause trouble, took the lead and said to the crowd, "This humble monk is sent by the Great Tang of the East to worship the Buddha and seek scriptures at the Great Thunderclap Monastery in Tianzhu. Passing through your honorable region, I do not know its name, nor have we yet found lodging; we entered the city without due avoidance. I beg your lordships to forgive our offense." Only then did the officials return the greeting and say, "This place is an outlying prefecture of Tianzhu, named Fengxian Prefecture. There has been drought for years on end. The prefect has ordered us to post this notice here, seeking a master of Dharma to pray for rain and save the people." Hearing this, Wukong said, "Where is your notice?" The officials said, "The notice is here; we had just swept the corridor and had not yet hung it up." Wukong said, "Bring it for me to see." The officials immediately unrolled the notice and hung it under the eaves. Wukong and the other three stepped forward and looked at it together. The notice read: **The Prefect of Fengxian Prefecture, Great Tianzhu Kingdom, Shangguan, issues this proclamation to seek out wise masters and invite great Dharma arts:** Whereas this prefecture’s territory is broad, its army and people prosperous; yet for successive years there has been severe drought and prolonged desiccation—the farmlands are blighted and the military lands impoverished, the river channels shallow and the irrigation ditches empty. There is no water in the wells, no moisture in the springs. Wealthy households barely manage to preserve their lives; the poor find it hard to stay alive. A peck of grain costs a hundred pieces of gold; a bundle of firewood is worth five taels of silver. A ten-year-old girl is traded for three pints of rice; a five-year-old boy is taken away by whoever comes. Within the city, people fear the law and pawn their clothes and possessions to survive; in the countryside, they defy authority, committing robbery and even cannibalism to save their lives. Therefore we issue this notice, hoping that wise and worthy persons from all quarters will pray for rain and rescue the people. We shall reward them handsomely, offering a thousand taels of gold in thanks—this is no empty word. This proclamation is hereby given. After reading it, Wukong said to the officials, "What is this 'Prefect Shangguan'?" The officials said, "Shangguan is the surname—that is our prefect’s family name." Wukong laughed and said, "That surname is rather rare." Bajie said, "Elder Brother, you haven’t read books. In the *Hundred Family Surnames*, there is a line 'Shangguan, Ouyang'." Sanzang said, "Disciples, let us not idle talk. Which of you can pray for rain? If you can, pray for a season of sweet rain to relieve the people’s suffering—that would be a most virtuous deed; if not, let us press on and not delay our journey." Wukong said, "What is so difficult about praying for rain? I, Old Sun, have stirred rivers and seas, shifted the stars and turned the Dipper, kicked the heavens and overturned wells, spewed mist and blown clouds, shouldered mountains and chased the moon, called the wind and summoned the rain—which of these was not a pastime of my youth? What is so rare about it?" When the officials heard this, they sent two men hurriedly to the prefectural office to report, "My lord, a great joy has arrived!" The prefect was burning incense and silently praying when he heard the sound of good news, and at once asked, "What joy?" The official said, "Today, as we took the notice to the market crossroad to post it, four monks arrived, saying they were sent by the Great Tang of the East to worship the Buddha and seek scriptures at the Great Thunderclap Monastery in Tianzhu. Upon seeing the notice, they said they could bring sweet rain, so we came especially to report." The prefect immediately straightened his clothes and walked on foot, without sedan chair, horses, or a large retinue, straight to the market crossroad, and with proper ceremony earnestly invited them. Suddenly someone announced, "The prefect has arrived!" The crowd stepped aside. When the prefect saw Tang Sanzang, he was not afraid of the ugliness of his disciples; he knelt right in the middle of the street and prostrated himself, saying, "I, the subordinate official, am Shangguan, Prefect of Fengxian Prefecture. I have bathed and burned incense to invite you, Master, to pray for rain and save the people. I beg the Master to extend great compassion and employ his divine powers to rescue and deliver us." Sanzang returned the greeting and said, "This is not the place to speak; allow this poor monk to go to a temple or monastery, where it will be better to perform the rite." The prefect said, "Let the Master come with me to my humble office, where there will be a clean place." The master and disciples then led the horse and shouldered the baggage, going straight to the prefectural residence, where they greeted one another in turn. The prefect ordered tea and a vegetarian meal to be served; after a short while the meal arrived. Bajie ate with reckless abandon, like a starving tiger, so that those carrying the trays were terrified, coming and going, adding soup and rice, like figures in a revolving lantern; they barely finished serving before he had eaten his fill. After the meal, Tang Sanzang thanked for the food and then asked, "My lord Prefect, how long has this drought lasted in your honorable region?" The prefect replied: "This great land is the kingdom of Tianzhu, and Fengxian is the outlying prefecture under my governance. For three successive years we have met with drought and desolation— not a blade of grass, no grain of the five cereals. Rich and poor alike find trade hard; nine out of ten households are all weeping. Of every three people, two have starved to death; the remaining one is like a candle in the wind. I, the subordinate, posted notices seeking worthy men, and fortunately have encountered true monks come to our country. If you will bestow an inch of rain to succor the common folk, I am willing to offer a thousand taels of gold to repay your great virtue!" When Wukong heard this, his face beamed with delight, and he laughed heartily, saying, "Say no more, say no more. If you speak of a thousand taels as thanks, then not a single drop of sweet rain will fall; but if you speak of accumulating merit and virtue, Old Sun will give you a great rain." The prefect was originally a man of great integrity and virtue, deeply concerned for the people, so he immediately invited Wukong to take the honored seat, bowed his head, and knelt, saying, "If the Master will indeed extend compassion, your subordinate would never dare to violate virtue." Wukong said, "Do not speak further for now; please rise. I only trouble you to keep a good watch over my master while Old Sun performs the rite." Sha Wujing said, "Elder Brother, how will you perform it?" Wukong said, "You and Bajie come over; stay under this hall with me and act as my attendants, while Old Sun summons the dragon to bring rain." Bajie and Wujing obeyed the command, and the three of them stood under the hall. The prefect burned incense and paid his respects. Sanzang sat and recited scriptures. Monkey recited the true words and chanted the incantations, and at once he saw a black cloud to the direct east gradually descending before the hall. It was the Old Dragon King of the Eastern Sea, Ao Guang. Ao Guang withdrew his cloud-foot, transformed into human form, walked forward, and bowing with clasped hands said to Monkey, "Great Sage, you have summoned this little dragon—where am I to serve you?" Monkey said, "Rise. I have troubled you to come from afar; there is nothing else. This place is Fengxian Prefecture, which has suffered drought for years. I ask you, why have you not come to bring rain?" The Old Dragon said, "May I inform the Great Sage: though I am able to bring rain, I am one of those sent by Heaven. If Heaven does not command, how would I dare to come and bring rain here on my own?" Monkey said, "I passed by this place and saw that the people have long suffered from drought, so I especially summoned you to bring rain and relieve them. How can you make excuses?" The Dragon King said, "How would I dare make excuses? But when the Great Sage recited the true words and called, I did not dare not to come. First, I have not received the imperial decree of Heaven; second, I have not brought the divine generals for rain-making—how can I move the Rain Ministry? Since the Great Sage has the will to relieve them, allow this little dragon to return to the sea and muster his troops, and may I trouble the Great Sage to go to the Heavenly Palace and obtain approval, requesting an imperial decree for rain, and asking the Water Officer to release the dragons, so that I may then rain according to the number and measure of the decree." When Monkey saw that he had spoken reason, he had no choice but to release the Old Dragon and send him back to the sea. He then leaped out of the Dipper and told Tripitaka in full about the Dragon King. Tripitaka said, "Since that is so, go and do it, but be sure not to speak falsely." Monkey then instructed Eight Rules and Sandy: "Protect the Master; I am going up to the Heavenly Palace." Good Great Sage, with a cry of "Go!" he vanished without a trace. The prefect trembled with fear and said, "Where has Elder Sun gone?" Eight Rules laughed, "He has mounted a cloud and gone to Heaven." The prefect was most reverent and issued urgent orders, commanding that throughout the city, in every street and lane, without distinction of officials, scholars, commoners, soldiers, or people, every household should set up a tablet for the Dragon King, place a vat of clear water at the gate, insert willow branches in the vat, and offer incense and worship—but of this we shall not speak. Now Monkey, riding his somersault cloud, went straight to the West Heaven Gate, where he was met by the Heavenly King Protector of the Nation, who led heavenly soldiers and attendants forward to greet him, saying, "Great Sage, is the work of fetching the scriptures complete?" Monkey said, "It is not far from it. Now we have reached the borders of the Tianzhu Kingdom, where there is an outlying prefecture named Fengxian. There has been no rain there for three years, and the people are in great distress. Old Sun wished to pray for rain to save them. I summoned the Dragon King to that place, but he said that without a decree he would not dare to act on his own, so I have come especially to have an audience with the Jade Emperor and request a decree." The Heavenly King said, "Over there it is likely that rain should not be given. I once heard it said that the prefect was unruly and offended Heaven and Earth, and the Lord on High punished him by establishing a Mountain of Rice, a Mountain of Flour, and a great Golden Lock; only when these three matters are resolved will rain be due." Monkey did not understand what this meant and wanted to see the Jade Emperor. The Heavenly King did not dare to stop him and let him enter. He went straight to the Hall of Universal Brilliance, where he was again met by the Four Great Heavenly Masters, who greeted him, "Great Sage, what business brings you here?" Monkey said, "Because I am escorting Tripitaka, we passed through the Tianzhu Kingdom, and at Fengxian Prefecture there is no rain. The prefect summoned a master to pray for rain. Old Sun summoned the Dragon King and intended to order rain, but he said he had not received the Jade Emperor's decree and dared not act without authorization, so I have come especially to request the decree to relieve the people's hardship." The Four Great Heavenly Masters said, "That place should not have rain." Monkey laughed, "Whether it should or should not, I trouble you to lead me in to announce this, and see how my plea fares." Immortal Ge said, "As the proverb goes, 'A fly wrapped in a net—what a big face!'" Xu Jingyang said, "Do not talk nonsense; let us just take him in." Qiu Hongji, Zhang Daoling, and the four true men Ge and Xu led him to the foot of the Lingxiao Hall and reported, "Your Majesty, Sun Wukong, on his way to Tianzhu Kingdom, Fengxian Prefecture, wishes to pray for rain and has come especially to request a decree." The Jade Emperor said, "That wretch, on the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month three years ago, when I was making my rounds to observe all the heavens and roaming through the three realms, I came to his place and saw that the official Shangguan was unrighteous: he overturned the vegetarian offerings meant for Heaven and fed them to dogs, and uttered foul words, committing offenses against Heaven. I immediately established three tasks, which are in the Hall of Diffused Fragrance. You may lead Sun Wukong to see them: if the three tasks are resolved, I will issue the decree to him; if not, let him not meddle in idle affairs." The four masters then led Monkey to the Hall of Diffused Fragrance to look. There they saw a Mountain of Rice, about ten fathoms high, and a Mountain of Flour, about twenty fathoms high. Beside the Mountain of Rice was a chicken the size of a fist, which was pecking at the rice with a peck now and then, slowly and steadily. Beside the Mountain of Flour was a golden-haired Pekingese dog, which was licking the flour with a lick now and then, long and short. On the left hung an iron rack, on which was suspended a golden lock about a foot three or four inches long, with a lock bolt as thick as a finger; below it was a bright lamp, and the flame of the lamp was scorching the lock bolt. Monkey did not understand its meaning, and turning around asked the Heavenly Masters, "What does this mean?" The Heavenly Masters said, "That wretch offended Heaven, and the Jade Emperor established these three tasks: only when the chicken has pecked all the rice, the dog has licked all the flour, and the lamp flame has burned through the lock bolt, will rain then be due." When Monkey heard this, his face turned pale with shock, and he dared not make any further report. He walked out of the hall, his face full of shame. The Four Heavenly Masters laughed and said, "Great Sage, do not be vexed. This matter can only be resolved by doing good. If there is a single thought of benevolence and compassion that moves Heaven, then the Mountain of Rice and the Mountain of Flour will collapse immediately, and the lock bolt will break at once. Go and persuade him to return to goodness, and good fortune will come of itself." Monkey followed their advice; without going back to the Lingxiao Hall to take leave of the Jade Emperor, he went straight down to the lower world to rejoin the mortals. In a moment, he arrived at the West Heaven Gate and again saw the Heavenly King Protector of the Nation. The Heavenly King said, "How did the request for the decree go?" Monkey told him the whole matter of the Mountain of Rice, the Mountain of Flour, and the Golden Lock, saying, "Truly as you said, they refused to issue the decree. Just now the Heavenly Masters saw me off and advised me to persuade that wretch to return to goodness, and then good fortune will be restored." So they took leave of each other, and he descended on his cloud back to the lower world. The prefect, together with Sanzang, Bajie, Sha Seng, and the assembled officials, soldiers, and commoners, came forward to welcome them, all crowding around to ask questions. Wukong shouted at the prefect, saying, "It is all because you, three years ago on the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month, offended Heaven and Earth, bringing calamity upon the people. Now Heaven refuses to send rain." The prefect was so alarmed that he knelt prostrate on the ground and said, "How does the master know of events from three years ago?" Wukong said, "You pushed over the vegetarian offerings for the Heaven-worshipping ceremony and fed them to dogs—tell the truth now." The prefect dared not conceal anything and said, "On the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month three years ago, I was presenting offerings to Heaven within my own yamen. Because my wife was unvirtuous and quarreled with me in abusive words, I lost my temper in a moment of ignorance and pushed over the offering table, spilling the vegetarian food, and indeed called the dogs to eat it. For these two years I have harbored this in my mind, my wits in a daze, with nowhere to explain myself. I did not know that Heaven had taken offense and brought calamity upon the people. Now that you, master, have come, I earnestly beg you to tell me clearly—what judgment has the Upper Realm passed?" Wukong said, "That very day was when the Jade Emperor descended to the mortal world. When He saw you feeding the sacrificial offerings to dogs and uttering foul words, the Jade Emperor immediately established three trials against you." Bajie asked, "What three trials?" Wukong said, "In the Píxiāng Hall a mountain of rice was set up, about ten zhang high, and a mountain of flour, about twenty zhang high. Beside the rice mountain is a small chicken no bigger than a fist, which pecks at the rice unhurriedly, now a peck fast, now a peck slow. Beside the flour mountain is a golden-haired Pekinese dog, which licks at the flour with long strokes and short strokes. On the left is an iron frame, from which hangs a great golden lock, its bolt as thick as a finger. Beneath it is a bright oil lamp, whose flame licks at the lock bolt. Only when the chicken has pecked all the rice, the dog has licked all the flour, and the lamp has burned through the lock bolt, will rain be allowed to fall here." Bajie laughed and said, "No problem, no problem. Elder Brother, if you'll take me there, I'll transform into my true form and eat up all his rice and flour in one go, and break the lock bolt—then we'll surely get rain." Wukong said, "Idiot, don't talk nonsense. This is a scheme set by Heaven—how could you get to see it?" Sanzang said, "If that's the case, what is to be done?" Wukong said, "Not difficult, not difficult. When I was leaving, the Four Heavenly Masters told me that doing good deeds is the only way to resolve it." The prefect knelt prostrate on the ground and pleaded piteously, "I only ask for the master's instruction—your subordinate will follow all of it." Wukong said, "If you turn your heart toward good, begin reciting the Buddha's name and reading scriptures without delay, and I will still act on your behalf. But if you remain unrepentant, I can do nothing to help you, and Heaven will soon bring punishment upon you—your life will not be spared." The prefect kowtowed and bowed, vowing to convert. He immediately summoned the local monks and Daoists to set up a place of worship, and each wrote documents to be submitted to the Three Heavens. The prefect led the assembly in burning incense and making obeisance, giving thanks to Heaven and Earth, and taking the blame upon himself in confession. Sanzang also recited scriptures with him. Meanwhile, fast messengers were dispatched throughout the city to order every household, great and small, men and women alike, to burn incense and recite the Buddha's name. From that time on, the sound of good deeds filled the air. Only then did Wukong grow pleased, and he said to Bajie and Sha Seng, "You two take good care of the master. Old Sun will go again for a while." Bajie said, "Elder Brother, where are you going now?" Wukong said, "This prefect has heeded my words and indeed received instruction with reverence and kindness, sincerely reciting the Buddha's name. I will go now to petition the Jade Emperor again and ask for some rain." Sha Seng said, "Since Elder Brother is going, there is no need to delay—do not hold up our journey. You must procure a full rainfall, so that we may achieve our true fruition." The Great Sage, excellent as ever, mounted the clouds again and went straight to the gates of Heaven, where he once again encountered the Heavenly King who guards the realm. The Heavenly King said, "Why have you come again?" Wukong said, "That prefect has already turned to good." The Heavenly King was also pleased. As they were speaking, the Messenger of the Directing Talisman appeared, bearing the Daoist documents and Buddhist memorials, and came to the gates of Heaven to deliver them. When the Talisman Messenger saw Wukong, he made a salute and said, "This is all thanks to the Great Sage's merit in urging goodness." Wukong said, "Where are you taking these documents?" The Talisman Messenger said, "Straight to the Hall of Universal Brightness, to be delivered by the Heavenly Masters to the Jade Emperor, the Great Heavenly Venerable." Wukong said, "In that case, go ahead. I will follow shortly." The Talisman Messenger entered the Heavenly Gates. The Heavenly King who guards the realm said, "Great Sage, there is no need to see the Jade Emperor. You need only go to the Nine Heavens Yingyuan Mansion and borrow some Thunder Gods—then you can produce thunder and lightning yourselves and bring rain to that place." Indeed, Wukong followed this advice. He entered the Heavenly Gates, did not go to the Lingxiao Hall to seek an imperial command, but turned his cloud steps and went straight to the Nine Heavens Yingyuan Mansion. There he saw the Thunder Gate Envoys, the Records Examiner, and the Investigation Examiner, who all came forward to greet him with salutes, saying, "Great Sage, what brings you here?" Wukong said, "I have business and wish to see the Heavenly Venerable." The three envoys immediately announced him. The Heavenly Venerable then descended from his nine-phoenix, red-daisied screen, adjusted his robes, and came out to receive him. After they had exchanged courtesies, Wukong said, "I have come especially to beg a favor." The Heavenly Venerable said, "What is it?" Wukong said, "Because I am escorting Tang Sanzang through Fengxian Prefecture, and saw that the drought there is extreme, I promised to procure rain for them. I have come especially to borrow some of your ministry's officers and generals to produce thunder there." The Heavenly Venerable said, "I know that the prefect offended Heaven and that three trials were established. I wonder whether rain is yet due?" Wukong laughed and said, "I saw the Jade Emperor yesterday and sought His command. The Jade Emperor had the Heavenly Masters take me to the Píxiāng Hall to see the three trials—they were the rice mountain, the flour mountain, and the golden lock. Only when these three trials are broken can rain be allowed. I was worried about how to break them, and the Heavenly Masters instructed me to urge the prefect and the others to do good, saying that when people have good thoughts, Heaven will surely follow them. Only thus could we turn Heaven's will and relieve the calamity. Now good thoughts have suddenly arisen, and the sound of good deeds fills the air. Just now the Talisman Messenger has submitted the documents recording their reform and good deeds to the Jade Emperor. Old Sun has therefore come especially to your honored mansion to beg the loan of your Thunder Ministry's officers and generals to assist." The Heavenly Venerable said, "Since that is the case, I shall dispatch Deng, Xin, Zhang, and Tao, leading the Lightning Lady, to descend with the Great Sage to Fengxian Prefecture and produce thunder." The four generals, together with the Great Sage, arrived at the boundaries of Fengxian Prefecture in no time at all and began their work from midair. There was heard a rushing, rumbling sound of thunder, and the pattering flash of lightning. Truly: Like purple-golden serpents the lightning darts, Thunder roars as swarming creatures start. Blazing firelight flies in dazzling glare, With crashing peals that split the mountains bare. Fissures streak the sky with blinding light, Shaking tremors run across the night. Red flames flash, and sprouts push through the ground— Ten thousand miles of rivers shake and resound. Within the city and without, officials high and low, soldiers and commoners alike—having not heard thunder or lightning for a full three years—now that they saw and heard the rolling thunder and flashing lightning, all knelt down together, some holding incense burners on their heads, some holding willow branches in their hands, all reciting, "Namo Amitabha! Namo Amitabha!" This single cry of good thoughts indeed moved Heaven above. As the ancient poem says: When in the human heart a thought is born, All Heaven and Earth know of it without scorn. If good and evil had no retribution at all, Then Heaven and Earth themselves would surely fall. Now without further ado, Sun the Great Sage commanded the thunder generals to draw lightning and roll thunder over Fengxian Prefecture, until every person turned to goodness. But let us leave that and speak of the Celestial Courier of the Upper Realm, who delivered the two documents from the monks and Daoists to the Hall of Universal Brightness, where the Four Heavenly Masters presented them in the Jade Emperor's Lingxiao Hall. When the Jade Emperor saw them, he said, "Since those fellows have conceived good intentions, let us see how the three matters stand." Just as he spoke, an officer in charge of the Hall of Perfumed Splendor came to report: "The mountain of rice and the mountain of wheat that were set up have both collapsed; in an instant the rice and wheat vanished, and the locking beam has also broken." Before he had finished, the celestial officer on duty led the Earth God, the City God, and the local tutelary deities of Fengxian Prefecture, who all came to bow and report: "The prefect of this commandery, together with all the great and small households in the entire city—not one family or one person has failed to take refuge in the fruits of goodness, revering the Buddha and honoring Heaven. Now we beg that You extend compassionate grace and send down sweet rain universally, to save the common people." When the Jade Emperor heard this he was greatly pleased and immediately issued a decree: "Let the Wind Department, the Cloud Department, and the Rain Department each obey the order; go down to the mortal world, within the bounds of Fengxian Prefecture, and at this very day and hour, sound thunder, spread clouds, and send down rain to the depth of three feet and forty-two points." Thereupon the Four Heavenly Masters received the decree and transmitted it to the various departments, which at once descended to the world, each exerting its divine power and acting in concert. Now the Monkey King was in midair with Deng, Xin, Zhang, and Tao and the Lightning Lady, directing their maneuvers, when they saw all the deities arrive and join together in one great assembly. Then clouds and winds met, and the sweet rain poured down in torrents. A fine rain: Dense, dense, the heavy clouds; Obscure, obscure, the black mist. Thunder chariots rumble loud; Lightning flashes blaze. Rolling, rolling, the wild wind; Gushing, gushing, the sudden rain. It is called: one thought turns back Heaven, And myriad people have their full hope. All thanks to the Great Sage who wielded the primal movement— Ten thousand miles of rivers and hills, every place shaded. The good rain pours as if overturning rivers and draining seas, Covering the wilds and confusing the sky. Before the eaves hang waterfalls; Outside the windows tinkle and chime. In ten thousand doors and a thousand households people chant the Buddha; Through six streets and three markets the floodwaters race. East and west, every river channel is full; North and south, every creek and bay is open. Withered seedlings gain moisture; Dead trees return to life. In the fields, hemp and wheat flourish; Round the villages, beans and grain rise. Travellers rejoice that trade may pass; Farmers love to plough and weed. From now on the millet and grain grow strong and free, And naturally the harvest will be rich and abundant. Winds timely, rains seasonable, the people peaceful and happy; The seas calm and the rivers clear, all enjoy great peace. When a full day's rain had fallen to the measure of three feet and forty-two points, the multitude of deities gradually withdrew. Sun the Great Sage called out in a loud voice, "You deities of the four departments, pause your clouds for a moment, and let old Sun go and call the prefect to come and thank you all. You may part the clouds and mist and each reveal your true form, so that these mortals may see with their own eyes; then they will believe and offer worship with true faith." When the deities heard this, they had no choice but to stop in midair. The Monkey King then descended on his cloud and went straight into the prefectural city, where he found Tripitaka, Bajie, and Sha Monk already coming to greet him. The prefect approached with a bow at every step to give thanks. The Monkey King said, "Wait a little before thanking me. I have already detained the deities of the four departments. You may summon many people to come and bow in thanks together with you, so that they will be willing to send rain again in future." The prefect thereupon sent out swift orders to call the multitude to join in the offering, and every one of them took up incense and made obeisance toward the sky. Then the deities of the four departments parted the clouds and mist and each revealed his true form. The four departments were the Rain Department, the Thunder Department, the Cloud Department, and the Wind Department. Behold: The Dragon King displayed his form, The Thunder Generals revealed their bodies; The Cloud Lads appeared, The Wind Earl showed his true self. The Dragon King displayed his form—silver-whiskered, ancient-faced, peerless in the world; The Thunder Generals revealed their bodies—hooked-beaked, awe-inspiring, truly incomparable. The Cloud Lads appeared—who could match their jade faces and golden crowns? The Wind Earl showed his true self—like one with frowning brows and ringed eyes. All together they manifested in the azure firmament, Each in order arrayed in holy vesture. Only then did the people of Fengxian Prefecture believe, And bowing with incense, turn from evil. Today they looked up to the heavenly generals above, Washed their hearts and turned to goodness, all taking refuge. The deities waited for a full hour, while the people bowed without cease. Sun the Monkey King again rose to the clouds and saluted them, saying, "We have troubled you, we have troubled you. I beg you all to return to your respective offices. Old Sun will also instruct the households within the prefecture to make offerings to the high divinities and at the proper seasons to hold sacrificial rites. From now on, may you send wind every five days and rain every ten days, and come to save them again." The deities assented and each returned to his department—but no more of that. Now when the Great Sage descended from his cloud, he said to Tripitaka, "The business is done and the people are at peace. We can pack up and be on our way." When the prefect heard this, he hastily saluted and said, "Elder Sun, what are you saying? This one act is a favor of boundless measure. Your subordinate will send men to prepare a small feast to repay your great kindness. I will also buy fields among the people and build a monastery for you, establish a life-shrine for you, carve a stele with your name, and offer sacrifices through the four seasons. Even if I carved it into my bones and engraved it on my heart, I could not repay one ten-thousandth. How can you speak of leaving?" Tripitaka said, "Your words are proper, but we are monks who travel on foot from the West and dare not stay long. In a day or two we must certainly depart." The prefect would not agree to let them go, and that night he sent many men to prepare wine and food and to begin building the shrine. The next day he opened a great feast, inviting Tang Monk to sit in the high place, while Sun the Great Sage and Bajie and Sha Monk sat in attendance. The prefect, together with all the high and low officials of the commandery, raised cups and offered delicacies, with soft music and gentle playing, and entertained them for a full day. This scene was truly joyous. There is a poem to prove it: The long-dry fields at last met sweet rain; The river-roads for merchants opened everywhere. Deeply they felt the holy monks who came to their prefecture, And much they thanked the Great Sage who went to the heavenly palace. The three evils of former days were undone; One thought of refuge made the fruit of goodness broad. From now on may they live as in the age of Yao and Shun— Winds five times, rains ten times, ten thousand years of abundance. They had a feast one day and a banquet the next; they gave thanks today and offered gifts tomorrow. They detained them for nearly half a month, waiting only until the monastery and the life-shrine were completed. One day the prefect invited the four to come and see them. Tripitaka exclaimed in surprise, "The work is so vast—how could it have been finished so quickly?" The prefect said, "Your subordinate pressed the laborers to work day and night without rest, and had it finished in haste. I have especially invited you, my lords, to look at it." The Monkey King laughed and said, "Truly a worthy and able prefect!" They immediately went to the new monastery and saw that the halls and pavilions were lofty, and the mountain-gate magnificent; they praised it without end. The Monkey King asked the master to leave a name for the monastery. Tripitaka said, "I have one: let it be called 'The Monastery of Universal Salvation by Sweet Rain.'" The prefect praised it, saying, "Excellent, excellent." With gold leaf he widely summoned monks to attend to the incense and lamps. To the left of the hall they set up a life-shrine for the four, with sacrifices in each of the four seasons; they also built temples for the Thunder God, the Dragon God, and others, to repay their divine merits. After viewing everything, they ordered immediate departure. The people of that commandery, knowing they could not keep them long, each prepared parting gifts, but not a single coin was accepted. Therefore all the officials and people of the commandery made a great display of drums and music, and unfurled banners and canopies, escorting them for thirty miles or more, still loath to part. Then they wiped their tears and watched them go, not turning back until they could no longer see them. This is truly: The virtuous holy monks left behind universal salvation; The Great Sage Equal to Heaven widely spread his grace. But we do not know how many days it will take from here before they see Tathāgata—let us listen to the explanation in the next installment.