Chapter 22

Bajie Fights a Great Battle on the Flowing Sand River; Muzha, Bearing the Dharma, Takes in Wujing

The story goes that the Tang monk and his two disciples, freed from their trouble, traveled on, and in no great number of days crossed Yellow Wind Ridge, west of which the land opened into level plain. Time ran swift; summer passed and autumn came, with cold cicadas shrilling in the withered willows and the Fire Star sliding west. As they went they saw before them a great flood of wild water, muddy billows surging in waves. From the saddle Tripitaka called in haste: "Disciples, look how the water stretches wide ahead, with never a boat in sight — how are we to cross?" Bajie looked and said, "Wild water indeed; no boat could ferry it." Pilgrim leaped into the air, shaded his eyes with one hand, and looked; even his heart quailed. "Master, this is hard — truly hard. For old Sun to cross this river, one twist of the waist would do it; but for you, Master, it would be a thousandfold hard to ford, ten thousand years hard to walk." "It is boundless to my eye," said Tripitaka. "How wide is it truly?" "Eight hundred li across, near enough," said Pilgrim. "How can you fix the distance, brother?" said Bajie. "I will not hide it from you, worthy brother: this pair of eyes of mine can read the luck of the road a thousand li off by daylight. Just now, from the air, I saw this river stretch beyond knowing up and down — but across it is fully eight hundred li." The elder sighed in his trouble and reined his horse about — and there on the bank stood a stone tablet. The three came up together and read it: three characters in seal script, "Flowing Sand River," and beneath, four small lines in regular script:

Eight hundred li of Flowing Sand, three thousand fathoms of Weak Water deep.A goose feather will not float; a reed flower sinks to the bottom for certain.

Master and disciples were still reading the tablet when the waves began to heap like mountains, the billows to boil like ridges, and out of the middle of the river, with a hiss and a splash, bored up a monster, hideous beyond telling:

A head of red-flame hair, loose and uncombed; two round eyes bright as lamps.A face neither black nor green but indigo-blue; a voice like thunder, like drums, an old dragon's voice.Over his shoulders a goose-yellow cape; at his waist a girdle of white rattan, doubled and bunched.From his neck hang nine skulls; in his hand a precious staff, towering and grim.

Whirling like a whirlwind, the demon made for the bank and made straight at the Tang monk. Pilgrim, in alarm, snatched up his master and scrambled up the high bank, and so they got clear away. Bajie set down his load, pulled out the nailed rake, and struck at the demon; the demon met it with his precious staff. On the bank of the Flowing Sand River the two matched heroes each against each. It was a fine great fight:

Nine-toothed rake against demon-quelling staff: the two faced each other on the riverbank.One was the Governor, great Tianpeng; the other the banished Curtain-Raising General.In years past they had met in the Hall of Numinous Mist; today they strained and struggled to prove their strength.The rake went out, a dragon feeling with its claw; the staff came up, an elephant grinding its tusks.He stretched wide into the Great Four-Square stance; he bored in with the Wind-Facing thrust.This one raked blind, headless, faceless; that one struck no wild stroke, none wasted.One a man-eating fiend long lodged in the Flowing Sand realm; the other a warrior of cultivation holding the Buddha's teaching and rule.

Back and forth the two of them fought twenty rounds, with victory to neither.

The Great Sage, guarding the Tang monk, led the horse and watched the luggage. Seeing Bajie locked in battle with the demon, he ground his teeth with vexation, rubbed his palms and cracked his knuckles, and could no longer keep out of it. Drawing his staff he said, "Master, sit still and do not be afraid. Let old Sun go have some sport with him." The master pleaded in vain. He whistled and leaped to the front. The demon and Bajie were fighting at close grips, neither yielding. Pilgrim swung the iron staff and brought it down full on the demon's head; the demon whipped about, barely dodged, and plunged straight into the Flowing Sand River. Bajie hopped about in fury. "Brother, who asked you to come? The demon's hand was slowing; he could barely parry my rake. Three rounds more and I would have had him. Now he has seen how dangerous you are and run off beaten — what a business!" Pilgrim laughed. "Brother, truth to tell, since we subdued the Yellow Wind demon and came down off that mountain I have not swung a staff this whole month. Watching you two fight was too sweet; my feet itched, and I could not help jumping in for a little play. Who knew the creature had no taste for play? Off he went."

Hand in hand, talking and laughing, the two went back to the Tang monk. "Did you catch the monster?" "He could not stand the fight," said Pilgrim; "he ran and dove under the water." "Disciples," said Tripitaka, "this creature has lived here long; he knows the depths and the shallows. Water like this, boundless and bottomless, with never a boat — we need someone who knows the water to lead us over." "Just so," said Pilgrim. "The proverb says: he who touches vermilion turns red; he who touches ink turns black. The demon lives here, so he surely knows the water. If we catch him, we will not kill him; we will make him carry our master across, and settle the rest afterward." "No hesitating, brother," said Bajie. "You go catch him; old Pig will watch the master." "Worthy brother, I will not boast here: water work is not old Sun's strong suit. To walk the flood I would have to pinch the sign and murmur the water-avoiding spell; otherwise I must turn into some fish or shrimp, crab or turtle, before I could go. For tricks and feats, on high mountains or in clouds, however strange and twisted, old Sun can do them all; but business in the water goes a little lame." "Back in the day," said Bajie, "I governed the Heavenly River and commanded eighty thousand water troops, so I know a little water craft. Only I fear the fiend may have kin and clan down there, seven households and eight generations of them all coming at me — what if I cannot hold them, and get scooped away?" "If you fight him in his own water, do not linger over the battle. You may lose, you may not win. Lure him out, and old Sun will strike and help you." "Good; I go." With that he stripped off his blue damask gown, pulled off his shoes, whirled his rake in both hands, parted the water, and brought out all his arts of the old days — leaping the waves, tumbling the billows — and drove in, down and down to the river bottom, walking forward on his way.

Now the demon had come back from his rout and just gotten his breath when he heard water being pushed and parted. He rose suddenly to look: it was Bajie, driving through the flood with his rake. The demon raised his staff and shouted in his face: "Monk! Where do you think you are going? Mind yourself, or taste this." Bajie caught the blow on his rake. "What kind of monster are you, daring to block the way here?" "You do not know me," said the fiend. "I am none of your devil horde, and no nameless nobody either." "If you are no devil or monster, why do you live here taking life? Tell me your true name, straight out, and I will spare you." The demon said: "I —"

Born small, I came with spirit and vigor strong; through heaven and earth, ten thousand li, I roamed.A hero, my might was known through the world; among gallant men I made my pattern.Through ten thousand states and nine provinces I went at will; through five lakes and four seas I charged wherever I pleased.All because I studied the Way to the sky's far edge; seeking a master, I wandered the open earth.Year after year my robe and bowl went with me close; day by day my heart and spirit could never be let loose.Cloud-roaming, I circled the earth scores of times; idly walking, I made a hundred journeys and more.So at last I met a true man, who opened for me the great way bright with golden light.First I gathered in the babe and the bonnie lass; after, I set loose the Wood Mother and the Metal Lord.The bright hall's kidney-water flowed into the Flowery Pool; the tower's liver-fire was cast into the heart's chamber.Three thousand deeds done, I bowed before the face of Heaven; with single heart I honored the bright and splendid Way.The Jade Emperor then raised me in rank, and with his own mouth named me Curtain-Raising General.Within the South Gate of Heaven I was held in honor; before the Hall of Numinous Mist I ranked among the first.At my waist hung the tiger-head tablet; in my hand I held the demon-quelling staff.A golden helmet on my head flashed back the sun; bright as rosy clouds the armor on my body.Going and coming I guarded the carriage, ever in the lead; out and in at court I stood highest.Only because the Queen Mother sent down the peaches of immortality and set a banquet in the Jade Pool, summoning the host of generals —my hand slipped, and I shattered the glass cup; the gods of heaven each lost his soul.The Jade Emperor's wrath blazed up at once, and he ordered the minister at his left hand:strip my crown, strip my armor, strike my title, and hurl my body on the field of execution.Thanks be to the great barefoot immortal, who stepped out of his rank and pleaded, and I was let go.Spared death, restored to life, no punishment marked me: I was banished to the east bank of the Flowing Sand.Fed, I slept lazy in these mountains; hungry, I turned the waves hunting food.The woodcutter who met me did not keep his life; the fisherman who saw me lost his body.Coming and going I have eaten men beyond count; over and over, a pestilence of death.You dare play the bully at my own door; today my belly has hopes of you.Do not say your flesh is coarse and not worth tasting: once caught, I will mince you slowly into fish paste.

At this Bajie flew into a rage. "You foul creature! Not a scrap of judgment in you. Old Pig can still pinch out the water-spray, and you dare call me coarse meat and talk of mincing? I see you take me for an old slab of bacon gone off its cure. No more of your rudeness — taste your ancestor's rake!" The demon, seeing the rake come, played Phoenix Nodding Its Head and slipped past. The two fought their way up out of the water and each trod the waves. This bout was unlike the first; look at them:

The Curtain-Raising General, the Marshal Tianpeng — each brought forth his powers, a sight to love.The one wheeled the demon-quelling staff about the head; the other's nine-toothed rake flew quick as his hand.Leaping waves shook mountain and river; pushed billows darkened the world.Fierce as the Year-Star charging the banners; fell as the Death Star heaving up the canopy.This one, loyal-hearted and terrible, guarded the Tang monk; that one, awash in crimes, had become a water fiend.One rake-scratch left nine streaks; where the staff fell, soul and spirit broke.Straining gladly they held each other; with all their hearts they meant to win.In the end it was all for the scripture-seeker: their rage shot to heaven and would not be patient.They churned the bream and mullet, carp and perch, out of their bright scales; turtles, soft-shells, great turtles, and alligators lost their tender shields.Red shrimp and purple crabs gave up their lives; the gods of the water palace bowed toward the sky above.One heard only billows rolling, waves boiling, like thunder crashing; sun and moon without light, heaven and earth appalled.

The two fought a full two watches, and still neither won. Truly it was a copper basin meeting an iron broom, a jade chime answering a golden bell.

The Great Sage, with the Tang monk safe on one side, watched the two of them struggle on the water with burning eyes, yet could not decently join in. Bajie feinted one rake stroke, pretended to lose and be beaten, and turned toward the east bank. The demon came pelting after, close to shore. Pilgrim could bear it no longer: leaving his master, he drew the iron staff, leaped to the river's edge, and struck at the demon's crown. The creature dared not face him — whish! — and dove again into the river. Bajie bawled: "You Bimawen, Keeper of the Heavenly Horses — an impatient monkey to the bone! One moment more of patience, and I would have teased him up to the high ground, while you blocked the bank so he could not turn back — and would we not have had him? Now he is in there again; when will he ever come out?" "Idiot, stop bawling," said Pilgrim, laughing. "Let us go back and see our master."

Bajie and Pilgrim went up the high bank to Tripitaka, who half rose. "Disciples, you have labored hard." "Never mind the labor," said Bajie. "The only sure plan is to beat the demon and get you across the river." "How went your battle with him just now?" "His style and old Pig's are well matched. In the thick of it I feigned defeat, and he chased me up onto the bank; then he saw my brother with his staff raised, and off he ran." "Then what is to be done?" said Tripitaka. "Set your heart at rest, Master, and do not fret," said Pilgrim. "It grows late. Sit here on this cliff bank while old Sun begs a vegetarian meal; eat, sleep, and tomorrow we will see to it." "Good," said Bajie. "Off quick and back quick."

Pilgrim leaped up on his cloud and flew, and in a trice he was at a house straight north, begging a bowl of pure food, which he brought back to offer his master. Seeing him return so fast, the master said, "Wukong, ask the family where you begged for some plan to cross the river — would that not be better than battling this demon?" Pilgrim laughed. "That house is a long way off — five or seven thousand li. How would they know the water here? What use to ask them?" "There you go lying again, brother," said Bajie. "Five or seven thousand li — how did you come and go so fast?" "You little know. My somersault cloud covers one hundred and eight thousand li in a leap. Five or seven thousand? Two nods of the head, one bend of the waist, and I am there and back. What is hard in that?" "Brother, if it is so easy," said Bajie, "carry the Master on your back — nod your head, bend your waist, jump him over, and be done. Why wear ourselves out battling this monster?" "Can you not ride the clouds yourself? Carry him over, then." "The Master's mortal flesh and bone weigh like Mount Tai; how could these cloud-straddling shoulders bear it? Only your somersault could." "My somersault is also riding a cloud," said Pilgrim, "near or far, that is all the difference. You could not carry him; how should I carry him? The old saying goes: send Mount Tai, and it is light as a mustard seed; carry a common man, and you cannot break free of the red dust. A monster like this, with his snatching arts and wind-weaving, can only tug and drag along the ground; he cannot carry a man off through the air. That art old Sun can play too, and the art of hiding the body, and the art of shrinking the earth — old Sun knows every piece of them. But our master must pass through strange lands to the full, and cannot leap free of the sea of bitterness in a bound; that is why he cannot move an inch without us. You and I can only be his shield and guard, keep body and life in him; we cannot suffer these troubles for him, nor can we fetch the scriptures back ourselves. If one of us went ahead and stood before the Buddha, the Buddha would never hand the scriptures over to you and me so easily. It is the old rule: what comes too easy is held too cheap." The Idiot heard him out and took it with a yes, yes. So they ate their vegetable meal without dishes, and master and disciples rested below the east cliff of the Flowing Sand River.

Early next morning Tripitaka said, "Wukong, what is the plan today?" "There is no other plan: Bajie must go into the water again." "Brother," said Bajie, "you want the clean hands, and so I am the one for the water." "Worthy brother, this time I will lose no temper. You draw him up, I will bar the bank so he cannot get back, and we will have him taken — that much is certain."

Brave Bajie wiped his face, shook himself into fighting trim, took his rake in both hands, went to the river edge, parted the water, and went down again to the lair. The demon had just woken from sleep when he heard the water pushed and parting; he whipped his head about, eyes wide — and there was Bajie with his rake. He sprang out and blocked him head-on, roaring: "Slow down, slow down — mind my staff!" Bajie caught the staff on his rake. "What kind of mourning-staff is that? You would have your ancestor mind it, would you?" "You know nothing at all," said the monster. "This staff of mine —"

My precious staff has long been famed: its stock grew in the moon, of the sal-tree line.Wu Gang cut down a branch of it; Lu Ban's craft fashioned it past all compare.Within runs a core of beaten gold; without are wrapped ten thousand threads of pearl.Named the Precious Staff, it quells demons well; it keeps eternal guard at Numinous Mist, subduing monsters.Because I rose to be a great general, the Jade Emperor granted me to bear it at my side.Long or short, it goes as I please; thick or thin, it follows my wish.It has guarded the carriage at the Peach Banquet; it has stood at court in the highest heaven.On hall duty all the saints have bowed before it; raising the curtain, I have watched the immortals kneel.Nurtured to spirit, it is one divine weapon, no common tool of the mortal world.Since my banishment through the gate of heaven, it has ranged at will across the seas beyond.I do not boast without cause: no spear or blade under heaven can match it.That rusty nailed rake of yours is good for hoeing fields and banking garden beds.

Bajie laughed. "You under-beaten foul thing — never mind banking garden beds! One good swing of mine and you will have no place left to stick a plaster: nine holes streaming blood at once. If you even survive, you will carry lockjaw to your dying day." The demon dropped his guard, and there under the water, as before, the two of them fought their way up to the surface. This bout was truly unlike the last; look at them:

The precious staff wheeled; the nailed rake struck: no words passed between them, and kin they were not.Because the Wood Mother conquers the elixir's measure, the two of them were driven to clash in war.No winner yet, no loser, no turn of fortune — billows tossed and waves churned, and no peace between them.How could this one hold his rage in check? How could that one bear the affront with a wounded heart?Rake came, staff parried, each playing the hero; the Flowing Sand rolled, malignant and black.Heads high, toils endless — and all because Tripitaka travels toward the western lands.The nailed rake ferociously great; the precious staff wondrously practiced.This one seized hold and dragged for the shore; that one caught him and dunked him under the water.The noise was thunder splitting, stirring fish and dragons; clouds darkened, sky went dim, gods and spirits cowered.

Back and forth, round after round, they fought thirty, and still no sign which was the stronger. Bajie played his feigned-defeat trick again, dragged his rake away, and went. The demon came pelting after, riding the waves, and chased him to the cliff. "You foul monster," Bajie swore, "come up here! On the high ground, with solid earth underfoot, it is a proper place to fight." "You cheat," the demon swore back, "luring me up so your helper can come at me. You come down — fight me in the water." The creature had grown canny; he would not come ashore again, and only clamored with Bajie along the river's edge.

Pilgrim, seeing he would not come ashore, burned and burst with impatience, aching to pluck him out in one grab. "Master, you sit still," he said. "I will give him a hawk stooping on its prey." He sprang from his somersault into mid-air and came whistling down to snatch the demon. The creature, mid-clamor with Bajie, heard the wind of him, whipped about, saw Pilgrim dropping from the clouds — and drew in his staff, plunged headfirst under the water, and vanished, trace and track and all. Pilgrim stood on the bank and said to Bajie, "Brother, the creature has learned slippery ways. He will not come ashore again. What now?" "Hard, hard, hard — I cannot beat him," said Bajie. "I have strained out the strength I sucked at the breast, and it is dead level between us." "Let us go see the master."

The two went up the high bank again and told the Tang monk plainly how the demon could not be taken. The elder's eyes brimmed. "If this is the difficulty, how are we ever to cross?" "Do not trouble yourself, Master. The creature lies deep in the river bottom, and truly it is hard going. Bajie, you stay here and guard the master; fight with him no more. Let old Sun take a run to the Southern Sea and come back." "Brother, what business have you at the Southern Sea?" "This work of fetching scriptures was Guanyin Bodhisattva's doing from the first; and it was Guanyin Bodhisattva who freed us. Today the Flowing Sand River blocks our road and we cannot go forward: without her, what can be done? Let me go invite her — better far than battling this demon." "True, true," said Bajie. "Brother, when you go, be sure to give her my regards: I thank her for her instruction of old." "Wukong," said Tripitaka, "if you go to invite the Bodhisattva, no time is to be lost. Go quickly, come back quickly."

Pilgrim mounted the somersault cloud and made straight for the Southern Sea. Ah! In less than half a watch he descried the bounds of Mount Potalaka. In a moment he let down from his somersault, and outside the Purple Bamboo Grove the devas of the twenty-four courts came forward to meet him. "What brings the Great Sage?" "My master is in peril. I have come to see the Bodhisattva." "Be seated, and we will announce you." The deva whose charge was the sun went straight to the mouth of the Cave of Tidal Sound and announced: "Sun Wukong begs an audience on business." The Bodhisattva was walking the rail of the Jeweled Lotus Pool with the Dragon Maiden who bears her pearl, looking at the flowers; hearing the report she turned at once by the cloud cliff, opened the gate, and called him in. The Great Sage bowed in solemn reverence.

"Why are you not guarding the Tang monk?" the Bodhisattva asked. "What errand brings you to me again?" Pilgrim addressed her: "Bodhisattva, my master lately took another disciple at Gao Village, one Zhu Bajie, to whom your Ladyship also gave the dharma name Wuneng. We had barely crossed Yellow Wind Ridge when we came to the Flowing Sand River, eight hundred li of it — three thousand of the Weak Water — and my master could never ford it. Worse, a monster lives in the river, a master of arms; Wuneng fought him three great battles on the water and could win none, and the fiend blocks the crossing. So I have come to tell you, hoping you will take pity and help us over." "You monkey," said the Bodhisattva, "full of your own cleverness again! Would you not say plainly that you are the ones guarding the Tang monk?" "We only meant to seize him and make him carry my master across. And in the water I am not much good. It was Wuneng who found his lair and spoke with him — but I think the fetching of scriptures never came up." "That monster of the Flowing Sand River is the Curtain-Raising General come down to earth," said the Bodhisattva, "a good soul converted by my own persuasion, whom I set to protect the scripture-seekers. Say you are the ones from the Land of the East fetching scriptures, and he will never fight you; he will submit at once." "The creature is shy of battle now," said Pilgrim. "He will not come up the bank, only lurk in the water. How do we bring him to submit, and how does my master cross the Weak Water?" The Bodhisattva called Hui'an, drew from her sleeve a little red gourd, and charged him: "Take this gourd and go with Sun Wukong to the surface of the Flowing Sand River. Call only 'Wujing,' and he will come out. First bring him to take refuge with the Tang monk. Then string his nine skulls together, set them out in the pattern of the Nine Palaces, and set this gourd in the midst: that is a dharma boat, and it will carry the Tang monk across the bounds of the Flowing Sand River."

Hui'an, hearing this, reverently obeyed his teacher's word; with the Great Sage he bore the gourd out of the Cave of Tidal Sound, and, bearing her dharma decree, took leave of the Purple Bamboo Grove. There is a poem to prove it:

When the five phases match in pairs, true nature is made whole; the master of old is known again.Refining the self and laying the base is the wondrous use; discern the false from the true, and the cause appears.Metal comes home to its nature, back to its kind; Wood goes pleading, and both are plunged once more.The two earths perfect their work in silence; water and fire tuned, not one mote of dust.

In no long time the two of them pressed down the cloud head and came to the bank of the Flowing Sand River. Zhu Bajie knew Pilgrim Muzha and led the master forward to greet him. Muzha paid his respects to Tripitaka and greeted Bajie. "To your guidance, Reverend One, I owed my sight of the Bodhisattva," said Bajie. "Old Pig truly followed her holy teaching, and joyfully took the vows of the Buddhist gate these days past. All this while on the road there has been no chance to thank you: forgive me, forgive me." "No trading of courtesies now," said Pilgrim. "Let us go call that fellow out." "Call whom?" said Tripitaka. "I told the Bodhisattva everything," said Pilgrim. "She says the monster of the Flowing Sand River is the Curtain-Raising General come down to earth: for a sin in heaven he fell into this river and, forgetting his form, became a monster. He was converted by the Bodhisattva and is willing to follow you, Master, to the Western Heaven. But since we never spoke of fetching scriptures, you two battled bitterly. Now the Bodhisattva sends Muzha with this gourd, to be joined with his skulls into a dharma boat and carry you across." Tripitaka bowed his head to the earth without end, and made his reverence to Muzha. "Reverend One, I beg you, go at once." Muzha bore the gourd steady, part cloud and part mist, straight to the surface of the Flowing Sand River, and called in a great voice: "Wujing! Wujing! The scripture-seeker has waited long here — why do you not submit?"

Now the monster, in fear of the Monkey King, had gone back to the river bottom and was resting in his lair when he heard his dharma name called. He knew it must be Guanyin Bodhisattva's doing; and hearing that "the scripture-seeker is here," he did not fear axe or halberd, but burst up through the waves, head out — and knew Pilgrim Muzha. Beaming, he came up and made obeisance. "Reverend One, forgive my poor welcome. Where is the Bodhisattva now?" "My teacher has not come herself; she sent me first with orders: follow the Tang monk now and be his disciple. She bids you take the skulls that hang at your neck and this gourd, and join them by the Nine Palaces into a dharma boat, and carry him over this Weak Water." "And where is the scripture-seeker?" Muzha pointed with his finger. "Is not that he, sitting on the east bank?" Wujing looked and saw Bajie. "That foul creature from who knows where fought me two whole days, and never once spoke the word scriptures!" Then he saw Pilgrim. "And that one is his helper — dangerous past telling. I am not going." "That is Zhu Bajie, and that Sun Wukong," said Muzha, "both disciples of the Tang monk, both converted by the Bodhisattva. What have you to fear? Come with me and see the Tang monk."

Wujing then put away his precious staff, straightened his yellow damask gown, and leaped ashore. Before the Tang monk he went down on both knees. "Master, your disciple had eyes and could not see: I did not know your reverend face, and gave you great offense — I beg ten thousand pardons." "You pus-bag," said Bajie, "why would you not take refuge at once, and kept wanting to fight me? What kind of talk is that?" "Brother, do not blame him," said Pilgrim, laughing. "It is we who never spoke of fetching scriptures, nor told him our names." "Do you truly repent and take refuge in my teaching?" asked the elder. "Long ago the Bodhisattva converted me," said Wujing. "She bade me take the river for my surname and gave me the dharma name Sha Wujing. How should I not follow you, Master?" "Since it is so —" said Tripitaka, and called: "Wukong, bring the razor knife and shave his head." The Great Sage did as told, and with the razor knife shaved his crown. Wujing bowed to Tripitaka, then to Pilgrim and Bajie, and the ranks of elder and younger were set. Tripitaka, seeing his obeisance was truly in the manner of monkhood, called him thereafter Sha Monk. "Now that he has taken the discipline," said Muzha, "no more ceremony: let us go and make the dharma boat."

Wujing wasted no time. He took the skulls from his neck, bound them with cords in the pattern of the Nine Palaces, and set the Bodhisattva's gourd in the center; then he begged the master to come down to the bank. The elder boarded the dharma boat and sat upon it: steady as a light skiff it rode. On the left Bajie steadied him; on the right Wujing bore him up; Pilgrim Sun led the dragon horse behind, part cloud and part mist following; and above their heads Muzha kept watch. So the master floated across, steady over the bounds of the Flowing Sand River, the Weak Water crossed on windless, waveless calm. Truly it was as if flying, as if shot from a bow: in no long time he stood on the far shore, clear of the great flood, mud-free and water-free, dry of foot and hand, in purity and peace — and master and disciples stood on solid earth. Muzha pressed down the auspicious cloud and took up the gourd; and the skulls, all at once, dissolved into nine wisps of yin wind and were gone. Tripitaka bowed his thanks to Muzha and paid reverence toward the Bodhisattva. And so it was:

Muzha went straight back across the Eastern Ocean; Tripitaka mounted his horse and turned his face to the west.

But when they would at last attain the true fruit and gain the scriptures — listen to the next chapter to find out.

Bajie Joins Battle on the Flowing Sand River; Muzha, Under the Law, Takes In Wujing

The story goes that the Tang monk and his two disciples, once free of danger, traveled on. In no time they had crossed the Yellow Wind Ridge, and going farther west they came to a stretch of flat open country. Time moved fast: they went through summer into autumn, and heard cold cicadas chirping in withered willows as the Fire Star sank in the west. As they were going along, they saw ahead a great body of water with wild waves and rolling spray. Tripitaka called out from the saddle in haste: "Disciples, look how wide that water is ahead, with not a boat moving on it. How are we to get across?" Bajie looked and said: "It truly is a wild flood. There is no boat to carry us over." Pilgrim leaped into the air, shaded his eyes with his hand, and looked. Even he was shaken, and he said: "Master, this is truly hard, truly hard. If it were only I crossing this river, a twist of my waist would carry me over. But for you, Master, it would be a thousand times hard to cross and ten thousand years too hard to walk." Tripitaka said: "As far as I can see there is no shore on the other side. How wide is it, really?" Pilgrim said: "It runs about eight hundred li across." Bajie said: "Brother, how can you fix the distance?" Pilgrim said: "To tell you the truth, younger brother, these eyes of mine can tell good luck from bad a thousand li away in daylight. I just saw from the air that this river runs farther than anyone can say up and down, but the crossing alone is a good eight hundred li." The elder sighed in his trouble. He was turning his horse when he saw a stone tablet standing on the bank. The three came together to look at it. On it, in seal script, were three characters: "Flowing Sand River." Under them, in small regular script, ran four lines:

Eight hundred li of Flowing Sand form the border; the Weak Water is three thousand li deep.A goose feather will not float; a reed-flower catkin sinks straight to the bottom.

While master and disciples stood reading the tablet, they heard waves surge like mountains and billows roll like ridges. Out of the middle of the river, with a splash, burst a monster, terribly fierce and ugly:

A head of red-flame hair, loose and bushy; two round eyes bright as lamps.A face neither black nor blue, but the color of indigo; a voice like thunder, like an old dragon's drum.His body wore a robe of goose-yellow felt; a white rattan belt, twined double, bound his waist.Nine skulls hung at his neck; in his hand he held a treasure staff of terrible look.

The monster spun like a whirlwind, rushed up the bank, and made straight for Tripitaka. In alarm, Pilgrim caught up the master, hurried him up the high bank, and got away. Bajie set down his load, pulled out his toothed rake, and struck at the monster. The monster met it with his treasure staff. The two of them showed off their prowess on the bank of the Flowing Sand River. It was a fine fight:

The nine-toothed rake, the demon-taming staff: the two met in fight on the riverbank.One was the great Marshal Tianpeng, commander in chief; the other the Curtain-Raising General, banished from heaven.Long ago they had met in the Lingxiao Hall; today they fought to prove the bolder.One raked with the stroke of a clawing dragon; the other parried like a grinding-tusked elephant.One stretched into the great four-square stance; the other dove into the wind-warding thrust.One was the man-eating spirit that long had held the Flowing Sand border; the other the fighting general who held the faith and sought the Way.

The two came and went, and fought twenty rounds, with no winner and no loser.

The Great Sage guarded Tripitaka, holding the horse and watching the luggage. Seeing Bajie locked in battle with the monster, he ground his teeth in anger, rubbed his palms, and could not stop himself from joining in. He pulled out his staff and said: "Master, you sit here and do not be afraid. Let old Sun go have some fun with him." The master could not hold him back. He gave a whistle and leaped ahead. The monster and Bajie were fighting at full stretch, so locked together that neither could break free. Pilgrim swung his iron staff and brought it down on the monster's head. The monster whirled around, dodged in a hurry, and dove straight into the Flowing Sand River. Bajie hopped about in anger and said: "Brother, who told you to come? The monster's hand was slowing. He could hardly hold up under my rake. In three or five more rounds I would have taken him. He saw you coming down on him and ran from the field. What good is that?" Pilgrim laughed and said: "Brother, I will tell you the truth. Since we took the Yellow Wind monster and came down the mountain, I have not swung my staff for the better part of a month. I saw you two having a fine fight, and my feet began to itch. That is why I jumped in for some fun. Who knew the monster had no sense of fun? He just ran away."

The two walked back arm in arm, laughing and talking, and returned to Tripitaka. Tripitaka said: "Did you catch the monster?" Pilgrim said: "He could not stand the fighting. He was beaten and dove into the water." Tripitaka said: "Disciples, this monster has lived here a long time. He knows how deep it is. In boundless Weak Water like this, with no boats, we need someone who knows the water to lead us across." Pilgrim said: "That is just what I was thinking. As the saying goes, 'Near vermilion, you turn red; near ink, you turn black.' That monster lives here, so he surely knows the water. When we catch him, we will not kill him. We will make him carry the master across the river, and settle the rest after that." Bajie said: "Brother, do not hesitate. You go first and take him, and this old pig will guard the master." Pilgrim laughed and said: "Younger brother, I will not boast about this business. I am not very good in the water. If I walk through it empty-handed, I have to press my fingers in a sign and say the Water-Avoiding Spell before I can move. Otherwise I have to change into some fish, shrimp, crab, or turtle before I can go. For a trial of skill on high mountains or in the clouds, any strange and tricky thing you like—old Sun can do it. But business in the water gives me trouble." Bajie said: "This old pig commanded the River of Heaven in the old days, with eighty thousand water soldiers under him, so I learned something of the water. But I am afraid there may be a whole clan of his kin down there, seven nests and eight branches of them, all coming at me. What if I am no match for them and they drag me off?" Pilgrim said: "When you go into the water to fight him, do not fight to the finish. Lose as much as you like, but do not win. Draw him out of the water, and old Sun will strike to help you." Bajie said: "Well said. I am off." With that he stripped off his blue brocade gown, took off his shoes, whirled his rake with both hands, and pushed apart the water. Using his old skill of former days, he leaped the waves and plunged in, went straight down to the bottom, and walked on forward.

Now that monster had gone back beaten. He had just caught his breath when he heard someone pushing through the water. He rose suddenly to look. It was Bajie, pushing the water aside with his rake. The monster raised his staff, called out right in his face, and said: "Monk, where do you think you are going? Look out for this blow." Bajie caught it on his rake and said: "What monster are you, to dare block the road here?" The demon said: "You do not know me. I am no common devil or monster, and I am not without a name." Bajie said: "If you are no devil or monster, why do you take lives here? Tell me your name, straight out, and I will spare your life." The demon said: "I—"

From my birth I was full of spirit and strength, and I roamed free over ten thousand li of heaven and earth.I made my name a hero's name in the world, and I was a model among great men.I went wherever I pleased through ten thousand kingdoms and nine provinces; I charged through the five lakes and the four seas.All because I studied the Way and roamed to the sky's edge, seeking a master over the whole wide land.Year after year I kept my robe and bowl close; day after day I never let my heart and spirit slip.I wandered on the clouds over the land tens of times; I strolled idly here and there more than a hundred journeys.That is how I came to meet a true man, who opened the great Way and made the golden light shine.First I gathered in the babe and the lovely maid; then I set free the Wood Mother and the Metal Lord.The bright hall's kidney water flowed into the Flowery Pond; the liver fire of the storeyed tower was cast into the heart's chamber.When three thousand deeds were full, I bowed before the face of heaven, and with a true heart I paid homage toward the bright radiance on high.The Jade Emperor then raised me up and with his own mouth named me the Curtain-Raising General.Inside the South Gate of Heaven I was the honored one; before the Lingxiao Hall I stood highest.At my waist hung the tiger-head plaque; in my hand I held the demon-taming staff.A gold helmet on my head flashed in the sunlight; armor on my body shone like bright clouds.Going and coming, I led the guard of the Emperor's carriage; out and in at court I stood above all.Only because the Queen Mother sent down the peaches of immortality and set a feast by the Jade Pool, inviting all the generals:I lost my grip and shattered the jade glass dish, and the gods of heaven each went cold with fear, their souls flying off.The Jade Emperor burned with anger at once and ordered the left minister of the court:"Strip off his cap and armor, take away his rank, and cast his body on the field of execution."I was saved by the Great Barefoot Immortal, who stepped out of his place and pleaded for my release.My death was pardoned, my life given back, my whipping remitted, and I was banished to the east bank of the Flowing Sand.When full, I sleep in these mountains; when hungry, I churn the waves to hunt my food.The woodcutter who meets me does not keep his life; the fisherman who sees me loses his body.I have eaten many travelers coming and going; over and over my poisonous mist has taken lives.You dare do violence at my door; today my belly has hopes of you.Do not say my flesh is coarse and not worth tasting. Once I catch you, I will take my time chopping you into paste for mince."

When Bajie heard this he flew into a rage and cursed: "You watery brute! You have no eye at all. This old pig is so tender you could squeeze drops of water out of me, and you dare call me coarse and talk of chopping me into mince? It seems you take me for some old seller of salted meat. None of your rudeness. Take this rake from your ancestor." When the monster saw the rake coming, he used a move called "the Phoenix Nodding Its Head" and slipped past. The two of them fought up out of the water and stood each on the waves. This duel was not like the one before. Look at it:

The Curtain-Raising General and the Marshal Tianpeng each showed his magic power, and a fine sight it was.The one whirled the demon-taming staff at the other's head; this one's nine-toothed rake was quick as his hand could move.They leaped the waves and shook mountains and rivers; they pushed billows that darkened the world.They were as fierce as the Star of Calamity crashing into banners, as savage as the Funereal Star tipping over a canopy.This one, with a stern and loyal heart, guarded the Tang monk; that one, awash in crime, was a water spirit.One stroke of the rake made nine wounds; when the staff came down, souls gave way.They strove gladly against each other, set on winning the match.It was all for the men fetching the scriptures: their anger rose to heaven and would not be held in.They churned the bream, the whitefish, the carp, and the perch out of their bright scales; they cracked the soft shells of turtles and tortoises; the red shrimp and purple crabs all lost their lives, and the gods of the water palace bowed down before it.There was nothing to hear but billows rolling like thunder, the sun and moon without light, and heaven and earth amazed.

The two fought a good two watches, with no winner and no loser. It was truly a copper basin meeting an iron broom, a jade chime answering a gold bell.

The Great Sage guarded Tripitaka, standing near, watching the two of them fight it out on the water with all his eyes, though he could not well join in himself. Then Bajie made a feint with his rake, pretended to lose, turned, and made for the east bank. The monster chased after him and was nearly at the shore. Pilgrim could bear it no longer. He left the master, pulled out his iron staff, jumped to the river's edge, and struck down at the monster's head. The demon did not dare meet him. Whoosh—he dove into the river again. Bajie shouted: "You Bimawen, keeper of horses, you are an impatient monkey through and through! If you had let things go a little slower, and let me lure him up to the high ground while you blocked the riverbank so he could not turn back, would we not have caught him? Now he has gone in, and when will he be willing to come out again?" Pilgrim laughed and said: "Idiot, stop your shouting. Let us go back and see the master."

Bajie and Pilgrim went up the high bank to Tripitaka. Tripitaka rose slightly and said: "Hard work, disciples." Bajie said: "Never mind the hard work. The perfect plan is to take the monster and have him carry you across the river." Tripitaka said: "How did your fight with the monster go?" Bajie said: "In skill he is a match for this old pig. In the middle of the fight I used a pretended defeat. He chased me to the bank, saw my brother raise his staff, and ran." Tripitaka said: "Then what are we to do?" Pilgrim said: "Master, rest easy, and do not fret. It is getting late. Sit here on the bank while old Sun begs some vegetarian food for you. Eat it, sleep, and we will settle it tomorrow." Bajie said: "Well said. Go quickly and come back quickly."

Pilgrim leaped up on his cloud, begged a bowl of plain food at a house straight to the north, and brought it back to offer the master. The master, seeing him return so fast, said: "Wukong, at the house where you begged the food, ask them for a plan to cross the river. Would that not be better than fighting this monster?" Pilgrim laughed and said: "That house is very far away, five or seven thousand li. How would they know the water there? What use is asking them?" Bajie said: "Brother, there you go lying again. Five or seven thousand li—how did you come and go so fast?" Pilgrim said: "How would you know? My somersault cloud covers a hundred and eight thousand li in one jump. A trip of five or seven thousand li takes no more than two nods of the head and one bend of the waist, there and back. What is hard about that?" Bajie said: "Brother, if it is that easy, carry the master on your back. Just nod your head, bend your waist, and jump him over. Why fight this monster so bitterly?" Pilgrim said: "Can you not ride a cloud? Why not carry the master over yourself?" Bajie said: "The master's mortal flesh and bones are heavy as Mount Tai. How could I carry them on a cloud? Only your somersault could do it." Pilgrim said: "My somersault is a way of riding clouds too; the only difference is how far it goes. If you cannot carry him, how could I? As the old saying goes, 'Send Mount Tai away and it is light as a mustard seed; carry a mortal man and he cannot slip free of the red dust.' A wicked monster like this uses a carrying spell and rides a gust of wind—but it is all dragging and tugging along the ground. It cannot lift a man into the air. I know that trick and can work it too. I also know the invisibility spell and the earth-shrinking spell, every one of them. But the master must walk through strange lands to the end, and he cannot leap over this sea of suffering. That is why he cannot move a step without help. You and I can only stand guard and keep his body alive. We cannot take these troubles for him, and we cannot fetch the scriptures in his place. Even if one of us went ahead and saw the Buddha first, the Buddha would not hand the scriptures over to us just like that. As the saying goes: 'What comes too easy is taken lightly.'" The Idiot heard this and submitted. They ate some of the plain food without vegetables, and master and disciples rested under the east cliff of the Flowing Sand River.

Early next day Tripitaka said: "Wukong, what do we do today?" Pilgrim said: "There is nothing else for it. Bajie must go into the water again." Bajie said: "Brother, you want to keep yourself clean and dry, so you make me go into the water." Pilgrim said: "Younger brother, this time I will not be impatient. You draw him up, and I will block the bank so he cannot get back. We must take him this time."

Good Bajie wiped his face, braced his spirit, took his rake in both hands, went to the bank, pushed apart the water, and went down again to the lair. The monster had just woken from sleep when he heard the water pushing. He turned his head quickly and opened his eyes. Seeing Bajie coming with his rake, he leaped out, blocked his way head-on, and shouted: "Not so fast, not so fast. Look at my staff." Bajie raised his rake to catch the blow and said: "What kind of funeral staff is that? Your ancestor tells you to look at my rake." The monster said: "You fool, you know nothing. This staff of mine—"

The treasure staff has a great name: it comes from the laurel that grows on the moon.Wu Gang cut a branch and brought it down; Lu Ban gave it the finishing craft of a master.Inside runs a core of gold; outside are wound ten thousand threads of pearl.It is called the treasure staff, made to tame demons, forever guarding the Lingxiao Hall and subduing monsters.Because I was made a great general, the Jade Emperor gave it me to carry at my side.Long or short, it follows my wish; thick or thin, it takes whatever shape I please.I have held it guarding the Emperor at the Peach Banquet, and carried it at court in the highest heaven.On duty in the palace hall, all the saints bowed; raising the curtain, I have seen all the immortals salute.A spirit weapon grown to full nature, it is no common tool of the mortal world.Since I was banished down from the gate of heaven, it has roamed the seas abroad with me wherever I pleased.It is no empty boast: no spear or blade under heaven can stand against it.As for that rusty nail rake of yours, it is good only for hoeing fields and banking vegetables."

Bajie laughed and said: "You half-whipped watery brute, never mind vegetables. One swing of this rake may leave you nowhere to stick a plaster, with nine holes bleeding at once. Even if you did not die, you would carry the shakes for life." The monster dropped his guard, and the two of them fought up out of the water again. This round of battle was truly unlike the ones before. Look at them:

The treasure staff whirled, the nail rake struck; they had no common speech and no kinship.Because Wood's Mother struck against the elixir measure, the two were set clashing in battle.No win, no loss, no turn of fortune; wave after wave they churned, and there was no peace between them.This one's rage would brook no holding back; that one's wounded heart could not bear the shame.The rake came and the staff parried, each showing off his prowess; the water boiled over the flowing sand, bitter and venomous.Fierce and loud, toiling and straining, all because Tripitaka was bound for the Western Land.The nail rake was terribly savage; the treasure staff was practiced to perfection.This one grabbed to drag the other to the bank; that one gripped and shoved him under the water.The noise was like thunderclaps, stirring fish and dragons; the clouds darkened, the sky went black, and gods and spirits hid.

In this fight they came and went thirty rounds, and still no strength told over the other. Bajie used his pretended-defeat trick again, dragged his rake away, and ran. The monster chased him once more, riding the billows, and came on to the edge of the cliff. Bajie shouted: "You watery monster! Come up here. On this high ground, with solid ground under our feet, we can fight properly." The demon shouted back: "You wretch, you are luring me up so your helper can come at me. You come down here and fight me in the water." The monster had grown crafty. He would not set foot on the bank again, and only brawled with Bajie at the water's edge.

Now Pilgrim, seeing that the monster would not come ashore, was burning with impatience and longed to grab him in one fist. Pilgrim said: "Master, you sit there. Let me give him 'the hungry hawk snatching its food.'" He jumped on his somersault, sprang into midair, and swooped down to seize the demon. The demon was bawling at Bajie when he heard the rush of wind. He turned quickly, saw Pilgrim dropping out of the clouds, whipped in his staff, and plunged headfirst into the water, hiding all trace of himself, gone without a sign. Pilgrim stood on the bank and said to Bajie: "Brother, this monster has learned to be sly. He will not come on shore again. What are we to do?" Bajie said: "Hard, hard, hard. I cannot beat him. I used up every ounce of strength, even my milk-sucking strength, and only fought him to a standstill." Pilgrim said: "Let us go back to the master."

The two went up the high bank again and told Tripitaka plainly that the monster could not be caught. The elder's eyes filled with tears, and he said: "If it is this hard, how will we ever get across?" Pilgrim said: "Master, do not grieve. This monster lies deep at the bottom, and the crossing truly is hard. Bajie, you stay here and guard the master. Do not fight him again while I make a trip to the South Sea." Bajie said: "Brother, what business have you in the South Sea?" Pilgrim said: "This business of fetching the scriptures began with the Bodhisattva Guanyin, and it was Guanyin who freed us too. Now the road is stopped at the Flowing Sand River and we cannot go on. Without her help, how is it to be settled? Let me go ask her. That is better than battling this monster." Bajie said: "That is right, that is right. Brother, when you see her, be sure to pass on a word for me: my thanks for her guidance in the old days." Tripitaka said: "Wukong, if you are going to ask the Bodhisattva, then do not delay. Go quickly and come back quickly."

Pilgrim jumped on his somersault cloud and went straight to the South Sea. Ah! In less than half a watch he could already see the bounds of Mount Putuo. In a moment he dropped from the cloud, came outside the Purple Bamboo Grove, and the devas of the twenty-four paths came forward to meet him, saying: "Great Sage, what brings you here?" Pilgrim said: "My master is in danger. I have come to see the Bodhisattva." The devas said: "Be seated. Let us announce you." The deva who wheels the sun went straight to the mouth of the Tide-Sound Cave and reported: "Sun Wukong is here on business to see you." The Bodhisattva was standing with the dragon girl who holds the pearl, leaning on the rail of the precious lotus pool and looking at the flowers. Hearing the report, she turned from the cloud rocks, opened the door, and called him in. The Great Sage came before her with all respect, bowed, and made obeisance.

The Bodhisattva asked: "Why are you not guarding the Tang monk? What brings you to me again?" Pilgrim said: "Bodhisattva, at Gao Village my master took on another disciple named Zhu Bajie, to whom you were so kind as to give the religious name Wuneng. We had just crossed the Yellow Wind Ridge and reached the Flowing Sand River, eight hundred li across—it is three thousand li of Weak Water, and my master could never get over. And in the river there is a monster, a strong fighter. Wuneng has fought him three great battles on the water and still cannot win. The monster blocks us, and we cannot cross. So I have come to tell you, Bodhisattva, and I beg your mercy: help us across." The Bodhisattva said: "You monkey, still too full of yourself to say it? Would you not tell him that you are guarding the Tang monk?" Pilgrim said: "We only wanted to catch him and make him carry my master over. Water work is not my strong point. It was Wuneng who found his lair and spoke with him, and I suppose he never mentioned the business of fetching the scriptures." The Bodhisattva said: "That monster of the Flowing Sand River is the Curtain-Raising General come down to the world. He is a good believer I converted myself, and I told him to guard the men fetching the scriptures. If you had told him you were the scripture-seekers from the Land of the East, he would never have fought you. He would have surrendered at once." Pilgrim said: "The monster is now afraid to fight and will not come up the bank. He hides in the water. How can he be brought to surrender? And how is my master to cross the Weak Water?" The Bodhisattva called Huian, took a red gourd from her sleeve, and said: "Take this gourd, and with Sun Wukong go to the surface of the Flowing Sand River. Call only 'Wujing,' and he will come out. First bring him to take refuge with the Tang monk. Then string his nine skulls together and set them out in the pattern of the nine palaces. Put this gourd in the middle, and it becomes a vessel of the Law, able to carry the Tang monk across the bounds of the Flowing Sand River."

Huian heard this and obeyed his teacher's command exactly. With the Great Sage he carried the gourd out of the Tide-Sound Cave and, under the Law's decree, took leave of the Purple Bamboo Grove. There is a poem to prove it.

The five elements matched in pairs make the true and whole; know your old master from before.Refine yourself and lay the base for wondrous use; tell evil from good and see how it all began.Metal comes home to its nature, the same kind; Wood goes out seeking kindness, and both fall together.When the two earths complete their work, all is quiet; water and fire are tempered, and not a speck of dust is left.

Before long the two brought their cloud down and came to the bank of the Flowing Sand River. Zhu Bajie knew Muzha Pilgrim at once and led the master forward to welcome him. Muzha paid his respects to Tripitaka and greeted Bajie. Bajie said: "Thanks to your honor's instruction long ago I got to see the Bodhisattva, and this old pig truly kept her teaching. I am glad to say I have joined the Buddhist order. Since then I have been toiling on the road and have not had the chance to thank you. Forgive me, forgive me." Pilgrim said: "Let us skip the greetings. Let us go call that fellow out." Tripitaka said: "Call whom?" Pilgrim said: "I saw the Bodhisattva and told her the whole story. She said that the monster of the Flowing Sand River is the Curtain-Raising General come down to the world. For a fault in heaven he fell into this river and lost his form, playing the spirit. She converted him once, and he promised to follow the master to the Western Heaven. But we never told him about the scriptures, so he fought us bitterly. Now the Bodhisattva has sent Muzha with this gourd, to be joined with that fellow's skulls into a vessel of the Law and carry you across." When Tripitaka heard this, he bowed without end and said to Muzha: "I beg your honor to go at once." Muzha held the gourd in both hands and came half through cloud, half through mist, straight to the surface of the Flowing Sand River. He called out in a loud voice: "Wujing! Wujing! The scripture-seeker has been here a long time. Why do you not surrender?"

Now the monster feared the Monkey King, and he had gone back to the bottom of the river to rest in his lair. When he heard his religious name called, he knew it must be the Bodhisattva Guanyin. And when he heard the words "the scripture-seeker is here," he did not stop for fear of axe or halberd. He churned up through the waves and put out his head, and he knew Muzha Pilgrim. Beaming, he came up, made a bow, and said: "Forgive me for not welcoming you, your honor. Where is the Bodhisattva now?" Muzha said: "My teacher has not come herself. She sent me ahead to order you to follow the Tang monk at once as his disciple. She said to string the skulls that hang at your neck with this gourd, set them in the pattern of the nine palaces, and make a vessel of the Law to carry him over this Weak Water." Wujing said: "Where is this scripture-seeker, then?" Muzha pointed with his finger and said: "Is that not him sitting on the east bank?" Wujing looked and saw Bajie, and said: "I do not know where that watery brute came from. He fought me for two whole days, and never once said a word about scriptures." Then he saw Pilgrim and said: "That one is his helper, and a deadly fighter. I am not going." Muzha said: "That is Zhu Bajie, and that is Sun Wukong. Both are disciples of the Tang monk, and both were converted by the Bodhisattva. What is there to fear? Come with me to see the Tang monk."

Then Wujing put away his treasure staff, straightened his yellow brocade gown, jumped up on the bank, went down on both knees before the Tang monk, and said: "Master, your disciple had eyes but could not see. I did not know your honored face, and I offended you badly. I beg your forgiveness ten thousand times." Bajie said: "You soft lump, why did you not surrender in the first place, instead of going on fighting me? What do you say to that?" Pilgrim laughed and said: "Brother, do not blame him. It was we who never told him about the scriptures, or even our names." The elder said: "Do you truly mean to join our faith with an honest heart?" Wujing said: "Your disciple long ago received the Bodhisattva's teaching. She took Sand for my surname and gave me the religious name Sha Wujing. How could I disobey my master?" Tripitaka said: "If that is so—" and called: "Wukong, bring the razor knife and shave his head." The Great Sage did as he was told and shaved his head with the razor knife. Wujing then bowed to Tripitaka, and bowed to Pilgrim and Bajie, and the order of seniority was settled. Tripitaka saw that his bows had the true air of a monk, so he called him Sha Monk besides. Muzha said: "Now that you have taken the precepts, there is no need for more talk. Go quickly and make the vessel of the Law."

Wujing did not dare be slow. He took the skulls from his neck, strung them with cord in the pattern of the nine palaces, and set the Bodhisattva's gourd in the middle. Then he asked the master to come down to the water. The elder stepped aboard the vessel of the Law and sat on it, and it was as steady as a light boat. On the left Bajie held it up, and on the right Wujing bore it; Sun Wukong led the dragon horse behind, following half in cloud and half in mist; and above their heads Muzha guarded the way. So the master crossed the bounds of the Flowing Sand River, riding steady over calm waves and gentle wind. Truly it went like a flying arrow. In no time he stood on the far bank, out of the great waters. Not a drop splashed on him. Happily dry of foot and hand, clean and untroubled, master and disciples stood on solid ground. Muzha pressed down his lucky cloud and took in the gourd. And the skulls at once broke apart, turned into nine gusts of dark wind, and quietly vanished. Tripitaka thanked Muzha with a bow and paid homage to the Bodhisattva. And so:

Muzha went straight back to the eastern sea; Tripitaka mounted his horse and turned west.

When would they at last win the true fruit and fetch the scriptures? Listen to the next chapter to find out.