Wu Cheng’en (attributed) · Complete work
Chapter 95
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第九十五回 假合真形擒玉兔 真陰歸正會靈元
卻說那唐僧憂憂愁愁，隨著國王至後宮。只聽得鼓樂喧天，隨聞得異香撲鼻。低著頭，不敢仰視。行者暗裡欣然，丁在那毘盧帽頂上，運神光，睜火眼金睛觀看。又只見那兩班綵女，擺列的似蕊宮仙府，勝強似錦帳春風。真個是：
娉婷嬝娜，玉質冰肌。一雙雙嬌欺楚女，一對對美賽西施。雲髻高盤飛彩鳳，蛾眉微顯遠山低。笙簧雅奏，簫鼓頻吹。宮商角徵羽，抑揚高下齊。清歌妙舞常堪愛，錦砌花團色色怡。
行者見師父全不動念，暗自裡咂嘴誇稱道：「好和尚，好和尚。身居錦繡心無愛，足步瓊瑤意不迷。」
少時，皇后、嬪妃簇擁著公主出鳷鵲宮，一齊迎接，都道聲：「我王萬歲，萬萬歲。」慌的個長老戰戰兢兢，莫知所措。行者早已知識，見那公主頭頂上微露出一點妖氛，卻也不十分兇惡。即忙爬近耳朵叫道：「師父，公主是個假的。」長老道：「是假的，卻如何放他現相？」行者道：「使出法身，就此拿他也。」長老道：「不可，不可，恐驚了主駕。且待君、后退散，再使法力。」
那行者一生性急，那裡容得，大咤一聲，現了本相，趕上前，揪住公主罵道：「好孽畜！你在這裡弄假成真，只在此這等受用，也儘夠了；心尚不足，還要騙我師父，破他的真陽，遂你的淫性哩。」諕得那國王呆呆掙掙，后妃跌跌爬爬，宮娥綵女無一個不東躲西藏，各顧性命。好便似：
春風蕩蕩，秋氣瀟瀟。春風蕩蕩過園林，千花擺動；秋氣瀟瀟來禁苑，萬葉飄搖。刮折牡丹攲檻下，吹歪芍藥臥欄邊。沼岸芙蓉亂撼，臺基菊蕊鋪堆。海棠無力倒塵埃，玫瑰有香眠野境。春風吹折芰荷楟，冬雪壓歪梅嫩蕊。石榴花瓣，亂落在內院東西；岸柳枝條，斜垂在皇宮南北。好花風雨一宵狂，無數殘紅鋪地錦。
三藏一發慌了手腳，戰兢兢抱住國王，只叫：「陛下，莫怕，莫怕，此是我頑徒使法力，辨真假也。」
卻說那妖精見事不諧，掙脫了手，解剝了衣裳，捽捽頭，搖落了釵環首飾。跑到御花園土地廟裡，取出一條碓嘴樣的短棍，急轉身來亂打行者；行者隨即跟來，使鐵棒劈面相迎。他兩個吆吆喝喝，就在花園內鬥起。後卻大顯神通，各駕雲霧，殺在空中。這一場：
金箍鐵棒有名聲，碓嘴短棍無人識。一個因取真經到此方，一個為愛奇花來住跡。那怪久知唐聖僧，要求配合元精液。舊年攝去真公主，變作人身欽愛惜。今逢大聖認妖氛，救援活命分虛實。短棍行兇著頂丟，鐵棒施威迎面擊。喧喧嚷嚷兩相持，雲霧滿天遮白日。
他兩個殺在半空賭鬥，嚇得那滿城中百姓心慌，盡朝裡多官膽怕。長老扶著國王，只叫：「休驚，請勸娘娘與眾等莫怕。你公主是個假作真形的，等我徒弟拿住他，方知好歹也。」那些妃子有膽大的，把那衣服、釵環拿與皇后看了，道：「這是公主穿的戴的，今都丟下，精著身子，與那和尚在天上爭打，必定是個妖邪。」此時國王、后妃人等才正了性，望空仰視不題。
卻說那妖精與大聖鬥經半日，不分勝敗。行者把棒丟起，叫一聲：「變！」就以一變十，以十變百，以百變千，半天裡，好似蛇遊蟒攪，亂打妖邪。妖邪慌了手腳，化道清風，即奔碧空之上逃走。行者念聲咒語，將鐵棒收做一根，縱祥光一直趕來。將近西天門，望見那旌旗閃灼，行者厲聲高叫道：「把天門的，擋住妖精，不要放他走了。」真個那天門上有護國天王帥領著龐、劉、苟、畢四大元帥，各展兵器攔阻。妖邪不能前進，急回頭，使短棍，又與行者相持。
這大聖掄鐵棒，仔細迎著看時，見那短棍兒一頭奘，一頭細，卻似舂碓臼的杵頭模樣，叱咤一聲，喝道：「孽畜！你拿的是甚麼器械，敢與老孫抵敵？快早降伏，免得這一棒打碎你的天靈。」那妖邪咬著牙道：「你也不知我這兵器，聽我道：
仙根是段羊脂玉，磨琢成形不計年。混沌開時吾已得，洪濛判處我當先。源流非比凡間物，本性生來在上天。一體金光和四相，五行瑞氣合三元。隨吾久住蟾宮內，伴我常居桂殿邊。因為愛花垂世境，故來天竺假嬋娟。與君共樂無他意，欲配唐僧了宿緣。你怎欺心破佳偶，死尋趕戰逞兇頑？這般器械名頭大，在你金箍棒子前。廣寒宮裡搗藥杵，打人一下命歸泉。」
行者聞說，呵呵冷笑道：「好孽畜啊！你既住在蟾宮之內，就不知老孫的手段，你還敢在此支吾？快早現相降伏，饒你性命。」那怪道：「我認得你是五百年前大鬧天宮的弼馬溫，理當讓你。但只是破人親事，如殺父母之仇，故此情理不甘，要打你欺天罔上的弼馬溫。」那大聖惱得是「弼馬溫」三字，他聽得此言，心中大怒，舉鐵棒劈面就打；那妖邪掄杵來迎。就於西天門前，發狠相持。這一場：
金箍棒，搗藥杵，兩般仙器真堪比。那個為結婚姻降世間，這個因保唐僧到這裡。原來是國王沒正經，愛花引得妖邪喜。致使如今恨苦爭，兩家都把頑心起。一衝一撞賭輸贏，劖語劖言齊鬥嘴。藥杵英雄世罕稀，鐵棒神威還更美。金光湛湛幌天門，彩霧輝輝連地里。來往戰經十數回，妖邪力弱難搪抵。
那妖精與行者又鬥了十數回，見行者的棒勢緊密，料難取勝，虛丟一杵，將身幌一幌，金光萬道，徑奔正南上敗走。大聖隨後追襲。忽至一座大山，妖精按金光，鑽入山洞，寂然不見。又恐他遯身回國，暗害唐僧，他認了這山的規模，返雲頭徑轉國內。
此時有申時矣。那國王正扯著三藏，戰戰兢兢，只叫：「聖僧救我。」那些嬪妃、皇后也正愴惶，只見大聖自雲端裡落將下來，叫道：「師父，我來也。」三藏道：「悟空立住，不可驚了聖躬。我問你：假公主之事，端的如何？」行者立於鳷鵲宮外，叉手當胸道：「假公主是個妖邪。初時與他打了半日，他戰不過我，化道清風，徑往天門上跑，是我吆喝天神擋住。他現了相，又與我鬥到十數合，又將身化作金光，敗回正南上一座山上。我急追至山，無處尋覓，恐怕他來此害你，特地回顧也。」國王聽說，扯著唐僧問道：「既然假公主是個妖邪，我真公主在於何處？」行者應聲道：「待我拿住假公主，你那真公主自然來也。」那后妃等聞得此言，都解了恐懼，一個個上前拜告道：「望聖僧救得我真公主來，分了明暗，必當重謝。」行者道：「此間不是我們說話處，請陛下與我師出宮上殿，娘娘等各轉回宮，召我師弟八戒、沙僧來保護師父，我卻好去降妖。一則分了內外，二則免我懸掛。謹當辨明，以表我一場心力。」國王依言，感謝不已。遂與唐僧攜手出宮，徑至殿上。眾后妃各各回宮。一壁廂教備素膳，一壁廂召八戒、沙僧。須臾間，二人早至。行者備言前事，教他兩個用心護持。這大聖縱觔斗雲，飛空而去。那殿前多官，一個個望空禮拜不題。
孫大聖徑至正南方那座山上尋找。原來那妖邪敗了陣，到此山，鑽入窩中，將門兒使石塊擋塞，虛怯怯藏隱不出。行者尋一會，不見動靜，心甚焦惱，捻著訣，念動真言，喚出那山中土地、山神審問。少時，二神至了，叩頭道：「不知，不知，知當遠接，萬望恕罪。」行者道：「我且不打你。我問你：這山叫做甚麼名字？此處有多少妖精？從實說來，饒你罪過。」二神告道：「大聖，此山喚做毛穎山。山中只有三處兔穴，亙古至今，沒甚妖精，乃五環之福地也。大聖要尋妖精，還是西天路上去有。」行者道：「老孫到了西天天竺國，那國王有個公主被個妖精攝去，拋在荒野。他就變做公主模樣，戲哄國王，結綵樓，拋繡毬，欲招駙馬。我保唐僧至其樓下，被他有心打著唐僧，欲為配偶，誘取元陽。是我識破，就於宮中現身捉獲。他就脫了人衣、首飾，使一條短棍，喚名搗藥杵，與我鬥了半日，他就化清風而去。被老孫趕至西天門，又鬥有十數合。他料不能勝，復化金光，逃至此處，如何不見？」
二神聽說，即引行者去那三窟中尋找。始於山腳下窟邊看處，亦有幾個草兔兒，也驚得走了。尋至絕頂上窟中看時，只見兩塊大石頭，將窟門擋住。土地道：「此間必是妖邪，趕急鑽進去也。」行者即使鐵棒，捎開石塊。那妖邪果藏在裡面，呼的一聲，就跳將出來，舉藥杵來打行者掄起鐵棒架住。諕得那山神倒退，土地忙奔。那妖邪口裡囔囔突突的罵著山神、土地道：「誰教你引著他往這裡來找尋？」他支支撐撐的抵著鐵棒，且戰且退，奔至空中。
正在危急之際，卻又天色晚了。這行者愈發狠性，下切手，恨不得一棒打殺。忽聽得九霄碧漢之間有人叫道：「大聖，莫動手，莫動手，棍下留情。」行者回頭看時，原來是太陰星君，後帶著姮娥仙子，降彩雲到於當面。慌得行者收了鐵棒，躬身施禮道：「老太陰往那裡去？老孫失迴避了。」太陰道：「與你對敵的這個妖邪，是我廣寒宮搗玄霜仙藥之玉兔也。他私自偷開玉關金鎖，走出宮來，今經一載。我算他目下有傷命之災，特來救他性命。望大聖看老身饒他罷。」行者喏喏連聲，只道：「不敢，不敢。怪道他會使搗藥杵，原來是個玉兔兒。老太陰不知，他攝藏了天竺國王之公主，卻又假合真形，欲破我聖僧師父之元陽，其情其罪，其實何甘？怎麼便可輕恕饒他？」太陰道：「你亦不知，那國王之公主，也不是凡人，原是蟾宮中之素娥。十八年前，他曾把玉兔兒打了一掌，卻就思凡下界，一靈之光，遂投胎於國王正宮皇后之腹，當時得以降生。這玉兔兒懷那一掌之仇，故於舊年私走出宮，拋素娥於荒野。但只是不該欲配唐僧，此罪真不可逭。幸汝留心，識破真假，卻也未曾傷損你師。萬望看我面上，恕他之罪，我收他去也。」行者笑道：「既有這些因果，老孫也不敢抗違。但只是你收了玉兔兒，恐那國王不信，敢煩太陰君同眾仙妹將玉兔兒拿到那廂，對國王明證明證：一則顯老孫之手段，二來說那素娥下降之因由，然後著那國王取素娥公主之身，以見顯報之意也。」
太陰君信其言，用手指定妖邪，喝道：「那孽畜還不歸正同來。」玉兔兒打個滾，現了原身。真個是：
缺唇尖齒，長耳稀鬚。團身一塊毛如玉，展足千山蹄若飛。直鼻垂酥，果賽霜華填粉膩；雙睛紅映，猶欺雪上點胭脂。伏在地，白穰穰一堆素練；伸開腰，白鐸鐸一架銀絲。幾番家吸殘清露瑤天曉，搗藥長生玉杵奇。
那大聖見了，不勝欣喜，踏雲光，向前引導。那太陰君領著眾姮娥仙子，帶著玉兔兒，徑轉天竺國界。此時正黃昏，看看月上。到城邊，聞得譙樓上擂鼓。那國王與唐僧尚在殿內，八戒、沙僧與多官都在階前，方議退朝，只見正南上一片彩霞，光明如晝。眾擡頭看處，又聞得孫大聖厲聲高叫道：「天竺陛下，請出你那皇后、嬪妃看者：這寶幢下乃月宮太陰星君，兩邊的仙妹是月裡嫦娥。這個玉兔兒卻是你家的假公主，今現真相也。」那國王急召皇后、嬪妃與宮娥、綵女等眾朝天禮拜，他和唐僧及多官亦俱望空拜謝。滿城中各家各戶，也無一人不設香案，叩頭念佛。正此觀看處，豬八戒動了慾心，忍不住，跳在空中，把霓裳仙子抱住道：「姐姐，我與你是舊相識，我和你耍子兒去也。」行者上前，揪著八戒，打了兩掌，罵道：「你這個村潑獃子！此是甚麼去處，敢動淫心？」八戒道：「拉閑散悶耍子而已。」那太陰君令轉仙幢，與眾嫦娥收回玉兔，徑上月宮而去。行者把八戒揪落塵埃。
這國王在殿上謝了行者，又問前因道：「多感神僧大法力捉了假公主。朕之真公主，卻在何處所也？」行者道：「你那真公主也不是凡胎，就是月宮裡素娥仙子。因十八年前，他將玉兔兒打了一掌，就思凡下界，投胎在你正宮腹內，生下身來。那玉兔兒懷恨前仇，所以於舊年間偷開玉關金鎖走下來，把素娥攝拋荒野，他卻變形哄你。這段因果，是太陰君親口才與我說的。今日既去其假者，明日請御駕去尋其真者。」國王聞說，又心意慚惶，止不住腮邊流淚道：「孩兒，我自幼登基，雖城門也不曾出去，卻教我那裡去尋你也？」行者笑道：「不須煩惱，你公主現在給孤布金寺裡裝風，今且各散，到天明我還你個真公主便是。」眾官又拜伏奏道：「我王且心寬，這幾位神僧乃騰雲駕霧之佛，必知未來過去之因由，明日煩神僧同去一尋，便知端的。」國王依言，即請至留春亭擺齋安歇。此時已近二更。正是那：
銅壺滴漏月華明，金鐸叮噹風送聲。杜宇正啼春去半，落花無路近三更。御園寂寞鞦韆影，碧落空浮銀漢橫。三市六街無客走，一天星斗夜光晴。
當夜各寢不題。
這一夜，國王退了妖氣，陡長精神，至五更三點，復出臨朝。朝畢，命請唐僧四眾，議尋公主。長老隨至，朝上行禮。大聖三人，一同打個問訊。國王欠身道：「昨所云公主孩兒，敢煩神僧為一尋救。」長老道：「貧僧前日自東來，行至天晚，見一座給孤布金寺，特進求宿，幸那寺僧相待。當晚齋罷，步月閑行，行至布金舊園，觀看基址，忽聞悲聲入耳，詢問其由。本寺一老僧，年已百歲之外，他屏退左右，細細的對我說了一遍道：『悲聲者，乃舊年春深時，那老僧正明性月，忽然一陣風生，見一女子擲之於地，那僧問之，那女子道：「我是天竺國國王公主，因為夜間玩月觀花，被風刮至於此。」』那老僧多知人禮，即將公主鎖在一間僻靜房中。惟恐本寺頑僧污染，只說是妖精，被他鎖住。公主識得此意，日間胡言亂語，討些茶飯吃了；夜深無人處，思量父母悲啼。那老僧也曾來國打聽幾番，見公主在宮無恙，所以不敢聲言舉奏。因見我徒弟有些神通，那老僧千叮萬囑，教貧僧到此查訪。不期他原是蟾宮玉兔為妖，假合真形，變作公主模樣，他卻又有心要破我元陽。幸虧我徒弟施威顯法，認出真假。今已被太陰星收去。賢公主見在布金寺裝風也。」
國王見說此詳細，放聲大哭。早驚動三宮六院，都來問及前因，無一人不痛哭者。良久，國王又問：「布金寺離城多遠？」三藏道：「只有六十里路。」國王遂傳旨：「著東西二宮守殿，掌朝太師衛國。朕同正宮皇后帥多官、四神僧，去寺取公主也。」當時擺駕，一行出朝。
你看那行者就跳在空中，把腰一扭，先到了寺裡。眾僧慌忙跪接道：「老爺去時，與眾步行，今日何從天上下來？」行者笑道：「你那老師在於何處？快叫他出來，排設香案接駕，天竺國王、皇后、多官與我師都來了。」眾僧不解其意，即請出那老僧。老僧見了行者，倒身下拜道：「老爺，公主之事如何？」行者把那假公主拋繡毬，欲配唐僧，並趕捉賭鬥，與太陰星收去玉兔之言，備陳了一遍。那老僧又磕頭拜謝。行者攙起道：「且莫拜，且莫拜。快安排接駕。」眾僧才知後房裡鎖得是個女子，一個個驚驚喜喜，便都設了香案，擺列山門之外，穿了袈裟，撞起鐘鼓等候。
不多時，聖駕早到。果然是：
繽紛瑞靄滿天香，一座荒山倏被祥。虹流千載清河海，電繞長春賽禹湯。草木沾恩添秀色，野花得潤有餘芳。古來長者留遺跡，今喜明君降寶堂。
國王到於山門之外，只見那眾僧齊齊整整，俯伏接拜；又見孫行者立在中間。國王道：「神僧何先到此？」行者笑道：「老孫把腰略扭一扭兒，就到了。你們怎麼就走這半日？」隨後唐僧等俱到。長老引駕，到於後面房邊，那公主還裝風胡說。老僧跪指道：「此房內就是舊年風吹來的公主娘娘。」國王即令開門。隨即打開鐵鎖，開了門。國王與皇后見了公主，認得形容，不顧穢污，近前一把摟抱道：「我的受苦的兒啊！你怎麼遭這等折磨，在此受罪？」真是父母子女相逢，比他人不同，三人抱頭大哭。哭了一會，敘畢離情，即令取香湯，教公主沐浴更衣，上輦回國。
行者又對國王拱手道：「老孫還有一事奉上。」國王答禮道：「神僧有事吩咐，朕即從之。」行者道：「他這山，名為百腳山。近來說有蜈蚣成精，黑夜傷人，往來行旅，甚為不便。我思蜈蚣惟雞可以降伏，可選絕大雄雞千隻，撒放山中，除此毒蟲。就將此山名改換改換，賜文一道敕封，就當謝此僧供養公主之恩也。」國王甚喜，領諾。隨差官進城取雞；又改山名為寶華山。仍著工部辦料重修，賜與封號，喚做「敕建寶華山給孤布金寺」；把那老僧封為「報國僧官」，永遠世襲，賜俸三十六石。僧眾謝了恩，送駕回朝。
公主入宮，各各相見。安排筵宴，與公主釋悶賀喜。后妃母子，復聚首團圞。國王君臣亦共喜，飲宴一宵不題。
次早，國王傳旨，召丹青圖下聖僧四眾喜容，供養在華夷樓上。又請公主新妝重整，出殿謝唐僧四眾救苦之恩。謝畢，唐僧辭王西去。那國王那裡肯放，大設佳宴，一連吃了五六日，著實好了獃子，盡力放開肚量受用。
國王見他們拜佛心重，苦留不住，遂取金銀二百錠、寶貝各一盤奉謝。師徒們一毫不受。教擺鑾駕，請老師父登輦，差官遠送。那后妃并臣民人等俱各叩謝不盡。及至前途，又見眾僧叩送，俱不忍相別。行者見送者不肯回去，無已，捻訣，往巽地上吹口仙氣，一陣暗風，把送的人都迷了眼目，方才得脫身而去。這正是：
沐淨恩波歸了性，出離金海悟真空。
畢竟不知前路如何，且聽下回分解。
Musean translation
Mouseia’s complete machine-assisted Musean translation, made directly from the Chinese, passage for passage, covering all 100 chapters and 3,782 source paragraphs of the Traditional Chinese text.
With Borrowed Shape and True Form They Take the Jade Hare; True Yin Returns to the Right and Meets the Luminous Source
Now the Tang monk, sorrowful and heavy of heart, followed the king into the inner palace. He heard drums and music dinning to the heavens, and smelled strange fragrance striking the nose. Head lowered, he dared not look up. Pilgrim, secretly delighted, perched on the crown of the Vairocana cap, marshaled his divine light, opened his fire eyes and gold pupils, and looked about. The two ranks of painted maids were arrayed like the grotto of the Stamen Palace, an immortal mansion, finer by far than brocade curtains in the spring wind. Truly:
Gracious and swaying, jade in substance, ice in skin.Pair on pair, their charm outdoes the maids of Chu; rank on rank, their beauty vies with Xishi.Cloud chignons piled high, where bright phoenixes fly; moth brows faintly shown, the far mountains low.Pipes and reeds in elegant concert; flutes and drums blow on and on.Gong, shang, jue, zhi, yu—the notes rise and fall in one accord.Pure songs and wondrous dances ever to be loved; brocade paving, flower clusters—every color delights.
Pilgrim, seeing that his master’s thoughts did not stir at all, smacked his lips in secret praise: “A fine monk, a fine monk! Living amid brocade and splendor, his heart holds no love; treading on jasper and jade, his mind is not beguiled.”
In a little while the empress and consorts, crowding round the princess, came out of the Magpie Palace to meet them, all crying: “Ten thousand years to our king, ten thousand myriad years!” The elder trembled all over, not knowing where to turn. Pilgrim had already seen: above the princess’s head there showed faintly a wisp of demonic air, though not very fierce. He crawled close to his ear and called: “Master, the princess is a false one.” The elder said: “A false one—but how shall we make her show herself?” Pilgrim said: “Let out my dharma body and take her here.” The elder said: “No, no—do not shock the sovereign. Wait till king and empress have withdrawn, then use your powers.”
But Pilgrim was impatient all his life; how could he wait? He gave a great shout, showed his true form, rushed up, seized the princess, and cursed: “Accursed beast! Here you have made the false true; you could have taken your ease here forever and it would have been enough. But your heart was not satisfied—you must trick my master, break his true yang, and satisfy your lust.” The king stood gaping and struggling; the empress and consorts tumbled and scrambled; of the palace maids and painted girls not one but hid east and scrambled west, every soul looking to her own life. It was much like:
The spring wind rolling and rolling, the autumn air rustling and shrill. The spring wind rolling and rolling through the garden, a thousand flowers tossing; the autumn air rustling and shrill in the forbidden park, ten thousand leaves adrift. It snaps the peony down aslant beneath the rail, bends the tree peony to sleep along the balustrade. The mallows on the pool’s bank are wildly shaken; chrysanthemum buds are strewn in heaps on terrace steps. The crabapple, strengthless, lies in the dust; the rose, still fragrant, sleeps in the wild. The spring wind breaks the lotus stems; winter snow bows the plum’s tender buds. Pomegranate petals fall in disarray through the inner courts, east and west; willow wands of the bank droop aslant, north and south of the palace. A night of wind and rain runs wild with the fair flowers, and countless fallen reds carpet the ground like brocade.
Tripitaka was utterly at a loss, arms trembling as he clutched the king, crying only: “Your Majesty, do not fear, do not fear! It is my unruly disciple using his powers, to tell true from false.”
Now the demon, seeing things going badly, twisted free, stripped off her robes, shook her head and shook loose pins, rings, and ornaments, ran to the temple of the local earth god in the imperial garden, took out a short club shaped like a pestle’s nose, whirled around, and rained blows on Pilgrim. Pilgrim followed her at once, meeting her face to face with the iron staff. The two of them, shouting and hallooing, fell to fighting in the garden; then, showing their full powers, each rode cloud and mist and fought in the air. This contest:
The gold-banded iron staff has a famous name; the pestle-nosed club no one knows.One came to this place seeking the true scriptures; one, for love of rare flowers, made her dwelling here.That fiend has long known the holy monk of the Tang, seeking to be joined and to take his primal essence.Last year she carried off the true princess and took human form, cherished and beloved.Now she meets the Great Sage, who knows the demonic air, come to save a life and sort the true from the false.The short club deals out fury, flung at the crown; the iron staff shows its might, striking at the face.In a din and clamor the two hold their ground; cloud and mist fill the sky and veil the white sun.
The two fought it out in mid-air, striking terror into the people through the whole city and dread into the many officers within the palace. The elder supported the king, crying: “Do not be alarmed. Pray calm the lady and all the rest. Your princess is a false one in a true form; when my disciple takes her, you will know good from bad.” Those consorts with bolder hearts took up the robes, pins, and rings and showed the empress: “This is what the princess wore and wore upon her head; now she has cast it all off, and stark naked fights the monk in the sky—she must be a demon.” Only then did the king, empress, and consorts steady themselves, gazing up into the air—but no more of that.
Now the demon fought the Great Sage half a day without victory or defeat. Pilgrim flung his staff aloft, crying: “Change!”—one became ten, ten became a hundred, a hundred became a thousand—and in mid-sky, like serpents gliding and pythons thrashing, they fell upon the demon in a storm of blows. The demon lost her footing, turned into a wisp of clean wind, and fled for the blue vault. Pilgrim pronounced a spell, gathered the staff back into one, and rode the auspicious light in pursuit. As he neared the West Heaven Gate he saw banners flashing, and called in a stern voice: “Keepers of the heaven gate—bar the demon’s way, and do not let her pass!” And truly, above the gate the Guardian Heavenly King led the four great marshals Pang, Liu, Gou, and Bi, each spreading out his weapon to bar her. The demon could not advance; turning back in haste, she plied the short club and held her ground against Pilgrim again.
The Great Sage swung the iron staff and looked closely: the short club was thick at one end, thin at the other, just like the head of the pestle of a pounding mill. He roared: “Accursed beast! What weapon is that you carry, to match old Monkey? Surrender quickly, and spare your skull this staff’s shattering.” The demon ground her teeth: “You do not know my weapon either. Hear me:
Immortal root: a piece of mutton-fat jade, ground and carved into shape through years past counting.When chaos opened I already had it; when the vast dark was divided I came first.Its line is not as common things of earth; its nature was born in the upper heaven.One body of golden light joined to the four forms; the auspicious breaths of the five elements merged into the three origins.Long it has dwelt with me in the Toad Palace, kept me company by the cassia halls.Because I loved the flowers of the world below, I came to India and feigned the lovely maid.To share delight with you was not my purpose; I meant to wed the Tang monk and close an old account.How dare you wound your heart and break a fine match, pursuing me to death and flaunting your savagery?This weapon’s name is greater far than your gold-banded staff:the pestle that pounds the elixir in the Palace of Vast Cold—one blow, and a man’s life goes home to the springs.”
Hearing this, Pilgrim laughed coldly: “A fine accursed beast! You have dwelt in the Toad Palace, yet you do not know old Monkey’s art, and dare stand haggling here? Show yourself and surrender quickly, and I will spare your life.” The fiend said: “I know you are the Bimawen (Keeper of the Heavenly Horses) who wrecked the Heavenly Palace five hundred years ago, and it would be right to yield to you. But to break a marriage is like the vengeance of killing father and mother; so, unwilling in feeling and in reason, I mean to beat you, Bimawen, deceiver of Heaven and traitor above.” Of all words the Great Sage hated most the name “Bimawen”; hearing this he flared into fury, raised the iron staff and struck full at her face; the fiend swung the pestle to meet him. There before the West Heaven Gate they locked in bitter combat. This contest:
The gold-banded staff, the medicine-pounding pestle—two immortal weapons truly matched.That one descended into the world to make a marriage; this one came here guarding the Tang monk.It began with a king who was not serious: his love of flowers drew a demon’s delight.So now they hate and struggle bitterly, both sides raising their wanton hearts.One thrust, one parry, wagering the victory; taunt and counter-taunt, a war of tongues.The medicine pestle is a hero rare in the world; the iron staff’s divine might is finer yet.Golden light, gleaming on gleaming, shakes the heaven gate; colored mist, glowing on glowing, joins earth to sky.They came and went through a dozen rounds or more; the demon’s strength waned and could not hold.
The demon fought Pilgrim another dozen rounds or more; seeing the close press of his staff, and knowing she could not win, she feinted away the pestle, shook her body, shot out ten thousand beams of golden light, and fled in defeat straight toward the south. The Great Sage pursued. Suddenly they came to a great mountain; the demon pressed down her golden light, burrowed into a cave, and vanished. Fearing she might slip back to the capital and do the Tang monk secret harm, he marked the mountain’s shape and turned his cloud head straight back to the kingdom.
It was by then the hour of the monkey. The king was still clutching Tripitaka, trembling, crying only: “Holy monk, save me!” The consorts and the empress were in the same dismay, when the Great Sage came down from the clouds, calling: “Master, I have come.” Tripitaka said: “Wukong, stand fast—do not alarm the sacred person. Answer me: what of the false princess?” Pilgrim stood outside the Magpie Palace, hands crossed on his breast: “The false princess is a demon. I fought her half a day at first; she could not beat me, turned into a wisp of clean wind, and made straight for the heaven gate, where I shouted to the heavenly gods to bar her. She showed her true form and fought me a dozen rounds more, then turned herself into golden light and fled in defeat to a mountain in the south. I hastened in pursuit to the mountain but could find no trace, and fearing she might come here to hurt you, came back specially to look in.” The king, hearing this, clutched the Tang monk and asked: “Since the false princess is a demon, where is my true princess?” Pilgrim answered: “Wait till I take the false one, and your true princess will come of herself.” At this the empress and consorts were all released from fear, and came up one by one to plead: “We pray the holy monk will bring back our true princess, and part light from dark; we will repay you richly.” Pilgrim said: “This is no place to talk. Let your Majesty come out of the palace with my master up into the hall; let the ladies each return to their palaces; summon my brothers Bajie and Sha Monk to guard my master, and I can go subdue the demon. First, to part inner from outer; second, to spare my worrying. I shall make the matter clear, and show what my efforts were worth.” The king agreed, thanking him without end, and went out of the palace hand in hand with the Tang monk, straight up into the hall. The consorts each returned to her palace. On one side a vegetarian meal was made ready; on another Bajie and Sha Monk were summoned, and the two were there in a moment. Pilgrim told them the whole story and charged them to guard him with care. The Great Sage then somersaulted up on his cloud and flew off through the sky. The many officers before the hall bowed to the sky one and all—but no more of that.
The Great Sage Sun went straight to that mountain in the south to search. The demon, routed in battle, had come to this mountain, burrowed into her den, stopped up the door with stones, and hidden quaking within. Pilgrim searched a while and, hearing nothing, grew hot with vexation; he pinched a spell sign, pronounced the true words, and summoned the local earth god and the mountain god of the place to question them. Soon the two gods came and knocked their heads: “We do not know, we do not know. Had we known, we would have gone far out to meet you—forgive our offense.” Pilgrim said: “I will not beat you yet. Answer me: what is this mountain called? How many demons are here? Speak the truth and I will forgive your fault.” The two gods said: “Great Sage, this mountain is called Fur-Tip Mountain. In it there are only three rabbit burrows; from high antiquity until now there have been no demons—it is a blessed land of the five enclosures. If you would seek a demon, Great Sage, it is out along the road to the Western Heaven you must look.” Pilgrim said: “Old Monkey has reached the kingdom of India in the Western Heaven, where the king’s princess was carried off by a demon and thrown away in the wilds. The demon took the princess’s shape, fooled the king, raised the painted tower, threw the embroidered ball, and meant to catch a prince consort. I was guarding the Tang monk and came beneath the tower, and she deliberately struck the Tang monk with the ball, meaning to take him for her mate and lure away his primal yang. I saw through it, showed myself in the palace, and seized her. She stripped off her human robes and ornaments, took up a short club called the medicine-pounding pestle, and fought me half a day; then she turned into clean wind and fled. I chased her to the West Heaven Gate and fought her a dozen rounds more. Seeing she could not win, she turned to golden light again and fled here—how is it I cannot find her?”
The two gods led Pilgrim to search the three burrows. First, by the burrow at the mountain’s foot, there were a few wild rabbits, which fled in fright. When they searched the burrow at the very summit, they saw two great boulders blocking the burrow door. The earth god said: “The demon must be here; she burrowed in in haste.” Pilgrim at once used the iron staff to shove the stones aside. The demon indeed lay hidden within; with a whoosh she leaped out, raised the pestle to strike Pilgrim, and he swung the iron staff and parried. The mountain god shrank back in terror; the earth god scurried away. The demon, muttering and grumbling, cursed the mountain god and the earth god: “Who told you to lead him here to search?” Propping and bracing herself against the iron staff, she fought and fell back by turns until she reached mid-air.
Just at the crisis the sky was growing dark. Pilgrim’s fury rose the higher; he struck to kill, longing to beat her dead with one blow. Suddenly from the ninefold empyrean a voice called: “Great Sage, stay your hand, stay your hand—spare her under your staff.” Pilgrim turned his head and saw the Lady of the Moon, with the fairy Chang’e following behind, descending on bright clouds before him. Alarmed, Pilgrim put up the iron staff, bowed, and saluted: “Where does the Lady Moon go? Old Monkey failed to stand aside.” The Lady said: “This demon who fought you is the jade hare of my Palace of Vast Cold, who pounds the elixir of dark frost. She secretly unlocked the jade gate and gold lock, slipped out of the palace, and it is now a year. I reckoned she had a mortal peril upon her just now, and have come specially to save her life. For my sake, Great Sage, let her go.” Pilgrim cried yes and yes again: “I dare not, I dare not. No wonder she could wield the medicine pestle—it is a jade hare. You do not know, Lady Moon: she carried off and hid the princess of the king of India, and then borrowed a true shape, meaning to break the primal yang of my master the holy monk. In feeling and in fault, how could she deserve a light pardon? How can you forgive her so easily?” The Lady said: “You do not know either: that king’s princess is no mortal either, but the Fairy Su’e of the Toad Palace. Eighteen years ago she struck the jade hare a blow of the palm, and then longed for the world and came down; her one spark of spirit entered the womb of the queen of the chief palace, and so she was born. This jade hare, nursing the grudge of that palm blow, slipped out of the palace last year and cast Su’e away in the wilds. But she should not have sought to mate with the Tang monk—a sin truly not to be pardoned. Happily you kept watch, saw through false and true, and your master was never harmed. For my face’s sake, forgive her fault, and I will take her away.” Pilgrim laughed: “Since the karma is so, old Monkey dares not defy it. But if you take the jade hare away, I fear the king will not believe it. May I trouble the Lady Moon, with all the immortal sisters, to carry the jade hare over there, to make proof before the king? First, to show old Monkey’s art; second, to tell why Su’e came down; then let the king fetch the body of the princess Su’e, and the meaning of manifest requital will be seen.”
The Lady Moon believed him, pointed her hand at the demon, and cried: “Accursed beast, will you not return to the right and come with me?” The jade hare rolled over and showed her true form. Truly:
Cleft lip, sharp teeth, long ears, sparse whiskers.A rounded body, a mass of fur like jade; feet outstretched, over a thousand hills, hooves like flight.The straight nose drips cream—truly like frost-flowers filling powder’s sheen; the two eyes flash red—like rouge dotted on snow.Crouched on the ground, a heap of white, a bolt of plain silk; stretched at length, a shimmering frame of silver thread.Oft has it sipped the last clear dew at the jade heaven’s dawn, and pounded the elixir of long life with the wondrous jade pestle.
The Great Sage, seeing it, was overjoyed; treading the cloud light he went on before to lead the way. The Lady Moon led the fairies Chang’e, took up the jade hare, and went straight back into the borders of India. It was dusk, and the moon rising. As they neared the city they heard the drum beaten on the watchtower. The king and the Tang monk were still in the hall, with Bajie, Sha Monk, and the many officers before the steps, just debating the end of court, when they saw a stretch of bright cloud in the south, lighting the sky like day. All raised their heads, and heard the Great Sage Sun call out in a stern voice: “Sovereign of India, call out your empress and consorts to look: beneath this jeweled banner is the Lady of the Moon of the Moon Palace, and the immortal sisters at her sides are the Chang’e of the moon. This jade hare is the false princess of your house, now shown in her true form.” The king hastily summoned empress, consorts, palace maids, and painted girls, and all bowed toward Heaven; he and the Tang monk and the officers bowed to the sky in thanks. In every house in the city, not one but set out incense tables and knocked heads, calling on the Buddha. While they were watching, Bajie’s lust was stirred; he could not contain himself, leaped into the air, and hugged the Fairy of the Rainbow Skirts: “Sister, you and I are old acquaintance—come away and play with me!” Pilgrim came up, seized Bajie, gave him two slaps, and cursed: “You boorish, brazen Idiot! What place is this, to let your lust loose?” Bajie said: “Only idle fun, to pass the tedium.” The Lady Moon then ordered the immortal banner to turn, and with all the Chang’e took back the jade hare, and went straight up to the Moon Palace. Pilgrim hauled Bajie down into the dust.
The king thanked Pilgrim in the hall and asked the cause again: “We are much beholden to the holy monk’s great powers for taking the false princess. But where is our true princess?” Pilgrim said: “Your true princess is no mortal frame either, but the Fairy Su’e of the Moon Palace. Because eighteen years ago she struck the jade hare a blow of the palm, she longed for the world and came down, and entered the womb of your chief queen, and was born into the world. The jade hare, nursing her old grudge, secretly unlocked the jade gate and gold lock and came down last year, carried Su’e off and threw her away in the wilds, and took her shape to fool you. This karma the Lady Moon told me with her own mouth just now. Today, since the false one is gone away, tomorrow let your sacred carriage go and seek the true.” The king, hearing it, was abashed and stricken, and could not keep the tears from his cheeks: “Child—I have sat on the throne from childhood; I have never so much as gone out the city gates. Where would you have me seek you?” Pilgrim laughed: “No need for trouble. Your princess is at this moment playing mad at the Bestowed Gold Monastery of the Provider for the Lonely. Let all disperse now, and at daybreak I will hand you back a true princess.” The officers again bowed and memorialized: “Let our king set his heart at ease. These holy monks are Buddhas who ride the clouds and mists, and must know the causes of things to come and past; tomorrow let the holy monks go with us to seek her, and all will be known.” The king agreed, invited them to the Spring-Retaining Pavilion, laid a meal, and lodged them. It was nearing the second watch. And so it was:
On the bronze clepsydra the drops fall, the moonlight bright; the golden bells chime and chime, the wind bearing the sound.The cuckoo cries just now that spring is half gone; the fallen flowers have no road, near the third watch.In the imperial garden, lonely, the shadow of the swing; in the blue void, floating idly, the Silver River lies athwart.Through the three markets and six streets no traveler walks; a sky of stars, the night light clear.
That night all slept—but no more of that.
That night the king, his demonic taint dispelled, shot up in spirit; at the fifth watch, third point, he came out again to hold court. When court was done he ordered the Tang monk’s four summoned, to take counsel on finding the princess. The elder came and bowed at the foot of the throne, and the three of the Great Sage’s party made a salutation together. The king inclined his body: “The princess, our child, of whom we spoke yesterday—we beg the holy monks to seek her out and rescue her.” The elder said: “When this poor monk came from the East the other day, traveling till dusk, I saw a monastery, the Bestowed Gold Monastery of the Provider for the Lonely, and went in to ask a lodging; happily the monks received me. That evening, after the meal, I strolled in the moonlight and came to the old grounds of the Bestowed Gold garden to look at the foundations, when suddenly a sound of grief fell on my ear; I asked the cause. An old monk of that monastery, past a hundred years, dismissed those about him and told me in detail: ‘The grieving is this: late last spring, when I was at the moment of illuminating the moon of my nature, a wind suddenly arose, and I saw a young woman flung down to the ground. I asked her, and she said: “I am the princess of the king of India. Watching the moon and the flowers by night, I was blown here by the wind.”’ That old monk, knowing well the courtesies of men, locked the princess in a quiet room; fearing the wild monks of the place would defile her, he said only it was a demon he had chained. The princess understood his meaning, and by day babbled nonsense and begged her tea and rice; in the deep of night, where no one was, she thought of her father and mother and wept. The old monk came to the city several times to inquire, saw the princess safe in the palace, and so dared not speak or memorialize. Seeing that my disciple had some powers, the old monk urged me a thousand times over to come here and search it out. Who could have known the demon was the jade hare of the Toad Palace, who borrowed a true shape and turned into the princess’s likeness, and meant moreover to break my primal yang? Happily my disciple showed his might and his art, and knew the false from the true. She has now been taken away by the Lady of the Moon. The worthy princess is at this moment playing mad at the Bestowed Gold Monastery.”
The king, hearing these details, broke into loud weeping. The three palaces and six courts were all alarmed, and came to ask the cause, and there was no one who did not weep. After a long while the king asked again: “How far is the Bestowed Gold Monastery from the city?” Tripitaka said: “Only sixty li.” The king then decreed: “Let the eastern and western palaces keep the palace halls, and the grand tutor of state guard the kingdom. I will go with the empress of the chief palace at the head of the officers and the four holy monks to the monastery to fetch the princess.” The carriage was made ready then and there, and the line went out of court.
See now: Pilgrim leaped into the air, gave his waist a twist, and reached the monastery first. The monks hurried to kneel and receive him: “Master, when you left us you went on foot with the rest—how is it you come down from the sky today?” Pilgrim laughed: “Where is that old teacher of yours? Call him out quickly; set up incense tables to receive the sovereign. The king of India, the empress, the officers, and my master are all coming.” The monks did not understand, but brought out the old monk. Seeing Pilgrim, he bowed his whole body to the ground: “Master, how stands the matter of the princess?” Pilgrim told it all in order—the false princess, the thrown ball, the wish to wed the Tang monk, the pursuit and battle, and how the Lady of the Moon took away the jade hare. The old monk knocked his head in thanks again and again. Pilgrim raised him: “No more bowing, no more bowing. Make ready to receive the sovereign quickly.” Only then did the monks know it was a young woman locked in the back room, and in mingled fright and joy they set up incense tables, arrayed outside the mountain gate, put on their cassocks, and struck bell and drum as they waited.
Before long the sacred carriage arrived. Truly:
Bright haze in a swirl fills the sky with fragrance; a poor wild mountain is all at once clothed in blessing.A rainbow has coursed the clear rivers and seas a thousand years; lightning rings long years of spring, a match for Yu and Tang.Grass and tree, touched with grace, take on fresh beauty; the wild flowers, moistened, keep a lasting perfume.Of old the elder left his traces here; today, with joy, an enlightened king descends on the precious hall.
The king came to outside the mountain gate and saw the monks arrayed in ranks, bowing with faces to the ground; and Sun Pilgrim standing in the midst. The king said: “Holy monk, how did you arrive first?” Pilgrim laughed: “Old Monkey gave his waist but a twist, and here I am. How is it you took half a day walking?” Then the Tang monk and the rest arrived. The elder led the carriage to the back, to the side of the room, where the princess still played mad and talked nonsense. The old monk knelt and pointed: “In this room is the lady princess the wind blew here last year.” The king ordered the door opened at once; the iron lock was struck open and the door unbarred. The king and the empress, seeing the princess, knew her face, and heeding no filth, came near and clasped her in their arms: “My suffering child! How did you come to such torment, to suffer here?” Truly the meeting of parents and child is unlike any other: the three embraced and wept aloud. When the weeping had spent itself and the parting had been told, they called for perfumed water, had the princess bathe and change, mounted the carriage, and returned to the capital.
Pilgrim again folded his hands to the king: “Old Monkey has one thing more to offer.” The king returned the courtesy: “If the holy monk has commands, we will obey at once.” Pilgrim said: “This mountain is called Hundred-Foot Mountain. Of late they say a centipede has become a spirit and wounds people in the dark, a great hardship to travelers on the road. I think only the cock can subdue a centipede. Let a thousand great cocks be chosen and let loose in the mountain, to destroy the venomous vermin. And let the mountain’s name be changed; bestow a rescript of enfeoffment, and so repay the old monk for his keeping of the princess.” The king rejoiced greatly and consented. He at once sent officers into the city for the cocks, and changed the mountain’s name to Treasure-Splendor Mountain. The Board of Works was ordered to provide materials and rebuild, and the title was bestowed: “The Bestowed Gold Monastery of the Provider for the Lonely, of Treasure-Splendor Mountain, Founded by Imperial Decree.” The old monk was enfeoffed as Monastic Officer for the Recompense of the State, hereditary forever, with a stipend of thirty-six piculs of grain. The monks thanked the grace and saw the carriage back to the capital.
The princess entered the palace, and all met again; a banquet was laid to cheer her and congratulate her. Mother and daughter, empress and princess, were gathered whole again; the king and his ministers rejoiced together, and they feasted the night through—but no more of that.
Early the next morning the king decreed that painters take the happy likeness of the holy monk’s four and hang it in worship in the Tower of Hua and the Barbarians. Then the princess, newly adorned and freshly arrayed, was brought out into the hall to thank the Tang monk’s four for the grace of her deliverance. The thanks done, the Tang monk took leave of the king to go west. But the king would by no means let them go; he laid a great banquet, and they ate five or six days running—fine days indeed for the Idiot, who let out his belly to the full.
The king, seeing how set their hearts were on worshiping the Buddha, and that he could not keep them, took out two hundred ingots of gold and silver and trays of precious things to thank them. Master and disciples would not take a hair of it. The royal carriage was ordered out, the elder teacher was asked up into the carriage, and officers were sent to see them far. The empresses and consorts, ministers and people, bowed their thanks without end. On the road ahead they saw the monks again bowing their farewell, and none could bear the parting. Pilgrim, seeing the senders would not turn back, could do no other: he pinched a spell sign, blew a breath of immortal air toward the quarter of the wind, and raised a dark gust that filled the senders’ eyes, and so he got free and away. And this was it:
Washed clean in the waves of grace, the nature is restored; come out of the golden sea, one wakes to the true void.
But what lay on the road ahead? Listen to the next chapter to find out.
Plain English translation
Mouseia’s complete Plain English edition, made independently and directly from the Chinese, covering all 100 chapters and 3,782 source paragraphs of the Traditional Chinese text.
A False Princess Is Unmasked as the Jade Rabbit; The True Princess Returns to Her Family
Full of worry, Tripitaka followed the king into the inner palace. Drums and music filled the air, along with an unusual fragrance. He kept his head down, afraid to look up. Pilgrim was pleased, perched unseen atop his master's hat. Using his fiery eyes and golden pupils, he looked around. Rows of beautifully dressed attendants were lined up like immortals in a fairy palace, a finer sight than any decorated wedding room:
They were graceful and had lovely faces and fair skin. Each pair could rival the beauties of Chu or the famous Xi Shi. Their hair was piled high beneath colorful phoenix ornaments; their curved eyebrows looked like distant hills. Mouth organs, flutes, and drums played together. The five musical notes rose and fell in harmony. Fine songs and dances delighted the eye and ear, as did the flowers and brightly dressed crowds.
Pilgrim saw that his master was not tempted in the least. He silently praised him: “What a fine monk! Surrounded by fine clothes and beautiful things, he feels no desire and does not lose his way.”
Soon the queen and consorts led the princess from the Magpie Palace and came to greet the king, wishing him a long life. Tripitaka trembled, unsure what to do. Pilgrim noticed a faint trace of monstrous energy above the princess's head, though it did not look very dangerous. He crawled to Tripitaka's ear. “Master, she's a false princess.” “If she's false, how can we make her show her true form?” Tripitaka whispered. “I'll take my real form and catch her now.” “No, you'll frighten the king. Wait until he and the queen leave, then use your powers.”
Pilgrim was too impatient. He shouted, took his normal shape, seized the princess, and cursed her. “You evil creature! You've passed yourself off as the real princess and enjoyed yourself here long enough. Yet you're not satisfied. You want to trick my master into losing his pure vital energy to satisfy your lust!” The king stood frozen. Queens and consorts stumbled away, while attendants scattered to save themselves. It was like this:
A strong spring wind through the garden shook a thousand flowers; the chill of fall in the palace shook ten thousand leaves. Peonies bent against the railings, and herbaceous peonies fell. Lotus flowers swayed beside the pond and chrysanthemums fell around the terrace. Crabapple flowers collapsed in dust; fragrant roses lay in the grass. The breeze broke lotus stalks as winter snow bends young plum blossoms. Pomegranate petals blew around the courtyards, and willow branches drooped beside the palace walls. As after a wild night of wind and rain, countless fallen red petals carpeted the ground.
Tripitaka panicked too. He clung to the king, trembling. “Your Majesty, don't be afraid. My unruly disciple is using his powers to find out what's true and false.”
The creature broke free, stripped off her clothes, shook off her hairpins and jewels, and ran to the shrine of the earth god in the royal garden. There she took out a short club shaped like a pestle, turned, and attacked Pilgrim. He met her with his iron staff. They fought through the garden, shouting at each other. Then they displayed their powers, rose on clouds, and continued fighting in the sky:
The gold-banded staff was famous; no one recognized the short pestle-shaped club.One fighter had come to this land to find the true scriptures; the other had stayed because she loved its unusual flowers.The monster had long known of the holy Tang monk and wanted to marry him and take his vital energy.Last year she carried off the real princess and took her form, winning the king's affection.Now the Great Sage had detected her and fought to save the monk's life and reveal the truth.The short club struck from above; the iron staff met it head-on.They shouted and struggled as clouds and mist covered the sun.
Their fight frightened the people throughout the city and the officials at court. Supporting the king, Tripitaka said, “Don't be alarmed. Please tell the queen and the others not to fear. Your princess is an impostor. My disciple will capture her and reveal what happened.” Some braver consorts showed the queen the clothes and ornaments lying on the ground. “These are the princess's things. She shed them and is fighting naked in the sky. She must be a monster.” The king and the women regained their composure and looked up to watch.
Pilgrim and the monster fought for half a day without a winner. He tossed his staff into the air and said, “Change!” One staff became ten, ten became a hundred, and a hundred became a thousand. They struck at the creature like a mass of twisting snakes and pythons across the sky. Panicked, she turned into a clear breeze and fled upward. Pilgrim chanted a spell to collect his staffs into one and flew after her. As they neared heaven's western gate, he saw flags ahead and shouted, “Guards at the gate, stop that monster!” Heavenly King Virupaksha and four marshals named Pang, Liu, Gou, and Bi barred her way with their weapons. She turned back, raised her club, and fought Pilgrim again.
As Pilgrim met her blows he saw that her club was thick at one end and thin at the other, like the pestle of a mortar. “What weapon is that, you beast, that you dare fight me with it? Surrender before I break your skull!” Gritting her teeth, the creature said, “You know nothing of this weapon. Listen:
Its immortal root is a piece of white jade; ages passed as it was shaped and polished.I possessed it when the world first opened, even before the first division of heaven and earth.It did not come from the human world; its true home has always been in heaven.Its golden light joins the four elements, and the power of the five phases joins the three original forces.It stayed with me in the Moon Palace, beside the hall of cassia trees.My love of flowers brought me down to earth, where I pretended to be a beautiful woman of Tianzhu.I only wanted to enjoy my time with you and marry the Tang monk to fulfill an old bond.Why destroy this good marriage and chase me so savagely?My weapon has a greater name than your gold-banded staff:It is the pestle for grinding medicine in the Moon Palace. One blow kills.”
Pilgrim laughed. “So you live in the Moon Palace but don't know what I can do? Take your true form and surrender, and I'll spare you.” “I recognize you,” she answered. “You're Bimawen, the Keeper of the Heavenly Horses, who made trouble in heaven five hundred years ago. Normally I'd give way to you. But breaking a marriage is as hateful as killing someone's parents. I won't accept it. I'll fight you, Bimawen, for your outrageous arrogance.” He hated being called Bimawen. Furious, he swung his staff at her face. She met it with her pestle, and they fought fiercely before heaven's western gate:
The gold-banded staff and the medicine pestle were both immortal weapons. One fighter had come to earth to marry, the other to protect the Tang monk. The king's love of flowers had drawn the monster to his land and brought about this bitter fight. Both sides refused to back down. They struck and argued, each trying to win. The pestle was a powerful weapon, but the staff was stronger. Golden light shook heaven's gate; colored mist shone over the earth. After more than ten exchanges, the monster began to weaken.
After another dozen exchanges, the creature saw how closely Pilgrim pressed her and knew she could not win. She feinted with her pestle, flashed with golden light, and fled south. Pilgrim pursued her to a great mountain. She landed, slipped into a cave, and vanished. Afraid she might escape back to the city and harm Tripitaka, he noted the shape of the mountain and flew back to the palace.
It was now the hour of the monkey. The king clung to Tripitaka, trembling and asking the holy monk to save him. The queen and consorts were frightened too. Pilgrim landed and called, “Master, I'm back!” Tripitaka said, “Stay where you are, Wukong, so you don't frighten His Majesty. Tell me about the false princess.” Standing outside the Magpie Palace, Pilgrim explained, “She's a monster. We fought for half a day. Unable to beat me, she turned into a breeze and fled toward heaven. I called on the heavenly guards to stop her, fought her another dozen rounds, and she turned into golden light and fled south to a mountain. I chased her but couldn't find her there. I returned in case she came back to harm you.” The king asked where his real daughter was. “Once I've caught the false princess, the real one will come back,” Pilgrim replied. The queen and consorts begged him to save her and promised a reward. “This isn't the place to discuss it,” said Pilgrim. “Your Majesty, take Master back to the throne room. The ladies should return to their rooms. Summon Bajie and Sha Monk to guard Master while I go after the creature. Then I can work without worrying about him, and we can settle the truth.” The grateful king went hand in hand with Tripitaka to court. The women withdrew. Officials prepared a vegetarian meal and summoned Bajie and Sha Monk. Pilgrim told them what had happened and asked them to protect Tripitaka. Then he leaped onto his somersault cloud and flew away. The officials bowed toward him as he went.
The Great Sage returned to the mountain in the south. After losing the fight, the monster had hidden in her den and blocked its entrance with stones. Pilgrim searched but saw no movement. Irritated, he recited a spell and summoned the local earth and mountain gods. They arrived and bowed. “Had we known you were here, we'd have met you. Forgive us!” “I won't hit you yet,” said Pilgrim. “Tell me this mountain's name and how many monsters live here. Be honest and I'll forgive you.” “This is Mount Maoying,” they answered. “There have only ever been three rabbit burrows here. No monsters live in this blessed place. Look farther along the road west.” Pilgrim said, “I reached Tianzhu. A monster carried off the king's daughter, abandoned her in the wilderness, and posed as her. She put up a tower and threw an embroidered ball to choose a husband. She deliberately struck the Tang monk, whom I protect, because she wanted to marry him and steal his vital energy. I saw through her disguise and caught her in the palace. She cast off her clothes and ornaments, took out a short club she called a medicine pestle, and fought me for half a day. She changed into a breeze and fled. I chased her to heaven's western gate and fought another dozen rounds. Then she became golden light and fled to this mountain. Where is she now?”
The gods led him to the three burrows. Several ordinary rabbits at the foot of the mountain ran away when they approached. At the burrow on the summit, two great stones blocked the entrance. “She must be hiding here,” said the earth god. Pilgrim pushed the stones away with his staff. The monster jumped out and struck with her pestle. Pilgrim blocked the blow. The gods retreated in fright. “Who told you to bring him here?” she cursed them. Defending herself against the staff, she backed away until they were fighting in the air.
Evening came as the monster's position grew desperate. Pilgrim struck harder, determined to kill her. Suddenly a voice called from high above: “Great Sage, stop! Spare her!” He looked up and saw the Moon Star Lord descending on a colorful cloud, followed by moon goddesses. He lowered his staff and bowed. “Moon Star Lord, forgive me for being in your way.” She said, “The creature you're fighting is the jade rabbit from my Moon Palace. She grinds our immortal medicine. A year ago she secretly unlocked the palace gate and fled. I saw that she was about to die and came to save her. Please spare her for my sake.” “Of course,” Pilgrim said. “That explains her pestle. But she carried off Tianzhu's princess, took her place, and tried to steal my holy master's pure vital energy. How can I simply let her go?” The Moon Star Lord replied, “The princess isn't an ordinary human either. She was Su'e, a woman of the Moon Palace. Eighteen years ago she struck the jade rabbit. Soon afterward she wished to live among mortals and was reborn in the king's queen's womb. The rabbit resented the blow. Last year she escaped, carried off Su'e, and left her in the wilderness. She was wrong to seek to marry the Tang monk too. You saw through her disguise in time, and your master wasn't harmed. Please let me take her home.” Pilgrim said, “Now that I understand, I won't oppose you. But the king may not believe us. Please take the jade rabbit to him with the moon goddesses and explain the princess's story. That will show him the truth, and he can recover Su'e.”
The Moon Star Lord agreed. She pointed at the creature. “Return to your true form and come with us!” The jade rabbit rolled over and changed back:
She had a split lip, pointed teeth, long ears, and thin whiskers. Curled up, her fur was like jade; stretched out, her feet could carry her across mountains. Her straight nose and hanging cheeks were white as frost, and her red eyes looked like drops of color on snow. On the ground she was a soft pile of white silk; when she stretched, she looked like threads of silver. Many a morning she had drunk dew beneath heaven's stars and ground the medicine of long life with her unusual jade pestle.
Pleased, the Great Sage flew ahead, while the Moon Star Lord and goddesses brought the rabbit back to Tianzhu. Dusk had fallen and the moon was rising. Drums sounded from the city's watchtower. The king and Tripitaka were still at court; Bajie, Sha Monk, and the officials stood before the steps, ready to leave. A colorful cloud arrived from the south, bright as daylight. Pilgrim called, “King of Tianzhu, bring out your queen and consorts! Under this beautiful canopy is the Moon Star Lord, with the moon goddesses on either side. This jade rabbit was your false princess, now in her true form.” The king summoned the women and attendants, and all bowed toward heaven, as did Tripitaka and the officials. Every household in the city set up an incense table and bowed, chanting prayers. But Bajie felt desire stirring. He leaped up and embraced one of the goddesses, saying, “Sister, we know each other. Come and have fun with me!” Pilgrim seized him and slapped him twice. “You shameless fool! How can you act like that here?” “I was only trying to pass the time,” Bajie protested. The Moon Star Lord led the moon goddesses and the jade rabbit back to the Moon Palace, and Pilgrim pulled Bajie down to earth.
The king thanked Pilgrim and asked where his real daughter was. “Your daughter is actually Su'e from the Moon Palace,” Pilgrim explained. “Eighteen years ago she struck the jade rabbit, then came to the human world and was born to your queen. The rabbit remembered the blow, escaped last year, left Su'e in the wilderness, and took her place. The Moon Star Lord herself told me this. Now that the impostor is gone, we can search for your true daughter tomorrow.” The king wept. “My child! I've been king since I was young and have hardly been beyond the city gate. Where could I find you?” “Don't worry,” Pilgrim said. “Your daughter is at Gold-Paved Monastery, pretending to be mad. Go and rest. I'll return her in the morning.” The officials urged the king to trust the holy monks, who could fly on clouds and knew what had happened in the past. The king offered the travelers food and lodging at Springtime Pavilion. It was nearly the second watch:
The bronze water clock dripped in the moonlight; wind carried the chime of golden bells.A cuckoo called as spring was half gone; near the third watch, petals fell along deserted paths.The royal garden was quiet, its swings casting shadows; the Milky Way crossed the open sky.No one walked the three markets or six streets; stars filled the clear night.
They all went to sleep.
With the monster's influence gone, the king felt newly energetic. At the third drumbeat of the fifth watch, he held court. Afterward he summoned the four monks to discuss finding his daughter. Tripitaka bowed; the three disciples greeted the king. “Please find and rescue the princess you told me about yesterday,” the king said. Tripitaka explained, “On our way here we spent a night at Gold-Paved Monastery. After dinner, we walked by moonlight to the ruins of the old garden and heard someone crying. An elderly monk sent the others away and told me that, in the spring of last year, a gust of wind had dropped a girl before him. She said she was the princess of Tianzhu, carried there by the wind while admiring flowers in moonlight. He locked her in a secluded room, afraid other monks might harm her. He told them she was a monster so they would leave her alone. The girl understood and pretended to be mad by day, taking the food they brought her. At night she cried for her parents. The elder visited the capital several times and heard that the princess was safe at court, so he did not dare report what had happened. Seeing my disciples' powers, he asked me to investigate. The palace princess turned out to be the jade rabbit from the moon, who had taken your daughter's form and wanted to steal my vital energy. Fortunately my disciple saw through her disguise, and the Moon Star Lord has taken her home. Your true daughter is still at the monastery.”
The king burst into tears. The queens and consorts heard and came to ask what had happened; they all wept as well. Eventually he asked how far away the monastery was. “Only sixty li,” Tripitaka said. The king ordered the other queens to look after the palace and his chief minister to govern in his absence. “I'll go with the queen, the officials, and the four holy monks to bring her home.” The procession set out.
Pilgrim sprang into the air and reached the monastery ahead of everyone. The monks knelt in surprise. “You came here on foot with the others. How did you arrive from the sky today?” Pilgrim smiled. “Where's your elder? Have him set out an incense altar to welcome the king of Tianzhu, his queen, the officials, and my master.” They summoned the old monk, who bowed and asked about the princess. Pilgrim told him how the false princess had thrown the ball at Tripitaka, how they had fought, and how the Moon Star Lord had taken the jade rabbit away. The elder thanked him. “Save the bows,” Pilgrim said. “Prepare to receive the king.” The other monks now learned that a young woman was locked in the back room. Excited and nervous, they set out incense by the gate, put on their robes, and rang bells and drums to await the guests.
Soon the royal procession arrived:
A bright cloud filled the sky with fragrance; the remote mountain suddenly seemed blessed.As if marked by rainbow light and lightning, the king brought lasting peace to rivers and seas, like the wise kings Yu and Tang.Grass and trees grew lovelier in his favor; wildflowers took on more scent.An old benefactor had left his mark here; now a just king had come to this honored hall.
The monks bowed in ranks at the monastery gate, with Pilgrim standing among them. “How did you get here ahead of us?” the king asked. Pilgrim laughed. “I just gave a little twist of my waist, and here I was. How did your journey take all morning?” Tripitaka and the others soon arrived. He led the king to the rear room. The princess was still pretending to be mad and talking nonsense. “This is the young woman the wind brought here last year,” the elder said. The king had the iron lock removed and the door opened. He and the queen recognized their daughter and embraced her despite the filth. “My poor child! How have you suffered here?” Parents and child held one another and wept. Then they exchanged their stories, had her bathed in fragrant water and dressed in clean clothes, and brought her home in a carriage.
Pilgrim said to the king, “I have another request. This is Hundred-Leg Mountain, where people say centipede spirits have been hurting travelers at night. Roosters can overcome centipedes. Please release a thousand large roosters on the mountain to rid it of these pests. Rename the mountain and grant the monastery an official charter in thanks for the monks' care of your daughter.” The king agreed gladly. He sent for the roosters, renamed it Precious Flower Mountain, and ordered the Ministry of Works to rebuild the monastery under the name “Imperially Founded Gold-Paved Monastery on Precious Flower Mountain.” He appointed the elder a hereditary monk-official in service of the kingdom, with a stipend of thirty-six measures of grain. The monks thanked him and saw the procession off.
At the palace the princess met everyone again. A banquet celebrated her return and lifted her spirits. Mother and daughter, queens and consorts, king and officials rejoiced together throughout the night.
The next morning, the king ordered a painter to make portraits of the four monks to honor in the Pavilion of Eternal Harmony. The princess dressed carefully and came out to thank them for rescuing her. Tripitaka then asked leave to continue west. The king refused to let them go, holding banquets for another five or six days. Bajie especially enjoyed the generous meals.
Seeing that they were determined to worship the Buddha, the king finally offered them two hundred ingots of gold and silver and trays of jewels in thanks. They refused everything. He had his carriage brought to take Tripitaka out of town, and sent officers to escort them farther. The queen, consorts, officials, and people thanked them repeatedly, and monks came out to say goodbye on the road. No one wanted to part. Pilgrim made a magic sign and blew a breath of immortal air toward the southeast. A dark gust blinded the people seeing them off, and the travelers escaped. Truly:
Washed clean by grace, they returned to their true nature;Leaving the sea of gold, they understood true emptiness.
What awaited them on the road? Listen to the next chapter to find out.