第二十六回
第二十六回 孙悟空三岛求方 观世音甘泉活树
诗曰：
处世须存心上刃[1]，修身切记寸边而[2]。
常将刃字为生意，但要三思戒怒欺。
上士无争传亘古，圣人怀德继当时。
刚强更有刚强辈，究竟终成空与非。
却说那镇元大仙用手搀着行者道：“我也知道你的本事，我也闻得你的英名，只是你今番越礼欺心，纵有腾那[3]，脱不得我手。我就和你讲到西天，见了你那佛祖，也少不得还我人参果树。你莫弄神通。”行者笑道：“你这先生，好小家子样！若要树活，有甚疑难！早说这话，可不省了一场争竞？”大仙道：“不争竞，我肯善自饶你！”行者道：“你解了我师父，我还你一棵活树如何？”大仙道：“你若有此神通，医得树活，我与你八拜为交，结为兄弟。”行者道：“不打紧。放了他们，老孙管教还你活树。”
大仙谅他走不脱，即命解放了三藏、八戒、沙僧。沙僧道：“师父呵，不知师兄捣得是甚么鬼哩。”八戒道：“甚么鬼！这叫做‘当面人情鬼’！树死了，又可医得活？他弄个光皮散儿[4]好看，者着[5]求医治树，单单了脱身走路，还顾得你和我哩！”三藏道：“他决不敢撒了我们。我们问他那里求医去。”遂叫道：“悟空，你怎么哄了仙长，解放我等？”行者道：“老孙是真言实语，怎么哄他？”三藏道：“你往何处去求方？”行者道：“古人云：‘方从海上求。’我今要上东洋大海，遍游三岛十洲，访问仙翁圣老，求一个起死回生之法，管教医得他树活。”三藏道：“此去几时可回？”行者道：“只消三日。”三藏道：“既如此，就依你说，与你三日之限。三日里来便罢；若三日之外不来，我就念那话儿经了。”行者道：“遵命，遵命。”
你看他急整虎皮裙，出门来对大仙道：“先生放心，我就去就来。你却要好生伏侍我师父，逐日家三茶六饭，不可欠缺。若少了些儿，老孙回来和你算帐，先捣塌你的锅底。衣服[6]了，与他浆洗浆洗。脸儿黄了些儿，我不要；若瘦了些儿，不出门。”那大仙道：“你去，你去，定不教他忍饿。”
好猴王，急纵筋斗云，别了五庄观，径上东洋大海。在半空中，快如掣电，疾如流星，早到蓬莱仙境。按云头，仔细观看，真个好去处！有诗为证。诗曰：
大地仙乡列圣曹，蓬莱分合镇波涛。
瑶台影蘸天心冷，巨阙光浮海面高。
五色烟霞含玉籁，九霄星月射金鳌。
西池王母常来此，奉祝三仙几次桃。
那行者看不尽仙景，径入蓬莱。正然走处，见白云洞外，松阴之下，有三个老儿围棋：观局者是寿星，对局者是福星、禄星。行者上前叫道：“老弟们，作揖了。”那三星见了，拂退棋枰，回礼道：“大圣何来？”行者道：“特来寻你们耍子。”寿星道：“我闻大圣弃道从释，脱性命保护唐僧往西天取经，逐日奔波山路，那些儿得闲，却来耍子？”行者道：“实不瞒列位说，老孙因往西方，行在半路，有些儿阻滞，特来小事欲干，不知肯否？”福星道：“是甚地方？是何阻滞？乞为明示，吾好裁处。”行者道：“因路过万寿山五庄观有阻。”三老惊讶道：“五庄观是镇元大仙的仙宫。你莫不是把他人参果偷吃了？”行者笑道：“偷吃了能值甚么？”三老道：“你这猴子，不知好歹。那果子闻一闻，活三百六十岁；吃一个，活四万七千年；叫做‘万寿草还丹’。我们的道，不及他多矣！他得之甚易，就可与天齐寿；我们还要养精、炼气、存神，调和龙虎，捉坎填离，不知费多少工夫。你怎么说他的能值甚紧？天下只有此种灵根！”行者道：“灵根！灵根！我已弄了他个断根哩！”三老惊道：“怎的断根？”行者道：“我们前日在他观里，那大仙不在家，只有两个小童，接待了我师父，却将两个人参果奉与我师。我师不认得，只说是三朝未满的孩童，再三不吃。那童子就拿去吃了，不曾让得我们。是老孙就去偷了他三个，我三兄弟吃了。那童子不知高低，贼前贼后的骂个不住。是老孙恼了，把他树打了一棍，推倒在地，树上果子全无，芽开叶落，根出枝伤，已枯死了。不想那童子关住我们，又被老孙扭开锁走了。次日清辰，那先生回家赶来，问答间语言不和，遂与他赌斗，被他闪一闪，把袍袖展开，一袖子都笼去了。绳缠索绑，拷问鞭敲，就打了一日。是夜又逃了，他又赶上，依旧笼去。他身无寸铁，只是把个麈尾遮架。我兄弟这等三般兵器，莫想打得着他。这一番仍旧摆布，将布裹漆了我师父与两师弟，却将我下油锅。我又做了个脱身本事走了，把他锅都打破。他见拿我不住，尽有几分醋[7]我。是我又与他好讲，教他放了我师父、师弟，我与他医树管活，两家才得安宁。我想着‘方从海上来’，故此特游仙境，访三位老弟。有甚医树的方儿，传我一个，急救唐僧脱苦。”
三星闻言，心中也闷，道：“你这猴儿，全不识人。那镇元子乃地仙之祖。我等乃神仙之宗。你虽得了天仙，还是太乙散数，未入真流，你怎么脱得他手？若是大圣打杀了走兽飞禽，蜾虫鳞长，只用我黍米之丹，可以救活，那人参果乃仙木之根，如何医治？没方，没方。”那行者见说无方，却就眉峰双锁，额蹙千痕。福星道：“大圣，此处无方，他处或有，怎么就生烦恼？”行者道：“无方别访，果然容易。就是游遍海角天涯，转透三十六天，亦是小可。只是我那唐长老法严量窄，止与了我三日期限。三日以外不到，他就要念那《紧箍儿咒》哩。”三星笑道：“好！好！好！若不是这个法儿拘束你，你又钻天了。”寿星道：“大圣放心，不须烦恼。那大仙虽称上辈，却也与我等有识。一则久别，不曾拜望，二来是大圣的人情。如今我三人同去望他一望，就与你道达此情，教那唐和尚莫念《紧箍儿咒》，休说三日五日，只等你求得方来，我们才别。”行者道：“感激！感激！就请三位老弟行行，我去也。”大圣辞别三星不题。
却说这三星驾起祥光，即往五庄观而来。那观中合众人等，忽听得长天鹤唳，原来是三老光临。但见那：
盈空霭霭祥光簇，霄汉纷纷香馥郁。
彩雾千条护羽衣，轻云一朵擎仙足。
青鸾飞，丹凤[8]，袖引香风满地扑。
拄杖悬龙喜笑生，皓髯垂玉胸前拂。
童颜欢悦更无忧，壮体雄威多有福。
执星筹，添海屋[9]，腰挂葫芦并宝箓。
万纪千旬福寿长，十洲三岛随缘宿。
常来世上送千祥，每向人间增百福。
概乾坤，荣福禄，福寿无疆今喜得。
三老乘祥谒大仙，福堂和气皆无极。
那仙童看见，即忙报道：“师父，海上三星来了。”镇元子正与唐僧师弟闲叙，闻报，即降阶奉迎。那八戒见了寿星，近前扯住，笑道：“你这肉头老儿，许久不见，还是这般脱洒，帽儿也不带个来。”遂把自家一个僧帽，扑的套在他头上，扑着手呵呵大笑道：“好！好！好！真是‘加冠进禄’也！”那寿星将帽子掼了，骂道：“你这个夯货，老大不知高低！”八戒道：“我不是夯货，你等真是奴才！”福星道：“你倒是个夯货，反敢骂人是奴才！”八戒又笑道：“既不是人家奴才，好道叫做‘添寿’、‘添福’、‘添禄’？”
那三藏喝退了八戒，急整衣拜了三星。那三星以晚辈之礼见了大仙，方才叙坐。坐定，禄星道：“我们一向久阔尊颜，有失恭敬。今因孙大圣搅扰仙山，特来相见。”大仙道：“孙行者到蓬莱去的？”寿星道：“是。因为伤了大仙的丹树，他来我处求方医治。我辈无方，他又到别处求访，但恐违了圣僧三日之限，要念《紧箍儿咒》。我辈一来奉拜，二来讨个宽限。”三藏闻言，连声应道：“不敢念，不敢念。”
正说处，八戒又跑进来，扯住福星，要讨果子吃，他去袖里乱摸，腰里乱吞[10]，不住的揭他衣服搜检。三藏笑道：“那八戒是甚么规矩！”八戒道：“不是没规矩，此叫做‘番番是福[11]’。”三藏又叱令出去。那呆子[12]出门，瞅着福星，眼不转睛的发狠。福星道：“夯货！我那里恼了你来，你这等恨我？”八戒道：“不是恨你，这叫做‘回头望福’。”那呆子出得门来，只见一个小童，拿了四把茶匙，方去寻钟取果看茶。被他一把夺过，跑上殿，拿着个小磬儿，用手乱敲乱打，两头顽耍。大仙道：“这个和尚，越发不尊重了！”八戒笑道：“不是不尊重，这叫做‘四时吉庆’。”
且不说八戒打诨乱缠。却表行者纵祥云离了蓬莱，又早到方丈仙山。这山真好去处。有诗为证。诗曰：
方丈巍峨别是天，太元宫府会神仙。
紫台光照三清路，花木香浮五色烟。
金凤自多槃蕊阙，玉膏谁逼灌芝田？
碧桃紫李新成熟，又换仙人信万年。
那行者按落云头，无心玩景。正走处，只闻得香风馥馥，玄鹤声鸣，那壁厢有个神仙。但见：
盈空万道霞光现，彩雾飘摇光不断。
丹凤衔花也更鲜，青鸾飞舞声娇艳。
福如东海寿如山，貌似小童身体健。
壶隐洞天不老丹，腰悬与日长生篆。
人间数次降祯祥，世上几番消厄愿。
武帝曾宣加寿龄，瑶池每赴蟠桃宴。
教化众生脱俗缘，指开大道明如电。
也曾跨海祝千秋，常去灵山参佛面。
圣号东华大帝君，烟霞第一神仙眷。
孙行者觌面[13]相迎，叫声：“帝君，起手了。”那帝君慌忙回礼道：“大圣，失迎。请荒居奉茶。”遂与行者搀手而入。果然是贝阙珠宫，看不尽瑶池琼阁。方坐待茶，只见翠屏后转出一个童儿。他怎生打扮：
身穿道服飘霞烁，腰束丝绦光错落。
头戴纶巾布斗星，足蹬芒履游仙岳。
炼元真，脱本壳，功行成时遂意乐。
识破原流精气神，主人认得无虚错。
逃名今喜寿无疆，甲子周天管不着。
转回廊，登宝阁，天上蟠桃三度摸。
缥缈香云出翠屏，小仙乃是东方朔。
行者见了，笑道：“这个小贼在这里哩！帝君处没有桃子你偷吃！”东方朔朝上进礼，答道：“老贼，你来这里怎的？我师父没有仙丹你偷吃。”
帝君叫道：“曼倩休乱言，看茶来也。”曼倩原是东方朔的道名。他急入里取茶二杯。饮讫，行者道：“老孙此来，有一事奉干，未知允否？”帝君道：“何事？自当领教。”行者道：“近因保唐僧西行，路过万寿山五庄观，因他那小童无状，是我一时发怒，将他人参果树推倒，因此阻滞唐僧，不得脱身，特来尊处求赐一方医治，万望慨然。”帝君道：“你这猴子，不管一二，到处里闯祸。那五庄观镇元子，圣号与世同君，乃地仙之祖。你怎么就冲撞出他？他那人参果树，乃草还丹。你偷吃了，尚说有罪；却又连树推倒，他肯干休？”行者道：“正是呢。我们走脱了，被他赶上，把我们就当汗巾儿一般，一袖子都笼了去，所以阁气[14]。没奈何，许他求方医治，故此拜求。”帝君道：“我有一粒‘九转太乙还丹’，但能治世间生灵，却不能医树。树乃水土之灵，天滋地润。若是凡间的果木，医治还可；这万寿山乃先天福地，五庄观乃贺洲洞天，人参果又是天开地辟之灵根，如何可治！无方！无方！”
行者道：“既然无方，老孙告别。”帝君仍欲留奉玉液一杯，行者道：“急救事紧，不敢久滞。”遂驾云复至瀛洲海岛。也好去处。有诗为证。诗曰：
珠树玲珑照紫烟，瀛洲宫阙接诸天。
青山绿水琪花艳，玉液锟[15]铁石坚。
五色碧鸡啼海日，千年丹凤吸朱烟。
世人罔究壶中景，象外春光亿万年。
那大圣至瀛洲，只见那丹崖珠树之下，有几个皓发皤髯之辈，童颜鹤鬓之仙，在那里着棋饮酒，谈笑讴歌。真个是：
祥云光满，瑞霭香浮。彩鸾鸣洞口，玄鹤舞山头。碧藕冰桃为按酒，交梨火枣寿千秋。一个个丹诏无闻，仙符有籍；逍遥随浪荡，散淡任清幽。周天甲子难拘管，大地乾坤只自由。献果玄猿，对对参随多美爱；衔花白鹿，双双拱伏甚绸缪。
那些老儿正然洒乐，这行者厉声高叫道：“带我耍耍儿便怎的！”众仙见了，急忙趋步相迎。有诗为证。诗曰：
人参果树灵根折，大圣访仙求妙诀。
缭绕丹霞出宝林，瀛洲九老来相接。
行者笑道：“老兄弟们自在哩！”九老道：“大圣当年若存正，不闹天宫，比我们还自在哩。如今好了，闻你归真向西拜佛，如何得暇至此？”行者将那医树求方之事，具陈了一遍。九老也大惊道：“你也忒惹祸！惹祸！我等实是无方。”行者道：“既是无方，我且奉别。”
九老又留他饮琼浆，食碧藕。行者定不肯坐，止立饮了他一杯浆，吃了一块藕，急急离了瀛洲，径转东洋大海。早望见落伽山不远，遂落下云头，直到普陀岩上。见观音菩萨在紫竹林中与诸天大神、木叉、龙女，讲经说法。有诗为证。诗曰：
海主城高瑞气浓，更观奇异事无穷。
须知隐约千般外，尽出希微一品中。
四圣[16]授时成正果，六凡听后脱樊笼。
少林别有真滋味，花果馨香满树红。
那菩萨早已看见行者来到，即命守山大神去迎。那大神出林来，叫声：“孙悟空，那里去？”行者抬头喝道：“你这个熊罴！我是你叫的悟空！当初不是老孙饶了你，你已此做了黑风山的尸鬼矣。今日跟了菩萨，受了善果，居此仙山，常听法教，你叫不得我一声‘老爷’？”那黑熊真个得了正果，在菩萨处镇守普陀，称为大神，是也亏了行者。他只得陪笑道：“大圣，古人云：‘君子不念旧恶。’只管题他怎的！菩萨着我来迎你哩。”这行者就端肃尊诚，与大神到了紫竹林里，参拜菩萨。
菩萨道：“悟空，唐僧行到何处也？”行者道：“行到西牛贺洲万寿山了。”菩萨道：“那万寿山有座五庄观。镇元大仙，你曾会他么？”行者顿首道：“因是在五庄观，弟子不识镇元大仙，毁伤了他的人参果树，冲撞了他，他困滞了我师父，不得前进。”那菩萨情知，怪道：“你这泼猴，不知好歹！他那人参果树，乃天开地辟的灵根。镇元子乃地仙之祖，我也让他三分，你怎么就打伤他树！”行者再拜道：“弟子实是不知。那一日他不在家，只有两个仙童候待我等。是猪悟能晓得他有果子，要一个尝新，弟子委偷了他三个，兄弟们分吃了。那童子知觉，骂我等无已，是弟子发怒，遂将他树推倒。他次日回来赶上，将我等一袖子笼去，绳绑鞭抽，拷打了一日。我等当夜走脱，又被他赶上，依然笼了。三番两次，其实难逃，已允了与他医树。却才自海上求方，遍游三岛，众神仙都没有本事。弟子因此志心朝礼，特拜告菩萨。伏望慈悯，俯赐一方，以救唐僧早早西去。”菩萨道：“你怎么不早来见我，却往岛上去寻找？”
行者闻此言，心中暗喜道：“造化了！造化了！菩萨一定有方也！”行者又上前恳求。菩萨道：“我这净瓶底的甘露水，善治得仙树灵苗。”行者道：“可曾经验[17]过么？”菩萨道：“经验过的。”行者问：“有何经验？”菩萨道：“当年太上老君曾与我赌胜：他把我的杨柳枝拔了去，放在炼丹炉里，炙得焦干，送来还我。是我拿了插在瓶中，一昼夜，复得青枝绿叶，与旧相同。”行者笑道：“真造化了！真造化了！烘焦了的尚能医活，况此推倒的，有何难哉！”菩萨分付大众：“看守林中，我去去来。”遂手托净瓶，白鹦歌前边巧啭，孙大圣随后相从。有诗为证。诗曰：
玉毫金像世难论，正是慈悲救苦尊。
过去劫逢无垢佛，至今成得有为身。
几生欲海澄清浪，一片心田绝点尘。
甘露久经真妙法，管教宝树永长春。
却说那观里大仙与三老正然清话，忽见孙大圣按落云头，叫道：“菩萨来了。快接！快接！”慌得那福寿星与镇元子共三藏师徒，一齐迎出宝殿。菩萨才住了祥云，先与镇元子陪了话，后与三星作礼。礼毕上坐。那阶前，行者引唐僧、八戒、沙僧都拜了。那观中诸仙，也来拜见。行者道：“大仙不必迟疑，趁早儿陈设香案，请菩萨替你治那甚么果树去。”大仙躬身谢菩萨道：“小可的勾当，怎么敢劳菩萨下降？”菩萨道：“唐僧乃我之弟子，孙悟空冲撞了先生，理当赔偿宝树。”三老道：“既如此，不须谦讲了。请菩萨都到园中去看看。”
那大仙即命设具香案，打扫后园，请菩萨先行，三老随后。三藏师徒与本观众仙，都到园内观看时，那棵树倒在地下，土开根现，叶落枝枯。菩萨叫：“悟空，伸手来。”那行者将左手伸开。菩萨将杨柳枝，蘸出瓶中甘露，把行者手心里画了一道起死回生的符字，教他放在树根之下，但看水出为度。那行者捏着拳头，往那树根底下揣着，须臾有清泉一汪。菩萨道：“那个水不许犯五行之器，须用玉瓢舀出，扶起树来，从头浇下，自然根皮相合，叶长芽生，枝青果出。”行者道：“小道士们，快取玉瓢来。”镇元子道：“贫道荒山，没有玉瓢，只有玉茶盏、玉酒杯，可用得么？”菩萨道：“但是玉器，可舀得水的便罢，取将来看。”大仙即命小童子取出有二三十个茶盏，四五十酒盏，却将那根下清泉舀出。行者、八戒、沙僧，扛起树来，扶得周正，拥上土，将玉器内甘泉，一瓯瓯捧与菩萨。菩萨将杨柳枝细细洒上，口中又念着经咒。不多时，洒净那舀出之水，只见那树果然依旧青绿叶阴森，上有二十三个人参果。清风、明月二童子道：“前日不见了果子时，颠倒只数得二十二个，今日回生，怎么又多了一个？”行者道：“‘日久见人心。’前日老孙只偷了三个，那一个落下地来，土地说这宝遇土而入，八戒只嚷我打了偏手，故走了风信[18]，只缠到如今，才见明白。”
菩萨道：“我方才不用五行之器者，知道此物与五行相畏故耳。”那大仙十分欢喜，急令取金击子来，把果子敲下十个，请菩萨与三老复回宝殿，一则谢劳，二来做个“人参果会”。众小仙遂调开桌椅，铺设丹盘，请菩萨坐了上面正席，三老左席，唐僧右席，镇元子前席相陪，各食了一个。有诗为证。诗曰：
万寿山中古洞天，人参一熟九千年。
灵根现出芽枝损，甘露滋生果叶全。
三老喜逢皆旧契，四僧幸遇是前缘。
自今会服人参果，尽是长生不老仙。
此时菩萨与三老各吃了一个，唐僧始知是仙家宝贝，也吃了一个。悟空三人亦各吃一个，镇元子陪了一个。本观仙众分吃了一个。行者才谢了菩萨回上普陀岩，送三星径转蓬莱岛。镇元子却又安排蔬酒，与行者结为兄弟。这才是不打不成相识，两家合了一家。师徒四众，喜喜欢欢，天晚歇了。那长老才是：有缘吃得草还丹，长寿苦捱妖怪难。毕竟到明日如何作别，且听下回分解。
[1] 心上刃：忍字的拆写。
[2] 寸边而：耐字的拆写。
[3] 腾那：即腾挪，为武术中的躲闪动作。这里指变化的本领和应对的机智。
[4] 光皮散儿：表面，外表。
[5] 者着：支着、借着、托着、指着的意思。
[6] （ránɡ）：秽、脏。
[7] 醋：“怵”的同音字。惧怯、怯阵。
[8] （sù）：鸟振羽声。
[9] 执星筹，添海屋：宋人苏轼《东坡志林·三老语》载：有三个老人相遇，其中一个说，每次遇到沧海桑田变化，他就会在屋中放一根算筹，长期积累下来，竟然堆满了十间屋子。后人因此用“星筹”和“海屋”来指代高寿。筹，用来计数的小竹棍。
[10] 吞：把手伸进去掏摸。第三十四回“吞袖子”意同。
[11] 番番是福：成语。意思是说每一件事都吉利。番是翻的借字。
[12] （wǎ）：慢步，犹挪蹭。形容被迫离开，脚步沉重，不愿走的样子。
[13] 觌（dí）面：当面。觌，相见，此指面对面。
[14] 阁气：犹斗气、惹气、怄气、憋气。
[15] 锟：同“昆吾”，既是山名，又是宝剑和美石之名。此处当指美石。
[16] 四圣、六凡：佛教把已成佛道的和凡人分为十界，声闻、缘觉、菩萨、佛为四圣，地狱、饿鬼、畜生、阿修罗、人间、天上为六凡。
[17] 经验：验证。
[18] 走了风信：泄漏了秘密。
CHAPTER 26. Amid the Three Islands Sun Wukong seeks a cure; With sweet dew Guanshiyin revives a tree.
Hold fast in life the “sword” above the “heart.”1
Recall the “long” beside the “suffering.”
The proverb says the sword’s the law of life,
But think thrice to check both anger and pride.
“The noblest” 2 is peaceful—it’s taught long ago;
“The sage loves virtue”3—a truth for all times.
The strong man will meet someone stronger still:
Come to naught at last he surely will!
We were telling you about the Zhenyuan Great Immortal, who grabbed Pilgrim and said, “I know your abilities, and I have heard of your reputation. But you have been most deceitful and unscrupulous this time. You may indulge in all sorts of wizardry, but you can’t escape from my hands. I’ll argue with you all the way to the Western Heaven to see that Buddhist Patriarch of yours, but you won’t get away from having to restore to me the Ginseng Fruit Tree. So stop playing with your magic!” “Dear Sir!” said Pilgrim, laughing. “How petty you are! If you want the tree revived, there’s no problem. If you had said so in the first place, we would have been spared this conflict.” “No conflict!” said the Great Immortal. “You think I would let you get away with what you have done?” “Untie my master,” said Pilgrim, “and I’ll give you back a living tree. How’s that?” “If you really possess the power,” said the Great Immortal, “to make the tree alive again, I’ll go through the proper ceremony of ‘Eight Bows’ with you and become your bond-brother.” “Relax!” said Pilgrim. “Let them go, and you can be certain that old Monkey will give you back a living tree.”
The Great Immortal reckoned that they could not escape; he therefore gave the order to free Tripitaka, Eight Rules, and Sha Monk. “Master,” said Sha Monk, “I wonder what sort of tricks Elder Brother is up to this time.”
“What sort of tricks?” asked Eight Rules. “This is called the trick of ‘Pulling Wool Right over Your Eyes.’ The tree is dead! You think it could be cured and revived? He’s just putting out some empty formula for show. On the pretext of going to find medicine to cure the tree, he will flee and take to the road all by himself. You think he has any care for us?” “He won’t dare leave us behind,” said Tripitaka. “Let’s ask him where he is going to find the cure.”
He then called out, “Wukong, how did you manage to deceive the Immortal Master and have us freed?” “Old Monkey is speaking the truth, only the truth,” said Pilgrim. “What do you mean by deceiving him?” Tripitaka asked. “Where will you go to find the cure?”
Pilgrim replied, “According to an old proverb, ‘The cure comes from the seas.’ I want to go now to the Great Eastern Ocean and make a complete tour of the Three Islands and the Ten Islets. I want to visit all the Immortals and Aged Sages to ask for a method of revivification that will revive the tree for him.” “How long do you need to be away before returning?” said Tripitaka. “Only three days.” “All right,” said Tripitaka. “As you said, I’ll give you three days. If you return by that time, everything will be fine. If you don’t come back after three days, I’ll begin reciting that ‘Old-Time Sūtra’!” “I hear you! I hear you!” said Pilgrim.
Look how he quickly straightened his tiger-skin kilt. As he walked out the door, he said to the Great Immortal, “You need not worry, sir. I leave now, but I’ll be back very soon. But you must take good care of my master; see that he lacks none of the three meals and the six teas of the day. If my master’s clothes become soiled or wrinkled, wash and starch them. Should he want anything, old Monkey will settle the account with you when he returns. I’ll finish puncturing all the pans for you! If my master’s face pales even a little, I won’t take him back; and if he becomes a trifle thin, I’ll not leave this place.” “Go, go,” said the Great Immortal. “I’ll see to it that he doesn’t starve!”
Dear Monkey King! He mounted his cloud somersault quickly and left the Abbey of Five Villages, heading straight for the Great Eastern Ocean. Moving through the air like lightning and meteor, he soon arrived at the immortal region of Penglai.4 He lowered his cloud and took a careful look below: it was a lovely place indeed, for which we have a testimonial poem. The poem says:
A great land divine, the sages’ domain,
These Penglai islands calm the winds and waves.
Jasper towers’ cool the heavens with their shades;
Tall arches’ bright reflections float on the sea.
Mists of five colors veil the jade-green sky;
High on the gold turtle stars and moon shine.
The Queen of the West would this place frequent
For Three Immortals with peaches as present.
Before he had finished looking at this divine scenery, Pilgrim was already entering Penglai. As he walked, he saw three old men playing encirclement chess in the shade of some pine trees outside the White-Cloud Cave. The one watching the game was the Star of Longevity, while the two playing were the Star of Blessing and the Star of Wealth. Pilgrim approached them, crying, “Old brothers, receive my bow!” When the Three Stars saw him, they pushed away the chess board and returned his salutation. “Great Sage, why did you come here?” they asked. “I came especially to have some fun with all of you,” said Pilgrim. “I heard that the Great Sage, who forsook Daoism to follow Buddhism,” said the Star of Longevity, “had won back his freedom to protect the Tang Monk on his journey to seek scriptures in the Western Heaven. He must be traveling over rugged roads every day. Where would he find time to have fun with us?” Pilgrim said, “To tell all of you the truth, old Monkey has run into a little obstacle halfway on the journey to the West. That’s why I came to request some assistance, but I don’t know whether you are willing to help me or not.” “At what place?” asked the Star of Blessing. “What sort of obstacle? Tell us plainly so that we may decide.” “We were stopped while passing the Abbey of Five Villages at the Long Life Mountain.” “The Abbey of Five Villages is the divine residence of the Zhenyuan Great Immortal,” said one of the three old men, who were astonished. “Could it be that you stole and ate his ginseng fruits?” “So I stole and ate them,” said Pilgrim with a laugh. “How much could they be worth?”
“You ape!” said one of the three old men. “You are dumb! A man who takes one whiff of that fruit will live to be three hundred and sixty years old; he eats one and he’ll last forty-seven thousand years. That’s why it bears the name of ‘The Long-Life Grass of Reverted Cinnabar.’ The level of cultivation in Dao of that Great Immortal far surpasses ours! With such a thing in his possession, he can easily have the same age as Heaven, whereas we still have to nourish our spermal essence, cultivate our breaths, fortify our spirits, harmonize the tiger and the dragon, catch the kan to fill up the li—in short, we have to spend a lot of time and effort just to attain immortality. How could you say, ‘How much could they be worth?’ Throughout the whole world, that’s the only kind of spiritual root there is.” “Spiritual root! Spiritual root!” said Pilgrim. “I have already uprooted it!”
“What do you mean by ‘uprooted it’?” asked the three old men, greatly alarmed. Pilgrim said, “When we went to the Abbey the other day, the Great Immortal was not home, and only two lads received my master. They served him two ginseng fruits, but my master did not realize that they were fruits. Thinking that they were infants not yet three days old, he absolutely refused to eat them. The lads took them away and ate them without bothering even to share them with us. So, old Monkey went and stole three of the fruits for us three brothers to eat, but those two lads, without any sense of propriety, kept on calling us thieves. Old Monkey got mad and gave the tree a blow with his rod. When it fell to the ground, the fruits on it disappeared, the branches snapped, the leaves dropped, and it died with all its roots exposed. The lads tried to imprison us, but old Monkey broke their lock and left. Early next morning, their master came back and gave chase; we had a few rough exchanges with him which led eventually to a fight. In a flash, he flipped open that sleeve of his and bagged all of us. We were bound and shackled, interrogated and whipped for a whole day, but we managed to escape again that night. He caught up with us once more and took us captive. Mind you, there was not an inch of steel on him! He had only that yak’s tail to parry our blows, but none of the three weapons of us brothers could even touch him. And so he gave us more of the same treatment, wrapping my master and my two younger brothers in cloth coated with varnish but putting me in a pan of boiling oil. I then showed him my special talent for escape, but not before I had punctured his pan. When he saw that he could not hold me captive, he became somewhat intimidated, and that was when I sweet-talked him into freeing my master and my brothers with the promise that I would revive his tree for him. That’s how we came to a temporary truce. When I remembered the saying, ‘The cure comes from the seas,’ I decided to pay you three old Brothers a visit in this lovely place. If you have any formula to cure the tree, please pass it on to me at once so that I can rescue the Tang Monk from his ordeal.”
When the Three Stars heard these words, they became distressed also. One of them said, “Monkey, you’re completely ignorant of people! That Master Zhenyuan is the patriarch of earthbound immortals, while we belong to the lineage of divine immortals. You may have some sort of position in Heaven, but you are only an irregular number in the Great Monad clan, and you have yet to attain an authentic rank. How could you possibly expect to escape from him? If you had killed some beast or bird, some insect or scaly creature, all you would need is one grain of my millet-elixir and it would be revived. The ginseng fruit, however, is the very root of all divine trees. How could it be healed? There’s no cure for it!” When Pilgrim heard that there was no cure available, his brow became completely furrowed.
“Great Sage,” said the Star of Blessing, “though there is no cure here, there may be one in another place. Why are you so dejected?” Pilgrim said, “Of course, I don’t mind going to another place to seek a cure. It would have been a small matter indeed, even if I had to journey to the edge of the seas or make a complete tour of the thirty-six Heavens. But that Elder Tang of mine, who is neither tolerant nor magnanimous, has given me a limit of three days. If I don’t return with something after three days, he’ll start re citing the Tight-Fillet Spell.” “Good! Good! Good!” said the Three Stars, laughing. “Had it not been for this little means of control, you would be crawling all over Heaven again!” Then the Star of Longevity said, “Relax, Great Sage. Don’t worry. Though that Great Immortal is our senior, he does know us. As we have not visited him for a long time, and as it is for the sake of the Great Sage, we three shall go and call on him right now. We’ll express your concern to the Tang Monk and tell him not to recite the Tight-Fillet Spell. Three days, four days—what’s the difference? We won’t leave them until you come back with the cure.” “Thank you! Thank you!” said Pilgrim. “Please get on with your journey, old Brothers. I’m off.” So the Great Sage took leave of them, and we shall say no more of that.
We tell you now about the Stars, who mounted the auspicious luminosity and went straight to the Abbey of Five Villages. The crowd at the Abbey was milling about when suddenly the cries of cranes could be heard in the sky to announce the arrival of the three elders. You could see
A sky lit up by sheens of auspicious light,
As sweet, unending fragrance filled the air.
Colored mist—a thousand strands—veiled the feathered gowns;
Fleecy clouds in petals held up the Immortals’ feet
(As green phoenixes flew
And red phoenixes soared).
Their sleeves sent a scented breeze to sweep the earth;
Their staffs, like hanging dragons, brought laughter gay;
Their beards swayed before them like medals of jade.
Their blithe, youthful features showed no grief or care;
Their strong, healthy frames were those of the blessed.
They held tallies of stars
To fill up the sea-mansions;
From their waists hung the gourds and precious scrolls.
Ten thousand decades—so grand was their age.
On the Three Islands and Ten Islets they freely lived.
They came to this world often to grant their boons
And increase man’s blessings a hundredfold.
The whole, wide world
Bright with glory and wealth!
To have now endless blessing and endless life!
Three elders riding on halos saw the Immortal Great:
What boundless peace and blessing filled the hall!
When an immortal lad saw this, he ran to make the report, “Master, the Three Stars from the sea have arrived.” Master Zhenyuan was just chatting with the Tang Monk and his disciples. Hearing the announcement, he went down the steps into the courtyard to receive the visitors. When Eight Rules saw the Star of Longevity, he grabbed him and said with a laugh, “You blubbery old codger! I haven’t seen you for a long time, and you still look so dashing! Why, you didn’t even bring along a hat!” Taking off his own monk’s cap, he plopped it on the head of the Star, clapped his hands, and roared with laughter. “Fine! Fine! Fine!” he cried. “As the saying goes, ‘Put on the cap to increase riches!’” Throwing away the cap, the Star of Longevity snapped back, “You stupid coolie! You have absolutely no manners!” “I’m no coolie,” said Eight Rules, “but you are all knaves.” “You are indeed a stupid coolie,” said the Star of Blessing, “and you even dare to call people knaves?” “If you are not the knaves of some household,” said Eight Rules again, laughing, “how is it that you come bearing the names ‘Increase Age,’ ‘Increase Blessing,’ and ‘Increase Wealth’?”
At that moment, Tripitaka ordered Eight Rules to step back while he straightened his clothes quickly to greet the Three Stars, who in turn saluted the Great Immortal as a senior colleague before they dared take a seat. After they were seated, the Star of Wealth said, “We apologize for not coming to pay our respects for such a long time. We came now especially to see you since we learned that the Great Sage Sun had caused some disturbance here.” “Has Pilgrim Sun been to Penglai already?” asked the Great Immortal. “Yes,” said the Star of Longevity. “As he had damaged the cinnabar tree of the Great Immortal, he came to our place to seek a cure. When he found out that we didn’t have any, he went elsewhere in search of it. He was afraid, however, that he would exceed the time limit of three days set by the holy monk and provoke him to recite the Tight-Fillet Spell. That is the reason why we came to see you and to ask you for an extension of the limit.” When Tripitaka heard this, he said repeatedly, “I won’t recite it! I won’t recite it!”
As they talked, Eight Rules came running in again to tug at the Star of Blessing. Demanding that he be given some fruits to eat, he began to give the Star a complete search, poking into his sleeves, frisking his waist, and even lifting up the hem of his robe. “What sort of bad manners is that, Eight Rules?” asked Tripitaka with a laugh. “I’m not ill-mannered,” said Eight Rules. “This is called ‘Every Turn’s a Blessing.’” Tripitaka again ordered him to leave. As he slogged toward the door, Idiot turned and stared fiercely at the Star of Blessing. “Stupid coolie!” said the Star. “How have I offended you that you should be so mad at me?” “I’m not mad at you,” said Eight Rules. “I’m just doing what they call ‘Turning Your Head to Look for Blessing’!” When Idiot went out of the door, he ran into a little lad holding four teaspoons while searching in the hall for the cups with which he could present tea. Eight Rules grabbed the spoons and ran into the main hall; picking up a sonorous stone, he began to strike it wildly with the spoons as he pranced about. “This monk,” said the Great Immortal, “is becoming more and more undignified!” “I’m not undignified,” said Eight Rules, laughing. “This is called the ‘Joyful Festivities of Four Seasons.’”5
We shall now stop telling you about the pranks of Eight Rules and turn instead to Pilgrim, who mounted the auspicious clouds to leave Penglai and soon arrived at the Fangzhang Mountain. It was a lovely mountain indeed, for which we have the following testimonial poem.
The soaring Fangzhang, a Heaven itself,
The primal palace where immortals meet:
Purple towers light up the three pure paths;
Floral scent floats up with five-colored mists.
Gold phoenixes oft pause on the pearly arch.
Who floods with jade cream6 the agaric fields?
Pink peaches and purple plums newly ripened
Announce an aeon’s change among the gods.
Pilgrim lowered his cloud, but he was in no mood to enjoy the scenery. As he proceeded, he was met by a gentle scented breeze and by the sounds of black cranes. Then he saw in the distance an immortal, from whom
Ten thousand motley beams lit up the sky;
Colored mists soared in endless shafts of light.
His red phoenix’s mouth held flowers fresh;
His green phoenix flew with canorous cries.
With luck like the sea and age like a mount,
He looked like a boy of sound, healthy frame.
His vase kept the cave-heaven’s ageless drug;
A seal old as the sun hung from his waist.
He brought blessings to mankind severally
And saved the world a few times from distress.
King Wu summoned him to add to his age.
He always attended the Festival of Peach.
He taught the monks to break their worldly ties,
Revealing like lightning a great way to them.
He crossed the seas to wish a man long life,
And saw Buddha often at Spirit Mount.
His holy title: Grand Thearch of the East,
First of the immortals midst smoke and mist.
Somewhat shamefacedly, Pilgrim Sun met him and said, “Grand Thearch, I’m raising my hands!” The Grand Thearch hastened to return the salutation, saying, “Great Sage, forgive me for not going to meet you. Please come to my place and let me serve you tea.” He then took the hands of Pilgrim and led him inside. It was truly a divine palace, where there were countless arches studded with pearl-oyster shells, jasper pools, and jade terraces. As they sat down to wait for their tea, a little lad stepped out from behind the jade screen. “How was he dressed?” you ask.
His body wore a Daoist robe of lustrous hues;
A bright silk sash was tied around his waist;
He trod the Dipper wearing a silk head wrap;7
His feet shod straw sandals to tour fairy haunts.
Refining the pristinely real
He shed his original shell.
Merit achieved, he could do as he pleased.
He learned the source of spirit, sperm, and breath
As a master would know without mistake.
He fled from fame, now owning ageless life—
The months, the seasons had no hold on him.
Passing winding corridors
To ascend royal towers,
He palmed from Heaven gods’ peaches three times.
In colored mist he left the kingfisher screens,
This lowly immortal named Dongfang Shuo.8
When Pilgrim saw him, he laughed and said, “So, this little crook is here! But there’s no peach at the Grand Thearch’s place for you to steal and eat.” Dongfang Shuo bowed to him and replied, “Old burglar! Why did you come? There’s no divine elixir at my master’s place for you to steal and eat.”
“Stop blabbering, Manqian,” cried the Grand Thearch. “Bring us some tea.” Manqian, you see, was the religious name of Dongfang Shuo. He hurried inside to fetch two cups of tea. After they had finished drinking, Pilgrim said, “Old Monkey came here to ask of you a favor. Will you grant me that?” “What favor?” said the Grand Thearch. “Please tell me.” “I recently became guardian of the Tang Monk on his westward journey,” said Pilgrim. “We were passing by the Abbey of Five Villages at the Long Life Mountain, where we were insulted by two young lads. My anger of the moment made me topple their Ginseng Fruit Tree, which led to the Tang Monk being detained for the time being. That’s why I came to ask you for a cure. I hope you’ll be generous about the matter.”
“You ape,” said the Grand Thearch. “You have no care for anything except to cause trouble everywhere. Master Zhenyuan of the Abbey of Five Villages, with the holy title of ‘Lord, Equal to Earth,’ happens to be the patriarch of earthbound immortals. How did you manage to offend someone like him? That Ginseng Fruit Tree of his, you know, is the grass of the reverted cinnabar. If you had stolen it and eaten it, you would be guilty already. Now you have gone so far as to knock the tree down. You think he’ll let you get away with that?” “Exactly,” said Pilgrim. “We did escape, but he caught up with us and scooped us up in his sleeve as if we were handkerchiefs. It’s a troublesome affair: since I could not prevail, I had to promise him that the tree would be cured. That’s why I came to beg you.”
The Grand Thearch said, “I have one grain of the Great Monad Elixir of Nine Reversions. It can cure all the sentient creatures in the world, but it cannot cure trees. For trees are the spirits of earth and wood, nourished by Heaven and Earth. Moreover, the Ginseng Fruit Tree is no tree of the mortal world; if it were, you might find a cure for it. But the Long Life Mountain happens to be a Heavenly region, and the Abbey of Five Villages is a cave-heaven of the West Aparagodānīya Continent. And the Ginseng Fruit Tree produced there is a spiritual root that came into existence at the time of creation. How could it be healed? I have no cure, none whatever!”
“If you have no cure, old Monkey will take his leave,” said Pilgrim. The Grand Thearch would have liked to offer him a cup of jade nectar, but Pilgrim said, “This is emergency business; I dare not linger.” He then mounted the clouds to proceed to the island of Yingzhou. This, too, was a lovely place, for which we have a testimonial poem. The poem says:
The elegant pearl tree9 aglow in purple mists;
Yingzhou’s arches and towers touching the sky;
Green hills, blue waters, and fair coralline blooms;
Jade nectar, red steel,10 and the hard iron stone.
The five-colored cock crows at the sea’s sunrise;
The red phoenix, ageless, breathes in scarlet mists.
In vain mortals would seek this gourd-held scene,11
An endless spring beyond the world of forms.
Our Great Sage arrived at Yingzhou, where before the red cliffs and beneath the pearl trees sat several figures with luminous white hair and beards, immortals of youthful complexion. They were playing chess and drinking wine, telling jokes and singing songs. Truly there were
Hallowed clouds all filled with light;
Auspicious mists with fragrance afloat;
Colorful phoenixes calling at the cave’s entrance;
Dark cranes dancing on top of the mountain.
Jadelike lotus roots and peaches went well with wine;
Magic pears and fire dates prolonged the years.
None of them had need to heed a royal summons,
Though the divine record had each of their names.
Wholly at ease, they could wander and play;
With no work or care, they could do as they please.
The months, the years had no hold on their lives;
Throughout the great world they were completely free.
How lovely were the black apes
Who came in pairs, bowing, to present the fruits!
How friendly are the white deer
Who lay down two by two with flowers in their mouths!
Those old men were enjoying themselves when our Pilgrim walked up to them and cried, “How about letting me have some fun too?” When the immortals saw him, they quickly rose to greet him. We have a poem as a testimony, and the poem says:
The spirit roots of the Ginseng Fruit Tree snapped;
The Great Sage called on the gods for a wondrous cure.
As scarlet light poured from the divine grove,
He was met by the Nine Elders of Yingzhou.
Recognizing the Nine Elders, Pilgrim said, laughing, “Old Brothers, how content you are!” “If the Great Sage in years past had persevered in the truth,” said the Nine Elders, “and had not disrupted Heaven, he would be even more content than we are. But you are all right now. We heard that you had returned to the truth to seek Buddha in the West. Where do you find such leisure to come here?” Pilgrim then gave a thorough account of his efforts to find a cure for the tree. Astounded, the Nine Elders said, “You cause too much trouble! Just too much trouble. Honestly, we don’t have any cure.” “If you don’t,” said Pilgrim, “I shall take leave of you.”
The Nine Elders asked him to stay and drink some jade nectar and eat some lotus root. Pilgrim would not sit down but, standing, drank a glass of nectar and ate a piece of lotus. He then left Yingzhou swiftly and headed straight for the Great Eastern Ocean. Soon the Potalaka Mountain came in sight. Dropping down from the clouds, he went straight to the top of the mountain, where he saw the Bodhisattva Guanyin giving a lecture to the various celestial guardians, dragon-ladies, and Mokṣa in the purple bamboo grove. As a testimony, we have a poem which says:
The sea-mistress city’s tall with thick hallowed air.
Here you see countless marvelous things.
Know that the thousand vague and varied forms
Are all found in a book’s one soundless leaf.12
Four Noble Truths13 conferred will bear right fruit:
Six Stages,14 when listened to, will set you free.
This young grove15 has pleasures special and true:
Trees full of reddened fruits and fragrant flowers.
The Bodhisattva was the first to notice Pilgrim’s arrival, and she asked the Great Mountain Guardian to go meet him. As he came out of the grove, the guardian shouted, “Sun Wukong, where are you going?” Raising his head, Pilgrim cried, “Bear rascal! Is Wukong the name for you to take in vain? If old Monkey hadn’t spared you back then, you would have been a corpse on the Black Wind Mountain. Today you are a follower of the Bodhisattva, for you have received the virtuous fruit and you have been made a resident of this immortal mountain so that you can listen frequently to the dharma teachings. Now, with all these benefits, can’t you address me as ‘Venerable Father’?” That Black Bear, you see, had indeed attained the right fruit, but the fact that he was made a guardian of the Potalaka and given the title “Great Guardian” was something that he owed to Pilgrim. So he really could not do anything but smile and say, “Great Sage, the ancients said, ‘The princely man does not dwell on old faults.’ Why mention my past? The Bodhisattva asked me to come meet you.” Our Pilgrim at once became solemn and earnest as he followed the Great Guardian to bow down to the Bodhisattva in the purple bamboo grove.
“Wukong,” said the Bodhisattva, “where has the Tang Monk reached in his journey?” “The Long Life Mountain, in the West Aparagodānīya Continent,” said Pilgrim. “In that Long Life Mountain,” said the Bodhisattva, “there is an Abbey of Five Villages, which is the home of the Zhenyuan Great Immortal. Did you come across him?” Banging his head on the ground, Pilgrim said, “It was all because of your disciple, who did not know the Zhenyuan Great Immortal at that Abbey of Five Villages. I offended him by damaging his tree, and he in turn held up my master, preventing him from making any progress in his journey.”
“You mischievous monkey!” scolded the Bodhisattva, who already had knowledge of the whole affair. “You don’t know any better! That Ginseng Fruit Tree of his is the spiritual root planted by Heaven and nourished by Earth. Master Zhenyuan himself is also the patriarch of earthbound immortals, and even I must be somewhat deferential to him. Why did you damage his tree?”
Bowing low again, Pilgrim said, “Your disciple was truly ignorant. The day when we arrived at the Abbey, Master Zhenyuan was not home, and only two immortal lads were there to receive us. It was Zhu Wuneng who discovered that they had these fruits, and he wanted to try one. Your disciple stole three such fruits, which we three brothers divided up among ourselves. When the lads found out, they kept on chiding us until I became so angry that I pushed down the tree. Their master returned the following day and caught up with us; after he had scooped us up with his sleeve, he had us bound and whipped, interrogating and torturing us for a whole day. We escaped that night, but he caught up with us again and took us captive as before. Two or three times it went on like this, and when I became convinced that it was impossible for us to flee, I promised him that I would heal the tree. I have just made a complete tour of the Three Islands seeking a cure from the sea, but none of the immortals was able to give me one. That’s why your disciple has come to bow before you in all sincerity. I beg the Bodhisattva in her compassion to grant me a cure, so that the Tang Monk can soon journey toward the West.”
“Why didn’t you come see me earlier?” asked the Bodhisattva. “Why did you go looking instead on the islands?” When Pilgrim heard these words, he was secretly pleased and said to himself, “What luck! What luck! The Bodhisattva must have a cure!” He went forward again to beg some more, and the Bodhisattva said, “The sweet dew in my immaculate vase can heal divine trees or spirit roots.” “Have you tried this before?” asked Pilgrim. “Indeed,” said the Bodhisattva. “When?” asked Pilgrim.
The Bodhisattva said, “Some years ago Laozi had a wager with me: he took my willow twig and placed it in his elixir-refining brazier until it was completely dried and charred. Then he gave it back to me, and I stuck it in my vase. After one day and one night, I had my green twig and leaves again, as lovely as before.” Laughing, Pilgrim said, “I’m lucky! Truly lucky! If a scorched willow could be revived, what’s so difficult about a tree that has been knocked over?” The Bodhisattva then gave this order to the rest of her followers: “Maintain your vigilance in the grove. I’ll be back soon.” She left, balancing the immaculate vase in her hand; the white parrot flew ahead of her, while the Great Sage Sun followed from behind. We have a testimonial poem, and the poem says:
The world can’t limn this jade-browed16 golden form:
A God who pities and saves us from woes.
As stainless Buddha she met kalpas past.
A self which can do she has now attained.17
She calms passion’s billows in many lives;
Her moral nature is wholly unsoiled.
The sweet dew, long charged with true wondrous might,
Will bring the precious tree eternal life.
We now tell you about the Great Immortal, who was just having lofty conversations with the Three Elders when all at once they saw the Great Sage Sun drop down from the clouds and shout, “The Bodhisattva has arrived. Come meet her quickly! Come meet her quickly!” The Three Stars, Master Zhenyuan, Tripitaka, and his disciples all hurried out of the main hall. Stopping her sacred cloud, the Bodhisattva first exchanged greetings with Master Zhenyuan before bowing to the Three Stars. After the ceremony, she took the seat of honor as Pilgrim led the Tang monk, Eight Rules, and Sha Monk to bow to her. After that, the various immortals in the Abbey also came to greet her. “Great Immortal,” said Pilgrim, “there’s no need for further delay. You may as well prepare the table of incense at once and ask the Bodhisattva to heal that fruit tree of yours.” Bowing low to thank the Bodhisattva, the Great Immortal said, “Why should the trivial affair of this plebeian be such a concern to the Bodhisattva that she would take the trouble of coming here?” “The Tang Monk is my disciple,” said the Bodhisattva. “If Sun Wukong has wronged you, it’s only reasonable that he should make recompense and return your precious tree.” “In that case,” said the Three Stars, “there’s no further need for polite talk. May we ask the Bodhisattva to go to the garden and see what can be done?”
The Great Immortal gave the order to prepare an incense table and to sweep the grounds in the rear garden. The Bodhisattva was asked to lead the way, followed by the Three Elders, Tripitaka, his disciples, and the various immortals of the Abbey. When they arrived at the garden, they saw the tree lying on the ground—with the soil around it turned up, its roots exposed, its leaves fallen, and its branches dried up. “Wukong,” cried the Bodhisattva, “stretch out your hand.” Pilgrim stretched out his left hand. Dipping the willow twig into the sweet dew of her vase, the Bodhisattva then used it as a brush and drew on the palm of Pilgrim a charm that had revivifying power. She told him to place his hand at the base of the tree and watch for the sign of water spurting out. His hand closed tightly, Pilgrim went to the base of the tree and placed his fist on the roots. In a little while, a clear spring welled up from the ground. The Bodhisattva said, “That water cannot be touched by any instrument containing any one of the Five Phases. It must be scooped up by a jade ladle. Push the tree back up into an upright position; pour the water over it from the top down. The bark and the roots will grow back together again; the leaves will come out, the branches will turn green, and the fruits will appear.”
“Little Daoists,” said Pilgrim, “bring me a jade ladle, quickly.” “Your humble Daoist lives in a rural area,” said Master Zhenyuan, “and there is no jade ladle available. We have only jade tea cups and jade wine goblets. Can they be used?” “As long as they are made of jade,” said the Bodhisattva, “and capable of bailing water, they will be all right. Bring them here.” The Great Immortal asked the little lads to take out some thirty jade tea cups and some fifty wine goblets with which they scooped up the clear water. Pilgrim, Eight Rules, and Sha Monk raised the tree into an upright position and covered its base with topsoil. They then handed the jade cups one by one to the Bodhisattva, who sprinkled the sweet liquid onto the tree with her willow branch as she recited a spell. Before long, she stopped sprinkling, and the tree turned green all at once with thick leaves and branches. Twenty-three ginseng fruits could be seen on top. Clear Breeze and Bright Moon, the two lads, said, “When we discovered our loss the day before, we came up with only twenty-two fruits even after we had counted them over and over. Why is there an extra one today after it has been revived?” “‘Time will disclose the true intent of man,’” said Pilgrim. “Old Monkey took only three the other day; the fourth one dropped to the ground and disappeared, for as the local spirit told me, this treasure would become assimilated once it touched earth. Eight Rules kept hollering about my skimming something off the top, and that was how my act was discovered. Only today is this whole mess cleared up.”
The Bodhisattva said, “That’s why I didn’t use any instrument containing the Five Phases just now, for I know that this thing and the Five Phases are mutually resistant.” Highly pleased, the Great Immortal asked for the gold mallet at once and had ten of the fruits knocked down. He then invited the Bodhisattva and the Three Elders to go back to the main hall, where a Festival of Ginseng Fruits would be given in their honor. The little immortals duly set the tables and took out the cinnabar trays, while the Bodhisattva was asked to take the seat of honor in the center. The Three Elders were seated at the table to the left, the Tank Monk was placed at the right, and Master Zhenyuan as the host took up the seat down below. We have a testimonial poem that says:
At Long Life Mountain’s cave-heaven of old,
Ginseng fruits ripen every nine thousand years.
The spirit root exposed, hurting twigs and shoots;
The sweet dew revives, fruits and leaves made whole.
Three Elders gladly meet all these old chums;
The four monks find by luck friends foreordained.
Now they have learned to eat the ginseng fruits;
They’ll all be immortals who never age.
Presently the Bodhisattva and the Three Elders each ate a fruit. Finally convinced that this was a treasure of the immortals, the Tang Monk also ate one. Each of the three disciples also ate one, and Master Zhenyuan himself took one to keep his guests company. The last one of the fruits was divided among the other residents of the Abbey. Pilgrim thanked the Bodhisattva and the Three Stars, who went back to the Potalaka Mountain and Penglai Island, respectively. Master Zhenyuan also prepared some vegetarian wine for a banquet, during which he and Pilgrim became bond-brothers. As the proverb says,
Without fighting they would not know each other;
But now the two parties have become one household.
Happily, master and disciples spent a restful night there. Thus it was with that Elder, who was
Lucky to have tasted the grass of reverted cinnabar;
His long life would endure the ordeals of ogres.
We do not know how they will part the following day; let’s listen to the explanation in the next chapter.