第二十九回

第二十九回 脱难江流来国土 承恩八戒转山林

诗曰[1]：

妄想不复强灭，真如何必希求？本原自性佛前修，迷悟岂居前后？　悟即刹那成正，迷而万劫沉流。若能一念合真修，灭尽恒沙罪垢。

却说那八戒、沙僧与怪斗经个三十回合，不分胜负。你道怎么不分胜负？若论赌手段，莫说两个和尚，就是二十个，也敌不过那妖精。只为唐僧命不该死，暗中有那护法神祇[2]保着他，空中又有那六丁六甲、五方揭谛、四值功曹、一十八位护教伽蓝，助着八戒、沙僧。

且不言他三人战斗。却说那长老在洞里悲啼，思量他那徒弟，眼中流泪道：“悟能呵，不知你在那个村中逢了善友，贪着斋供；悟净呵，你又不知在那里寻他，可能得会？岂知我遇妖魔，在此受难！几时得会你们，脱了大难，早赴灵山！”正当悲啼烦恼，忽见那洞里走出一个妇人来，扶着定魂桩，叫道：“那长老，你从何来？为何被他缚在此处？”长老闻言，泪眼偷看，那妇人约有三十年纪，遂道：“女菩萨，不消问了。我已是该死的，走进你家门来也，要吃就吃了罢，又问怎的？”那妇人道：“我不是吃人的。我家离此西下，有三百馀里，那里有座城，叫做宝象国。我是那国王的第三个公主，乳名叫做百花羞。只因十三年前，八月十五日夜玩月中间，被这妖魔一阵狂风摄将来，与他做了十三年夫妻。在此生儿育女，杳无音信回朝。思量我那父母，不能相见。你从何来，被他拿住？”唐僧道：“贫僧乃是差往西天取经者，不期闲步，误撞在此。如今要拿住我两个徒弟，一齐蒸吃哩。”那公主陪笑道：“长老宽心。你既是取经的，我救得你。那宝象国是你西方去的大路，你与我捎一封书儿去，拜上我那父母，我就教他饶了你罢。”三藏点头道：“女菩萨，若还救得贫僧命，愿做捎书寄信人。”

那公主急转后面，即修了一纸家书，封固停当，到桩前解放了唐僧，将书付与。唐僧得解脱，捧书在手道：“女菩萨，多谢你活命之恩。贫僧这一去，过贵处，定送国王处。只恐日久年深，你父母不肯相认，奈何？切莫怪我贫僧打了诳语。”公主道：“不妨。我父王无子，止生我三个姊妹，若见此书，必有相看之意。”三藏紧紧袖了家书，谢了公主，就往外走，被公主扯住道：“前门里你出不去！那些大小妖精，都在门外摇旗呐喊，擂鼓筛锣，助着大王，与你徒弟厮杀哩。你往后门里去罢。若是大王拿住，还审问审问；只恐小妖儿捉了，不分好歹，挟生儿伤了你的性命。等我去他面前，说个方便。若是大王放了你呵，待你徒弟讨个示下，寻着你一同好走。”三藏闻言，磕了头，谨依分付，辞别公主，躲离后门之外，不敢自行，将身藏在荆棘丛中。

却说公主娘娘心生巧计，急往前来，出门外，分开了大小群妖，只听得叮叮当当，兵刃乱响。原来是八戒、沙僧与那怪在半空里厮杀哩。这公主厉声高叫道：“黄袍郎！”那妖王听得公主叫唤，即丢了八戒、沙僧，按落云头，撇了钢刀，搀着公主道：“浑家，有甚话说？”公主道：“郎君呵，我才时睡在罗帏之内，梦魂中忽见个金甲神人。”妖魔道：“那个金甲神？上我门怎的？”公主道：“是我幼时，在宫里对神暗许下一桩心愿：若得招个贤郎驸马，上名山，拜仙府，斋僧布施。自从配了你，夫妻们欢会，到今不曾题起。那金甲神人来讨誓愿，喝我醒来，却是南柯一梦。因此，急整容来郎君处诉知，不期那桩上绑着一个僧人。万望郎君慈悯，看我薄意，饶了那个和尚罢，只当与我斋僧还愿。不知郎君肯否？”那怪道：“浑家，你却多心呐！甚么打紧之事！我要吃人，那里不捞几个吃吃？这个把和尚，到得那里，放他去罢。”公主道：“郎君，放他从后门里去罢。”妖魔道：“奈烦哩。放他去便罢，又管他甚么后门前门哩。”他遂绰了钢刀，高叫道：“那猪八戒，你过来。我不是怕你，不与你战，看着我浑家的分上，饶了你师父也。趁早去后门首，寻着他，往西方去罢。若再来犯我境界，断乎不饶！”

那八戒与沙僧闻得此言，就如鬼门关上放回来的一般，即忙牵马挑担，鼠窜而行。转过那波月洞，后门之外，叫声：“师父！”那长老认得声音，就在那荆棘中答应。沙僧就剖开草径，搀着师父，慌忙的上马。这里：

狠毒险遭青面鬼，殷勤幸有百花羞。

鳌鱼脱却金钩钓，摆尾摇头逐浪游。

八戒当头领路，沙僧后随，出了那松林，上了大路。你看他两个哜哜嘈嘈，埋埋怨怨，三藏只是解和。遇晚先投宿，鸡鸣早看天。一程一程，长亭短亭，不觉的就走了二百九十九里。猛抬头，只见一座好城，就是宝象国。真好个处所也：

云渺渺，路迢迢；地虽千里外，景物一般饶。瑞霭祥烟笼罩，清风明月招摇。嵂嵂崒崒[3]的远山，大开图画；潺潺湲湲的流水，碎溅琼瑶。可耕的连阡带陌，足食的密蕙新苗。渔钓的几家三涧曲，樵采的一担两峰椒。廓的廓，城的城，金汤巩固；家的家，户的户，只斗逍遥[4]。九重的高阁如殿宇，万丈的层台似锦标。也有那太极殿、华盖殿、烧香殿、观文殿、宣政殿、延英殿：一殿殿的玉陛金阶，摆列着文冠武弁；也有那大明宫、昭阳宫、长乐宫、华清宫、建章宫、未央宫：一宫宫的钟鼓管籥，撒抹了闺怨春愁。也有禁苑的，露花匀嫩脸；也有御沟的，风柳舞纤腰。通衢上，也有个顶冠束带的，盛仪容，乘五马；幽僻中，也有个持弓挟矢的，拨云雾，贯双雕。花柳的巷，管弦的楼，春风不让洛阳桥。取经的长老，回首大唐肝胆裂；伴师的徒弟，息肩小驿梦魂消。

看不尽宝象国的景致。师徒三众收拾行李、马匹，安歇馆驿中。

唐僧步行至朝门外，对阁门大使[5]道：“有唐朝僧人，特来面驾，倒换文牒，乞为转奏转奏。”那黄门奏事官，连忙走至白玉阶前奏道：“万岁，唐朝有个高僧，欲求见驾，倒换文牒。”那国王闻知是唐朝大国，且又说是个方上圣僧，心中甚喜，即时准奏，叫：“宣他进来。”把三藏宣至金阶，舞蹈山呼礼毕。两边文武多官，无不叹道：“上邦人物，礼乐雍容如此！”那国王道：“长老，你到我国中何事？”三藏道：“小僧是唐朝释子。承我天子敕旨，前往西方取经，原领有文牒，到陛下上国，理合倒换。故此不识进退，惊动龙颜。”国王道：“既有唐天子文牒，取上来看着。”三藏双手捧上去，展开放在御案上。牒云：

“南赡部洲大唐国奉天承运唐天子牒行：切惟朕以凉德[6]，嗣续丕基[7]，事神治民，临深履薄，朝夕是惴。前者，失救泾河老龙，获谴于我皇皇后帝，三魂七魄，倏忽阴司，已作无常之客。因有阳寿未绝，感冥君放送回生，广陈善会，修建度亡道场。感蒙救苦观世音菩萨金身出现，指示西方有佛有经，可度幽亡，超脱孤魂。特着法师玄奘，远历千山，询求经偈。倘到西邦诸国，不灭善缘，照牒放行。须至牒者。大唐贞观一十三年，秋吉日，御前文牒。”

上有宝印九颗。国王见了，取本国玉宝，用了花押，递与三藏。

三藏谢了恩，收了文牒，又奏道：“贫僧一来倒换文牒，二来与陛下寄有家书。”国王大喜道：“有甚书？”三藏道：“陛下第三位公主娘娘，被碗子山波月洞黄袍妖摄将去，贫僧偶尔相遇，故寄书来也。”国王闻言，满眼垂泪道：“自十三年前，不见了公主，两班文武官，也不知贬退了多少；宫里宫外，大小婢子、太监，也不知打死了多少；只说是走出皇宫，迷失路径，无处找寻；满城中百姓人家，也盘诘了无数，更无下落。怎知道是妖怪摄了去！今日乍听得这句话，故此伤情流泪。”三藏袖中取出书来献上。国王接了，见有“平安”二字，一发手软，拆不开书。传旨宣翰林院大学士上殿读书。学士随即上殿。殿前有文武多官，殿后有后妃宫女，俱侧耳听书。学士拆开朗诵。上写着：

“不孝女百花羞顿首百拜大德父王万岁龙凤殿前，暨三宫母后昭阳宫下，及举朝文武贤卿台次：拙女幸托坤宫，感激劬劳[8]万种，不能竭力怡颜，尽心奉孝。乃于十三年前，八月十五日良夜佳辰，蒙父王恩旨，着各宫排宴，赏玩月华，共乐清霄盛会。正欢娱之间，不觉一阵香风，闪出个金睛蓝面青发魔王，将女擒住；驾祥光，只带至半野山中无人处。难分难辨，被妖倚强霸占为妻。是以无奈捱了一十三年，产下两个妖儿，尽是妖魔之种。论此真是败坏人伦，有伤风化，不当传书玷辱；但恐女死之后，不显分明。正含怨思忆父母，不期唐朝圣僧，亦被魔王擒住。是女滴泪修书，大胆放脱，特托寄此片楮[9]，以表寸心。伏望父王垂悯，遣上将早至碗子山波月洞，捉获黄袍怪，救女回朝，深为恩念。草草欠恭，面听不一。

逆女百花羞再顿首顿首。”

那学士读罢家书，国王大哭，三宫滴泪，文武伤情，前前后后，无不哀念。

国王哭之许久，便问两班文武：“那个敢兴兵领将，与寡人捉获妖魔，救我百花公主？”连问数声，更无一人敢答，真是木雕成的武将，泥塑就的文官。那国王心生烦恼，泪若涌泉。只见那多官齐俯伏奏道：“陛下且休烦恼。公主已失，至今一十三载无音，偶遇唐朝圣僧，寄书来此，未知的否。况臣等俱是凡人凡马，习学兵书武略，止可布阵安营，保国家无侵陵之患。那妖精乃云来雾去之辈，不得与他睹面相见，何以征救？想东土取经者，乃上邦圣僧，这和尚‘道高龙虎伏，德重鬼神钦’，必有降妖之术。自古道：‘来说是非者，就是是非人。’可就请这长老降妖邪，救公主，庶为万全之策。”

那国王闻言，急回头，便请三藏道：“长老若有手段，放法力，捉了妖魔，救我孩儿回朝，也不须上西方拜佛，长发留头，朕与你结为兄弟，同坐龙床，共享富贵如何？”三藏慌忙启上道：“贫僧粗知念佛，其实不会降妖。”国王道：“你既不会降妖，怎么敢上西天拜佛？”那长老瞒不过，说出两个徒弟来了，奏道：“陛下，贫僧一人，实难到此。贫僧有两个徒弟，善能逢山开路，遇水叠桥，保贫僧到此。”国王怪道：“你这和尚大没理。既有徒弟，怎么不与他一同进来见朕？若到朝中，虽无中意赏赐，必有随分斋供。”三藏道：“贫僧那徒弟丑陋，不敢擅自入朝，但恐惊伤了陛下的龙体。”国王笑道：“你看你这和尚说话，终不然朕当怕他？”三藏道：“不敢说。我那大徒弟姓猪，法名悟能八戒，他生得长嘴獠牙，刚鬃扇耳，身粗肚大，行路生风。第二个徒弟姓沙，法名悟净和尚，他生得身长丈二，臂阔三停，脸如蓝靛，口似血盆，眼光闪灼，牙齿排钉。他都是这等个模样，所以不敢擅领入朝。”国王道：“你既这等样说了一遍，寡人怕他怎的？宣进来。”随即着金牌至馆驿相请。

那呆子听见来请，对沙僧道：“兄弟，你还不教下书哩。这才见了下书的好处。想是师父下了书，国王道：捎书人不可怠慢，一定整治筵宴待他。他的食肠不济，有你我之心，举出名来，故此着金牌来请。大家吃一顿，明日好行。”沙僧道：“哥啊，知道是甚缘故，我们且去来。”遂将行李、马匹俱交付驿丞，各带随身兵器，随金牌入朝。早行到白玉阶前，左右立下，朝上唱个喏，再也不动。那文武多官，无人不怕，都说道：“这两个和尚，貌丑也罢，只是粗俗太甚！怎么见我王更不下拜，喏毕平身，挺然而立！可怪！可怪！”八戒听见道：“列位，莫要议论。我们是这般乍看果有些丑，只是看下些时来，却也耐看。”

那国王见他丑陋，已是心惊，及听得那呆子说出话来，越发胆颤，就坐不稳，跌下龙床，幸有近侍官员扶起。慌得个唐僧跪在殿前，不住的叩头道：“陛下，贫僧该万死！万死！我说徒弟丑陋，不敢朝见，恐伤龙体，果然惊了驾也。”那国王战兢兢走近前，搀起道：“长老，还亏你先说过了，若未说，猛然见他，寡人一定唬杀了也！”国王定性多时，便问：“猪长老、沙长老，是那一位善于降妖？”那呆子不知好歹，答道：“老猪会降。”国王道：“怎么家降？”八戒道：“我乃是天蓬元帅，只因罪犯天条，堕落下世，幸今皈正为僧。自从东土来此，第一会降的是我。”国王道：“既是天将临凡，必然善能变化。”八戒道：“不敢，不敢，也将就晓得几个变化儿。”国王道：“你试变一个我看看。”八戒道：“请出题目，照依样子好变。”国王道：“变一个大的罢。”

八戒他也有三十六般变化，就在阶前卖弄手段，却便捻诀念咒，喝一声叫：“长！”把腰一躬，就长了有八九丈长，却似个开路神一般。吓得那两班文武，战战兢兢，一国君臣，呆呆挣挣。时有镇殿将军问道：“长老，似这等变得身高，必定长到甚么去处，才有止极？”那呆子又说出呆话来道：“看风。东风犹可，西风也将就；若是南风起，把青天也拱个大窟窿！”那国王大惊道：“收了神通罢。晓得是这般变化了。”八戒把身一矬，依然现了本相，侍立阶前。

国王又问道：“长老此去，有何兵器与他交战？”八戒腰里掣出钯来道：“老猪使的是钉钯。”国王笑道：“可败坏门面！我这里有的是鞭、简、瓜、锤，刀、枪、钺、斧，剑、戟、矛、镰。随你选称手的拿一件去。那钯算做甚么兵器？”八戒道：“陛下不知，我这钯虽然粗夯，实是自幼随身之器。曾在天河水府为帅，辖押八万水兵，全仗此钯之力。今临凡世，保护吾师，逢山筑破虎狼窝，遇水掀翻龙蜃穴，皆是此钯。”国王闻得此言，十分欢喜心信，即命九嫔妃子：“将朕亲用的御酒，整瓶取来，权与长老送行。”遂满斟一爵，奉与八戒道：“长老，这杯酒，聊引奉劳之意。待捉得妖魔，救回小女，自有大宴相酬，千金重谢。”那呆子接杯在手，人物虽是粗鲁，行事倒有斯文，对三藏唱个大喏道：“师父，这酒本该从你饮起，但君王赐我，不敢违背，让老猪先吃了，助助兴头，好捉妖怪。”那呆子一饮而干，才斟一爵，递与师父。三藏道：“我不饮酒，你兄弟们吃罢。”沙僧近前接了，八戒就足下生云，直上空里。国王见了道：“猪长老又会腾云！”

呆子去了，沙僧将酒亦一饮而干，道：“师父！那黄袍怪拿住你时，我两个与他交战，只战个手平。今二哥独去，恐战不过他。”三藏道：“正是。徒弟呵，你可去与他帮帮功。”沙僧闻言，也纵云跳将起去。那国王慌了，扯住唐僧道：“长老，你且陪寡人坐坐，也莫腾云去了。”唐僧道：“可怜！可怜！我半步儿也去不得！”此时二人在殿上叙话不题。

却说那沙僧赶上八戒道：“哥哥，我来了。”八戒道：“兄弟，你来怎的？”沙僧道：“师父叫我来帮帮功的。”八戒大喜道：“说得是，来得好！我两个努力齐心，去捉那怪物，虽不怎的，也在此国扬扬姓名。”你看他：

叆叇[10]祥光辞国界，氤氲瑞气出京城。

领王旨意来山洞，努力齐心捉怪灵。

他两个不多时，到了洞口，按落云头。八戒掣钯，往那波月洞的门上，尽力气一筑，把他那石门筑了斗来大小的个窟窿。吓得那把门的小妖开门，看见是他两个，急跑进去报道：“大王，不好了！那长嘴大耳与那晦气脸的和尚，又来把门都打破了！”那怪惊道：“这个还是猪八戒、沙和尚二人。我饶了他师父，怎么又敢复来打我的门！”小妖道：“想是忘了甚么物件，来取的。”老怪咄的一声道：“胡缠！忘了物件，就敢打上门来？必有缘故！”急整束了披挂，绰了钢刀，走出来问道：“那和尚，我既饶了你师父，你怎么又敢来打上我门？”八戒道：“你这泼怪干得好事儿！”老魔道：“甚么事？”八戒道：“你把宝象国三公主骗来洞里，以强霸占为妻，住了一十三载，也该还他了。我奉国王旨意，特来擒你。你快快进去，自家把绳子绑缚出来，还免得老猪动手！”那老怪闻言，十分发怒。你看他屹迸迸，咬响钢牙；滴溜溜，睁圆环眼；雄纠纠，举起刀来；赤淋淋，拦头便砍。八戒侧身躲过，使钉钯劈面迎来，随后又有沙僧举宝杖赶上前齐打。这一场在山头上赌斗，比前不同。真个是：

言差语错招人恼，意毒情伤怒气生。这魔王大钢刀，着头便砍；那八戒九齿钯，对面迎来。沙悟净丢开宝杖，那魔王抵架神兵。一猛怪，二神僧，来来往往甚消停。这个说：“你骗国理该死罪！”那个说：“你罗闲事报不平！”这个说：“你强婚公主伤国体！”那个说：“不干你事莫闲争！”算来只为捎书故，致使僧魔两不宁。

他们在那山坡前，战经八九个回合，八戒渐渐不济将来，钉钯难举，气力不加。你道如何这等战他不过？当时初相战斗，有那护法诸神，为唐僧在洞，暗助八戒、沙僧，故仅得个手停[11]，此时诸神都在宝象国护定唐僧，所以二人难敌。

那呆子道：“沙僧，你且上前来与他斗着，让老猪出恭来。”他就顾不得沙僧，一溜往那蒿草薜萝、荆棘葛藤里，不分好歹，一顿钻进，那管刮破头皮，搠伤嘴脸，一毂辘睡倒，再也不敢出来。但留半边耳朵，听着梆声。

那怪见八戒走了，就奔沙僧。沙僧措手不及，被怪一把抓住，捉进洞去，小妖将沙僧四马攒蹄捆住。毕竟不知端的性命如何，且听下回分解。

[1] 按所载为《西江月》词。

[2] 神祇（qí）：泛指神灵。其中“神”指天神，“祇”指地神。

[3] 嵂（lǜ）嵂崒（zú）崒：形容山的高峻。

[4] 只斗逍遥：满足于一只鸡、一斗酒的逍遥生活。

[5] 阁门大使：即“阁门使”，古代职官，执掌礼仪。

[6] 凉德：薄德，德行不够。常用作皇帝的自谦。

[7] 嗣续丕基：谓子孙继承了先人伟大的基业。嗣，子孙。丕，大。

[8] 劬（qú）劳：指父母抚养儿女的劳苦。

[9] 片楮（chǔ）：片纸，此处指短信。楮树皮可造纸，故用楮代称纸。

[10] 叆（ài）叇（dài）：形容云霭缤纷。

[11] 手停：即平手。停，均等。

CHAPTER 29. Free of his peril, River Float arrives at the kingdom; Receiving favor, Eight Rules invades the forest.

The poem says:1

Vain thoughts cannot be slain by force.

Why must you seek after Suchness?

Refine before Buddha your self-existent mind—

Are not illusion and enlightenment the same?

Enlightened, you reach instantly the Right;

Deluded, you sink in ten thousand kalpas.

If you can cultivate one thought with Truth,

Sins vast as Ganges’ sand are wiped out.

We were telling you about Eight Rules and Sha Monk, who fought with that monster for over thirty rounds but a decision could not be reached. Why not, you ask. If it were a matter of matching abilities, you needn’t speak of two monks. Even if there were twenty monks, they would still be unable to withstand that monster. It was only because of the fact that the Tang Monk was not yet fated to die that his followers could count on the help of certain deities. Eight Rules and Sha Monk, therefore, were assisted in secret in the air by the Six Gods of Light and Six Gods of Darkness, the Guardians of Five Quarters, the Four Sentinels, and the Eighteen Guardian-Spirits of monasteries.

For the moment we shall speak no more of the battle between the three of them. We tell you instead about the elder, who was weeping piteously in the cave and thinking about his disciples. As tears fell from his eyes, he said to himself, “Wuneng, I don’t know in which village you have met a friend of truth and are enjoying being fed. O, Wujing! Where have you gone to search for him, and how will you be able to meet him? Will you two realize that I met a demon, that I’m suffering here? When will I see you both again? When will I escape from this great ordeal so that I can reach the Spirit Mountain soon?” As he was giving voice to his grief in this manner, he suddenly saw a woman walk out from inside the cave. Holding on to the Spirit-Soothing Pillar, she said, “Elder, where did you come from? Why are you bound here by him?”

When the elder heard this, he turned his teary eyes to steal a glance at her and found that she was about thirty years old. “Lady Bodhisattva,” he said, “no need for further questions. I must have been fated to die when I entered your door. If you want to devour me, go ahead. Why bother to question me?” The woman said, “I don’t eat people! About three hundred miles west of here is my home, a city by the name of the Precious Image Kingdom.2 I’m the third princess of its king, and my childhood name is Hundred Flowers’ Shame. Thirteen years ago, on the eve of the fifteenth of the eighth month, I was enjoying the sight of the moon when this monster-spirit kidnapped me and brought me here in a violent wind. I was forced to become his wife for all these thirteen years and to bear his children. It was impossible, of course, for me to send any news back to the Court, and I couldn’t see my parents even though I thought of them frequently. But where did you come from, and how did he catch you?”

“This poor monk,” said the Tang Monk, “is someone sent to acquire scriptures in the Western Heaven. I was taking a walk when I bumped into this place. Now he wants to catch my two disciples also so that we will all be steamed and eaten together.” “Elder, please don’t worry,” said the princess with a smile. “If you are a scripture pilgrim, I can save you, for the Precious Image Kingdom is right on your main path to the West. All I ask of you is to deliver a letter for me to my parents and I’ll ask my husband to let you go.” Nodding his head, the Tang Monk said, “Lady Bodhisattva, if you can save the life of this poor monk, I shall be glad to serve as your messenger.”

Quickly running inside, the princess wrote a letter and had it properly sealed. She then went back out to the pillar and untied him before handing him the letter. After he was freed, the Tang Monk held the letter in his hands and said, “Lady Bodhisattva, thank you for saving my life. When this poor monk reaches your kingdom, he will certainly deliver the letter to the king. I fear, however, that such a lengthy separation will make it difficult for your parents to recognize anything from you. What shall I do then? They would not accuse me of lying, would they?” “No fear,” said the princess. “My parents have no son; all they have are us three sisters. When they see this letter, they will look after you.” Tucking the letter deep into his sleeve, Tripitaka thanked the princess again and started to walk out. “You can’t go out the front door!” said the princess, tugging at him. “Those monster-spirits, great and small, are all outside waving the banners and beating the drums and gongs to assist the Great King, who is at this very moment fighting with your disciples. You’d better leave by the back door. If the Great King seizes you, he will at least interrogate you. But if the little fiends catch hold of you, they may slaughter you on the spot without further ado. Let me go instead to the front and speak a word on your behalf. If the Great King is willing to let you go, your disciples can take that as a favor and leave with you.” When Tripitaka heard these words, he kowtowed to the princess before taking leave of her. After walking out of the back door, he dared not proceed; instead, he hid himself in some bushes and waited.

We tell you now about the princess, who had devised a clever plan. She ran out the front door and pushed her way through the vast throng of monsters. All she could hear was the jangle of weapons, for Eight Rules and Sha Monk were still doing battle in midair with that fiend. The princess shouted, “Lord Yellow Robe!” When the monster king heard the call of the princess, he abandoned Eight Rules and Sha Monk and dropped down from the clouds. Holding his scimitar with one hand, he took the hand of the princess with the other and said, “Mistress, what do you want?” “Husband,” said the princess, “I was sleeping just now within the silk curtains, and I saw in my dream a golden-armored deity.” “That golden-armored deity,” said the demon, “what does he want at my door?” The princess said, “During my youth when I was living in the palace, I made a secret vow that if I found a good husband, I would ascend the famous mountains, visit the immortal abodes, and feed the monks. Since I married you, ours had been such great happiness that I never had the opportunity to mention this to you. Just now that golden-armored deity came to demand that I fulfill my vow; he was shouting at me so vehemently that I woke up with a start. Even though it was all a dream, I made haste to come to tell you about it. Then I saw a monk all tied up on that pillar. I beg you, husband, to be compassionate for my sake and spare that monk. Just regard the matter as if it were my feeding the monks to redeem my vow. Are you willing?”

“Mistress,” said the fiend, “you’re so gullible! I thought it was something important! All right! If I wanted to eat humans, I can catch a few anywhere. This one monk, what does he amount to? I’ll let him go.” “Husband,” said the princess, “let him go out the back door.” The monster said, “What nuisance! Just let him go. Why bother about the back door or front door?” He gripped his steel scimitar and shouted, “You, Zhu Eight Rules! Come over here! I’m not afraid of you, but I won’t fight with you anymore; for the sake of my wife, I’m going to spare your master. Go quickly to our back door and find him so that you can leave for the West. If you ever trespass our territory again, I will not spare you.”

When Eight Rules and Sha Monk heard these words, they felt as if they had been released from the gate of Hell! Leading the horse and poling the luggage, they darted like rodents past the Current-Moon Cave. When they reached the back door, they cried, “Master!” The elder recognized their voices and answered from the thorny bushes. Sha Monk parted the grass and picked up his master, who mounted the horse hurriedly. So,

Almost harmed by the vicious blue-faced spirit,

He met by luck the zeal of Hundred Flowers’ Shame.

The scorpaenid has from the golden hook escaped:

He wags his head and tail to swim with the waves.

Eight Rules led the way in front while Sha Monk brought up the rear. They left the pine forest and proceeded on the main road. Look at the two of them! Still bickering and grumbling, they were trying to put the blame on each other, and Tripitaka had to spend all the time attempting to pacify them. At night they sought a place to rest; when the cock crowed they looked at the sky. Stage by stage, they soon traveled some two hundred and ninety-nine miles. When they raised their heads one day, they saw a beautiful city. It was the Precious Image Kingdom, a marvelous place indeed!

How boundless the clouds!

How vast the journey!

Though the land is a thousand miles away,

Its condition is no less prosperous.3

Auspicious mist and smoke surround it;

Bright moon and clear wind befriend it.

Green, towering distant mountains

Spread out like a painted scroll;

The flowing stream, surging and bubbling,

Throws up pieces of white jade.

Arable fields, joined by roadways and paths;

Worthy of food, dense sprouting rice crops;

Hooked by the fisherman, three winding brooks of a few households;

Gathered by the woodsman, one load of pepper-wood from two hills.

Each corridor and each rampart

Are made strong as if by metal and liquid;4

Every house and every home

Vies with one another in felicity.

Nine-tiered towers rise like palace halls;

Layered terraces soar like beacons.

There are also the Great Ultimate Hall,5

The Bright Cover Hall,

The Burn Incense Hall,

The Text-Viewing Hall,

The Policy-Proclaiming Hall,

And the Talent-Engaging Hall—

Every hall lined with jade threshold and gold steps,

With civil and military officials.

There are also the Great Light Palace,

The Bright Sun Palace,

The Long-Lasting Pleasure Palace,

The Bright Clear Palace,

The Memorial-Establishing Palace,

And the Never-Ending Palace—

Each palace, with its chimes, drums, pipes, and vertical flutes,

Releases its boudoir sorrows and springtime griefs.

There are in the forbidden courtyard

Young, fresh faces like flowers bedewed;

There are on the palace moat

Slender waists like willows dancing in the wind.

On the broad boulevard

There may be one who is capped and sashed,

Who, elaborately dressed,

Mounts a five-horse chariot.

At a secluded spot

There may be one holding bow and arrows

Who, pushing through fog and clouds,

Would pierce a pair of hawks.6

Alleys of flowers and willows;

Towers of pipes and strings:

Spring breeze here’s no lighter than at Luoyang Bridge!

Our scripture-seeking elder

Recalls the Tang court and his bowels almost burst;

Our disciples, flanking their master,

Rest in a post-house and lose their souls in dreams.

There was no end to the sight of such fine scenery at the Precious Image Kingdom. Master and disciples, the three of them, brought the luggage and the horse to a post-house and rested.

Afterwards, the Tang Monk walked to the gate of the court and said to the gate official, “A priest from the Tang court has arrived to seek an audience with the throne and to have my travel rescript certified. Please make this report for me.” The Custodian of the Yellow Gate hurried inside and went before the white jade steps to say, “Your Majesty, there is an illustrious monk from the Tang court, who wishes to have an audience with you in order to have his travel rescript certified.” When the king heard that an illustrious monk had arrived from such a great nation as the Tang, he was very pleased and consented at once. “Summon him to come in,” he said. When Tripitaka was summoned before the golden steps, he went through an elaborate court ceremony to pay homage to the ruler. None of the civil and military officials lining up on both sides of the court could refrain from saying, “Truly a man from a noble nation! What exquisite manners!” The king said, “Elder, why did you come to our Kingdom?” “This humble monk,” said Tripitaka, “is a Buddhist from the Tang court. I have received the decree of my emperor to go to acquire scriptures in the West. The travel rescript that I originally received should be certified once I arrive at the kingdom of Your Majesty. This is the reason why I dare intrude upon your Dragon Presence.” “If you have the rescript from the Tang Son of Heaven,” said the king, “bring it up here for me to look at.” Presenting it with both hands, Tripitaka placed the document on the imperial desk and unfolded it. The rescript says:

The travel rescript of the Tang Son of Heaven, who succeeds under the guidance of Heaven to the throne of the Great Tang Empire in the South Jambūdvīpa Continent. Though we humbly acknowledge our poor display of virtue, we are the lawful descendant of a great heritage. In the service to the gods and the government of men, we try to be vigilant night and day, as if we were approaching a deep abyss or walking on thin ice. Some time ago, we failed to save the life of the Old Dragon of Jing River, for which we were chastised by the Most High August One. Our soul and spirit, drifting to the Region of Darkness, had already become a guest of impermanence. Because our allotted age was not yet exhausted, however, we were indebted to the Ruler of Darkness, who released us and returned us to life. Thereafter, we convened a grand mass and established the ritual field for the dead. It was at this time also that the One who saves from afflictions, the Bodhisattva Guanshiyin, revealed to us her golden form, and enlightened us with the knowledge that the West had both Buddha and scriptures, able to redeem the dead and deliver the orphaned spirits. For this reason we now commission Xuanzang, master of the law, to traverse a thousand mountains in order to acquire such scriptures. When he reaches the many nations of the West, it is our hope that they will not extinguish the goodly affinity and allow him to pass through because of this rescript. This is a necessary-to-be-sent document.7 An auspicious day in the autumn of the thirteenth year, in the Zhenguan period of the Great Tang. An imperial document. (There were also the marks of nine precious seals on it.)

When the king read it, he took the jade seal of his own nation and stamped it before handing it back to Tripitaka.

After he thanked the king and put away the travel rescript, Tripitaka said, “This humble priest came first of all to have the document certified, and secondly to present to Your Majesty a family letter.” Delighted, the king said, “What kind of family letter?” “Your Majesty,” said Tripitaka, “the third princess was kidnapped by the Yellow Robe Fiend of the Current-Moon Cave at the Casserole Mountain. This humble priest met her by chance and it was she who asked me to send you this letter.”

When the king heard this, his eyes brimmed with tears. “Thirteen years ago,” he said, “we lost our princess. For that, we banished countless officials, both civil and military, and we did not know how many ladies-in-waiting and eunuchs we had caned to death throughout the palace. For we thought that she had walked out of the palace and lost her way. Since we did not know where to look, we interrogated countless households in the city, but there was not a trace of her. How would we know that a monster had kidnapped her? When I receive this word today, I cannot hold back my grief or tears.” Thereupon Tripitaka took out the letter from his sleeve and presented it. When the king took it and saw the address on the envelope, his hands turned feeble and could not open the letter. He therefore gave the order to have the Grand Secretary of the Hanlin Academy8 come before the throne and read the letter. The Grand Secretary ascended the steps as all the civil and military officials before the court and all the imperial concubines and palace ladies behind the court listened attentively. Opening the letter, the Grand Secretary began to read:

The unfilial daughter, Hundred Flowers’ Shame, touches her head to the ground a hundred times before the Dragon-Phoenix Palace to honor Father King of the highest virtue. Long may he live! I bow also before the Bright Sun Palace to my Queen Mother, Queen of the Three Palaces, and to all worthy ministers, both civil and military, of the entire court. Ever since it was my good fortune to have been born into the queen’s palace, I have been indebted to you for the countless acts of grievous labor you undertook on my behalf. I regret that I have not done the utmost to please you, nor have I discharged with all my strength my filial duties. It was on the fifteenth day of the eighth month thirteen years ago that Father King, on that lovely evening and auspicious occasion, gave his gracious command for banquets to be be prepared in the several palaces so that we might enjoy the moonlight and celebrate the glorious Festival of Immaculate Heavens. During the moment of festivity, a sudden gust of fragrant wind9 brought forward a demon king with golden pupils, indigo face, and green hair who took hold of your daughter. Mounting the auspicious luminosity, he carried me away directly to an uninhabited region midway in the mountain and absolutely forbade me to leave. He exploited his fiendish power and forced me to become his wife; I had no alternative but to suffer such ignominy for these thirteen years. Two monster children were born to me, all seeds of this fiend. To speak of this, in fact, is to corrupt the great human relations and to pervert our morals. I should not, therefore, send you such an offensive and insulting letter, but I fear that there would be no explanation should your daughter pass away. As I was thinking of my parents with deep sorrow, I learned that a holy monk from the Tang court was also taken captive by the demon king. It was then that your daughter wrote this letter in tears and made bold to obtain release for the priest, so that he might deliver this small document as an expression of my heart. I beg Father King in his compassion to send his noble generals quickly to capture the Yellow Robe Fiend at the Current-Moon Cave of the Casserole Mountain and bring your daughter back to the court. Yours will be the deepest favor to me. Please pardon my disrespect in writing this letter in haste, and whatever has not been said I hope to tell you face to face. Your disobedient daughter, Hundred Flowers’ Shame, kowtows again and again.

When the Grand Secretary finished reading the letter, the king burst into loud wailing; all the three palaces shed tears and the various officials were also overborne by grief.

After the king had wept for a long time, he asked the two rows of civil and military officials, “Who dares lead the troops and captains to capture the monster for us and rescue our Hundred Flowers princess?” He asked the question several times, but there was not a single person courageous enough to respond. Like generals carved out of wood and ministers molded with clay, they all turned dumb! Sorely distressed, the king wept till tears streamed down his face, whereupon many officials prostrated themselves and memorialized, saying, “Your Majesty, we beseech you to desist from your sorrow. The princess was lost, and for thirteen years there had been no news from her. Although she met by chance the holy monk from the Tang court so that she was able to send us this letter, we are still not fully informed about her situation. Moreover, your subjects are merely mortal creatures. We have studied military manuals and tactics, of course, but our knowledge is limited to placing troops in formations and pitching camps in order to protect the frontiers of our nation from any invasion. The monster-spirit, however, is someone who comes by the fog and goes with the clouds. Unless we could meet him face to face, how could we attack him and rescue the princess? The scripture pilgrim from the Land of the East is, we believe, a holy monk from a noble nation. As a priest

Whose vast power tames dragons and tigers,

Whose great virtue awes demons and gods,

he must know the art of subduing monsters. As the proverb says,

He who comes and tells of some affair

Is himself involved in that affair.

Let us ask this elder to subdue the monster and rescue our princess; this is our safest policy.”

When the king heard these words, he turned quickly to Tripitaka and said, “Elder, if you have the ability to release your dharma power and catch the monster so that my child can return to the court, you need not go worship Buddha in the West. You can let your hair grow again, for we will become bond-brothers with you. You may sit on the dragon couch with us and enjoy our riches together. How about it?”

“This poor monk,” said Tripitaka hurriedly, “knows a little of chanting the name of Buddha, but truly he does not know how to subdue monsters.” “If you don’t,” said the king, “how dare you go seek Buddha in the Western Heaven?” No longer able to hide the truth, the elder had to mention his two disciples. “Your Majesty,” he said, “your poor monk would find it very difficult indeed to come here if he were all by himself. I have, however, two disciples, most capable of opening up a pathway in the mountains and building bridges when we come upon the rivers. They have accompanied me here.”

“You are an insensitive monk,” said the king, chiding him. “If you have disciples, why did you not bring them to see us also? When they enter my court, even if we had no intention to reward them, we could provide at least some food.” Tripitaka said, “The disciples of this poor monk are rather ugly in their appearances, and they dare not enter the court without permission. For I fear that they might cause too great a shock to your Majesty.”

“Look at how this monk talks,” said the king with a laugh. “Do you think really that we’ll be afraid of them?” “It’s hard to tell,” said Tripitaka. “My elder disciple has the surname of Zhu, and his given names are Wuneng and Eight Rules. He has a long snout and fanglike teeth, tough bristles on the back of his head, and huge, fanlike ears. He is coarse and husky, and he causes even the wind to rise when he walks. My second disciple has the surname of Sha, and his religious names are Wujing and Monk. He is twelve feet tall and three span wide across his shoulders. His face is like indigo, his mouth, a butcher’s bowl; his eyes gleam and his teeth seem a row of nails. With looks like those, how could they dare enter the court without permission?” “Since you have now given them a thorough description,” said the king, “we wouldn’t be afraid of them. Summon them in.” He then gave the order that an invitation by a golden plaque should be sent at once to the post-house.

When Idiot saw the invitation, he said to Sha Monk, “Brother, you were saying previously that we should perhaps not deliver that letter. Now you can see what benefits delivering that letter can bring. It must be that after Master had delivered the letter, the king said that a messenger should not be lightly treated and insisted on giving a banquet for him. He has no stomach for that sort of thing, but at least he’s considerate toward the two of us by mentioning our names. That’s why a golden plaque has been sent to invite us. Let’s go and have a good meal then, and we can leave tomorrow.” “Elder Brother,” said Sha Monk, “we still don’t know the true reason for this. Let’s go and find out.” They therefore turned over the luggage and the horse to the care of the post-house master. Taking their weapons with them, they followed the golden plaque into court and went before the white jade steps. Standing on the left and on the right, they made one bow and then remained erect without moving again. Every member of those civil and military officials was deeply shaken. “These two monks,” they said, “are not only ugly, they are downright uncouth! How could they see our king and not prostrate themselves? After one bow, they just stand there and remain erect. It’s preposterous! It’s preposterous!” Eight Rules heard this and he said, “Don’t complain, all of you. That’s how we are! At first glance, we may appear ugly, but after awhile, you’ll get used to us.”

When the king saw how hideous they were, he was immediately frightened. By the time he heard what Idiot had said, he was shaking so hard that he fell down from his dragon couch. Fortunately, there were attendants nearby who took hold of him and helped him up. The Tang Monk was so terrified that he knelt before the court and kowtowed without ceasing, saying, “Your Majesty, this monk deserves ten thousand deaths, ten thousand deaths! I said that my disciples were ugly and that they should not be granted an audience because it might injure your dragon body. Now, they have indeed alarmed the Throne.” Still trembling, the king went forward to raise up the priest, saying, “Elder, it’s a good thing that you told me about them before. If you hadn’t, the sudden sight of them would have scared me to death!”

After he had calmed down, the king said, “Elder Zhu and Elder Sha, which one of you is good at subduing monsters?” Foolishly Idiot answered, “Old Hog knows how.” “In what way?” asked the king. “I am the Marshal of the Heavenly Reeds,” said Eight Rules. “Because I transgressed Heaven’s decree, I fell to the Region Below where luckily I could embrace the truth and become a monk. Since our journey from the Land of the East, I have been the one most capable of subduing monsters.” The king said, “If you are a celestial warrior who has descended to Earth, you must know very well the magic of transformation.” “I shouldn’t boast,” said Eight Rules, “but I do know a few little tricks.” “Try to change into something for me to have a look,” said the king. Eight Rules said, “Give me a subject, and I’ll change into its form.” The king said, “Change into something big, then.”

That Eight Rules happened to know thirty-six kinds of transformation. He stood before the steps and showed off his ability; making the magic sign with his fingers and reciting a spell, he shouted, “Grow!” He straightened his torso and at once attained the height of eighty or ninety feet just like a pathfinding deity. The two rows of civil and military officials shook in their boots; the ruler and the subjects of the entire kingdom were terror-stricken. One of the palace guardian-generals managed to ask, “Elder, when will you stop growing? Is there a limit to your height?” Idiot could not refrain from spouting idiotic words. “It depends on the wind,” he said. “It’s all right if the east wind is blowing, and the west wind is okay, too. But if the south wind rises, I’ll bore a great hole in the blue sky!” Horrified, the king said, “Retrieve your magic. I know your power of transformation.” Squatting down, Eight Rules changed back into his original form at once and stood before the steps. “Elder,” asked the king once more, “what sort of weapons do you intend to bring with you to do battle on this expedition?” Eight Rules took out his muckrake and said, “What old Hog uses is a pronged rake.” “That’s shameful!” said the king with a chuckle. “We have here whips, maces, gilt bludgeons, mallets, scimitars, spears, halberds with crescent-shaped blades, battle-axes, swords, halberds, lances, and battle sickles. You can pick anything you like and take it with you. How could you regard that rake of yours as a weapon?” “You have no idea about this, Your Majesty,” said Eight Rules. “This rake may seem a rather crude instrument, but it is one that has stayed with me since my youth. When I was commanding some eighty thousand sailors in the naval department at the Heavenly River, I relied solely on the strength of this rake. Now that I have descended to this mortal world to accompany my master, that which

Plows through the mountain dens of tigers and wolves

And overturns the water homes of dragons and snakes

is all the work of this rake!”

Most delighted and reassured by what he heard, the king turned to some of his ladies in the court, saying, “Bring me my own special wine. Take the whole bottle, in fact, so that we can send the elder off properly.” He then poured a goblet of it and presented it to Eight Rules, saying, “Elder, this cup of wine is for the labor you are about to undertake. Wait till you capture the monster and bring back our little girl. We shall have a huge banquet and a thousand pieces of gold to thank you.” Idiot took hold of the cup in his hands; though he was a rude and rowdy person, he could act courteously when he wanted to. Bowing deeply to Tripitaka, he said, “Master, you should be the first one to drink this wine. But since it is the king who bestows it on me, I dare not refuse. Please permit old Hog to drink this wine first. It should help inspire me to catch the monster.” Idiot drained the goblet with one gulp before filling it again to hand it to his master. Tripitaka said, “I don’t drink. You brothers may take it.” Sha Monk went forward to receive the cup, while the clouds sprouted beneath Eight Rules’s feet and lifted him straight into the air. When the king saw this, he said, “So Elder Zhu knows even cloud soaring!”

Idiot left, and after draining the goblet also with one gulp, Sha Monk said, “Master, when that Yellow Robe Fiend caught you, two of us could only battle him to a draw. If Second Brother goes by himself now, I fear that he may not be able to withstand him.” “You are right, disciple,” said Tripitaka. “You may go to lend him some assistance.” Hearing this, Sha Monk leaped up and left soaring on the clouds. The king became alarmed and caught hold of the Tang Monk, saying, “Elder, please sit with us for awhile. Don’t you go away too, soaring on the clouds.” The Tang Monk said, “Pity! Pity! I can’t even move half a step like that!” At this time, the two of them chatted in the palace, and we shall speak of them no further.

We tell you now about Sha Monk, who caught up with Eight Rules, saying, “Elder Brother, I’m here.” Eight Rules said, “Brother, why did you come?” “Master told me to come help you,” said Sha Monk. Highly pleased, Eight Rules said, “Well said, and welcome! United in our minds and efforts, the two of us can go catch that monster. It may not be much, but we’ll spread our fame a little in this kingdom.” Look at them:

Swathed in hallowed light they passed the kingdom’s edge;

Borne by auspicious air they left the capital.

They went by the king’s decree to the mountain cave

To catch with all diligence the monster-spirit.

In a little while, the two of them arrived at the mouth of the cave and lowered the direction of their clouds. Raising his rake, Eight Rules delivered a blow on the door of the Current-Moon Cave with all his might: at once a hole about the size of a barrel appeared in the stone door. The little fiends standing guard at the entrance were so startled that they opened the door immediately and found that it was the two monks. They ran inside to report, crying, “Great King, it’s terrible! The monk with a long snout and huge ears and the monk with the gloomiest complexion have returned and busted our door.”

Surprised, the monster said, “These two have to be Zhu Eight Rules and Sha Monk. I spared their master already. How dare they come back and wreck my door!” A little fiend said, “They must have left behind something and returned to get it.” “Rubbish!” cried the old fiend. “You leave something behind and then you go and break down someone’s door? There has to be another reason.” He quickly put on his armor, grasped his scimitar, and walked outside. “Monks,” he asked, “I have already spared your master. For what reason do you dare come back and break down my door?”

Eight Rules said, “You lawless monster, you have really done something all right!” “What?” asked the old demon. “You abducted the third princess of the Precious Image Kingdom to this cave and forced her to be your wife,” said Eight Rules. “It’s been thirteen years, about time that you give her up. I have been decreed by the king specially to capture you. Go inside quickly and come out again after tying yourself up. That’ll save old Hog from having to raise his hands.” When that old monster heard these words, he grew enraged. Look at him!

Noisily, he ground his teeth;

Round and round, his eyes glowered;

In fury, he lifted his scimitar;

With bloody thought, he slashed at the head.

Eight Rules stepped aside to dodge the blow and returned one with his pronged rake. Immediately, Sha Monk wielded his precious staff and rushed forward to join the battle. This conflict waged on the peak was different from the one before. Truly,

Wrong words and irksome speech arouse one’s wrath;

Malice and rancor make one’s anger grow.

The scimitar of this big demon king

Slashes at the head;

The nine-pronged rake of that Eight Rules

Confronts him at the face.

Sha Wujing unleashes the precious staff;

The demon king parries this weapon divine.

One savage fiend

And two godlike monks

Move back and forth, taking their time to fight!

This one says, “You defraud a nation and are worthy of death!”

That one says, “You’re wrongly indignant at someone’s affairs!”

This one says, “You raped a princess and brought her country shame!”

That one says, “It’s none of your business, so stop meddling!”

It is all because of a letter sent

That both monks and demon are not at peace.

They battled for eight or nine rounds before the mountain, and Eight Rules began to weaken steadily; he could hardly lift his rake and he was rapidly losing his strength. Why couldn’t he prevail against the monster, you ask? When they fought previously, you see, there were the dharma-protecting deities who gave the disciples secret assistance because of the Tang Monk’s presence in the cave. That was why they fought to a draw. At this time, however, all the gods had gone to the Precious Image Kingdom to guard the Tang Monk, and the two disciples by themselves could not withstand their adversary. Idiot said, “Sha Monk, you come up and fight with him for awhile. Let old Hog go shit first!” Not showing the slightest care for Sha Monk, he dove right into a thicket of bramble bushes; without regard for good or ill, without any concern that the thorns were pricking his face and tearing up his scalp, he rolled right inside and lay down, refusing to come out at all. Only half of his ear was left outside, so that he could hear the rattle10 and learn how the battle was faring.

When the monster saw that Eight Rules had run away, he went after Sha Monk. Completely flustered, Sha Monk did not even have time to try to escape, and he was seized by the monster and hauled back to the cave, where he was bound hand and foot behind his back by the little fiends. We do not know what will happen to his life; let’s listen to the explanation in the next chapter.