第六回

第六回 观音赴会问原因 小圣施威降大圣

且不言天神围绕，大圣安歇。话表南海普陀落伽山大慈大悲救苦救难灵感观世音菩萨，自王母娘娘请赴蟠桃大会，与大徒弟惠岸行者同登宝阁瑶池，见那里荒荒凉凉，席面残乱，虽有几位天仙，俱不就座，都在那里乱纷纷讲论。菩萨与众仙相见毕，众仙备言前事。菩萨道：“既无盛会，又不传杯，汝等可跟贫僧去见玉帝。”众仙怡然随往。至通明殿前，早有四大天师、赤脚大仙等众，俱在此迎着菩萨，即道玉帝烦恼，调遣天兵，擒怪未回等因。菩萨道：“我要见见玉帝，烦为转奏。”天师丘弘济即入灵霄宝殿启知，宣入。时有太上老君在上，王母娘娘在后。

菩萨引众同入里面，与玉帝礼毕，又与老君、王母相见，各坐下便问：“蟠桃盛会如何？”玉帝道：“每年请会，喜喜欢欢，今年被妖猴作乱，甚是虚邀也。”菩萨道：“妖猴是何出处？”玉帝道：“妖猴乃东胜神洲傲来国花果山石卵化生的。当时生出，即目运金光，射冲斗府。始不介意，继而成精，降龙伏虎，自削死籍。当有龙王、阎王启奏，朕欲擒拿，是长庚星启奏道：‘三界之间，凡有九窍者，可以成仙。’朕即施教育贤，宣他上界，封为御马监弼马温官。那厮嫌恶官小，反了天宫。即差李天王与哪吒太子收降，又降诏抚安，宣至上界，就封他做个‘齐天大圣’，只是有官无禄。他因没事干管理，东游西荡。朕又恐别生事端，着他代管蟠桃园。他又不遵法律，将老树大桃，尽行偷吃。及至设会，他乃无禄人员，不曾请他，他就设计赚哄赤脚大仙，却自变他相貌入会，将仙肴仙酒尽偷吃了，又偷老君仙丹，又偷御酒若干，去与本山众猴享乐。朕心为此烦恼，故调十万天兵，天罗地网收伏。这一日不见回报，不知胜负如何。”

菩萨闻言，即命惠岸行者道：“你可快下天宫，到花果山打探军情如何。如遇相敌，可就相助一功，务必的实[1]回话。”惠岸行者整整衣裙，执一条铁棍，驾云离阙，径至山前。见那天罗地网，密密层层，各营门提铃喝号，将那山围绕的水泄不通。惠岸立住，叫：“把营门的天丁，烦你传报：我乃李天王二太子木叉，南海观音大徒弟惠岸，特来打探军情。”那营里五岳神兵，即传入辕门之外。早有虚日鼠、昴日鸡、星日马、房日兔，将言传到中军帐下。李天王发下令旗，教开天罗地网，放他进来。此时东方才亮，惠岸随旗进入，见四大天王与李天王下拜。拜讫，李天王道：“孩儿，你自那厢来者？”惠岸道：“愚男随菩萨赴蟠桃会，菩萨见胜会荒凉，瑶池寂寞，引众仙并愚男去见玉帝。玉帝备言父王等下界收伏妖猴，一日不见回报，胜负未知。菩萨因命愚男到此打听虚实。”李天王道：“昨日到此安营下寨，着九曜星挑战，被这厮大弄神通，九曜星俱败走而回。后我等亲自提兵，那厮也排开阵势。我等十万天兵，与他混战至晚，他使个分身法战退。及收兵查勘时，止捉他些狼虫虎豹之类，不曾捉得他半个妖猴。今日还未出战。”

说不了，只见辕门外有人来报道：“那大圣引一群猴精，在外面叫战。”四大天王与李天王并太子正议出兵，木叉道：“父王，愚男蒙菩萨分付，下来打探消息，就说若遇战时可助一功。今不才愿往，看他怎么个大圣！”天王道：“孩儿，你随观音修行这几年，想必也有些神通，切须在意。”

好太子，双手抡着铁棍，束一束绣衣，跳出辕门，高叫：“那个是齐天大圣？”大圣挺如意棒，应声道：“老孙便是！你是甚人，辄敢问我？”木叉道：“吾乃李天王第二太子木叉，今在观音菩萨宝座前为徒弟护教，法名惠岸是也。”大圣道：“你不在南海修行，却来此见我做甚？”木叉道：“我蒙师父差来打探军情，见你这般猖獗，特来擒你！”大圣道：“你敢说那等大话！且休走！吃老孙这一棒！”木叉全然不惧，使铁棒劈手相迎。他两个立那半山中，辕门外，这场好斗：

棍虽对棍铁各异，兵纵交兵人不同。一个是太乙散仙呼大圣，一个是观音徒弟正元龙。浑铁棍乃千锤打，六丁六甲运神功；如意棒是天河定，镇海神珍法力洪。两个相逢真对手，往来解数实无穷。这个的阴手棍，万千凶，绕腰贯索疾如风；那个的夹枪棒，不放空，左遮右挡怎相容？那阵上旌旗闪闪，这阵上鼍鼓冬冬。万员天将团团绕，一洞妖猴簇簇丛。怪雾愁云漫地府，狼烟煞气射天宫。昨朝混战还犹可，今日争持更又凶。堪羡猴王真本事，木叉复败又逃生。

这大圣与惠岸战经五六十合，惠岸臂膊酸麻，不能迎敌，虚幌一幌，败阵而走。大圣也收了猴兵，安扎在洞门之外。只见天王营门外大小天兵，接住了太子，让开大路，径入辕门，对四天王、李托塔、哪吒，气哈哈的，喘息未定：“好大圣！好大圣！着实神通广大！孩儿战不过，又败阵而来也！”李天王见了心惊，即命写表求助，便差大力鬼王与木叉太子上天启奏。

二人当时不敢停留，闯出天罗地网，驾起瑞霭祥云。须臾，径至通明殿下，见了四大天师，引至灵霄宝殿，呈上表章。惠岸又见菩萨施礼，菩萨道：“你打探的如何？”惠岸道：“始领命到花果山，叫开天罗地网门，见了父亲，道师父差命之意。父王道：‘昨日与那猴王战了一场，止捉得他虎豹狮象之类，更未捉他一个猴精。’正讲间，他又索战。是弟子使铁棍与他战经五六十合，不能取胜，败走回营。父亲因此差大力鬼王同弟子上界求助。”菩萨低头思忖。

却说玉帝拆开表章，见有求助之言，笑道：“叵耐[2]这个猴精，能有多大手段，就敢敌过十万天兵！李天王又来求助，却将那路神兵助之？”言未毕，观音合掌启奏道：“陛下宽心，贫僧举一神，可擒这猴。”玉帝道：“所举者何神？”菩萨道：“乃陛下令甥显圣二郎真君，见居灌洲灌江口，享受下方香火。他昔日曾力诛六怪，又有梅山兄弟与帐前一千二百草头神，神通广大。奈他只是听调不听宣[3]。陛下可降一道调兵旨意，着他助力，便可擒也。”玉帝闻言，即传调兵的旨意，就差大力鬼王赍调[4]。

那鬼王领了旨，即驾起云，径至灌江口。不消半个时辰，直至真君之庙。早有把门的鬼判，传报至里道：“外有天使，捧旨而至。”二郎即与众弟兄，出门迎接旨意，焚香开读。旨意上云：

“花果山妖猴齐天大圣作乱。因在宫偷桃、偷酒、偷丹，搅乱蟠桃大会，见着十万天兵，一十八架天罗地网，围山收伏，未曾得胜。今特调贤甥同义兄弟，即赴花果山助力剿除。成功之后，高升重赏。”

真君大喜道：“天使请回，吾当[5]就去拔刀相助也。”鬼王回奏不题。

这真君即唤梅山六兄弟——乃康、张、姚、李四太尉，郭甲、直健二将军，聚集殿前道：“适才玉帝调遣我等往花果山收降妖猴，同去去来。”众弟兄俱忻然愿往。即点本部神兵，驾鹰牵犬，踏弩张弓，纵狂风，霎时过了东洋大海，径至花果山。见那天罗地网密密层层，不能前进，因叫道：“把天罗地网的神将听着：吾乃二郎显圣真君，蒙玉帝调来，擒拿妖猴者，快开营门放行。”一时各神一层层传入，四大天王与李天王俱出辕门迎接。相见毕，问及胜败之事，天王将上项事备陈一遍。真君笑道：“小圣来此，必须与他斗个变化。列公将天罗地网，不要幔了顶上，只四围紧密，让我赌斗。若我输与他，不必列公相助，我自有兄弟扶持；若赢了他，也不必列公绑缚，我自有兄弟动手。只请托塔天王与我使个照妖镜，住立空中。恐他一时败阵逃窜他方，切须与我照耀明白，勿走了他。”天王各居四维，众天兵各挨排列阵去讫。

这真君领着四太尉、二将军，连本身七兄弟，出营挑战。分付众将紧守营盘，收全了鹰犬，众草头神得令。真君只到那水帘洞外，见那一群猴齐齐整整，排作个蟠龙阵势；中军里立一竿旗，上书“齐天大圣”四字。真君道：“那泼妖，怎么称得起齐天之职？”梅山六弟道：“且休赞叹，叫战去来。”那营口小猴见了真君，急走去报知。那猴王即掣金箍棒，整黄金甲，蹬步云履，按一按紫金冠，腾出营门，急睁睛观看，那真君的相貌果是清奇，打扮得又秀气。真个是：

仪容清俊貌堂堂，两耳垂肩目有光。

头戴三山飞凤帽，身穿一领淡鹅黄。

缕金靴衬盘龙袜，玉带团花八宝妆。

腰挎弹弓新月样，手执三尖两刃枪。

斧劈桃山曾救母[6]，弹打罗双凤凰。

力诛八怪声名远，义结梅山七圣行。

心高不认天家眷，性傲归神住灌江。

赤城昭惠英灵圣，显化无边号二郎。

大圣见了，笑嘻嘻的将金箍棒掣起，高叫道：“你是何方小将，辄敢大胆到此挑战？”真君喝道：“你这厮有眼无珠，认不得我么！吾乃玉帝外甥，敕封昭惠灵显王二郎是也。今蒙上命，到此擒你这反天宫的弼马温猢狲，你还不知死活！”大圣道：“我记得当年玉帝妹子思凡下界，配合杨君，生一男子，曾使斧劈桃山的，是你么？我行[7]要骂你几声，曾奈无甚冤仇；待要打你一棒，可惜了你的性命。你这郎君小辈，可急急回去，换你四大天王出来。”真君闻言，心中大怒道：“泼猴！休得无礼！吃吾一刃！”大圣侧身躲过，疾举金箍棒，劈手相还。他两个这场好杀：

昭惠二郎神，齐天孙大圣。这个心高欺敌美猴王，那个面生压伏真梁栋。两个乍相逢，各人皆赌兴。从来未识浅和深，今日方知轻与重。铁棒赛飞龙，神锋如舞凤。左挡右攻，前迎后映。这阵上梅山六弟助威风，那阵上马流四将传军令。摇旗擂鼓各齐心，呐喊筛锣都助兴。两个钢刀有见机，一来一往无丝缝；金箍棒是海中珍，变化飞腾能取胜。若还身慢命该休，但要差池为蹭蹬[8]。

真君与大圣斗经三百馀合，不知胜负。那真君抖擞神威，摇身一变，变得身高万丈，两只手举着三尖两刃神锋，好便似华山顶上之峰，青脸獠牙，朱红头发，恶狠狠望大圣着头就砍。这大圣也使神通，变得与二郎身躯一样，嘴脸一般，举一条如意金箍棒，却就如昆仑顶上的擎天之柱，抵住二郎神。唬得那马、流元帅，战兢兢，摇不得旌旗；崩、芭二将，虚怯怯，使不得刀剑。这阵上，康、张、姚、李、郭甲、直健传号令，撒放草头神，向他那水帘洞外，纵着鹰犬，搭弩张弓，一齐掩杀。可怜冲散妖猴四健将，捉拿灵怪二三千！那些猴，抛戈弃甲，撇剑丢枪；跑的跑，喊的喊；上山的上山，归洞的归洞：好似夜猫惊宿鸟，飞洒满天星。众弟兄得胜不题。

却说真君与大圣变做法天象地的规模，正斗时，大圣忽见本营中妖猴惊散，自觉心慌，收了法象，掣棒抽身就走。真君见他败走，大步赶上道：“那里走？趁早归降，饶你性命！”大圣不恋战，只情[9]跑起。将近洞口，正撞着康、张、姚、李四太尉，郭甲、直健二将军，一齐帅众挡住道：“泼猴！那里走！”大圣慌了手脚，就把金箍棒捏做个绣花针，藏在耳内，摇身一变，变作个麻雀儿，飞在树梢头钉住。那六兄弟慌慌张张，前后寻觅不见，一齐吆喝道：“走了这猴精也！走了这猴精也！”

正嚷处，真君到了，问：“兄弟们，赶到那厢不见了？”众神道：“才在这里围住，就不见了。”二郎圆睁凤目观看，见大圣变了麻雀儿，钉在树上，就收了法象，撇了神锋，卸下弹弓，摇身一变，变作个鹰[10]儿，抖开翅，飞将去扑打。大圣见了，嗖的一翅飞起去，变作一只大鹚老，冲天而去。二郎见了，急抖翎毛，摇身一变，变作一只大海鹤，钻上云霄来嗛[11]。大圣又将身按下，入涧中，变作一个鱼儿，淬[12]入水内。二郎赶至涧边，不见踪迹，心中暗想道：“这猢狲必然下水去也，定变作鱼虾之类。等我再变变拿他。”果一变变作个鱼鹰儿，飘荡在下溜头波面上，等待片时。那大圣变鱼儿顺水正游，忽见一只飞禽，似青庄毛片不青，似鹭鸶顶上无缨，似老鹳腿又不红：“想是二郎变化了等我哩！……”急转头，打个花[13]就走。二郎看见道：“打花的鱼儿，似鲤鱼尾巴不红，似鳜鱼花鳞不见，似黑鱼头上无星，似鲂鱼鳃上无针。他怎么见了我就回去了？必然是那猴变的。”赶上来，刷的啄一嘴。那大圣就撺出水中，一变，变作一条水蛇，游近岸，钻入草中，二郎因嗛他不着。他见水响中，见一条蛇撺出去，认得是大圣，急转身，又变了着一只朱绣顶的灰鹤，伸着一个长嘴，与一把尖头铁钳子相似，径来吃这水蛇。水蛇跳一跳，又变做一只花鸨，木木樗樗[14]的，立在蓼汀之上。二郎见他变得低贱，——花鸨乃鸟中至贱至淫之物，不拘鸾、凤、鹰、鸦都与交群[15]——故此不去拢傍，即现原身，走将去，取过弹弓拽满，一弹子把他打个踵。

那大圣趁着机会，滚下山崖，伏在那里又变，变一座土地庙儿：大张着口，似个庙门；牙齿变做门扇，舌头变做菩萨，眼睛变做窗棂。只有尾巴不好收拾，竖在后面，变做一根旗竿。真君赶到崖下，不见打倒的鸨鸟，只有一间小庙，急睁凤眼仔细看之，见旗竿立在后面，笑道：“是这猢狲了！他今又在那里哄我。我也曾见庙宇，更不曾见一个旗竿竖在后面的。断是这畜生弄喧[16]！他若哄我进去，他便一口咬住。我怎肯进去？等我掣拳先捣窗棂，后踢门扇！”大圣听得心惊，道：“好狠！好狠！门扇是我牙齿，窗棂是我眼睛。若打了牙，捣了眼，却怎么是好？”扑的一个虎跳，又冒在空中不见。

真君前前后后乱赶，只见四太尉、二将军一齐拥至道：“兄长，拿住大圣了么？”真君笑道：“那猴儿才自变座庙宇哄我。我正要捣他窗棂，踢他门扇，他就纵一纵，又渺无踪迹。可怪！可怪！”众皆愕然，四望更无形影。真君道：“兄弟们在此看守巡逻，等我上去寻他。”急纵身驾云，起在半空。见那李天王高擎照妖镜，与哪吒住立云端，真君道：“天王，曾见那猴王么？”天王道：“不曾上来。我这里照着他哩。”真君把那赌变化，弄神通，拿群猴一事说毕，却道：“他变庙宇，正打处，就走了。”李天王闻言，又把照妖镜四方一照，呵呵的笑道：“真君，快去！快去！那猴使了个隐身法，走出营围，往你那灌江口去也。”二郎听说，即取神锋，回灌江口来赶。

却说那大圣已至灌江口，摇身一变，变作二郎爷爷的模样，按下云头，径入庙里。鬼判不能相认，一个个磕头迎接。他坐中间，点查香火：见李虎拜还的三牲，张龙许下的保福[17]，赵甲求子的文书，钱丙告病的良愿。正看处，有人报：“又一个爷爷来了。”众鬼判急急观看，无不惊心。真君却道：“有个甚么齐天大圣，才来这里否？”众鬼判道：“不曾见甚么大圣，只有一个爷爷在里面查点哩。”真君撞进门，大圣见了，现出本相道：“郎君不消嚷，庙宇已姓孙了。”这真君即举三尖两刃神锋，劈脸就砍。那猴王使个身法让过神锋，掣出那绣花针儿幌一幌，碗来粗细，赶到前，对面相还。两个嚷嚷闹闹，打出庙门，半雾半云，且行且战，复打到花果山。慌得那四大天王等众，提防愈紧。这康、张太尉等迎着真君，合心努力，把那美猴王围绕不题。

话表大力鬼王既调了真君与六兄弟提兵擒魔去后，却上界回奏。玉帝与观音菩萨、王母并众仙卿，正在灵霄殿讲话，道：“既是二郎已去赴战，这一日还不见回报。”观音合掌道：“贫僧请陛下同道祖出南天门外，亲去看看虚实如何？”玉帝道：“言之有理。”即摆驾，同道祖、观音、王母与众仙卿至南天门。早有些天丁、力士接着，开门遥观。只见众天丁布罗网，围住四面；李天王与哪吒，擎照妖镜，立在空中；真君把大圣围绕中间，纷纷赌斗哩。菩萨开口对老君说：“贫僧所举二郎神如何？——果有神通，已把那大圣围困，只是未得擒拿。我如今助他一功，决拿住他也。”老君道：“菩萨将甚兵器？怎么助他？”菩萨道：“我将那净瓶杨柳抛下去，打那猴头；即不能打死，也打个一跌，教二郎小圣好去拿他。”老君道：“你这瓶是个磁器，倘打着他便好，如打不着他的头，或撞着他的铁棒，却不打碎了？你且莫动手，等我老君助他一功。”菩萨道：“你有甚么兵器？”老君道：“有，有，有。”捋起衣袖，左膊上取下一个圈子，说道：“这件兵器，乃锟钢抟炼的，被我将还丹点成，养就一身灵气，善能变化，水火不侵，又能套诸物。一名‘金钢琢’，又名‘金钢套’。当年过函关，化胡为佛，甚是亏他。早晚最可防身。等我丢下去打他一下。”

话毕，自天门上往下一掼，滴流流，径落花果山营盘里，可可的着猴王头上一下。猴王只顾苦战七圣，却不知天上坠下这兵器，打中了天灵，立不稳脚，跌了一跤，爬将起来就跑；被二郎爷爷的细犬赶上，照腿肚子上一口，又扯了一跌。他睡倒在地，骂道：“这个亡人！你不去妨家长，却来咬老孙！”急翻身爬不起来，被七圣一拥按住，即将绳索捆绑，使勾刀穿了琵琶骨[18]，再不能变化。

那老君收了金钢琢，请玉帝同观音、王母、众仙等俱回灵霄殿。这下面四大天王与李天王诸神，俱收兵拔寨，近前向小圣贺喜，都道：“此小圣之功也！”小圣道：“此乃天尊洪福，众圣威权，我何功之有？”康、张、姚、李道：“兄长不必多叙，且押这厮去上界见玉帝，请旨发落去也。”真君道：“贤弟，汝等未受天箓，不得面见玉帝。教天甲神兵押着，我同天王等上界回旨。你们帅众在此搜山，搜净之后，仍回灌口。待我请了赏，讨了功，回来同乐。”四太尉、二将军依言领诺。这真君与众即驾云头，唱凯歌，得胜朝天。不多时，到通明殿外。天师启奏道：“四大天王等众已捉了妖猴齐天大圣了。来此听宣。”玉帝传旨，即命大力鬼王与天丁等众，押至斩妖台，将这厮碎剁其尸。咦！正是：

欺诳今遭刑宪苦，英雄气概等时休。

毕竟不知那猴王性命如何，且听下回分解。

[1] 的实：确实。

[2] 叵耐：不可耐。这里有可恨的意思。

[3] 听调不听宣：听从调动，但拒绝奉宣召进见。

[4] 赍（jī）调：奉旨调遣。赍，持。此指拿着玉帝的召书。

[5] 吾当：我。当，语助词，无实义。

[6] 劈山救母：我国古代神话传说，杨戬（二郎）曾经用斧劈开桃山，救出他被玉帝贬谪的母亲。

[7] 我行（hánɡ）：我这里。行，宋元以后常用在人称后表示处所。

[8] 蹭（cènɡ）蹬（dènɡ）：不走运、倒霉。

[9] 只情：尽情。

[10] （sōnɡ）鹰：又名爵，一种猛禽，似鹰而小。

[11] 嗛（qiān）：啄。

[12] 淬（cuì）：铸刀剑烧红了放在水中叫淬。这里指汆进水里。

[13] 花：漩涡。

[14] 木木樗（chū）樗：形容痴呆、孤单的样子。

[15] 交群：禽、兽交配。

[16] 弄喧：弄玄虚、耍花招儿。后文第八十回作“弄喧儿”。

[17] 保福：为乞福而许下的愿。

[18] 琵琶骨：肩胛骨。穿琵琶骨是过去控制犯人的一种刑罚，能让犯人失去反抗能力，也不能逃跑。

CHAPTER 6. Guanyin, attending the banquet, inquires into the cause; The Little Sage, exerting his power, subdues the Great Sage.

For the moment we shall not tell you about the siege of the gods or the Great Sage at rest. We speak instead of the Great Compassionate Deliverer, the Efficacious Bodhisattva Guanyin from the Potalaka Mountain of the South Sea.1 Invited by the Lady Queen Mother to attend the Grand Festival of Immortal Peaches, she arrived at the treasure chamber of the Jasper Pool with her senior disciple, Hui’an. There they found the whole place desolate and the banquet tables in utter disarray. Although several members of the Heavenly pantheon were present, none was seated. Instead, they were all engaged in vigorous exchanges and discussions. After the Bodhisattva had greeted the various deities, they told her what had occurred. “Since there will be no festival,” said the Bodhisattva, “nor any raising of cups, all of you might as well come with this humble cleric to see the Jade Emperor.” The gods followed her gladly, and they went to the entrance to the Hall of Perfect Light. There the Bodhisattva was met by the Four Celestial Masters and the Immortal of Naked Feet, who recounted how the celestial soldiers, ordered by an enraged Jade Emperor to capture the monster, had not yet returned. The Bodhisattva said, “I would like to have an audience with the Jade Emperor. May I trouble one of you to announce my arrival?” The Heavenly Preceptor Qiu Hongji went at once into the Treasure Hall of Divine Mists and, having made his report, invited Guanyin to enter. Laozi then took the upper seat with the Emperor, while the Lady Queen Mother was in attendance behind the throne.

The Bodhisattva led the crowd inside. After paying homage to the Jade Emperor, they also saluted Laozi and the Queen Mother. When each of them was seated, she asked, “How is the Grand Festival of Immortal Peaches?” “Every year when the festival has been given,” said the Jade Emperor, “we have thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. This year it has been completely ruined by a baneful monkey, leaving us with nothing but an invitation to disappointment.” “Where did this baneful monkey come from?” asked the Bodhisattva. “He was born of a stone egg on top of the Flower-Fruit Mountain of the Aolai Country of the East Pūrvavideha Continent,” said the Jade Emperor. “At the moment of his birth, two beams of golden light flashed immediately from his eyes, reaching as far as the Palace of the Polestar. We did not think much of that, but he later became a monster, subduing the Dragon and taming the Tiger as well as eradicating his name from the Register of Death. When the Dragon Kings and the Kings of the Underworld brought the matter to our attention, we wanted to capture him. The Star of Long Life, however, observed that all the beings of the three regions that possessed the nine apertures could attain immortality. We therefore decided to educate and nurture the talented monkey and summoned him to the Region Above. He was appointed to the post of Bimawen at the imperial stables, but, taking offense at the lowliness of his position, he left Heaven in rebellion. We then sent Devarāja Li and Prince Naṭa to ask for his submission by proclaiming a decree of pacification. He was brought again to the Region Above and was appointed the Great Sage, Equal to Heaven—a rank without compensation. Since he had nothing to do but to wander east and west, we feared that he might cause further trouble. So he was asked to look after the Garden of Immortal Peaches. But he broke the law and ate all the large peaches from the oldest trees. By then, the banquet was about to be given. As a person without salary he was, of course, not invited; nonetheless, he plotted to deceive the Immortal of Naked Feet and managed to sneak into the banquet by assuming the Immortal’s appearance. He finished off all the divine wine and food, after which he also stole Laozi’s elixir and took away a considerable quantity of imperial wine for the enjoyment of his mountain monkeys. Our mind has been sorely vexed by this, and we therefore sent a hundred thousand celestial soldiers with cosmic nets to capture him. We haven’t yet received today’s report on how the battle is faring.”

When the Bodhisattva heard this, she said to Disciple Hui’an, “You must leave Heaven at once, go down to the Flower-Fruit Mountain, and inquire into the military situation. If the enemy is engaged, you can lend your assistance; in any event, you must bring back a factual report.” The Disciple Hui’an straightened out his attire and mounted the cloud to leave the palace, an iron rod in his hand. When he arrived at the mountain, he found layers of cosmic net drawn tightly and sentries at every gate holding bells and shouting passwords. The encirclement of the mountain was indeed watertight! Hui’an stood still and called out, “Heavenly sentinels, may I trouble you to announce my arrival? I am Prince Mokṣa, second son of Devarāja Li, and I am also Hui’an, senior disciple of Guanyin of South Sea. I have come to inquire about the military situation.”

The divine soldiers of the Five Mountains at once reported this beyond the gate. The constellations Aquarius, Pleiades, Hydra, and Scorpio then conveyed the message to the central tent. Devarāja Li issued a directorial flag, which ordered the cosmic nets to be opened and entrance permitted for the visitor. Day was just dawning in the east as Hui’an followed the flag inside and prostrated himself before the Four Great Devarājas and Devarāja Li.

After he had finished his greetings, Devarāja Li said, “My child, where have you come from?” “Your untutored son,” said Hui’an, “accompanied the Bodhisattva to attend the Festival of Immortal Peaches. Seeing that the festival was desolate and the Jasper Pool laid waste, the Bodhisattva led the various deities and your untutored son to have an audience with the Jade Emperor. The Jade Emperor spoke at length about Father and King’s expedition to the Region Below to subdue the baneful monkey. Since no report has returned for a whole day and neither victory nor defeat has been ascertained, the Bodhisattva ordered your untutored son to come here to find out how things stand.” “We came here yesterday to set up the encampment,” said Devarāja Li, “and the Nine Luminaries were sent to provoke battle. But this fellow made a grand display of his magical powers, and the Nine Luminaries all returned defeated. After that, I led the troops personally to confront him, and the fellow also brought his forces into formation. Our hundred thousand celestial soldiers fought with him until evening, when he retreated from the battle by using the magic of body division. When we recalled the troops and made our investigation, we found that we had captured some wolves, crawling creatures, tigers, leopards, and the like. But we did not even catch half a monkey monster! And today we have not yet gone into battle.”

As he was saying all this, someone came from the gate of the camp to report, “That Great Sage, leading his band of monkey monsters, is shouting for battle outside.” The Four Devarājas, Devarāja Li, and the prince at once made plans to bring out the troops, when Mokṣa said, “Father King, your untutored son was told by the Bodhisattva to come down here to acquire information. She also told me to give you assistance should there be actual combat. Though I am not very talented, I volunteer to go out now and see what kind of a Great Sage this is!” “Child,” said the Devarāja, “since you have studied with the Bodhisattva for several years, you must, I suppose, have some powers! But do be careful!”

Dear prince! Grasping the iron rod with both hands, he tightened up his embroidered garment and leaped out of the gate. “Who is the Great Sage, Equal to Heaven?” he cried. Holding high his compliant rod, the Great Sage answered, “None other than old Monkey here! Who are you that you dare question me?” “I am Mokṣa, the second prince of Devarāja Li,” said Mokssa. “At present I am also the disciple of Bodhisattva Guanyin, a defender of the faith before her treasure throne. And my religious name is Hui’an.” “Why have you left your religious training at South Sea and come here to see me?” said the Great Sage. “I was sent by my master to inquire about the military situation,” said Mokṣa. “Seeing what a nuisance you have made of yourself, I have come specifically to capture you.” “You dare to talk so big?” said the Great Sage. “But don’t run away! Have a taste of old Monkey’s rod!” Mokṣa was not at all frightened and met his opponent squarely with his own iron rod. The two of them stood before the gate of the camp at mid-mountain, and what a magnificent battle they fought!

Though one rod is pitted against another, the iron’s quite different;

Though this weapon couples with the other, the persons are not the same.

This one’s called the Great Sage, a wayward primordial god;

The other is Guanyin’s disciple, a true hero and proud.

The all-iron rod has been pounded a thousand times,

Made by Six Gods of Darkness and Six Gods of Light.

The compliant rod sets the depth of Heaven’s river,

A thing divine ruling the oceans with magic might.

The two of them in meeting have found their match;

Back and forth they battle in endless rounds.

From this one the rod of stealthy hands,

Savage and fierce,

Around the waist stabs and jabs swiftly as the wind;

From the other the rod, doubling as a spear

Driving and relentless,

Lets up not a moment its parrying left and right.

On this side the banners flare and flutter;

On the other the war drums roll and rattle.

Ten thousand celestial fighters circle round and round.

The monkey monsters of a whole cave stand in rows and rows.

Weird fog and dark cloud spread throughout the earth.

The fume and smoke of battle reach even Heaven’s Home.

Yesterday’s battle was something to behold.

Still more violent is the contest today.

Envy the truly able Monkey King:

Mokṣa’s beaten—he is fleeing for life!

Our Great Sage battled Hui’an for fifty or sixty rounds until the prince’s arms and shoulders were sore and numb and he could fight no longer. After one final, futile swing of his weapon, he fled in defeat. The Great Sage then gathered together his monkey troops and stationed them securely outside the entrance of the cave. At the camp of the Devarāja, the celestial soldiers could be seen receiving the prince and making way for him to enter the gate. Panting and puffing, he ran in and gasped out to the Four Devarājas, Pagoda Bearer Li, and Naṭa, “That Great Sage! What an ace! Great indeed is his magical power! Your son cannot overcome him and has returned defeated.” Shocked by the sight, Devarāja Li at once wrote a memorial to the Throne to request further assistance. The demon king Mahābāli and Prince Mokṣa were sent to Heaven to present the document.

Not daring to linger, the two of them crashed out of the cosmic nets and mounted the holy mist and hallowed cloud. In a moment they reached the Hall of Perfect Light and met the Four Celestial Masters, who led them into the Treasure Hall of Divine Mists to present their memorial. Hui’an also saluted the Bodhisattva, who asked him, “What have you found out about the situation?” “When I reached the Flower-Fruit Mountain by your order,” said Hui’an, “I opened the cosmic nets by my call. Seeing my father, I told him of my master’s intentions in sending me. Father King said, ‘We fought a battle yesterday with that Monkey King but managed to take from him only tigers, leopards, lions, elephants, and the like. We did not catch a single one of his monkey monsters.’ As we were talking, he again demanded battle. Your disciple used the iron rod to fight him for fifty or sixty rounds, but I could not prevail against him and returned to the camp defeated. Thus father had to send the demon king Mahābāli and your pupil to come here for help.” The Bodhisattva bowed her head and pondered.

We now tell you about the Jade Emperor, who opened the memorial and found a message asking for assistance. “This is rather absurd!” he said laughing. “Is this monkey monster such a wizard that not even a hundred thousand soldiers from Heaven can vanquish him? Devarāja Li is again asking for help. What division of divine warriors can we send to assist him?” Hardly had he finished speaking when Guanyin folded her hands and said to him. “Your Majesty, let not your mind be troubled! This humble cleric will recommend a god who can capture the monkey.” “Which one would you recommend?” said the Jade Emperor. “Your Majesty’s nephew,” said the Bodhisattva, “the Immortal Master of Illustrious Sagacity Erlang,2 who is living at the mouth of the River of Libations in the Guan Prefecture and enjoying the incense and oblations offered to him from the Region Below. In former days he himself slew six monsters. Under his command are the Brothers of Plum Mountain and twelve hundred plant-headed deities, all possessing great magical powers. However, he will agree only to special assignments and will not obey any general summons. Your Majesty may want to send an edict transferring his troops to the scene of the battle and requesting his assistance. Our monster will surely be captured.” When the Jade Emperor heard this, he immediately issued such an edict and ordered the demon king Mahābāli to present it.

Having received the edict, the demon king mounted a cloud and went straight to the mouth of the River of Libations. It took him less than half an hour to reach the temple of the Immortal Master. Immediately the demon magistrates guarding the doors made this report inside: “There is a messenger from Heaven outside who has arrived with an edict in his hand.” Erlang and his brothers came out to receive the edict, which was read before burning incense. The edict said:

The Great Sage, Equal to Heaven, a monstrous monkey from the Flower-Fruit Mountain, is in revolt. At the Palace he stole peaches, wine, and elixir, and disrupted the Grand Festival of Immortal Peaches. A hundred thousand Heavenly soldiers with eighteen sets of cosmic nets were dispatched to surround the mountain and capture him, but victory has not yet been secured. We therefore make this special request of our worthy nephew and his sworn brothers to go to the Flower-Fruit Mountain and assist in destroying this monster. Following your success will be lofty elevation and abundant reward.

In great delight the Immortal Master said, “Let the messenger of Heaven go back. I will go at once to offer my assistance with drawn sword.” The demon king went back to report, but we shall speak no further of that.

This Immortal Master called together the Six Brothers of Plum Mountain: they were Kang, Zhang, Yao, and Li, the four grand marshals, and Guo Shen and Zhi Jian, the two generals. As they congregated before the court, he said to them, “The Jade Emperor just now sent us to the Flower-Fruit Mountain to capture a monstrous monkey. Let’s get going!” Delighted and willing, the brothers at once called out the divine soldiers under their command. With falcons mounted and dogs on leashes, with arrows ready and bows drawn, they left in a violent magic wind and crossed in a moment the great Eastern Ocean. As they landed on the Flower-Fruit Mountain, they saw their way blocked by dense layers of cosmic net. “Divine commanders guarding the cosmic nets, hear us,” they shouted. “We are specially assigned by the Jade Emperor to capture the monstrous monkey. Open the gate of your camp quickly and let us through.” The various deities conveyed the message to the inside, level by level. The Four Devarājas and Devarāja Li then came out to the gate of the camp to receive them. After they had exchanged greetings, there were questions about the military situation, and the Devarāja gave them a thorough briefing. “Now that I, the Little Sage, have come,” said the Immortal Master, laughing, “he will have to engage in a contest of transformations with his adversary. You gentlemen make sure that the cosmic nets are tightly drawn on all sides, but leave the top uncovered. Let me try my hand in this contest. If I lose, you gentlemen need not come to my assistance, for my own brothers will be there to support me. If I win, you gentlemen will not be needed in tying him up either; my own brothers will take care of that. All I need is the Pagoda Bearer Devarāja to stand in midair with his imp-reflecting mirror. If the monster should be defeated, I fear that he may try to flee to a distant locality. Make sure that his image is clearly reflected in the mirror, so that we don’t lose him.” The Devarājas set themselves up in the four directions, while the heavenly soldiers all lined up according to their planned formations.

With himself as the seventh brother, the Immortal Master led the four grand marshals and the two generals out of the camp to provoke battle. The other warriors were ordered to defend their encampment with vigilance, and the plant-headed deities were ordered to have the falcons and dogs ready for battle. The Immortal Master went to the front of the Water-Curtain Cave, where he saw a troop of monkeys neatly positioned in an array that resembled a coiled dragon. At the center of the array was the banner bearing the words “The Great Sage, Equal to Heaven.” “That audacious monster!” said the Immortal Master. “How dare he assume the rank ‘Equal to Heaven’?” “There’s no time for praise or blame,” said the Six Brothers of Plum Mountain. “Let’s challenge him at once!” When the little monkeys in front of the camp saw the Immortal Master, they ran quickly to make their report. Seizing his golden-hooped rod, straightening out his golden cuirass, slipping on his cloud-treading shoes, and pressing down his red-gold cap, the Monkey King leaped out of the camp. He opened his eyes wide to stare at the Immortal Master, whose features were remarkably refined and whose attire was most elegant. Truly, he was a man of

Features most comely and most noble mien,

With shoulder-reaching ears and shining eyes.

His head wore the Three Mountains Phoenix cap,

His body donned a pale yellow goose-down robe.

Gold threaded boots matched coiling dragon socks.

Eight flower-like emblems his jade belt adorned.3

From his waist hung the crescent pellet bow.

His hands held a lance of three points and two blades.

Once he cleaved Peach Mountain to save his mother.

His one pellet struck a tall tree’s two phoenixes.

Slaying eight fiends flung far his fame

As bond brother midst Plum Mountain’s Seven Saints.

His lofty mind scorned being high Heaven’s kin;

His pride led him to dwell near Libations Stream.

From Chi City here’s the kind heroic sage:4

Of boundless epiphanies, he’s named Erlang.

When the Great Sage saw him, he lifted high his golden-hooped rod with gales of laughter and called out, “What little warrior are you and where do you come from, that you dare present yourself here to provoke battle?” “You must have eyes but no pupils,” shouted the Immortal Master, “if you don’t recognize me! I am the maternal nephew of the Jade Emperor, Erlang, the King of Illustrious Grace and Spirit by imperial appointment. I have received my order from above to arrest you, the rebellious Bimawen ape. Don’t you know that your time has come?” “I remember,” said the Great Sage, “that the sister of the Jade Emperor some years ago became enamored of the Region Below; she married a man by the name of Yang and had a son by him.5 Are you that boy who was reputed to have cleaved open the Peach Mountain with his ax? I would like to rebuke you roundly, but I have no grudge against you. I can hit you with this rod of mine too, but I’d like to spare your life! A little boy like you, why don’t you hurry back and ask your Four Great Devarājas to come out?” When the Immortal Master heard this, he grew very angry and shouted, “Reckless ape! Don’t you dare be so insolent! Take a sample of my blade!” Swerving to dodge the blow, the Great Sage quickly raised his golden-hooped rod to engage his opponent. What a fine fight there was between the two of them:

Erlang, the God of Illustrious Kindness,

And the Great Sage, Equal to Heaven!

This one, haughty and proud, defied the Handsome Monkey King.

That one, not knowing his man, would crush all stalwart foes.

Suddenly these two met,

And both desired a match—

They had never known which was the better man;

Today they’d learn who’s strong and who’s weak!

The iron rod seemed a flying dragon,

And the lance divine a dancing phoenix:

Left and right they struck,

Attacking both front and back.

The Plum Mountain Six Brothers’ awesome presence filled one side,

While the four generals, like Ma and Liu, took command on the other.

All worked as one to wave flags and roll drums;

All helped the fight by cheers while beating the gong.

Two sharp weapons sought a chance to hurt,

But thrusts and parries did not slack one whit.

The golden-hooped rod, wonder of the sea,

Could change and fly to snare a victory.

A little lag and your life is over!

A tiny error and your luck runs out!

The Immortal Master fought the Great Sage for more than three hundred rounds, but the result still could not be determined. The Immortal Master, therefore, summoned all his magical powers; with a shake, he made his body a hundred thousand feet tall. Holding with both hands the divine lance of three points and two blades like the peaks that cap the Hua Mountain, this green-faced, saber-toothed figure with scarlet hair aimed a violent blow at the head of the Great Sage. But the Great Sage also exerted his magical power and changed himself into a figure having the features and height of Erlang. He wielded a compliant golden-hooped rod that resembled the Heaven-supporting pillar on top of Mount Kunlun to oppose the god Erlang. This vision so terrified the marshals, Ma and Liu, that they could no longer wave the flags, and so appalled the generals, Beng and Ba, that they could use neither scimitar nor sword. On the side of Erlang, the Brothers Kang, Zhang, Yao, Li, Guo Shen, and Zhi Jian gave the order to the plant-headed deities to let loose the falcons and dogs and to advance upon those monkeys in front of the Water-Curtain Cave with mounted arrows and drawn bows. The charge, alas,

Dispersed the four mighty commanders of monkey imps

And captured two or three thousand numinous fiends!

Those monkeys dropped their spears and abandoned their armor, forsook their swords, and threw away their lances. They scattered in all directions—running, screaming, scuttling up the mountain, or scrambling back to the cave. It was as if a cat at night had stolen upon resting birds: they darted up as stars to fill the sky. The Brothers thus gained a complete victory, of which we shall speak no further.

Now we were telling you about the Immortal Master and the Great Sage, who had changed themselves into forms which imitated Heaven and Earth. As they were doing battle, the Great Sage suddenly perceived that the monkeys of his camp were put to rout, and his heart grew faint. He changed out of his magic form, turned around, and fled, dragging his rod behind him. When the Immortal Master saw that he was running away, he chased him with great strides, saying, “Where you going? Surrender now, and your life will be spared!” The Great Sage did not stop to fight anymore but ran as fast as he could. Near the cave’s entrance, he ran right into Kang, Zhang, Yao, and Li, the four grand marshals, and Guo Shen and Zhi Jian, the two generals, who were at the head of an army blocking his way. “Lawless ape!” they cried, “where do you think you’re going?” Quivering all over, the Great Sage squeezed his golden-hooped rod back into an embroidery needle and hid it in his ear. With a shake of his body, he changed himself into a small sparrow and flew to perch on top of a tree. In great agitation, the six Brothers searched all around but could not find him. “We’ve lost the monkey monster! We’ve lost the monkey monster!” they all cried.

As they were making all that clamor, the Immortal Master arrived and asked, “Brothers, where did you lose him in the chase?” “We just had him boxed in here,” said the gods, “but he simply vanished.” Scanning the place with his phoenix eye wide open,6 Erlang at once discovered that the Great Sage had changed into a small sparrow perched on a tree. He changed out of his magic form and took off his pellet bow. With a shake of his body, he changed into a sparrow hawk with outstretched wings, ready to attack its prey. When the Great Sage saw this, he darted up with a flutter of his wings; changing himself into a cormorant, he headed straight for the open sky. When Erlang saw this, he quickly shook his feathers and changed into a huge ocean crane, which could penetrate the clouds to strike with its bill. The Great Sage therefore lowered his direction, changed into a small fish, and dove into a stream with a splash. Erlang rushed to the edge of the water but could see no trace of him. He thought to himself, “This simian must have gone into the water and changed himself into a fish, a shrimp, or the like. I’ll change again to catch him.” He duly changed into a fish hawk and skimmed downstream over the waves. After a while, the fish into which the Great Sage had changed was swimming along with the current. Suddenly he saw a bird that looked like a green kite though its feathers were not entirely green, like an egret though it had small feathers, and like an old crane though its feet were not red. “That must be the transformed Erlang waiting for me,” he thought to himself. He swiftly turned around and swam away after releasing a few bubbles. When Erlang saw this, he said, “The fish that released the bubbles looks like a carp though its tail is not red, like a perch though there are no patterns on its scales, like a snake fish though there are no stars on its head, like a bream though its gills have no bristles. Why does it move away the moment it sees me? It must be the transformed monkey himself!” He swooped toward the fish and snapped at it with his beak. The Great Sage shot out of the water and changed at once into a water snake; he swam toward shore and wriggled into the grass along the bank. When Erlang saw that he had snapped in vain and that a snake had darted away in the water with a splash, he knew that the Great Sage had changed again. Turning around quickly, he changed into a scarlet-topped gray crane, which extended its beak like sharp iron pincers to devour the snake. With a bounce, the snake changed again into a spotted bustard standing by itself rather stupidly amid the water pepper along the bank. When Erlang saw that the monkey had changed into such a vulgar creature—for the spotted bustard is the basest and most promiscuous of birds, mating indiscriminately with phoenixes, hawks, or crows—he refused to approach him. Changing back into his true form, he went and stretched his bow to the fullest. With one pellet he sent the bird hurtling.

The Great Sage took advantage of this opportunity, nonetheless. Rolling down the mountain slope, he squatted there to change again—this time into a little temple for the local spirit. His wide-open mouth became the entrance, his teeth the doors, his tongue the Bodhisattva, and his eyes the windows. Only his tail he found to be troublesome, so he stuck it up in the back and changed it into a flagpole. The Immortal Master chased him down the slope, but instead of the bustard he had hit he found only a little temple. He opened his phoenix eye quickly and looked at it carefully. Seeing the flagpole behind it, he laughed and said, “It’s the ape! Now he’s trying to deceive me again! I have seen plenty of temples before but never one with a flagpole behind it. This must be another of that animal’s tricks. Why should I let him lure me inside where he can bite me once I’ve entered? First I’ll smash the windows with my fist! Then I’ll kick down the doors!”

The Great Sage heard this and said in dismay, “How vicious! The doors are my teeth and the windows my eyes. What am I going to do with my eyes smashed and my teeth knocked out?” Leaping up like a tiger, he disappeared again into the air. The Immortal Master was looking all around for him when the four grand marshals and the two generals arrived together. “Elder Brother,” they said, “have you caught the Great Sage?” “A moment ago,” said the Immortal Master laughing, “the monkey changed into a temple to trick me. I was about to smash the windows and kick down the doors when he vanished out of sight with a leap. It’s all very strange! Very strange!” The Brothers were astonished, but they could find no trace of him in any direction.

“Brothers,” said the Immortal Master, “keep a lookout down here. Let me go up there to find him.” He swiftly mounted the clouds and rose up into the sky, where he saw Devarāja Li holding high the imp-reflecting mirror and standing on top of the clouds with Naṭa. “Devarāja,” said the Immortal Master, “have you seen the Monkey King?” “He hasn’t come up here,” said the Devarāja, “I have been watching him in the mirror.”

After telling them about the duel in magic and transformations and the captivity of the rest of the monkeys, the Immortal Master said, “He finally changed into a temple. Just as I was about to attack him, he got away.” When Devarāja Li heard these words, he turned the imp-reflecting mirror all the way around once more and looked into it. “Immortal Master,” he said, roaring with laughter. “Go quickly! Quickly! That monkey used his magic of body concealment to escape from the cordon and he’s now heading for the mouth of your River of Libations.”

We now tell you about the Great Sage, who had arrived at the mouth of the River of Libations. With a shake of his body, he changed into the form of Holy Father Erlang. Lowering the direction of his cloud, he went straight into the temple, and the demon magistrates could not tell that he was not the real Erlang. Every one of them, in fact, kowtowed to receive him. He sat down in the middle and began to examine the various offerings; the three kinds of sacrificial meat brought by Li Hu, the votive offering of Zhang Long, the petition for a son by Zhao Jia, and the request for healing by Qian Bing. As he was looking at these, someone made the report, “Another Holy Father has arrived!” The various demon magistrates went quickly to look and were terror-stricken, one and all. The Immortal Master asked, “Did a so-called Great Sage, Equal to Heaven, come here?” “We haven’t seen any Great Sage,” said the demon magistrates. “But another Holy Father is in there examining the offerings.” The Immortal Master crashed through the door; seeing him, the Great Sage revealed his true form and said, “There’s no need for the little boy to strive anymore! Sun is now the name of this temple!”

The Immortal Master lifted his divine lance of three points and two blades and struck, but the Monkey King with agile body was quick to move out of the way. He whipped out that embroidery needle of his, and with one wave caused it to take on the thickness of a rice bowl. Rushing forward, he engaged Erlang face to face. Starting at the door of the temple, the two combatants fought all the way back to the Flower-Fruit Mountain, treading on clouds and mists and shouting insults at each other. The Four Devarājas and their followers were so startled by their appearance that they stood guard with even greater vigilance, while the grand marshals joined the Immortal Master to surround the Handsome Monkey King. But we shall speak of them no more.

We tell you instead about the demon king Mahābāli, who, having requested the Immortal Master and his Six Brothers to lead their troops to subdue the monster, returned to the Region Above to make his report. Conversing with the Bodhisattva Guanyin, the Queen Mother, and the various divine officials in the Hall of Divine Mists, the Jade Emperor said, “If Erlang has already gone into battle, why has no further report come back today?” Folding her hands, Guanyin said, “Permit this humble cleric to invite Your Majesty and the Patriarch of Dao to go outside the South Heaven Gate, so that you may find out personally how things are faring.” “That’s a good suggestion,” said the Jade Emperor. He at once sent for his imperial carriage and went with the Patriarch, Guanyin, the Queen Mother, and the various divine officials to the South Heaven Gate, where the cortege was met by celestial soldiers and guardians. They opened the gate and peered into the distance; there they saw cosmic nets on every side manned by celestial soldiers, Devarāja Li and Naṭa in midair holding high the impreflecting mirror, and the Immortal Master and his Brothers encircling the Great Sage in the middle and fighting fiercely. The Bodhisattva opened her mouth and addressed Laozi: “What do you think of Erlang, whom this humble cleric recommended? He is certainly powerful enough to have the Great Sage surrounded, if not yet captured. I shall now help him to achieve his victory and make certain that the enemy will be taken prisoner.”

“What weapon will the Bodhisattva use,” asked Laozi, “and how will you assist him?” “I shall throw down my immaculate vase that I use for holding my willow sprig,” said the Bodhisattva. “When it hits that monkey, at least it will knock him over, even if it doesn’t kill him. Erlang, the Little Sage, will then be able to capture him.”

“That vase of yours,” said Laozi, “is made of porcelain. It’s all right if it hits him on the head. But if it crashed on the iron rod instead, won’t it be shattered? You had better not raise your hands; let me help him win.” The Bodhisattva said, “Do you have any weapon?”

“I do, indeed,” said Laozi. He rolled up his sleeve and took down from his left arm an armlet, saying, “This is a weapon made of red steel, brought into existence during my preparation of elixir and fully charged with theurgical forces. It can be made to transform at will; indestructible by fire or water, it can entrap many things. It’s called the diamond cutter or the diamond snare. The year when I crossed the Hangu Pass, I depended on it a great deal for the conversion of the barbarians, for it was practically my bodyguard night and day. Let me throw it down and hit him.” After saying this, Laozi hurled the snare down from the Heaven Gate; it went tumbling down into the battlefield at the Flower-Fruit Mountain and landed smack on the Monkey King’s head. The Monkey King was engaged in a bitter struggle with the Seven Sages and was completely unaware of this weapon, which had dropped from the sky and hit him on the crown of his head. No longer able to stand on his feet, he toppled over. He managed to scramble up again and was about to flee, when the Holy Father Erlang’s small hound dashed forward and bit him in the calf. He was pulled down for the second time and lay on the ground cursing, “You brute! Why don’t you go and do your master in, instead of coming to bite old Monkey?” Rolling over quickly, he tried to get up, but the Seven Sages all pounced on him and pinned him down. They bound him with ropes and punctured his breastbone with a knife, so that he could transform no further.

Laozi retrieved his diamond snare and requested the Jade Emperor to return to the Hall of Divine Mists with Guanyin, the Queen Mother, and the rest of the Immortals. Down below the Four Great Deva Kings and Devarāja Li all retired their troops, broke camp, and went forward to congratulate Erlang, saying, “This is indeed a magnificent accomplishment by the Little Sage!” “This has been the great blessing of the Heavenly Devas,” said the Little Sage, “and the proper exercise of their divine authority. What have I accomplished?” The Brothers Kang, Zhang, Yao, and Li said, “Elder Brother need have no further discussion. Let us take this fellow up to the Jade Emperor to see what will be done with him.” “Worthy Brothers,” said the Immortal Master, “you may not have a personal audience with the Jade Emperor because you have not received any divine appointment. Let the celestial guardians take him into custody. I shall go with the Devarāja to the Region Above to make our report, while all of you make a thorough search of the mountain here. After you have cleaned it out, go back to the River of Libations. When I have our deeds recorded and received our rewards, I shall return to celebrate with you.” The four grand marshals and the two generals followed his bidding. The Immortal Master then mounted the clouds with the rest of the deities, and they began their triumphal journey back to Heaven, singing songs of victory all the way. In a little while, they reached the outer court of the Hall of Perfect Light, and the Heavenly preceptor went forward to memorialize to the Throne, saying, “The Four Great Devarājas have captured the monstrous monkey, the Great Sage, Equal to Heaven. They await the command of Your Majesty.” The Jade Emperor then gave the order that the demon king Mahābāli and the celestial guardians take the prisoner to the monster execution block, where he was to be cut to small pieces. Alas, this is what happens to

Fraud and impudence, now punished by the Law;

Heroics grand will fade in the briefest time!

We do not know what will become of the Monkey King; let’s listen to the explanation in the next chapter.