Output: “Disciples,” said Sanzang, “let us pack up and take our leave of His Majesty.” The king pleaded with them to stay and instruct him. “Your Majesty,” said Monkey, “from now on you should be less greedy for your sexual pleasures and accumulate more hidden merit. In whatever you do you should use your strong points to make up for your weaknesses. This is the way to get rid of your illness and prolong your life. That’s what we’ll tell you.” Two dishes full of small pieces of gold and silver were then offered to the pilgrims to help with the expenses of their journey, but the Tang Priest refused to accept a single penny. The king then had no choice but to order the royal carriage and invite the Tang Priest to sit in the dragon and phoenix coach while he, his queens and his consorts pushed the wheels. Thus they escorted him out of the palace. In the streets and markets the common people also came with bowls of pure water and incense-burners to see them on their way from the city.


Output:
Suddenly there was the sound of a wind in the sky and 1,111 goose coops landed on both sides of the road. The little boys in them were crying. Unseen in the sky were the deities who had been looking after them: the city and the local gods, the deities of the altars, the True Officials, the Guardians of the Four Quarters and the Centre, the Four Duty Gods, the Six Dings and Six Jias, the Protectors of the Faith and the rest of them, who all responded with a loud shout of, “Great Sage, on your earlier instructions we carried the boys away in the goose coops. Now that we have learned of your success in your task and your departure we have brought every one of them back again.” The king, his queens and consorts and all his ministers and subjects fell to their knees to kowtow.

“Thank you for your efforts, gentlemen,” Monkey shouted to the sky. “Please all return to your shrines now. I’ll get the people to make thanksgiving offerings to you.” With a soughing noise the magic wind then arose again and departed.


Output: Monkey then told the people of the city to come and collect their children. The news was spread at once, and the people all came to claim the boys in the baskets. They were very happy indeed. Holding the boys in their arms they called them dear ones and darlings. Dancing and laughing they told their children to take hold of the lords from Tang and bring them home so that they could express their thanks for the boys’ rescue. Nobody, young or old, male or female, was frightened by the disciples’ ugly faces as they all carried Pig, Friar Sand, Monkey and the Tang Priest back to the city in the middle of a crowd that also brought their luggage and led the horse. The king could not stop them. Family after family laid on a banquet or a feast, and those who could not offer hospitality made monkish hats, shoes, tunics, cotton socks, and other inner and outer garments in different sizes that they presented to the pilgrims. Only when they had been entertained in this way for nearly a month were the travelers able to


Output: way for nearly a month were the travelers able to leave the city. Portraits of them were painted and tablets bearing their names set up; to these the people could kowtow, burn incense and make offerings. Indeed:


Output:
Great was the gratitude for their enormous kindness,

In saving the lives of infants by the thousand.

If you don’t know what happened later listen to the explanation in the next installment.

Chapter Eighty

The Young Girl Seeks a Mate to Build Up the Male

Protecting His Master the Mind-Ape Sees Through a Demon

The story tells how the king, ministers and common people of Bhiksuland escorted the Tang Priest and his three disciples out of the city. Seven miles later they were still unwilling to part from the pilgrims, but Sanzang insisted on getting out of the coach, mounting the horse and taking his leave of them. The people who had been seeing him off did not return to the city until the travelers had vanished from view.

When the four had been travelling for a long time the winter and the spring too were over. There was no end of wild flowers and mountain trees to be seen; fragrant blossoms filled the view. To Sanzang’s alarm another towering mountain appeared in front of them.


Output:
“Disciples,” he asked, “is there a way across the high mountain before us? We must be careful.”

“Master,” laughed Brother Monkey, “that’s not what a seasoned traveler should be saying. You sound much more like some pampered prince trying to look at the whole sky from the bottom of a well. As the old saying goes, a mountain can’t stop the road: it can find its own way across. So why ask whether there’s a way?”

“Even if this mountain cannot block the road,” Sanzang replied, “I am afraid that there may be monsters on the mountain precipices and evil spirits that will emerge from its deep recesses.”

“Don’t worry,” said Pig, “don’t worry. We’re not far from Paradise here. I guarantee it’ll all be nice and peaceful—there won’t be any trouble.” As they were talking master and disciples reached the foot of the mountain without even noticing. Taking out his gold-banded cudgel Monkey climbed the rock-face.


Output:
“Master,” he called, “there’s a path that goes round the mountain. The going’s very easy. Hurry up!” The Tang Priest now put his worries aside and whipped the horse forward. “Carry the luggage for a while, brother,” said Friar Sand to Pig, who did so while Friar Sand held the horse’s reins and the master sat in the carved saddle. They hurried along the main path up the steep slope after Monkey. This was what the mountain looked like:

The peak was wrapped in clouds;

Torrents rushed down ravines.

The paths were heavy with the scent of flowers,

And dense grew the countless trees.

Blue were the gages, white the plums,

Green the willows and red the peaches.

Spring was all but over where the cuckoo sang;

When fledgling swallows chirped the festival was finished.

Craggy boulders,

Blue-green pines shaped like parasols.

The track leading across the ridge

Climbed high over a tracery of rocks;

The beetling precipice

Was overgrown with creepers, grass and trees.


Output:
Was overgrown with creepers, grass and trees.

Peaks like a row of halberds vied in elegance;

Far from the ocean wave streams competed in gullies.

As the master was taking an unhurried look at the mountain scenery he was moved to homesickness by the sound of a bird singing. “Disciples,” he said,

“After receiving His Majesty’s command

I was given my passport in front of the brocade screen.

Watching lanterns on the fifteenth night I left the Eastern land,

And then was parted from the emperor of Tang.

Just when the dragon and tiger winds both met

I and my disciples had to struggle with the horse.

Twelve may be the peaks of Mount Wu;

But when shall I face and see you again?”’

“Master,” said Monkey, “you’re always suffering from homesickness. You’re not like a monk at all. Stop worrying and keep going: don’t upset yourself so. As the old saying goes, you’ve got to work hard if you want to be rich and successful.”


Output:
“What you say is quite right, disciple,” said Sanzang, “but I do not know where the road to the West runs.”

“Master,” said Pig, “it’s all because our Tathagata Buddha can’t bring himself to give those scriptures away. He must have removed the path because he knows we’re coming to fetch them. Why else can’t we get to the end of the journey?”

“Don’t talk such nonsense,” said Friar Sand. “Just keep going with big brother. As long as we stick with him we’re bound to get there in the end.”

As they were talking master and disciples came in sight of a great expanse of dark pine forest. In his fear the Tang Priest called out, “Wukong, no sooner have we taken that precipitous track over the mountain than we come to this deep, dark pine forest. Why? We must be careful.”

“There’s nothing to be scared of,” said Monkey.


Output:
“There’s nothing to be scared of,” said Monkey.

“Nonsense,” said Sanzang. “Never trust what appears to be absolutely upright, and be on your guard against evil masquerading as goodness. I have been through quite a few pine woods with you, but never one as vast and deep as this. Just look at the trees:

Dense-packed to East and West,

In lines to North and South.

Dense-packed to East and West they reach the end of the clouds;

In lines to North and South they touch the azure firmament.

Thorns and brambles grow close-tangled all about;

Knotweed wraps itself around the branches.

Liana coils round kudzu vine,

Kudzu coils around liana.

Where liana coils around kudzu

Travelers cannot move between East and West;

Where kudzu coils round liana

Merchants may not ply between North and South.

In this forest

You could spend half a year,

Not knowing whether sun or moon was out,

Or travel for miles

And never see the stars.

Where the outlook is to the North the view is unbounded;


Output:
On Southern slopes the bushes are in flower.

There are thousand-year-old locust trees,

Ten-thousand-year-old junipers,

Pines that endure the winter cold,

Mountain peaches that bear fruit,

Wild peonies,

And hibiscus,

All growing in a close-packed profusion,

So wild that not even a god could paint it.

Bird-song could be heard:

Parrots shrieking,

Cuckoos calling,

Magpies in the branches,

Crows feeding their mothers,

Orioles with their aerial dance,

As the mynas adjust their voices.

Quails singing,

Swallows chirping,

Mynas imitating people,

And thrushes that could recite sutras.

Then there were:

Great beasts swishing their tails,

Tigers gnashing their teeth.

Aged foxes and raccoon-dogs disguised as ladies,

Ancient gray wolves at whose baying the forest shook.

Had the Pagoda-carrying Heavenly King come here

His power to suppress demons would have been of no avail.


Output:
The Great Sage Sun was unafraid. Clearing the way ahead with his cudgel, he led the Tang Priest into the depths of the forest.

They had been travelling in this carefree style for many hours without seeing any sign of a way out of the forest when the Tang Priest called out, “Disciples, we have been through no end of steep and dangerous mountain woods on our journey West. Thank goodness we have found this purity and elegance and a smooth path. The rare and unusual flowers here are truly delightful. I intend to sit here for a moment to let the horse have a rest. I am, besides, famished. Go and beg me some meat-free food from somewhere.”

“Master,” said Monkey, “please dismount while I go begging.” This the venerable elder did. While Pig tied the horse to a tree Friar Sand put the luggage down, brought out the begging-bowl and handed it to Monkey.


Output:
“Sit still here, Master,” Monkey said, “and don’t even say the word ‘fear’. I’ll be back in a moment.” While Sanzang sat upright in the shade of the pines Pig and Friar Sand amused themselves looking for flowers and fruit.

Let us tell of the Great Sage who somersaulted into mid air, brought his cloud to a hall and looked back. All he could see coming from the pine forest were auspicious clouds and auras that coiled and spread all around. “Good, good,” he found himself saying. Do you know why? He was expressing his admiration for the Tang Priest, the reincarnation of the Venerable Golden Cicada and a holy man who had cultivated his conduct for ten successive lifetimes, which explained there was such an aura of good omen above his head.


Output: “Five hundred years ago, when I made havoc in heaven,” Monkey thought, “I wandered to the very corners of the oceans and ran wild at the end of the sky. I led a host of spirits and called myself the Great Sage Equaling Heaven. We subdued dragons and tigers, and I took us off the registers of death. I used to wear a triple golden crown and a coat of golden mail, and with my gold-banded cudgel in my hands and my cloud-treading shoes on my feet I had 47,000 demons under me. They all used to call me Lord Great Sage. I really was someone in those days. But ever since being rescued from Heaven’s punishment I’ve been a small-time nobody as his disciple. I reckon that as the master has such an aura of auspicious clouds over his head things are sure to turn out well for us on our way back to the East and I’m bound to win the true achievement.”


Output:
As Brother Monkey was congratulating himself along these lines he saw a column of black vapor rising from the South of the forest. “That black vapor means evil for sure,” he thought with alarm. “No black vapors could come from our Pig or Friar Sand.”

While the Great Sage was still trying to make out exactly what the vapors were coming from, Sanzang was sitting in the forest clarifying his mind and contemplating the Buddha-nature as he recited the Mahaprajnaparamita Heart Sutra when suddenly he heard a high-pitched cry of “Help!”


Output: “This is all very well,” said Sanzang with astonishment, “but who could that be calling so deep in the forest?” It must be someone terrified by a wolf, a tiger, a leopard or some other wild beast. I shall go to take a look.” The venerable elder rose to his feet and walked through the thousand-year-old cypresses and even more ancient pines, holding on to vines and creepers, as he went close enough to see a woman tied to a big tree. The top half of her body was bound to the trunk with creepers and her lower half buried in the ground. Sanzang stopped to ask, “Why are you tied up here, lady Bodhisattva?”


Output: It was quite obvious that the wretched creature was an evil monster, but with his mortal eyes in a worldling’s body Sanzang was unable to perceive this. The monster’s response to the question was to weep copiously. Just look at the tears rolling down her peachy cheeks. She was so lovely that fish would have sunk and wild geese fallen out of the sky at the sight of her; the beauty of her sorrowing and sparkling eyes would have made the moon hide away and put the flowers to shame. Sanzang did not dare go any closer to her as he opened his mouth to ask, “What crime have you committed, lady Bodhisattva? Tell me so that I can rescue you.”


Output: The evil spirit then quickly put together a pack of lies as she replied, “Master, my home is in the country of Pinpo, which is some seventy miles from here. Both my parents are at home, and they are very great lovers of goodness. All their lives they have been on good terms with their relations and devoted to their friends. At the Clear and Bright Festival they invited all their relations and members of their own family to pay their respects at and sweep the ancestral graves. A whole procession of carrying-chairs and horses all went to the graves in the wilds outside the city. Here we set out our offerings and had just burnt the paper models of horses when a band of brigands sprang upon us with the sound of gongs and drums. They charged us shouting ‘kill!’ My parents and relations all got hold of horses and carrying-chairs and fled for their lives. Because I am so young I was too frightened to run: I just collapsed and was carried back to the mountains by the brigands. The top chieftain wanted me for his


Output: the brigands. The top chieftain wanted me for his lady, the number two chieftain wanted me for his woman, and the third and fourth ones both fancied me for my looks. There were seventy or eighty of them all quarrelling over me and none of them would give way. So they tied me up here in the forest and broke up the band. I’ve been here for five days and five nights now and I’m only just alive now. I’ll soon be dead. Goodness only knows which ancestor however many generations back accumulated the virtue that brought you here to me today, reverend sir. I beg you in your great mercy to save my life. I won’t forget your goodness to me even when I lie dead under the nine springs of the underworld.” When she had finished speaking her tears flowed like rain.


Output:
As Sanzang really did have a merciful heart he could not help weeping and sobbing himself. “Disciples,” he shouted. Pig and Friar Sand were still looking for flowers and fruit in the forest when suddenly they heard their master’s anguished cry.

“Friar Sand,” said the idiot, “the master’s found a relation here.”

“What nonsense, brother,” said Friar Sand with a smile. “In all the time we’ve been going we haven’t met a single good person, so where could any relation of his have come from?”

“If it’s not a relation why’s the master crying for them?” Pig asked, adding, “You and I had better go to take a look.” Friar Sand did indeed go back to where they had been before. Leading the horse and carrying the luggage they went up to the master and asked, “What’s up, Master?”

The Tang Priest pointed at the tree as he replied, “Pig, untie this lady Bodhisattva and save her life.” Without caring whether this was the right or the wrong thing to do, the idiot set to.


Output:
The Great Sage meanwhile saw from up in the air the dense black vapors completely obscuring the auspicious glow. “This is bad,” he said, “this is bad. If the black vapors are covering the auspicious glow that means something evil is threatening my master. Never mind about begging for food—I’m going back to see the master.” He turned his cloud back and landed in the forest, where he saw Pig recklessly untying the ropes. Going up to him Monkey grabbed an ear and threw him to the ground. “The master told me to rescue her,” the idiot protested, looking up to see Monkey as he scrambled back to his feet, “so why did you push me over like that? You’re just throwing your weight about.”

“Brother,” replied Monkey with a smile, “don’t untie her. She’s an evil spirit who’s been putting on an act to fool us.”

“Wretched ape,” shouted Sanzang, “talking nonsense again. How can you possibly take a girl like this for an evil spirit?”


Output:
“There’s something you don’t know, Master.” Monkey replied. “In the old days I tried all these tricks myself when I wanted some human flesh. You couldn’t possibly tell what she is.”

“Master,” said Pig, pouting sulkily, “don’t let that Protector of the Horses take you in. She’s a local girl. We’ve never had dealings with her before on our long journey from the East and she’s no relation or in-law of ours, so how can you say she’s an evil spirit? He’s trying to get rid of us by making us go ahead so he can turn a somersault and get back here by magic. Then he’s going to have a bit of fun with her and ruin our reputation.”

“You cretin,” shouted Brother Monkey, “stop talking such rubbish. I’ve never done any such outrageous thing on all our journey to the West. I reckon it must have been some reckless womanizer like yourself who forgot his principles when he saw a good chance. I expect you tricked some family into taking you as their son-in-law and tied her up here.”


Output:
“That’s enough of that,” said Sanzang, “that’s enough. Now then, Bajie. Your elder brother usually sees things very clearly. Ignore what he is saying. Let us be on our way.”

“Splendid,” said Monkey with great delight, “you have a good destiny, Master. Please mount. Once we’re out of the pine forest there will be a house where we can beg for some food for you.” The four of them then pressed on together, leaving the monster behind.


Output: The story tells how the monster gnashed her teeth with fury as she was left tied there to the tree. “I’ve heard tell of Sun Wukong’s tremendous magic powers for years,” she said, “and now that I’ve seen him today I know that his reputation’s well-founded. As that Tang Priest has been cultivating his conduct ever since he was a boy he has never lost a drop of his primal masculinity. I was longing to mate with him so that I could become a golden immortal of the Supreme Ultimate. I never expected that monkey to see through my magic and save him. If I’d been untied and released I could have carried him off whenever I chose and he’d have been mine. Now that Sun Wukong has made those damaging remarks and taken the Tang Priest away my efforts have all been for nothing. Let’s see what happens when I give him another couple of shouts.”


Output:
Not shifting her ropes, the evil spirit made the most of the wind being in the right direction to carry some high-pitched words of morality into the Tang Priest’s ear. Do you know what she was shouting? “Master,” she called, “if you forget your conscience and refuse to save a living being’s life what’s the use of your fetching the scriptures from the Buddha?”

When the Tang Priest heard this call he reined the horse in and said, “Wukong, go and rescue that girl.”

“You’ve started on your way, Master,” Monkey replied. “What made you think of her again?”

“She is shouting again there,” the Tang Priest said.

“Did you hear, Pig?” Monkey asked.

“My big lugs cover my ear-holes,” Pig replied, “and I didn’t hear anything.”

“Did you hear, Friar Sand?”

“I was walking ahead, carrying the pole with the luggage,” Friar Sand replied. “I wasn’t paying attention and I didn’t hear anything either.”

“Neither did I,” said Monkey. “What did she say, Master? You were the only one who heard.”


Output:
“What she called was quite right,” the Tang Priest called. “She asked what was the use of fetching scriptures when I went to visit the Buddha if I forgot my conscience and refused to save a living being’s life. To save a human life is better than building a seven-storied pagoda. Rescuing her straight away would be even better than worshipping the Buddha and fetching the scriptures.”

“If you’re wanting to be charitable, Master,” Monkey replied, “you’re incurable. Just think of all the demons you’ve met in all the mountains you’ve crossed on your journey West since leaving the East. They’ve often taken you into their caves and I’ve had to rescue you. I’ve killed tens of thousands of them with this iron cudgel of mine. So why can’t you bring yourself to let a single devil die today? Why do you have to rescue her?”

“Disciple,” the Tang Priest replied, “there’s an old saying, ‘Do not fail to do a good deed because it is small; do not commit a bad deed because it is small.’ You’re still to go and save her.”


Output:
“If that’s the way you’re going to be, Master, I can’t accept that responsibility,” Monkey replied. “You insist on rescuing her and I dare not try too hard to dissuade you. When I did make a little attempt to do so you lost your temper again. You can go and rescue her if you want to.”

“Watch your tongue, ape,” Sanzang retorted. “Sit here while Bajie and I go to rescue her.”

The Tang Priest went back into the forest and told Pig to undo the ropes around the top half of her body and dig the lower half out with his rake. The demon stamped her feet, fastened her skirt and happily followed the Tang Priest out of the pine forest. When she met Monkey all he did was to wear a mocking smile.

“Impudent ape,” said the Tang Priest abusively, “what are you smiling at?”

“I’m laughing at you,” Monkey replied:

“You meet up with good friends when your luck is going well;

And when it’s going badly you find yourself a belle.”


Output: “Impudent macaque!” said Sanzang, being abusive again. “What nonsense! I have been a monk ever since I came out of my mother’s womb. I am now making this journey West at His Majesty’s command with the devout intention of worshipping the Buddha and fetching the scriptures. I am not the sort of person to care about wealth and office, so what do you mean by my luck going badly?”


Output:
“Master,” replied Monkey with a grin, “you may have been a monk since you were a child, and you may be good at reading sutras and invoking the Buddha, but you have never studied the text of royal laws. This girl is young and beautiful. If monks like us travel with her we may well meet with evil people who arrest us and turn us in to the authorities. They won’t care about worshipping Buddhas or fetching scriptures. They’ll treat it as a case of illicit sex, and even if that isn’t proved we’ll still be convicted of abduction. You will lose your ordination license, Master, and be beaten half to death. Pig will be sent into exile and Friar Sand sentenced to penal servitude. Even I won’t get off scot-free. No matter how I try to talk my way out of it I’ll still be found guilty of wrongdoing.”

“Don’t talk such rubbish,” Sanzang shouted. “After all, I did save her life. There will be no trouble. We are taking her with us. I will be responsible for whatever happens.”


Output:
“You may say you’ll be responsible, Master,” Monkey replied, “but what you don’t realize is that so far from rescuing her you’re destroying her.”

“I saved her life by rescuing her from the forest,” said Sanzang, “so how can I be destroying her?”

“If she had stayed tied up in the forest without any food for three to five days, ten days or even half a month and starved to death,” said Monkey, “she would at least have gone to the Underworld with her body in one piece. But now you’ve taken her away from there. You’re on a fast horse and travelling like the wind. The rest of us have to follow you. How will she be able to keep up on her tiny feet? She can barely walk. If she gets left behind and a wolf, a tiger or a leopard eats her up you’ll have killed her.”

“You are right,” Sanzang said. “Thank you for thinking of it. What are we to do about it?”

“Lift her up and let her ride on the horse with you,” replied Monkey with a grin.

“I could not possibly ride on the same horse as her,” moaned Sanzang.


Output:
“Then how is she to travel?” Monkey asked. “Bajie can carry her on his back,” Sanzang replied.

“You’re in luck, idiot,” said Monkey.

“There’s no such thing as a light load on a long journey,” Pig replied. “Having to carry her isn’t luck.”

“With your long snout you’ll be able to turn it round and chat her up on the quiet while you’re carrying her,” Monkey replied, “which will be very convenient for you.”

Pig’s reaction to hearing this was to beat his chest and jump about in fury. “That’s terrible,” he said, “that’s terrible, I’d sooner put up with the pain of a flogging from the master. If I carry her I won’t possibly come out of it clean. You’ve always been a slanderer. I’m not carrying her.”

“Very well then,” Sanzang said, “very well then. I can walk a little further. I shall come down and walk slowly with you. Bajie can lead the horse with nobody riding it.”


Output:
“You’ve got yourself a good bargain there, idiot,” said Monkey, roaring with laughter. “The master’s done you a favour by letting you lead the horse.”

“You are talking nonsense again, ape,” said Sanzang. “As the ancients said, ‘When a horse is to travel three hundred miles it cannot get there by itself.’ If I walk slowly are you going to leave me behind? When I go slowly you will have to go slowly too. We shall all take the lady Bodhisattva down the mountain together. We can leave her in some convent, temple, monastery or house that we come to. Then we will still have rescued her.”

“You’re right, Master,” Monkey replied. “Let’s press on quickly.”

Sanzang took the lead while Friar Sand carried the luggage, Pig led the riderless horse and the girl, and Monkey carried his iron cudgel as they carried on together. Within seven to ten miles the evening was drawing in and a tall building came into sight.


Output:
“Disciple,” said Sanzang, “that must be a temple of some sort. We shall ask to spend the night here and be on our way first thing tomorrow.”

“What you say is right, Master,” said Monkey. “Let’s all get a move on.”

They were soon at the gates, where Sanzang told them, “Keep well out of the way while I go in first to ask if we can stay for the night. If it looks suitable I shall send someone to call to you.” So they all stood in the shadows of the poplars while Monkey kept an eye on the girl, his iron cudgel in his hand.

The venerable elder walked forward to see that the gates were hanging crooked and falling to pieces. What he saw when he pushed the gates open chilled him to the heart:

The cloisters were deserted,

The ancient shrine left desolate.

The courtyard was overgrown with moss;

Sagebrush and brambles choked the paths.

The only lanterns came from the fireflies

While the croaking of frogs had replaced the water-clock.

The venerable elder started crying. Indeed:


Output:
The venerable elder started crying. Indeed:

The desolate halls were falling down,

The lonely cloisters collapsing.

Broken bricks and tiles lay in a dozen heaps,

And all the pillars and beams were askew.

Grass was growing all around;

The kitchens were crumbling and buried in dust.

In derelict towers the drums had lost their skins;

Broken was the glass lamp.

The color had gone from the Buddha’s golden statue;

The figures of arhats lay strewn upon the floor.

Guanyin had turned to mud in the soaking rain,

Her pure vase with a willow spray fallen to the ground.

No monk was to be seen there by day,

And only foxes slept there at night.

As the wind roared with the sound of thunder

This was a place for tiger and leopard to shelter.

The walls around had collapsed

And no gates could be closed to guard it.

There is a poem about this that goes

For many a year had the temple been unrepaired;

In its derelict state it had gone from bad to worse.


Output:
The gales had destroyed the faces of the temple guardians,

And rainstorms had washed the heads off the Buddha statues.

The vajrapani had collapsed and been soaked through.

The local god had lost his shrine and stayed outside at night.

Two other things were even more depressing:

Bell and drums lay on the ground instead of hanging in their towers.

Summoning up his courage, Sanzang went in through the inner gates where he saw that the bell-tower and drum-tower had both collapsed, leaving only a single bronze bell planted in the ground, its bottom half the color of indigo. With the passage of the years the top half of the bell had been bleached in the rain while the earth’s vapors had greened the lower part.

“Bell,” Sanzang called aloud as he touched it,

“Once you roared from high in the tower,

Calling afar from the painted beam where you hung.

At cockcrow you used to ring in the dawn,

And at evening you announced the dusk.

Where now are the lay brothers who begged for the copper,


Output:
Or the craftsman who cast it to form you?

Both, I imagine, are now in the Underworld;

They have gone without trace and you are left silent.”

The venerable elder’s loud sighs had by now disturbed someone in the monastery. A lay brother who was offering incense heard the voice, climbed to his feet, picked up a broken brick and threw it at the bell. The bell’s clang gave the venerable elder such a fright that he fell over then scrambled up again to flee, only to trip over the root of a tree and go flying again.

As he lay on the ground Sanzang raised his head and said, “Bell,

I was just lamenting your fate

When suddenly you clanged.

On this deserted route to the West

Over the years you have turned into a spirit.”


Output:
Over the years you have turned into a spirit.”

The lay brother came over to Sanzang and steadied him as he said, “Please get up, reverend sir. The bell hasn’t become a spirit. It was I who struck it just now.” Looking up and seeing how dark and ugly the other was Sanzang said, “I suppose you are a goblin or some other evil creature. I am no ordinary man. I come from Great Tang and I have disciples who can subdue dragons and tigers. If you run into them your life will be lost.”

“Don’t be afraid, my lord,” replied the lay brother, falling to his knees. I’m no evil being. I’m a lay brother who looks after the incense here. When I heard those fine things you were saying just now I wanted to come out and welcome you but I was afraid that it might be some demon knocking at the gates. That was why I didn’t dare come out until I’d thrown a piece of brick at the bell to calm my fears. Please rise, my lord.”


Output:
Only then did Sanzang calm himself sufficiently to reply, “Lay brother, that fright was almost the death of me. Take me inside.” The lay brother led Sanzang straight in through the third pair of gates. What the Tang Priest saw here was quite different from outside:

A cloud-patterned wall built of blue bricks,

Halls roofed with green glazed tiles.

The holy statues were sheathed in gold,

The steps made of pure white jade.

Blue light danced in the Buddha hall;

Fine vapors rose from the Vairocana chapel.

Above the Manjusri hall

Were decorations of flying clouds;

In the Library of Scriptures

Were patterns of flowers and green leaves.

On the roof above the triple eaves stood a precious jar;

In the Tower of Five Blessings embroidered covers were spread.

A thousand bright bamboos waved over the dhyana seat;

Ten thousand bluish pines threw their light on the gates.

Jade-coloured clouds reflected gold on this palace;

Auspicious clouds drifted round the woods full of purple mist.


Output:
Each morning the fragrant breezes could be smelled all around;

In the evening painted drums were heard on the high hills.

There should be morning sunshine to patch torn robes;

How can the sutra be finished by the light of the moon?

The courtyard at the back is lit by half a wall of lamps;

A column of fragrant smoke shines in the hall.

Sanzang saw this but did not dare go inside. “Lay brother,” he called, “why is the front of the monastery so dilapidated but the back so neat and tidy?”


Output:
“My lord,” said the lay brother with a smile, “these mountains are full of evil creatures and brigands. On clear days they roam the mountains to rob and on dull ones they shelter in the monastery. They knock the Buddha statues down to use as seats and burn the wooden pillars for firewood. The monks here are too feeble to argue with them, which is why they have abandoned the wrecked buildings at the front for the brigands to stay in. They have found some new benefactors to build the new monastery for them. Now there is one for the pure and one for the impure. This is how we do things in the West.”

“So that is the way things are,” said Sanzang.

As he walked further Sanzang saw written over the gate in large letters SEA-GUARDING MONASTERY OF MEDITATION. Only then did he stride in through the gates, where a monk appeared coming towards him. Just see what the monk looked like:

His hat of velvet and brocade was held with a pin,

And a pair of bronze rings hung from his ears.


Output:
And a pair of bronze rings hung from his ears.

His tunic was made of woolen stuff,

And his eyes were white and bright as silver.

He held in his hand a self-beating drum

As he recited scriptures in an unknown tongue.

Sanzang did not know before

That he was a lama on the road to the West.

As the lama came out he saw how very handsome and elegant Sanzang was: clear-browed and fine-eyed with a broad forehead and level top to his skull, ears hanging to his shoulders and arms so long they came below his knees. He looked like an arhat come down to earth. The lama, his face wreathed in smiles, went up to Sanzang chuckling with delight to grab hold of him, feel his hands and feet, rub his nose and tug at his ears as ways of showing his friendliness.

After leading Sanzang into the abbot’s lodgings and going through the rituals of greeting the lama asked him, “Where have you come from, venerable Father?”


Output:
“I have been sent by His Majesty the Emperor of Great Tang in the East to worship the Buddha and fetch the scriptures from Thunder Monastery in India in the West,” Sanzang replied. “As we were passing this way when it was becoming dark I have come to your distinguished monastery to put up here for the night before leaving early tomorrow morning. I beg you to grant me this expeditious help.”

“You shouldn’t say that,” replied the lama with a smile, “you shouldn’t say that. We didn’t really want to become monks. We were all given life by our mothers and fathers and only cut our ties with them because we had unlucky destinies and our families could not afford to keep us. Even though we are now disciples of the Buddhist faith you must not talk empty words.”

“I spoke in all sincerity,” Sanzang replied.


Output:
“I spoke in all sincerity,” Sanzang replied.

“However far is the journey from the East to the Western Heaven?” the monk said. “Along the way there are mountains, there are caves in the mountains and there are spirits in the caves. I don’t think that a lone traveler looking as delicate as you could possibly be a pilgrim going to fetch the scriptures.”

“You are quite right, abbot,” Sanzang replied. “I could never have got here alone. I have three disciples who clear my way across the mountains and build me bridges over rivers. It is only because they have protected me that I have been able to reach your monastery.”

“Where are your three distinguished disciples?” the lama asked.

“Waiting outside the gates of the monastery,” Sanzang replied.


Output:
“Father,” said the lama with alarm, “you don’t realize that there are dangerous tigers, wolves, evil bandits, ghosts and demons here. We don’t dare roam far even by day and we shut the gates before nightfall. How can you leave people outside this late?” He then told his disciples to ask them in at once.

Two young lamas hurried outside. At the sight of Monkey they fell over, and then fell over again when they saw Pig. Scrambling to their feet they ran back in as fast as they could and said, “My lord, your luck is out. Your disciples have disappeared. There are only three or four evil monsters standing outside the gates.”

“What do they look like?” Sanzang asked.

“One has a face like a thunder god,” the young lamas replied, “one has a face like a tilt-hammer, and one has a green face and terrible fangs. There is a girl with them too—she has oiled hair and a powdered face.”


Output:
“You would not know who they are,” replied Sanzang with a smile. “The three ugly ones are my disciples and the girl is someone I rescued in the pine forest.”

“My lord,” the lama said, “how can a master as handsome as you have found yourself such ugly disciples?”

“Ugly they may be,” Sanzang replied, “but they are all useful. Ask them in straight away. If you take any longer the one who looks like a thunder god is a bit of a trouble-maker. He was not born to a mother and father and he will fight his way in.”

The young lamas then hurried outside again and fell to their knees, shivering and shaking, as they said, “My lords, Lord Tang invites you in.”

“Brother,” said Pig, “if he’s invited us, that’s that. Why are they shivering and shaking?”

“They’re scared because we’re so ugly,” Monkey replied.

“Rubbish,” said Pig. “We were born that way. None of us is ugly from choice.”


Output:
“Make yourself look a bit less ugly,” said Monkey, and the idiot really did tuck his snout into his tunic and keep his head down as he led the horse while Friar Sand carried the pole and Brother Monkey brought up the rear, holding his cudgel in his hand and dragging the girl along. They went past the ruined buildings and cloisters and in through the third part of gates. When they had tethered the horse they went into the abbot’s lodgings to meet the lama and take their seats in order of precedence. The lama then went inside to lead seventy or eighty young lamas to greet them, tidy their rooms, give them a vegetarian meal and look after them. Indeed:

In storing up achievement be mindful of mercy;

When the Buddha’s Dharma flourishes monks admire each other.

If you do not know how they left the monastery, listen to the explanation in the next installment.

Chapter Eighty-One

The Mind-Ape Recognizes a Monster in the Monastery

The Three Search for Their Master in Black Pine Forest


Output: The story tells how Sanzang and his disciples came to the Meditation Monastery where they met the lamas and were given a vegetarian meal. When the four of them had eaten the girl was also fed. By now night was gradually falling and the lamp was lit in the abbot’s lodgings. The lamas, who wanted to ask the Tang Priest about why he was going to fetch the scriptures and were also eager for a look at the girl, stood packed together in rows under the lamp. “Abbot,” said Sanzang to the lama he had first met, “when we leave your monastery tomorrow what will the road West be like?” Before answering, the lama fell to his knees. Sanzang quickly helped him up and said, “Stand up, please. Why do you greet me in this way when I ask about the road?”


Output:
“When you travel West tomorrow, reverend sir, you will find that the road is level,” the lama replied. “There is no need to worry. There is just one thing at present that is rather awkward. I wanted to tell you about it as soon as you came in, but I was afraid that it would offend your distinguished self. I only venture to tell you now that the meal is over that you will be most welcome to spend the night in the young lamas’ room after your long, hard journey from the East. But it would not be right for the lady Bodhisattva to do so. I don’t know where I should invite her to sleep.”

“Your suspicions are not called for, abbot,” Sanzang replied, “and you should not suppose that my disciples and I have wicked ideas. When we were coming through Black Pine Forest this morning we found this girl tied to a tree. My disciple Sun Wukong refused to save her, but out of my enlightened heart I rescued her and have brought her here for you to put up, abbot.”


Output:
“As you have been so generous, reverend Father,” the abbot replied, “we can set out a straw mattress behind the devarajas in the Devaraja Hall for her to sleep on.”

“That’s splendid,” Sanzang said, “splendid.” After this the young lamas took the girl to sleep in the back of the hall while in the abbot’s lodgings Sanzang urged the officials of the monastery to put themselves at their ease, whereupon they all dispersed.

“We have had a hard day,” Sanzang said to Brother Monkey. “We must go to bed early and be up early in the morning.” They all slept in the same room, guarding the master and not daring to leave him. Later that night

The moon rose high and all was peaceful;

The Street of Heaven was quiet and nobody moved.

Bright was the Silver River; the stars shone clearly;

The drum in the tower hastened the changing watch.


Output:
We will say nothing more of the night. When Monkey rose at first light he told Pig and Friar Sand to get the luggage and the horse ready then urged the master to start out. But Sanzang wanted to sleep longer and would not wake up, so Monkey went up to him to call, “Master.”

The master raised his head but still could make no reply. “What will you say, Master?” Monkey asked.

“Why is my head spinning,” Sanzang replied, “why are my eyes swollen, and why an I aching all over from my skin to my bones?”

When Pig heard this he stretched out his hand to feel the master’s body. It was feverish. “Now I understand,” said the idiot with a grin. “He had several bowls too many of last night’s free rice and went to sleep head-down. It’s indigestion.”

“Nonsense,” shouted Monkey, “Let me ask the master what’s really the matter.”

“When I got up in the middle of the night to relieve myself,” Sanzang replied, “I did not put my hat on. I think I must have caught a chill in the wind.”


Output:
“I’m sure you’re right,” said Monkey, “Can you travel now?”

“I cannot even sit up,” Sanzang replied, “let alone mount the horse. The journey will have to wait.”

“What a thing to say, Master,” said Monkey, “As the saying goes, ‘A teacher for a day is one’s father for life.’ As your disciples we are like your sons. There’s another saying that

A son does not have to shit silver or gold;

As long as be can do what’s needed he’ll be fine.

If you’re not feeling well you shouldn’t be worrying about the journey being delayed. There’ll be no problem about waiting for a few days.” The three brother-disciples all looked after their master. The morning was followed by midday and dusk, and after a good night dawn returned. Time fled, and three days had soon passed.

The morning after that Sanzang tried to sit up, calling, “Wukong, as I have been very ill these last couple of days I have not asked you before: have people been giving food to the lady Bodhisattva we rescued?”


Output:
“What are you bothering about her for?” laughed Monkey, “What you should be concerned with is your own illness.”

“Yes, yes,” said Sanzang. “Help me up and fetch me paper, brush and ink. Borrow an inkstone here in the monastery.”

“What do you want them for?” Monkey asked.

“I want to write a letter,” Sanzang replied. “I shall seal it up with our passport and ask you to deliver it for me to His Majesty Emperor Taizong in Chang’an.”

“Easy,” said Monkey, “I may not be much good at anything else, but when it comes to delivering letters I’m the champion of the whole world. So wrap the letter up and give it to me. I’ll take it to Chang’an in a single somersault, give it to the Tang Emperor, and come back with another somersault before your brush and inkstone have dried up. But why do you want to write a letter? Tell me what you want to say in the letter—you can write it down later.”

“This is what I will write,” said Sanzang, weeping:

“Your subject beats his head three times upon the ground,


Output:
With a triple shout of ‘Long live Your Majesty’ as I bow to my lord.

The civil and military officials ate all present,

And four hundred courtiers all listen to what is said.

Years ago I left the East on your command,

Hoping to see the Buddha on the Vulture Peak.

But on my journey I have met with obstructions;

And been delayed by unexpected disaster along the way.

My illness is grave; I cannot move one step;

The gate to Buddha is as distant as the gate to heaven.

I will not live to bring back the scriptures;

I submit with respect that a new envoy should be sent.”


Output:
When Monkey heard this he could not help bursting out into uproarious laughter. “You’re hopeless, Master,” he said, “thinking that sort of thing after just a touch of illness. If you were seriously ill you’d only have to ask me to find out whether you were going to live or die. I have my own special way of dealing with it. I’d ask, ‘Which king of the Underworld dared think of this? Which of the judges issued the warrant? Which demon messenger is coming to fetch him?’ If they make me angry I’ll lose my temper the way I did when I made havoc in Heaven, smash my way into the Underworld with my cudgel, capture the ten kings and rip the sinews out of every one of them. I’ll show them no mercy.”

“Stop that boasting, disciple,” Sanzang replied. “I am very ill.”

“Brother,” said Pig, going up to him, “it’s very awkward to have the master saying he’s in a bad way and you insisting he isn’t. Let’s settle things as quickly as we can, sell the horse, pawn the luggage, buy a coffin to bury the master in and split up.”


Output:
“You’re talking out of turn again, you idiot,” Monkey replied. “What you don’t realize is that the master used to be our Tathagata Buddha’s second disciple. His original name was the Venerable Golden Cicada. This is great hardship he has to endure because he once slighted the Buddha’s Dharma.”

“But, brother,” Pig replied, “even if the master did slight the Buddha’s Dharma he was exiled to the East and born into another body amid the sea of right and wrong and the battlefield of tongues. He swore an oath to go to the Western Heaven, worship the Buddha and fetch the scriptures. Every time he’s met an evil spirit he’s been tied up; and every time he’s come across a monster he’s been hung up. He’s had to put up with every kind of agony. That should be enough. Why has he had to be ill as well?”


Output:
“This is something you wouldn’t know about,” Monkey replied. “The master once dropped off to sleep instead of listening to the Buddha teaching the Dharma, and as he drowsed he trod on a grain of rice with his left foot. That is why he has to be ill for three days in the lower world.”

“So goodness only knows how many years someone who eats as messily as I do will have to be ill,” replied a shocked Pig.

“Brother,” Monkey replied, “the Buddha will spare ordinary creatures such as you. There’s something else you don’t know. As the poet said,

Hoeing millet in the noonday sun;

Sweat drops on the ground beneath the millet.

Who understands that of the food that’s in the bowl,

Every single grain was won through bitter toil?

The master will only be ill today. Tomorrow he’ll be better.”

“I am feeling different today from how I did yesterday,” said Sanzang. “My throat is absolutely parched. Go and find some cold water somewhere for me to drink.”


Output:
“Fine,” Monkey replied. “If water’s what you want, Master, that means you’re better. I’ll go and fetch some.”

Monkey at once took the begging bowl and went to the kitchen at the back of the monastery, where he came across all the monks red-eyed and sobbing with grief. The only thing was that they dared not cry aloud.

“Don’t be so petty, little monks,” said Brother Monkey. “Before we leave we’ll thank you for the days we’ve spent here, and we’ll pay for our cooking fuel and lighting by the day. You really shouldn’t be such pustules.”

“We wouldn’t dare accept it,” the lamas said at once, falling to their knees, “we wouldn’t dare.”

“What do you mean, you wouldn’t dare?” said Monkey. “It must be that long-snouted monk of ours who has an enormous appetite. He’d eat you out of house and home.”


Output:
“My lord,” the lamas replied, “there are over a hundred senior and junior lamas in this monastery. If each of us kept you for a single day we could afford to support you for over a hundred days. We’re not the sort of skinflints who’d calculate what you will cost us in food.”

“If you’re not working out the cost then why are you sobbing?” Monkey asked.


Output:
“Lord,” the lamas replied, “there’s an evil monster in the monastery. We don’t know which mountain it’s from. Last night we sent two junior lamas to strike the bell and beat the drum. We heard the sound of the bell and the drum but the lamas never came back. When we looked for them the next day all we found were their monk’s hats and shoes lying in the courtyard at the back and their skeletons. They had been eaten. In the three days you have been here six lamas have disappeared from the monastery. That’s why we can’t help being frightened and grieved. When we realized that your venerable master was ill we couldn’t stop these tears stealing out even though we kept the news to ourselves.”

“Say no more,” said Brother Monkey, who was both shocked and delighted by what he heard. “It must be an evil monster who’s killing people here. I’ll wipe it out for you.”


Output:
“My lord,” the lamas replied, “any evil spirit worthy of the name has magical powers. It’s bound to be able to ride clouds, come out of the underworld and disappear again. As the ancients put it so well, ‘Trust not the straightest of the straight; beware of the inhuman human.’ Please don’t take offence, my lord, when we say that if you can rid our monastery of this scourge that would be a great happiness for us. But if you can’t catch it

things will be pretty difficult.”

“What do you mean by things being pretty difficult?” Monkey asked.

“We will be honest with you, my lord,” the lamas replied. “Although there are only a hundred or so of us lamas in this monastery we all became monks as children:

When our hair grows we have it shaved off;

Our clothes are patched with rags.

We rise in the morning to wash our faces,

Then bow with hands together

In submission to the Great Way.

At night we tidy up, burn incense,

And piously pray,

Chanting the name of Amitabha.

When we look up we see the Buddha


Output:
When we look up we see the Buddha

On his ninefold lotus throne

Well-versed in the Three Vehicles,

Riding in his mercy on clouds of dharma,

And we long to see the Sakyamuni in the Jeta park.

Looking down we see into our hearts,

Accept the Five Prohibitions,

Pass through a thousand aeons,

And live each life amid the countless dharmas,

Hoping to understand emptiness and the impermanence of matter.

When the benefactors come,

Old, young, tall, short, fat, thin,

We each beat wooden fish,

Strike bronze chimes,

Slowly and deliberately,

With the two rolls of the Lotus Sutra

And the short Litany of the Emperor of Liang.

When the benefactors do not come,

New, old, strange, familiar, rustic, smart,

We put our hands together,

Eyes shut,

Silent,

Entering meditation on the rush mats,

Firmly closing the gates under the moon.

Let the orioles sing and other birds chirp in idle strife:

They cannot mount our expeditions and compassionate chariot of dharma.


Output:
This is why we cannot subdue tigers and dragons,

Or recognize monsters and spirits.

If, my lord, you provoked the evil monster,

To which we hundred and more lamas would be but a single meal,

All of us living creatures would fall to the wheel of rebirth,

This ancient monastery of meditation would be destroyed,

And finally there would be no light at the Tathagata’s assembly.

This would cause great troubles.”

When Brother Monkey heard the lamas say this anger surged up from his heart and hatred from his gall. “What a stupid lot you lamas are!” he shouted at the top of his voice. “Are you only aware of those evil spirits? Do you know nothing of what I’ve done?”

“Really we don’t,” the lamas replied in very quiet voices.

“Then I’ll tell you briefly about it,” Monkey said.

“I used to subdue tigers and dragons on the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit;

I once went up to Heaven and made great havoc in its palace.

When I was hungry I nibbled just two or three

Of Lord Lao Zi’s elixir tablets;


Output:
Of Lord Lao Zi’s elixir tablets;

When I was thirsty I sipped six or seven cups

Of the Jade Emperor’s own wine.

When I glare with my golden eyes that are neither black nor white,

The sky turns deathly pale

While the moon is hidden in cloud.

When I wield my gold-banded cudgel that’s the right length,

It strikes unseen

And leaves no trace behind.

What do I care about big or little monsters,

However rough or vicious they may be?

Once I go for them

They may run away, nimble about, hide or panic.

Whenever I grab one

They’ll be filed down, cooked, ground to bits or pulverized in a mortar.

I’m like one of the eight immortals crossing the sea,

Each of whom gives a unique display of his magical powers.

Lamas, I’ll catch that evil spirit and show it to you:

Then you’ll know what sort of person this Monkey is.”

When the lamas heard this they nodded and said quietly, “From the way this damned baldy is shooting his mouth off and talking big there must be something behind it all.”


Output:
They all made polite noises of respectful assent except for the older lama who said, “Wait. Your master is ill, and catching the evil spirit is not as important as that. As the saying goes,

When a young gentleman goes to a feast

He either gets drunk or eats till he’s filled.

When a strong warrior goes into battle

He either is wounded or gets himself killed.

If you two fight it out here you may well get your master into trouble too. It’s not a sound idea.”

“You’re right,” said Monkey, “you’re right. I’ll take my master a drink of cold water and be right back.” Picking up the begging bowl he filled it with cold water, went out of the monastery kitchen and back to the abbot’s lodgings and called, “Master, cold water for you.” Sanzang, who was just then suffering torments of thirst, raised his head, held the bowl with both hands, and took only one sip of the water. It really was a case of

A drop when you’re thirsty is just like sweet dew;

Get the right medicine and you’ll feel good as new.


Output:
Seeing the venerable elder gradually recovering his spirits and looking less worried Monkey asked, “Could you manage some soup and other food, Master?”

“That cold water was a magical cure,” Sanzang replied. “I have already half recovered from my illness. I would like some food if there is any.”

“The master’s better,” Monkey shouted repeatedly at the top of his voice. “He wants some soup and other food.” He told the lamas to arrange some at once. They washed and boiled rice, made noodles, cooked pancakes, steamed breadrolls, and prepared vermicelli soup. Four or five tables of food were carried in, but the Tang Priest ate only half a bowl of rice gruel, while Monkey and Friar Sand managed only a tableful between them. Pig gobbled up the rest. The dishes were then taken out, the lamp was lit, and the lamas dispersed.

“How long have we been here now?” Sanzang asked.

“Three whole days,” Monkey replied. “By tomorrow evening it will be four days.”


Output:
“We could have covered a lot of distance in three days,” Sanzang replied.

“Never mind about the distance, Master,” said Monkey. “We’ll be on our way tomorrow.”

“Yes,” said Sanzang, “even if I am still a little poorly there is nothing that can be done.”

“If we’re setting out tomorrow let me catch the evil spirit tonight,” said Monkey.

“What evil spirit?” Sanzang asked in astonishment. “There’s an evil spirit in this monastery that I’m going to catch for them,” Monkey replied.

“But how can you be having ideas like that before I have even recovered from my illness?” Sanzang asked. “If that monster has magical powers and you fail to catch it, then it will kill me, won’t it?”

“You’re always running people down,” Monkey replied. “Wherever we go I subdue evil creatures. Have you ever seen me come off second best? That could only happen if I did nothing. If I act I’m bound to win.”

“Disciple,” said Sanzang, clutching him, “the saying is quite right that goes:

Do people a good turn whenever you can;


Output:
Do people a good turn whenever you can;

If it is possible treat them with mercy.

Worrying cannot compare with true kindness;

Better be patient than strive for supremacy.”

In the face of his master’s impassioned pleas and refusal to allow him to subdue the monster, Monkey could only speak frankly.

“I’ll be honest with you, Master,” he said. “The evil spirit has been eating people here.”

“Who has it eaten?” Sanzang asked with shock.

“In the three days we’ve been here it’s eaten six of this monastery’s young lamas,” Monkey said, to which Sanzang replied:

“Foxes will grieve at the death of the hare;

Creatures will all for their own kind show care.

As it has eaten monks from this monastery and I am a monk too I will let you go, but do be careful.”

“No need to tell me,” said Monkey, “I’ll wipe it out the moment I get my hands on it.”


Output:
Watch him as he tells Pig and Friar Sand in the lamplight to guard the master. When he leapt happily out of the abbot’s lodgings and went back to the Buddha Hall he looked and saw that though there were stars in the sky the moon had not yet risen and it was dark inside the hall. He breathed out some of his magic fire to light the glazed lamp then beat the drum that stood to the East and struck the bell to the West. That done, he shook himself and turned himself into a young lama of only eleven or twelve who was wearing a yellow silk shirt and a white cotton tunic, striking a wooden fish with his hand as he recited a sutra. He waited till the first watch without seeing anything happen. The waning moon rose only in the second watch. Then a roaring wind could be heard. It was a splendid wind:

Black mists cast the sky into darkness;

Gloomy clouds cover the earth with murk.

Inky black in every quarter,

All enveloped in indigo.

At first the wind raises dust and dirt;


Output:
At first the wind raises dust and dirt;

Then it blows down trees and ravages woods.

Amid the dust and dirt the stars still shine;

When trees go down and woods are ravaged the moonlight is obscured.

It blows so hard the Moon Goddess holds tight to the sala tree

And the Jade Hare hunts all around for the medicine dish.

The Nine Bright Shiner star lords shut their gates;

The dragon kings of the four seas close their doors.

The city god in his temple looks for the little devils;

Immortals in the sky cannot ride their clouds.

The kings of the Underworld search for their horse-faced demons

While the panicking judges get their turbans in a tangle.

The wind blows so hard it moves Mount Kunlun’s rocks,

And churns up the waves on rivers and lakes.


Output:
And churns up the waves on rivers and lakes.

As soon as the wind had passed by there was a fragrance of musk and incense and the tinkling of pendants. When Monkey looked up he saw that a woman of great beauty was going towards the Buddha Hall. Monkey mumbled the words of a sutra for all he was worth. The woman went up to him, put her arms around him and asked, “What’s that sutra you’re reciting?”

“One I vowed to,” said Monkey.

“But why are you still reciting it when the others are all asleep?” she insisted.

“I vowed to, so why shouldn’t I?” Monkey replied.

Keeping a tight hold on him, the woman kissed his lips and said, “Let’s go round the back for a bit of fun.” Monkey deliberately turned his head aside as he replied, “Stop being so naughty.”

“Do you know how to tell people’s fortunes from their faces?” the woman asked.

“I know a bit about it,” Monkey replied.


Output:
“I know a bit about it,” Monkey replied.

“What can you tell about me?” she continued. “You look to me rather like someone who’s been driven out by her parents-in-law for carrying on with strangers.”

“You’re wrong,” she replied, “you’re wrong.

I have not been driven out by my parents-in-law,

Nor have I carried on with strangers.

Because of my ill fate in an earlier life

I was married to a husband who is much too young

And can’t do his staff in the candlelit bedroom:

That is the reason why I have left my husband.

As the stars and moon are so bright tonight and we are fated to come hundreds of miles to meet each other, let’s go round to the garden at the back to make love.”

When Brother Monkey heard this he nodded to himself and thought, “So those stupid lamas all died because they were led astray by lust. Now she’s trying to lure me. Lady,” he said in reply, “I’m a monk and still very young. I don’t know anything about love-making.”

“Come with me and I’ll teach you,” the woman replied.


Output:
“All right then,” Monkey thought with an inward smile, “I’ll go with her and see how she fixes things.”

Shoulder nestling against shoulder and hand in hand the two of them left the Buddha Hall and went straight to the garden at the back. Here the monster tripped Monkey over and sent him to the ground. With wild calls of “My darling!” she made a grab for his crotch.

“So you really want to eat me up, my girl,” he said, seizing her hand and throwing her off balance so that she somersaulted to the ground.

“So you can throw your sweetie to the ground, can you, my darling?” she said.

“If I don’t take this chance to finish her off what am I waiting for?” he thought. “As they say, hit first and win, strike second and lose.” He leaned forward with his hands on his hips, sprang to his feet and reverted to his own form. With a swing of his gold-banded iron cudgel he struck at the monster’s head.


Output:
In her astonishment she thought, “What a terror this young monk is.” When she opened her eyes wide for a better look she realized that he was the Tang Priest’s disciple Monkey, but she was not afraid of him. What sort of evil spirit was she, you may wonder.

A golden nose,

Snowy white fur.

She makes her home in a tunnel,

Where she is thoroughly safe.

Three hundred years ago, after training her vital forces,

She paid several visits to the Vulture Peak,

Carrying a full load of flowers and wax candles.

Tathagata sent her down from Heaven.

She was a beloved daughter to the Pagoda-carrying Heavenly King;

Prince Nezha treated her as his own sister.

She was no bird that fills up the sea,

Nor was she a tortoise carrying mountains on its back.

She did not fear Lei Huan’s swords

Nor was she afraid of Lu Qian’s blade.

She came and went

Flowing like the mighty Han and Yangtse;

Moved up and down,

Even up a peak as high as Mounts Taishan and Heng.

Seeing the charming beauty of her face


Output:
Seeing the charming beauty of her face

You would never know she was a mouse-spirit with great powers.

In the pride in her enormous magic powers she held up a pair of swords that rang out as she parried to left and right, moving East and West. Although Monkey was rather stronger he could not overpower her. Then magic winds arose on all sides, dimming the waning moon. It was fine battle they fought in the garden at the back:

Evil winds blew from the ground;

Dim was the light of the waning moon.

Deserted was the hall of the Brahma Kings,

And the devils’ cloister could not be clearly seen.

The back garden saw a battle Between the warrior Sun,

A sage in Heaven, And the furry girl,

A queen among women,

Both competing in magical powers and refusing to submit.

One turned her heart in anger from the dark-skinned baldy;

The other glared with his all-seeing eyes at the finely dressed woman.

With swords in her hands,

She is no female Bodhisattva.

The blows of the cudgel


Output:
The blows of the cudgel

Were as fierce as a living vajrapani’s.

The resounding golden band flashed like lightning;

For an instant the iron shone white as a star.

In fine buildings they grabbed at the precious jade;

In golden halls the mandarin duck figurines were smashed.

As the apes howled the moon seemed small;

Vast was the sky as wild geese called.

The eighteen arhats

Applauded in secret;

Each of the thirty-two devas

Was struck with panic.

The Great Sage Monkey was in such high spirits that his cudgel never missed. Realizing that she was no match for him, the evil spirit frowned suddenly and thought of a plan as she extricated herself and made off.

“Where do you think you’re going, you baggage?” Monkey shouted. “Surrender at once.”


Output:
The evil spirit paid no attention and fled. When she was hard-pressed by Monkey’s pursuit she took the embroidered shoe off her left foot, blew on it with a magic breath, said the words of a spell, called out, “Change!” and turned it into a likeness of herself that came back at him waving a pair of swords. Meanwhile she turned her real body with a shake into a pure breeze and went.

This was Sanzang’s star of disaster. She headed straight for the abbot’s quarters, lifted Sanzang up into a cloud, and, on the instant, before anyone could see anything, she was back at Mount Pitfall and inside the Bottomless Cave, where she told her underlings to prepare a vegetarian marriage feast.


Output:
The story switches back to Brother Monkey, who fought with desperate anxiety until he was able to seize an opening and smash the evil spirit to the ground with a single blow, only to find that she was in fact an embroidered shoe. Realizing that he had fallen for a trick he went straight back to see the master. But was the master there? There were only the idiot and Friar Sand muttering together. His chest bursting with fury, Monkey put all thought of what he ought to do out of his head and raised his cudgel to lay about him.

“I’ll kill the pair of you,” he shouted, “I’ll kill the pair of you.”

The idiot was desperate, but there was no way for him to escape. Friar Sand, however, as a general from the magic mountain who had seen a great deal, adopted a very mild and conciliatory approach when he stepped forward, knelt down and said, “Elder brother, I understand. I’m sure that after you’ve killed us two you intend to go straight back home instead of rescuing the master.”


Output:
“When I’ve killed you two I’m going to rescue him myself,” Monkey retorted.

“How can you say that?” replied Friar Sand with a smile. “Without us two it would be a case of

You can’t spin a thread from only one strand

Or clap with the palm of a single hand.

Who’d look after the luggage or the horse for you? We’d do much better to forget our differences and fight side by side like Guan Zhong and Bao Shuya than to have a battle of wits like Sun Bin and Pang Juan. As the old saying goes,

To kill a tiger you need your brothers’ help;

Have fathers and sons fight together in battle.

I hope you will spare us, brother, so that tomorrow morning we can all work together with a single mind in our search for the master.” Although his magical powers were tremendous Monkey knew what was right and needed at the time, so that Friar Sand’s entreaties made him change his mind.


Output:
“Get up, Pig and Friar Sand,” he said. “But when we hunt for the master tomorrow you’ll have to make a real effort.” The idiot was so grateful at being let off that he would gladly have promised Monkey half the sky.

“Brother,” Friar Sand said, “leave it all to me.” The three brother disciples were so anxious that none of them could sleep. They wished they could make the sun rise in the East with a nod of the head and blow all the stars out of the sky with a single breath.

After sitting there till dawn the three of them packed up and were about to get out, only to find the gateway barred by one of the lamas, who asked, “Where are you going, gentlemen?”

“This is most embarrassing,” Monkey replied with a smile. “Yesterday I boasted to all the monks that I’d capture the evil spirit for them. So far from me capturing her she’s made my master disappear. We’re off to look for him.”

“My lord,” said the lamas with horror, “our trivial problem has got your master involved. Where will you look for him?”


Output:
“I know where I’ll look,” Monkey replied.

“Even though you’re going please don’t be in such a hurry,” said the lamas. “Have some breakfast first.” Two or three bowls of hot gruel were brought in that Pig cleaned up with great gusto.

“What fine monks,” he said. “When we’ve found the master we’ll come back here to see you again.”

“What you mean is come back to eat their food,” said Monkey. “Go and see if the girl is still in the devarajas’ hall.”

“She’s gone, my lord,” the lamas said, “she’s gone. She has spent only one night there and is gone the next morning.” Monkey cheerfully took his leave of the lamas and made Pig and Friar Sand lead the horse and carry the luggage as they headed back East.

“Brother,” said Pig, “you’re wrong. Why are we going East?”


Output:
“You wouldn’t know,” said Monkey. “That girl who was tied up in the Black Pine Forest the other day—I saw through her with my fiery eyes and golden pupils, but you all thought she was a good person. And now it’s her who’s eaten the monks and her who’s carried the master off. You all did a fine thing rescuing that ‘lady Bodhisattva’. As she’s carried the master off we’re going back the way we came to look for her.”

“Good, good,” sighed the other two with admiration. “You’re much cleverer than you look. Let’s go.”

The three of them hurried back into the forest, where this was what could be seen:

Piles of cloud,

Heavy mists,

Many a layer of rock,

A twisting path.

The tracks of foxes and hares cross each other;

Tiger, leopard, jackal and wolf move in and out of the undergrowth.

With no sign of a monster to be seen in the wood

They do not know where Sanzang might be found.


Output:
They do not know where Sanzang might be found.

In his anxiety Monkey pulled out his cudgel, shook himself and made himself look as he had when he made great havoc in Heaven, with three heads, six arms and six hands wielding three cudgels. With these he lashed out furiously and noisily among the trees.

“Friar Sand,” said Pig when he saw this, “not finding the master has made him go off his head.” In fact Monkey had beat a way through the trees and flushed out two old men—the mountain god and the local deity—who went up to him, knelt down and said, “Great Sage, the god of this mountain and the local deity pay their respects.”

“That rod certainly gets results,” said Pig. “He clears a path with it and flushes out the mountain god and the local deity. If he cleared another path he’d even flush out an evil star.”


Output:
“Mountain god, local deity,” said Monkey, “you’re a disgrace. You’re hand in glove with the bandits here. When they make a good haul they buy pigs and sheep to sacrifice to you. On top of that you’re accomplices of the evil spirit. You helped her kidnap my master and bring him here. Where’s he being hidden? If you want to be spared a beating tell me the truth right now.”

“Great Sage,” the two gods said with alarm, “you are misjudging us. The evil spirit doesn’t live on our mountain or come within our jurisdiction. But when the wind blows at night we have heard a thing or two about her.”

“Tell me everything you know,” said Monkey.

“The evil spirit carried your master off to a place over three hundred miles due South of here,” the local deity replied. “There’s a mountain there called Mount Pitfall with a cave in it called the Bottomless Cave. He was taken there by a disguised evil spirit from that cave.” This news gave Monkey a shock that he did not reveal.


Output:
Shouting at the mountain god and the local deity to dismiss them he put his magical appearance away, turned back into himself and said to Pig and Friar Sand, “The master’s a long way from here.”

“If it’s a long way let’s go there by cloud,” Pig replied.

The splendid idiot went ahead on a wild wind followed by Friar Sand on a cloud. As the white horse had originally been a dragon’s son he too came by wind and mist as he carried the luggage on his back. The Great Sage set off by somersault as he headed due South, and before long a high mountain came into view that was blocking the way for the clouds.

The three of them took hold of the horse and stopped their clouds. This is what the mountain looked like:

The summit touched the azure sky,

Its peaks joined with the blue of the heavens.

Trees by the million grew on every side,

While flying birds sung noisily all around.

Tigers and leopards moved in packs,

Water deer and roebuck walked through the bushes.


Output:
On the Southern slopes rare flowers bloomed fragrant;

On the Northern side the snow never melted.

Steep and craggy were its ridges,

Sheer were its overhangs and rockfaces.

Pinnacles shot straight up

And deep ravines curved all around.

It was dark green among the pines,

And the rocks were jagged.

It struck fear into the traveler’s heart.

No sign could be seen of woodcutters,

And the immortal boys picking herbs had vanished.

The tigers and leopards here could make mists,

And all the foxes set winds roaring.

“Brother,” said Pig, “this mountain’s so high and sheer there must be evil on it.”


Output:
“Goes without saying,” Monkey replied. “High mountains all have monsters; there’s never a steep ridge without spirits. Friar Sand,” he called, “you and I are going to stay here while we send Pig into the mountain hollows to look around and find out the best way for us to take. If there really is a cave palace he must discover where the entrance is. Find everything out so that we can go in together to find the master and rescue him.”

“Just my lousy luck,” said Pig, “having to go first and take the brunt.”

“Last night you said we could leave it all to you,” Monkey replied, “so why are you trying to get out of it now?”

“Stop shouting at me,” Pig said. “I’m going.” The idiot put down his rake, tugged at his clothes and leapt empty-handed down from the mountain to find the path.

If you don’t know whether this departure was to be for good or ill listen to the explanation in the next installment.

Chapter Eighty-Two

The Girl Seeks the Male

The Primal Deity Guards the Way


Output:
The Primal Deity Guards the Way

The story tells how Pig leapt down the mountainside and found a narrow path. After following it for nearly two miles he came across two she-monsters drawing water from a well. How did he know that they both were monsters? Each of them had on her head an extremely unfashionable hair-style held up by bamboo slivers that stood one foot two or three inches high.

“Evil monsters,” Pig called, going up to them.

The two of them looked at each other and said. “What an outrageous monk. We don’t know him and we’ve never had words with him. So why did he call us evil monsters?” In their fury the monsters raised the pole with which they were going to carry the water and struck at Pig’s head.

After a few blows that he could not ward off as he was unarmed, the idiot rushed back up the mountain with his head covered by both hands shouting, “Brother! Go back! The monsters are vicious.”

“What’s so vicious about them?” Monkey asked.


Output:
“What’s so vicious about them?” Monkey asked.

“There were two evil spirits drawing water from the well in the hollow,” said Pig, “and they hit me three or four times with their carrying-pole just because I spoke to them.”

“What did you call them?” Monkey asked.

“Evil monsters,” Pig replied.

“You got off lightly then,” laughed Monkey.

“I’m most obliged for your concern,” replied Pig. “My head has swollen up where they hit it, and you tell me I’ve got off lightly.”

“Soft words will get you anywhere on earth; act rough and you won’t move a single step,” replied Monkey. “As they’re local fiends from round here and we’re monks from far away you’d have had to be a bit polite even if you’d had fists growing all over your body. Do you think they should have hit me instead of you? You were the one who called them evil monsters. Courtesy first!”

“I never realized,” said Pig.

“Living on human flesh in the mountains since childhood as you have,” said Monkey, “can you recognize two kinds of tree?”


Output:
“I don’t know,” Pig said. “Which two trees?”

“The willow and the sandalwood,” Monkey replied. “The willow has a very soft nature, so that craftsmen can carve it into holy images or make statues of the Tathagata out of it. It’s gilded, painted, set with jewels, decorated with flowers, and many worshippers burn incense to it. It receives unbounded blessings. But the sandalwood is so hard that it’s used as the pressing-beam in the oil-press with iron hoops round its head, and it’s hit with iron hammers too. The only reason it suffers like this is because it’s to hard.”

“You should have told me all this before,” said Pig, “then I wouldn’t have been beaten.”

“Now go back and find out the truth,” said Brother Monkey.

“But if I go there again they’ll recognize me,” Pig replied.

“Then turn into something else,” said Monkey.

“But even if I do turn into something else, brother, how am I to question them?” asked Pig.


Output:
“When you look different go up to them and bow to them,” Monkey replied. “See how old they are. If they’re about the same age as us call them ‘Miss,’ and if they’re a lot older call them ‘Lady.’”

“What a terrible climb-down: why should we be treating them as our relations when they’re strangers from this far away?” said Pig.

“That’s not treating them as relations,” replied Monkey. “Its just a way of getting the truth out of them. If they’re the ones who’ve got our master we’ll be able to act; and if it isn’t them we won’t lose any time before going to fight elsewhere.”

“You’re right,” said Pig. “I’m going back.”

The splendid idiot tucked his rake in his belt, went down into the hollow, shook himself and turned into a far, dark-skinned monk. He swaggered as he went up to the monsters, chanted a loud “na-a-aw” of respect and said, “Respectful greetings, ladies.”


Output:
“This monk’s much better,” the two monsters said with delight. “He expresses his respects and knows how to address us properly.” Then they asked him, “Where are you from, venerable elder?”

“From somewhere,” Pig replied.

“And where are you going?” they asked.

“Somewhere,” Pig replied.

“What’s your name?” they asked.

“What it is,” Pig replied again.

“Better he may be,” the monsters said with a laugh, “but he won’t tell us about himself. He just echoes our questions.”

“Ladies,” Pig asked, “why are you fetching water?”

“You wouldn’t know, monk,” the demons replied with smiles. “Our lady brought a Tang Priest back to the cave last night and she wants to look after him well. As the water in our cave is none too clean she’s sent us two to fetch some of this good water produced by the mating of the Yin and the Yang. She’s laid on a vegetarian banquet as well for the Tang Priest; she’s going to marry him this evening.”


Output:
As soon as he heard this the idiot rushed straight back up the mountain shouting. “Friar Sand, bring the luggage here at once. We’re dividing it up.”

“Why, brother?” Friar Sand asked.

“When we’ve divided it up you can go back to man-eating in the Flowing Sands River,” Pig replied, “I’ll return to Gao Village to see my wife, Big Brother can play the sage on the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit, and the white dragon can be a dragon in the ocean again. The master’s getting married in this evil spirits cave. Let’s all go and settle down.”

“You’re talking nonsense again, you idiot,” replied Brother Monkey.

“I bloody well am not,” Pig retorted. “Those two evil spirits who were carrying water said a moment ago that a vegetarian wedding feast is being laid on for the master.”

“How can you say things like that when the evil spirits are holding the master prisoner in the cave and he’s longing for us to go in and rescue him?” said Monkey.

“How can we rescue him?” Pig asked.


Output:
“How can we rescue him?” Pig asked.

“You two bring the horse and the luggage, while we go with the two she-monsters as our guides,” Monkey replied. “When we reach the entrance we can act together.”

The idiot could only go with Monkey as he followed the two monsters for five or six miles deep into the mountains before suddenly disappearing. “So the master was captured by a devil in broad daylight,” exclaimed Pig with surprise.

“You’ve got good eyesight,” said Monkey. “How can you possibly tell what they really were?”

“Those two monsters were carrying the water along when suddenly they disappeared. They must be daytime devils.”

“I think they went into a cave,” said Monkey. “Wait while I go to have a look.”


Output:
The splendid Great Sage opened his fiery eyes with their golden pupils and scanned the whole mountain. He saw no movement, but did spot a ceremonial archway most intricately made with many flowers and colours, triple eaves and fourfold decorations in front of the cliff. Going closer with Pig and Friar Sand he saw four large words written on it:

PITFALL MOUNTAIN: BOTTOMLESS CAVE

“Brothers,” said Monkey, “here’s the evil spirits’ archway, but I still don’t know where the entrance is.”

“Can’t be far,” said Friar Sand, “can’t be far. Let’s have a good look for it.” When they turned round to look they saw a great rock over three miles around at the foot of the mountain beneath the archway. In the middle of it was a hole the size of a water-vat, which had become very slippery by repeated climbing.

“Brother,” said Pig, “that’s where the evil spirits go in and out of their cave.”


Output:
“That’s very strange,” said Monkey. “To be frank with the two of you, I’ve captured quite a few evil spirits since I started escorting the Tang Priest, but I’ve never seen a cave palace like this one before. Pig, you go down first and find out how deep it is. Then I’ll be able to go in and rescue the master.”

“It’ll be hard,” said Pig with a shake of his head, “very hard. I’m very clumsy. If I tripped and fell in it might take me two or three years to reach the bottom.”

“How deep is it then?” Monkey asked.

“Look,” Pig replied, and as the Great Sage leant over the edge of the hole to take a careful look he saw to his astonishment that it was very deep indeed and must have measured over a hundred miles around.

“It’s very, very deep, brother,” he turned round to say.

“Go back then,” Pig replied. “The master’s beyond saving.”


Output:
“What a thing to say!” Monkey retorted. “‘Have no thoughts of being lazy; put idleness out of your mind.’ Put the luggage down, and tether the horse to one of the legs of the archway. You and Friar Sand must block the entrance with your rake and staff while I go inside to explore. If the master really is inside I’ll drive the evil spirits out with my iron cudgel, and when they reach the entrance you mustn’t let them out. We’ll only be able to kill the evil spirits and rescue the master if we work together.” The other two accepted their orders.

Monkey sprang into the hole, and under his feet tea thousand coloured clouds appeared, while a thousand layers of auspicious mist shielded him. He was soon at the bottom, which was a very long way down. Inside all was bright; there was the same sunshine, winds, flowers, fruit and trees as in the world above.


Output:
“What a splendid place,” Monkey thought. “It reminds me of the Water Curtain Cave that Heaven gave me in the place where I was born. This is another cave paradise.” As he looked around he saw a gate-tower with double eaves around which grew many clumps of pine and bamboo. Inside were many buildings.

“This must be where the evil spirit lives,” he thought. “I’ll go in and find out what’s up. No, wait. If I go in like this she’ll recognize me. I’d better transform myself.” With a shake and a hand-spell he turned himself into a fly and flew lightly up to land on the gate-tower and listen in. From here he saw the monster sitting at her ease in a thatched pavilion. She was dressed far more beautifully than she had been when they rescued her in the pine forest or when she had tried to catch Monkey in the monastery:

Her hair was piled in a crow-black coiffure;

She wore a green velvet waistcoat.

Her feet were a pair of curving golden lotuses;

Her fingers were as delicate as bamboo shoots in spring.


Output:
Her powdered face was like a silver dish,

And her red lips were as glossy as a cherry.

She was a regular beauty,

Even more lovely than the lady on the moon.

After capturing the pilgrim monk that morning

She was going to know the pleasure of sharing his bed.

Monkey said nothing as he listened out for what she might say. Before long the cherry of her lips parted as she said with great pleasure, “Lay on a vegetarian feast, my little ones, and quick. My darling Tang Priest and I are going to be man and wife afterwards.”

“So it’s true,” thought Brother Monkey, grinning to himself. “I thought Pig was just joking. I’d better fly in and find the master. I wonder what state of mind he’s in. If he’s been led astray I’m leaving him here.” When he spread his wings and flew inside to look he saw the Tang Priest sitting in a corridor behind a trellis covered with opaque red paper below and left clear above.

Butting a hole through the trellis paper Monkey landed on the Tang Priest’s bald head and called, “Master.”


Output:
“Save me, disciple,” replied Sanzang, who recognized Monkey’s voice.

“You’re useless, Master,” said Monkey. “The evil spirit is laying on a feast, and when you’ve eaten it you two are getting married. I expect you’ll have a son or a daughter to start another generation of monks and nuns. What have you got to be so upset about?”

When the venerable elder heard this he gnashed his teeth and said, “Disciple, in all the time since I left Chang’an, accepted you as my follower at the Double Boundary Mountain and started my journey West, when have I ever eaten meat or had any wicked ideas? Now the evil spirit has captured me she is insisting that I mate with her. If I lose my true masculine essence may I fall from the wheel of reincarnation and be fixed for ever behind the Dark Mountains, never to rise again.”

“No need to swear any oaths,” said Monkey with a grin. “If you really want to fetch the scriptures from the Western Heaven I’ll take you there.”

“I can’t remember the way I came in,” Sanzang replied.


Output:
“Never mind about forgetting,” said Monkey. “You won’t get out of here as easily as you came in, which was from the top downwards. If I save you now you’ll have to go from the bottom upwards. If you’re very lucky you’ll squeeze out through the entrance and get away. But if your luck’s out you won’t be able to squeeze through and sooner or later you’ll die of suffocation.”

“This is terrible,” said Sanzang, the tears pouring from his eyes. “What are we to do?”

“No problem,” said Monkey, “no problem. The evil spirit’s getting some wine prepared for you. You’ll have to drink a goblet of it whether you want to or not. But you must pour it out quickly so that it makes a lot of froth. Then I can turn myself into a tiny insect and fly under the bubbles. When she gulps me down into her belly I’ll tear her heart and liver to shreds and rip her guts apart. Once I’ve killed her you’ll be able to escape.”

“But that would be an inhuman thing to do, disciple,” said Sanzang.


Output:
“If all you’re interested in is being kind you’re done for,” Monkey replied. “The evil spirit’s a murderess. What do you care so much about her for?”

“Oh well,” said Sanzang, “never mind. But you will have to stay with me.” Indeed:

The Great Sage Sun guarded Tang Sanzang well;

The pilgrim priest depended on the Handsome Monkey King.

Master and disciple had not even finished their discussion when the evil spirit, who had arranged everything, came in along the corridor, unlocked the doors and called, “Reverend sir.” The Tang Priest dared not reply. She addressed him again, and again he dared not reply. Why was that? He was thinking that

Divine energy is dispersed by an open mouth;

Trouble starts when the tongue begins to move.


Output:
Trouble starts when the tongue begins to move.

He was thinking with all his heart that if he obstinately refused to open his mouth she might turn vicious and murder him in an instant. Just when he was feeling confused, wondering which difficult alternative to choose and asking himself what to do, the evil spirit addressed him as “Reverend sir” for the third time.

The Tang Priest had no choice but to answer, “Here I am, madam.” For him to give this reply was to make all the flesh fall off him. Now everybody says that the Tang Priest is a sincere monk, so how could he reply to the she-devil when he was on his way to worship the Buddha and fetch the scriptures from the Western Heaven?


Output:
What you would not realize is that this was a crisis in which his very survival was at stake, that he had absolutely no alternative; and although he went through the form of replying he was free of desire inside. But when the evil spirit heard his reply she pushed the door open, helped the Tang Priest to his feet, held his hand, stood with her side pressed against his and whispered in his ear. Just look at her as she lays on the charm and makes herself alluring in every possible way. She did not realize that Sanzang was full of revulsion.

“From the way she’s making herself so seductive,” Monkey thought with a wry grin to himself, “I’m worried that she might get the master interested.” Indeed:

The monk in demon trouble met a pretty girl;

The she-devil’s beauty was truly superb.

Her slender jade eyebrows were like two willow leaves;

Her round face was set off with peach blossom.

Embroidered shoes gave a sight of a pair of phoenixes;

Her crow-black hair was piled high at the temples.


Output:
As smiling she led the master by his hand

His cassock was tinged with orchid and musk.

Her arms around him, the she-devil took the master to a thatched pavilion and said, “Reverend sir, I’ve had a drink brought here to have with you.”

“Lady,” said the Tang Priest, “as a monk I can take no impure food.”

“I know,” the evil spirit replied. “As the water in the cave isn’t clean I’ve sent for some of the pure water from the mating of the Yin and the Yang up on the mountain, and had a banquet of fruit and vegetables prepared. After that you and I are going to have some fun.” When the Tang Priest went into the pavilion with her this is what could be seen:

All within the gates

Was decked in silks and embroideries;

Throughout the hall

Incense rose from golden lion censers.

Black-painted inlaid tables were set in rows,

On which stood dark-lacquered bamboo dishes.

On the inlaid tables

Were all kinds of delicacies;

In the bamboo dishes

Were vegetarian delights:


Output:
In the bamboo dishes

Were vegetarian delights:

Crab apples, olives, lotus seeds, grapes, torreya-nuts,

hazelnuts, pine-nuts, lichees, longans, chestnuts, water caltrops, jujubes, persimmons, walnuts, gingko nuts, kumquats and oranges.

There was the fruit that grows on every hill,

The fresh vegetables of each season;

Beancurd, wheat gluten, tree-ear fungus, fresh bamboo shoots, button mushrooms, gill fungus, yams, sealwort, agar, day lily fried in vegetable oil,

Hyacinth beans, cowpeas prepared with mature sauces.

Cucumbers, gourds, gingko, turnip greens.

Peeled aubergines were cooked like quails;

Seeded wax gourds

Taro stewed tender and sprinkled with sugar,

Turnips boiled in vinegar.

Pungent chili and ginger made it all delicious;

All the dishes were a balance of bland and salty.


Output:
Revealing the tips of her jade fingers she raised a dazzling golden goblet that she filled with fine wine. “Dearest reverend gentleman,” she said, handing it to him, “my darling, have a drink to celebrate our happy union.” Sanzang was covered with embarrassment as he took the wine.

He poured a libation into the air as he prayed silently, “Devas who guard the Dharma, Guardians of the Four Quarters and the Centre, Four Duty Gods: your disciple Chen Xuanzang has benefited from the secret protection of all you deities sent by the Bodhisattva Guanyin on my journey to pay my respects at the Thunder Monastery, see the Buddha and seek the scriptures. I have now been captured by an evil spirit on my way. She is forcing me to marry her and has now handed me this cup of wine to drink. If this really is pure wine I can force myself to drink it and still be able to succeed and see the Buddha. But if it is impure wine I will be breaking my vows and fall for ever into the bitterness of the wheel of rebirth.”


Output: The Great Sage Sun made himself tiny and was like a secret informant behind his master’s ear. When he spoke Sanzang was the only one who could hear him. Knowing that his master was normally fond of the pure wine of grapes he told him to drain the goblet. Sanzang had no choice but to do so, quickly refill the goblet and hand it back to the evil spirit. As he filled it bubbles of happiness formed on the surface of the wine. Brother Monkey turned himself into the tiniest of insects and flew lightly under the bubbles. But when the spirit took the goblet she put it down instead of drinking from it, bowed twice to the Tang Priest and spoke loving words to him with charming bashfulness. By the time she lifted the cup the bubbles had burst and the insect was revealed. Not realizing that it was Monkey transformed the evil spirit took it for a real insect, lifted it out with her little finger and flicked it away.


Output:
Seeing that as things were not going as he intended he would be unable to get into her belly Monkey turned himself into a hungry eagle.

Indeed:

Jade claws, gold eyes and iron wings;

In terrible might he rose above the clouds.

Cunning hares and foxes felt faint at just the sight,

And hid among mountains and rivers for hundred of miles around.

When hungry it chased small birds into the wind,

And rose to the gate of heaven when replete.

Murderous were its talons of steel;

In times of triumph it stayed aloof in the clouds.

Monkey flew up, swung his jade claws, and noisily overturned the tables, smashing all the fruit, vegetables and crockery, and leaving the Tang Priest alone there as he flew off. This was so terrifying that the she-devil’s heart and gall were split open, and the Tang Priest’s flesh and bones were turned crisp. Shivering and shaking, the evil spirit threw her arms round the Tang Priest and said, “Dearest reverend gentleman, wherever did that come from?”


Output:
“I don’t know,” Sanzang replied.

“I went to a great deal of trouble to arrange this vegetarian feast for you,” the she-devil said. “Goodness only knows where that feathered brute flew in from and smashed our crockery.”

“Smashing the crockery doesn’t really matter,” the junior demons said, “but all the food has been spilt on the floor. It’s too dirty to eat now.” Sanzang by now realized that this was all the result of Monkey’s magic, but he dared not say so.

“Little ones,” said the she-devil, “I realize now. It must be heaven and earth that sent that thing down here because they can’t tolerate my holding the Tang Priest prisoner. Clear all the broken dishes up and lay on another banquet. Never mind whether it’s vegetarian or not. Heaven can be our matchmaker and the earth our guarantor. After that the Tang Priest and I will become man and wife.” We will say no more of her as she took the Tang Priest to sit in the East corridor.


Output:
Instead the story tells of how Monkey flew out, turned back into himself, reached the entrance to the cave and shouted, “Open up!”

“Friar Sand,” Pig shouted, “our big brother’s here.” As the two of them drew their weapons away Monkey sprang out.

“Is there an evil spirit in there?” Pig asked, grabbing hold of him. “Is the master in there?”

“Yes, yes,” said Monkey.

“The master must be having a hard time in there,” said Pig. “Are his arms tied behind his back? Or is he all roped up? Is she going to steam him or boil him?”

“None of them,” Monkey replied. “She’d just had a vegetarian feast served and was going to do it with him.”

“So you’ve been lucky then,” said Pig. “You must have drunk a wedding toast.”

“Idiot!” retorted Monkey, “Never mind about having a wedding drink. I can hardly keep him alive.”

“Then why are you here?” Pig asked.


Output:
“Then why are you here?” Pig asked.

Monkey told how he had seen the master and done his transformations, ending, “Don’t let your fears run away with you, brothers. The master’s here, and when I go back in this time I’ll definitely rescue him.”

Going back inside, Monkey turned into a fly and landed on the gate-tower to listen. He could hear the she-devil snorting with fury as she gave instructions within the pavilion.

“Little ones, bring whatever there is, vegetarian or not, and burn paper as offerings to the deities. I’ll ask heaven and earth to be the matchmakers. I’m definitely going to marry him.”

When Monkey heard this he smiled to himself and thought, “That she-devil’s completely shameless. She’s locked a monk up in her home and now she’s going to mess around with him in broad daylight. But don’t be in too much of a hurry. Give me time to go in and have a look round.” With a buzz he flew along the corridor to see the master sitting inside, tears streaming down his face.