Sun Wukong descended from the clouds and told his master, Tang Sanzang, about how Guanyin Bodhisattva borrowed a celestial child and how Laozi took away the magical treasures. Tang Sanzang was extremely grateful upon hearing this and thought to himself that he must cultivate diligently and strive to reach the Western Heaven to fetch the scriptures. So, he mounted his horse, Zhu Bajie carried the luggage, Sha Wujing led the horse, and Sun Wukong, with his golden-banded staff, led the way. The four of them continued their journey. Along the way, they braved the elements, not knowing how long they traveled until they encountered a large mountain blocking their path. From atop his horse, Tang Sanzang called out, "Disciples, look how tall that mountain is! Be careful, lest we encounter another demon." Wukong chuckled and said, "Master, don't let your imagination run wild. As long as you keep your heart calm and mind steady, we'll be fine."
Tang Sanzang sighed, "Oh, disciples, why is the road to the Western Heaven so difficult? I recall since leaving Chang'an, seasons have changed from spring to summer, autumn to winter. We've been traveling for four or five years, yet we're still not there?" Wukong laughed heartily, "We're far from it! We're not even out the main gate yet!" Bajie chimed in, "Brother, don't lie. Can there really be such a big gate?" Wukong replied, "My dear brother, we're just wandering around the main hall!" Sha Wujing joined in the laughter, "Elder brother, don't scare me. Where could there be such a large hall? Where would you find beams that big?" Wukong said, "Brothers, in my view, the blue sky is the roof, the sun and moon are the windows, and the mountains and peaks are the pillars. The whole world is like one big open hall!"
Upon hearing this, Bajie quickly said, "Forget it! Forget it! Let's just go back." Wukong replied, "Don't talk nonsense, just follow me." So, the Great Sage Sun led Tang Sanzang, cutting through the mountain paths with his iron staff as they continued forward.
From his horse, Tang Sanzang gazed afar, marveling at the breathtaking mountain scenery: the peaks soared into the clouds, the treetops seemed to touch the sky. Amidst the swirling mist, the cries of monkeys echoed through the valleys; in the lush shadows, the calls of cranes resonated among the pines. The wind howled, as mountain spirits teased woodcutters by the streams; foxes startled hunters by the cliffs. What a mountain! Surrounded by sheer cliffs, bizarre pines twisted like green canopies, ancient trees draped with vines. Cascading springs sent chills to the bones; the towering peaks, kissed by the breeze, stirred the soul. Occasionally, the roars of tigers and the calls of mountain birds could be heard. Herds of deer dashed through the thickets, while hares foraged for wild food. Standing on the grassy slopes, one saw no travelers in sight; venturing deeper, surrounded by wolves and jackals. This was no place for a Buddha's retreat, but rather a paradise for wild creatures. In the depths of this mountain, Tang Sanzang felt uneasy, his heart heavy with fear. He reined in his horse and called out, "Wukong! Since I set my heart on climbing mountains, the king sent me off from the city. Along the way, I've encountered many challenges, but when will I finally reach my goal?" Sun Wukong, hearing this, chuckled and said, "Master, don't worry, don't rush. Just proceed with confidence, and success will come naturally."
The master and disciples, while admiring the mountain views, walked leisurely, and before they knew it, the red sun had set in the west. Indeed: The ten-mile pavilion lay deserted, while stars twinkled in the nine heavens above. Boats on eight rivers had docked, and the gates of seven thousand counties were closed. Officials of six palaces and five offices had returned home, and fishermen from four seas and three rivers had reeled in their lines. Bells and drums sounded from two towers, as one bright moon illuminated the land.
From his horse, Tang Sanzang looked far ahead and saw layers of pavilions nestled in a mountain hollow. He said, "Disciples, it's getting late. Fortunately, there's a complex of buildings not far ahead, which seems to be a temple or monastery. Let's seek shelter there for the night and continue our journey tomorrow." Wukong agreed, "Master is right. Don't worry, I'll go check it out first." Sun Wukong leaped into the air, surveyed the area, and indeed found a temple. He saw eight-character brick walls, red mud plastered, and golden nails on the doors. Pavilions nestled among the mountains, palaces hidden in the hills. The Ten Thousand Buddha Pavilion faced the Tathagata Hall, and the Chaoyang Tower corresponded with the Mahavira Gate. A seven-story pagoda nestled in clouds and mist, and three statues of Buddha shone with glory. The Manjusri Platform faced the Kalan Hall, and the Maitreya Hall leaned against the Great Compassion Hall. Outside the Viewing Mountain Pavilion, green light danced; atop the Step Void Pavilion, purple clouds rose. Pine gates and bamboo courtyards exuded lushness, and the abbot's meditation hall was serene everywhere. A refined place for enjoyment, welcoming guests in the valleys. Monks lectured on scriptures in meditation rooms, and musical instruments played in music rooms. On the Miao Gao Platform, epiphyllum flowers floated down, while on the Dharma Platform, palm leaves grew. Truly a place where the forest shelters the Three Jewels, and the mountains embrace the Brahma King's palace. Half the wall flickered with lamp smoke, while a line of incense mist lingered. Sun Wukong descended from the clouds and informed Tang Sanzang, "Master, it's indeed a temple. We can stay there for the night. Let's go."
Tang Sanzang loosened the reins and rode straight to the mountain gate. Sun Wukong asked, "Master, what is this temple called?" Tang Sanzang replied, "I just arrived at the gate and haven’t even dismounted yet, and you’re already asking me what temple this is. You’re really speaking without thinking!" Wukong said, "Master, you have been a monk since childhood and surely have read Confucian texts. You preach and understand both literature and logic, and thus received the Tang Emperor's favor. There are such large characters on the gate, how can you not recognize them?" The elder scolded, "You insolent monkey! You speak without considering the weight of your words! I was facing west, urging my horse onward, and the sun dazzled my eyes. Though there are words on the gate, they are obscured by dust, so I couldn’t see them." Hearing this, Wukong bent down, grew two zhang tall, and brushed away the dust with his hand, saying, "Master, please look." There were five large characters: "Imperially Established Baolin Temple." Wukong returned to his original size and asked, "Master, who will go in to ask for lodging?" Tang Sanzang said, "I will go in. You all are rough in appearance, uncouth in speech, and fiery in temperament. If you offend the monks inside and they refuse us lodging, it would be troublesome." Wukong replied, "If that’s the case, please go ahead, Master. No need for further words."
Tang Sanzang set down his monk's staff, loosened his cloak, tidied his robes, and with palms joined, entered the mountain gate. Immediately, he saw a pair of guardian statues on either side behind red lacquered railings. They were truly imposing but somewhat intimidating: one had an iron face and steel whiskers, looking lifelike, while the other had raised eyebrows and round eyes, as if seeing through everything. The left statue's fist was as hard as wrought iron, and the right one's palm was sturdier than red copper. Their golden armor gleamed, and their helmets and embroidered sashes fluttered in the wind. The Western regions are indeed places where many Buddhas are worshiped, and incense burned fervently in the stone censer at the center. Seeing this, Sanzang nodded and sighed, "If only our Eastern lands could have such grand statues of Bodhisattvas, with incense offerings, my disciples wouldn’t have to travel to the Western Heaven for scriptures."
While he was reflecting, Tang Sanzang entered the second mountain gate and saw statues of the Four Heavenly Kings, representing the harmony of the four directions. Beyond the second gate, he saw four towering pine trees, their crowns like umbrellas, lush and verdant. Looking up, he saw the Mahavira Hall ahead. Tang Sanzang clasped his hands in prayer, bowed low, and prostrated himself. After paying homage, he circled the Buddha platform and reached the back door, where he saw a statue of Guanyin facing south, symbolizing salvation. The walls were adorned with intricately carved shrimp, fish, crabs, and turtles, all vividly depicted, as if frolicking in the waves. Tang Sanzang nodded and sighed again, "Alas! Even these creatures worship Buddha, yet why do people refuse to cultivate themselves?"
As he marveled, a monk emerged from the third gate. Seeing Sanzang, the monk, struck by his unusual appearance and extraordinary demeanor, hurriedly approached and greeted him, "Master, where do you come from?" Sanzang replied, "I am sent by the Great Tang of the Eastern lands to the Western Heaven to worship Buddha and seek scriptures. Today I arrived at your esteemed place, and as night falls, I wish to request lodging for the night." The monk said, "Master, please don't take offense. I am not in charge here. I am merely the monk responsible for sweeping and ringing the bell. Inside, there is an elder who manages affairs. I will report to him. If he agrees, I will come out to invite you in; if not, I dare not decide on my own." Sanzang said, "Thank you for your trouble."
The monk hurried to report to the abbot, "Master, there is a visitor outside." The abbot immediately rose, changed his clothes, adjusted his Vairochana hat, donned his kasaya, and hurriedly opened the door to greet the visitor, asking the monk, "Who is it?" The monk pointed to the back of the main hall, "Isn't that a person?" Sanzang stood there, bald-headed, wearing a twenty-five-striped dharma robe, and muddy shoes, leaning against the back door. Seeing this, the abbot became furious and said, "Monk, stop speaking nonsense! Don’t you know I am the abbot? Only when city officials come to offer incense do I personally greet them. How can you misreport and have me greet such a monk! Look at him; he doesn’t seem sincere, likely a wandering monk seeking shelter for the night. How can we let him disturb our abbey! Let him squat under the front porch, why report to me!" With that, he turned and left.
Hearing this, the Tang Sanzang's eyes welled up with tears. "How pitiful! How pitiful! This is what happens when one is far from home and treated with contempt. I became a monk at a young age, never worshiped false idols, never ate meat, never let anger disturb my meditative mind, nor have I ever damaged a Buddhist temple or stripped gold from an Arhat's face. Alas! I must have offended Heaven and Earth in a past life to encounter such unkind people in this one! If you refuse us lodging, so be it, but why speak such harsh words, telling us to squat under the front porch? It's fortunate I haven't told Wukong. If that monkey were to find out, he'd come in here, swing his iron staff, and likely break your legs!" The elder muttered to himself, "Well, well, as the saying goes, courtesy comes first. I should go in and see how things stand."
Tang Sanzang stepped into the abbot's quarters, where he saw the official monk had removed his robes and was sitting there angrily. It was unclear if he was reciting scriptures or writing religious texts, but the desk was piled with papers. Tang Sanzang dared not enter rashly and stood in the courtyard, bowing and loudly greeting, "Elder abbot, this disciple greets you!" The monk, clearly unwelcoming, half-heartedly returned the greeting, "Where do you come from?" Sanzang replied, "This disciple was sent by the Great Tang of the East to the Western Heaven to worship Buddha and seek scriptures. As it is late, I wish to request lodging for the night and will leave early tomorrow. I hope the abbot will grant this small favor." The monk reluctantly rose, "Are you the Tang Sanzang?" Sanzang confirmed, "I am indeed." The monk said, "If you're going to the Western Heaven for scriptures, how is it you can't even find your way?"
Sanzang explained, "This disciple has never traveled this path before." The monk said, "Directly west, only four or five li away, there's a Thirty Li Inn where meals are available and lodging is convenient. It's not suitable for us to host distant monks here." Sanzang clasped his hands, "Abbot, it is said that temples and monasteries are waystations for us monks, and seeing a mountain gate means there are three measures of rice available. Why won't you host me?" The monk impatiently replied, "You itinerant monks are just smooth talkers!"
Sanzang asked, "Why do you say I am a smooth talker?" The monk said, "As the saying goes, when a tiger enters a city, every household shuts its doors. Though it might not bite, its reputation precedes it." Sanzang asked, "How has the reputation been tarnished?" The monk explained, "A few years ago, some itinerant monks came and sat at the mountain gate. Seeing their tattered clothes, I invited them in, hosted them in the abbot's quarters, lent them clothes, and let them stay for a few days. Who knew they would take advantage of our hospitality, staying seven or eight years and committing many unrighteous acts."
Sanzang inquired, "What unrighteous acts did they commit?" The monk replied, "Listen: they idly tossed tiles along the walls, pulled nails from the walls when bored, broke window frames to warm themselves by the fire in winter, dragged doors to block paths in summer, tore banners for foot wraps, and stole incense to exchange for radishes. They often tipped oil from glazed bowls, and gambled over bowls and pots."
Hearing the monk's words, Tang Sanzang sighed inwardly, "Alas! Could my disciples also be such dishonorable monks?" He wanted to cry but feared being ridiculed by the elder monk, so he discreetly wiped his tears with his sleeve, swallowed his pride, and hurried out to meet his three disciples. Wukong noticed the anger on his master's face and asked, "Master, did the monks in the temple hit you?" Tang Sanzang replied, "No, they didn't hit me."
Bajie chimed in, "They must have hit you; otherwise, why do you sound like you're about to cry?" Wukong asked, "Did they scold you?" Tang Sanzang said, "No, they didn't scold me either." Wukong asked again, "If they neither hit nor scolded you, then why do you look so upset? Are you homesick?" Tang Sanzang explained, "Disciples, it's inconvenient to stay here." Wukong laughed, "Is this a Taoist temple then?" Tang Sanzang, annoyed, said, "Taoist temples have Taoists; this is a Buddhist temple with monks." Wukong said, "Since they're monks, they're like us. As the saying goes, those who gather under the Buddha's assembly are destined to meet. Master, you sit here while I go in and take a look."
Wukong, the monkey, was not one to hesitate. He adjusted the golden band on his head, tightened the sash around his waist, grabbed his iron staff, and strode directly to the front of the Mahavira Hall. Pointing at the three Buddha statues, he declared, "You are merely clay statues gilded in gold, with no true spirit within! I, Sun Wukong, am escorting the Tang monk to the Western Heaven to obtain true scriptures, and tonight we request lodging here. Give me an answer quickly! If you refuse us, I will smash your golden bodies with my staff and reveal your true clay form!"
Just as Wukong was making his threats, a Daoist priest came to offer incense before the Buddha statues. With a loud "Hey!" from Wukong, the priest was so startled that he stumbled and fell. Scrambling to his feet and catching sight of Wukong's face, he fell again, then crawled away in a panic to report to the abbot. "Master! There's a monk outside!" The monk official impatiently replied, "You Daoists are such troublemakers! Didn't I tell you to let him squat under the front porch? Why report again? Keep this up, and you'll get twenty strokes!" The priest said, "Master, this monk is different from the one before. He looks fierce and intimidating, without any decency." The monk official asked, "What does he look like?" The priest described, "Round eyes, big ears, a face full of hair, and a mouth like a thunder god's. He's holding a staff, gritting his teeth, looking as if he's about to hit someone."
The monk official said, "Let me see." As soon as he opened the door, Wukong barged in, indeed looking fearsome: a face with uneven features, yellow eyes, and a scar on his forehead; tusks protruding like a crab's, with flesh inside and bones outside. The old monk quickly shut the door to the abbot's quarters in fright. Wukong pursued him, smashing the door with a bang, saying, "Quickly clean a thousand rooms for me; I, the Great Sage, want to sleep!" The monk official hid inside and said to the priest, "No wonder he looks so ugly; it must be from bragging too much. Even counting the abbot's quarters, Buddha hall, bell and drum towers, and the two corridors, we have fewer than three hundred rooms, yet he demands a thousand to sleep in. Where could they come from?"
The priest said, "Master, I've been scared out of my wits; you decide how to placate him." The monk official, trembling, shouted, "Honored guest seeking lodging, this small temple is inconvenient and truly cannot host you. Please find accommodation elsewhere." Wukong enlarged his staff to the size of a basin and planted it upright in the courtyard, saying, "Monk, if it's inconvenient, then move out!" The monk official replied, "We've lived here since childhood, inherited from our masters, and will pass it on to future generations. He comes from who knows where and wants us to move out."
The priest said, "Master, we really can't provoke him; let's just move out. The staff has already broken through the door." The monk official retorted, "Don't talk nonsense! We have four to five hundred monks, young and old. Where would we move? There's nowhere to go even if we wanted to." Wukong, hearing this, said, "Monk, if you can't move, then send someone out to take a beating!" The old monk shouted, "Priest, go out and take a hit for me!" The priest panicked, "Master, that staff is enormous; it'll crush me!" The old monk said, "We feed you for a thousand days, but we need you for just one. Why won't you go?" The priest replied, "That staff wouldn't just hit me; if it fell, it would flatten me into mince!" The old monk said, "Never mind flattening; even standing in the courtyard, if someone accidentally bumps into it at night, it would leave a huge hole!" The priest said, "Master, you know how heavy it is, yet you want me to take the hit?"
Wukong, hearing the commotion inside, thought, "This won't do. If I kill someone with a blow, Master will blame me for being violent. I should find something else to hit to show them." Looking up, he saw a stone lion outside the abbot's door and smashed it to pieces with his staff. The monks inside, peeking through the window, were so frightened their bones turned to jelly, and they scurried under the beds. The priest, however, crawled directly into the boiler, crying out, "Great Sage, the staff is too heavy; we can't bear it! Please show mercy!" Wukong said, "Monk, I won't hit you. Let me ask you: how many monks are in this temple?" The monk official, trembling, replied, "Altogether, there are 285 rooms and 500 monks with ordination certificates." Wukong said, "Quickly gather those 500 monks, dress them in long robes, and bring my Tang master inside, and I won't hit you." The monk official said, "Great Sage, if you won't hit us, we'll carry him in." Wukong said, "Hurry up!"
The monk official urgently called out, "Priest, even if you're scared out of your wits or your heart, you must gather everyone to welcome the Tang monk." The priest had no choice but to muster all his courage, crawl out through the back doghole, and rush to the main hall, striking the drum on the east side and ringing the bell on the west. The simultaneous sound of the bell and drum startled the monks in the corridors, who came to the hall asking, "It's not evening yet; why are you ringing the bell and drum?" The priest said, "Quickly change your clothes, line up with the master, and go to the mountain gate to welcome the Tang monk from the Great Tang." The monks promptly lined up neatly to welcome the guest. Some donned kasayas, others wore tunics, and those too poor to have long robes draped their waist skirts over their shoulders.
Wukong saw this and asked, "Monk, what kind of clothes are you wearing?" The monk, intimidated by Wukong's fierce appearance, replied, "Great Sage, please don't hit me. Let me explain. This cloth was collected from the city, and since there are no tailors here, we had to make do with a simple wrap." Wukong chuckled to himself and led the monks to the mountain gate, where they knelt. The monk official kowtowed and loudly said, "Master Tang, please enter the abbot's quarters." Seeing this, Bajie remarked, "Master, you were so useless earlier, entering with tears and a pout. How did our senior brother manage to get them to kowtow in welcome?" Tang Sanzang replied, "You fool, you really don't understand etiquette! As the saying goes, even ghosts fear the wicked." Seeing the monks bowing and worshiping, Tang Sanzang felt uneasy and stepped forward, saying, "Please rise, everyone." The monks kowtowed and said, "Master, as long as your disciple doesn't wield his staff, we could kneel for a month." Tang Sanzang said, "Wukong, don't hit them." Wukong replied, "I haven't hit them yet. If I had, they'd be broken by now." Only then did the monks rise, leading the horse, carrying the luggage, and escorting Tang Sanzang, Bajie, and Sha Monk into the mountain gate, where they sat in order in the abbot's quarters. The monks paid their respects again, and Tang Sanzang said, "Please rise, Abbot. There's no need for further ceremony. It would overwhelm this humble monk, as we are all disciples of Buddha." The monk official said, "You are an envoy from a great nation, and this humble monk failed to welcome you properly. Today, you arrived in this remote mountain, and my ordinary eyes failed to recognize your esteemed presence. May I ask, Master, do you prefer vegetarian or non-vegetarian meals? We will prepare accordingly." Tang Sanzang replied, "Vegetarian." The monk official turned to his disciples and said, "This Great Sage eats meat." Wukong interjected, "We also eat vegetarian. We've been vegetarian since birth." The monks marveled, "Great Sage, even someone as fierce as you eats vegetarian!"
At this point, a bold monk approached and asked, "Master, since you eat vegetarian, how much rice should we cook to suffice?" Bajie replied, "Such stingy monks! Why ask? Cook a stone's worth of rice for each household." The monks panicked and hurried to clean the kitchen, preparing tea and meals in each room, hanging lanterns high, and setting tables and chairs to host Tang Sanzang.
After dinner, the monks began tidying up, and Tang Sanzang thanked the monk official, "Abbot, we troubled you today." The monk official quickly replied, "Not at all, our hospitality was inadequate." Tang Sanzang asked, "Where will we rest tonight?" The monk official said, "Don't worry, Master. We've already arranged it." He called for the Daoist priest and asked, "How many people are available to assist?" The priest replied, "Master, we have people." The monk official instructed, "Send two to prepare fodder for the master's horse, and a few more to clean the three meditation halls at the front, make the beds, and invite the master to rest." The priests hurried to prepare, and once everything was ready, they invited Tang Sanzang to rest.
Tang Sanzang and his disciples led the horse and carried their luggage out of the abbot's quarters to the meditation hall, where the lights were bright, and four rattan beds were already prepared. Wukong saw this and instructed the priests who had prepared the fodder to bring it in, place it in the meditation hall, tie up the white horse, and then leave. Tang Sanzang sat in the middle, with five hundred monks standing by, serving him and not daring to leave. Tang Sanzang urged, "Please return, everyone, so I can rest peacefully." The monks hesitated to leave, but the monk official instructed, "Once the master is settled, you may return." Tang Sanzang said, "I am settled now, please return." Only then did the monks dare to disperse.
Tang Sanzang rose and stepped outside to relieve himself. Seeing the bright moon in the sky, he called, "Disciples." Wukong, Bajie, and Sha Monk came out to stand by him. Tang Sanzang admired the clear moonlight and the deep, vast sky, remarking on the bright full moon illuminating the earth and evoking memories of his homeland. He spontaneously recited an ancient-style poem, depicting the bright moonlight, the shifting shadows of mountains and rivers, and his longing for home.
Wukong listened and then approached, saying, "Master, you only see the beauty of the moon and think of your homeland, but you don't understand the moon's changes are actually the way of heaven. On the thirtieth day, the yang energy dissipates, and yin energy fills, turning the moon black and lightless, known as 'hui.' At this time, it aligns with the sun, and between 'hui' and 'shuo,' it is influenced by sunlight. On the third day, one yang appears; on the eighth day, two yangs grow, making the moon half-bright, known as the first quarter. On the fifteenth day, three yangs are complete, making it full, known as 'wang.' On the sixteenth day, one yin appears; on the twenty-second day, two yins grow, making the other half bright, known as the last quarter. On the thirtieth day, three yins are complete, returning to 'hui.' This is the mystery of the heavenly way. If we can grasp these changes and cultivate successfully, seeing Buddha and returning home will be easy." Wukong then composed an impromptu poem, explaining the relationship between the moon's changes and the path of cultivation.
Hearing this, Tang Sanzang suddenly felt enlightened and joyful, grateful for Wukong's guidance. Sha Monk, standing nearby, laughed and said, "Senior Brother is right, but he only mentioned that before the first quarter, it's yang, and after the last quarter, it's yin, with half yang in yin, and gold in water. But he didn't mention that water and fire must combine, each having its own fate, all relying on the earth mother to harmonize. When the three elements meet without conflict, water flows in the Yangtze, and the moon is in the sky." Hearing this, Tang Sanzang understood even more. As the saying goes, understanding one principle can lead to understanding a thousand others; realizing the truth of non-birth is to attain immortality.
At this point, Bajie stepped forward and pulled Tang Sanzang aside, saying, "Master, don't listen to their nonsense and miss your sleep. The moon, you see, becomes full again after being incomplete, just like how I was born imperfect. People complain about my big belly when I eat, and about my drool when I hold a bowl. They are all smart and cultivate blessings, while I foolishly accumulate karma. I say, with your journey to obtain scriptures, you'll shake your tail and head straight to heaven!"
Tang Sanzang laughed and said, "Alright, my disciples, you've worked hard. Go to sleep first, and I'll read this scripture." Wukong said, "Master, you're mistaken. You became a monk at a young age and should already be familiar with the scriptures from your childhood. Now, under the Tang Emperor's order, you're heading west to see the Buddha and obtain the Great Vehicle scriptures. We haven't obtained the scriptures yet, nor have we seen the Buddha. Which scripture are you planning to read?" Tang Sanzang replied, "Since leaving Chang'an, I've been traveling tirelessly. I'm afraid I've grown rusty with the scriptures from my youth, so tonight, with some leisure, I'd like to review them." Wukong said, "In that case, we'll go to sleep first." The three of them each lay down on their rattan beds and fell asleep. Tang Sanzang closed the door of the meditation hall, lit a lamp, spread out the scripture, and read it silently.
As the saying goes: At the first drum on the tower, the streets are silent, and at the wild riverbank, the fisherman's fire is extinguished. To find out how Tang Sanzang later leaves the temple, tune in to the next episode.
