Alright, the story begins! Instead of talking about how Tang Seng and his disciples escaped, let’s chat about the Lifesaving Temple in Chen's Village. As soon as dawn broke, the folks in the temple were busy preparing offerings for Tang Seng. But when they got downstairs, they found that Tang Seng was missing! Everyone panicked like ants on a hot stove, frantically asking, “Where did Tang Seng go?” They were all lamenting, thinking, “How could we let a living Buddha slip away?”
With no other choice, they had to carry the offerings back upstairs and burn paper for rituals. From then on, every year during the four major festivals and twenty-four minor ones, people came to pray for health, peace, family wishes, wealth, and children. The incense was burning non-stop, creating quite the lively atmosphere—truly a golden furnace with eternal flames and jade lamps shining brightly!
Meanwhile, the Eight Great Vajras used a second wave of fragrant wind to send Tang Seng's four disciples back to the East. Gradually, they spotted Chang'an. It turns out that Emperor Taizong had sent Tang Seng out of the city in the thirteenth year of the Zhenguan era, and by the sixteenth year, the Ministry of Works had built a lookout tower outside Xi'an specifically for receiving scriptures. That day, just as Taizong returned to the tower, he suddenly saw auspicious clouds filling the western sky and fragrant winds blowing. The Vajras called out from the air, “Holy Monk, we’ve arrived in Chang'an! We can’t go down; the people here are too clever and might reveal our identities.”
Upon hearing this, the Great Sage immediately said, “You’re right, but how can my master go alone to deliver the scriptures? He needs us to accompany him!” The Vajras replied, “A few days ago, Guanyin Bodhisattva already informed the Tathagata that the round trip only takes eight days, and four days have already passed. We’re worried that Bajie might get too tempted by wealth and delay things.” Bajie chuckled, saying, “If my master becomes a Buddha, I want to become one too! How could I be greedy? Just wait for me; I’ll return after delivering the scriptures!”
So, everyone worked together. Tang Seng carried the burden, Sha Seng led the horse, and the Great Sage guided the holy monk as they descended from the clouds, landing beside the lookout tower. When Taizong and his officials saw them, they immediately rushed down to greet, “Is the royal brother here?” Tang Seng bowed, and Taizong helped him up, asking, “Who are these three?” Tang Seng replied, “They are my disciples I picked up along the way.” Taizong was overjoyed and ordered his attendants, “Quick, bring my carriage and horses! Let the royal brother mount and return to court together!”
Tang Seng was immensely grateful, mounted his horse, and Sun Wukong followed closely behind. Bajie and Sha Seng supported the horse while carrying the burden, and together they entered Chang'an. It was just like the peaceful feasts of yesteryear, with both civil and military officials showcasing their talents. In the water and land arena, monks performed rituals; in the golden hall, officials were summoned. The imperial decree conferred upon Tang Seng the scriptures, which were matched with the five elements, for he had diligently vanquished various demons, and today he was joyfully entering the capital.
Tang Seng and his four disciples entered the court, and the entire city knew that the scripture seeker had returned. The monks of Hongfu Temple in Chang'an saw that even the tops of the pine trees were bending eastward and exclaimed, “How strange! There’s no wind tonight, yet the tree tops are all turned!” An old disciple of Tang Seng chimed in, “Quick, fetch the robes! The scripture teacher has arrived!” The other monks asked, “How do you know?” The old disciple replied, “When the master left back then, he said, ‘After I depart, whether it’s three to five years or six to seven years, just look at the pine tree branches; if they’re facing east, I’ll be back.’ My master’s words are sacred, hence I know.”
Everyone hurriedly put on their robes and rushed to West Street, where news had already spread: “The scripture seeker has just arrived, and the emperor is welcoming him into the city!” The monks, upon hearing this, hurried over, but when they encountered Tang Seng, they dared not approach too closely, instead following behind him toward the gates. Tang Seng dismounted and entered the court with everyone. He handed over the dragon horse and scripture burden to his companions, while Bajie and Sha Seng stood below the jade steps, waiting for their audience.
With a command from Taizong, “Royal brother, ascend the hall!” Tang Seng quickly expressed his gratitude and, after sitting down, had the scriptures brought up. The disciples were quick to act, taking out the scriptures and handing them to the attending officials. Curious, Taizong asked, “How many scriptures do you have? How did you obtain them?” Tang Seng, with a serious expression, replied:
“I went to Ling Mountain and met the Buddha. The two revered ones, Ashvajit and Kasyapa, first invited me to a banquet at the Treasure Pavilion, and then they took me to the Precious Hall to transmit the scriptures. The revered one asked for some offerings, which I wasn’t prepared for, so I didn’t give him anything. As a result, he handed me the scriptures. Thanks to the Buddha’s grace, when preparing to head east, I didn’t expect to be robbed by a demon wind. Luckily, my little disciple had some skills and managed to retrieve the scriptures, but they turned out to be blank scrolls, leaving us all dumbfounded!”
Tang Seng continued, "We went to pay homage to the Buddha and asked for blessings. The Buddha told us, 'When this scripture is completed, a holy monk will come down from the mountains to recite it at the home of Elder Zhao in the Shravasti Kingdom. This will ensure the safety of the living and the liberation of the deceased. In return, he only received three dou and three sheng of golden rice grains, which he felt was too cheap. Later, his descendants ran out of money.' We understood that the revered one needed offerings. The Buddha understood this, so he graciously sent the purple gold bowl to him, which allowed us to receive the actual scriptures with characters. There are a total of thirty-five volumes in this scripture, and after verification, there are five thousand and forty-eight scrolls in total, exactly matching one complete canon!"
Hearing this, Taizong felt delighted and immediately ordered the Guanglu Temple to host a banquet in the East Pavilion to express his gratitude. Just then, he noticed Tang Seng's three disciples standing at the foot of the steps, each looking quite extraordinary, and he asked, "Are these disciples foreigners?" Tang Seng humbly replied, "My eldest disciple's surname is Sun, and his Dharma name is Wukong; everyone calls him Sun Wukong. He originally hails from the Flower Fruit Mountain in the Aolai Kingdom of the Eastern Victory Divine Continent. Five hundred years ago, he caused a ruckus in the Heavenly Palace and was suppressed by the Buddha in the stone box of the Two Realms Mountain in the Western Regions. Later, under the guidance of Guanyin Bodhisattva, he was willing to take refuge, and I rescued him; I truly owe him my protection."
Tang Seng then introduced, "My second disciple's surname is Zhu, and his Dharma name is Wuneng; everyone calls him Zhu Bajie. He originally lived in the Yunzhang Cave on Fuling Mountain, but after causing trouble in the Gao Laozhuang of Wusizang, he was persuaded by the Bodhisattva to do good, and was thus taken in by the Great Sage. He has great strength for carrying burdens and is very capable in crossing waters."
"And my third disciple's surname is Sha, with the Dharma name Wujing; everyone calls him Sha Monk. He originally caused mischief in the Flowing Sand River, but later, under the Bodhisattva's guidance, he also became a monk. As for this horse, it was not bestowed by Your Majesty." Upon hearing this, Taizong asked in confusion, "How could that be?"
Tang Seng explained, "When I was crossing the water at Shepan Mountain and Yingchou Gorge, my original horse was swallowed by this one. Fortunately, the Great Sage asked the Bodhisattva about this horse's origins, and it turned out to be from the Dragon King of the Western Sea. Because of its sins, it was rescued by the Bodhisattva, allowing me to ride it. At that time, it transformed back into its original form; the hair and markings were the same. Thanks to it, we were able to traverse mountains and rugged terrain. I rode it there and it carried the scriptures back, truly a great help!"
Taizong praised him repeatedly and then asked, "You've come from afar, how long was your journey?" Tang Seng replied, "According to the Bodhisattva's words, it was a distance of one hundred thousand and eight thousand li. I didn't keep count along the way, only knowing that fourteen years had passed. Every day was filled with mountains and ridges, encountering large forests and wide rivers. We also passed through several kingdoms, each with verification seals."
Taizong nodded in agreement and then called out, "Disciple, bring forth the customs documents for submission to His Majesty." They were promptly presented. Upon inspecting them, Taizong noticed they were issued three days before the full moon in the thirteenth year of the Zhenguan era, and couldn’t help but laugh, "You've come from afar, and today is already the twenty-seventh year of the Zhenguan era!" The documents bore seals from the Kingdom of Baoxiang, the Kingdom of Wujiguo, the Kingdom of Chezhi, the Kingdom of Xiliang Nuguo, the Kingdom of Jisai, the Kingdom of Zhuziguo, the Kingdom of Shizhuo, the Kingdom of Biqiu, and the Kingdom of Mieguo, as well as seals from Fengxian County, Yuhua Prefecture, and Jinping Prefecture. After reviewing them, Taizong accepted them with satisfaction.
That day, Emperor Taizong decided to hold a banquet, so he descended from the hall and walked alongside Tang Seng. Suddenly, Taizong asked, "Do your esteemed disciples understand etiquette?" Tang Seng quickly humbly replied, "My little disciples are merely mountain village demons and do not fully understand our Chinese customs. I hope Your Majesty can forgive them." Taizong laughed heartily, "No problem, no problem! Let’s all go to the East Pavilion for the banquet!" After expressing his thanks, Tang Seng called his disciples, and everyone joyfully made their way into the pavilion.
Upon entering the East Pavilion, wow, it was truly eye-opening! Just look at the colorful embroidery hanging on the doors, the red carpet laid on the floor, the fragrant air wafting around, and the fresh food that made one’s mouth water. Amber cups and glass bowls, inlaid with gold and adorned with gems; golden plates and white jade bowls, intertwined with brocade flowers. The boiled turnips and sugar-coated taro, the sweetness of mushrooms and the freshness of seaweed, were simply dazzling! There were also ginger and spicy bamboo shoots, honey-glazed sunflowers, gluten, wood ear mushrooms, and tofu skin—everything you could imagine was there, nothing was missing!
Not to mention the rare fruits, such as walnuts, persimmons, longan, lychee, ginkgo from Jiangnan, and rabbit-head pears, they were simply irresistible! Taizong sat in the center, surrounded by civil and military officials, with singing, dancing, and music creating a lively atmosphere. Everyone enjoyed themselves throughout the day. It was truly a grand event for the emperor, celebrating the acquisition of the scriptures, filled with blessings, and radiating the light of the Buddha—a moment to be remembered through the ages!
After the banquet, as night fell, Taizong returned to the palace, the officials went home, and Tang Seng and his disciples returned to Hongfu Temple. Upon entering the mountain gate, the monks bowed in greeting, excitedly saying, "Master, this morning the tree tops suddenly turned eastward. We remembered your words and hurried out of the city to welcome you, and it truly came to pass!" Tang Seng, overjoyed, could hardly contain his smile as he entered the abbot's quarters.
That night, Bajie didn’t clamor for food and drink, and both Wukong and Sha Seng appeared particularly composed. After all, everyone had completed their spiritual journey, so it was naturally much quieter. Thus, the master and disciples peacefully slept in the temple.
The next morning, as Taizong ascended to court, he addressed the gathered officials, saying, "I recall the merits of my esteemed brother; they are truly immense and impossible to repay. After a sleepless night, I composed a few verses to express my gratitude, though I haven't written them down yet."
He called out, "Minister of the Central Secretariat, come here; I will recite them to you, and you write them down." Taizong began to recite: "I have heard that the two forms have images, the four seasons have no shape; the mysteries of heaven and earth can be recognized even by the foolish, while the wise find it difficult to exhaust their numbers. It is evident that the obvious does not confuse the foolish; yet the hidden, formless truths can perplex even the clever."
He continued, "Thus, the visible can be measured, and the foolish are not confused; the hidden cannot be seen, and even the wise may be lost. The Buddhist path values emptiness, riding the subtle and controlling the quiet, broadly benefiting all things, governing the ten directions. With supreme power above, and divine strength below. The great encompasses the universe, while the small is captured in a hair's breadth, neither extinguished nor born, existing through countless kalpas and eternally."
Taizong's words grew increasingly profound: "I, the monk Xuanzang, am the leader of the Dharma door. In my youth, I was wise and early understood the principle of emptiness; as I grew, I aligned with the divine clarity and first practiced the four forbearances. The pine wind and water moon cannot compare to its clarity; the celestial dew and bright pearls cannot match its brilliance! Therefore, my wisdom is unobstructed, free from burdens, transcending the six dusts, inheriting a timeless reputation."
"I hope to spread the true scriptures, shining alongside the sun and moon; may blessings be widespread, coexisting with heaven and earth." Taizong's words were heartfelt and filled with grandeur!
Once Taizong finished writing that elegant piece, he summoned Tang Seng. At that moment, Tang Seng was waiting outside the court doors. Hearing the call, he hurriedly entered the hall and performed a deep bow. Taizong handed him the freshly written text, asking him to take a good look. After reading it, Tang Seng repeatedly expressed his gratitude, feeling moved, "Your Majesty's literary talent is truly ancient and profound, but I am not quite sure what this piece is called."
Taizong smiled and said, "This was composed by me last night to express my gratitude; it is called 'The Preface to the Sacred Teachings.' I wonder if it meets your approval." Tang Seng quickly bowed his head, deeply appreciative. Taizong humbly added, "My writing is still lacking, not at all comparable to the words of stone and metal, especially the inner scriptures, which I have never heard. Such a hastily composed piece is indeed too rough; I truly feel ashamed."
At that moment, the surrounding officials congratulated him, bowing in reverence to this sacred text, which spread both inside and outside the palace. Taizong asked Tang Seng, "Why not recite the true scriptures for everyone?" Tang Seng quickly replied, "Your Majesty, to recite the true scriptures, we must go to a Buddhist site; the treasure hall is not a place for casual recitation." Upon hearing this, Taizong was overjoyed and immediately inquired, "Which temple in Chang'an is clean?"
At that moment, the Grand Scholar Xiao Yu stepped forward and said, "There is a very clean temple called the Wild Goose Pagoda." Taizong then ordered the officials, "Each of you take a few scrolls of the scriptures and follow me to the Wild Goose Pagoda to invite my esteemed brother to discuss the scriptures." Everyone eagerly took the scrolls and followed Taizong to the temple, where they set up a high platform and arranged everything neatly.
Tang Seng instructed, "Bajie, Sha Seng, you lead the dragon horse and manage the bundles. Wukong will stay by my side." He then turned to Taizong and said, "Your Majesty, if you want to spread the true scriptures throughout the world, we must have copies; the original must be well-preserved and not treated carelessly." Taizong nodded in agreement, "You are right, my esteemed brother. Quickly go to the Hanlin Academy and the officials of the Central Secretariat to have copies made of the true scriptures." Thus, a new temple was built in the eastern part of the city, named the Chenghuang Temple.
Tang Seng held several scrolls of scriptures as he ascended the high platform, preparing to begin the recitation. Suddenly, a fragrant breeze swept through, and eight Vajra appeared in mid-air, shouting, "Those reciting scriptures, quickly put down the scrolls and come back with us to the West!" In an instant, Wukong, Bajie, Sha Seng, and even the white horse soared into the air, causing Tang Seng to drop the scrolls and follow them into the sky. This sight startled Taizong and the officials, who all looked up and bowed in reverence.
This was truly a moment of: "The holy monk diligently sought the scriptures, traveling through the Western universe for fourteen years, enduring hardships and trials, navigating mountains and rivers with great difficulty. Completing the journey, he achieved his goal, traversing three thousand realms and beyond. The profound teachings returned to the homeland, forever to be passed down in the Eastern lands." After Taizong and the officials finished their bows, he selected eminent monks to hold a water and land assembly at the Wild Goose Pagoda, reciting the "Tripitaka" to deliver the souls of the deceased and spread blessings, distributing the transcribed scriptures throughout the world.
As the eight Vajra rode the fragrant wind, they returned Tang Seng and his disciples, along with the white horse, to Ling Mountain in just eight days. At that time, the deities of Ling Mountain were gathered before the Buddha, listening to teachings. The eight Vajra brought the master and disciples into the Buddha hall, addressing the Buddha, "Disciples have come as commanded, delivering the holy monk and his companions back to the Tang Kingdom. We now present the scriptures and report the message."
The Buddha smiled gently and said, "Holy monk, in your past life, you were one of my two disciples named Jin Chanzi. Because you did not heed my teachings and dismissed my great doctrine, you were banished to the Eastern lands. However, you have now returned to the fold, upholding my teachings to retrieve the true scriptures, which is truly a great merit! I hereby promote you to the rank of Sandalwood Merit Buddha." Upon hearing this, Tang Seng felt a deep sense of joy.
Next, the Buddha turned to Sun Wukong: "You, for causing chaos in the Heavenly Palace, I used my profound magical power to suppress you beneath the Five Elements Mountain. Now that you have returned to Buddhism, promoting good and subduing evil, you have accomplished much on your journey. I will promote you to the title of Victorious Fighting Buddha!" Wukong was overjoyed upon hearing this, grinning widely.
Then the Buddha looked at Zhu Bajie: "You were originally the Water God of the Heavenly River and the Marshal of the Heavenly Canopy, but after causing trouble at the Peach Banquet from drinking, you were demoted to the mortal realm and transformed into a beast. Fortunately, you remembered your beloved and returned to the great teachings, protecting the holy monk. Although you are still mischievous, you have worked hard carrying the burdens, so I will promote you to the position of Pure Land Envoy." Bajie exclaimed, "Everyone else has become a Buddha, and I only get to be a Pure Land Envoy?"
The Buddha laughed and replied, "Because you have a big mouth, are lazy, and eat a lot. In the four great continents of the world, many admire my teachings, and the position of Pure Land Envoy is also quite useful. Why not embrace it?" Bajie thought this made sense and obediently expressed his gratitude.
Next, the Buddha turned to Sha Wujing: "You were originally the Curtain-Lifting General, but after breaking a glass lamp at the Peach Banquet, you were demoted to the mortal realm, landing in the Flowing Sand River, causing harm to others. Fortunately, you have returned to my teachings, protecting the holy monk and successfully leading the horse, so I promote you to the rank of Golden Body Arhat." Finally, the Buddha addressed the white horse: "You were originally the son of the Dragon King of the Western Sea, but due to your unfilial actions, you were demoted. Now that you have returned to the fold, carrying the holy monk and the true scriptures daily, your merits are considerable, so I promote you to the Eightfold Heavenly Dragon Horse."
Tang Seng and his disciples all bowed in gratitude, and even the horse joined in. The Buddha then instructed someone to bring the horse to the Dragon Transformation Pool at the back of Ling Mountain and pushed it into the pool. Before long, the horse stretched its body, shedding its fur to grow dragon horns, its body shimmering with golden scales, silver whiskers sprouting from its jaw, surrounded by auspicious energy, with four hooves on clouds, it flew out of the Dragon Transformation Pool, circling above the mountain gate, leaving all the Buddhas in awe of the Buddha's magical power.
At this moment, Sun Wukong said to Tang Seng, "Master, now that I have become a Buddha, we are equals. Why do you still wear the golden hoop and chant the 'Tightening Spell'? You might as well quickly recite the 'Loosening Spell' to break it, so the Bodhisattva won't come to torment me again!" Tang Seng smiled and replied, "Initially, it was to keep you in check, which is why I used this method. Now that you have become a Buddha, it is naturally no longer needed. Feel for yourself." Wukong touched his head and found the golden hoop was indeed gone, feeling immensely relieved!
At this point, the Sandalwood Buddha, Victorious Fighting Buddha, Pure Land Envoy, and Golden Body Arhat all returned to their respective places, and the Heavenly Dragon Horse returned to its true form. It was truly a grand spectacle!
The grand ceremony of the Five Holy Fruits was bustling with activity, featuring numerous Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, holy monks, and Arhats, as well as celestial beings like Jie Di, Bhikkhus, and Upasikas. It was truly a spectacular gathering of deities! Look at Mount Lingjiu, where the rays of dawn shone brightly, and in the Land of Ultimate Bliss, the clouds floated gracefully, with golden dragons lazily reclining and jade tigers at ease. The black rabbit and turtle-snake wandered nearby, while the red phoenix and blue luan exchanged tender glances—what a beautiful scene!
Now, observe those extraordinary flowers and fruits. The Eight-Petal Flower was in full bloom, and the celestial fruits of the four seasons were competing for beauty. Tall pines and ancient cypress trees reached into the clouds, while emerald cypress and bamboo swayed gracefully. The five-colored plum blossoms bloomed and bore fruit intermittently, the thousand-year-old peach was perfectly ripe, and a myriad of fruits and flowers showcased their splendor amidst swirling auspicious mist—it was truly a fairyland! At this moment, the crowd joined their palms in reverence, chanting in unison: "Namo Burning Lamp Ancient Buddha, Namo Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light King Buddha..."
Next, everyone began to chant the names of various Buddhas: "Namo Shakyamuni Buddha, Namo Buddhas of the Past, Present, and Future, Namo Pure Joy Buddha..." The sound of these invocations echoed through the skies, as if even the mountains and rivers were responding.
Then came: "Namo Indestructible Buddha, Namo Treasure Light Buddha, Namo Dragon Sovereign King Buddha..." Each phrase was filled with respect, and the chanting created a lively atmosphere, as if everyone was offering their most sincere blessings to each Buddha. Continuing, "Namo Wisdom Victory Buddha, Namo World Tranquil Light Buddha, Namo Sun and Moon Light Buddha..." The momentum was truly overwhelming!
Finally: "Namo Victorious Fighting Buddha, Namo Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, Namo Great Strength Bodhisattva..." This series of names seemed to invite all the stars of the Buddhist realm. Everyone worked together, wishing to use this merit to adorn the Buddha's Pure Land, repay the fourfold kindness, and relieve the suffering of the three paths.
If there are any who hear and see, may they all generate the Bodhi mind, and together we shall be reborn in the Land of Ultimate Bliss, fulfilling our obligations in this life. Thus, the story of "Journey to the West" comes to an end, leaving behind countless moments of inspiration and enlightenment.
