The four travelers, Tang Seng and his disciples, left Yuhua City and set off on their journey. The road was smooth, almost like walking in paradise. After five or six days, they came across another city. Curious, Tang Seng asked the Monkey King, “What place is this?” The Monkey King squinted and replied, “It’s a city, but there are no flags. We’ll have to get closer to find out.”
As they approached the east side of the city, they saw lively tea houses and taverns, bustling with activity. The market was also filled with noise. A few idle youths were wandering around, and when they spotted Zhu Bajie’s long snout, Sha Seng’s dark face, and Sun Wukong’s red eyes, they gathered around to watch but didn’t dare to approach. Tang Seng felt a bit anxious, worried they might stir up trouble.
After passing through a few alleys, Tang Seng suddenly spotted a mountain gate with the words “Ciyun Temple” written on it. Excited, he said, “Let’s go in and rest for a while. How about we have a meal?” The Monkey King immediately responded, “Great idea!” So, the four of them entered the temple together. Inside, they found the treasure hall magnificent, the Buddha seat towering high, and the monk’s quarters serene like the moon. The red clouds floated, and the green trees cast deep shadows, truly a pure land, almost like a dragon palace.
At that moment, the golden bell of the abbot rang, and the monks began chanting scriptures. Tang Seng was engrossed when a monk stepped out and greeted him, “Master, where do you come from?” Tang Seng replied, “I’m from the Tang Dynasty of China.” Upon hearing this, the monk immediately bowed down, and Tang Seng hurried to help him up, asking, “Why such courtesy?” The monk joined his palms and said, “Those of us who are virtuous here hope to be reborn in China to meet a practitioner like you.” Tang Seng smiled and said, “Oh, no! I’m just a wandering monk, not someone of great use! If the abbot can live here in peace, that is true happiness!”
The monk led Tang Seng into the main hall to pay respects to the Buddha statue. Tang Seng called for his disciples, “Where are my disciples?” The Monkey King and the others, having turned their backs while the monk spoke, were holding the horses and standing aside, unnoticed. When Tang Seng called them, they turned around. The monk exclaimed, “Goodness! Why are your disciples so ugly?” Tang Seng laughed and replied, “Though they may be ugly, their powers are not small. I rely on them for protection on the road!”
Just then, a few more monks came out to greet them. The first monk told the others, “This master is a figure from the Tang Dynasty in China, and these three are his esteemed disciples.” The monks, both excited and nervous, asked, “Master, what brings you from the great nation of China to our humble place?” Tang Seng answered, “I come on the orders of the Tang Emperor to visit the Buddha and seek scriptures. I happened to pass by here and wanted to inquire about the place and have a meal.”
The monks were all very pleased and invited Tang Seng to the abbot’s quarters, where several monks were preparing a meal. The monk called out, “Come and see this figure from China! There are handsome ones and ugly ones; the handsome are truly hard to describe, while the ugly are quite peculiar!” Many monks and hosts came to meet him, and after introductions, everyone sat down to drink tea. Tang Seng asked, “What is this place called?” The monks replied, “This is Jinping Prefecture, outside of Tianzhu.” Tang Seng inquired, “How far is it from here to Lingshan?” The monks said, “It’s about two thousand miles to the capital, which we have traveled. As for Lingshan, we haven’t been there, so we don’t know how far it is; we wouldn’t dare to speculate.” Tang Seng thanked them repeatedly.
After finishing their meal, Tang Seng and his group prepared to continue their journey. However, the monks and hosts warmly insisted, “Master, why not stay here for a day or two? It would be nice to wait until after the Lantern Festival before leaving!” Tang Seng was surprised and asked, “I only know there are mountains and rivers on the road, and I fear encountering monsters that would delay us. I didn’t realize the Lantern Festival was coming up!” The monks laughed heartily, saying, “Master, you’re so focused on your prayers that you don’t even notice! Today is the thirteenth day of the first month; tonight we’ll try the lanterns, and the Lantern Festival is the day after tomorrow. The festivities will last until the eighteenth or nineteenth! Our prefect loves lively celebrations, and the place is already decorated with lanterns, with music playing all night. Plus, there’s a Golden Lantern Bridge left from ancient times, which is very lively! Please relax and stay a few days; this quiet mountain can accommodate you.” With no other choice, Tang Seng agreed to stay.
That night, the temple was filled with the sounds of bells and drums, as the local devotees brought lanterns to offer to the Buddha. Tang Seng and his disciples also came out to enjoy the festivities, and after watching the lanterns, they returned to rest. The next day, the monks prepared a meal for them again, and after eating, everyone strolled around the back garden. Indeed, this place was wonderful, perfectly capturing the essence of spring: flowers blooming in the first month of the lunar year. The garden was elegant and enchanting, with seasonal flowers competing for beauty, layered mountains, and lush greenery. Fragrant grass sprouted at the steps, and the old plum trees exuded a sweet scent. The peach blossoms were a delicate pink, and the new green of the willows was intoxicating.
The Jin Gu Garden was splendid, needing no embellishment; the water flowed gently, and wild ducks occasionally appeared. The bamboo grove was filled with countless stalks, often visited by poets and scholars. Various flowers bloomed in abundance: camellias, red plums, forsythias, and sweet-scented flowers, each more stunning than the last. In the distance, the trees were still shrouded in the mist of spring, while deer reflected in the pond, and white cranes listened to music beneath the pines. The houses to the east and the pavilions to the west provided lodging for guests; the halls to the south and the towers to the north were where the monks quietly meditated. There were also several pavilions for relaxation, with high, sloping roofs; nestled among the mountains and waters were a few meditation rooms, with bright and clean windows.
This was truly a hidden gem, a place where one need not seek paradise elsewhere. The disciples played all day, and at night, they went to see the lanterns, completely immersed in joy. At the lantern festival, the agate flower city, the glazed fairy cave, and the crystal-clear palaces resembled layers of brocade, exquisite and translucent. The shadows of the star bridge swayed, the fiery trees glowed brightly, and the sounds of flutes and drums filled the six streets, with delightful aromas wafting from every household. On the towering peaks, fish leaped from the water, and phoenixes soared in the sky, as the lights blended with the moonlight, creating a harmonious atmosphere.
After enjoying the lanterns in the temple, they played in the streets by the east gate until the second watch of the night before returning to settle down. The next day, Tang Seng said to the monks, “I’ve always wanted to sweep the pagoda. Since today is the Lantern Festival, please open the pagoda door so I can fulfill this wish.” The monks immediately opened the door. Sha Seng took the monk’s robe and followed Tang Seng up the pagoda. Upon reaching the first level, Tang Seng donned the robe, paid respects to the Buddha, and began sweeping the floor. He then handed the robe to Sha Seng and continued sweeping each level until the very top. Each level of the pagoda had a Buddha statue, and the windows were perfectly positioned. After sweeping each level, Tang Seng praised it, feeling immensely happy.
After they finished sweeping the pagoda, it was already late, and everyone lit lamps. Tonight was the Lantern Festival, and the monks excitedly said to Tang Seng, “Master, a few days ago we only saw lanterns in the wild mountains and at the gates. Tonight is the actual festival; let’s go into the city to see the golden lanterns!” Tang Seng immediately agreed, and the four disciples, along with the monks, entered the city to see the lanterns. The scene was truly lively, with the spring colors filling the garden, and the lanterns hanging high in the bustling streets, everyone singing the Peace Song in unison.
Upon entering the city, the six streets and three markets were brightly lit, with the moon hanging high like a silver platter. The lights reflected the moonlight, doubling the brilliance; the moon illuminated the lanterns, and the lanterns shone upon the moon, creating a dazzling spectacle. Tang Seng and the others were captivated by the sights, with the Iron Lock Star Bridge and the fiery trees being simply breathtaking. There were countless types of lanterns, including snowflake lanterns and plum blossom lanterns, all colorful and vibrant; walnut lanterns and lotus lanterns hung high; green lion lanterns and white elephant lanterns were grand in style. There were also shrimp lanterns and sheep lanterns, truly a dazzling array that left people in awe.
Amidst the bustling crowd, people gathered in clusters, and as Tang Seng and his group arrived at the Golden Lantern Bridge, they saw three large golden lanterns. These lanterns were extraordinary, as big as barrels, adorned with two delicate levels made of fine gold threads, holding thin sheets of glaze inside, radiating bright light and a fragrant aroma. Curious, Tang Seng asked, “What kind of oil is used in these lanterns? It smells so good!” The monks replied, “Master, you may not know, but behind our prefecture is a county called Mintian, which specializes in lamp oil. Every year, they must provide oil, and every household must contribute.”
“This oil is not ordinary; it’s fragrant oil, worth two taels of silver per liang and thirty-two taels per jin. Each of the three lanterns holds five hundred jins of oil, totaling one thousand five hundred jins, which costs forty-eight thousand taels just for the oil. Including other expenses, it amounts to over fifty thousand taels, and it will only last for three nights!” The Monkey King exclaimed, “That’s a lot of oil! How can it be used up in just three nights?” The monks explained, “Each barrel has forty-nine large lanterns made of lamp grass. After tonight, when the Buddha appears, the oil will be gone by tomorrow night, and the lanterns will dim.” Bajie laughed and said, “It seems even the Buddha takes the oil away!”
The monks nodded, saying, “That’s exactly the case; everyone in the city believes this legend. When the oil runs out, people say it’s because the Buddha has taken the lanterns, ensuring a bountiful harvest; if it doesn’t run out for a year, then there will be drought. So everyone must offer this lamp oil.” The lantern festival was indeed lively, and Tang Seng and his disciples were also enjoying the joyful atmosphere of the Lantern Festival.
Just as everyone was happily watching the lanterns, a sudden gust of wind swept through the air, causing people to scatter in fear. The monks struggled to maintain their balance and hurriedly told Tang Seng, “Master, we should go back quickly; the wind is coming! This is a sign of the Buddha descending!” Tang Seng, puzzled, asked, “How do you know it’s the Buddha coming?” The monks explained, “It happens every year; before the third watch, there will be wind. Everyone knows it’s the arrival of the Buddhas, so they hurry to avoid it.”
Tang Seng felt a stirring in his heart. As someone who loved Buddhist teachings, he thought, “Since the Buddha is descending, I should pay my respects; there’s nothing wrong with that.” However, the monks repeatedly urged him not to stay. Before long, three figures of Buddhas indeed appeared in the wind, frightening Tang Seng so much that he ran to the top of the bridge and bowed down with a thud. The Monkey King, seeing this, quickly grabbed him and said, “Master, they’re not good beings; they must be monsters!” Before he could finish speaking, the lights dimmed suddenly, and with a whoosh, Tang Seng was lifted up and carried away by the wind.
Oh no, this was terrible! They had no idea what kind of monster was lurking in the mountains or caves, pretending to be a Buddha to check on the golden lanterns. Bajie was anxiously searching around, while Sha Seng was calling out on both sides. The Monkey King shouted, “Brothers! Stop calling out here; Master has been captured by a demon during his moment of joy!” The monks, hearing this, looked at each other in fear, saying, “Master, how do you know it was a demon that took him?” The Monkey King laughed and replied, “You mortals never understand year after year, and that’s why you’ve been deceived by these fiends. The figures of Buddhas that appeared in the wind just now were actually three demons. My master didn’t see clearly and went to bow on the bridge, which led to their ambush. I was just a bit late, so they took the chance to escape as wind.”
Sha Seng hurriedly asked, “What should we do now?” The Monkey King patted his shoulder and said, “Don’t worry; you two go back to the temple and take care of the horses and luggage. I’ll catch up and rescue Master!”
The Great Sage was burning with anxiety and immediately leaped into the air, riding on his cloud toward the northeast. By dawn, when the wind had stopped, he discovered a towering mountain rising into the clouds, truly steep and perilous. The mountain was layered and winding, with vines hanging over the cliffs and pines standing tall among the rocks.
Morning mist swirled around the mountain, with the calls of cranes echoing and flocks of geese flying among the clouds. The peaks rose high, resembling spears, with rocks jutting out like flickering phosphorescence. The mountain’s summit soared thousands of feet high, with numerous bends, and wildflowers and trees were vying to show the signs of spring. Cuckoos and orioles sang here, making it a beautiful place.
This majestic mountain was also strange and treacherous. As the Monkey King searched for a path on the cliffs, he suddenly saw four figures leading three sheep down from the western slope, all shouting “Kai Tai.” The Great Sage’s eyes lit up; he recognized these four as the Four Timekeepers: Year, Month, Day, and Hour. He thought to himself, “This is quite interesting!” So he pulled out his iron rod, jumped down the cliff, and shouted, “Where are you hiding?”
Upon hearing this, the Four Timekeepers were frightened and quickly scattered the sheep, revealing their true forms as they respectfully bowed, saying, “Great Sage, forgive us! Forgive us!” Seeing them like this, the Monkey King felt a bit angry and said, “Where have you all been? Why haven’t you come to see me? Instead of protecting my master, you’ve come here!”
The Timekeepers hurriedly explained, “Your master has been captured by a demon because he indulged himself at Ciyun Temple in Jinping Prefecture. Although he has protective deities with him, we worried that you might not recognize the mountains and forests, so we specially came to inform you.” Hearing this, the Monkey King felt a tightening in his chest and asked, “Then why did you hide your identities and rush here with three sheep?”
The Timekeepers replied, “This is in response to the words ‘Kai Tai,’ which is called ‘Three Yang Kai Tai,’ to break your master’s misfortune.” After hearing this, although the Monkey King felt displeased, he understood their good intentions, put away his rod, and asked, “Is this mountain the lair of the demons?”
The Timekeepers nodded, saying, “Indeed, this mountain is called Qinglong Mountain, and there is a cave inside known as Xuan Ying Cave, where three demons reside: the King of Cold, the King of Heat, and the King of Dust. They have been here for a thousand years, pretending to be Buddhas to deceive the people of Jinping Prefecture into setting up golden lanterns. The oil used for the lanterns is actually fragrant oil. This year, when they saw your master and recognized him as a holy monk, they captured him, planning to carve his flesh to make fragrant oil!”
Upon hearing this, the Monkey King was burning with anxiety. He quickly dismissed the four Timekeepers and turned to search for the cave. After walking a short distance, he spotted a rocky cliff by a stream, beneath which stood a stone house with two half-open stone doors. Beside the door was a stone tablet that read “Qinglong Mountain Xuan Ying Cave.” The Monkey King dared not enter recklessly; he stopped and shouted, “Demons! Quickly release my master!”
At that moment, the door swung open with a loud creak, and a bull-headed demon rushed out, staring blankly and asking, “Who are you to dare shout here?” The Monkey King replied rudely, “I am the eldest disciple of Tang Sanzang, the holy monk from the East, passing through Jinping Prefecture to see the lanterns. Your demon lord has captured my master; hurry and return him, or I will overturn your lair and turn you all into pus and blood!”
Hearing this, the little demons hurriedly ran back to report, “Great King! Something has happened! Something has happened!”
Inside a dark cave, the three old demons were tightly holding onto Tang Seng, preparing to make their move. They were discussing how to strip him of his clothes, clean his body, and then slice him into pieces to fry him in fragrant oil. Just then, a little demon rushed in to report, “Great King, there’s a monk with a hairy face and a thunderous voice outside shouting that you’ve captured his master and demanding you release him, or he’ll overturn your lair!”
The old demons felt a tightening in their hearts upon hearing this. “Oh no, we just captured this person and don’t even know who he is! Quickly, put his clothes back on him and bring him over for questioning!” So, the demons rushed to untie Tang Seng, dressed him, and pushed him in front of them. Trembling in fear, Tang Seng repeatedly pleaded, “Great King, spare my life, spare my life!”
The three demons asked in unison, “Which place are you from, monk? Why didn’t you avoid the Buddha statue but instead trespassed on our path?” Tang Seng quickly bowed and explained, “I am from the East, heading to the Great Thunder Monastery in the country of Tianzhu to obtain scriptures. I was at Ciyun Temple in Jinping Prefecture when I saw the Great King manifesting as a Buddha, which is why I inadvertently trespassed on your cloud path.”
The demons were moved upon hearing this: “You, a monk from the East, have traveled a long way. How many people are in your group, and what are their names? Speak the truth!” Tang Seng hurriedly replied, “My secular name is Chen Xuanzang. I have been a monk at Jinshan Temple since childhood and was later appointed by the Tang Emperor as a monk official at Hongfu Temple. Because the Tang Emperor dreamed of slaying the old dragon of the Jing River and held a water and land assembly to liberate the souls of the dead, I was sent to obtain scriptures, so everyone calls me Tang Sanzang. I have three disciples: the eldest is named Sun Wukong, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven.”
Upon hearing this name, the demon kings were all startled: “Could this Great Sage Equal to Heaven be the one who caused a ruckus in Heaven five hundred years ago?” Tang Seng nodded, “Exactly, exactly! The second disciple is surnamed Zhu, named Wuneng Bajie, the reincarnation of the Marshal of Heaven; the third is surnamed Sha, named Wujing, known as the Curtain-Lifting General.” The demon kings felt even more anxious: “If we had known, we wouldn’t have acted recklessly! Quickly lock Tang Seng up and wait until we capture his three disciples!”
Thus, they dispatched a group of bull-headed demons, each holding weapons, to march out, waving flags and beating drums, shouting fiercely, “Who dares to shout here?” At that moment, Sun Wukong was watching closely from the side, thinking to himself, “These demons are truly arrogant!”
The demons were all dressed extravagantly. The first wore a fox fur on his head, the second draped in light gauze, and the third looked imposing, each wielding weapons. Unable to contain himself, Sun Wukong stepped forward and shouted, “You rascals! Do you recognize me, old Sun?” Upon hearing this, the demon immediately retorted, “You’re the Sun Wukong who caused a ruckus in Heaven? Truly famous yet unseen; now that we meet, it’s embarrassing for the heavenly gods!”
The Monkey King was furious, shouting, “You thief of lamp oil! Quickly return my master!” With that, he swung his iron rod and charged forward. The demons, seeing this, immediately raised their weapons to confront him, resulting in a fierce battle. The sound of clashing weapons echoed through the valley, creating quite a commotion.
The fight continued for a while until dusk fell, with no clear victor. Suddenly, the King of Dust made a quick move, waving his flag, and the bull-headed demons quickly surrounded Sun Wukong. Realizing the situation was dire, the Monkey King swiftly leaped onto his cloud and fled. The demons, seeing him escape, called back their group to prepare for dinner, even sending a bowl of rice to Tang Seng. Tang Seng, while fasting, felt distressed and cried but dared not touch his chopsticks.
Meanwhile, Sun Wukong rode the clouds back to Ciyun Temple, excitedly calling out, “Junior brother!” At that moment, Bajie and Sha Seng, eagerly waiting for his return, rushed out upon hearing his voice. “Brother, why did you come back so late? How is Master?”
The Monkey King smiled and said, “Last night I heard the wind and rushed to a mountain, but I couldn’t find Master. Fortunately, the four Timekeepers sent word that the mountain is called Qinglong Mountain, and inside is Xuan Ying Cave, where three demons reside: the King of Cold, the King of Heat, and the King of Dust.”
It turned out these three demons were stealing oil here, pretending to be Buddhas to deceive the officials of Jinping Prefecture. This year, they encountered us and foolishly captured Master! Upon hearing this, I had the Timekeepers secretly protect him, and then I started shouting at the entrance. As a result, all three demons rushed out like bull-headed fiends, armed and ready to fight.
Bajie laughed and said, “That sounds like the ghost kings from Fengdu City causing trouble!” Sha Seng curiously asked, “How do you know it’s the ghost kings from Fengdu?” Bajie proudly replied, “Because you mentioned bull-headed demons!”
The Monkey King quickly shook his head, “No! I think those monsters resemble three transformed rhinoceroses!” Bajie’s eyes lit up at this, “If they really are rhinoceroses, capturing them and sawing off their horns could fetch several taels of silver!”
At this moment, the monks approached and asked, “Master Sun, have you had your evening meal?” The Monkey King laughed, “I had a little, but it doesn’t matter if I didn’t.” The monks asked again, “After fighting all day, aren’t you hungry?”
The Monkey King laughed, “How could I be hungry after just one day? I haven’t eaten in five hundred years!” The monks thought he was joking and didn’t take it seriously. After a while, the food was served, and the Monkey King ate.
After finishing his meal, he said, “Let’s tidy up and go capture the demon king tomorrow to rescue Master!” Sha Seng interjected, “Brother, that’s not right! As the saying goes, ‘Staying too long makes one wise.’ What if the demons don’t sleep tonight and harm Master? It would be better to go now and catch them off guard!”
Bajie immediately perked up, “Brother Sha is right! Let’s go vanquish the demons under the moonlight!” The Monkey King nodded in agreement and instructed the monks, “Watch over our luggage and horses. Once we capture the demons, we can report them to the governor, proving they impersonated Buddhas and relieving the troubles of lamp oil for the common people!”
The monks all agreed and expressed their gratitude. Thus, the three of them soared into the clouds and flew out of the city. As the saying goes: “Laziness disrupts the Zen nature, while disaster brings confusion to the heart.” After all, the outcome of this journey was uncertain. What would happen next? We’ll discuss it next time!
