The gentleman Kou had just come back to life and was busy preparing the banners and music for the send-off. Monks, Taoists, and friends gathered together, creating a lively atmosphere. Tang Seng and his four disciples hit the road, heading west toward the land of Buddha. Along the way, they saw all kinds of beautiful flowers and ancient pines, truly a feast for the eyes. In every household, people were practicing their cultivation, and down the mountain, someone was reciting scriptures. It was indeed a great place for spiritual practice.
After walking for six or seven days, they suddenly spotted a tall building that seemed to pierce the clouds, as if it were about to break through the sky. Looking down at the setting sun, one could almost reach out and grab a shooting star. The windows were so wide they could swallow the entire universe, and the building towered high into the clouds. This was the Ling Palace, a place filled with treasures that left people feeling refreshed. Tang Seng was so astonished he could hardly speak, exclaiming, “This place is amazing!”
Wukong, ever the prankster, chimed in, “Master, you were so eager to kneel before that fake Buddha, but now that we’re at the real Buddha’s place, why aren’t you getting off your horse?” Tang Seng hurriedly dismounted, making a beeline for the entrance of the tall building. At the door stood a young Taoist boy leaning against the mountain gate, calling out to them, “Could it be that the people from the East, here to fetch the scriptures, have arrived?” Tang Seng straightened his clothes and looked up, noticing the boy was dressed in brocade robes, waving a jade whisk—he truly had an air of a celestial being.
Wukong recognized him and excitedly said, “Master, that’s the Grand Immortal from the Golden Summit at the foot of the Spirit Mountain! He’s here to welcome us!” Realizing this, Tang Seng quickly approached to pay his respects. The Grand Immortal smiled and said, “Holy Monk, you’ve finally arrived! I’ve been waiting for you for ten years, and I didn’t expect to see you this year.” Tang Seng joined his palms and replied, “Thank you for your warm welcome, Grand Immortal! I’m truly grateful!” So, the four disciples led their horses and burdens into the temple, greeting the Grand Immortal one by one.
The Grand Immortal invited them for tea, set up a feast, and even asked a young boy to prepare a fragrant bath for Tang Seng to cleanse himself before ascending to the Buddha’s realm. At that moment, the hearts of the master and disciples were filled with joy. After enduring countless hardships, they had finally arrived at this beautiful place—a moment worth celebrating. Cleansing away the dust, their spirits felt renewed, ready to embrace a new beginning.
The next day, Tang Seng donned a brand new brocade robe, put on his Pi Lu hat, and held his staff, preparing to bid farewell to the Grand Immortal. The Grand Immortal chuckled, “You were looking all ragged yesterday, but today you look so splendid! You truly resemble a child of Buddha.” After saying goodbye, Wukong interjected, “Grand Immortal, there’s no need to see us off; we can find our own way.” The Grand Immortal replied, “You know the cloud path, but the Holy Monk hasn’t yet walked the cloud path; you must take the main road.”
Wukong thought this made sense and said, “Alright then, since there’s a main road, please guide us a bit. My master is eager to pay respects to the Buddha; we can’t afford to delay.” The Grand Immortal smiled and took Tang Seng’s hand, leading them toward the Dharma gate. It turned out this path led directly out of the mountain gate and through the back door of the temple.
The Grand Immortal pointed to the Spirit Mountain and said, “Holy Monk, look at that peak in the distance, glowing with five-colored auspicious light, surrounded by layers of good fortune—that is the Sacred Peak of Lingjiu, the holy place of the Buddha.” Upon seeing it, Tang Seng immediately bowed down. Wukong laughed, “Master, we’re not at the place to bow yet! There’s a saying: ‘A mountain looks closer than it is.’ We still have quite a distance to go; how can we bow now?” The Grand Immortal replied, “Holy Monk, you’ve already arrived at the blessed land. Now that you see the Spirit Mountain, I’ll take my leave.” Tang Seng then bowed and continued on their journey.
Wukong chuckled and said, “This is the way! Look, Ba Jie is even more flustered.” Ba Jie exclaimed, “Who would dare walk on this bridge? The water is wide and swift, and there’s only a single log—it’s too slippery, we can’t possibly cross!” Wukong dismissed his concerns, saying, “Just wait! I’ll show you how it’s done!” With that, he leaped onto the log bridge, wobbling as he ran across, waving to them from the other side, “Come on! Hurry over!”
Tang Seng and Ba Jie shook their heads, saying, “No way! No way! No way!” Wukong ran back and pulled Ba Jie, saying, “Come on, you fool, follow me!” Ba Jie plopped down on the ground, crying, “It’s slippery! Slippery! I don’t want to fall into the water! Let me ride the wind and mist instead!” Wukong pressed him down, “What nonsense! You have to walk across this bridge to become a Buddha!” Ba Jie wailed, “Brother, becoming a Buddha doesn’t matter if I can’t cross!”
As they were tugging back and forth by the bridge, Sha Seng saw what was happening and hurried over to mediate. Just then, Tang Seng turned back and suddenly spotted a boat approaching on the water. Excitedly, he shouted, “Disciples, stop messing around! A boat is coming!” The three immediately jumped up, staring at the boat. As it got closer, they realized it was a bottomless boat. Wukong, with his keen eyes, recognized it as the boat that ferries people to the Buddha, feeling secretly pleased.
Wukong shouted, “Hurry! Hurry! Get on board!” As the boat docked, Tang Seng felt a bit anxious, wondering, “How can a bottomless boat carry people?” The Buddha laughed and said, “My boat is well-known; although it has no bottom, it is very stable and won’t capsize in the wind or waves.” Wukong joined his palms and said, “Thank you, Buddha, for guiding my master.” Though Tang Seng was worried, Wukong gave him a push, and he tumbled into the boat, luckily being caught by the boatman and standing steadily on board.
Wukong then led Sha Seng and Ba Jie onto the boat, and they all stood together. The Buddha gently propelled the boat, which smoothly crossed the Lingyun Fairy Crossing. Tang Seng finally sighed in relief as he lightly jumped ashore, feeling a surge of emotions.
As the four disciples just stepped ashore, they turned back to see that the bottomless boat had vanished without a trace. Wukong reminded everyone, “That boat is for the Buddha!” Tang Seng suddenly realized, quickly turning around to thank his three disciples repeatedly. Wukong laughed and said, “Master, no need for formalities; we’re all helping each other. We can attain liberation thanks to your teachings; you also need us to protect you to escape from the mortal realm. Look at the flowers and grass around, the pines and bamboos, and those celestial cranes and flying deer—it's truly breathtaking, so much better than those demonic places!”
Tang Seng felt deeply grateful upon hearing this, and they all cheerfully continued toward the Spirit Mountain. Along the way, they finally saw the ancient Leiyin Temple, towering majestically, its roots connecting to Mount Sumeru, with cleverly arranged peaks and rugged rocks. Below the cliffs were beautiful jade grasses and rare flowers, while fragrant orchids lined the winding paths. Celestial monkeys were picking fruits in the peach grove, looking like they were on fire; white cranes perched on the pines, shrouded in mist like jade stones. Colorful phoenixes danced in pairs, while azure birds called to each other—truly a paradise!
As they continued, they saw the mandarin ducks made of golden tiles, the agate floors paved with flower bricks, and exquisite palaces and towers in every direction. To the south and north, there were endless treasures in the pavilions and towers. The Hall of Heavenly Kings radiated with brilliant light, while the Law Protector Hall was ablaze with purple flames. The pagoda stood tall, with the scent of flowers wafting through the air—this was truly a land of peace, feeling like a paradise where time stood still. Free from worldly troubles, they found tranquility in the great hall.
The master and disciples leisurely walked to the summit of the Spirit Mountain, where they saw the noble women under the green pines and the kind-hearted people among the cypress groves. Tang Seng bowed respectfully, and the lay followers, monks, and nuns joined their palms, saying, “Holy Monk, please don’t bow yet; wait until you meet the Buddha.” Wukong laughed and urged, “Hurry and pay your respects to the esteemed one!”
Tang Seng, excited, followed Wukong straight to the entrance of Leiyin Temple. There, they were greeted by the Four Heavenly Kings, who asked, “Has the Holy Monk arrived?” Tang Seng bowed and replied, “Disciple Xuanzang has arrived.” As soon as he finished speaking, the kings said, “Please wait, Holy Monk; allow us to report your arrival.” The kings quickly turned and reported to the gatekeepers at the second door, and then the message was passed to the third door.
The Great Sage led Tang Seng and the others slowly up the Spirit Mountain. After walking a few miles, they came across a rushing river, its waves rolling fiercely, stretching about eight or nine miles wide, and there wasn’t a soul in sight. Tang Seng felt a tightness in his chest and hurriedly asked, “Wukong, something feels off about this road. Did the Grand Immortal point us the wrong way? This river is so wide and swift, and there are no boats—how are we supposed to cross?”
Inside the mountain gate, the divine monk heard that Tang Seng had arrived and hurried to the Great Hero Hall to report to Buddha: “The holy monk from the Tang Dynasty has come to seek the scriptures!” The Buddha was overjoyed and immediately summoned the Eight Bodhisattvas, the Four Heavenly Kings, the Five Hundred Arhats, the Three Thousand Celestials, the Eleven Great Suns, and the Eighteen Guardians, arranging them neatly and issuing a golden decree to summon Tang Seng into the hall.
Tang Seng, following the proper etiquette, led his horse, carried his burdens, and, accompanied by Wukong, Wuneng, and Wujing, walked straight into the mountain gate.
On a sunny day, Tang Seng and his disciples excitedly arrived in front of the Great Hero Hall, bowing respectfully to the Buddha. After their bows, they also bowed to the left and right, showing utmost seriousness. After bowing three times in total, they finally presented their official documents. The Buddha read them while murmuring to himself and eventually handed the documents to Tang Seng.
Tang Seng bowed and said, “Disciple Xuanzang, under the orders of the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, has come to seek the true scriptures. I hope the Buddha can show mercy and allow me to return home soon.” Upon hearing this, the Buddha felt a surge of compassion and said, “The situation in your eastern land is truly dire! There are many people there, filled with greed, violence, lust, and deceit—a veritable cesspool! They do not follow Buddhism, do not seek good fortune, and the virtues of loyalty and filial piety are completely ignored. It is indeed heartbreaking.”
The Buddha continued, “Confucius taught benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and wisdom, but the ignorant and foolish still act on whims without restraint. Alas, it’s truly frustrating. However, I have scriptures here that can help you transcend suffering and resolve disasters.” Hearing this, Tang Seng’s eyes lit up, thinking, “This is a great opportunity!”
The Buddha went on, “I have the Tripitaka, comprising a total of thirty-five volumes, which are the path to true cultivation and the gateway to righteousness. The contents are indeed vast and comprehensive.” After finishing, he called for Ashva and Kasyapa: “You two, take these four disciples to the treasure hall and prepare some vegetarian meals for them. After they eat, I will give them the scriptures.”
Thus, Ashva and Kasyapa led the master and disciples downstairs, where they were dazzled by the rare treasures before them. The celestial delicacies, teas, and fruits were incredibly delicious, incomparable to earthly food. The disciples felt overjoyed, indulging in the feast, thinking, “After enduring countless hardships, we finally get to enjoy such luxury today!”
After eating, the two venerables accompanied the four disciples into the treasure hall. Upon opening the door, the radiant light and auspicious aura were breathtaking, with colorful mist and clouds swirling, as if they had entered a fairyland. The scripture cabinets were adorned with red labels bearing the names of various scriptures, resembling precious treasures. The sheer number of scriptures inside was overwhelming.
Ashva and Kasyapa said to Tang Seng, “Holy Monk, since you’ve come from the eastern land, do you have anything to send us? Quickly present it so we can transmit the scriptures to you.” Tang Seng scratched his head and replied, “Disciple Xuanzang has traveled a long way and hasn’t prepared anything.” The two venerables laughed heartily, “Ah, to pass on the scriptures empty-handed—future generations will surely starve!”
Seeing Ashva and Kasyapa being coy and reluctant to pass on the scriptures, Wukong felt anxious and couldn’t help but shout, “Master, let’s go tell the Buddha to personally give the scriptures to me!” Ashva quickly stopped him, saying, “Don’t shout! What kind of place is this? You dare to act recklessly! Quickly come and receive the scriptures!” Ba Jie and Sha Seng patiently persuaded Wukong, and in the end, they turned around to receive the scriptures, packing them roll by roll into their bags, loading them onto the horse, and securing two burdens. Then, they bowed in gratitude before the Buddha and headed straight for the main gate.
Along the way, they encountered several Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, bowing to each one, and finally said their farewells to the monks, nuns, and lay followers at the gate, happily descending the mountain to continue their journey. At that moment, on the treasure hall, an ancient Buddha of the Burning Lamp secretly listened to their scripture transmission, realizing that Ashva and Kasyapa had passed on the wordless scriptures to them. He couldn’t help but mutter to himself, “The monks from the eastern land are truly ignorant, not recognizing the wordless scriptures—what a waste of the holy monk’s efforts!”
The ancient Buddha asked, “Who is beside me?” At that moment, the White Lion Venerable jumped out. The ancient Buddha commanded him, “Quickly use your divine power to catch up with Tang Seng and retrieve the wordless scriptures, so he can come back to seek the scriptures with words.” The White Lion Venerable immediately summoned a fierce wind and flew out of Leiyin Temple, his momentum like a rainbow. The wind blew fiercely, resembling a warrior before the Buddha, making even the wind god feel ashamed. The sound of the wind roared, stirring up waves in the rivers and seas. As Tang Seng walked, he suddenly caught a whiff of a fragrant breeze, thinking it was a good omen from the Buddha, unaware that it was a plot.
Wukong laughed and said, “Don’t worry! Look over there, isn’t that a big bridge? We need to cross that bridge to reach our goal!” As they got closer, they saw a sign by the bridge that read “Lingyun Crossing.” But this wasn’t just any bridge; it was a single-log bridge! From a distance, it looked like a jade beam spanning the sky, but up close, it was just a dry piece of wood. Tang Seng’s heart sank: “Wukong, this bridge doesn’t look safe for anyone to walk on; let’s not waste our time trying to find a way.”
At that moment, a hand reached out from mid-air and gently snatched the scriptures from the horse, causing Tang Seng to feel a tightness in his chest and cry out in alarm. Ba Jie quickly rolled over to give chase, while Sha Seng protected the scripture burden, and Wukong also hurried after them. Seeing Wukong pursuing closely, the White Lion Venerable was afraid he would get hit by a staff and hurt himself, so he crushed the scripture bag and dropped it on the ground. Wukong saw the bag was broken and felt anxious, deciding not to chase anymore but to hover above the clouds, leaving the scriptures behind.
Ba Jie noticed the scriptures had fallen and hurriedly joined Wukong to pick them up, quickly returning to Tang Seng. Tang Seng, with tears in his eyes, lamented, “Disciple, there are still fierce demons in the Pure Land bullying us!” Sha Seng opened the scattered scriptures and found them completely blank, panicking as he handed one to Tang Seng, saying, “Master, this volume has no words!” Wukong opened another scroll, and it was also blank. Ba Jie opened his, and it too had no words. Tang Seng helplessly said, “Quickly, let’s open them all and see.”
As a result, every scroll was blank. The elder sighed, “The people of the eastern land are truly unfortunate! What use is such a wordless blank volume to take back? How can I face the Tang Emperor? This is truly a crime against the emperor!” Wukong had already figured it out and said to Tang Seng, “Master, don’t worry. This is the scheme of Ashva and Kasyapa. They asked us for something in return and ended up giving us these blank papers. Let’s go back and report to the Buddha about their cheating!”
Ba Jie chimed in, “Exactly! Let’s go report them!” The four disciples hurried back up the mountain, rushing back to Leiyin Temple. Soon, they arrived outside the mountain gate, where the Heavenly Kings greeted them with smiles, asking, “Is the holy monk here to exchange scriptures?” Tang Seng nodded in thanks, and the group did not stop them, leading them straight into the Great Hero Hall.
As soon as Wukong entered, he shouted, “Buddha! We have endured countless hardships and difficulties on this journey to the eastern land, only to be cheated by Ashva and Kasyapa, who deliberately gave us wordless blank papers. What use is this to take back? I hope the Buddha punishes them severely!” The Buddha listened and smiled, saying, “Don’t be anxious. I already knew they asked you for something in return. However, scriptures cannot be easily passed on, nor can you return empty-handed. Previously, I recited the scriptures in the country of Shravasti for Elder Zhao, ensuring the safety of his living family and the liberation of the deceased. In return, I only received three douts of rice and some gold, and I felt they sold it too cheaply. You came empty-handed, so naturally, you received the wordless scriptures. These blank volumes are actually a good thing because the beings of your eastern land are ignorant and can only pass them down like this.” After saying this, he called for Ashva and Kasyapa: “Quickly check and give him some volumes of the scriptures with words!”
Tang Seng had nothing valuable to offer, so he had Sha Seng take out his golden alms bowl and present it with both hands: “Disciple has been poor on this journey and hasn’t prepared anything. This bowl was personally bestowed upon me by the Tang Emperor for my alms. Today, I present it as a token of my sincerity, hoping the venerable one will accept it. When I return, I will surely report to the Tang Emperor, and there will be a generous reward!” Ashva accepted the bowl with a slight smile. The nearby guardians of the treasure hall and cooks couldn’t help but tease, “How shameless! The one seeking scriptures dares to offer a gift!”
At this moment, Kasyapa had entered the hall to check the scriptures, verifying each one, while Tang Seng reminded, “Disciples, look carefully this time, don’t make the same mistake as last time!” As a result, every scroll they received was filled with words! In total, they transmitted five thousand forty-eight volumes, neatly packed and loaded onto the horse, with the remaining volumes making up another burden, which Ba Jie and Sha Seng carried, while Wukong led the horse and Tang Seng held his staff, feeling overjoyed and ready to return to make a grand display.
Ashva and Kasyapa guided Tang Seng to see the Buddha. The Buddha sat high on a lotus seat, instructing the two great Arhats, Long Dragon and Subduing Tiger, to strike the cloud bell. Three thousand Buddhas, Celestials, Kings, and Bodhisattvas gathered, creating a lively scene. Heavenly music floated through the air, celestial sounds rang out, and auspicious light filled the sky as all the Buddhas gathered to pay their respects to the Buddha. Then the Buddha asked, “Ashva, Kasyapa, how many volumes of scriptures did you transmit to him?” The two venerables immediately began counting, clearly stating, “We delivered four hundred volumes of the Nirvana Sutra to the Tang Dynasty, three hundred sixty volumes of the Bodhisattva Sutra… in total, thirty-five collections, five thousand forty-eight volumes!”
Tang Seng and his disciples tied up the horse, rested their burdens, and joined their palms in respect, bowing towards the Buddha. The Buddha said to Tang Seng, “The merit of these scriptures is extraordinary. Although they are our treasured teachings, they actually represent the origins of the three teachings. When you reach the southern continent of Jambudvipa, you must demonstrate them well to the beings there. Do not take it lightly; you must bathe and observe fasting before opening the scrolls. They are truly precious!”
Tang Seng, filled with gratitude, bowed his head repeatedly and vowed to uphold the teachings, preparing to leave with the scriptures. At the entrance of the Three Mountains, he expressed his thanks to all the saints, feeling quite pleased.
After sending off Tang Seng, the Buddha dismissed the gathering for the scripture transmission. Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva joined his palms and asked the Buddha, “Many years ago, I received the golden decree to go to the eastern land for scriptures. Today, I have finally succeeded, taking fourteen years, and with just eight days left, I still fall short of the required number. I hope the World Honored One can grant the holy monk an early return to the east to complete the count.”
Upon hearing this, the Buddha immediately responded joyfully, “Alright, I grant you the return of the golden decree!”
Then, he instructed the Eight Great Vajra: “Quickly use your divine power to send the holy monk back to the east, ensuring the true scriptures are preserved. You must complete this within eight days!” The Vajras immediately caught up with Tang Seng, shouting, “Those seeking scriptures, come with me!” Tang Seng and his disciples felt as light as a swallow, rising into the clouds with the Vajras. This truly was: seeing nature, understanding the mind, and connecting with the Buddha, achieving success and ascending! As for how they would teach upon their return to the eastern land, that will be told next time!
