English
The “angel of the literary star’ received an order to draw up an edict which should be presented to Sun, giving him the supervision of a certain stable in heaven. He accepted the appointment, and thus began his first career in the heavenly regions. The angel Jupiter conducted Sun to his new arena of work, one division of heaven’s stables. There he was to have the su- pervision of the wild horses! When Sun realized that he had been appointed to the lowest office, he rebelled and left all the grandeur of heaven to take up his position again in the apes’ camp. He planned in the course of time to arm them and all the evil spirits for war against heaven. At this time Sun’s unbridled licence and haughty arrogance completely dominated him. Once more heaven sent a punitive expedition against him, but he drove all back with his magic powers. Then heaven agreed to try him in that high position 1Here the Taoist god Yii-ti. [69] ~~ TRUTH AND TRADITION IN BUDDHISM which he himself had long boasted that he would reach “the holy and mighty one, equal with heaven.” Sun took his place in the heavenly regions and all went well fora time. As he had no special work to do, the gods were rather fearful lest the whole experiment should again fail. Later, therefore, he was appointed to keep watch over the heavenly peach orchard of the gods. He was immensely delighted with the sight of the enormous garden with fruit-trees planted in three long rows. This delight was naturally increased when — he heard that the greatest wisdom and _ limitless immortality were to be attained by eating of the fruits. Sun immediately felt a great desire to taste the fruit of immortality, but as servants and workmen accom- panied him everywhere it was difficult to get at it. One day he commanded them to go out of the garden, as he wanted to rest. When they had gone, he took off his human clothing and began to climb the trees, after the fashion of apes. He was soon sitting in the branches eating to his heart’s content of the delicious fruit. | It happened, however, that the queen of heaven, Hsi-wang-mu (ff = #), was celebrating her birthday that day. This occasion was celebrated by the gods every year as a great peach festival, When her servants came into the garden to gather the fruit they found very little was ripe, for Sun had eaten it all. When he heard of the festival and realized that he alone among the heavenly dignitaries had not been invited, he was furious. He betook himself in- stantly to the banquet-hall and reached there before [70] THE JOURNEY TO THE WEST any of the invited guests. The table stood ready, loaded with all kinds of delicate fruits and delicious wines. Sun wished to consume some of the dainties at once, but as the waiters were constantly in and out, this was not an easy matter. Sun was not without a plan, however. By means of his incantations, he called forth a great swarm of insects which settled on the waiters and by their sting caused a drowsiness that was absolutely irresistible. While the servants slept in their several corners, Sun sat himself down and gave himself up to tasting everything. He was especially interested in the wine. After a time he rose staggering from the table and went off, but mistaking his road. arrived at the castle of “Tou-shuai” (38 4) where Lao-tse (#4 ¥-) lived. Here he found the jars in which the “pills of immortality” lay hidden. Naturally he laid hands on these and with a guilty conscience hastened back to earth to the kingdom of apes. Once more heaven had to send out a punitive expedition. After many vain attempts they finally succeeded, with the help of Kuan-yin, in binding and fastening the frightful monster. He was placed under a high mountain, and there under the hundredweight load, he had time to repent. While the centuries went by, Sun steadily emitted groans, sighing after release. There was one who had not forgotten him, however; this was Kuan-yin. When his term of punishment was almost completed, she came past the mountain where he lay and from beneath which only his strong claws struck out. She spoke to him tenderly and offered him deliverance. But the way of salvation is [71] TRUTH AND TRADITION IN BUDDHISM natrow: he had to pledge himself to accompany the holy monk, Hsiian-chuang, who was just being sent out by the imperial court to begin his long and _ toil- some journey to the Western lands to secure the holy Mahayana scriptures. At this point we come to the real “pilgrimage” which we shall merely sketch in outline. This journey to the Western regions is described with marvellous imagery full of colour and movement. In all the dangers and difficulties to which they were now exposed, Sun Wu-kung was faithful and true to his master and his beautiful white horse, and used for them all his supernatural powers and all his magic. At the same time he was often wild, cruel, and im- petuous, testing the master’s patience many a time, so that it often seemed as if the whole undertaking would fail. Meanwhile, through his numberless trials, through Hsiian-chuang’s constant reminders, and through the faithful help of Kuan-yin, he advanced step by step until at last this wild ape-man became a sancti- fied bodhisattva. One thing which Kuan-yin used to tame him was the famous cap with nails in it; this he had to wear continually. Every time his refractory nature began to get the upper hand, the thorns grew out sharp as nails on the inside of the cap. These pierced into his temples and caused intolerable pain. On the journey westward, the pilgrims met all the terrors and intrigues of hell. No sooner was one army of devils overcome, than another came on. Now they were enticed by deceptive will-o’-the-wisps, now met by the most terrible monsters. It was fortunate, [72] THE JOURNEY TO THE WEST therefore, that two additional members joined their company. One was an abortive human being, who, _ through a lamentable mistake, was born of a sow, and theretore had to go through life not only with a pig’s name, Chu-pa-chieh (# A 7k) (the pig who observes the eight commandments), but also in appearance reminding one strongly of the pig breed, with his big snout and flapping ears. The other was an unsuccess- ful Buddhist monk, the “Sand Monk” (Sha-ho-shang, YS #l fa). He had been left behind in the desert and had become a robber. Both, inspired by Kuan-yin, accepted the call and joined the pilgrimage to the Western paradise, and both were sanctified and renewed during the journey. The last three sections of the book are especially impressive—the journey over the river of death, the arrival at the mountain of the spirits, and the return and final metamorphosis. As they stopped before the dark river after the thousand dangers were at last happily passed, the great question arose: ‘How shall we cross over here?”’ An exceedingly rotten bridge could be seen, but as none of them dare try it, there was nothing left but to try the equally poor ferry which was close by. In the greatest terror the master and his companions climbed down into the boat, and it was carried out into the deep rushing stream. They had a feeling that the waters were closing over them, but immediately after there came a wonderful sense of security. The reason was not far to seek. Quite near to the boat several corpses were floating. These they perceived to be [73] TRUTH AND TRADITION IN BUDDHISM their own bodies. They had become disembodied spirits, and an undreamed-of joy and strength filled them. They sped on their journey up the river-bank and across the bright meadows toward the great mountain. They had reached Ling Shan (# 1), the mountain of spirits, and become part of the heavenly world. The climax is reached as they stand before Ju-lai (4m 2€), the highest Buddha, and in company with the holy spirits kneel in worship and praise before his throne.’ Finally, after making a speech to the pilgrims, Ju-lai directed his two disciples, Ananda and Kasyapa, to give them a complete collection of the Buddhist scriptures. These disciples, thinking the pilgrims more advanced spiritually than was the case, gave them a collection of books with blank pages, books which only the most enlightened spirits could read. The mistake was discovered in the course of time and the pilgrims received an edition of the books written in the ordinary way. When they were about to leave on the return journey, Kuan-yin approached the throne of Ju-lai and said: “These pilgrims have taken fourteen years to get here; on the way they were constantly beset by dangers and were often near the point of destruction. I beseech thee to give me the authority to ensure that they and their books reach home within the course of 1The heaven which is here pictured is the Mahayana heaven where Amitabha rules. In comparison with the Taoist heaven where Sun Wu- kung played so many tricks on Yi-ti (3— ##) one notices a much greater sublimity and dignity. [74] THE JOURNEY TO THE WEST eight days.” To this Ju-lai agreed, and borne by eight strong cherubs (chin-kang, 4fill), after eight days’ flight they arrrived again at Hsianfu, the ancient capital of the emperor of the Tang dynasty. There the people had long been waiting the return of the pilgrims. During their absence preparations went forward for the housing of the books they were to bring home. A library was built and finished the third year after their departure. As each anniversary of Hsiian-chuang’s departure came round the emperor himself went to this building to pray and make offerings. On one of these occasions, while the emperor and a great crowd of worshippers were again assembled for solemn worship, they saw in the distance the master coming on his white horse.