Monkey – Journey to the West – Chapter 6

Six

Kuan-yin, attending the banquet, inquires into the affair:

The Little Sage, exerting his power, subdues the Great Sage.

For the moment we shall not tell you about the siege of the gods or the Great Sage at rest. We speak instead of the Great Compassionate Deliverer, the Efficacious Bodhisattva Kuan-yin from the Potalaka Mountain of the South Sea. Invited by the Lady Queen Mother to attend the Grand Festival of Immortal Peaches, she arrived at the treasure chamber of the Jasper Pool with her senior disciple, Hui-an. There they found the whole place desolate and the banquet tables in utter disarray. Although several members of the Heavenly pantheon were present, none was seated. Instead, they were all, engaged in vigorous exchanges and discussions. After the Bodhisattva had greeted the various deities, they told her what had occurred. "Since there will be no festival," said the Bodhisattva, "nor any raising of cups, all of you might as well come with this humble cleric to see the Jade Emperor." The gods followed her gladly, and they went to the entrance to the Hall of Perfect Light. There the Bodhisattva was met by the Four Heavenly Preceptors and the Immortal of Naked Feet, who recounted how the celestial soldiers, ordered by an enraged Jade Emperor to capture the monster, had not yet returned. The Bodhisattva said, "I would like to have an audience with the Jade Emperor. May I trouble one of you to announce my arrival?" The Heavenly Preceptor Ch'iu Hung-chi went at once into the Treasure Hall of Divine Mists and, having made his report, invited Kuan-yin to enter. Lao Tzu then took the upper seat with the Emperor, while the Lady Queen Mother was in attendance behind the throne.

The Bodhisattva led the crowd inside. After paying homage to the Jade Emperor, they also saluted Lao Tzu and the Queen Mother. When each of them was seated, she asked. "How is the Grand Festival of Immortal Peaches?" "Every year when the Festival has been given," said the Jade Emperor, "we have thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. This year it has been completely ruined by a baneful monkey, leaving us with nothing but an invitation to disappointment." "Where did this baneful monkey come from?" asked the Bodhisattva, "He was born of a stone egg on top of the Flower-Fruit Mountain of the Ao-lai Country at the East Purvavideha Continent," said the Jade Emperor. “ At the moment of his birth, two beams of golden light flashed immediately from his eyes, reaching as far as the Palace of the Polestar. We did not think much of that, but he later became a monster, subduing the Dragon and taming the Tiger as well as eradicating his name from the Register of Death. When the Dragon Kings and the Kings of the Underworld brought the matter to our attention, we wanted to capture him, The Star of Long Life, however, observed that all the beings of the three regions which possessed the nine apertures could attain immortality. We therefore decided to educate and nurture the talented monkey and summoned him to the Region Above. He was appointed to the post of pi-ma-wen at the imperial stables, but, taking offense at the lowliness of his position, he left Heaven in rebellion. We then sent Devaraja Li and Prince Nata to ask for his submission by proclaiming a decree of pacification. He was brought again to the Region Above and was appointed the Great Sage, Equal to Heaven--a rank without compensation. Since he had nothing to do but to wander east and west, we feared that he might cause further trouble. So he was asked to look after the Garden of Immortal Peaches. But he broke the Law and ate all the large peaches from the oldest trees. By then, the banquet was about to be given. As a person without salary he was, of course, not invited; nonetheless, he plotted to deceive the Immortal of Naked Feet and managed to sneak into the banquet by assuming the Immortal's appearance. He finished off all the divine wine and food, after which he also stole Lao Tzu's elixir and took away a considerable quantity of imperial wine for the enjoyment of his mountain monkeys. Our mind has been sorely vexed by this, and we therefore sent a hundred thousand celestial soldiers with cosmic nets to capture him. We haven't yet received today's report on how the battle is faring."

When the Bodhisattva heard this, she said to Disciple Hui-an, "You must leave Heaven at once, go down to the Flower-Fruit Mountain, and inquire into the military situation. If the enemy is engaged, you can lend your assistance: in any event, you must bring back a factual report." The Disciple Hui-an straightened out his attire and mounted the cloud to leave the palace, an iron rod in his hand. When he arrived at the mountain, he found layers of cosmic net drawn tightly and sentries at every gate holding bells and shouting passwords. The encirclement of the mountain was indeed watertight! Hui-an stood still and called out, "Heavenly sentinels, may I trouble you to announce my arrival? I am Prince Moksa, second son of Devarfaja Li, and I am also Hui-an, senior disciple of Kuan-yin of South Sea. I have come to inquire about the military situation," The divine soldiers of the Five Mountains at once reported this beyond the gate. The consellations Aquarius, Pleiades, Hydra, and Scorpio then conveyed the message to the central tent, Devarfaja Li issued a directorial flag, which ordered the cosmic nets to be opened and entrance permitted for the visitor. Day was just dawning in the east as Hui-an followed the flag inside and prostrated himself before the Four Great Devarajas and Devaraja Li. After he had finished his greetings, Devaraja Li said, "My child, where have you come from?" "Your untutored son," said Hui-an, "accompanied the Bodhisattva to attend the Festival of Grand Peaches. Seeing that the festival was desolate and the Jasper Pool laid waste, the Bodhisattva led the various deities and your untutored son to have an audience with the Jade Emperor. The Jade Emperor spoke at length about Father and King’s expedition to the Region Below to subdue the baneful monkey. Since no report has returned for a whole day and neither victory nor defeat has been ascertained, the Bodhisattva ordered your untutored son to come here to find out how things stand." "We came here yesterday to set up the encampment," said Devalraja Li, "and the Nine Luminaries were sent to provoke battle. But this fellow made a grand display of his magical powers, and the Nine Luminaries all returned defeated. After that, I led the troops personally to confront him, and the fellow also brought his forces into formation. Our hundred thousand celestial soldiers fought with him until evening, when he retreated from the battle by using the magic of body division. When we recalled the troops and made our investigation, we found that we had captured some wolves, crawling creatures, tigers, leopards, and the like. But we did not even catch half a monkey monster! And today we have not yet gone into battle."

As he was saying all this, someone came from the gate of the camp to report, “That Great Sage, leading his band of monkey monsters, is shouting for battle outside." The Four Devarajas, Devaraja Li, and the prince at once made plans to bring out the troops, when Moksa said, "Father King, your untutored son was told by the Bodhisattva to come down here to acquire information. She also told me to give you assistance should there be actual combat. Though I am not very talented, I volunteer to go out now and see what kind of a Great Sage this is '" "Child," said the Devaraja, "since you have studied with the Bodhisattva for several years, you must, I suppose, have some powers I But do be careful!"

Dear prince! Grasping the iron rod with both hands, he tightened up his embroidered garment and leaped out of the gate. "Who is the Great Sage, Equal to Heaven?" he cried. Holding high his compliant rod, the Great Sage answered, "None other than old Monkey here I Who are you that you dare question me?" "I am Moksa, the second prince of Devaraja," said Moksa, "At present I am also the disciple of Bodhisattva Kuan-yin, a defender of the faith before her treasure throne. And my religious name is Hui-an," "Why have you left your religious training fit South Sea and come here to see me?" said the Great Srlge. "I was sent by my master to inquire about the military situation," said Moksa, "Seeing what a nuisance you have made of yourself, I have come specifically to capture you." "You dare to talk so big?" said the Great Sage. "But don't run away! Have a taste of old monkey’s rod! " Moksa was not at all frightened and met his opponent squarely with his own iron rod. The two of them stood before the gate of the camp at mid-mountain, and what a magnificent battle they fought!

Though one rod is pitted against another, the iron's quite different:

Though this weapon couples with the other, the persons are not the same.

The one called the Great Sage is an apostate primordial immortal:

The other is Kuan-yin's disciple, truly heroic and proud.

The all-iron rod, pounded by a thousand hammers,

Is made by the Six Gods of Darkness and Six Gods of Light.

The compliant rod fixes the depth of Heaven's river,

A thing divine ruling the oceans with its magic might,

The two of them in meeting have found their match;

Back and forth they battle in endless rounds.

From this one the rod of stealthy hands,

Savage and fierce;

Around the waist stabs and jabs swiftly as the wind;

From the other the rod, doubling as a spear

Driving and relentless,

Lets up not a moment its parrying left and right.

On this side the banners flare and flutter;

On the other the war drums roll and rattle.

Ten thousand celestial fighters circle round and round.

The monkey monsters of a whole cave stand in rows and rows.

Weird fog and dark cloud spread throughout the earth.

The fume and smoke of battle reach even Heaven's Palace. I

Yesterday's battle was something to behold.

Still more violent is the contest today.

Envy the Monkey King, for he's truly able:

Moksa's defeated-he's fleeing for his life!

Our Great Sage battled Hui-an for fifty or sixty rounds until the prince's arms and shoulders were sore and numb and he could fight no longer. After one final, futile swing of his weapon, he lied in defeat. The Great Sage then gathered together his monkey troops and stationed them securely outside the entrance of the cave. At the camp of the Devaraja, the celestial soldiers could be seen receiving the prince and making way for him to enter the gate. Panting and puffing, he ran in and gasped out to the Four Devarajas. Pagoda Bearer Li, and Nata, "That Great Sage! What an ace! Great indeed is his magical power! Your son cannot overcome him and has returned defeated." Shocked by the sight, Devaraja Li at once wrote a memorial to the Throne to request further assistance. The demon king Mahabali and Prince Moksa were sent to Heaven to present the document.

The two of them dared not linger. They crashed out of the cosmic nets and mounted the holy mist and hallowed cloud. In a moment they reached the Hall of Perfect Light and met the Pour Heavenly Preceptors, who led them into the Treasure Hall of Divine Mists to present their memorial. Hui-an also saluted the Bodhisattva, who asked him, "What have you found out about the situation?" "When I reached the Flower-Fruit Mountain by your order," said Hui-cln, "I opened the cosmic nets by my call. Seeing my father, I told him of my master's intentions in sending me. Father King said, 'We fought a battle yesterday with that Monkey King but managed to take from him only tigers, leopards, lions, elephants, and the like. We did not catch a single one of his monkey monsters.' As we were talking, he again demanded battle. Your disciple used the iron rod to fight him for fifty or sixty rounds, but I could not prevail against him and returned to the camp defeated. Thus father had to send the demon king Mahabali and your pupil to come here for help." The Bodhisattva bowed her head and pondered.

We now tell you about the Jade Emperor, who opened the memorial and found a message asking for assistance. "This is rather absurd!" he said laughing. "Is this monkey monster such a wizard that not even a hundred thousand soldiers from Heaven can vanquish him? Devarfaja Li is again asking for help. What division of divine warriors can we send to assist him?" Hardly he had finished speaking when Kuan-yin folded her hands and said to him, "Your Majesty, let not your mind be troubled! This humble cleric will recommend a god who can capture the monkey." "Which one would you recommend?" said the Jade Emperor. "Your Majesty's nephew," said the Bodhisattva, "the Immortal Master of Illustrious Sagacity Erh-lang, who is living at the mouth of the River of Libations in the Kuan Prefecture and enjoying the incense and oblations offered to him from the Region Below. In former days he himself slew six monsters. Under his command are the Brothers of Plum Mountain and twelve hundred plant-headed deities, all possessing great magical powers. However, he will agree only to special assignments and will not obey any general summons. Your Majesty may want to send an edict transferring, his troops to the scene of the battle and requesting his assistance. Our monster will surely be captured." When the Jade Emperor heard this, he immediately issued such an edict and ordered the demon king Mahabali to present it.

Having received the edict, the demon king mounted a cloud and went straight to the mouth of the River of Libations. It took him less than half (In hour to reach the temple of the Immortal Master. Immediately the demon magistrates guarding the doors made this report inside: "There is a messenger from Heaven outside who has arrived with an edict in his hand." Erh-lang and his brothers came out to receive the edict, which was read before burning incense. The edict said:

The Great Sage, Equal to Heaven, a monstrous monkey from the Flower-Fruit Mountain, is in revolt. At the Palace he stole peaches, wine, and elixir, and disrupted the Grand Festival of Immortal Peaches. A hundred thousand heavenly soldiers with eighteen sets of cosmic nets were dispatched to surround the mountain and capture him, but victory has not yet been secured. We therefore make this special request of our worthy nephew and his sworn brothers to go to the Flower-Fruit Mountain and assist in destroying this monster. Following your success will be lofty elevation and abundant reward.

In great delight the Immortal Master said, "Let the messenger of Heaven go back. I will go at once to offer my assistance with drawn sword." The demon king went back to report, but we shall speak no further of that.

This immortal Master called together the Six Brothers of Plum Mountain: they were K'ang, Chang, Yao, and Li, the four grand marshals, and Kuo Shen and Chih Chien, the two generals, As they congregated before the court, he said to them, "The Jade Emperor just now sent us to the Flower-Fruit Mountain to capture a monstrous monkey. Let's get going!" Delighted and willing, the brothers at once called out the divine soldiers under their command. With falcons mounted and dogs on leashes, with arrows ready and bows drawn, they left in- a violent magic wind and crossed in a moment the great Eastern Ocean. As they landed on the Flower-Fruit Mountain, they saw their way blocked by dense layers of cosmic net, "Divine commanders guarding the cosmic nets, hear us," they shouted, "We are specially assigned by the Jade Emperor to capture the monstrous monkey, Open the gate of your camp quickly and let us through." The various deities conveyed the message to the inside, level by level. The Four Devarajas and Devaraja Li then came out to the gate of the camp to receive them. After they had exchanged greetings, there were questions about the military situation, and the Devaraja gave them a thorough briefing. "Now that I, the Little Sage, have come," said the Immortal Master, laughing, "he will have to engage in a contest of transformations with his adversary. You gentlemen make sure that the cosmic nets are tightly drawn on all sides, but leave the top uncovered. Let me try my hand in this contest. If I lose, you gentlemen need not come to my assistance, for my own brothers will be there to support me. If I win, you gentlemen will not be needed in tying him up either; my own brothers will take care of that. All I need is the Pagoda Bearer Devaraja to stand in midair with his imp-reflecting mirror. If the monster should be defeated, I fear that he may try to flee to a distant locality. Make sure that his image is clearly reflected in the mirror, so that we don't lose him," The Devarajas set themselves up in the four directions, while the Heavenly soldiers all lined up according to their planned formations.

With himself as the seventh brother, the Immortal Master led the four grand marshals and the two generals out of the camp to provoke battle. The other warriors were ordered to defend their encampment with vigilance, and the plant-headed deities were ordered to have the falcons and dogs ready for battle, The Immortal Master went to the front of the Water-Curtain Cave, where he saw a troop of monkeys neatly positioned in an array that resembled a coiled dragon. At the center of the array was the banner bearing the words "The Great Sage, Equal to Heaven." "That audacious monster!" said the Immortal Master. "How dare he assume the rank 'Equal to Heaven' ?" ."There's no time for praise or blame," said the Six Brothers of Plum Mountain. "Let's challenge him at once!" When the little monkeys in front of the camp saw the Immortal Master, they ran quickly to make their report. Seizing his golden-hooped rod, straightening out his golden cuirass, slipping on his cloud-treading shoes, and pressing 'down his red-gold cap, the Monkey King leaped out of the camp. He opened his eyes wide to stare at the Immortal Master, whose features were remarkably refined and whose attire was most elegant. Truly, he was a man of

Features most comely and noble mien,

With ears reaching his shoulders and eyes alert and bright.

A cap of the Three Mountains' Phoenix flying crowned his head,

And a pale yellow robe of goose-down he wore on his frame.

His boots of gold threads matched the hoses of coiling dragons.

Eight emblems like flower clusters adorned his belt of jade.

From his waist hung the pellet bow of new moon shape.

His hands held a lance with three points and two blades.

He once axed open the Peach Mountain to save his mother.

He struck with a single pellet two phoenixes of Tsung-lo.

He slew the Eight Monsters, and his fame spread wide:

He formed a chivalric alliance named the Plum Mountain's Seven Sages.

A lofty mind, he scorned being a relative of Heaven.

His proud nature led him to live near the River of Libations.

This is the Kind and Magnanimous Sage from the City of Ch'ih:

Skilled in boundless transformations, his name's Erh-lang.

When the Great Sage saw him, he lifted high his golden-hooped rod with gales of laughter and called out, "What little warrior are you and where do you come from, that you dare present yourself here to provoke battle?" "You must have eyes but no pupils," shouted the Immortal Master, "if you don't recognize me! I am the maternal nephew of the Jade Emperor, Erh-lang, the King of Illustrious Grace and Spirit by imperial appointment. I have received my order from above to arrest you, the rebellious pi-ma-wen ape. Don't you know that your time has come?" "I remember," said the Great Sage, "that the sister of the Jade Emperor some years ago became enamored of the Region Below; she married a man by the name of Yang and had a son by him. Are you that boy who was reputed to have cleaved open the Peach Mountain with his ax? I would like to rebuke you roundly, but I have no grudge against you. I can hit you with this rod of mine too, but I'd like to spare your life I A little boy like you, why don't you hurry back and ask your Four Great Devarajas to come out?" When the Immortal Master heard this, he grew very angry and shouted, "Reckless ape! Don’t you dare be so insolent! Take a sample of my blade!" Swerving to dodge the blow, the Great Sage quickly raised his golden-hooped rod to engage his opponent. What a fine fight there was between the two of them:

Erh-lang, the God of Illustrious Kindness,

And the Great Sage, Equal to Heaven!

The former, haughty and high-minded, defied the Handsome Monkey King.

The latter, not knowing his namee, would crush a stalwart foe.

Suddenly these two met,

And both desired a match-

They had never known which was the better man;

Today they'll learn who's strong and who's weak!

The iron rod seemed a flying dragon,

And the lance divine a dancing phoenix:

Left and right they struck,

Attacking both front and back.

The Six Brothers of Plum Mountain filled one side with their awesome presence,

While the four generals, like Ma and Liu, took command on the other side.

All worked as one to wave the flags and beat the drums;

All assisted the battle by cheering and sounding the gong.

Those two sharp weapons sought a chance to hurt,

But the thrusts and parries slacked not one whit.

The golden-hooped rod, that wonder of the sea,

Could change and fly to gain a victory.

A little lag and your life is over!

A tiny slip and your luck runs out!

The Immortal Master fought the Great Sage for more than three hundred rounds, but the result still could not be determined. The Immortal Master, therefore, summoned all his magical powers; with a shake, he made his body a hundred thousand feet tall. Holding with both hands the divine lance of three points and two blades like the peaks that cap the Hua Mountain, this green-faced, saber-toothed figure with scarlet hair aimed a violent blow at the head of the Great Sage. But the Great Sage also exerted his magical power and changed himself into a figure having the features and height of Erh-lang. He wielded a coin pliant golden-hooped rod that resembled the heaven-supporting pillar on top of Mount K'un-lun to oppose the god Erh-lang. This vision so terrified the marshals, Ma and Liu, that they could no 1onger wave the flags, and so appalled the generals, Peng and Pa, that they could use neither scimitar nor sword. On the side of Erh-lang, the Brothers K'ang, Chang, Yao, Li, Kuo Shen, and Chih Chien gave the order to the plant-headed deities to let loose the falcons and dogs and to advance upon those monkeys in front of the Water-Curtain Cave with mounted arrows and drawn bows. The charge, alas, dispersed the four mighty commanders of monkey imps and captured two or three thousand intelligent monsters! Those monkeys dropped their spears and abandoned their armor, forsook their swords and threw away their lances. They scattered in all directions-running, screaming, scuttling up the mountain, or scrambling back to the cave. It was as if a cat at night had stolen upon resting birds: they darted up as stars to fill the sky. The Brothers thus gained a complete victory, of which we shall speak no further. Now we were telling you about the Immortal Master and the Great Sage who had changed themselves into forms which imitated Heaven and Earth. As they were doing battle, the Great Sage suddenly perceived that the monkeys of his camp were put to rout, and his heart grew faint. He changed out of his magic form, turned around, and fled, dragging his rod behind him. When the Immortal Master saw that he was running away, he chased him with great strides, saying, "Where you you going? Surrender now, and your life will be spared! " The Great Sage did not stop to fight anymore but ran as fast as he could. Near the cave's entrance, he ran right into K'ang, Chang, Yao, and Li, the four grand marshals, and Kuo Shen and Chih Chien, the two generals, who were at the head of an army blocking his way. "Lawless ape '" they cried, "where do you think you're going?" Quivering all over, the Great Sage squeezed his go1den-hooped rod back into an embroidery needle and hid it in his ear. With a shake of his body, he changed himself into a small sparrow and flew to perch on top of a tree. In great agitation, the six Brothers searched all around but could not find him. "We've lost the monkey monster! We've lost the monkey monster '" they all cried.

As they were making all that clamor, the Immortal Master arrived and asked, "Brothers, where did you lose him in the chase?" "We just had him boxed in here," said the gods, "but he simply vanished." Scanning the place with his phoenix eye wide open, Erh-lang at once discovered that the Great Sage had changed into a small sparrow perched on a tree. He changed out of his magic form and took off his pellet bow. With a shake of his body, he changed into a sparrow hawk with outstretched wings, ready to attack its prey. When the Great Sage saw this, he darted up with a flutter of his wings: changing himself into a cormorant, he headed straight for the open sky. When Erh-lang saw this, he quickly shook his feathers and changed into a huge ocean crane, which could penetrate the clouds to strike with its bill. The Great Sage therefore lowered his direction, changed into a small fish, and dove into a stream with a splash. Erh-lang rushed to the edge of the water but could see no trace of him. He thought to himself, "This simian must have gone into the water and changed himself into a fish, a shrimp, or the like. I'll change again to catch him." He duly changed into a fish hawk and skimmed downstream over the waves. After a while, the fish into which the Great Sage had changed was swimming along with the current. Suddenly he saw a bird that looked like a green kite though its feathers were not entirely green, like an egret though it had small feathers, and like an old crane though its feet were not red. "That must be the transformed Erh-lang waiting for me," he thought to himself. He swiftly turned around and swam away after releasing a few bubbles. When Erh-lang saw this, he said, "The fish that released the bubbles looks like a carp though its tail is not red, like a perch though there are no patterns on its scales, like a snake fish though there are no stars on its head, like a bream though its gills have no bristles. Why does it move away the moment it sees me? It must be the transformed monkey himself!” He swooped toward the fish and snapped at it with his beak. The Great Sage shot out of the water and changed at once into a water snake; he swam toward shore and wriggled into the grass along the bank. When Erh-lang saw that he had snapped in vain and that a snake had darted away in the water with a splash, he knew that the Great Sage had changed again. Turning around quickly, he changed into a scarlet-topped gray crane, which extended its beak like sharp iron pincers to devour the snake. With a bounce, the snake changed again into a spotted bustard standing by itself rather stupidly amid the water-pepper along the bank. When Erh-lang saw that the monkey had changed into such a vulgar creature-for the spotted bustard is the basest and most promiscuous of birds, mating indiscriminately with phoenixes, hawks, or crows-he refused to approach him. Changing back into his true form he went and stretched his bow to the fullest. With one pellet he sent the bird hurtling.

The Great Sage took advantage of this opportunity, nonetheless. Rolling down the mountain slope, he squatted there to change again -this time into a little temple for the local spirit. His wide-open mouth became the entrance, his teeth the doors, his tongue the Bodhisattva, and his eyes the windows. Only his tail he found to be troublesome, so he stuck it up in the back and changed it into a flagpole. The Immortal Master chased him down the slope, but instead of the bustard he had hit he found only a little temple. He opened his phoenix eye quickly and looked at it carefully. Seeing the flagpole behind it, he laughed and said, ''It's the ape! Now he's trying to deceive me again! I have seen plenty of temples before but never one with a flagpole behind it. This must be another of that animal's tricks. Why should I let him lure me inside where he can bite me once I've entered? First I'll smash the windows with my fist! Then I'll kick down the doors '" The Great Sage heard this and said in dismay, "How vicious! The doors are my teeth and the windows my eyes. What am I going to do with my eyes smashed and my teeth knocked out?" Leaping up like a tiger, he disappeared again into the air. The Immortal Master was looking all around for him when the four grand marshals clod the two generals arrived together. "Elder Brother." they said, "have you caught the Great Sage?" "A moment ago," said the Immortal Master laughing, "the monkey changed into u temple to trick me. I was about to smash the windows and kick down the doors when he vanished out of sight with a leap. It's all very strange! Very strange!" The Brothers were astonished, but they could fil1d no trace of him in any direction. "Brothers," said the Immortal Master, "keep a lookout down here. Let me go up there to find him." He swiftly mounted the clouds and rose up into the sky, where he saw Devaraja Li holding high the imp-reflecting mirror and standing on top of the clouds with Nata. "Devaraja," said the Immortal Master, "have you seen the Monkey King?" "He hadn't come up here," said the Devaraja. "I have been watching him in the mirror." After telling them about the duel in magic and transformations and the captivity of the rest of the monkeys, the Immortal Master said, "He finally changed into temple. Just as I was about to attack him, he got away." When Devaraja Li heard these words, he turned the imp-reflecting mirror all the way around once more and looked into it. "Immortal Master," he said, roaring with laughter. "Go quickly! Quickly! That monkey used his magic of body concealment to escape from the cordon and he's now heading for the mouth of your River of Libations."

We now tell you about the Great Sage, who had arrived at the mouth of the River of Libations. With a shake of his body, he changed into the form of Holy Father Erh-lang. Lowering the direction of his cloud, he went straight into the temple, and the demon magistrates could not tell that he was not the real Ehr-lang. Everyone of them, in fact, kowtowed to receive him. He sat down in the middle and began to examine the various offerings; the three kinds of sacrificial meat brought by Li Hu, the votive offering of Chang Lung, the petition for a son by Chao Chia, and the request for healing by Ch'ien Ping. As he was looking at these, someone made the report," Another Holy Father has arrived!" The various demon magistrates went quickly to look and were terror-stricken, one and all. The Immortal Master asked, "Did a so-called Great Sage, Equal to Heaven, come here?" "We haven't seen any Great Sage," said the demon magistrates. "But another Holy Father is in there examining the offerings." The Immortal Master crashed through the door; seeing him, the Great Sage revealed his true form and said, "There's no need for the little boy to strive anymore! Sun is now the name or this temple!”. The Immortal Master lifted his divine lance of three points and two blades and struck, hut the Monkey King with agile body was quick to move out of the way, He whipped out that embroidery needle of his, and with one wave caused it to take on the thickness of a rice bowl, Rushing forward, he engaged Erh-lang face to face. Starting at the door of the temple, the two combatants fought all the way back to the Flower-Fruit Mountain, treading on clouds and mists and shouting insults at each other. The Four Devarfajas and their followers were so startled by their appearance that they stood guard with even greater vigilance, while the grand marshals joined the Immortal Master to surround the Handsome Monkey King. But we shall speak of them no more.

We tell you instead about the demon king Mahabali, who, having requested the Immortal Master and his, Six Brothers to lead their troops to subdue the monster, returned to the Region Above to make his report. Conversing with the Bodhisattva Kuan-yin, the Queen Mother, and the various divine officials in the Hall of Divine Mists, the Jade Emperor said, "If Erh-lang has already gone into battle, why has no further report come back today?" Folding her hands, Kuan-yin said, "Permit this humble cleric to invite Your Majesty and the Patriarch of Tao to go outside the South Heavenly Gate, so that you may find out personally how things are faring." "That's a good suggestion," said the Jade Emperor. He at once sent for his imperial carriage and went with the Patriarch. Kuan-yin, the Queen Mother, and the various divine officials to the South Heavenly Gate, where the cortege was met by celestial soldiers and guardians. They opened the gate and peered into the distance; there they saw cosmic nets on every side manned by Heavenly soldiers, Devaraja Li and Nata in midair holding high the imp-reflecting mirror, and the Immortal Master and his Brothers encircling the Great Sage in the middle and fighting fiercely. The Bodhisattva opened her mouth and addressed Lao Tzu: "What do you think of Erh-lang, whom this humble cleric recommended? He is certainly powerful enough to have the Great Sage surrounded, if not yet captured. I shall now help him to achieve his victory and make certain that the ,enemy will be taken prisoner." "What weapon will the Bodhisattva use," asked Lao Tzu, "and how will you assist him ?" "I shall throw down my immaculate vase which I use for holding my willow sprig," said the Bodhisattva. "When it hits that monkey, at least it will knock him over, even if it doesn't kill him. Erh-lang, the Little Sage, will then be able to capture him," "That vase of yours," said Lao Tzu, "is made of porcelain, It's all right if it hits him on the head. But if it crashed on the iron rod instead, won't it be shattered? You had better not raise your hands; let me help him win," The Bodhisattva said, "Do you have any weapon?" " I do, indeed," said Lao Tzu, He rolled up his sleeve and took down from his left arm an armlet, saying, "This is a weapon made of red steel, brought into existence during my preparation of elixir and fully charged with theurgical forces. It can be made to transform at will; indestructible by fire or water, it can entrap many things. It's called the diamond cutter or the diamond snare. The year when I crossed the Han-ku Pass, I depended on it a great deal for the conversion of the barbarians, for it was practically my bodyguard night and day. Let me throw it down and hit him." After saying this, Lao Tzu hurled the snare down from the Heavenly Gate; it went tumbling down into the battlefield at the Flower-Fruit Mountain and landed smack on the Monkey King's head, The Monkey King was engaged in a bitter struggle with the Seven Sages and was completely unaware of this weapon which had dropped from the sky and hit him on the crown of his head. No longer able to stand on his feet, he toppled over. He managed to scramble up again and was about to flee, when the Holy Father Erh-lang's small hound dashed forward and bit him in the calf. He was pulled down for the second time and lay on the ground cursing, "You brute I Why don't you go and do your master in, instead of coming to bite old Monkey?" Rolling over quickly, he tried to get up, but the Seven Sages all pounced on him and pinned him down. They bound him with ropes and punctured his breastbone with a knife, so that he could transform no further.

Lao Tzu retrieved his diamond snare and requested the Jade Emperor to return to the Hall of Divine Mists with Kuan-yin, the Queen Mother, and the rest of the Immortals. Down below the Four Great Deva Kings and Deva King Li all retired their troops, broke camp, and went forward to congratulate Erh-lang, saying, "This is indeed a magnificent accomplishment by the Little Sage!" "This has been the great blessing of the Heavenly Devas," said the Little Sage, "and the proper exercise of their divine authority. What have accomplished?" The Brothers K'ang, Chang, Yao, and Li said, "Elder Brother need have no further discussion. Let us take this fellow up to the Jade Emperor to see what will be done with him," "Worthy Brother," said the Immortal Master, "you may not have a personal audience with the Jade Emperor because you have not received ay divine appointment. Let the celestial guardians take him into custody. I shall go with the Devarajas to the Region Above to make our report, while all of you make a thorough search of the mountain here. After you have cleaned it out, go back to the River of Libations. When I have our deeds recorded and received our rewards, I shall return to celebrate with you." The four grand marshals and th~ two generals followed his bidding. The Immortal Master then mounted the clouds with the rest of the deities, and they began their triumphal journey back to Heaven, singing songs of victory all the way. In a little while, they reached the outer court of the Hall of Perfect Light, and the heavenly preceptor went forward to memorialize to the Throne, saying, " The Four Great Devarajas have captured the monstrous monkey, the Great Sage, Equal to Heaven. They await the command of Your Majesty." The Jade Emperor then gave the order that the demon king Mahabali and the heavenly guardians take the prisoner to the monster executions block, where he was to be cut to small pieces. Alas, this is what happens to

Fraud and impudence, now punished by the Law;

Heroics grand will fade in the briefest time!

We do not know what will become of the Monkey King, and you must listen to the explanation in the next chapter.