The Dao is deep and profound; how can its mysteries be known? When spoken, even ghosts and spirits are astonished. It holds the cosmos within, divides the primal light , and offers a joy unmatched in the mortal world . Before the Vulture Peak, the sacred pearl is drawn forth, illuminating five kinds of radiant light , shining through heaven and earth, above and below. Those who understand it will live as long as the mountains and seas.
Tang Sanzang and his three disciples bid farewell to the woodcutter, descended from the Hidden Mist Mountain, and continued along the main road. After several days of travel, they suddenly spotted a city in the distance. Sanzang asked, "Wukong, look at that city ahead. Is it the Heavenly Kingdom ?"
The Pilgrim waved his hand and said, "No! No! Although the place where the Tathagata dwells is called the Land of Ultimate Bliss, it has no city walls, only a great mountain with towers and halls, known as the Great Thunderclap Monastery on Spirit Mountain. Even if we reached the Heavenly Kingdom, that is not where the Tathagata resides. The Heavenly Kingdom is still far from Spirit Mountain! That city is likely an outer prefecture of the Heavenly Kingdom. We will know when we get closer."
Before long, they arrived outside the city. Sanzang dismounted and walked through three layers of city gates. Inside, the city appeared desolate and lifeless, with empty streets. At the market entrance, they saw many people dressed in blue robes standing about, and several officials in caps and official robes standing under the eaves. As the four masters and disciples walked along the street, no one made way for them.
Bajie, coarse by nature, thrust out his long snout and shouted, "Make way! Make way!" The people looked up at their strange appearances, their legs turned to jelly, and they stumbled backward, crying out, "Demons are coming! Demons are coming!" The officials under the eaves also trembled with fear. Bowing, they asked, "Where have you come from?"
Afraid his disciples would cause trouble, Sanzang quickly stepped forward and said, "I am a poor monk sent from the Great Tang in the East to the Great Thunderclap Monastery in the Heavenly Kingdom to pay homage to the Buddha and seek the scriptures. Passing through your honored region, I neither know what place this is nor have I yet found lodging. We did not mean to startle anyone as we entered the city. I hope you will forgive us."
Only then did the officials return the greeting. "This is an outer prefecture of the Heavenly Kingdom, called the Phoenix Immortal Prefect ure . It has been suffering a drought for several years. The Prefect has sent us here to post a notice, seeking a master of rain-calling magic to save the people."
The Pilgrim asked, "Where is your notice?"
The officials replied, "The notice is right here. We just finished sweeping the eaves and have not yet hung it up."
The Pilgrim said, "Let me see it." The officials unrolled the notice and hung it under the eaves. The four masters and disciples gathered around to read it. The notice read:
The Prefect of the Phoenix Immortal Prefecture, of the Great Heavenly Kingdom, Shangguan by name, issues this notice to seek an enlightened master and to pray for a great ritual of rain. Because this prefecture is vast, its people and soldiers prosperous, yet years of drought and relentless dry weather have followed. The farmland of the people is barren, the soldiers' fields are thin, the river channels are shallow, and the ditches are empty. There is no water in the wells, no moisture at the springs. The wealthy barely survive, but the poor soldiers can hardly stay alive. A peck of grain costs a hundred pieces of gold; a bundle of firewood is worth five taels of silver . A ten-year-old girl can be traded for three pints of rice ; a five-year-old boy is taken away by anyone who wants him. In the city, the law-abiding pawn their clothes and belongings to survive; in the countryside, the lawless rob and even eat human flesh to stay alive. For this reason, we issue this notice, hoping that a wise sage from afar will pray for rain and save the people. We promise a generous reward of a thousand pieces of gold. This is no empty promise. So let this notice be posted.
After reading it, the Pilgrim asked the officials, "What does 'Shangguan' mean?"
The officials said, "Shangguan is a surname. It is our Prefect's family name."
The Pilgrim laughed. "That's a rare surname."
Bajie said, "Brother, haven't you studied? In the ' Book of a Hundred Surnames ,' the last line says, 'Shangguan, Ouyang.'"
Sanzang said, "Disciples, stop your idle chatter. Which of you can pray for rain? If you can bring them a rainstorm to save the people, it would be a great deed. If not, let us be on our way and not delay our journey."
The Pilgrim said, "What's so hard about praying for rain? Old Monkey can overturn rivers and seas, shift the stars, kick down the sky and dig up wells, spew fog and spit clouds, carry mountains and chase the moon, call the wind and summon the rain. These are all tricks I played as a child. What's so special about them!"
Hearing this, the officials quickly sent two men back to the prefectural office to report, "Your Honor! The greatest of good news has arrived!"
The Prefect was burning incense and praying. Hearing there was good news, he asked, "What good news?"
The officials said, "Today we went to the market entrance to post the rain-seeking notice. Just as we were about to hang it, four monks arrived. They said they were sent from the Great Tang in the East to the Great Thunderclap Monastery in the Heavenly Kingdom to pay homage to the Buddha and seek the scriptures. When they saw the notice, they said they could pray for rain. We have come especially to report this to you!"
The Prefect immediately straightened his clothes and walked out the door without many attendants. He went straight to the market entrance and respectfully invited the monks. Someone shouted, "The Prefect has arrived!" Everyone quickly made way. When the Prefect saw Tang Sanzang, he paid no attention to the ugly appearances of his disciples. He knelt down on the spot and kowtowed. "I am Shangguan, the Prefect of the Phoenix Immortal Prefecture. With all sincerity, I beg the master to pray for rain and save the people. I implore you to have mercy, display your divine powers, and rescue us!"
Sanzang returned the greeting and said, "This is not a suitable place for discussion. Allow this poor monk to go to a temple and perform the ritual."
The Prefect said, "Master, come to my official residence. There is a clean place there."
The masters and disciples led the horse and carried the luggage, following him to the Prefect's residence. After exchanging formal greetings, the Prefect immediately ordered tea and a vegetarian meal. Soon the meal was served. Bajie ate ravenously, like a starving tiger. The servants who brought the dishes were terrified, running back and forth to refill bowls and soup, as busy as a revolving lantern . Only when Bajie was completely stuffed did he stop.
After the meal, Tang Sanzang thanked the Prefect and asked, "Your Honor, how long has this region been suffering from drought?"
The Prefect recited:
This great land is the Heavenly Kingdom, and I govern the outer prefecture of Phoenix Immortal. For three consecutive years we have faced a drought; no grass sprouts, and the five grains are gone. Trade is difficult for rich and poor alike; nine out of ten households weep in sorrow. Two-thirds of the people have starved to death; the remaining third are like candles in the wind. I have posted notices everywhere seeking a sage, and by fortune, a true monk has come to our land. If you can grant a drop of rain to save the people, I will gladly offer a thousand pieces of gold in gratitude for your great virtue!
When the Pilgrim heard this, he broke into a broad smile. "Say no more! Say no more! If you mention a thousand pieces of gold as a reward, not a single drop of rain will fall. But if it is for the sake of accumulating virtue, Old Monkey will give you a great downpour."
The Prefect, who was by nature an upright and virtuous man who cared deeply for his people, immediately invited the Pilgrim to take the seat of honor and knelt to kowtow. "Master, if you truly show mercy, I swear I will never forget your kindness."
The Pilgrim said, "Stop kowtowing. Get up. Please take good care of my master, and let Old Monkey perform the ritual."
Sha Wujing asked, "Brother, how shall we perform the ritual?"
The Pilgrim said, "You and Bajie come over here. Stand beneath this hall and assist me while I summon the Dragon King to bring rain."
Bajie and Sha Wujing quickly obeyed. The three of them stood in the hall. The Prefect burned incense and bowed in worship, while Sanzang sat and chanted sutras.
The Pilgrim recited his true incantation, and soon a dark cloud drifted over from the east, slowly descending before the hall. It was Ao Guang, the old Dragon King of the Eastern Sea. Ao Guang withdrew his clouds and mist, took human form, and stepped forward to bow to the Pilgrim. "Great Sage, you have summoned the Little Dragon. What are your commands?"
The Pilgrim said, "Rise. I've troubled you to make a trip for nothing special. This is the Phoenix Immortal Prefecture, which has suffered years of drought. Why haven't you come to bring rain?"
The old Dragon King said, "I report to the Great Sage: Although I can bring rain, I am under the command of Heaven. Without a decree from Heaven, how would I dare to come and rain on my own?"
The Pilgrim said, "I passed through here and saw the people suffering. I called you here especially to bring rain and save them. Why are you making excuses?"
The Dragon King said, "The Little Dragon would not dare to make excuses! But when the Great Sage recited the incantation and summoned me, I did not dare not to come. However, first, I have received no sacred decree from Heaven; second, I have not brought the rain-generating generals. How can I activate the Rain Department? If the Great Sage truly has a heart to save the people, allow the Little Dragon to return to the Eastern Sea and muster my troops. Then trouble the Great Sage to go to the Heavenly Palace and petition the Jade Emperor for a decree to bring rain. Let the Water Officials release the dragons, and only then can I rain according to the decree's specifications."
The Pilgrim saw that the Dragon King's words were reasonable and had no choice but to let him return to the Eastern Sea. Then he leaped out of the ritual altar and told Tang Sanzang what the Dragon King had said. Sanzang said, "If that is the case, you should go to the Heavenly Palace. But don't be dishonest."
The Pilgrim instructed Bajie and Sha Wujing, "Take good care of the master. I am going to the Heavenly Palace." The Great Sage, having spoken, vanished without a trace.
The Prefect was terrified. "Where has Master Sun gone?"
Bajie laughed. "He has ridden his cloud to the Heavenly Palace."
The Prefect was filled with reverence. He immediately sent word throughout the city, ordering every household—officials and commoners, soldiers and civilians alike—to set up Dragon King spirit tablets, place vats of clean water at their doors with willow branches inside, burn incense, and pray to Heaven. But we will not speak of this for now.
Meanwhile, the Pilgrim mounted his somersault cloud and went straight to the Western Heavenly Gate. There he encountered the Heavenly King who Protects the Nation, leading his heavenly soldiers, who came forward to greet him. "Great Sage, are the scriptures-seeking matters concluded?"
The Pilgrim said, "Almost. I have now reached the territory of the Heavenly Kingdom, in an outer prefecture called the Phoenix Immortal Prefecture. There has been no rain there for three years, and the people are suffering greatly. I wanted to summon the Dragon King to bring rain and save them, but the Dragon King said he dared not rain without a sacred decree. I have come especially to see the Jade Emperor and request the decree."
The Heavenly King said, "I'm afraid rain is not due for that place. I have heard before that the Prefect of that region was too reckless and offended Heaven and Earth. The Jade Emperor has punished him by setting up a Mountain of Rice, a Mountain of Flour, and a Great Golden Lock. Only when these three things are resolved will rain be due."
The Pilgrim did not understand what this meant, but he insisted on seeing the Jade Emperor. The Heavenly King dared not stop him and let him pass. When he reached the Hall of Universal Brightness, he encountered the Four Heavenly Masters, who greeted him. "Great Sage, what brings you here?"
The Pilgrim said, "I am escorting Tang Sanzang to the Phoenix Immortal Prefecture in the Heavenly Kingdom. There has been no rain there, and the Prefect has been seeking a master to pray for rain. I summoned the Dragon King and wanted him to bring rain, but he said he dared not without the Jade Emperor's decree. I have come especially to request the decree to save the people."
The Four Heavenly Masters said, "Rain is not due for that place."
The Pilgrim laughed. "Due or not due, trouble yourselves to take me in to petition the Jade Emperor. See if you can do it for Old Monkey's sake."
Immortal Elder Ge said, "As the saying goes, 'A fly putting on a net—what a big face!'"
Xu Jingyang said, "Don't talk nonsense. Take him in first."
The four true men, Qiu Hongji, Zhang Daoling, Ge, and Xu, led the Pilgrim to the Hall of the Numinous Void and reported, "Your Majesty, Sun Wukong has passed through the Phoenix Immortal Prefecture in the Heavenly Kingdom. He wishes to pray for rain for that region and has come especially to request your decree."
The Jade Emperor said, "Three years ago, on the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month, I left the palace to inspect the mortal world. When I reached his region, I saw that the Prefect, Shangguan Zheng, was unrighteous. He pushed over the vegetarian offerings meant for the Heaven worship and fed them to a dog, even uttering foul words, committing the crime of offending Heaven. I then established three conditions and placed them in the Hall of Woven Brocade. Take Sun Wukong to see them. If the three conditions have been fulfilled, I will issue the decree for rain. If they have not, tell him not to meddle in matters that do not concern him."
The Four Heavenly Masters led the Pilgrim to the Hall of Woven Brocade. Inside, they saw a Mountain of Rice, about ten zhang high; and a Mountain of Flour, about twenty zhang high. Beside the Mountain of Rice was a chick, no bigger than a fist, slowly pecking at the rice. Beside the Mountain of Flour was a golden-haired Pekingese dog, lapping at the flour with its tongue. On the left hung an iron frame, from which was suspended a golden lock, about one foot three or four inches long, with a keyhole arm as thick as a finger. Beneath it burned a bright oil lamp, the flame of which was slowly heating the lock's arm.
The Pilgrim did not understand the meaning and turned to ask the Heavenly Masters, "What is all this?"
The Heavenly Masters said, "The Prefect offended Heaven. The Jade Emperor established these three conditions. He decreed that only when the chick has pecked through the rice, the dog has licked through the flour, and the lamp's flame has burned through the lock's arm, will rain be due for that place."
When the Pilgrim heard this, he was greatly alarmed. He dared not petition the Jade Emperor further. He walked out of the hall, his face full of shame. The Four Heavenly Masters laughed. "Great Sage, do not be troubled. This matter can be resolved simply by doing good. As soon as a single good thought moves Heaven, the Mountain of Rice and the Mountain of Flour will collapse, and the lock's arm will break. Go and urge the Prefect to turn to goodness, and blessings will naturally come."
Hearing this, the Pilgrim did not go to the Hall of the Numinous Void to take his leave. He descended directly back to the mortal world and returned to the Phoenix Immortal Prefecture. Soon he reached the Western Heavenly Gate, where he again encountered the Heavenly King who Protects the Nation. The Heavenly King asked, "How did the petition go?"
The Pilgrim recounted the matter of the Mountain of Rice, the Mountain of Flour, and the Golden Lock. "It was just as you said. The Jade Emperor refused to issue the decree. Just now, the Heavenly Masters saw me out and told me to urge the Prefect to turn to goodness, and then it could be resolved." After speaking, he took his leave of the Heavenly King, descended his cloud, and returned to the mortal world.
The Prefect, along with Sanzang, Bajie, Sha Wujing, and all the officials, great and small, were waiting to greet him. They surrounded the Pilgrim, pressing him for news. The Pilgrim shouted at the Prefect, "It's all because of you! Three years ago, on the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month, you offended Heaven, and that is why the people are suffering! Now Heaven refuses to send rain!"
The Prefect knelt in terror. "Master, how do you know about what happened three years ago?"
The Pilgrim said, "You pushed over the vegetarian offerings meant for Heaven and fed them to a dog. Confess quickly!"
The Prefect dared not hide the truth. "Three years ago, on the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month, I was at my residence performing a Heaven-worshipping ritual with offerings. Because my wife was unvirtuous and quarreled with me, I became angry and confused in the heat of the moment. I pushed over the altar table, spilling the vegetarian offerings, and I did indeed call a dog to eat them. For the past two years, I have remembered this in my heart, my mind unsettled, with no way to atone for my sin. I did not know that Heaven would punish me and cause the people to suffer. Now that I have met you, Master, I beg you to show me a clear path. What must I do to be forgiven by the celestial realm?"
The Pilgrim said, "That day happened to be when the Jade Emperor descended to inspect the mortal world. He saw you feeding the offerings to a dog and heard your foul words. The Jade Emperor then established three conditions to mark your crime."
Bajie asked, "Brother, what are the three conditions?"
The Pilgrim said, "In the Hall of Woven Brocade, they set up a Mountain of Rice ten zhang high and a Mountain of Flour twenty zhang high. Beside the Mountain of Rice is a chick no bigger than a fist, pecking at the rice. Beside the Mountain of Flour is a golden-haired Pekingese dog, licking at the flour. On the left hangs an iron frame, from which is suspended a great golden lock with a keyhole arm as thick as a finger. Beneath it burns a lamp, the flame heating the lock's arm. Only when the chick has pecked through the rice, the dog has licked through the flour, and the lamp's flame has burned through the lock's arm, will rain be due for this place."
Bajie laughed. "No problem! No problem! Brother, take me there. I'll turn into a giant and eat all the rice and flour, and break the lock's arm. I guarantee it will rain!"
The Pilgrim said, "Fool, don't talk nonsense! This is a trial set by Heaven. How could you possibly see it?"
Sanzang asked, "Then what can be done?"
The Pilgrim said, "It's not difficult! Not difficult! When I was leaving, the Four Heavenly Masters told me that it can be resolved simply by doing good."
The Prefect knelt on the ground and pleaded, "Master, if you will only instruct me, I will do as you say!"
The Pilgrim said, "If you truly turn your heart to goodness, then quickly recite the Buddha's name and read the sutras. I can still help you. But if you remain as you were before, I cannot help you, and before long, Heaven will punish you. You will not even be able to save your own life."
The Prefect kowtowed and swore to turn to goodness. He immediately gathered the local monks and Taoists, set up a ritual platform, and each wrote a document to report to Heaven. The Prefect led everyone in burning incense, kneeling, and bowing, thanking Heaven and Earth and confessing their faults. Sanzang also helped chant sutras. At the same time, he sent word throughout the city, ordering every household—men, women, young, and old alike—to burn incense and recite the Buddha's name. From then on, voices of goodness were heard everywhere.
Only then did the Pilgrim become happy. He said to Bajie and Sha Wujing, "You two take good care of the master. Let Old Monkey go to the Heavenly Palace once more."
Bajie asked, "Brother, where are you going again?"
The Pilgrim said, "The Prefect has heeded my words and truly turned to goodness, reciting the Buddha's name with sincerity. I will go again to petition the Jade Emperor and pray for rain."
Sha Wujing said, "Brother, if you're going, go quickly. Don't delay our journey. You must pray for rain. It will count as a good deed for us."
The Great Sage mounted his cloud once more and arrived at the Heavenly Gate, where he again encountered the Heavenly King who Protects the Nation. The Heavenly King asked, "Why have you come again?"
The Pilgrim said, "The Prefect has already turned to goodness." The Heavenly King was also pleased.
As they were speaking, they saw a Direct Dispatch Messenger carrying Taoist and Buddhist documents to the Heavenly Gate for delivery. When the messenger saw the Pilgrim, he bowed and said, "This is all due to the Great Sage's efforts in urging goodness."
The Pilgrim asked, "Where are you sending these documents?"
The messenger said, "Directly to the Hall of Universal Brightness, to be handed to the Heavenly Masters for transmission to the Jade Emperor."
The Pilgrim said, "Then you go first. I will follow shortly." The messenger entered the Heavenly Gate. The Heavenly King who Protects the Nation said, "Great Sage, you don't need to see the Jade Emperor. Go directly to the Office of the Ninefold Response and borrow some Thunder Gods. Let them directly cause thunder and lightning, and then the rain can fall."
Hearing this, the Pilgrim entered the Heavenly Gate. Instead of going to the Hall of the Numinous Void to request the decree, he turned and went to the Office of the Ninefold Response. The Thunder Gate Messenger, the Correction Recorder, and the Integrity Inspector all came out to greet him. Bowing, they asked, "Great Sage, what brings you here?"
The Pilgrim said, "I have a matter for which I need to see the Heavenly Lord." The three messengers immediately went in to report. The Heavenly Lord descended from his Ninefold Phoenix Cinnabar Cloud Throne, straightened his clothes, and came out to greet him. After exchanging formal greetings, the Pilgrim said, "There is a matter on which I wish to request your assistance."
The Heavenly Lord asked, "What matter?"
The Pilgrim said, "I am escorting Tang Sanzang to the Phoenix Immortal Prefecture. I saw that the drought there is severe, and I have already promised to help them pray for rain. I have come especially to borrow some divine generals from your department to go there and cause thunder."
The Heavenly Lord said, "I know that the Prefect of that place offended Heaven, and the Jade Emperor established three conditions. I do not know whether rain is due now."
The Pilgrim laughed. "Yesterday, I saw the Jade Emperor and petitioned for the decree. The Jade Emperor ordered the Heavenly Masters to take me to the Hall of Woven Brocade to see those three conditions: the Mountain of Rice, the Mountain of Flour, and the Golden Lock. I was worried that these three things would be hard to resolve, but the Heavenly Masters told me to urge the Prefect and the people to turn to goodness. They said, 'When a person has a good thought, Heaven will surely fulfill it.' Perhaps this will move Heaven and resolve the calamity. Now, good thoughts have already arisen among them, and voices of goodness are heard everywhere. Just now, the Direct Dispatch Messenger has already reported their repentance and turn to goodness to the Jade Emperor. I have come especially to your office to borrow the Thunder Department's divine generals to help."
The Heavenly Lord said, "Since that is the case, I will dispatch the four divine generals, Deng, Xin, Zhang, and Tao, along with the Lightning Maiden, to accompany the Great Sage to the Phoenix Immortal Prefecture and cause thunder."
The four divine generals followed the Great Sage. Before long, they arrived in the sky above the Phoenix Immortal Prefecture and immediately began their magic. The sound of thunder rumbled, and lightning flashed. Truly:
Lightning crackled like purple-gold serpents; thunder roared, awakening all the slumbering creatures. Brilliant flashes of fire flew; thunderbolts shattered mountain caves. The sky was lit up as far as the eye could see; the earth trembled and shook. A single flash of red light burst forth, and the first sprouts of life appeared, as the mountains and rivers for a thousand miles were all shaken.
In the Phoenix Immortal Prefecture, both within and outside the city, officials, soldiers, and commoners had not heard the sound of thunder or seen lightning for three full years. When they saw it now, they all knelt down, some holding incense burners on their heads, others holding willow branches in their hands, and all recited, "Namo Amitabha Buddha! Namo Amitabha Buddha!" This single good thought truly moved Heaven. Truly, as an ancient poem says:
When a thought arises in the human heart, Heaven and Earth both know it. If good and evil go unrewarded, then the universe must be partial.
Let us set aside for now the matter of the Great Sage Sun Wukong commanding the Thunder Generals in causing thunder and lightning over the Phoenix Immortal Prefecture, making every person turn to goodness. Let us speak instead of the Direct Dispatch Messenger of the celestial realm, who delivered the documents from the monks and Taoists to the Hall of Universal Brightness. The Four Heavenly Masters transmitted them to the Jade Emperor in the Hall of the Numinous Void. When the Jade Emperor read them, he said, "Since the Prefect and the others have already developed good thoughts, let us see how those three conditions stand."
As he spoke, the guardian official of the Hall of Woven Brocade came to report, "The Mountain of Rice and the Mountain of Flour in the hall have both collapsed. In an instant, all the rice and flour have vanished, and the lock's arm has also broken." Before he had finished speaking, the Heavenly Officer on Duty, along with the local spirits, city gods, and village gods of the Phoenix Immortal Prefecture, all came forward to report, "In the Phoenix Immortal Prefecture, the Prefect and the people of the entire city—not a single household or person has failed to turn to goodness, revering the Buddha and honoring Heaven. Now we beg the Jade Emperor to show mercy, to send down sweet rain from the heavens, and to save the people."
The Jade Emperor was overjoyed. He immediately issued a decree: "Command the Wind Department, the Cloud Department, and the Rain Department to each follow this order and go to the Phoenix Immortal Prefecture. At this very hour, cause thunder, spread clouds, and send down three feet and forty-two drops of rain." The Four Heavenly Masters received the decree and ordered the departments to descend to the mortal world at once, each displaying their divine powers and acting together.
The Pilgrim was still in midair with the four divine generals, Deng, Xin, Zhang, and Tao, and the Lightning Maiden, performing their magic, when they saw all the various deities arriving, gathering in the sky. In an instant, wind and clouds converged, and a great rain poured down. This rain was truly magnificent:
Thick, dark clouds; dense, black mist. The chariots of thunder rumbled; lightning flashed brilliantly. Rolling, fierce winds; a pouring, driving rain. As the saying goes, a single thought can turn Heaven's will, fulfilling the hopes of ten thousand people. All thanks to the Great Sage's exercise of his primal power, as the mountains and rivers for a thousand miles were covered in shadow. The good rain poured down like a river overturning or the sea emptying, covering the fields and filling the sky. Waterfalls hung from the eaves; the sound of rain echoed from the windows. At a thousand gates and ten thousand doors, people recited the Buddha's name; on the six streets and three markets, water flowed in torrents. Every eastern and western river channel was full; every southern and northern stream and bay was connected. Withered seedlings received moisture; dead trees came back to life. In the fields, hemp and wheat flourished; in the villages, beans and grain rose in price. Traveling merchants rejoiced in being able to trade; farmers loved the chance to plow and sow. From now on, millet and rice will grow abundantly; naturally, the harvests will be plentiful. The wind and rain will be timely, and the people will be happy; the seas will be calm and the rivers clear, and they will enjoy peace and prosperity.
The rain fell for a whole day, precisely reaching three feet and forty-two drops. The various deities gradually withdrew their magic. The Great Sage Sun Wukong called out loudly, "Deities of the Wind, Cloud, Thunder, and Rain departments! Do not withdraw your magic yet! Let Old Monkey call the Prefect to come and pay his respects to you all. You, gentlemen, part the clouds and mist and reveal your true forms. Let these mortals see you with their own eyes, so that they will offer you sincere worship from now on."
Hearing this, the deities stopped in midair. The Pilgrim descended his cloud to the prefecture. There he saw Sanzang, Bajie, and Sha Wujing all coming to greet him, while the Prefect came forward, kowtowing at every step, to thank him. The Pilgrim said, "Do not thank me. I have already detained the four departments' deities. Quickly gather everyone together to come and pay their respects. This will make them willing to come and bring rain in the future."
The Prefect immediately sent word throughout the city, summoning the people to come and pay their respects. Everyone held incense and knelt in worship. The deities of the four departments parted the clouds and mist and revealed their true forms. The deities of the Rain Department, the Thunder Department, the Cloud Department, and the Wind Department each displayed their true appearances:
The Dragon King revealed his image; the Thunder Generals stretched forth their bodies. The Cloud Youths appeared; the Wind Earl showed his true form. The Dragon King revealed his image—silver beard, ancient countenance, unparalleled in the world. The Thunder Generals stretched forth their bodies—hooked beaks, majestic faces, truly matchless. The Cloud Youths appeared—who could compare to their jade faces and golden crowns? The Wind Earl showed his true form—how could he be described, with his bushy brows and round eyes? In orderly array, they all appeared in the blue sky, each displaying their sacred majesty. Only then did the people of the Phoenix Immortal Prefecture believe. They bowed their heads, offered incense, and turned away from evil. Today, they looked up to the heavenly generals, cleansed their hearts, turned to goodness, and all surrendered themselves to the faith.
The deities remained in the sky for an entire hour, and the people never stopped worshipping. Sun the Pilgrim again flew up into the clouds and bowed to the deities. "I have troubled you all! I have troubled you all! Please return to your respective departments. Old Monkey will have the people of the Phoenix Immortal Prefecture offer you sacrifices and worship you at the proper seasons. In the future, please blow wind every five days and send rain every ten days, continuing to save the people here." The deities assented and returned to their departments. We will not speak of this further.
The Great Sage descended his cloud and said to Sanzang, "The matter is done, and the people are safe. We can pack up and continue our journey."
When the Prefect heard this, he quickly bowed and said, "Master Sun, what are you saying! This rain is a great kindness from Heaven. I have already sent men to prepare a banquet to repay your great favor. I also intend to buy some land and build a temple and a shrine for you, masters, to engrave your names on a stele, and to offer sacrifices in all four seasons. Even if I engraved it on my bones and remembered it in my heart, I could not repay one ten-thousandth of your kindness. How can you speak of continuing your journey!"
Sanzang said, "We appreciate your kind intentions, Your Honor. But we are wandering monks from the West and dare not stay long. We will certainly leave within a day or two."
The Prefect would not let them go. He spent the night preparing a banquet and ordering the construction of a temple. The next day, he laid out a magnificent feast. He invited Tang Sanzang to take the seat of honor, with the Great Sage Sun and Bajie and Sha Wujing seated beside him. The Prefect and all the officials of the prefecture, great and small, took turns offering toasts and serving dishes. With music and celebration, they entertained them throughout the day, and everyone was delighted. There is a poem as proof:
The fields, long parched, met with sweet rain; the river channels for trade were open everywhere. Deeply grateful for the divine monks who came to the prefecture, and greatly indebted to the Great Sage who went to the Heavenly Palace. They resolved the three conditions, erasing past evils, and with a single thought of devotion, the fruit of goodness flourished. From now on, may this land be like the age of Yao and Shun, with timely winds and rains for ten thousand years of abundance.
They feasted for one day, then another. Today they gave thanks; tomorrow they expressed gratitude. The Prefect detained them for nearly half a month, waiting for the temple to be completed. After visiting the temple, the master and his disciples urged to continue their journey. The people of Phoenix Immortal Prefecture, knowing they could not be kept, prepared gifts, but the four pilgrims refused to accept a single coin. The officials and commoners of the prefecture, beating gongs and drums and holding banners, escorted them for over thirty miles, still reluctant to part, weeping as they watched them go until they could no longer be seen. Truly: The virtuous holy monk left universal blessings; the Great Sage Equal to Heaven spread his grace far and wide. How many more days would it take to see the Tathagata? Read on to find out.