Thus it was that Tang Sanzang, his heart brimming with joy, took leave of the Prefect of Phoenix Immortal Prefecture . Upon his horse, he said to the Pilgrim, “Worthy disciple, the merit we have accumulated this time is even greater than saving the children in the Children-Snatching Kingdom. All of this is thanks to you!”
Sha Wujing added, “In the Children-Snatching Kingdom, we saved only one thousand one hundred and eleven children. But this great rain nourished all things and revived tens of thousands of people! Your disciple, too, secretly admires the Great Elder Brother ’s boundless magical powers and a compassionate heart that can cover the entire earth.”
Zhu Bajie chuckled, “Brother, you have both grace and virtue , but on the surface you are all kindness and righteousness, while hiding wicked schemes in your heart. As long as I walk with you, you are always tormenting me.”
The Pilgrim asked, “When have I ever tormented you?”
Bajie replied, “Isn’t that enough! You always get me tied up, hung up, boiled, or steamed! Now that we have done a good deed for ten thousand people in Phoenix Immortal Prefecture, even if we stayed for half a year and let me eat a few stable, filling meals, it would be fine. But you insist on hurrying us along the road!”
Upon hearing this, the elder scolded him, “You fool! How can your mind be filled with nothing but thoughts of eating? Hurry up and move! Stop your bickering!”
Bajie dared not speak further. He pouted, shouldered the luggage, and followed along with a forced laugh. The four masters and disciples traveled along the main road, and time passed quickly. Soon, they reached the depths of autumn. Behold:
The waters receded, revealing the mountains’ bony frames. Red leaves flew about in profusion, and it was the season of yellow blossoms . The frosty, clear sky made the nights feel long; the white moonlight pierced through the windows. Every household had cooking smoke rising in the evening sun, and everywhere there were lakes and cold, flowing waters. White fragrance filled the air, and red smartweed flourished. Oranges were green and citrons yellow; willows withered while grain grew lush. In the desolate villages, wild geese landed amid broken reeds, and at the rustic inns, the roosters’ cries accompanied the harvest of beans.
The four of them traveled for a long while until they saw the silhouette of another city in the distance. The elder raised his horsewhip and pointed ahead. “Wukong, look over there. There is another city. I wonder what place it is.”
The Pilgrim said, “None of us have ever been here before. How would we know? When we get closer, we can ask someone and find out.”
Just as he was speaking, an old man came out from the grove of trees. He leaned on a bamboo staff, wore light clothing and a pair of straw sandals, and had a flat belt tied around his waist. Tang Sanzang quickly dismounted and stepped forward to greet him. The old man, leaning on his staff, returned the greeting. “Elder, where do you come from?”
Tang Sanzang pressed his palms together. “I am a humble monk sent from the Great Tang in the East to the Thunderclap Monastery to worship the Buddha and seek the scriptures. Now I have arrived at this esteemed place. Seeing a city in the distance, I do not know what place it is. I have taken the liberty of asking you, venerable benefactor.”
The old man said, “Master of the Way, this place is a prefecture under the Heavenly Kingdom, called Yuhua County . The city lord here is a relative of the Heavenly King and has been enfeoffed as the Prince of Yuhua . This prince is very virtuous, honoring both monks and Taoists and loving the people. If you, Master, go to see him, he will surely hold you in high regard.”
Tang Sanzang thanked him, and the old man walked away through the woods. Tang Sanzang turned and told his disciples what had been said. All three were overjoyed and helped their master back onto his horse. Tang Sanzang said, “It is not far. There is no need to ride.” The four of them walked on foot to the streets near the city gate to take a look.
It turned out that at the entrance to the city, there were many people doing business. It was a very lively and bustling place, with trade flourishing. When they listened to the local accents and looked at the people’s appearances, it was no different from the Central Plains. Tang Sanzang instructed them, “Disciples, be careful. Do not be reckless.”
Bajie lowered his head, and Sha Wujing covered his face. Only Sun the Pilgrim supported his master. The people on both sides gathered around to stare, shouting in unison, “In our land, we have only ever seen eminent monks who could subdue dragons and tame tigers , but we have never seen a monk who could subdue a pig and a monkey!”
Bajie could not restrain himself. He pouted and said, “Have you ever seen a monk who can subdue a Pig King ?” This so frightened the people on the street that they stumbled and fell, scattering to both sides to get out of the way.
The Pilgrim laughed and said, “Fool, put your mouth away right now. Don’t put on those strange airs. Watch your step as you cross the bridge.” The fool lowered his head and snickered to himself.
After crossing the drawbridge and entering the city gate, they saw again the wine houses and song pavilions along the main street. It was a bustling and prosperous place, truly a great city. There is a poem to prove it:
The brocade city, like an iron urn , stands firm for ten thousand years, Nestled by water and leaning on mountains, all colors fresh and clear. A hundred goods arrive by lake, as boats enter the market; A thousand homes sell wine, with curtains hanging from the eaves. Everywhere there are towers and pavilions, teeming with people; Every day the lanes and alleys bustle with merchants and travelers. It is no less than the fine scenery of Chang’an; Even the crowing of cocks and barking of dogs are the same.
Tang Sanzang secretly rejoiced in his heart: “People say that the western kingdoms are different from the Central Plains. I have never been here before, but looking closely at this scene, how is it any different from my Great Tang! The Land of Ultimate Bliss that people speak of must be something like this.” He also heard people saying that white rice was four maces a bushel and sesame oil was eight li a catty . Truly, this was a place of abundant harvests and great prosperity.
After walking for a long while, they finally arrived at the Prince of Yuhua’s mansion. To the left and right of the mansion were the offices of the Chief Historian , the Tribunal Hall , the Kitchen Department , and the Guest House . Tang Sanzang said, “Disciples, this is the prince’s mansion. I will go inside to see the prince and have our travel documents certified.”
Bajie asked, “Master, if you go inside, are we supposed to just stand in front of the government office?”
Tang Sanzang said, “Didn’t you see the words ‘Guest House’ written above the gate? All of you go and sit there. If you see any fodder, buy some to feed the horse. After I have seen the prince, if he bestows a vegetarian meal upon me, I will come and call you to eat together.”
The Pilgrim said, “Master, set your mind at ease and go. I will take care of things.” Sha Wujing carried the luggage to the Guest House. The servants there, seeing how ugly they were, dared not ask any questions nor drive them away. They simply let them sit down. Of this, we will say no more for now.
Meanwhile, Tang Sanzang changed his clothes, took his travel documents, and went directly to the prince’s mansion. The ceremonial officer came forward to greet him and asked, “Elder, where do you come from?”
Tang Sanzang said, “I am a monk sent by the Great Tang in the East to the Great Thunderclap Monastery to worship the Buddha and seek the scriptures. Now I have arrived at your esteemed land. I wish to have my travel documents certified and have come especially to pay my respects to His Highness.”
The ceremonial officer went inside to report. The Prince of Yuhua was indeed virtuous and immediately issued a decree inviting Tang Sanzang to enter. Tang Sanzang went to the foot of the hall and performed a bow. The prince invited him to come up to the hall and sit down. Tang Sanzang presented his travel documents. The prince looked at them and, seeing the official seals and signatures from various kingdoms, was very pleased. He affixed his own precious seal, signed his name, and put the documents away on the table. He asked, “National Teacher and Elder, from the Great Tang to this place, how many places have you passed through, and how far have you traveled?”
Tang Sanzang said, “I, your humble monk, have not kept track of the distance. However, in earlier years, the Bodhisattva Guanyin appeared before my Emperor of the Great Tang and left a verse saying that the Western Paradise is one hundred and eight thousand miles away. I, your humble monk, have already spent fourteen cycles of spring, summer, autumn, and winter on the road.”
The prince laughed and said, “Fourteen cycles of spring, summer, autumn, and winter—that is fourteen years. I imagine there must have been quite a few delays along the way?”
Tang Sanzang said, “It is a long story! Along the way, we encountered countless demons and monsters. I do not know how much suffering we have endured before arriving at your esteemed land!”
The prince was extremely pleased and ordered the Kitchen Officer to prepare a vegetarian feast to entertain them. Tang Sanzang said, “I beg to report to Your Highness that I, your humble monk, have three disciples waiting outside. I dare not partake of the feast alone, for fear of delaying our journey.”
The prince ordered, “Court officer, go quickly and invite the elder’s three disciples to come into the mansion to eat together.”
The court officer went out to look for them. He asked everyone, but no one had seen them. One attendant said, “There are three ugly monks sitting in the Guest House. They are probably the ones.”
The court officer led his men to the Guest House and asked the servants on duty, “Which of you are the disciples of the scripture-seeking monk from the Great Tang? Our prince has decreed that you are to be invited to a meal.”
Bajie was just dozing off when he heard the word “meal.” He could not help but jump up and answer, “We are! We are!”
As soon as the court officer saw Bajie, he was so frightened that his soul nearly left his body. Trembling, he said, “A pig demon! A pig demon!”
When the Pilgrim heard this, he grabbed hold of Bajie. “Brother, be a little more refined. Don’t be so wild.”
When the officials saw the Pilgrim, they said, “A monkey spirit! A monkey spirit!”
Sha Wujing clasped his hands and said, “Gentlemen, do not be afraid. All three of us are disciples of Tang Sanzang.”
When the officials saw Sha Wujing, they said, “The Kitchen God! The Kitchen God!”
Sun the Pilgrim told Bajie to lead the horse and Sha Wujing to carry the luggage, and they followed the officials into the Prince of Yuhua’s mansion. The court officer went in first to announce them.
When the prince looked up and saw how ugly they were, he too became frightened. Tang Sanzang pressed his palms together and said, “Your Highness, set your mind at ease. Although my disciples are ugly in appearance, their hearts are kind.”
Bajie made a bow to the prince and said, “I, your humble monk, greet you.” The prince became even more frightened.
Tang Sanzang said, “All of my disciples were taken in from the mountains. They do not know how to perform proper courtesies. I beg Your Highness to forgive their transgression.”
The prince suppressed his fear and ordered the Kitchen Officer to invite the monks to the Gauze Pavilion to eat their vegetarian meal. Tang Sanzang thanked him for his grace, took his leave of the prince, and went down from the hall with the others to the pavilion. Once there, Tang Sanzang scolded Bajie, “You blockhead! You have no manners at all! Even if you had said nothing, it would have been fine. But you were so crude! With just one word, you nearly scared the man to death!”
The Pilgrim laughed and said, “It is better that I did not bow. It saves me the effort.”
Sha Wujing said, “He didn’t even wait for the proper moment to bow. He just pouted his mouth and shouted first. It was terrifying.”
Bajie said, “How annoying! Master taught me a few days ago that bowing to people is a sign of courtesy. Today I bowed, and now you say it’s wrong. What am I supposed to do!”
Tang Sanzang said, “I taught you to bow to people, but I did not teach you to be so disrespectful to a prince! The old saying goes, ‘There are different grades of things, and different classes of people.’ How can you not distinguish between the noble and the base?”
Just as they were speaking, the Kitchen Officer led some men in to set out the tables and chairs and bring in the vegetarian meal. The masters and disciples stopped their quarreling and each began to eat.
Meanwhile, the prince withdrew from the hall and went into the inner palace. There were three young princes in the palace. When they saw that their father’s expression was not good, they asked, “Father, why are you so frightened today?”
The prince said, “Just now, a monk from the Great Tang in the East, who is on his way to worship the Buddha and seek the scriptures, came to have his travel documents certified. He is a fine-looking man. I kept him for a meal, and he said his disciples were waiting outside the mansion, so I sent someone to invite them. In a little while, they came in. When they saw me, they did not perform a grand ceremony but only made a slight bow. I was already a little displeased. Then I looked up and saw that each one of them was as ugly as a demon or monster. I could not help but become afraid, and that is why my expression is not good.”
Now, these three young princes were different from ordinary people. Each one of them was fond of martial arts and loved to display their prowess. As soon as they heard this, they rolled up their sleeves and said, “Could it be that mountain spirits have disguised themselves as humans? Let us take our weapons and go out to see for ourselves!”
Good princes! The eldest prince took a staff as tall as his eyebrows, the second prince swung a nine-pronged rake, and the third prince wielded a pitch-black club. Full of valor and high spirits, they strode out of the prince’s mansion, shouting, “Where are these scripture-seeking monks! Where are they?”
The Kitchen Officer and the other officials knelt down and said, “Young princes, they are eating in the Gauze Pavilion.”
Without stopping to distinguish right from wrong, the young princes barged into the Gauze Pavilion and shouted, “Are you men or demons? Speak quickly! And we will spare your lives!”
Tang Sanzang was so frightened that his face turned pale. He put down his rice bowl, bowed, and said, “I, your humble monk, am from the Tang court, come to seek the scriptures. I am a man, not a demon.”
The young prince said, “You still look like a man. But those three ugly ones are definitely demons!”
Bajie paid them no attention and just went on eating. Sha Wujing and the Pilgrim half rose from their seats and said, “We are all men. Although we are ugly in appearance, our hearts are kind. Although we are clumsy, our natures are good. Where do you three come from, and why are you so arrogant?”
A nearby Kitchen Officer said, “These three are our prince’s young princes.”
Bajie put down his bowl and said, “Young highnesses, what are you doing with those weapons? Are you trying to pick a fight with us?”
The second prince strode forward and, wielding his rake with both hands, was about to strike Bajie. Bajie giggled and said, “That rake of yours could only be a grandson to my rake!” As he spoke, he opened his clothes, took out his own nine-pronged rake, and shook it. A thousand beams of golden light and ten thousand wisps of auspicious vapor burst forth, so frightening the prince that his hands went limp and his legs went numb. He dared not brandish his weapon any further.
When the Pilgrim saw the eldest prince leaping about with his eyebrow-high staff, he took the Golden-Banded Cudgel from his ear and shook it. It grew to the thickness of a rice bowl and to a length of over twelve feet. He thrust it into the ground, burying it three feet deep, and left it standing there. He laughed and said, “I will give this cudgel to you!”
When the prince heard this, he dropped his own staff and went to pull out the Golden-Banded Cudgel. He used all his strength but could not budge it. He tried to lift it and shake it, but the cudgel seemed to have taken root in the earth.
The third prince flew into a rage and struck at Sha Wujing with his pitch-black club. Sha Wujing swept it aside with one hand. He then took out his Demon-Subduing Precious Staff and twisted it. Golden light flashed, frightening the Kitchen Officers and the other officials so much that they stood there dumbfounded, unable to speak.
All three young princes knelt down together. “Divine Masters! Divine Masters! We are but mortals and do not know what we are doing. We beg you to show us your skill, so that we may worship you as our teachers!”
The Pilgrim stepped forward and lightly picked up the Golden-Banded Cudgel. He said, “This place is too cramped for a good display. I will leap into the air and perform a routine. You can watch.”
Good Great Sage! With a whistle, he gave a shake and mounted his somersault cloud. Treading on a five-colored auspicious cloud, he rose to midair, about three hundred paces above the ground. He then began to wield the Golden-Banded Cudgel, displaying the “Flowers Scattering to Cover the Head” and “Yellow Dragon Turns Around” techniques, moving up and down, spinning left and right. At first, the man and the cudgel were visible, like embroidery on brocade. But soon, the man could no longer be seen, and only the shadow of the cudgel filled the sky.
Bajie, cheering from below, could not help but shout, “Let Old Pig go and have some fun too!” Good fool! He mounted the wind and also rose to midair. Unfurling his nine-pronged rake, he began to perform, striking three times above, four times below, five times to the left, and six times to the right, until nothing could be heard but the howling of the wind.
Just as they were in the thick of their display, Sha Wujing said to the elder, “Master, let me go and practice a little too.” Good monk! He leaped up with both feet, swung his precious staff, and also rose into the air. Auspicious vapors swirled around him, and golden light shimmered in the distance. He performed the “Red Phoenix Facing the Sun” and “Hungry Tiger Pouncing on Its Prey” techniques, attacking and defending with perfect ease.
The three brothers each displayed their divine powers, all showing off their might in midair. Truly, this was:
The scene of true Chan is unlike the ordinary; The great principle of the Dao fills all of space. Metal and Wood display their might, filling the Dharma realm; The knife and the pestle turn and revolve, achieving perfect harmony. The divine weapons, sharp and keen, appear at any time; The elixir vessels and flowers bloom, revered everywhere. Though the Heavenly Kingdom is lofty, one must still restrain one’s nature; The Prince of Yuhua, in the end, will return to the center.
This so frightened the three young princes that they knelt on the ground. The officials in the Gauze Pavilion, the old prince in the mansion, and all the men and women, soldiers and civilians, monks, nuns, Taoists, and laypeople in the city, every single household, began to recite the Buddha’s name, kowtow, light incense, and worship. Truly, this was:
Seeing the form and returning to the truth, they deliver all sentient beings; Doing good deeds in the human world, they enjoy peace and tranquility. From now on, the fruit is correct on the path to Bodhi; All of them will be people who meditate and worship the Buddha.
The three men each displayed their skills, performed a full routine, and then descended on their auspicious clouds. They put away their weapons, went before Tang Sanzang to pay their respects, thanked him for his grace as their master, and each sat down. Of this, we will say no more for now.
The three young princes hurried back to the palace and told the old prince, “Father, a most wonderful thing has happened! We have great good fortune! Did you just see those weapons being wielded in midair?”
The old prince laughed and said, “I just saw a rosy glow in the sky, and I was in the palace burning incense and worshiping with your mother and the others. I did not know which divine immortal had descended.”
The young princes said, “It was not an immortal. It was the three ugly disciples of the scripture-seeking monk! One uses a Golden-Banded Iron Cudgel, one uses a Nine-Pronged Rake, and one uses a Demon-Subduing Precious Staff. Our weapons are far inferior to theirs. We asked them to perform a routine, but they thought the ground was too cramped and said, ‘Let us rise into the air and show you.’ Then each of them mounted a cloud, and in midair there were swirling auspicious vapors and surging auspicious energy. They have just descended and are all sitting in the Gauze Pavilion. We are overjoyed and wish to worship them as our teachers to learn their skills, so that we may protect our kingdom. This is truly a most wonderful thing! What does Father think?”
When the old prince heard this, he immediately agreed. The four of them—father and sons—dispensed with all ceremonial regalia and umbrellas and walked on foot to the Gauze Pavilion. The four masters and disciples were just packing up their luggage, intending to go into the mansion to thank the prince for the meal and then take their leave, when they saw the Prince of Yuhua and his sons come up and kneel down, kowtowing. The elder was so startled that he quickly rose to return the greeting. The Pilgrim and the others slipped to the side and secretly laughed.
After everyone had finished their bows, they invited the four men to go into the mansion and sit in the main hall. The four of them happily went inside. The old prince rose and said, “Venerable Teacher Tang, I have a request. I wonder if your three worthy disciples would be willing to grant it?”
Tang Sanzang said, “As long as Your Highness gives the order, my disciples would not dare to disobey.”
The old prince said, “When I first saw you all, I only thought you were wandering monks from the Tang court. I have but mortal eyes and a mortal body and was most remiss. Just now, when I saw Master Sun, Master Zhu, and Master Sha wielding their weapons in midair, I realized that you are immortals and Buddhas. My three sons have loved martial arts all their lives. Now, with all sincerity, they wish to worship the three of you as their teachers and learn your skills. I beg the masters to be gracious and teach them the martial arts. I will surely thank you with all the treasures of the city.”
The Pilgrim could not help but laugh and say, “Your Highness, you really do not understand! We who have left the household life are only too happy to take on a few disciples. Since your sons have a heart that inclines toward goodness, do not mention money at all. As long as they treat us with true sincerity, that is the best expression of gratitude.”
The prince was overjoyed to hear this. He immediately ordered a great banquet to be prepared and set in the main hall of the prince’s mansion. At his command, it was soon laid out. Behold:
Colored silks fluttered in the breeze, and the fragrance of incense filled the air. Tables inlaid with gold were draped with silk gauze, dazzling the eyes; chairs painted with colored lacquer were covered with brocade and embroidery, adding splendor to the seats. Tree fruits were fresh, and tea and soup were fragrant and steaming. Three or five courses of light refreshments were sweet and pure; one or two servings of steamed buns were rich and clean. The steamed pastries and honey-fried delicacies were even more marvelous; the oil-fried and sugar-coated treats were truly delicious. There were several bottles of fragrant, vegetarian wine, which, when poured, surpassed the finest nectar; and several cups of Yangxian immortal tea were presented, whose fragrance, when held in the hand, overpowered the osmanthus flower. Every kind and every grade was fully prepared; each color and each variety was extraordinary.
On one side, they ordered musicians to play, dancers to perform, and acrobats to put on a show. The four masters and disciples, along with the prince and his sons, enjoyed themselves together for an entire day. After nightfall, the banquet was dismissed. They then ordered beds and curtains to be prepared in the Gauze Pavilion and asked the masters to rest. They would wait until the next day, after burning incense, to bow and request the transmission of the martial arts. Everyone obeyed. They also prepared hot water and asked the masters to bathe, after which each retired to rest.
At this time:
The myriad birds had perched high, and all sounds had sunk into silence. The poet had gone to bed, ceasing his chanting and reciting. The light of the Milky Way shone brightly, making the sky even clearer. The wild paths were desolate, and the grass grew deeper. The sound of washing blocks echoed from other courtyards. The distant mountain passes stirred a longing for home. The clear chirping of the autumn crickets seemed to know men’s hearts, and their ceaseless cries at the bedside shattered their dreams.
One night passed. The next morning, the old prince and his sons came again to see the elder. The day before, they had greeted him with the courtesy due to a prince, but today, they greeted him with the courtesy due to a teacher. The three young princes kowtowed to the Pilgrim, Bajie, and Sha Wujing and asked, “Venerable Masters, could we borrow your weapons to have a look?”
Bajie was very pleased. He took out his rake and threw it on the ground. Sha Wujing also threw out his precious staff and leaned it against the wall. The second and third princes leaped over to pick them up, but it was like a dragonfly trying to shake a stone pillar. They strained until their faces were red and their necks were thick, but they could not budge them.
The eldest prince said, “Brothers, don’t waste your strength. The masters’ weapons are all divine weapons. Who knows how heavy they are!”
Bajie laughed and said, “My rake is not heavy either. It only weighs one full load—five thousand and forty-eight pounds, handle and all.”
The third prince asked Sha Wujing, “Master, how heavy is your precious staff?”
Sha Wujing laughed and said, “It is also five thousand and forty-eight pounds.”
The eldest prince begged to see the Pilgrim’s Golden-Banded Cudgel. The Pilgrim took a needle from his ear, shook it in the wind, and it became as thick as a rice bowl, standing upright before him. The prince and his sons all trembled with fear, and the officials were all terrified.
The three young princes bowed and said, “Master Pig and Master Sha both carry their weapons on their persons and can produce them with a single motion. Why does Master Sun take his from his ear? And why does it grow when it meets the wind? What is the reason for this?”
The Pilgrim laughed and said, “You do not know. My cudgel is not something that can be found in the mortal world. This cudgel: In the chaos of the primordial beginning, iron was smelted and forged; The Great Sage, Yu the Divine, personally set it in place. It knew the depths of all the seas, lakes, rivers, and streams; With this cudgel, he explored them all. When he leveled mountains and tamed the floods, bringing peace to the world, It was left behind in the Eastern Ocean to guard the sea palace. Over the long years, it emitted rosy clouds; It could shrink, it could grow, it could be bright and clean. Old Sun, by destiny, took it for his own; It can change in countless ways, following my oral formula. If I want it large, it fills the entire universe; If I want it small, it is like a needle. Its name is the As-You-Will Gold-Banded Cudgel; In heaven and on earth, it is called peerless. Its weight is thirteen thousand five hundred pounds; It can be thick or thin, and it can create and destroy. It once helped me to wreak havoc in the Heavenly Palace; It also followed me to attack the earthly abodes. It subdues tigers and tames dragons everywhere; It refines demons and vanquishes monsters in every direction. When I raise it, the sun itself grows dim; Heaven and earth, ghosts and gods, all tremble in fear. It has been passed down from the primordial chaos to this very day; It was never made of mortal iron.”
When the princes heard this, they kowtowed without ceasing. The three of them stepped forward and performed the most profound bows, sincerely begging to be taught the martial arts. The Pilgrim asked, “Which martial art do you three want to learn?”
The princes said, “He who wants to use a staff will learn the staff; he who can use a rake will learn the rake; and he who loves to use a staff will learn the staff.”
The Pilgrim laughed and said, “It is easy to teach, but you have no strength. You cannot use our weapons, and I fear you will not learn well. It would be like ‘trying to draw a tiger and ending up with a dog.’ The old saying goes, ‘If the teaching is not strict, it is the teacher’s laziness; if the learning is not accomplished, it is the student’s fault.’ Since you have sincerity, go and burn incense and worship heaven and earth. I will first transmit some divine power to you, and then I will teach you the martial arts.”
The three young princes were filled with joy. They immediately carried out the incense table themselves, washed their hands, burned incense, and knelt down to worship heaven. After they had finished worshiping, they asked the master to transmit the Dharma. The Pilgrim turned and bowed to Tang Sanzang. “I beg to report to my venerable master. Please forgive your disciple for his offense. In those early years, at Two Realms Mountain, Master saved me, and I took refuge in the Buddhist faith. On the journey westward, although I have not been able to fully repay your grace, I have climbed mountains and crossed rivers, doing my utmost. Now we have arrived in the Buddha’s kingdom and have been fortunate enough to encounter the worthy prince’s three sons, who wish to worship us as their teachers to learn the martial arts. Since they will be our disciples, they are your disciples’ disciples. I first make this clear to you, Master, before I transmit the arts.”
Tang Sanzang was extremely pleased. When Bajie and Sha Wujing saw the Pilgrim bowing, they also turned and kowtowed to Tang Sanzang. “Master, we are clumsy of speech and slow of tongue. We do not know how to speak properly. We beg you, Master, to sit on the Dharma seat and allow the two of us to each take on a disciple for fun. It will also serve as a memento of our journey to the West.” Tang Sanzang happily agreed to all of this.
The Pilgrim told the three young princes to go to a quiet room behind the Gauze Pavilion. There, he drew a diagram of the Big Dipper and the stars and told the three of them to lie down inside it, one by one closing their eyes and calming their minds. The Pilgrim secretly recited the true mantra and incantation, blew his immortal breath into their hearts, gathered and returned their primordial spirits, transmitted the oral formula, and bestowed upon each the strength of ten thousand jun. He then fully applied the proper heat, as if they were being reborn and having their bones changed. When the cycle of the Zi and Wu hours was complete, the three young princes awakened. They all got up together, wiped their faces, and found themselves full of energy, with sturdy bones and strong sinews. The eldest prince picked up the Golden-Banded Cudgel, the second prince swung the Nine-Pronged Rake, and the third prince raised the Demon-Subduing Precious Staff. They could all lift them now.
When the old prince saw this, he was beside himself with joy. He again laid out a vegetarian feast to thank the four masters and disciples. During the feast, each of the three men taught his own art: he who learned the staff practiced the staff; he who learned the rake practiced the rake; he who learned the staff practiced the staff. Although they could now turn a few times and perform a few moves, it was still very strenuous. After walking through one routine, they were panting and could not keep it up for long. This was because the weapons could change size, and the techniques of advancing and retreating, attacking and defending, and lengthening and shortening all had their natural subtleties. The young princes, however, were mere mortals. How could they learn everything at once? The banquet was dismissed that day.
The next day, the three young princes came again to thank them. “We thank the divine masters for transmitting divine power to us. Although we can now lift the masters’ weapons, we still cannot wield them properly. We would like to have a