Journey to the West: The Collector's Edition

Author: Wu Cheng'en / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2000-01-01
Features: Jīng Bào reports: "Father King! Bì Mǎ Wēn truly has great abilities! Even with my powers, I cannot defeat him. He has already injured my arm." The Tian Wang was greatly startled and changed color: "This creature possesses such supernatural powers, how can we win?" The Prince said: "He has erected a flag outside his cave, inscribed with the four characters 'Qítiān Dàshèng' (Supreme Monarch of Heaven), claiming that if the Jade Emperor enfeoffs him with this title, everything will be settled. If it is not this title, he will definitely fight his way to the Lingxiáo Bǎodiàn!" The Tian Wang said: "Since this is the case, let us not engage in further conflict and return to the heavens to report this. We should also dispatch more heavenly soldiers to surround and capture this creature. This would not be too late." The Prince, suffering from his injury, could no longer fight, so he returned to the heavens with the Tian Wang to report, but this is not the focus of the story.
You see, the Monkey King returned victorious to his mountain, and the seventy-two cave kings and his six brothers all came to congratulate him. In the cave heaven, they feasted and rejoiced without bounds. However, he said to his six brothers: "Since I am now known as the Qítiān Dàshèng, you should also call me by that title." Among them, Niu Mówang suddenly shouted: "Brother is right! I shall call myself the Píngtiān Dàshèng (Supreme Monarch of Earth)." Jiāo Mówang said: "I shall call myself the Fùhǎi Dàshèng (Supreme Monarch of the Sea)." Péng Mówang said: "I shall call myself the Hùntiān Dàshèng (Supreme Monarch of Chaos)." Shī Chà Wáng said: "I shall call myself the Yíshān Dàshèng (Supreme Monarch Who Moves Mountains)." Mí Hóu Wáng said: "I shall call myself the Tōngfēng Dàshèng (Supreme Monarch Who Transmits Wind)." Xiāng Wú Wáng said: "I shall call myself the Qūshén Dàshèng (Supreme Monarch Who Drives Gods)." At this time, the Seven Great Saints acted independently, each claiming their own titles, and they amused themselves for a day before dispersing.
Meanwhile, the Lǐ Tian Wáng and the Three led their generals to the Lingxiáo Bǎodiàn and reported: "We were ordered by the imperial decree to lead troops to the mortal world to subdue the demon Sun Wukong, but unexpectedly, he possesses great supernatural powers and we could not win. We respectfully request Your Majesty to send more troops to suppress him." The Jade Emperor said: "A mere monkey, how could he have so much ability? We do not need to send more troops." The stepped forward and said: "I beg Your Majesty to forgive my death! That demon monkey wields an iron staff, first defeating the great gods and injuring my arm. Outside his cave stands a flag inscribed with the four characters 'Qítiān Dàshèng'. He demands that the Jade Emperor enfeoff him with this title, and he will cease hostilities and surrender. If it is not this title, he will still fight his way to the Lingxiáo Bǎodiàn." The Jade Emperor, hearing this, was astonished: "How dare this demon monkey be so arrogant! Order the generals to execute him immediately." Just then, Taibai Xīngjīn emerged from the ranks and reported: "That demon monkey only knows how to speak but does not understand hierarchy. If we send troops to fight him, we may not be able to subdue him in time and will only waste our forces. It would be better if Your Majesty shows great mercy and issues an imperial decree to enfeoff him as the Qítiān Dàshèng, but only give him an empty title with no responsibilities or salary, and keep him among us to restrain his evil intentions and prevent arrogance, so that the world may be at peace and the realm purified." The Jade Emperor said: "Agree with your proposal." He then ordered the issuance of an imperial decree and instructed Taibai Xīngjīn to deliver it.
Taibai Xīngjīn returned to the Southern Heaven Gate and observed outside the Flower Fruit Mountain Water Curtain Cave. This time was different from before—his aura was majestic, his killing intent fierce, and every kind of demon was present. Each held swords, spears, knives, and staves, roaring and leaping. Upon seeing Taibai Xīngjīn, they all rushed forward to attack. Taibai Xīngjīn said: "The leaders, please go and inform your Great Sage. I am an angel sent by the Jade Emperor, carrying an imperial decree to summon him." The demons ran in to report: "Outside, there is an old man who claims to be an angel from the heavens and has a decree for you." Sun Wukong said: "Come well! Come well! He must be Taibai Xīngjīn from before. The last time he invited me to the heavens, although the title was unworthy, I did travel to the heavens once and know the way to the Tianmen. This time he has come, he must have good intentions." He ordered the leaders to raise flags and drums, forming a welcoming procession. The Great Sage led the monkeys, wearing a crown and armor, with a scarlet robe over his armor and clouds under his feet, and hurriedly exited the cave, bowing and saying: "Old Star, please enter. Forgive my lack of greeting."
Taibai Xīngjīn stepped forward and entered the cave, standing facing south and said: "I now inform the Great Sage that in the past, because you were dissatisfied with your small title and left the Imperial Horse Depot, the officials there reported to the Jade Emperor. The Jade Emperor issued an edict: 'All official positions are granted from low to high, why did you complain about being small?' Lǐ Tian Wáng led Nézhā down to the mortal world to fight you, but they did not know of your supernatural powers and were defeated. When they returned to the heavens, they reported: 'The Great Sage has erected a flag outside his cave, claiming to be the Qítiān Dàshèng.'" The generals still hesitated, but Taibai Xīngjīn insisted on reporting on behalf of the Great Sage, avoiding war and requesting the Jade Emperor to grant the title. The Jade Emperor agreed, and thus he came to invite him.
Sun Wukong laughed and said: "Thank you for your trouble before, and thank you again now! But I wonder if there is really such a title as the Qítiān Dàshèng in the heavens?" Taibai Xīngjīn said: "I dared to lead the decree only because I had obtained approval for this title. If anything goes wrong, I will be held responsible." Sun Wukong was delighted, but refused the banquet. He then rode the auspicious clouds with Taibai Xīngjīn to the Southern Heaven Gate. The heavenly soldiers and generals greeted them with bows. They entered the Lingxiáo Diàn and Taibai Xīngjīn reported: "I have summoned Sun Wukong, the Bì Mǎ Wēn, to the heavens." The Jade Emperor said: "Sun Wukong, come here. I hereby enfeoff you as the Qítiān Dàshèng. Your rank is extremely high, but you must not act recklessly." The Monkey King bowed and said, "Thank you for your grace."
The Jade Emperor then ordered the officials in charge—Zhang and Lǔ—to build the Qítiān Dàshèng Mansion on the right side of the Pántáo Garden. The mansion had two divisions: the Anjìng Sī (Division of Tranquility) and the Níngshén Sī (Division of Calmness). Each division had immortal officials to assist. He also dispatched the Wǔdǒu Xīngjūn to take Sun Wukong to his post, along with two bottles of imperial wine and ten golden flowers, urging him to be content and determined, and not to act recklessly. The Monkey King accepted and followed the Wǔdǒu Xīngjūn to his mansion. He opened the wine bottles and drank with the officials, sending the Xīngjūn back to his post. Only then was he truly satisfied and happy, enjoying the heavens without worry or hindrance.
It is said: "His immortal name is forever inscribed in the elixir of life, and he will never fall into the cycle of rebirth, leaving a legacy for all eternity." But it remains to be seen how things will unfold in the future. Let us wait and see in the next chapter.
Sun Wukong saw the Jade Emperor also call him "Old Sun," and the immortals were greatly astonished, saying he should be executed. However, when the Monkey King had a request of the Jade Emperor, he would call himself "" (a subordinate). For example, when the two hearts stirred up chaos in the great universe, the False Monkey King asked the Jade Emperor to distinguish between the real and false. Sun Wukong reported: "Your Majesty! Your Majesty! I now surrender and follow the teachings of the Buddha, no longer daring to deceive Your Majesty. This demon has changed into my form. I beg Your Majesty to help me distinguish between the real and false."
What we see is a Sun Wukong with a distinct personality. Sometimes he calls himself "Old Sun" when speaking to the Bodhisattva of Universal Compassion, and sometimes "disciple," similar to his self-identification with the Jade Emperor. Sun Wukong's dedication as Bì Mǎ Wēn was deeply moving, and Ye Zhòu commented in the margins: "Old Sun does not hold a position without fulfilling his duties." This is the essence of Old Sun, and it is why he later served as a protector of Tang Monk without ever slacking.
"Officially enfeoffed as Bì Mǎ Wēn, yet his heart is not content," indeed, because the Jade Emperor did not know how to use his talents, he was dismissed from the Imperial Horse Depot and the Southern Heaven Gate. Sun Wukong, upon returning to Flower Fruit Mountain, told the monkeys that the Jade Emperor did not know how to use people. Ye Zhòu commented in the margins: "The Jade Emperor also does not know how to use people, what can we do?" According to Sun Wukong's and the general demons' method of "what can we do," it is to set up their own banner, so they self-enfeoffed themselves as Qítiān Dàshèng. The outline and method of Sun Wukong's first rebellion against the heavens were thus established.
In the previous chapter, Taibai Xīngjīn gave the Jade Emperor advice, proposing to enfeoff Sun Wukong as a minor official to list his name and restrain him. If he accepted the heavens' fate, he would be rewarded later; if he defied it, he would be captured. From the heavens' perspective, this was a reasonable suggestion, but unfortunately, Sun Wukong defied his fate. He was beaten out of the heavens, and the plan to capture him fell through.
This time, Taibai Xīngjīn came up with another idea: giving Sun Wukong the title of Qítiān Dàshèng with an empty title and no salary, to keep him among them and restrain his evil intentions, preventing arrogance and ensuring peace in the world. This idea was even better. Throughout history, ruling governments often used empty titles to control unruly regional ethnic governments and various rebels. During the Ming Dynasty, they frequently employed this strategy with neighboring ethnic groups (in the northeast, north, northwest, and southwest), and it was quite effective for a certain period. Compared to Lǐ Tian Wáng's heavy military campaign, this was better. The strategy proposed by the scholar was commendable.
Phrases like "keep him among us," "peace in the world," and "purity in the realm" did not seem to be aimed at the heavens. The Qítiān Dàshèng Mansion was set up with the Anjìng Sī (Division of Tranquility) and Níngshén Sī (Division of Calmness), which was absurd. In The Criticized Journey to the West by Master Lǐ Zhuó, Ye Zhòu commented: "The Qítiān Dàshèng Mansion has the Anjìng Sī and Níngshén Sī, which holds great meaning. If one can be tranquil and calm, they are truly the Qítiān Dàshèng; if not, they are still just a monkey king. Readers must pay close attention." Ye Zhòu's point of view is debatable. "His name is inscribed as Qítiān Dàshèng, but his mind is not at peace." This is the essence of the Qítiān Dàshèng. The Jade Emperor's wish for the Qítiān Dàshèng to be tranquil and calm is a spiritual restraint, but what does this have to do with the Qítiān Dàshèng? The Qítiān Dàshèng Mansion was built on the right side of the Pántáo Garden, a foolish decision by the heavenly court. Even if the Jade Emperor did not assign the Great Sage to manage the Pántáo Garden, the theft of the peaches would still be inevitable. Tranquility and calmness—even the Jade Emperor's one-sided wish could not achieve this.
The position of Bì Mǎ Wēn in the Imperial Horse Depot, according to the Ming Dynasty, should have been filled by an inner eunuch. The inner eunuch, known as the Chief Eunuch, held the rank of fourth-grade civil official. However, according to regulations, if the horses were not well-cared for, the eunuch would face punishment, so it was possible to be blamed or even held accountable. Even those not in the official ranks were required to raise horses, such as the postmaster of a station. Sun Wukong's position as Bì Mǎ Wēn was likely a combination of the Chief Eunuch and the postmaster.
When the Jade Emperor said, "Let him be enfeoffed as Bì Mǎ Wēn," Ye Zhòu commented in the margins: "Old Sun should have been enfeoffed as a Taipu Shiqing (Chief Minister of the Ministry of Imperial Horses), a third-grade official, the head of the Ministry of Imperial Horses, the main government agency responsible for raising military horses. Ye Zhòu was mocking Old Sun, but indeed, Old Sun did not understand what kind of official he was. Perhaps he truly believed himself to be the Taipu Shiqing!
When Sun Wukong first entered the heavens, he saw a long passage of rhyming verses describing the heavenly realm, an imaginary construction of the heavens. In The Investiture of the Gods, when Nézhā waits in the heavens for the Dragon King of the East Sea to file a complaint, there is also a passage about the heavens through Nézhā's eyes, similar to the rhyming verses in The Journey to the West. The rhyming verses in The Investiture of the Gods are almost identical to those in The Journey to the West, suggesting that The Investiture of the Gods imitated The Journey to the West.