Journey to the West - Complete Edition with Woodblock Illustrations

Author: Wu Cheng'en (Ming)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: As Monkey King was about to ask, he suddenly said to the others, "You are all skilled in archery and weapons, but this sword of mine is truly unsuitable. It doesn’t meet my expectations. What can I do?" The four old monkeys stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty is a celestial being, and ordinary weapons are not fit for you. But do you think you can go into the water?" Monkey King replied, "Since I attained enlightenment, I have mastered the 72 transformations of the Earthly Fiends, the Great Bending Cloud has immense power, and I am skilled in hiding, escaping, initiating spells, and controlling them. I can ascend to heaven and enter the earth, walk through the sun and moon without a trace, pass through stone and metal without hindrance, and neither water nor fire can harm me. How could water stop me?" The four monkeys said, "Since Your Majesty has such powers, under the iron bridge here, the water leads to the Dragon Palace of the East Sea. If you are willing to go down, find the Old Dragon King, and ask for the weapon you desire, it will surely satisfy you." Monkey King was delighted and said, "Let me go." The clever Monkey King leaped to the bridge, used the Water-Sealing Method, clenched his incantation, and plunged into the waves, splitting the water and entering the depths of the East Sea directly. As he was walking, he suddenly saw a sea demon blocking his path and asked, "Who is this divine being pushing the water? Speak clearly, so I can report and welcome you." Monkey King replied, "I am the Natural Saint Sun Wukong from Flower Fruit Mountain, your Old Dragon King’s neighbor. Why don’t you recognize me?" The sea demon, hearing this, quickly turned and reported to the Crystal Palace, "Your Majesty, there is a Natural Saint Sun Wukong from Flower Fruit Mountain outside, claiming to be your neighbor. He is coming to the palace." The Dragon King Ao Guang immediately rose, along with his dragon children, grandchildren, shrimp soldiers, and crab generals, to greet him outside the palace, saying, "Please, please enter." They went inside and sat down, offering tea, and then asked, "When did you attain enlightenment, and what magical arts have you learned?" Monkey King replied, "Since my birth, I have practiced asceticism and achieved an immortal body that is neither born nor dies. Recently, I have been teaching my children and grandchildren and guarding the mountain cave. However, I lack a weapon. I have heard that my kind neighbor enjoys the pleasures of the Jade Palace, and must have many surplus treasures. I have come to ask for one." The Dragon King, unable to refuse, ordered the Minister of Gudgeon to bring out a large halberd. Monkey King said, "I don’t know how to use a halberd. Please give me another one." The Dragon King then ordered the Minister of Lead and the General of Eel to carry in a nine-pronged fork. Monkey King jumped down and took it, used it for a while, and then put it down, saying, "Light! Light! Light! It’s not suitable. Please give me another one." The Dragon King laughed and said, "Your Majesty, you haven’t seen this fork—it weighs three thousand six hundred jin!" Monkey King said, "It’s not suitable! It’s not suitable!" The Dragon King, frightened, ordered the Minister of Bao and the General of Carp to carry in a painted, which weighed seven thousand two hundred jin. Monkey King saw it, ran forward, took it, performed a few stunts, and then stuck it in the middle, saying, "It’s still too light! Light! Light!" The Old Dragon King was even more frightened and said, "Your Majesty, this is the heaviest weapon in my palace. There is nothing else." Monkey King smiled and said, "As the ancients said, even the Dragon King of the East Sea has no treasures! You should look again. If you find anything suitable, I will pay for it." The Dragon King said, "I truly have nothing else." Just then, the Dragon Queen and the Dragon Princess appeared from behind and said, "Your Majesty, this saint is certainly no ordinary being. In our sea, there is a divine treasure from the bottom of the Milky Way, the Tianhe Dingdi Iron, which has been shining with radiant light and auspicious aura these days. Could it be that it is destined to appear and meet this saint?" The Dragon King said, "That is the stake used by the Great Yu to measure the depths of the rivers and seas. It is a divine iron. What use could it be?" The Dragon Queen said, "Don’t worry about its use. Just give it to him. Let him do whatever he wants with it, and then send him out of the palace." The Old Dragon King agreed and told Monkey King everything. Monkey King said, "Let me see it." The Dragon King shook his head and said, "It’s too heavy to carry! It’s too heavy to lift! You must see it yourself." Monkey King said, "Where is it? Show me the way." The Dragon King led him to the Sea Treasury, where he suddenly saw streams of golden light. The Dragon King pointed and said, "That shining thing is it." Monkey King stepped forward, touched it, and found it to be an iron pillar about the size of a cooking pot in diameter and over two zhang long. He grabbed it with both hands and said, "It’s too thick and too long! Make it shorter and thinner, and it will be suitable." The next moment, the treasure shortened by a few feet and narrowed in circumference. Monkey King shook it again and said, "Make it even thinner!" The treasure really became thinner. Monkey King was overjoyed and took it out of the Sea Treasury. It had two golden rings at both ends and a black iron in the middle. Near the rings were carved words: "Ruyi Gold-Banded Cudgel, weighing thirteen thousand five hundred and fifty jin." He was secretly pleased and thought, "This treasure must suit my wishes!" As he walked, he murmured, "Make it shorter and thinner, even better!" When he took it outside, it was only one zhang long and as thick as a bowl. He demonstrated his magical powers, tossing and spinning it, frightening the Old Dragon King, the young dragon sons, the turtles, tortoises, alligators, and caimans into shrinking their necks, and the fish, shrimp, crabs, and oysters into hiding their heads. Monkey King held the treasure in his hand and sat on the Crystal Palace, laughing at the Dragon King and saying, "Thank you, kind neighbor, for your generous hospitality." The Dragon King said, "It is nothing, it is nothing." Monkey King said, "Although this iron is very useful, there is one more thing." The Dragon King asked, "What else do you have to say?" Monkey King said, "If I hadn’t found this iron, it would have been fine. But now that I have it in my hand, I have no clothing to match it. What can I do? If you have any armor here, please give me a set in total as a token of gratitude." The Dragon King said, "I’m afraid we don’t have any." Monkey King said, "One guest does not offend two masters. If you don’t have it, I will not leave this door." The Dragon King said, "Please, Your Majesty, go to another sea, and perhaps you will find some." Monkey King replied, "Going to three places is not as good as staying at one. I beg you to ask for a set." The Dragon King said, "I truly have nothing. If I find any, I will certainly offer it." Monkey King said, "If you really don’t have it, I will test this iron with you!" The Dragon King panicked and said, "Please, Your Majesty, do not make a move! Do not make a move! Let me see if my younger brother has any, and I will give you a set." Monkey King asked, "Where is your younger brother?" The Dragon King said, "My younger brother is Ao Qin of the South Sea, Ao Shun of the North Sea, and Ao Yun of the West Sea." Monkey King said, "I will not go! I will not go! As the saying goes, borrowing from three is not as good as borrowing from two. I only hope you will give me a set according to your means." The Old Dragon said, "There is no need for Your Majesty to go. I have an iron drum and a golden bell here. In case of an emergency, if the drum is beaten and the bell is struck, my younger brothers will arrive instantly." Monkey King said, "If that’s the case, quickly beat the drum and strike the bell!" The toad general immediately went to strike the bell, and the turtle general came to beat the drum. Soon, the bell and drum sounded, and indeed, the three sea dragon kings arrived in no time, meeting outside together. Ao Qin said, "Brother, what is the emergency? Why are you beating the drum and striking the bell?" The Old Dragon said, "Brother, it’s not something I can say. There is a Natural Saint Sun Wukong from Flower Fruit Mountain who came earlier to ask me to be his neighbor. Later, he asked for a weapon. He found the halberd too small and the painted rod too light. He took a piece of the Tianhe Dingdi Iron himself, performed some stunts, and now sits in the palace, asking for armor. I don’t have any, so I beat the drum and struck the bell to call you here. Do you have any armor to give him so he can leave?" Ao Qin heard this and grew angry and said, "Let’s gather our troops and capture him!" The Old Dragon said, "Don’t even mention capturing him! Don’t even mention capturing him! That piece of iron, if you touch it even slightly, you will die, and if you bump it, you will perish. If it brushes against you, your skin will break, and if it scrapes against you, your muscles will be injured!" Ao Yun of the West Sea said, "Second brother, don’t fight him. Just give him a set of armor and send him out. Then, you can report to heaven, and heaven will deal with him." Ao Shun of the North Sea said, "That’s right. I have a pair of lotus silk clouds shoes here."