Lady Iron Fan and the Flaming Mountains*
As they continued on their journey, the seasons slipped into years. Each new adventure and difficulty provided an experience from which the traveler had something specific to learn. They needed to be tested in the iron-hard realities of life until they had been made trustworthy servants of the way.
Tripitaka had the dual task of mastery over himself and his disciples and each disciple had his own weakness to overcome besides having to learn to respect the functions that the others performed. For it is no easy matter to see that each one is related to the whole and the whole is one. What all of them had in common was a wish but standing between each one and that wish was his dual nature.
Instead of facing the conflict in themselves, the companions often fought with one another. Suddenly they reached the top of a peak where they were halted by the sight of a red glow in the distant horizon that rose up like a mountain of flames. The master and his disciples came to the summit and stared at the billowing clouds.
“We’re in autumn,” Tripitaka said, “yet it is so hot. Why does the hear feel so intense?”
Don’t you know,” Pigsy said, “that there is a kingdom in the west where the sun sets? The people there call it Sky’s Brink. Every evening their king sends h is people to the city walls to bang the drums and blow bugles to drown out the sound of the boiling sea, for when the sun falls into the ocean there is a great hissing and sizzling sound of fire cooking water. If the drums and bugles didn’t smother that sound, all the little children in the city would die. Judging by the stifling heat, I would say we have reached that place.
Monkey burst out laughing. “Don’t talk nonsense, you idiot. We are a long way from Sky’s Brink, and between the Master’s dithering, your loitering and Sandy’s indecisiveness, we won’t get there if we travel from childhood to old age three times over.”
All right, Brother,” Pigsy said, “if this isn’t the place where the suns sets, then explain to me why it’s so hot.”
“Maybe the climate’s out of sorts,” Sandy said. “It may simply be an autumn heat wave.”
As they were arguing, Tripitaka noticed several buildings of red brick on the side of the road, all with red roof tiles, red painted doorsand gates, and red lacquered benches. “Monkey,” the Master ordered, ‘go to ne of those buildings and find out why we are experiencing this frightful heat.”
Monkey put away his cudgel, straightened his clothes and went swaggering up the road. As he entered the gate leading to one of the buildings, an old man emerged from the main door. He wore a hemp robe that was neither yellow nor red, his straw hat was not quite blue and yet not quite black, his knobby bamboo staff was neither crooked nor straight, and his leather boots weren’t old nor new. He had a copper-red face and white beard. His blue eyes were shadowed by a shaggy brow and when he smiled his teeth shone like gold. He was startled to see Monkey.
“Don’t be afraid, I am not a freak but a disciple of a T’ang monk who has been sent by imperial commission to seek scriptures in the West. I have come to your gate to ask about this heat we are experiencing and to learn the name of this land.”
The old man was relieved. “Where is your master? Please tell him to advance. I would like to meet him.”
Monkey waved Tripitaka and the others over. They all came and bowed before the old man, who was very taken with Tripitaka’s auspicious appearance. He invited them in for tea and a meal.
After they has been waited on and comfortably settled, Tripitaka asked the old man why they were experiencing such intense heat.
“This unworthy region goes by the name of Flaming Mountain,” the old man answered. “It’s hot here all year round. There is no such thing as seasons here.”
“Where is the mountain?” Tripitaka asked. “Does it block the way to the West?”
“Yes, that is so, it blocks the way. You can’t get to the West from here. The mountain sits squarely in your path. Although it is 60 miles away, it sits in the middle of the eight hundred miles of flame. Not a single blade of grass can grow in these parts. Even if you had a bronze skull and a body of iron you would melt trying to cross that mountain.”
Monkey jumped up and said, “How do you get flour for your bread?”
“For that we are dependent on Immortal Iron Fan.”
“What can you tell us about this immortal?” Monkey asked.
“The immortal you ask of has a palm leaf fan. One swish of that fan will put out the fire, the second swish will produce a wind and a third brings rain. This is how we sew and reap and produce the five grains. Without that immortal fan nothing would grow in the region.”
“Where does this Immortal Iron Fan live?” Monkey asked.
“Why do you ask?”
“If he will lend us hid fan,, we will be able to extinguish the flames on that mountain, and the people will be able to plant their crops in season.”
“Not a bad idea,” the old man said. “But you can’t entice the immortal without presents.”
“What sort of presents?” asked Tripitaka.
“Every ten years we go to visit the immortal. We take four hogs and four sheep, rare flowers and fruits of the season, chicken, geese, and our best wines. After purifying ourselves in ritual baths, we ascend the immortal’s mountain and beseech him to exorcise his magic over the mountain on our behalf.”
Monkey asked excitedly, “Where is this mountain? I’ll go at once and get the fan.”
“The mountain is west of here,” the old man replied. “It is called Mountain of Emerald Cloud. On that mountain there is a cave by the name of Palm Leaf Cave. The journey takes a month it is about 1,460 miles round trip.
Monkey was quickly on his way.
The first thing Monkey heard when he arrived at Mount Emerald Cloud was a woodcutter chopping in the forest. Monkey approached him and said, “Greetings Brother!”
Where are you headed?” the woodcutter asked, after bowing to Monkey.
“IF this is Mount Emerald Cloud,” Monkey said, perhaps you can help me. I’m looking for the Palm Leaf Cave belonging to the Immortal Iron Fan.”
The woodcutter smiled. “The Palm Leaf Cave is here all right but there is no Immortal Iron Fan, only Princess Iron Fan also known as Rakshasi.”
“I’ve head that this immortal has a palm leaf fan that can extinguish the Flaming Mountain. Would that be the demon Rakshasi?”
“Yes, she’s the one. She protects the people who live beyond here for a price. And they have given her the name Immortal Iron Fan, but we have no need of her exorcizing powers so we know her only as Rakshasi, the wife of the mighty Bull Demon King.
The color drained from Monkey’s face. “Not one demon,” he thought, “but two. This isn’t going to be as easy as I thought.”
The woodcutter notice Monkey had fallen silent. “Don’t be troubled,” he said. “Since you are on the Way, I’m sure you’ll have no trouble finding the Palm Leaf Cave. Just follow the path eastward for about five miles and yo will come to it.
The cave entrance was covered with lichen and moss. Wild cranes had built their nests in the bordering pines, while orioles spoke from the sad willow trees. Monkey looked down at the bordering stream, thinking it to be a place where old dragons would hide.
As Monkey stood before the entrance contemplating his next move, a young maiden stepped out, holding a flower basket in one hand, with a hoe over her shoulder. Although she was dressed in rags, Monkey could see that her heart was set on the Way. He went up to her with his palms pressed together and said, “Would you please announce me to the princess? I’m actually a monk on my way to the West to acquire some scriptures. I have come to borrow her palm leaf fan so that my companions and I can cross the Falming Mountain.”
“Please give me your name,” the young girl said, “so that I may announce you. Also the name of your monastery.”
“I am the Handsome Monkey King, but my name in religion is Aware-of-vacuity. We are traveling from the east.”
The young girl went back inside the cave and knelt before Rakshasi. She told her that Monkey wished to borrow the fan.
Rakshasi’s face turned red with rage. “That insolent ape, that devilish slayer of monster and demons! He’s undoubtedly come here to upset my schemes and steal my power. Doesn’t he think I know who he is? She commanded her assistants to bring out her weapon and sporting two treasure swords of blue steel, she marched out of the cave shouting, “Where’s the monkey? Where’s the monkey?”
“Greetings, Your Highness,” Monkey said, stepping out from the shadow of the tree, as he pressed his palms together and bowed.”
“Back away and let me get a good look at you. You’re not at all formidable but I don’t doubt you have earned your reputation,” she said.
“Now listen here,” Monkey began.
“Stop flapping your tongue and stretch our your head while a take a few whacks with my sword. If you can stand the pain, the fan is yours. If not, you can send me a message from Hell, where you can take up the matter of my fan with you King Yama.”
“Enough said, sister,” Monkey replied and folding his arms, he walked forward. “Here’s my head. Hack at it all you like. But when you’re finished with your carving you much lend me your fan.”
Rakshasi drew both her swords out at once and brought them down on Monkey’s head. Blow upon blow rained down, but to no avail. When she realized she had been tricked, she turned away and started to run.
“Where are you going sister?” Monkey shouted after her. “Let me have your fan!”
“My fan! My treasure!” she gasped. “Never!”
Seizing her with one hand, Monkey reached behind h is ear and quickly turned his needle into a rod. But Rakshasi struggled free and faced him with raised swords. They fought head to head, neither one giving way an inch. When she saw that she could not subdue Monkey on even terms, Rakshasi took out her fan and made a single swish and blew Monkey out of sight. She replaced her swords and marched back into the cave in triumph.
Monkey blew across the sky like a fallen leaf in a whirlwind. He went twirling in the air through the long night and I was morning before he came to rest atop a mountain peak. When he looked around he realized that he was on Little Sumeru Mountain. “What a terrible woman,” Monkey said, letting out a deep sigh. “Terrible and powerful! How ever did she manage to send old Monkey back to this place?” As he looked around, wondering what he might do next, it suddenly occurred to him that the Bodhisattva Ling-chi had his residence on this mountain.
At that moment he heard the temple bells resounding in the distance. He scrambled down the slope and headed straight for the monastery, where he was recognized by the monk at the front gate. After he had been announced, Monkey was ushered in to see the bodhisattva.
“Allow me to congratulate you,” Ling-chi said. “I assume you have acquired the sacred scriptures from the Buddha and are now returning to the East.”
“Not yet,” Monkey said. “I am sorry to say that we are not yet in sight of our goal.”
“In that case, what brings you to our humble mountain?”
“We have been through countless ordeals,” Monkey said, “and we have come at last to the Flaming Mountain so we are nearing our destination. And yet, in another way, I fell we have never been farther away, for we are unable to proceed. The natives tell us that the only way we can extinguish the fire is with the magical palm leaf that is in the possession of the Immortal Iron Fan. It turns out that this immortal is the wife of the Bull Demon King, and she has no intention of letting me use her secret weapon. It was by the wind of that fan that I was blown all the way back to this mountain. For this reason I am calling on you now. Perhaps you can tell me the distance between her and the Flaming Mountain.”
Ling-chi smiled. “That woman is called Rakshasi, or Princess Iron Fan. Her palm leaf is a miraculous spiritual treasure that was formed by Heaven and Earth after the Primordial Chaos. That leaf is the very essence of the negative yin principle. Not only can it put out fires, but if a man is fanned by it, he will be blown for eighty-four thousand miles before the negative wind subsides. There are fifty thousand miles between this place and the Flaming Mountain. It is only because of your cloud-somersaulting prowess that you were able to stop at al.. No mortal would have been able to stop so soon.”
“Terrible! Terrible!” Monkey exclaimed. “How will my Master ever overcome this hurdle and cross that burning mountain?”
“Don’t worry, Great Sage, the bodhisattva said. “Your landing here is a sure sign that Tripitaka is fated to succeed. “
“I don’t understand.”
“Long ago, when I was under the Buddha’s tutelage, he presented me with a Wind-arresting Pill and a Flying Dragon Staff. The Flying Dragon staff has been tried but the Wind-Arresting Pill has never been used. I will give it to you now, and her fan will no longer have any effect on you. You have but to acquire that fan and extinguish the fire and your journey will be completed.”
Monkey bowed and thanked the bodhisattva, who took from his sleeve a silk pouch containing the Wind-Arresting Pill. The pellet was sewn into Monkey’s collar, where it was sure to be safe. “I won’t detain you any longer,” Ling-chi said. “Hurry toward the northwest and you will soon come to the mountain home of Rakshasi.”
Taking his leave Monkey rode his somersaulting cloud back to the Jade Cloud Mountain. Banging on the cave entrance with his cudgel, he shouted. “Open up! Open up! Old Monkey’s come to borrow your fan.”
This time Rakshasi was alarmed. “The wretched ape has a trick or two up h is sleeve. He should have been blown eight-four thousand mile away. How could he get back so soon? This time I’ll fan him two or three times, so that he’ll never be able to find his way back to me.” Saying this she marched out of the cave and challenged Monkey.
“Don’t be so stingy, sister,” Monkey said. “You simply have to lend me your fan, and I will leave you alone. I will give you my word as a gentleman that I will return it as soon as I am done with it. I am someone who is known for his honesty, not the kind of person who borrows something and then doesn’t return it.”
“You troublesome chimp! You made trouble in Heaven but you won’t make trouble with me!” She pulled the fan out from her sleeve and fanned Monkey but at the same time he swallowed the Wind- Arresting Pill.
This time Monkey didn’t move. Rakshasi fanned again and again but nothing happened. Terrified she stashed her fan away and ran back inside the cave. Monkey gave himself a shake and turned into a gnat.
Finding a crack in the door, he crawled inside the cave and was soon in the same room as Rakshasi. She was being brought a pot of tea, which she had ordered to help soothe her nerves. When Monkey saw that the surface of the cup was frothy, he jumped into her cup and hid inside the foam. At the first swallow Monkey went sliding down Rakshasi’s stomach, where he changed himself into a miniature of his true form. “Sister1” he called up. “Lend me your fan!”
Rakshasi went pale. “Monkey1 Why are you playing tricks on me?”
“These aren’t tricks, Monkey said. “I don’t play ticks. My magic and powers are all real.” Saying that he jammed his fist into her lower abdomen.
Rakshasi tumbled to the floor and began to moan. Monkey pushed his foot down hard on her kidneys.
“Monkey King, please spare my life,” She called out.
“I don’t want your life,” he said. “I only want your fan.”
“I’ll give you the fan. Only come out of my stomach,” she replied.
Rakshasi quietly ordered one of her maids to bring her palm leaf fan. Monkey turned back into a gnat and crawled out of her mouth. He grabbed the fan and said, “Thanks for the loan.”
Monkey rode his cloud back to the red gate. On seeing Monkey, Pigsy hollered, “Master, he’s back – Monkey has come back!”
Monkey asked the old man, “Is this the fan?”
“Yes, yes,” the old man said, “that is it.”
Monkey explained how he got the fan. Tripitaka was very pleased by Monkey’s right attitude and conduct. After they had been served tea, they took leave of the old man and set off in the direction of the Flaming Mountain.
When they had traveled some forty miles, the heat became so intense they were forced to stop. “Master,” Monkey said, “you’d better dismount. Don’t anyone move, I’m going to use the fan and put out this fire. After wind and rain have cooled the ground, we will be able to cross the mountain.
Monkey took out his fan and raising it high, walked toward the flames and began to fan. Although he was fanning with all his might, instead of diminishing, the flames kept growing. With each wave o the fan the fire billowed higher and higher. Monkey began to retreat. “Go back! Go back”” he shouted to the others. “The first is coming this way!”
Tripitaka climbed back on his horse and galloped back toward the East, with the others close behind.
“What happened?” Tripitaka asked.
“I’ve been fooled!” Monkey cried. “Yes, I’ve been fooled. That woman tricked me.”
“What do we do now? Tripitaka sobbed.
“What will we do?” asked Sandy. “I don’t see how we’ll ever get through the fire now.”
“We’ll have to go around it,” Pigsy said.
“And where will that take u?” Tripitaka asked.
“Well,” Pigsy said “either East, South or North.”
“But in which direction are the scriptures?
“in the West,” Pigsy said.
“Then that’s where we are going,” Tripitaka commanded.
While they were going back and forth in this fashion, they heard a voice that seemed to come out o nowhere. “Don’t fret, great Sage. Have something to eat before you decide what to do next.”
They turned to see an old man in a wind-blown cape, wearing a hat in the shape of a half-moon and hobnailed boots, holding a dragon-headed cane. Standing beside him was a hawk-beaked demon with broad fishlike cheeks. On its head was balanced a copper pot filled with steaming cakes, cooked millet and rice.
“I am the local god of Flaming Mountain. When I heard that the Great Sage has been stymied, and that the T’ang monk could not proceed on his onily mission, I came to present you with a meal.”
“This is not the real fan. If you want to borrow the real fan, you will have to find the Mighty King. Now please take a seat and allow me to serve you, he said.
“The Mighty King is the Bull Demon King.”
“Did he set the mountain on fire?” asked Monkey.
”No, no, the local god said. “I will tell you why this mountain is burning but only if you promise not to be angry.”
“Speak up! You have my promise,” said Monkey.
“The Great sage set this mountain on fire.”
“What nonsense! I’ve never seen this mountain before.”
“I’m sure you don’t recognize me,” the local god said. “You see, this mountain was not always here. Five hundred years ago, when you caused great havoc in Heaven and were placed in the custody of Lao-tzu, I was then a Taoist worker in charge of the brazier in the Tushita Palace. Do you recall how you escaped from the crucible of Eight Trigrams, kicking over the elixir oven in the process? Well, some o the bricks that were still on the first fell down on this spot and became transformed in Flaming Mountain. Lao-tzu was so angry with me that he banished me to this mountain and made me its local spirit.”
“So that explains your clothing. You are a Taoist turned local deity.” Pigsy said.
“The Mighty King just happens to be the husband of Rakshasi but he left these parts some time ago and is now living a the Cloud Touching Cave n the Mountain of Gathering Thunder. The cave master there was a fox king who had lived for ten thousand years. When he passed away he left behind a daughter named Princess Jade Countenance who inherited a vast fortune that she did not know how to manage. When she learned about the Bull Demon King and his enormous magical powers, she offered to share he fortune if he would come and protect her. That is why the Bull Demon King no longer resides here. He abandoned Rakshasi and move in with the Princess and has not been back since. Only finding him will enable you to persuade him to lend it to you and accomplish three important deeds and enable your master to continue his journey.”
Monkey told Pigsy and Sandy to look after their master and giving himself a shake somersaulted onto his cloud and disappeared. After a look around, he started toward a pointy summit. All at once a young maiden appeared holding an orchid from the edge of the pine grove.
“Lady Bodhisattva, where are you headed?” Monkey asked.
Noticing Monkey for the first time, she was afraid and asked, “Who are you and where do you come from?”
He decided not to tell her he was looking for the fan and instead said,” This is my first trip to this region. Please tell me, is this the Mountain of Gathering Thunder with the Cloud Touching Cave? I think I have gotten lost.”
“This is the mountain why do you wish to find it?
“I have been sent by Princess Iron Fan of the Palm Leaf Cave at Jade Cloud Mountain to fetch the Bull Demon King.”
“That horrid witch!” she screamed. It has hardly been two years since the Bull Demon and I have been together. In that time he has sent her countless jewels and precious stones, not to mention bolts of silk and satin. He provides her with allotments of firewood and rice. You’d think she’d bee satisfied, but no, now that shameless demoness wants him back.”
Monkey raises his cudgel in the air, “You heartless one, you buy a husband with your dowry and you dare to call another shameless. You are the one without honor!”
The Princess was so terrified that her body shook and she turned and began to run into the forest. When they arrived at the Cloud Touching Cave, she ran inside and closed it behind her. She ran into the library where the Bull Demon King was studying a book on alchemy. She fell at his feet wailing. He tried to comfort her but the more he tried to sooth her, the more wretched she became.
“I brought you here to look after me and protect me because I lost my parents. I thought you were a hero, strong, powerful and fearless but no you’re a henpecked nitwit!” she cried.
She told him of her meeting with Monkey. The Bull Demon tried to pacify her. “The Palm Leaf Cave is an obscure sanctuary known for its purity and high ideals. My wife Rakshasi has practice austerities since her youth and it now an immortal traveling on the One Path. Her household is so strict that she doesn’t keep a single page boy. So how could she send a man with the face of a thunder god to speak on her behalf?
The Bull Demon walked out of the library and into the main hall where he put on his armor and strode out of the cave. Monkey collected himself and bowed. “Aren’t you the Great Sage, equal of Heaven?”
“Yes,” Monkey replied,
The last I heard, you were chased out of Heaven and pinned beneath the Mountain of the Five Elements by the Buddha. Why are you here frightening my mistress?”
“I’ll tell you the truth, I’m accompanying a scripture seeking pilgrim to the West, on commission from the Bodhisattva Guanyin. We got as far as the Flaming Mountain, where we are stopped. The natives informed us that Rakshasi has a palm leaf fan that could extinguish the fires but she has refused to lend it to me. That is why I have come to you hoping you would intercede on our behalf and secure us the loan of the fan so that we might resume our hold mission. As soon as we have crossed the Flaming Mountain, I will return it to you.”
The Bull Demon flew into a rage. “So it’s the fan you want! If you can survive three rounds with me, I’ll make my wife lend it to you, but if not, I will kill you and have my revenge.”
The three rounds passed to 10 and then 100, neither one gaining a noticeable advantage. At that moment they heard a voice resounding from the mountain peaks. “Courageous Bull Demon, my Master invites you to honor him with your presence at a banquet.”
The Bull Demon stopped fighting, ordered his servants to take care of his mistress, changed his clothes and headed off to the banquet.
Monkey watched him leave wondering who could have sent for him. Deciding to follow, he changed himself into a cool breeze until he came to a lagoon beside which stood a stone tablet that read Craggy Rock Mountain, Emerald Lagoon. Monkey changed himself into a 36-pound crab and plopped into the water.
Encountering an archway where the Bull Demon’s horse was tethered, he was surprised to find the region behind was waterless. He went through the archway and saw the Bull Demon seated with several dragons on either side. He was seen by one of the dragons who ordered his capture.
Monkey introduced himself as the Sidewise scuttling knight and asked for forgiveness of his transgression. He was pardoned and as soon as he left, he changed back into his true form.
He decided to assume the Bull Demon’s appearance and deceive Rakshasi into giving up the fan. He flew to her cave and demanded to be admitted.
She was surprised to see him and wondered why he had come to see her. He told her to be aware of the monkey seeking the fan and to call him if he troubled her.
She sobbed that the monkey had already tried to gain the fan from her and asked for his help. She told him of her encounter and how she had blown him away but was forced to give him the fan but that she had hidden the real fan.
“Where is the real fan, then?” he asked. She replied that it was safe with her and she was glad he would be by her side so nothing could go wrong.
As they spoke her maid brought fruit and meat. Monkey in keeping to his vegetarian vow ate only fruit. Rakshasi continued to ply him with wine and soon they were drinking out of the same cup.
“I worry that the monkey fiend will find the real fan. Where did you put it?” the Bull Demon asked.
She giggled and pulled the fan out of her mouth. “Here it is!”
“How could something that tiny put out the fires?”
“Don’t you remember? First you place your left thumb on the seventh red thread attached to the fan’s handle and then you utter the magic words: “Hui-hsu-ho-his-his-ch’ui-hu,” and immediately it will grow to twelve feet.
With the fan in his hand Monkey pretended to be wiping his face while he stuck it in his mouth and resumed his natural form.
Rakshasi was over come with embarrassment and shame and fell to the floor.
Monkey got on his cloud, recited the magic words with his thumb on the red thread. Then he realized he knew the words to make it grow but not shrink. He sped to his destination careful not to lose his grip on the precious fan.
After the banquet was over, the Bull Demon learned of Monkey’s visit disguised as a crab, he realized who stole his horse. The Bull Demon immediately rose out of the water and rode a cloud straight to the Palm Leaf cave. He saw his horse tethered at the gate and heard his wife wailing. He learned that Monkey had left with the fan. He took Rakshasi’s weapons and went after him. Soon he caught sight of Monkey King walking along with the fan on his shoulder. He felt a direct challenge would only end with Monkey using the fan to send him miles away so he decided to take the form of Pigsy. He was able to fool Monkey into giving him the fan to carry As he knew the magic to make the fan shrink as well as grow, he changed to his true form. They began to fight but the Bull Demon was surprised to find that he was unable to use the fan on Monkey.
Tripitaka was sitting by the road, quietly enduring the heat and conversing with the local spirit.
“Just how powerful is the Bull Demon King?” he asked.
“His magic is great, and his dharma powers are unlimited,” the local spirit said. “I would say he is a match for the Great Sage.”
“I wonder why Monkey has been away so long? He must be fighting the Bull Demon.” He asked for either Pigsy or Sandy to go and meet Monkey.
The local spirit agreed to take Pigsy to the Thunder Mountain and Sandy would stay to take care of Tripitaka.
They soon found Monkey and Bull Demon in battle and Pigsy eagerly joined in. The Bull Demon sensing defeat began to flee but he was surrounded by the local spirit and his ghost brigade who urged him to help the pilgrims on their journey. But angered at Monkey for his treatment of his wife and mistress, he still refused. They continued the battle throughout the night and dawn found them at the entrance to the Cloud touching Cave. Princess Jade countenance ordered her troops to battle and Pigsy turned and fled in defeat. The battle won the Bull Demon and his army returned to their cave and shut the door behind him.
Monkey said to his companions.” I’m beginning to think we’ve met our match.”
Pigsy said, “But how will we ever get our Master over that mountain without the fan? It looks like we’re going to have to find a detour.”
“Don’t lose heart or reason,” the local spirit warned Pigsy andMonkey. “If you leave the true path, you’ll never cultivate right conduct. The ancients never traveled the byways or looked for short cuts.”
In an instant the local spirit has reassembled his ghost brigade. Following Monkey and Pigsy, they stormed the cave entrance, crashing it to the ground. The Bull Demon came charging out to meet them, and soon they were chasing one another among the clouds, battling with the same fury that had taken them through out the night. The Bull Demon did not give up easily. He tried to return to his cave but was met by the local spirit and his ghost battalion. “Halt, King Powerful!” the local spirit commanded. “This time we have you stopped!” Seeing Monkey and Pigsy coming at him, he took off his armor and turned into a swan and flew away.
“What do we do now?” asked the local spirit.
“Only one thing to do,” said Monkey. ”Take your troops inside that den and clean out all the demons. This will cut off the Bull Demon’s retreat, and with nowhere to go he’ll have to match transformations with old monkey.”
Monkey turned into a vulture and flew after the swan. So the Bull Demon changed into a golden eagle and attacked the vulture. Monkey quickly turned into a black phoenix. The Bull Demon was too fast for him, changing into a white crane he flew south crying loudly.
After several transformations, the Bull Demon turned into his original form, a great white bull, with ahead like a rugged mountain, eyes like twin beams of light, horns like iron pagodas, and teeth life sharp row of swords. He was ten thousand feet in length from head to tail and stood eight hundred feet above the ground. He challenged Monkey who took out his cudgel and cried, “Grow.” In an instant he was one hundred thousand feet tall, with a head like Mount T’ai, eyes like the sun and moon, his cudgel on high, he brought in down on the bull’s flinty head, sending sparks in ten directions. The bull charged Monkey. The mountains began to shake and the earth tremble.
Monkey was encouraged by the sight of other gods coming to his support. But the Bull Demon was undaunted. Attacking from all sides, they soon tired the bull and he was finally brought to his knees. He fled to the Palm Leaf Cave. Monkey was about to attack the cave when he saw Pigsy approaching. “What happened? He asked.
Pigsy called back, “I put an end to the mistress of that cave with a blow of my rake. When I stripped her, she turned out to be a white-faced fox, and he demons were all donkeys, mules, cows, badgers, raccoons, foxes, deer, goats and antelope. They have all been dispatched and we set fire to the cave.
“We have the Bull Demon surrounded.” Said Monkey.
“What are we waiting for?” said Pigsy. “Let’s fight our way in an demand the fan.”
The Bull Demon was telling Rakshasi about his encounter with Monkey. He took out the fan, spat on it and handed it to his wife.
“Give the monkey the fan,” she pleaded.
The angry Bull Demon went to continue the fight with Monkey. He was forced to retreat and he fled north, where he came against the Diamond Guardian Diffusion of the mysterious Demon Cave on Mount Wu-t’ai who told him he had been commanded by the Lord Buddha to set up cosmic nets to capture him. So he turned and fled south. Every direction he tried, he met Guardians who were ordered to capture him.
He mounted a cloud and attempted to flee skyward but just then saw Devaraja Li, the Pagoda Bearer and Prince Natha as well as the Mighty Miracle God. The Jade Emperor had sent them to help capture him. Prince Natha tried to cut off the Bull Demon’s head but as soon as he did another one took its place. As Monkey watched in amazement, Prince Natha took out his fire wheel and hung it on the bull’ horns. He blew on the first until the Bull Demon cried in pain. He was about to change shape again when Natha aimed his imp-reflecting mirror making it impossible for the Bull Demon to either change himself or escape.
“Spare my life,” he pleaded. “I am willing to submit to Buddhism.”
“If you want to be spared, hand over the fan.” Said Prince Natha.
“The fan is in the hands of my wife.”
On hearing this, Prince Natha took his demon-binding rope, slipped it around the bull’s neck and threaded it through his nostrils and led him away. When they reached the APalm Leaf Cave, the bull called out to his wife, “Please, dearest, bringout the fan and save my life.”
As soon as she heard her husband’s voice, Raksahsi removed her jewels and her fashionable garments. Slipping into a plain white robe worn by Buddhists nuns, she put her hair up like a Taoist priestess. She walked out, carrying the twelve-foot fan with both hands. At the sight of the gods, she fell to her knees in terror. “I beg the bodhisattvas to spare our lives. I present the fan to the Great Sage that he may achieve his mission and gain merit.” Monkey stepped forward and took the fan and he and Pigsy returned to the west.
Tripitaka and Sandy were growing more anxious and wondering if Monkey and Pigsy would ever return. All at once the earth was filled with light. Monkey and a host of gods and spirits came accompanied by Prince Natha leading the Bull Demon. Tripitaka out on his cape and Vairochana hat and leading Sandy went to welcome them.
“Congratulations, holy monk!” The guardians said. “Your great task is nearly completed. We have been sent by the Buddha to help. You must persevere the goal is in sight.”
Monkey took the fan in hand and stood facing the Flaming Mountain as he waved it with all his might. The flames went out at once, leaving a rosy glow in their wake. He fanned a second time and a cool breeze began to stir. When he fanned the mountain a third time, the sky became overcast and a gentle rain began to fall.
return to homepage, schedule.
* Based on the story as told by Wu Ch’eng-en and translated by W.J.F. Jenner and David Kherdian.