🧚 T’ang Sung’s Journey to Get the Buddhist Classics · page 2

Now, Sun Hou saw the look and so changed himself into a bird, flew up over the monk, and seeing the worm, flew down and in picking it up saw that it was the “Minister Sheep,” to whom he said, “If this is the trick I will show you what I can do,” and changed himself into a centipede, and crawled upon Minister Fox.79 He entered his nose, got into his ear, and up into his head, and so distracted did the minister become that he could not endure the pain, and threw himself from the platform and thus died.80 When the “Minister Deer” saw the calamity he said, “Our great elder brother is dead, I will see what I can do,” so he said, “Let us see who can cut his head off, throw it away, get it again and grow it on.”81 Sun Hou said, “That is good.82 It is not the monk’s turn; this is my turn.”83

Minister Deer asked, “Who will try first, you or I?”84

Sun Hou replied, “I can cut my head off and grow it on again ten times.”85 The Deer replied, “I can only once.”86 So Sun Hou said, “I will try first,” and immediately cut off his head, upon which Minister Deer said, “I can only cut mine off once and I won’t do it now.”87

“If you don’t, we will fight,” said Sun Hou.88

Thus driven, he cut his head off, and the monkey, changing to a dog, ran away with it and was gone two hours,—so long that the man died also.89

Then said Minister Sheep, “You must conquer me or I shall kill you.”90

“Well,” said Sun Hou, “what shall we do?91 You decide.”92

“Well,” said the Sheep, “we will build a fire, put on a big kettle of oil, and when it boils we will take turns in getting in and staying two hours.93 The one who can do it will be the victor.”94

So all was ready and Sun Hou got in; before getting in he repeated a charm to the dragon, who came and changed him into a nail and kept the oil in the bottom of the kettle cold while it boiled on top.95 After two hours Minister Sheep said, “He is dead,” and getting a skimmer he felt around and brought out a nail, which changed to a man, saying, “Ah, I was asleep; having such a good rest.96 Now it is your turn and I shall not sleep any more.”97 Thus the Minister Sheep was obliged to get in.98 Then Sun Hou called the king and said to him, “Look at your great ministers; how can you expect the country to grow and improve when your three greatest ministers are such demons?99 See what frauds they are, and how they impose on you and the people.”100

To this the king replied, “I see you are great men and wonderful.101 You cannot go yet; it is a famine year and you must call down rain for us.”102

Sun Hou said, “I will go to Heaven and plead with the great Lord of the Heaven (Yü Wang).”103

With a jump he was in Heaven; to his petition the great God said, “There is no rain for Thibet for three years.”104 After much pleading from Sun Hou the God replied, “I will give you two inches only.”105

When the king heard this he said, “That is not enough, I must have more.106 If you can get two inches you can get more, and then I will let you go.”107 So Sun Hou said, “I will get you two feet.”108

“That is too much,” replied the king, “but a little more than we need is no great matter, only get it.”109 When Sun Hou told the great God of Rain, he said, “I will not let them say how much I am to give, I will give enough.”110

When Sun Hou took this message to the king he thanked them and let them go on their way, promising to entertain them on their return.111

They went on their journey; the monk, T’ang Sung, riding the white horse, the priest praying and reading.112 At night they came to the foot of a high mountain where there was a temple where lived a demon.113 This temple was called the “Temple of Thunder.”114 Sun Hou told the priest he did not think the temple was safe, but the priest said it must be because it was a temple, and he was sure they would find rest and food.115 When they saw the name of the temple they knocked their heads and went slowly forward until they saw what seemed a great image of Buddha.116 When Sun Hou came close to it he said, “That is not the Buddha,” and refused to knock his head.117 Just then a voice said, “Why do you not knock your head?” to which Sun Hou replied, “I do not think you look like Buddha.”118 Immediately they heard a bell strike and something was let down from above and enveloped them in darkness.119 Sun Hou felt of it; it was hard like copper.120 They walked all around it but could not get out.121 They exerted all their combined strength but could not remove the darkness.122 Then Sun Hou repeated his wonderful charm and twenty-eight soldiers from the great lord of the Heaven suddenly came in the shape of a great cow.123 Sun Hou called to him to make a hole with his horn; this he did, but when he pulled out his horn the hole closed up; again he did it, and Sun Hou changed into a mustard seed and was pulled out by the cow.124 Then he let the soldiers out of the iron cow—and the great demon got a great string and bound them and put them in a cave.125 Sun Hou gradually grew smaller and his rope loosened and he escaped; with one jump he reached Heaven and brought down many soldiers from the great God.126 When the great demon saw them he said, “I am not afraid of you, even if you are from Heaven.127 I will yet eat you.”128

Among the Heavenly Soldiers was one very great one, and he wore a wheel of iron on one foot and a wheel of wind on the other; on his wrist was a beautiful bracelet and he wore a Heavenly chain.129 A terrible battle was fought in the air between the soldiers of the demons and the Heavenly band.130 The great demon threw up his charmed lasso and brought down the bracelet, and again, and brought down the chain.131 Then Sun Hou saw him lasso all the Heavenly Soldiers, and just as the string was to envelope him he gave a jump and turned a somersault—and landed on top of a mountain.132 There he gave himself up to despair in a cave.133 Along came a man who asked why he was crying and he said, “I promised to take a monk to India and to protect him.134 He and his companions are bound and in a cave.135 I got twenty-eight servants from the great God, they are also bound; and now all the Heavenly Soldiers have been defeated and are bound.”136

“You are too impatient,” replied the man.137 “Do you not remember that a great iron beam can be rubbed to a fine needle if you but take time?138 You go to the demons who live in these caves in the mountains, and find out what kind of a demon this is.”139

Sun Hou went to them all and at last found one who said he knew the demon of the Thunder temple.140 He had one time been his servant but had stolen his treasure and run away.141 “You can only take him by craft and I will help you.142 He is most fond of melons, and we will plant some melons and test him.143 I will be the gardener and you go and call him out.”144

Then Sun Hou went out and reviled the demon and he came out in great anger; Sun Hou changed into a fine melon and the demon, seeing him, ate him.145 Sun Hou said, “Now I will tear your heart out of you.”146 In his great distress the demon pleaded so hard that Sun Hou came out by the demon’s ear and together they fought all over the melon patch in the moonlight.147 After the battle, worn and weary, Sun Hou liberated the soldiers and his companions, and then looking about him saw there was no mountain, no temple, but a fine restful road with eating-houses and rest-houses on the way.148

“Ah, monk,” said he, “so it ever is with earth’s power and glory.149 It is all vanity—vanity—empty—empty.”150

In restful travel they reached their journey’s end and found the book.151 On their return journey they had many adventures, but they had all grown wiser and learned much.152 When they reached the bank of the river the turtle was there waiting to carry them across.153 They got on his back and when half-way over he asked if they had found the “Book” and seen the “great Buddha.”154 “Yes,” they said.155 Then the turtle asked them if they had remembered his request, and when they said they had forgotten it, the turtle was so angry he dropped down from under them and left them in the water.156 They had a terrible time getting to the other side, and as the book was paper all they could rescue of it were the words, “Ah-me t’on Fo,” and this they told the Emperor was all there was to the Classic.157