Monkey King Volume 20: The Journey Ends [1 ed.] 9788998341206

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Wei Dong Chen • Chao Peng

The Journey Ends

Vol.

20

Vol.

20

Vol. 20

The Journey Ends Created by

WEI DONG CHEN

Wei Dong Chen, a highly acclaimed and beloved artist, and an influential leader in the “New Chinese Cartoon” trend, is the founder of Creator World in Tianjin, the largest comics studio in China. Recently the Chinese government entrusted him with the role of general manager of the Beijing Book Fair, and his reputation as a pillar of Chinese comics has brought him many students. He has published more than three hundred cartoons, which have been recognized for their strong literary value not only in Korea, but in Europe and Japan, as well. Free spirited and energetic, Wei Dong Chen’s positivist philosophy is reflected in the wisdom of his work. He is published serially in numerous publications while continuing to conceive projects that explore new dimensions of the form.

Illustrated by

CHAO PENG

Chao Peng is considered one of Chen Wei Dong’s greatest students, and is the director of cartoon at Creator World in Tianjin. One of the most highly regarded cartoonists in China today, Chao Peng’s fantastic technique and expression of Chinese culture have won him the acclaim of cartoon lovers throughout China. His other works include "My Pet" and "Searching for the World of Self".

Original story “The Journey to The West” by Wu, Cheng En Editing & Designing Sun Media, Design Hongs, David Teez, Jonathan Evans, YK Kim, HJ Lee, SH Lee, Qing Shao, Xiao Nan Li, Ke Hu ©Chen, Wei Dong 2011 All rights reserved. Original Chinese edition published by Anhui Fine Arts Publishing House. Scanning, uploading, and electronic distribution of this book is prohibited.

Characters

Volume 20

THE KING OF MONK KINGDOM The King of Monk Kingdom is a once-powerful ruler who entrusted the fate of his kingdom to a strange guru who presented his daughter as a gift to the king. The king’s intense physical attraction to the daughter distracted him from the fact that she was draining the life force from his body. Now, the king must rely on Sun Wu Kong to reveal the true nature of the guru and save him from certain death.

THE WHITE DEER MONSTER AND THE WHITE FOX The White Deer Monster was once the trusted steed of the God of Longevity. One day, he took advantage of his master’s age and absentmindedness and escaped to earth with his daughter, the White Fox. The deer monster disguised himself as a guru and used his daughter in an effort to overthrow the King of Monk Kingdom.

KUOYUANWAI KuoYuanWai lives in the Ling district and is a beloved philanthropist who is in charge of receiving visitors. His wealth makes him the envy of a band of robbers, and his fate will set off a chain of events that will take Wu Kong from torture chamber to the belly of hell.

THE GOVERNOR OF THE LING DISTRICT The Governor of Ling is a stern ruler who is desperate to maintain law and order in his district. This desperation leads the governor to wrongly accuse San Zang and his disciples of murder, and only a timely premonition from the governor’s wife spares the traveling companions from certain death.

GOD JIN DING God Jin Ding resides in West Heaven, and was first made aware of San Zang and his disciples at the beginning of their journey. After ten years of waiting, his is finally able to welcome the travelers and set them on their final path to the temple of Buddha.

BUDDHA Buddha, also known as Sakyamuni, is the highest deity in Buddhism. He has played prominent role in various events throughout The Journey to the West, and is well acquainted with Sun Wu Kong and his antics. This time, the two meet under considerably better circumstances and with considerably less confrontation.

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AH NUO Ah Nuo, a high priest of India, is known as one of Buddha’s greatest disciples. He attended to Buddha daily for more than twenty years and was at his deathbed. He is one of the guardians of the holy sutras.

JIA XIE Jia Xie, like Ah Nuo, was one of Buddha’s greatest disciples, and watches over the holy sutras. Jia Xie’s aptitude as a student is evident when he employs his master’s test of charity in response to San Zang’s request for the Mahayana Sutras.

THE CONDUCTOR OF SOULS The Conductor of Souls is a boatman who escorts travelers to the holy temple of Buddha in West Heaven. His vessel is remarkable in that it has no floor, and any traveler who wishes to cross the river must first confront their mortality in the most literal way.

Look at that!

What a huge castle! I bet we'll find plenty of rest and plenty of food there.

7

Uh oh, not again.

8

There's no one here.

9

The streets are completely dark and empty.

Master, I sense a presence.

Where? Are they all hiding in their homes?

Were these people taken too?

Must be dinner time!

Big brother! I bet there is a lot of food, but the people don't want to share it.

Pigsy, can you possibly open your mouth without talking about food?

10

Let’s go ask for some offerings before they eat it all!

Hey, let go of my ear!

Let's see you survive without a belly full of steamed rice!

I haven’t had steamed rice for 500 years!

What are those things in front of each house?

I don't know. They almost look like birdcages.

I have a bad feeling about this.

That's it! It's some strange festival where they leave food offerings outside!

He he he! I bet it's some kind of tasty bird dish.

Whoa! What’s the...? Master! You'd better get over here.

Although, fair warning, you'll probably lose your appetite.

11

There's a child locked in that birdcage.

Did you say a child?

What?

What kind of monster locks up a child?

Wu Kong! Go check it out! I know what I saw! oink

Hm...

12

That's horrible. Who would do such a thing?

I don't smell anything.

Well, Pigsy's not crazy! There's a child in here!

Is this some kind of strange regional custom?

What gives? 13

You are not playing a joke, are you? There is a child in the cage?

Hey, be careful!

sob Please... So cold...

I can't believe this... 14

Poor child. It will be all right. What is wrong with this world?

sob

What kind of wasteland do we inhabit, where people are allowed to do such evil things?

What's the big deal?

Every culture has its customs. Who knows? Maybe the kids misbehaved. Besides, we've seen worse. Remember the village that sacrificed all its kids?

What are you saying, you half-wit? That we should just accept this sort of thing?

15

Ow! Half-wit? You're the Why one who uses don't you violence! figure it out?

I don't have to. Master, let's find the authorities and get some answers.

I am a monk from the Tang Dynasty.

Excuse me…

We seek permission to pass through this land, and ask to spend the night.

Thank That's you. odd.

He avoids making eye contact.

Please come inside.

This room should be big enough for the four of you. Dinner will be ready soon. Have a good night.

16

I will ask the king to issue a pass first thing in the morning.

I'd like to ask you about the cloth-covered birdcages that line the streets.

Why are children locked inside of them? Are they being punished for some reason?

Just a moment!

Not so fast!

My lord, it is getting late. You'd better get some food and rest. We can talk about it tomorrow morning.

I would love to rest. I really would.

But not knowing the reason for this would keep me awake.

Indeed. How could anyone sleep without knowing the cause of such cruelty?

17

Don't waste your breath. Even if you knew the cause, you wouldn't be able to help them.

You don't understand! If need be, I will lock myself in a cage until they are free!

I see.

This is Monk Kingdom. It is a place of Years ago, fortune and a Taoist guru torment. presented to our king a woman of unsurpassed beauty. The king favored her day and night, shall we say.

18

Sigh... Very well. If you insist, I will tell you everything.

But his physical passion for her was so intense, he didn't realize it was sucking the life out of him. So the guru offered him a cure...

A cure that can only be consumed when blended with the liquid of a thousand boiled children's hearts. That's why they are locked in cages.

You are harvesting their organs?

His illness is the result of his lust. And now he sacrifices innocents to save himself?

This land is a sea of tyranny!

And it is ruled by a devil!

Calm A king's down, subjects live Master! and die to serve him. That's just how it goes.

What kind of maniac rules this kingdom?

I can't take this madness! This world deserves its doom!

Master!

To defy the king is an act of treason.

Bajie! How can you rationalize what's A Buddhist happening must commit himself to here?

Isn't there any part of you that feels sympathy for the innocent victims of the king's reckless bahavior?

honoring and saving life!

How dare do you side I'm with the ashamed tyrant? to call you my disciple!

Well, I um…

I'm not taking sides!

If the people One more commit treason, word, and they're dead anyway, so-- Shut up! I'll knock your teeth out!

You see? You're still doing it. Stop threatening me. Then stop talking!

20

FOOMP

My disciples!

Master! What's wrong?

Master, you're shaking and sweating. Can you stand?

Are you all right?

I’m on my knees, begging you...

Save the children. If we let them die, we don't deserve to complete this journey.

Don't worry, Master.

When was the last time you saw me compromise my morals? I know just how to deal with this.

Why don't you lie down and get some sleep. I'll handle this.

You must. You must.

Hello, up there! Can I've everyone summoned hear me? you with a request from San Zang!

I'm going to deal with a tyrant sitting on the throne. I need you to get these children far away from here. Understood?

My, you've changed.

Understood, Sun Wu Kong. We will take good care of the kids.

UNDER THE COVER OF DARKNESS, THE VARIOUS GODS WU KONG SUMMONED WHISKED THE CHILDREN TO SAFETY.

Look! The Well, children they are all were to missing! be taken today.

Maybe they were taken overnight, instead.

sob My son...

LATER ON... 24

Your Majesty, I am a monk from the Tang Dynasty on a mission to recover the Mahayana Sutras.

I have come here to request permission to travel west through the kingdom.

Hm… You've come a long way.

Your Majesty! The guru has come.

Where is he?

All in the name of Buddhist scriptures. Why do you seek such trivial things?

Ha ha! My lord! What brings... you... here?

Who is the monk?

BZZ

One who knows that the path to nirvana is not found through lust.

I repeat, who is the monk?

26

He is traveling west. He seeks Buddhist scriptures.

MASTER! THAT'S NO GURU. IT'S A MONSTER.

What an arrogant, worthless endeavor! Why does he bother us?

My destination is the West. It is the land of nirvana, free from agony and pain.

Once I recover the sacred sutras, the light of Buddha will shine on humanity and the world will be renewed.

BZZ

Ha! The typical raving of a misguided fool. You spend ages sitting in meditation, and what do you have to show for it other than a calloused rear? Taoism is the true light.

That’s right! Taoism is the truth!

Taoism is the only way to know the world!

DON'T LISTEN TO THEM, MASTER. I'LL DEAL WITH THIS.

Here, here!

!

Who needs the light of Buddha! Taoists have the sun!

27

Your Majesty! Something strange must have happened last night. The children are gone!

What? They're gone?

How can this be?

Those children are elixir! My life depends on them!

What should I do, my lord? The heavens have deserted me.

28

Ha ha! Don’t worry, Your Majesty.

The heavens will see that you do not perish.

What are you talking about? Where are we going to find enough children to make the elixir?

Don't worry about the missing children.

Eternal life? Can you do that?

The elixir can give you 1,000 years. What I have in mind will enable you to live forever.

What's your plan? Tell me!

oink I knew he was a monster!

Sure you did. Anyway, he said children's hearts could give the king 1,000 years, but Master's heart will give him eternal life!

Wait. My heart?

The king looked healthier almost from the moment it was mentioned, and they started planning how to rip out Master's heart.

I'm going to be sick.

Huh?

D

THU

Wow. Master’s heart is that good?

Master!

He must be in shock! oink

My lords! Some royal soldiers have arrived. It appears the priest is invited to a party!

Very well. Tell them to wait.

It’s a royal decree. Please hurry.

Such haste when it comes to saving the king!

Big brother! They're not inviting him to a party. They're laying a trap. They want Master's heart!

No, no. He's I said right. I'd be willing to die for the kids.

Bajie's right. It's an obvious trick. What am I going to do?

What do you think? You are going to the party!

You're not making sense!

Why?

32

Are you nuts?

That's very noble, Master. But you won't actually be there in person.

You'll see. Go get me some mud.

Just do as I say!

Here. I don't know what you think You can you can shape them do with into it.

dumplings, but they're still mud.

?

What are you hrmph --

Isn't this a handsome face?

And now a little magic, and...

Whoa! Master has turned into big brother!

SH U

K

So, Master. Are you starting to understand my plan?

Yes, I am!

33

Okay, I'm off to party with a naughty guru.

Your Majesty! We’ve brought the monk from the Tang Dynasty.

Be careful, Wu Kong. The children's lives are in your hands.

Your Majesty! I am here as you ordered.

So you are. Perhaps you can help me. It is said that Buddhists sacrifice their lives to save people. Is this true?

You see, I have a serious illness. 34

And if I needed something from your body to survive, your Buddhism would compel you to help me, yes?

It would, Your Majesty. Very astute of you.

Tell me what you need. Your wish will be my command. So be it! You cannot go back on your word now!

The medicine that can treat him is in the tissue of your heart! As you swore, you must surrender it to us!

Very well. I will die so that another may live...

SHI N

K

Amazing! He didn't even hesitate!

I am a Buddhist monk, and my virtue is limitless!

Yech! I might throw up! This is very odd.

I can't look at I’ve this! never seen such a thing!

Being a monk means there is no limit to what I can give. So sit back and enjoy the show!

Just one heart? If you need more, I’m willing to give you more.

This heart is for good blood circulation.

This heart is good for the skin.

I don’t believe this.

One for compassion, one for loyalty. Take your pick. Any or all of them.

Here's one for patience. Here's one for pride! How many hearts does he have?

Of course, as far as I'm concerned, the cure for Your Highness lies in the guru's heart.

You know, things like ambition, cunning, greed, deceit, and treachery.

How is he still alive?

The guru's heart? What do you mean?

All of which can be found in the guru's heart.

37

What is going on? Why has the monk become a monkey?

Who are you? You’re no monk from the Tang Dynasty!

Your Highness, you've been deceived by a monster!

And I, QiTianDaSheng, have come to destroy the one who would have you eat my master's heart.

QiTianDaSheng? I don't believe it! It's Sun Wu Kong!

38

Never heard the name before. Now, get rid of him!

That's not how this works.

Heh. Look at these cowards! Everyone's scared stiff!

Luckily, I'm more than flexible enough!

Gah! How did he ...?

Enough, you filthy rodent. You're trying my patience!

Look at his waist!

Ooh, testy! 40

Wow!

What's the hurry? Things are just kicking off!

Ugh! That's going to leave a mark!

K C A H

W

B OOM

I can't believe I didn't see that the monk was Sun Wu Kong. I've signed my own death warrant!

Where are you going? I thought we really hit it off!

Ugh!

CK

KR A

K

ON H T That's it! Now I'm mad!

What? These aren't dragon's horns. Are they antlers?

Gah! My eyes! I can’t see anything!

43

Gone already! He's a clever one!

Oh, no! The monkey's back!

What have you done to the guru?

This isn't over! I always finish what I start!

Weren't you listening to me? That wasn't a guru, it was a monster!

Don't be absurd!

Then your eyes are so bad, you might as well be blind! That "guru" was a deer monster who was trying to kill you and then steal your throne.

In my eyes, you are the monster!

I don’t believe you!

The beautiful woman he offered to you was a succubus! She was brought here to drain you of life so that the guru could rule your kingdom.

Hm...My health did take a turn for the worse after the guru arrived. The monkey may have a point.

Bring the guru now!

It looks like big brother took care of things. I think you don't have to worry.

Wu Kong! What happened?

There are two of them?

Wu Jing and I will wait outside. Go on in.

Are they twins?

Oh, just had to do a little housecleaning.

As you wish, though it'll be a shame to rob you of such dashing good looks.

Huh? If things are under control, can I have my face back? This one's awful itchy.

Now, Your Highness. Do you know where the monster came from?

Wait, he’s I'm so the confused. monk!

Untie your tongue! The longer he lives, the more danger you're in.

46

I'm sorry. I'm just having a hard time understanding all that is going on.

The guru--I mean, the monster--said that he came from the exotic forest kingdom of YuLinPo, a lush area, not far from here.

Well… I, um…

He told me that he had a daughter in his old age, and said he couldn't find the right man for her because she was so beautiful. That's why he brought her to me. I took her as my mistress, and before long The I became gravely monster ill.

told me the cure required boiling children's hearts.

My lords, it is obvious to me now that I have committed a horrible crime. I will atone in due course, but I need to get rid of this monster.

You bet! But can we have a meal first? I can't fight on an empty stomach.

Hey, Pigsy. What do you say we pay a visit to the exotic forest kingdom?

Okay, meal's over.

NOMNOMNOM

Please help me!

Hey, I wasn't even close to finished! I want to What's the get this done big hurry? before the new year.

?

Was the king lying? I don't see anything.

No, I sense something. We're close.

I have an idea.

48

Hail, Sun Wu Kong!

He's a beared old geezer with antlers. I was told he lives near here. But I can't find his lair.

Ah, yes. Such a monster does live near here. Did you see the weeping willow by the side of the river?

Sure, we saw one of those.

How may I be of service?

I'm looking for a monster.

Because there are at least fifty of them! Would you care to narrow it down for us?

The tree you're looking for has branches that look like antlers. Or an old man's hands.

Walk around the tree three times clockwise, three times counterclockwise, knock on the tree with both hands, and yell "Open!" You can figure out the rest.

Big brother! I think this is the tree. It looks like swollen knuckles.

I must be going now.

All right. Thanks for the help. Assuming we can find the right tree.

All right, Pigsy, three times around the tree each way. And you better not take a nap!

Open!

SHOONG 50

Incredible! Most monsters' lairs are dark, stuffy caves beneath mountains.

Pigsy! I will go in. You wait here and keep watch.

How about that? A monster with a sophiscated sense of taste. What an impressive lair.

QING HUA MANOR 51

I've spent three years executing a perfectly formulated plot. The king was about to die.

And Sun Wu Kong laid waste to my plans in an instant.

Is he really that powerful?

You know what they say about him? They say he's like a volcano. His strength can only be measured by the ruin he causes.

52

All right, you cunning old stag! Time to settle accounts!

Watch out!

I will mount your antlers on my wall as a trophy!

You arrogant fool! Prepare to taste death!

— Swish

Huh! This is a new one on me.

53

You are an accident of nature! You are the earth's mistake and the heavens' regret!

From stone you were born, and to stone I will send you!

54

Huh. Looks like big brother is about to notch another monster on his belt.

Sigh...He's getting so good at this, it's almost boring to watch. I need to occupy myself.

Hm...This tree looks unpleasant.

55

Maybe I'll get some exercise!

UGH

!

Is that blood?

Wait...So even the tree is evil? Ha ha! Maybe I won't be bored after all!

UGH ! 56

Let's see how you like my moves! Take that! And that! And that!

Ha ha! Not even Sun Wu Kong can withstand the Stone Flower Technique!

Now you can spend eternity admiring the gardens of QingHua Manor!

Huh? Who's there?

Pretty Doll? Is that you?

Where are you?

I'm right here. Pretty Doll.

Sorry to disappoint you.

Consider me the Pretty Doll of Buddhism.

What's the matter with you? If your journey to the West is so important, why do you waste your time fighting me?

Because completing the mission means understanding that evil deeds don't go unpunished. So until you pay for what you've done, I'm going nowhere.

58

Now let me free us from your crimes!

Wait, why are they still at it? Big brother! Do you need my help?

Nah. I'm just having a little fun!

Let go of me! Put me down!

Fun?

WHAM There's two of them: this geezer and his daughter.

Big brother! Is he alone? Or is there someone else?

So how do we get him to spill his secrets?

A few good beatings should do it.

QI TIAN DA SHENG! PLEASE STOP FOR A MOMENT!

Isn't that the God of Longevity?

I don't believe this! Hasn't any heavenly god heard of a leash before? I've beaten back at least a dozen different pets since this journey started!

60

Don't tell me. This monster belongs to you.

I'M AFRAID SO. HE WAS ONCE MY DEER.

DON'T WORRY. I'LL SEE THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

RESTORE YOURSELF TO ANIMAL FORM!

Master! Please forgive me.

I was a fool.

SAVE YOUR BREATH. FAREWELL, SUN WU KONG. I'M OFF TO TAKE CARE OF THIS.

Hold on a second! After all I've been through, you're just going to leave?

61

WELL, I...

YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THAT I'M AN OLD MAN. I FORGET THINGS.

I WILL MAKE IT UP TO YOU. LATER.

AND I OFTEN LOSE THINGS HERE AND THERE. I DON'T MEAN TO.

Hang on, grandpa. Forgetful or not, you owe me for this.

Your pet deer has a daughter. We haven't dealt with her yet. And we need to, because a king's life hangs in the balance. Surely you don't expect me to deal with this myself.

Especially when it's obvious that you knew about this all along.

VERY WELL. I WILL HELP YOU DEAL WITH THE DAUGHTER. THEN WE'LL TEND TO THE KING.

Now that's what I wanted to hear!

Where has he gone? What do I do?

Hi there, doll face! Come snuggle with Bajie!

Huh?

64

I wouldn't go that way if I were you! Big brother isn't much of a cuddler.

Please, I beg you...

huff

Pigsy! Wait!

huff

?

SHEONK

What has Master told us about killing without hesitation?

Sorry. I got caught up in the moment. I'll feel regret later. oink

WHOA!

66

I don't get it.

What is that? A white fox?

What's not to get? Your Highness, meet the guru's daughter.

I believe she was your mistress, and that you shared your bed with her day and night.

I think I'm going to pass out. My mistress was an animal?!

Well, Your Majesty. What do you think?

!

I think that without you and your disciples, my kingdom and I would have been ruined!

67

THE KING THREW A GREAT FEAST IN HONOR OF SAN ZANG, HIS DISCIPLES, AND THE GOD OF LONGEVITY.

BAJIE, AS USUAL, WAS OVERJOYED BY THE FOOD. THE OTHERS, HOWEVER, WERE DEEP IN THOUGHT.

My lord, if you spare my life, my kingdom and I will be dedicated to serving you.

68

Take these. Eat them. And be healed.

Ah! It's like my veins have been flushed with fresh water! I'm a new man!

My son! He's back!

They're all back!

THE HEAVENLY GODS WHO PROTECTED THE CHILDREN RETURNED THEM SAFELY, AS PROMISED. PEOPLE SANG THE PRAISES OF SAN ZANG AND HIS DISCIPLES ALMOST IN UNISON.

My boy! Come to your father!

Papa! I missed you so much. Please don't ever do that again!

69

THE PEOPLE OF MONK KINGDOM LOOKED UP TO SAN ZANG AS IF HE WERE A GOD. THEY WERE IN AWE OF HIS TEACHINGS AND HEAPED BLESSINGS AND TOKENS OF GRATITUDE UPON HIM. BECAUSE OF THIS, SAN ZANG AND HIS DISCIPLES SPENT TWO WEEKS IN THE KINGDOM BEFORE RESUMING THE JOURNEY.

THE GRATITUDE STIRRED UNUSUAL FEELINGS IN SAN ZANG. FOR THE FIRST TIME, HE FELT IMMORTAL, LIKE HE WAS NO LONGER PART OF THE LIVING WORLD. Thank you for your kindness. We will never forget it.

I don't believe it. I'm stuffed!

oink

71

Place your bets! You gotta risk money to make money in this life!

Dang it! Lost again!

Ha! I won!

Let's get down to business.

KRONK

72

Kuo of Ling District is so stinking rich that he practically sweats money. Tonight we clean him out!

KREAK

Okay, we're done. We got everything.

If you leave us like this, my family will starve to death!

Good!

All right, let’s get out of here!

Please! You've taken all we own.

I beg you, at least leave us something to eat.

You’ve been rich for long enough. Here, feast on my boot! 74

KRACK

We've done here. Move out!

Sir? Sir!

D U H T Darling?

Darling, wake up!

Someone fetch a doctor!

My love?

Sir? Wake up, Sir!

KuoYuanWai!!!

Hey, you're up early!

zzz

Wake up! The sun has already risen.

Bajie! Wake up, you lazy fool!

Wow! Those look delicious! May I eat them all?

76

Huh?

Eat what?

Here. Let me.

Eat? Food? Where? I want! Gimme!

Who saw food? Where?

You are Isn't there not some rule nice. against a Buddhist telling a lie?

Uhoh.

Oh, great. Now we have monks to deal with. What do we do?

Wu Kong! Who are they?

What else? Tie them up and relieve them of their possessions!

I have no idea. But I doubt they're the good guys. 77

Master! They're charging!

Wu Kong! Would you do the honors?

You guys should slow down. Put down roots.

What is this?

He he! You can’t move at all, can you?

If you'd like, I can put karma to work with one swing of my staff.

! They are thieves! Stopping them was karma at work.

No, Wu Kong.

He's right. You shouldn't kill without hesitation.

Wu Kong, I thought you were beyond such impulses.

Very well, I will If you keep them change alive. your mind,

though, I can wipe them out in a heartbeat.

You're aching to strike, huh?

It's not for us to punish them. Leave their fates to the heavens.

I know that! Don't scold me just because pork chop likes to cause trouble.

No I'm not!

Master! If we are going to release them, we should at least return the stolen goods to the rightful owners.

That’s a good idea!

It's a good thing we have Wu Jing's He knows conscience. you well.

I'll disband this bunch, and we'll return the loot.

Gah! Please, spare our necks!

And as for you petty thieves, my master's charity has spared your lives this time.

He must be some kind of god!

However, if you steal again, let me show you what next time will look like.

Good to hear. Now get lost!

We swear we won’t steal again!

Run away! Run away!

81

Master! This is an awful lot of stuff. How are we going to return it?

Yes, I do.

Wu Kong, do you have any ideas?

I hate you.

Since Pigsy is strong of body and large of heart, he should carry everything. Killing without hesitation is a sin. Giving without hesitation is a Buddhist virtue. Isn't that right?

Hm…

Pigsy, you wimp!

You can't even carry your own weight.

Gold is a burden. I can too carry my own weight! It just takes so much energy that I don't have much to spare.

We drop this stuff at the front gate. Fine End of by me. story. oink

Oh, sure. Now the law shows up.

Hands up, you thieves! On your knees! Now!

And what do you call the many bags of gold?

Hey! We're monks, not thieves!

We are returning them to their owners...

What kind of fool do you take me for? You're as much a group of monks as I am a sea king!

Look! Thieves disguised That's as monks. quite clever. But we're not-hrr

Shut up!

The charges against you are as follows ...

You have committed robbery and murder...

THE GOVERNOR OF LING DISTRICT

...while claiming to be on a journey to West Heaven.

Please, sir. You’ve got it all wrong.

We crossed paths with the thieves on our journey. We subdued them, and were returning the stolen valueables to their owners.

Silence! You dare to interrupt me after lying about your crimes! Men have hanged for lesser offenses. Tie them to the rack!

M A H W Sir! I’m not lying!

So if four monks easily defeated 12 thieves, why didn't you turn them in?

!

Is that so? Then let me ask you: How many thieves were there?

Why would you let criminals run free? That makes you accomplices to the crimes!

There were 12 or 13, I think.

Well… That…

And then you disguise yourselves as monks. I dislike frauds and thieves, but I hate liars!

Hang him! Hang them all!

He seems to have made his decision.

Wu Kong! Do something! Why do you just sit there?

It'd be hard to change his mind. What can we do?

Let's just admit to the crime and be done with this.

86

But I’m innocent!

I was following Wu Jing's orders!

So he's the brains of the outfit, huh?

Oh, yeah?

I didn't order you!

Well, um...

This bickering is pointless. My lord! I'm the one you want!

I ordered the robbery, and killed the old man myself. Punish me, not them.

First you lie to me. Now you are challenging my judgment? Very well! Crush his skull!

87

Oh, good! I've had a headache for days! Hang on...

Hey! Stop that! It tickles! Ha ha ha!

Whatever it takes, silence this impetuous little parasite!

88

Lock them in a cell! We will resume this tomorrow.

My lord! Your wife calls. She says it's urgent.

Sigh...I don't deserve this. I'm a prisoner because of Wu Jing, and I'm a dead man because of big brother.

Oh, put a sock Try to in it. pass the buck again, and you'll regret it.

What are you going to do? Beat me to death before I'm beaten to death?

No one is going to die. As usual, I have a plan.

89

I was dealing with criminals. What do you want?

My lord.

I just had the most peculiar dream.

I dreamed about four monks, bound for a sacred mountain, who defeat a band of thieves before being captured by your men.

He also said that they have traveling papers among their belongings. Papers signed by a very powerful man.

Soon, a god appeared before me and said that the men in your custody are innocent, and that you should not punish them.

My lord, if you find these four monks, exercise caution.

Why do you insist on telling me about your silly dreams? It distracts me.

90

But my lord!

My lord, these are the travelers' possessions.

Open them. Let me see the contents.

Let's see... There's a monk's robe.

And what looks like traveling papers.

Emperor Taizong? The Tang Dynasty? 91

It can't be... Have any of you told my wife about the four monks you caught?

SO HER DREAM WAS REAL?

I CAN'T TAKE A RISK.

No, my lord. She was sleeping, so no one spoke with her.

Bring the hairy monk to me. Now!

Help yourself.

Here he is.

nom nom

Wow!

Real food! 92

Yes, my lord.

Tastes so good!

Took you long enough.

I realize I've been hasty and falsely accused you of robbery.

Yeah? And so?

The big deal is that Kuo is dead and I don't know what to do about it!

Understand, though, that Kuo was a good and virtuous Buddhist who was beloved by many people. His murder was devastating.

Well, when we found his things in your luggage, there was no other way to explain it.

Well, that's because there's nothing you can do!

I get it. What's the big deal?

What do you mean?

Allow me. I will solve your problem right now!

What the?

Greetings! Where is the King of Hell right now?

94

Tell him his old friend Sun Wu Kong has come!

He’s vanished! I knew he wasn't a monk. He's a guru.

Sun Wu Kong! What brings you here?

One of your mindless minions dragged the spirit of Kuo of Ling District down here. Who was it?

His days on earth may be over, but he could not cross over. So he's here.

Sire! We've brought him.

What do you mean?

You are Kuo, are you not?

Yes, I am.

No one dragged him. He came himself.

He did not fully abandon his body, so he could not fully enter the spirit world.

Luckily, it means you can take him back with you.

Please! Please help me. I do not want to die.

Well then, it's your lucky day!

It just so happens that I have a vested interest in seeing you live.

He's coming with me. Thank you, old friend.

Best of luck, Wu Kong.

What are you muttering?

HE MUST BE VERY POWERFUL... AND DANGEROUS.

Gah! AT LEAST HE'S GONE.

96

Don't sneak up on me like that!

Where did you run off to?

Paid a visit to the King of Hell. Called in a favor he owed me.

What?

He's met with the King of Hell? What world does he come from, this one or the next?

Send your men to Kuo's house. Tell them to open his coffin and splash some water on his face. He'll wake up.

I must be losing my mind.

97

KUO'S HOUSE

Ugh!

Where am I? Hell or Heaven?

You're home, sir!

I am? I made it back?

Where is my savior? Where is he?

Savior? Who are you talking about, sir?

He's no savior of yours. He's just a wretched thief.

The one who saved me from death! A hairy monk-Oh! You mean the ugly hairy monk?

How dare you?

SLA

P

Never speak ill of my savior again!

Wherever you are keeping him, I demand that you release him. And bring him to me. Now!

99

I'm sorry, but the monks aren't here. They must have fled while I was asleep.

My savior, you fled before I could say thank you. Please don't think me ungrateful.

What? How could four holy men escape from prison so easily?

There's a lesson in what happened The today, truth will Bajie. set you

That’s why you So if shouldn’t the truth tell a lie. makes

everything better...

free.

...why do we flee the man we saved?

To meet with him would only delay our journey further.

No doubt we left before a great feast was thrown in our honor.

Being interrogated and then imprisoned means I haven't eaten all day. I'm starving! oink

Well, that's too bad.

Oh, will you knock it off! The greatest feast of your life All we is not far from have to do us now. is get to the

other side of the hill.

Believe me, after all we've been through over the years, this last part is nothing.

Ha ha! You're Thanks, right. big brother! It isn't! But remember: you promised food.

101

Would you look at that! I've never seen a more majestic place.

This must be a temple for divine spirits. Wu Kong, we must pass by with the utmost reverence.

We won't be passing by anything, Master. Don't you see? This is West Heaven.

West Heaven? By the gods, I never thought I'd live to see this day.

This is it? Thank Buddha and every god in the heavens! I'll never go hungry again! oink

It's a miracle! The journey to the West is achieved!

103

SO MANY YEARS.

SO MANY MILES.

I'M ALMOST AFRAID TO BELIEVE MY EYES.

Yes... Yes. At last.

The sight is so beautiful! I can't bear to look at it!

Ha ha ha! We made it! We're These were here! the ten longest years of my life.

?

But now that we have arrived ...

...it seems like it was only a matter of days.

Master! Why do you cry? This is a happy day!

Don’t be sad.

It's not sadness. They are tears of joy.

I’m so happy that my heart is about to explode!

Well don't let it explode yet. This is only the gate of the temple. We must go farther.

Wu Kong's right, we must keep We going, and don't quickly! want to

We can rejoice once the mission is finished.

miss a meal!

On we go!

You're right. No time for tears when there is still work to do.

You can cry your eyes out later. oink

I've waited for this day for so long!

YU ZHEN GUAN

And we have waited for you in return, San Zang. 107

Welcome, at long last, to West Heaven.

Master, show some respect. This is God Jin Ding.

What?

Huh.

This monk is nothing more than a child.

My deepest apologies. I did not recognize you. I am San Zang.

I know. And you have come from Tang Dynasty, yes?

Indeed. The Goddess of Mercy told us about you when you left for the West.

He looks so young for someone so wise.

That's right. We set out more than 10 years ago.

Of course, I expected you to take only two or three years.

108

Needless to say, this meeting has been long I have awaited. great faith that it was worth it.

How about a bath before you head to the mountain? Thank you.

I do too. I'm very grateful for your patience.

Ah, much better! A change of clothes can do wonders.

You look like Buddhists worthy of the sutras.

Thank you. The Goddess of Mercy gave me this robe for the day I meet Buddha.

And now?

And now you will follow me.

Don't sweat it. I know how to get to the mountain.

Ha ha! You only think you do.

Nonsense. Compared to your journey, it's inches.

You only know the way of clouds. To go on, you must go the way of Buddha.

It's still so far!

oink

Pass through this gate. The mountain is on the other side.

Ah!

So bright!

111

You are almost there.

But this is as far as I can take you.

You’ve done so much for us. Thank you!

I did not expect this. It's so desolate here.

No kidding. It's more morose than divine.

He's right. I don't know this way.

Let's just keep moving. We're almost there.

I much prefer riding clouds. This is very tiring.

The eyes are dead ...

Here we are. The end of the road.

This is Cloud Reach Bridge. The name explains it all. It's the only way.

Wu Is there Kong! any way across the river other than this rickety old bridge?

You are joking. There's no way I can cross this on foot.

Well, no. Don’t be scared. Take one step at a time.

I can't! The waves are making me dizzy. I'll fall in.

114

The bridge is too narrow and slippery. I will drown.

I can't do it. I can’t cross the river. You don't

know that until you try.

Here, I'll show you.

See, Master? Nothing to it!

!

Look! I'm already back!

That wasn't so hard, was it?

I...

We're different beings.

I'm...not strong enough. What do I have to do?

You, Bajie, and Wu Jing can cross.

I know! Pigsy, get over here!

Get over where? Oh, no you don't! I don't want to go over the bridge, either!

I don't care what you want!

Hey! Let go of me! Stop, you furry lunatic! 116

You can go on without me! Leave me be! oink

Get up, you tubby coward!

Stop it, both of you!

A boat?

Of course! The Conductor of Souls! Why didn't I think of that?

Here comes a boat.

DO YOU WISH TO CROSS THE RIVER?

Wait a minute. This boat has no floor!

Yes… we do. Thank you.

How am I supposed to cross the river in this? BOATS WITH FLOORS CARRY PEOPLE.

BOATS WITHOUT FLOORS CARRY BUDDHAS.

118

But... I’m not a Buddha.

Don't worry about it. We'll cross!

Don't worry about it, Master. The boat's stable.

Wu Kong, what are you--

Well, that was sudden.

What has that monkey done now?

Oh, no! I can't float down Wu here. Kong! .

I can't ...Must rise...

HAD ENOUGH FUN?

Hello down there! Care to join us?

Wu Kong! 120

Are you insane? I almost drowned!

HE HE!

Are you trying to kill me?

Huh. Look at that.

Everyone! Man overboard!

Is that ...

It is! But it's not you. Not anymore.

Is that my body?

Ah, now I get it! oink

Yes. I am no longer tied to the earth. My body is gone.

An empty vessel on the water... 122

I've shrugged off the body I've had since birth...

...Just another shell in the sea.

And with open arms let Buddha's grace... ...retrieve me from the earth.

Well, that didn't take long. In the end.

Huh?

The boatman! He vanished, just like that!

Not really. Do you know who the boatman was, Master?

He is an escort who carries souls to the foot of the mountain.

Foot of the mountain. You mean...

Yes, sir!

I see. Wait...

You saved me countless times. Thank you.

Save us, merciful Buddha. We made it. After all this time, we made it.

It has been an honor to make this journey with the four of you.

Any time.

We were just doing our jobs.

AFTER TENS OF YEARS, THOUSANDS OF MILES, AND COUNTLESS NEARDEATH EXPERIENCES, SAN ZANG AND HIS DISCIPLES BASKED IN THE SERENITY OF WEST HEAVEN.

Hey! Look at this!

Is it food?

Wow! Amazing, isn't it?

This is the most incredible thing I've ever seen in my life. It's so immense.

And still a way off.

Looks like more walking for us.

WELCOME AT LAST, WEARY PILGRIMS. PLEASE COME THIS WAY.

129

It's good to see you, my lady. I hearby submit proof of our completed journey.

And now, in the name of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty...

...I ask to be given the sacred scriptures.

I ask you to have mercy on humanity and grant my wish.

HM...THE TANG DYNASTY IS VERY LARGE. MANY PEOPLE.

IT IS THEREFORE FILLED WITH GREED, VIOLENCE, AND OBSCENITY.

THE TANG DYNASTY HAS DEGENERATED INTO A LIVING HELL.

THERE ARE THREE MAHAYANA SUTRAS: THE LAW, THE DISCOURSE, AND THE SCRIPTURE.

IN THEM YOU WILL FIND THE LOGIC OF THE COSMOS, THE PURPOSE OF EXISTENCE, AND THE SECRETS OF THE DIVINE.

I WILL GIVE THEM TO YOU BECAUSE YOU'VE COME SO FAR AND BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH. BUT I FEAR THE PEOPLE OF YOUR KINGDOM ARE TOO FAR GONE TO COMPREHEND THE MESSAGE.

133

RETURN TO YOUR KINGDOM, SAN ZANG, AND GOOD LUCK.

TAKE THESE FOUR TO THE PALACE AND GIVE THEM WHAT THEY SEEK.

Yes, Divine One.

My lord! You must be famished.

Please, replenish yourselves before we go on.

Thank you for your generosity.

Hm...

THE ROYAL PALACE

Here you will find the Sutra of Law, the Sutra of Discourse, and the Sutra of Scripture.

gasp How marvelous! The library of the gods!

Wow, there are so many.

All of them? We can't carry all these!

You moron, they won't give them all to us.

We'll need carts to carry just the three.

I would like nothing more than to return with all of them.

The Sutra of Wisdom, the Sutra of Life, the I could Sutra of Progress... spend eternity in here!

Check out that one! "Karma Sutra." That sounds funny!

Well, my lord, what do you think of our library?

It is beyond words.

137

Indeed. Now then, my lord, you must have brought gifts with you from the eastern lands.

We will take them now, and give you the sutras in return.

No gifts at all?

Um.

I'm sorry, but our journey was so difficult that I couldn't bring gifts with me.

So you came here emptyhanded and expect to get the sutras?

Well, I…

Giving you the sutras for free will set a terrible example for future generations.

What do you mean?

I didn’t think about that. I'm terribly Master, sorry... let's get out of here.

I don’t think the almighty would approve of his disciples practicing extortion.

You know what? We don't want a gift from the likes of you.

Wu Kong! Why are you making trouble?

I think we should talk to our old friend Buddha. You know what I mean?

Shut your mouth! How dare you accuse us of such a thing!

Let’s go fetch what you came for.

Thank you.

139

I’m sorry to burden you.

On behalf of the people of Tang Dynasty, I thank you, merciful Buddha.

140

Hmph!

MAY YOU RETURN SAFELY.

The monks have been fooled.

THEY WERE GIVEN BLANK SUTRAS.

You called, my lord?

FIND SAN ZANG AND TAKE BACK HIS SUTRAS.

HE MUST RETURN AND BE GIVEN THE REAL ONES.

I feel so light on my feet! The trip home will take no time!

142

Yes, my lord.

H S O

WHO

SHAW

O0M

What is this?

Hey, let go of our sutras!

Let go of them, or I'll hunt down and kill your entire family!

No! The sutras!

144

Wait a minute. Something is wrong.

Ah, I get it. Very clever...

Buddha! What’s wrong with this picture?

Does it amuse you to ridicule us? If you don't want us to have the sutras, just say so!

Wu Kong! Please!

Let me help you out: It’s blank.

Answer me, you ghost!

CALM DOWN, WU KONG. THERE'S NO NEED TO RANT.

IT WAS ONE OF TWO FINAL TESTS, A TEST OF CHARITY.

WISDOM IS NOT FREE.

You're right, I didn't Divine One. think about that. It's my fault.

Huh.

YOU GAVE NOTHING, SO THEY GAVE NOTHING IN RETURN.

BUT THE SMALLEST GESTURE CAN MEAN SO MUCH.

This bowl was a gift to me from the emperor of the Tang Dynasty. I offer it to you as a gift.

A bowl? It's a very precious treasure.

146

That would be great.

Very well. Let us fetch the real sutras.

Divine One! Your mercy and wisdom are beyond measure.

THESE SUTRAS ARE THE ROOT AND ESSENCE OF THE INFINITE.

NYAH NYAH

HA HA! TRUE BUDDHISM CANNOT BE MEASURED.

SO TREAT THEM AS IF THEY ARE THE RAREST JEWELS IN THE UNIVERSE.

!

BE SURE TO CLEANSE YOURSELVES BEFORE OPENING THEM...

I will remember your counsel always.

BUDDHA OFFERED A TEAM OF HEAVENLY GUARDIANS TO ESCORT SAN ZANG AND HIS DISCIPLES AS THEY DESCENDED FROM THE PALACE.

...FOR ONCE YOU HAVE BEGUN TO UNDERSTAND THEM, EVERY TRACE OF THE PERSON YOU WERE BEFORE WILL BE WASHED AWAY.

These words will form the language of a new world.

All the people of this new world will treasure them. Forever.

MAY FORTUNE SMILE ON YOU...

UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN. FAREWELL!

Ah!!!

Wu Kong!

Help! We're falling!

Help!

What's happening? My body is as light as a feather!

I don't have a scratch on me. Wu Kong, what’s wrong with me?

Nothing. You've shed your body.

You can ride on clouds now, if you want.

Really? If that's so, why did I just fall from the sky?

Like this!

You have to learn how to manipulate clouds first. Don't worry, I'll teach you.

Uh, not so fast.

Master! Looks like we've come to another river.

It's so wide. I can't even see the other side!

Another one?

Where are we?

Is this LiuShaHe? I don’t think It's so. too big.

TongTian? That's where we are?

Wu Kong's right. I'd know my home any day. This is different. Does anyone remember "Heaven's Gateway"?

Why did they leave us here?

Why?

Beats We should me. have given them a bigger bowl.

ONCE A MORON, ALWAYS A MORON. DIDN'T HE HEAR THAT WE HAVE ONE MORE TEST TO FACE?

I say we swim across. What?

What's wrong? You weigh less than a feather now. It'd be easy for you.

Yes, but the scriptures would get wet.

Ha! We'd be home by now!

OOSH

SW

WE MEET AGAIN, MASTER!

YES. I AM ONE WHO KEEPS HIS WORD. LET ME TAKE YOU ACROSS.

Terrapin! You’ve come for us!

It's so good to see you. Thank you.

He’s so fast. We’ll be across in no time.

MASTER, I WONDER ABOUT THE FAVOR I ASKED OF YOU WHEN WE MET BEFORE.

I CAN'T BELIEVE I COMPLETELY FORGOT.

DID YOU PUT IN A GOOD WORD FOR ME WITH BUDDHA?

Oh, no.

152

Yes, well… Um…

The truth is, I forgot to mention it.

I don't know what to say. I'm sorry.

!

Ah!!!

Wu Kong! Save the sutras!

AS L P S

H

!

If we lose them, we lose everything!

The sutras are completely soaked. What are we going to do?

Phew. No, That was it wasn't. It's close. over.

Quickly! We need to dry them!

You got it.

Hey! Where did this wind come from?

Ah! Get the sutras out, then!

The boxes are full of water!

HOO0SH

What on earth is going on?

SHU SHU SHU SHU oink Wu Kong! Don't let go of those, no matter what!

THE SUDDEN TORNADO BLEW THROUGH THE NIGHT, WHILE SAN ZANG AND HIS DISCIPLES STRUGGLED TO SAVE THE SUTRAS.

Wu Kong, are you still there?

The wind has died.

The sun is up.

Everything was going fine. Then thunder and lightning tore apart the sky. I thought the world was coming to an end.

I thought we were meant to die before returning the sutras.

It was the work of monsters. They don't want you to return with the sutras because they're afraid of what will happen.

Master, snap out of it! 156

What do you mean?

If the sutras bring peace and harmony to the world, then monsters and their kind will not survive. They're fighting for their lives.

But they won't win. Your virtue and my power cannot be beaten. Now I see.

AS DAWN BROKE, SAN ZANG AND HIS DISCIPLES LAID OUT THE SUTRAS TO DRY IN THE SUN.

157

Oh, no! Some pages are ruined!

What are we going to do?

Yikes. Some are really messed up.

Calm down, Master. The universe

is imperfect. Why shouldn't the sutras be?

Buddhism is all about the pursuit of perfection amid imperfection, isn't it?

158

They're falling apart!

It's hopeless! We don't have copies!

Yes. It is.

BY EVENING, THE REMAINING SUTRAS HAD DRIED OUT. A SHORT TIME LATER, THE PEOPLE OF HUI YUAN FLOCKED TO THE FOUR TRAVELERS AND INVITED THEM TO THE VILLAGE FOR A FEAST.

GUAN BAO AND YIPINGJIN CHEN, WHO WERE NOW GROWN UP, CAME FORWARD TO THANK THEM.

BUT SAN ZANG, HAVING SHED HIS MORTAL SKIN, COULD NOT PARTAKE OF EARTHLY FOOD.

SAN ZANG AND HIS DISCIPLES DEPARTED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. THEY WERE SOON SWEPT INTO THE SKY.

THE HEAVENLY GUARDIANS OF BUDDHA APPEARED, AND RETURNED THEM TO THE TANG DYNASTY.

EMPEROR TAI ZONG WAS LEADING A PRAYER SERVICE WHEN HIS CHOSEN EMISSARY DESCENDED FROM THE SKY ON A CLOUD.

It feels so good to finally be home.

160

Your Majesty! I’ve returned with what you asked for.

My brother! At long last I welcome you home.

THE ENTIRE KINGDOM WAS OVERCOME WITH JOY. THE NEXT DAY, SAN ZANG CHANTED SUTRA IN THE TEMPLE BEFORE A GUST OF WIND CARRIED THE PRIEST INTO THE HEAVENS.

161

SAN ZANG! IN PAST LIVES YOU WERE WILD AND DEFIANT.

BECAUSE THE GOOD OF YOUR DEEDS CANNOT BE MEASURED, I ANOINT YOU A BUDDHA.

SUN WU KONG! STEP FORWARD.

BUT THE VALOR OF YOUR JOURNEY HAS MORE THAN MADE UP FOR YOUR PAST LIVES.

Wow, Master is finally a Buddha. He's done it! Save us, merciful Buddha.

YOU WERE ONCE THE BANE OF HEAVEN AND EARTH.

BUT YOUR STRENGTH AND COURAGE SAVED THE JOURNEY. I HEARBY ANOINT YOU A BUDDHA.

A Buddha? I'm a Buddha now? 162

Did you hear that? I'm a Buddha!

Way Ooh, to go! I'm up next!

ZHU BAJIE! YOU HAVE AIDED YOUR MASTER WELL.

I HEARBY APPOINT YOU GUARDIAN OF THE ALTAR.

Guardian of the Altar?

Wait. You made Wu Kong a Buddha. Why not me?

SHA WU JING. FOR LOYAL AND MODEST SERVICE TO YOUR MASTER, I PROMOTE YOU TO THE RANK OF GOLDEN ARHAT.

ANSWER THIS QUESTION: WHAT ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT, EVEN NOW?

Women. Food. Okay, I get it.

YU LONG, FOR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO THIS MISSION, I APPOINT YOU TO THE ORDER OF HEAVENLY DRAGONS.

163

Smile, Bajie! The journey is over, but the path goes on.

Appendix

SYNOPSIS

THE JOURNEY ENDS

Once upon a time, during a Buddhist ceremony held at a public square in the Tang Dynasty, the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy made herself known to Tang’s emperor, Taizong, and asked him to send someone on a great journey to the West. The journey would be a quest to India to recover the Mahayana Sutras, sacred Buddhist scriptures that would be brought back to China and end the suffering of mankind. Emperor Taizong turned to one of his most trusted priests and asked him to undertake the journey on his behalf. Ten years later, the trusted priest, San Zang, and four companions who joined him along the way--the monkey king Sun Wu Kong, the pig Zhu Bajie, the sea monster Sha Wu Jing, and the dragon horse Yu Long--have entered India and are within days of the journey’s

166

end when they come upon the mysterious Monk Kingdom. Not for the first time, it seems the four friends have entered a ghost town. But upon further inspection, they discover that the adults of the kingdom are hidden away inside their homes, and the only people outside are the children, who have been locked in cages. This situation enrages San Zang, who goes to the authorities and demands to know why the children have been treated this way. One of the local officers tells him that the King of Monk Kingdom was approached by a strange guru years earlier; the guru offered his daughter as a mistress to the king. The king’s physical attraction to his new mistress was so intense that he didn’t notice how it was draining the life out of him. The guru then told the king that he could cure the ailment; all he would need to do was boil down the hearts of more than a thousand children and drink the liquid. The children in cages are the sacrifice required for the cure. San Zang orders Wu Kong to take the caged children to safety and goes to the king for an explanation. But the king, as counseled by the guru, mocks San Zang’s devotion to Buddhism and expels him from the palace. After San Zang leaves, Wu Kong tells his master that the guru is actually a monster; meanwhile, the guru urges the king to capture San Zang and

167

eat his heart, as it will grant him eternal life. Wu Kong hears the plan, and the next day he switches places with the priest and uses magic to first trick the king and then attack the guru, who it turns out is a white deer monster. Wu Kong and Bajie track the monster to his lair, where they find him with his daughter, a white fox monster. Wu Kong fights the monster, but before long the God of Longevity appears and tells Wu Kong that the deer monster used to be his steed. He asks Wu Kong to spare the creature, and Wu Kong agrees on the condition that the god helps him defeat the white fox and then cures the king of Monk Kingdom. The God of Longevity agrees, and after the king is revived the children are safely returned to their homes. After departing the Monk Kingdom, the four travelers come to the Ling District, where they encounter and overcome a band of thieves before being captured by the authorities and charged with being the thieves. When San Zang tries to explain that they were only returning what the thieves stole, the king accuses him of lying and orders Wu Kong to be tortured. Wu Kong, of course, can handle anything, and after several attempts to damage the monkey, the governor of the district halts the proceedings. Later, the governor’s wife describes a

168

dream she had the previous night, in which her husband wrongly charged a group of monks with theft. When the governor learns the monks’ true identities, he tells Wu Kong that a beloved citizen was recently killed by a band of thieves and that he has to do something. Wu Kong goes to the underworld and asks the King of Hell to release the dead man. The king agrees and the old man is brought back to life. From Ling District, the four companions travel west, and within a day they have reached West Heaven, the sacred mountain that marks their destination. They enter the temple at the base of the mountain, where God Jin Ding escorts them to the final stage of the journey: the four must cross a vast river and climb the final steps to Buddha’s temple. But challenges remain: first, San Zang cannot cross the vast river in human form. Wu Kong helps him to shed his body, at which point San Zang can complete the crossing. Second, once the four friends reach the temple and ask for the sutras, they are surprised to learn that they are supposed to present a gift in exchange for the sutras. Wu Kong accuses the two who guard the sutras of extortion, and the offended deities give them three crates of sutras and ask them to leave. However, San Zang has been tricked, and is about to return to Tang Dynasty with crates of blank sutras. Some other gods intervene

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and help the priest sort out the gift situation, after which he is given the real sutras. Finally, on the way home, San Zang and his disciples are confronted with near-drowning and almost being swept away in a windstorm; these are leftover obstacles from their encounters with monsters and magical creatures, and once they overcome these threats, the return to Tang Dynasty is finally achieved. San Zang presents the sutras to Emperor Taizong, after which the priest and his disciples ascend to Heaven. There, San Zang and Wu Kong are granted the rank of Buddha, while Bajie is appointed Guardian of the Altar, Wu Jing is promoted to the rank of Golden Arhat, and Yu Long is appointed to the Order of Heavenly Dragons.

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THEMES OF THE JOURNEY TO THE WEST

THE MEANING OF THE JOURNEY

There comes a point, at the very end of the ten-year journey undertaken by San Zang and his disciples, when the all-powerful Sun Wu Kong, who is able to travel across a continent in the blink of an eye by flying on clouds, mentions that he never realized how long it would take to reach the sacred mountain of West Heaven on foot, because he’d only ever flown there before. This is a startling thing to read, because it means that the years of suffering endured by the four traveling companions could have been avoided if one of them had just flown to the mountain to recover the Mahayana sutras. Why then, did the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy, who gave this mission to the travelers, make it a condition of the journey that only San Zang, a human being incapable of flight, could take possession of the sutras? Why did she put

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them on a path that would take more than a decade of their lives to travel and cause them to escape death numerous times? The answer, in so many words, comes from none other than Buddha himself, and it illuminates what is ultimately the central theme of the entire journey to the West. The Mahayana sutras have been referred to throughout the story as the textual key to mankind’s salvation. The sutras of law, discourse, and scripture are powerful texts, and they will provide humanity with the tools necessary to escape the suffering of the world. But Buddha expresses reservations about the sutras’ power to change the world right at the moment when one expects the journey’s end to be greeted triumphantly. The supreme being believes that humanity has descended so far into a living hell that it will be unable to understand the message of the sutras. Simply providing the answers doesn’t mean that people will be able to comprehend them. This is why it was essential for San Zang and his disciples to go through what they did. Over the course of their journey, San Zang, Sun Wu Kong, Zhu Bajie, Sha Wu Jing, and Yu Long have each confronted situations that tested their courage, wisdom, empathy, and will to succeed. Each of them has had to reconsider everything he thought

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he knew about himself and the world around him. Each of them has had to confront what it means to live in a world without meaning or purpose, a world bereft of morality or a sense of justice. As a result of this, the four travelers who arrive at the gate of West Heaven are not the same four travelers who came together a decade earlier; they are each older, wiser, and better able to understand a scripture that speaks to the need of every individual to be selfless, courageous, patient, and intelligent about how to navigate the path to enlightenment. Of course, not every single person in the world could make the journey to the West; but when these four friends finish their mission, their experience will help them convey the true meaning of the sutras to those who would have no way of knowing what it took to bring them back to China. The journey to the West began with a clearly stated objective: to recover the Mahayana Sutras from India and return them to China so that mankind could be saved from madness and suffering. But what is clear by the end of Journey to the West is that recovering the sutras is only part of the journey’s larger purpose; in order for the wisdom of the sutras to be understood, five unlikely companions had to journey both to the farthest reaches of the world and to the very edge of

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existence. Their success or failure would determine whether the sutras would ultimately save the world, because understanding the path to enlightenment requires making a remarkable journey.

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Buddha

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At long last, ten years after the Goddess of Mercy entrusted them with the journey to the West, San Zang and his disciples have reached the sacred mountain of West Heaven and will take possession of the Mahayana Sutras. But the Goddess intended for the journey to be difficult and dangerous, and just because the four travelers have reached their destination does not mean they will make it safely home.

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