第十四回 · 老母贈衣 The Old Woman on the Road — Journey to the West

原文 Original text 繁體 Traditional Reader's edition

老母贈衣 The Old Woman on the Road

那nà長zhǎng老lǎo只zhǐ得dé收shōu拾shí行xíng李lǐ，捎shāo在zài馬mǎ上shàng，也yě不bù騎qí馬mǎ，一yì隻zhī手shǒu拄zhǔ著zhe錫xī杖zhàng，一yì隻zhī手shǒu揪jiū著zhe韁jiāng繩shéng，淒qī淒qī涼liáng涼liáng，往wǎng西xī前qián進jìn。行xíng不bù多duō時shí，只zhǐ見jiàn山shān路lù前qián面miàn有yǒu一yí個gè年nián高gāo的de老lǎo母mǔ，捧pěng一yí件jiàn綿mián衣yī，綿mián衣yī上shàng有yǒu一yì頂dǐng花huā帽mào。三sān藏zàng見jiàn他tā來lái得de至zhì近jìn，慌huāng忙máng牽qiān馬mǎ，立lì於yú右yòu側cè讓ràng行xíng。那nà老lǎo母mǔ問wèn道dào：「你nǐ是shì那nǎ裡lǐ來lái的de長zhǎng老lǎo，孤gū孤gū恓xī恓xī獨dú行xíng於yú此cǐ？」三sān藏zàng道dào：「弟dì子zǐ乃nǎi東dōng土tǔ大dà唐táng奉fèng差chāi往wǎng西xī天tiān拜bài活huó佛fó求qiú真zhēn經jīng者zhě。」老lǎo母mǔ道dào：「西xī方fāng佛fó乃nǎi大dà雷léi音yīn寺sì天tiān竺zhú國guó界jiè，此cǐ去qù有yǒu十shí萬wàn八bā千qiān里lǐ路lù。你nǐ這zhè等děng單dān人rén獨dú馬mǎ，又yòu無wú個gè伴bàn侶lǚ，又yòu無wú個gè徒tú弟dì，你nǐ如rú何hé去qù得dé？」三sān藏zàng道dào：「弟dì子zǐ日rì前qián收shōu得de一yí個gè徒tú弟dì，他tā性xìng潑pō兇xiōng頑wán，是shì我wǒ說shuō了le他tā幾jǐ句jù，他tā不bú受shòu教jiào，遂suì渺miǎo然rán而ér去qù也yě。」老lǎo母mǔ道dào：「我wǒ有yǒu這zhè一yì領lǐng綿mián布bù直zhí裰duō、一yì頂dǐng嵌qiàn金jīn花huā帽mào，原yuán是shì我wǒ兒ér子zi用yòng的de，他tā只zhǐ做zuò了le三sān日rì和hé尚shàng，不bú幸xìng命mìng短duǎn身shēn亡wáng。我wǒ才cái去qù他tā寺sì裡lǐ哭kū了le一yì場chǎng，辭cí了le他tā師shī父fù，將jiāng這zhè兩liǎng件jiàn衣yī、帽mào拿ná來lái，做zuò個gè憶yì念niàn。長zhǎng老lǎo啊a，你nǐ既jì有yǒu徒tú弟dì，我wǒ把bǎ這zhè衣yī帽mào送sòng了le你nǐ罷bà。」三sān藏zàng道dào：「承chéng老lǎo母mǔ盛shèng賜cì，但dàn只zhǐ是shì我wǒ徒tú弟dì已yǐ走zǒu了le，不bù敢gǎn領lǐng受shòu。」那nà长zhǎng老lǎo只zhǐ得dé收shōu拾shí行xíng李lǐ，捎shāo在zài马mǎ上shàng，也yě不bù骑qí马mǎ，一yì只zhī手shǒu拄zhǔ著zhe锡xī杖zhàng，一yì只zhī手shǒu揪jiū著zhe缰jiāng绳shéng，凄qī凄qī凉liáng凉liáng，往wǎng西xī前qián进jìn。行xíng不bù多duō时shí，只zhǐ见jiàn山shān路lù前qián面miàn有yǒu一yí个gè年nián高gāo的de老lǎo母mǔ，捧pěng一yí件jiàn绵mián衣yī，绵mián衣yī上shàng有yǒu一yì顶dǐng花huā帽mào。三sān藏zàng见jiàn他tā来lái得de至zhì近jìn，慌huāng忙máng牵qiān马mǎ，立lì于yú右yòu侧cè让ràng行xíng。那nà老lǎo母mǔ问wèn道dào：「你nǐ是shì那nǎ里lǐ来lái的de长zhǎng老lǎo，孤gū孤gū恓xī恓xī独dú行xíng于yú此cǐ？」三sān藏zàng道dào：「弟dì子zǐ乃nǎi东dōng土tǔ大dà唐táng奉fèng差chāi往wǎng西xī天tiān拜bài活huó佛fó求qiú真zhēn经jīng者zhě。」老lǎo母mǔ道dào：「西xī方fāng佛fó乃nǎi大dà雷léi音yīn寺sì天tiān竺zhú国guó界jiè，此cǐ去qù有yǒu十shí万wàn八bā千qiān里lǐ路lù。你nǐ这zhè等děng单dān人rén独dú马mǎ，又yòu无wú个gè伴bàn侣lǚ，又yòu无wú个gè徒tú弟dì，你nǐ如rú何hé去qù得dé？」三sān藏zàng道dào：「弟dì子zǐ日rì前qián收shōu得de一yí个gè徒tú弟dì，他tā性xìng泼pō凶xiōng顽wán，是shì我wǒ说shuō了le他tā几jǐ句jù，他tā不bú受shòu教jiào，遂suì渺miǎo然rán而ér去qù也yě。」老lǎo母mǔ道dào：「我wǒ有yǒu这zhè一yì领lǐng绵mián布bù直zhí裰duō、一yì顶dǐng嵌qiàn金jīn花huā帽mào，原yuán是shì我wǒ儿ér子zi用yòng的de，他tā只zhǐ做zuò了le三sān日rì和hé尚shàng，不bú幸xìng命mìng短duǎn身shēn亡wáng。我wǒ才cái去qù他tā寺sì里lǐ哭kū了le一yì场chǎng，辞cí了le他tā师shī父fù，将jiāng这zhè两liǎng件jiàn衣yī、帽mào拿ná来lái，做zuò个gè忆yì念niàn。长zhǎng老lǎo啊a，你nǐ既jì有yǒu徒tú弟dì，我wǒ把bǎ这zhè衣yī帽mào送sòng了le你nǐ罢bà。」三sān藏zàng道dào：「承chéng老lǎo母mǔ盛shèng赐cì，但dàn只zhǐ是shì我wǒ徒tú弟dì已yǐ走zǒu了le，不bù敢gǎn领lǐng受shòu。」

逐句解 Line by line

那nà長zhǎng老lǎo只zhǐ得dé收shōu拾shí行xíng李lǐ，捎shāo在zài馬mǎ上shàng，也yě不bù騎qí馬mǎ，一yì隻zhī手shǒu拄zhǔ著zhe錫xī杖zhàng，一yì隻zhī手shǒu揪jiū著zhe韁jiāng繩shéng，淒qī淒qī涼liáng涼liáng，往wǎng西xī前qián進jìn。那nà长zhǎng老lǎo只zhǐ得dé收shōu拾shí行xíng李lǐ，捎shāo在zài马mǎ上shàng，也yě不bù骑qí马mǎ，一yì只zhī手shǒu拄zhǔ著zhe锡xī杖zhàng，一yì只zhī手shǒu揪jiū著zhe缰jiāng绳shéng，凄qī凄qī凉liáng凉liáng，往wǎng西xī前qián进jìn。

The elder could only gather up the baggage, load it on the horse — riding not at all — and, staff in one hand and bridle-rope in the other, press on westward in wretched loneliness.

The forsaken monk's solitary progress — leading rather than riding, staff and rope in hand — sets the desolate tone Guanyin's arrival will answer. 那長老 reads 那 as nà, 長 as zhǎng; 只得 takes 得 as dé; 拄著 and 揪著 use durative 著 (zhe).

行xíng不bù多duō時shí，只zhǐ見jiàn山shān路lù前qián面miàn有yǒu一yí個gè年nián高gāo的de老lǎo母mǔ，捧pěng一yí件jiàn綿mián衣yī，綿mián衣yī上shàng有yǒu一yì頂dǐng花huā帽mào。行xíng不bù多duō时shí，只zhǐ见jiàn山shān路lù前qián面miàn有yǒu一yí个gè年nián高gāo的de老lǎo母mǔ，捧pěng一yí件jiàn绵mián衣yī，绵mián衣yī上shàng有yǒu一yì顶dǐng花huā帽mào。

He had not gone far when he saw, on the mountain road ahead, an aged woman bearing a padded garment, and upon the garment a flowered cap.

The old woman appears bearing exactly what the situation requires — a garment and cap — the first sign to the reader that this is no chance meeting. 行不多時 reads 行 as xíng.

三sān藏zàng見jiàn他tā來lái得de至zhì近jìn，慌huāng忙máng牽qiān馬mǎ，立lì於yú右yòu側cè讓ràng行xíng。三sān藏zàng见jiàn他tā来lái得de至zhì近jìn，慌huāng忙máng牵qiān马mǎ，立lì于yú右yòu侧cè让ràng行xíng。

Seeing her come very near, Sanzang hastily led his horse aside and stood at the right to let her pass.

Sanzang's courtesy in yielding the road. 三藏 reads 藏 as zàng; 來得 takes 得 as de; 讓行 reads 行 as xíng.

那nà老lǎo母mǔ問wèn道dào：「你nǐ是shì那nǎ裡lǐ來lái的de長zhǎng老lǎo，孤gū孤gū恓xī恓xī獨dú行xíng於yú此cǐ？」那nà老lǎo母mǔ问wèn道dào：「你nǐ是shì那nǎ里lǐ来lái的de长zhǎng老lǎo，孤gū孤gū恓xī恓xī独dú行xíng于yú此cǐ？」

The old woman asked, "Where do you come from, reverend, walking here so utterly alone?"

Her pointed question about his solitude opens the exchange. 那裡來的 reads 那 as interrogative nǎ ("where"), while 那老母 reads 那 as nà.

三sān藏zàng道dào：「弟dì子zǐ乃nǎi東dōng土tǔ大dà唐táng奉fèng差chāi往wǎng西xī天tiān拜bài活huó佛fó求qiú真zhēn經jīng者zhě。」三sān藏zàng道dào：「弟dì子zǐ乃nǎi东dōng土tǔ大dà唐táng奉fèng差chāi往wǎng西xī天tiān拜bài活huó佛fó求qiú真zhēn经jīng者zhě。」

Sanzang said, "Your disciple is one sent from the Eastern Land of Great Tang to the Western Heaven, to worship the living Buddha and seek the true scriptures."

He gives the standard account of his mission. 奉差 ("sent by command") reads 差 as chāi; 活佛 reads 佛 as fó.

老lǎo母mǔ道dào：「西xī方fāng佛fó乃nǎi大dà雷léi音yīn寺sì天tiān竺zhú國guó界jiè，此cǐ去qù有yǒu十shí萬wàn八bā千qiān里lǐ路lù。老lǎo母mǔ道dào：「西xī方fāng佛fó乃nǎi大dà雷léi音yīn寺sì天tiān竺zhú国guó界jiè，此cǐ去qù有yǒu十shí万wàn八bā千qiān里lǐ路lù。

The old woman said, "The Buddha of the West is at the Temple of Great Thunderclap, within the bounds of the country of India — a hundred and eight thousand li from here.

Her reply supplies canonical geography: the Buddha at the Temple of Great Thunderclap (大雷音寺) in India, 108,000 li distant — the vast measure of the journey. 西方佛 reads 佛 as fó.

你nǐ這zhè等děng單dān人rén獨dú馬mǎ，又yòu無wú個gè伴bàn侶lǚ，又yòu無wú個gè徒tú弟dì，你nǐ如rú何hé去qù得dé？」你nǐ这zhè等děng单dān人rén独dú马mǎ，又yòu无wú个gè伴bàn侣lǚ，又yòu无wú个gè徒tú弟dì，你nǐ如rú何hé去qù得dé？」

With but a single man and a lone horse, no companion and no disciple, how can you ever get there?"

Her question exposes his plight: alone and disciple-less, the road is impossible. 你如何去得 reads 得 as potential dé.

三sān藏zàng道dào：「弟dì子zǐ日rì前qián收shōu得de一yí個gè徒tú弟dì，他tā性xìng潑pō兇xiōng頑wán，是shì我wǒ說shuō了le他tā幾jǐ句jù，他tā不bú受shòu教jiào，遂suì渺miǎo然rán而ér去qù也yě。」三sān藏zàng道dào：「弟dì子zǐ日rì前qián收shōu得de一yí个gè徒tú弟dì，他tā性xìng泼pō凶xiōng顽wán，是shì我wǒ说shuō了le他tā几jǐ句jù，他tā不bú受shòu教jiào，遂suì渺miǎo然rán而ér去qù也yě。」

Sanzang said, "Your disciple did, some days ago, take on a disciple; but he was of a wild and violent temper, and because I spoke a few words to him he would not take correction, and went off out of sight."

Sanzang's honest account of losing his disciple is the opening she has come to fill. 三藏 reads 藏 as zàng; 收得 takes 得 as de; 不受教 reads 教 as jiào.

老lǎo母mǔ道dào：「我wǒ有yǒu這zhè一yì領lǐng綿mián布bù直zhí裰duō、一yì頂dǐng嵌qiàn金jīn花huā帽mào，原yuán是shì我wǒ兒ér子zi用yòng的de，他tā只zhǐ做zuò了le三sān日rì和hé尚shàng，不bú幸xìng命mìng短duǎn身shēn亡wáng。老lǎo母mǔ道dào：「我wǒ有yǒu这zhè一yì领lǐng绵mián布bù直zhí裰duō、一yì顶dǐng嵌qiàn金jīn花huā帽mào，原yuán是shì我wǒ儿ér子zi用yòng的de，他tā只zhǐ做zuò了le三sān日rì和hé尚shàng，不bú幸xìng命mìng短duǎn身shēn亡wáng。

The old woman said, "I have here a padded cloth tunic and a gold-inlaid flowered cap, which were once my son's. He was a monk only three days before, alas, his life was cut short and he died.

The garment and cap are given a poignant provenance — a son who was a monk but three days before dying. 兒子 reads 子 as neutral zi.

我wǒ才cái去qù他tā寺sì裡lǐ哭kū了le一yì場chǎng，辭cí了le他tā師shī父fù，將jiāng這zhè兩liǎng件jiàn衣yī、帽mào拿ná來lái，做zuò個gè憶yì念niàn。我wǒ才cái去qù他tā寺sì里lǐ哭kū了le一yì场chǎng，辞cí了le他tā师shī父fù，将jiāng这zhè两liǎng件jiàn衣yī、帽mào拿ná来lái，做zuò个gè忆yì念niàn。

I have just now been to his temple to weep for him, taken leave of his master, and brought these two things — the garment and the cap — away, to keep as a remembrance.

The tale of mourning and remembrance is the disguise; in truth these are the instruments of Wukong's binding. 將這兩件 reads 將 as jiāng.

長zhǎng老lǎo啊a，你nǐ既jì有yǒu徒tú弟dì，我wǒ把bǎ這zhè衣yī帽mào送sòng了le你nǐ罷bà。」长zhǎng老lǎo啊a，你nǐ既jì有yǒu徒tú弟dì，我wǒ把bǎ这zhè衣yī帽mào送sòng了le你nǐ罢bà。」

Reverend, since you have a disciple, let me make you a gift of them."

She presses the gift on him precisely because he has a disciple. 長老 reads 長 as zhǎng.

三sān藏zàng道dào：「承chéng老lǎo母mǔ盛shèng賜cì，但dàn只zhǐ是shì我wǒ徒tú弟dì已yǐ走zǒu了le，不bù敢gǎn領lǐng受shòu。」三sān藏zàng道dào：「承chéng老lǎo母mǔ盛shèng赐cì，但dàn只zhǐ是shì我wǒ徒tú弟dì已yǐ走zǒu了le，不bù敢gǎn领lǐng受shòu。」

Sanzang said, "I thank you, old mother, for your generous gift; but my disciple has already gone, and I dare not accept it."

Sanzang's honest refusal — his disciple is gone — is what she will now overturn. 三藏 reads 藏 as zàng.

總評 Commentary

With Wukong gone, the narrative turns to Guanyin's intervention, staged as a chance encounter on a lonely road. The desolate image of the abandoned monk — leading his horse on foot, staff in hand, pressing west alone — is answered at once by an old woman appearing with precisely a garment and cap to spare, the first hint that this is the Bodhisattva in disguise, come to mend what the quarrel has broken.

The exchange does quiet expository work. The old woman's reply fixes the scale and destination of the whole pilgrimage — the living Buddha at the Temple of Great Thunderclap in India, 108,000 li away — and her question about the monk's solitude draws out the confession of the lost disciple that gives her gift its opening. The dead-son story lends the robe and cap a tender human colour that masks their true function.

Sanzang's honest refusal — he cannot accept a disciple's clothes when his disciple has fled — is exactly the objection the disguised Guanyin has come to sweep aside. The scene is poised for the revelation of her real purpose: not the garment alone, but the spell that will go with it, the means of compelling the very disciple the monk believes he has lost for good.