第二十二回 · 大聖攪陣 The Great Sage Spoils the Fight — Journey to the West

原文 Original text 繁體 Traditional Reader's edition

大聖攪陣 The Great Sage Spoils the Fight

那nà大dà聖shèng護hù了le唐táng僧sēng，牽qiān著zhe馬mǎ，守shǒu定dìng行xíng李lǐ。見jiàn八bā戒jiè與yǔ那nà怪guài交jiāo戰zhàn，就jiù恨hèn得de咬yǎo牙yá切qiè齒chǐ，擦cā掌zhǎng磨mó拳quán，忍rěn不bú住zhù要yào去qù打dǎ他tā，掣chè出chū棒bàng來lái道dào：「師shī父fù，你nǐ坐zuò著zhe，莫mò怕pà。等děng老lǎo孫sūn和hé他tā耍shuǎ耍shuǎ兒ér來lái。」那nà師shī父fù苦kǔ留liú不bú住zhù。他tā打dǎ個gè唿hū哨shào，跳tiào到dào前qián邊biān。原yuán來lái那nà怪guài與yǔ八bā戒jiè正zhèng戰zhàn到dào好hǎo處chù，難nán解jiě難nán分fēn。被bèi行xíng者zhě掄lūn起qǐ鐵tiě棒bàng，望wàng那nà怪guài著zháo頭tóu一yí下xià，那nà怪guài急jí轉zhuǎn身shēn，慌huāng忙máng躲duǒ過guò，徑jìng鑽zuān入rù流liú沙shā河hé裡lǐ。氣qì得de個gè八bā戒jiè亂luàn跳tiào道dào：「哥gē啊a，誰shuí著zhuó你nǐ來lái的de？那nà怪guài漸jiàn漸jiàn手shǒu慢màn，難nán架jià我wǒ鈀pá，再zài不bú上shàng三sān五wǔ合hé，我wǒ就jiù擒qín住zhù他tā了le。他tā見jiàn你nǐ兇xiōng險xiǎn，敗bài陣zhèn而ér逃táo，怎zěn生shēng是shì好hǎo？」行xíng者zhě笑xiào道dào：「兄xiōng弟dì，實shí不bù瞞mán你nǐ說shuō，自zì從cóng降xiáng了le黃huáng風fēng怪guài，下xià山shān來lái，這zhè個gè把bǎ月yuè不bù曾céng耍shuǎ棍gùn，我wǒ見jiàn你nǐ和hé他tā戰zhàn的de甜tián美měi，我wǒ就jiù忍rěn不bú住zhù腳jiǎo癢yǎng，故gù就jiù跳tiào將jiāng來lái耍shuǎ耍shuǎ的de。那nǎ知zhī那nà怪guài不bù識shí耍shuǎ，就jiù走zǒu了le。」那nà大dà圣shèng护hù了le唐táng僧sēng，牵qiān著zhe马mǎ，守shǒu定dìng行xíng李lǐ。见jiàn八bā戒jiè与yǔ那nà怪guài交jiāo战zhàn，就jiù恨hèn得de咬yǎo牙yá切qiè齿chǐ，擦cā掌zhǎng磨mó拳quán，忍rěn不bú住zhù要yào去qù打dǎ他tā，掣chè出chū棒bàng来lái道dào：「师shī父fù，你nǐ坐zuò著zhe，莫mò怕pà。等děng老lǎo孙sūn和hé他tā耍shuǎ耍shuǎ儿ér来lái。」那nà师shī父fù苦kǔ留liú不bú住zhù。他tā打dǎ个gè唿hū哨shào，跳tiào到dào前qián边biān。原yuán来lái那nà怪guài与yǔ八bā戒jiè正zhèng战zhàn到dào好hǎo处chù，难nán解jiě难nán分fēn。被bèi行xíng者zhě抡lūn起qǐ铁tiě棒bàng，望wàng那nà怪guài著zháo头tóu一yí下xià，那nà怪guài急jí转zhuǎn身shēn，慌huāng忙máng躲duǒ过guò，径jìng钻zuān入rù流liú沙shā河hé里lǐ。气qì得de个gè八bā戒jiè乱luàn跳tiào道dào：「哥gē啊a，谁shuí著zhuó你nǐ来lái的de？那nà怪guài渐jiàn渐jiàn手shǒu慢màn，难nán架jià我wǒ钯pá，再zài不bú上shàng三sān五wǔ合hé，我wǒ就jiù擒qín住zhù他tā了le。他tā见jiàn你nǐ凶xiōng险xiǎn，败bài阵zhèn而ér逃táo，怎zěn生shēng是shì好hǎo？」行xíng者zhě笑xiào道dào：「兄xiōng弟dì，实shí不bù瞒mán你nǐ说shuō，自zì从cóng降xiáng了le黄huáng风fēng怪guài，下xià山shān来lái，这zhè个gè把bǎ月yuè不bù曾céng耍shuǎ棍gùn，我wǒ见jiàn你nǐ和hé他tā战zhàn的de甜tián美měi，我wǒ就jiù忍rěn不bú住zhù脚jiǎo痒yǎng，故gù就jiù跳tiào将jiāng来lái耍shuǎ耍shuǎ的de。那nǎ知zhī那nà怪guài不bù识shí耍shuǎ，就jiù走zǒu了le。」

逐句解 Line by line

那nà大dà聖shèng護hù了le唐táng僧sēng，牽qiān著zhe馬mǎ，守shǒu定dìng行xíng李lǐ。那nà大dà圣shèng护hù了le唐táng僧sēng，牵qiān著zhe马mǎ，守shǒu定dìng行xíng李lǐ。

The Great Sage, guarding the Tang Monk, led the horse and kept watch over the luggage.

大聖 ('the Great Sage,' 齊天大聖) is Wukong's self-styled title. 牽著馬 ('leading the horse'; 著 zhe, the durative aspect) — his assigned task in the fight is guardianship, and his impatience with it drives the scene.

見jiàn八bā戒jiè與yǔ那nà怪guài交jiāo戰zhàn，就jiù恨hèn得de咬yǎo牙yá切qiè齒chǐ，擦cā掌zhǎng磨mó拳quán，忍rěn不bú住zhù要yào去qù打dǎ他tā，见jiàn八bā戒jiè与yǔ那nà怪guài交jiāo战zhàn，就jiù恨hèn得de咬yǎo牙yá切qiè齿chǐ，擦cā掌zhǎng磨mó拳quán，忍rěn不bú住zhù要yào去qù打dǎ他tā，

Seeing Bajie locked in combat with the monster, he ground his teeth in vexation, rubbed his palms and clenched his fists, and could not hold back from joining the fray;

恨得咬牙切齒 ('so galled that he gnashed his teeth'; 得 de) and 擦掌磨拳 ('rubbing palms, grinding fists') paint the monkey's itch for a fight — the comic restlessness of a creature made for battle set to guard duty.

掣chè出chū棒bàng來lái道dào：「師shī父fù，你nǐ坐zuò著zhe，莫mò怕pà。等děng老lǎo孫sūn和hé他tā耍shuǎ耍shuǎ兒ér來lái。」掣chè出chū棒bàng来lái道dào：「师shī父fù，你nǐ坐zuò著zhe，莫mò怕pà。等děng老lǎo孙sūn和hé他tā耍shuǎ耍shuǎ儿ér来lái。」

He drew out his rod and said: 'Master, sit tight and have no fear. Wait while old Sun goes and has a bit of sport with him.'

你坐著 ('you stay seated'; 著 zhe). 耍耍兒 ('to play, to have a bit of sport') — the monkey frames mortal combat as amusement, a swagger the outcome will puncture.

那nà師shī父fù苦kǔ留liú不bú住zhù。他tā打dǎ個gè唿hū哨shào，跳tiào到dào前qián邊biān。那nà师shī父fù苦kǔ留liú不bú住zhù。他tā打dǎ个gè唿hū哨shào，跳tiào到dào前qián边biān。

The master could by no means hold him back. He gave a whistle and bounded to the front.

苦留不住 ('for all his pleading could not detain him'). The monkey's 打個唿哨 ('gave a sharp whistle') is his habitual signal of springing into action.

原yuán來lái那nà怪guài與yǔ八bā戒jiè正zhèng戰zhàn到dào好hǎo處chù，難nán解jiě難nán分fēn。原yuán来lái那nà怪guài与yǔ八bā戒jiè正zhèng战zhàn到dào好hǎo处chù，难nán解jiě难nán分fēn。

Now the monster and Bajie were just then at the height of their contest, so evenly matched that neither could break free.

戰到好處 ('fighting at the very pitch') and 難解難分 ('hard to loose, hard to part'; 難 nán) mark the duel as genuinely balanced — which makes the monkey's intrusion the more disruptive.

被bèi行xíng者zhě掄lūn起qǐ鐵tiě棒bàng，望wàng那nà怪guài著zháo頭tóu一yí下xià，被bèi行xíng者zhě抡lūn起qǐ铁tiě棒bàng，望wàng那nà怪guài著zháo头tóu一yí下xià，

Then the Pilgrim swung up his iron rod and brought it down full on the monster's head;

掄起鐵棒 ('whirled up the iron cudgel,' the 如意金箍棒). 著頭一下 ('a blow landing on the head'; 著 zháo, to land, to strike home) — the monkey aims a killing stroke, which the wary demon slips.

那nà怪guài急jí轉zhuǎn身shēn，慌huāng忙máng躲duǒ過guò，徑jìng鑽zuān入rù流liú沙shā河hé裡lǐ。那nà怪guài急jí转zhuǎn身shēn，慌huāng忙máng躲duǒ过guò，径jìng钻zuān入rù流liú沙shā河hé里lǐ。

The monster spun about in haste, dodged clear in a fluster, and dived straight down into the River of Flowing Sands.

鑽入流沙河裡 ('bored down into the river') — the demon's element is the water, and the monkey, no swimmer, cannot follow. The abrupt retreat is the crux the rest of the chapter must work around.

氣qì得de個gè八bā戒jiè亂luàn跳tiào道dào：「哥gē啊a，誰shuí著zhuó你nǐ來lái的de？气qì得de个gè八bā戒jiè乱luàn跳tiào道dào：「哥gē啊a，谁shuí著zhuó你nǐ来lái的de？

This so angered Bajie that he hopped about, crying: 'Brother! Who told you to come?

氣得個 ('angered to the point that'; 得 de). 誰著你來的 ('who set you on to come?'; 著 here zhuó, the vernacular causative 'to send, to order') — Bajie's exasperation opens his complaint against the meddling.

那nà怪guài漸jiàn漸jiàn手shǒu慢màn，難nán架jià我wǒ鈀pá，再zài不bú上shàng三sān五wǔ合hé，我wǒ就jiù擒qín住zhù他tā了le。那nà怪guài渐jiàn渐jiàn手shǒu慢màn，难nán架jià我wǒ钯pá，再zài不bú上shàng三sān五wǔ合hé，我wǒ就jiù擒qín住zhù他tā了le。

'The monster was flagging by degrees, hard put to fend off my rake; in three or five more rounds I'd have had him fast.'

難架我鈀 ('scarce able to parry my rake'; 難 nán). Bajie claims the fight was all but won — 再不上三五合 ('in not more than three or five bouts') — before the monkey spoiled it, a boast the narrative half-credits.

他tā見jiàn你nǐ兇xiōng險xiǎn，敗bài陣zhèn而ér逃táo，怎zěn生shēng是shì好hǎo？」他tā见jiàn你nǐ凶xiōng险xiǎn，败bài阵zhèn而ér逃táo，怎zěn生shēng是shì好hǎo？」

'Now that he has seen how fierce you are, he has broken off and fled — however are we to manage?'

兇險 ('fierce and dangerous') and 怎生是好 ('however is this to be set right?') turn the complaint to the practical dilemma: the demon has retreated to water, where neither of them can reach him.

行xíng者zhě笑xiào道dào：「兄xiōng弟dì，實shí不bù瞞mán你nǐ說shuō，行xíng者zhě笑xiào道dào：「兄xiōng弟dì，实shí不bù瞒mán你nǐ说shuō，

The Pilgrim said with a laugh: 'Brother, I'll tell you the plain truth:

實不瞞你說 ('to tell you truly, hiding nothing') is the monkey's set preface to a candid admission — here, of why he could not resist joining in.

自zì從cóng降xiáng了le黃huáng風fēng怪guài，下xià山shān來lái，這zhè個gè把bǎ月yuè不bù曾céng耍shuǎ棍gùn，自zì从cóng降xiáng了le黄huáng风fēng怪guài，下xià山shān来lái，这zhè个gè把bǎ月yuè不bù曾céng耍shuǎ棍gùn，

'ever since I subdued the Yellow Wind fiend and we came down the mountain, I've not had my cudgel out to play for a good month;

降了黃風怪 ('subdued the Yellow Wind demon'; 降 xiáng) recalls the ordeal just past. 這個把月 ('a month or so') and 不曾耍棍 ('had no play with the staff') account for the itch that made him meddle.

我wǒ見jiàn你nǐ和hé他tā戰zhàn的de甜tián美měi，我wǒ就jiù忍rěn不bú住zhù腳jiǎo癢yǎng，故gù就jiù跳tiào將jiāng來lái耍shuǎ耍shuǎ的de。我wǒ见jiàn你nǐ和hé他tā战zhàn的de甜tián美měi，我wǒ就jiù忍rěn不bú住zhù脚jiǎo痒yǎng，故gù就jiù跳tiào将jiāng来lái耍shuǎ耍shuǎ的de。

'seeing you and him going at it so prettily, I couldn't keep my feet from itching, and so I bounded over for a bit of sport.'

戰的甜美 ('fighting so sweetly, so finely'; 的 the vernacular particle). 腳癢 ('itching feet,' an itch to join) and 跳將來 ('bounded over'; 將 jiāng, the directional-complement particle) — the monkey's disarming confession.

那nǎ知zhī那nà怪guài不bù識shí耍shuǎ，就jiù走zǒu了le。」那nǎ知zhī那nà怪guài不bù识shí耍shuǎ，就jiù走zǒu了le。」

'How was I to know the monster couldn't take a joke, and off he went.'

那知 ('who was to know'; 那 here nǎ, interrogative) set against 那怪 ('that monster'; 那 nà, demonstrative). 不識耍 ('did not know it was play') caps the comedy — the monkey treats a deadly duel as horseplay the demon spoiled by fleeing.

總評 Commentary

This passage turns on the Great Sage's temperament. Set to guard the master and the baggage while Bajie fights, the monkey cannot bear to stand idle: the picture of him gnashing his teeth, rubbing palms and grinding fists is pure comic restlessness, a creature built for battle chafing at sentry duty. He frames his intervention as 耍耍兒 ('a bit of sport'), the swagger that runs through his character.

But his meddling is precisely counter-productive, and the narrative knows it. Bajie's complaint — that he had the flagging monster all but taken, needing only three or five more rounds — is half-endorsed by the text, and the monkey's killing stroke merely drives the demon into the water, its own element, where neither pilgrim can follow. The scene thus manufactures the chapter's central impasse: a foe who cannot be beaten on land and cannot be reached in the flood. The monkey's cheerful 不識耍 ('he couldn't take a joke') is comedy laid over a real strategic dead end.