第七回 · 掌中之賭 The Wager in the Palm — Journey to the West

原文 Original text 繁體 Traditional Reader's edition

掌中之賭 The Wager in the Palm

大dà聖shèng道dào：「他tā雖suī年nián幼yòu修xiū長cháng，也yě不bù應yīng久jiǔ占zhàn在zài此cǐ。常cháng言yán道dào：『皇huáng帝dì輪lún流liú做zuò，明míng年nián到dào我wǒ家jiā。』只zhǐ教jiào他tā搬bān出chū去qù，將jiāng天tiān宮gōng讓ràng與yǔ我wǒ便biàn罷bà了le；若ruò還hái不bù讓ràng，定dìng要yào攪jiǎo攘rǎng，永yǒng不bù清qīng平píng！」佛fó祖zǔ道dào：「你nǐ除chú了le長cháng生shēng變biàn化huà之zhī法fǎ，再zài有yǒu何hé能néng，敢gǎn占zhàn天tiān宮gōng勝shèng境jìng？」大dà聖shèng道dào：「我wǒ的de手shǒu段duàn多duō哩li！我wǒ有yǒu七qī十shí二èr般bān變biàn化huà，萬wàn劫jié不bù老lǎo長cháng生shēng，會huì駕jià觔jīn斗dòu雲yún，一yí縱zòng十shí萬wàn八bā千qiān里lǐ。如rú何hé坐zuò不bù得dé天tiān位wèi？」佛fó祖zǔ道dào：「我wǒ與yǔ你nǐ打dǎ個gè賭dǔ賽sài：你nǐ若ruò有yǒu本běn事shì，一yì觔jīn斗dòu打dǎ出chū我wǒ這zhè右yòu手shǒu掌zhǎng中zhōng，算suàn你nǐ贏yíng，再zài不bù用yòng動dòng刀dāo兵bīng苦kǔ爭zhēng戰zhàn，就jiù請qǐng玉yù帝dì到dào西xī方fāng居jū住zhù，把bǎ天tiān宮gōng讓ràng你nǐ；若ruò不bù能néng打dǎ出chū手shǒu掌zhǎng，你nǐ還hái下xià界jiè為wéi妖yāo，再zài修xiū幾jǐ劫jié，卻què來lái爭zhēng吵chǎo。」那nà大dà聖shèng聞wén言yán，暗àn笑xiào道dào：「這zhè如rú來lái十shí分fēn好hǎo獃dāi！我wǒ老lǎo孫sūn一yì觔jīn斗dòu去qù十shí萬wàn八bā千qiān里lǐ，他tā那nà手shǒu掌zhǎng方fāng圓yuán不bù滿mǎn一yì尺chǐ，如rú何hé跳tiào不bù出chū去qù？」急jí發fā聲shēng道dào：「既jì如rú此cǐ說shuō，你nǐ可kě做zuò得dé主zhǔ張zhāng？」佛fó祖zǔ道dào：「做zuò得dé，做zuò得dé！」伸shēn開kāi右yòu手shǒu，卻què似sì個gè荷hé葉yè大dà小xiǎo。大dà圣shèng道dào：「他tā虽suī年nián幼yòu修xiū长cháng，也yě不bù应yīng久jiǔ占zhàn在zài此cǐ。常cháng言yán道dào：『皇huáng帝dì轮lún流liú做zuò，明míng年nián到dào我wǒ家jiā。』只zhǐ教jiào他tā搬bān出chū去qù，将jiāng天tiān宫gōng让ràng与yǔ我wǒ便biàn罢bà了le；若ruò还hái不bù让ràng，定dìng要yào搅jiǎo攘rǎng，永yǒng不bù清qīng平píng！」佛fó祖zǔ道dào：「你nǐ除chú了le长cháng生shēng变biàn化huà之zhī法fǎ，再zài有yǒu何hé能néng，敢gǎn占zhàn天tiān宫gōng胜shèng境jìng？」大dà圣shèng道dào：「我wǒ的de手shǒu段duàn多duō哩li！我wǒ有yǒu七qī十shí二èr般bān变biàn化huà，万wàn劫jié不bù老lǎo长cháng生shēng，会huì驾jià觔jīn斗dòu云yún，一yí纵zòng十shí万wàn八bā千qiān里lǐ。如rú何hé坐zuò不bù得dé天tiān位wèi？」佛fó祖zǔ道dào：「我wǒ与yǔ你nǐ打dǎ个gè赌dǔ赛sài：你nǐ若ruò有yǒu本běn事shì，一yì觔jīn斗dòu打dǎ出chū我wǒ这zhè右yòu手shǒu掌zhǎng中zhōng，算suàn你nǐ赢yíng，再zài不bù用yòng动dòng刀dāo兵bīng苦kǔ争zhēng战zhàn，就jiù请qǐng玉yù帝dì到dào西xī方fāng居jū住zhù，把bǎ天tiān宫gōng让ràng你nǐ；若ruò不bù能néng打dǎ出chū手shǒu掌zhǎng，你nǐ还hái下xià界jiè为wéi妖yāo，再zài修xiū几jǐ劫jié，却què来lái争zhēng吵chǎo。」那nà大dà圣shèng闻wén言yán，暗àn笑xiào道dào：「这zhè如rú来lái十shí分fēn好hǎo呆dāi！我wǒ老lǎo孙sūn一yì觔jīn斗dòu去qù十shí万wàn八bā千qiān里lǐ，他tā那nà手shǒu掌zhǎng方fāng圆yuán不bù满mǎn一yì尺chǐ，如rú何hé跳tiào不bù出chū去qù？」急jí发fā声shēng道dào：「既jì如rú此cǐ说shuō，你nǐ可kě做zuò得dé主zhǔ张zhāng？」佛fó祖zǔ道dào：「做zuò得dé，做zuò得dé！」伸shēn开kāi右yòu手shǒu，却què似sì个gè荷hé叶yè大dà小xiǎo。

逐句解 Line by line

The Great Sage said: "Though he is young in years and long in cultivation, still he ought not to hold this place forever. As the saying goes, 'The throne is taken in turn — next year it comes to my house.' Just make him move out and yield the Palace of Heaven to me, and there's an end of it; but if he still won't yield, I'll surely make havoc, and there will never be peace!"

修長: 長 = cháng (long in cultivation). 皇帝輪流做 — the rebel's proverb, might-makes-right dressed as folk wisdom. 只教: 教 = jiào (to make/cause). 將天宮: disposal-jiāng. 若還不讓: 還 = hái ("still").

佛fó祖zǔ道dào：「你nǐ除chú了le長cháng生shēng變biàn化huà之zhī法fǎ，再zài有yǒu何hé能néng，敢gǎn占zhàn天tiān宮gōng勝shèng境jìng？」佛fó祖zǔ道dào：「你nǐ除chú了le长cháng生shēng变biàn化huà之zhī法fǎ，再zài有yǒu何hé能néng，敢gǎn占zhàn天tiān宫gōng胜shèng境jìng？」

The Buddha said: "Besides your arts of deathless life and transformation, what other power have you, that you dare seize the fair realm of Heaven's Palace?"

長生: 長 = cháng. The Buddha narrows the ground deliberately, inviting the monkey to name his powers — setting the trap of the wager, where those very powers will be turned against him.

大dà聖shèng道dào：「我wǒ的de手shǒu段duàn多duō哩li！我wǒ有yǒu七qī十shí二èr般bān變biàn化huà，萬wàn劫jié不bù老lǎo長cháng生shēng，會huì駕jià觔jīn斗dòu雲yún，一yí縱zòng十shí萬wàn八bā千qiān里lǐ。如rú何hé坐zuò不bù得dé天tiān位wèi？」大dà圣shèng道dào：「我wǒ的de手shǒu段duàn多duō哩li！我wǒ有yǒu七qī十shí二èr般bān变biàn化huà，万wàn劫jié不bù老lǎo长cháng生shēng，会huì驾jià觔jīn斗dòu云yún，一yí纵zòng十shí万wàn八bā千qiān里lǐ。如rú何hé坐zuò不bù得dé天tiān位wèi？」

The Great Sage said: "My skills are many! I have seventy-two transformations, life everlasting unaging through ten thousand kalpas, and I can ride the cloud-somersault — one bound, a hundred and eight thousand li. Why should I not sit upon the heavenly throne?"

哩 = li (sentence-final). 長生: cháng. 觔斗雲 (jīn dǒu yún), the cloud-somersault. 一縱: 一 before 縱 (zòng, 4th tone) is yí. The boast of "108,000 li in one bound" is exactly what the Buddha's palm will make a mockery of.

佛fó祖zǔ道dào：「我wǒ與yǔ你nǐ打dǎ個gè賭dǔ賽sài：你nǐ若ruò有yǒu本běn事shì，一yì觔jīn斗dòu打dǎ出chū我wǒ這zhè右yòu手shǒu掌zhǎng中zhōng，算suàn你nǐ贏yíng，再zài不bù用yòng動dòng刀dāo兵bīng苦kǔ爭zhēng戰zhàn，就jiù請qǐng玉yù帝dì到dào西xī方fāng居jū住zhù，把bǎ天tiān宮gōng讓ràng你nǐ；若ruò不bù能néng打dǎ出chū手shǒu掌zhǎng，你nǐ還hái下xià界jiè為wéi妖yāo，再zài修xiū幾jǐ劫jié，卻què來lái爭zhēng吵chǎo。」佛fó祖zǔ道dào：「我wǒ与yǔ你nǐ打dǎ个gè赌dǔ赛sài：你nǐ若ruò有yǒu本běn事shì，一yì觔jīn斗dòu打dǎ出chū我wǒ这zhè右yòu手shǒu掌zhǎng中zhōng，算suàn你nǐ赢yíng，再zài不bù用yòng动dòng刀dāo兵bīng苦kǔ争zhēng战zhàn，就jiù请qǐng玉yù帝dì到dào西xī方fāng居jū住zhù，把bǎ天tiān宫gōng让ràng你nǐ；若ruò不bù能néng打dǎ出chū手shǒu掌zhǎng，你nǐ还hái下xià界jiè为wéi妖yāo，再zài修xiū几jǐ劫jié，却què来lái争zhēng吵chǎo。」

The Buddha said: "Let me make a wager with you. If you have the skill to somersault clear of my right palm, I'll count you the winner: no more need of weapons or bitter war — I'll ask the Jade Emperor to go dwell in the West and yield the Palace of Heaven to you. But if you cannot leap free of my palm, then go back down to the world as a fiend, cultivate yourself a few more kalpas, and come quarrel again."

一觔斗: 一 before 觔 (jīn, 1st tone) is yì. 右手掌中: 中 = zhōng ("within the palm"). 下界為妖: 為 = wéi ("be a fiend"). The terms are a trap baited with the monkey's own confidence.

那nà大dà聖shèng聞wén言yán，暗àn笑xiào道dào：「這zhè如rú來lái十shí分fēn好hǎo獃dāi！我wǒ老lǎo孫sūn一yì觔jīn斗dòu去qù十shí萬wàn八bā千qiān里lǐ，他tā那nà手shǒu掌zhǎng方fāng圓yuán不bù滿mǎn一yì尺chǐ，如rú何hé跳tiào不bù出chū去qù？」那nà大dà圣shèng闻wén言yán，暗àn笑xiào道dào：「这zhè如rú来lái十shí分fēn好hǎo呆dāi！我wǒ老lǎo孙sūn一yì觔jīn斗dòu去qù十shí万wàn八bā千qiān里lǐ，他tā那nà手shǒu掌zhǎng方fāng圆yuán不bù满mǎn一yì尺chǐ，如rú何hé跳tiào不bù出chū去qù？」

The Great Sage, hearing this, laughed to himself: "This Tathāgata is a great fool! My one somersault goes a hundred and eight thousand li, and his palm is not a foot across — how could I fail to leap clear?"

好獃 (hǎo dāi), "a great simpleton." 一觔斗: yì. 一尺: 一 before 尺 (chǐ, 3rd tone) is yì; the unit 尺 stays chǐ, not "foot." The monkey's private gloating is the comic engine of the whole episode.

急jí發fā聲shēng道dào：「既jì如rú此cǐ說shuō，你nǐ可kě做zuò得dé主zhǔ張zhāng？」佛fó祖zǔ道dào：「做zuò得dé，做zuò得dé！」伸shēn開kāi右yòu手shǒu，卻què似sì個gè荷hé葉yè大dà小xiǎo。急jí发fā声shēng道dào：「既jì如rú此cǐ说shuō，你nǐ可kě做zuò得dé主zhǔ张zhāng？」佛fó祖zǔ道dào：「做zuò得dé，做zuò得dé！」伸shēn开kāi右yòu手shǒu，却què似sì个gè荷hé叶yè大dà小xiǎo。

Quickly he called out: "If you put it so, can you make good your word?" The Buddha said: "I can, I can!" — and spread open his right hand, which was about the size of a lotus leaf.

做得主張, "make good / be answerable for the decision." 似 = sì ("resembles"). The detail 荷葉大小 — a hand merely "the size of a lotus leaf" — is the visual hinge of the trap: it looks trivially small, which is exactly the point.

總評 Commentary

This is the famous wager, the structural pivot of the entire Havoc-in-Heaven arc. The Buddha does not fight the monkey; he proposes a bet, baited precisely with the monkey's proudest power — the cloud-somersault that crosses 108,000 li in a single bound. If the monkey can leap clear of the Buddha's palm, he wins the throne; if not, he returns below to cultivate further. The monkey, seeing a hand "not a foot across," laughs at the Buddha as a fool and accepts.

The comedy is exact and cruel. The monkey reasons in terms of measurable distance — his bound is astronomically longer than the palm is wide — and so cannot conceive of losing. What he cannot grasp is that the Buddha's palm is not a quantity at all. The wager stages, in physical farce, the limit of the 心猿: a mind of boundless cleverness that still thinks entirely within space and number, and so cannot see the order of being that contains it. His very confidence (暗笑, the private smirk) is what dooms him.

Note that the units stay Chinese throughout — 一尺 rendered yì chǐ, not "a foot" — preserving the texture of the original measure. The episode's logic is the chapter's whole thesis in miniature: raw capacity, however vast, is not the same as wisdom, and cannot escape it. As Plaks observes, the palm is a figure for the encompassing Absolute — dharmadhātu, the realm within which all the monkey's transformations are merely local events.