The Great Way runs deep and dark. What word could carry it? Say it plainly and the very spirits take fright.
It holds the whole cosmos folded inside it; it splits open the dark radiance. No joy the world offers can match it.
Before Vulture Peak the precious pearl is lifted out, and its brightness throws back five kinds of colour.
It shines on every living thing above and below heaven and earth, and whoever knows it lives as long as the mountains and the sea.
Now then: Tripitaka and his three disciples took their leave of the woodcutter, came down from Hidden Mist Mountain, and struck out along the high road. They travelled for some days, and then all at once a walled city stood close at hand. Tripitaka said, “Wukong, look at that city ahead — could that be the country of India?” Pilgrim waved a hand. “No, no. The Tathagata's dwelling is called the Land of Ultimate Bliss, true enough, but it has no city walls at all. It is one great mountain, and on that mountain stand towers and terraces and halls, and the place is called the Great Thunderclap Monastery on Spirit Mountain. And even once we reach India, that is still not where the Tathagata lives. There is no telling how much road lies between India and Spirit Mountain. That city is likely an outer prefecture of India. We shall know for certain once we get up to it.” Before long they arrived outside the city. Tripitaka dismounted, and they passed in through the three gates, and saw that the life of the place had gone to ruin and the streets lay cold and empty. Coming further on to the market square, they saw a crowd of men in dark blue robes ranged to left and right, with several others in caps and official belts standing under the eaves of a building.
The four of them walked on down the street, and the crowd showed no sign of standing aside. Zhu Bajie, being a coarse and simple soul, thrust out his long snout and bellowed, “Make way! Make way!” The crowd jerked their heads up, got a look at him, and every last one of them went soft in the bone and numb in the sinew, staggering and tripping over each other and crying, “Fiends! Fiends have come!” So badly frightened were the capped and belted men under the eaves that they bowed, trembling, and asked, “Where might you gentlemen be from?” Tripitaka, afraid his disciples would cause trouble, pushed to the front by himself and addressed them all: “This poor monk is sent from the Great Tang in the Land of the East, to seek scriptures from the Buddha at the Great Thunderclap Monastery in India. Passing through your esteemed district, we did not know the name of the place, and we had found no lodging; we have only just entered the city and have badly failed to keep out of your way. We beg you gentlemen to forgive the offence.” Only then did the official return the courtesy. “This is an outer prefecture of India,” he said. “The place is called Fengxian Prefecture. We have had drought year after year, and the prefect has sent us out to post a notice calling for a master of the Law to pray for rain and save the people.” Pilgrim heard this and said, “Where is this notice of yours?” The officials said, “The notice is right here. We have only just finished sweeping the gallery eaves and have not put it up yet.” Pilgrim said, “Bring it here and let me have a look.” The officials at once unrolled the notice and hung it under the eaves. Pilgrim and the other three stepped up and read it together.
On the notice was written:
Shangguan, Prefect of Fengxian Prefecture in the great country of India, issues this notice to engage an enlightened master and seek a great service of the Law. Whereas this prefecture is broad in its lands and its soldiers and people were once prosperous; and whereas we have suffered scorching drought year upon year and dry famine season upon season, so that the people's fields are blighted and the garrison lands worn thin, the watercourses shallow and the ditches empty.
There is no water in the wells, and no moisture at the bottom of the springs.
Wealthy households scrape by with their lives intact; the poor can hardly stay alive at all.
A dǒu of grain fetches a hundred in gold; a bundle of firewood costs five taels.
A girl of ten is traded for three shēng of rice; a boy of five is handed to whoever will take him.
In the city they still fear the law, and pawn their clothes and possessions to keep body and soul together;
In the countryside they cheat the authorities, robbing and eating people to hold on to their own lives.
For this reason we issue this notice, looking up in hope to the worthy and wise of all ten directions, to pray for rain and save the people.
Such kindness shall be richly repaid. We undertake to offer a thousand in gold by way of thanks, and this is no empty word.
This notice is hereby given.
When Pilgrim had finished reading he said to the officials, “What is this — Prefect Shangguan?” The officials said, “Shangguan is a surname. It is our prefect's family name.” Pilgrim laughed. “That is a rather uncommon surname.” Bajie said, “Elder brother has done no reading. In the back of the Hundred Family Surnames there is a line that runs 'Shangguan, Ouyang.'” Tripitaka said, “Disciples, enough idle chatter. Whichever of you can pray for rain, pray a sweet rain down for them and relieve the people's suffering. This is a work of ten thousand merits. And if none of you can, then let us move on and not waste travelling time.” Pilgrim said, “What is so hard about praying for rain? Old Monkey has overturned rivers and stirred up seas, shifted the Dipper and moved the stars, kicked at heaven and meddled with wells, breathed out fog and spat cloud, carried mountains and chased the moon, called up rain and whistled up wind. Which one of those was not a plaything of my boyhood? Why should any of it be remarkable?” Hearing this, the officials sent two of their number hurrying off to the prefecture to report: “Your Honour, joy beyond counting has arrived!” The prefect was just then burning incense and praying in silence when he heard the shout that joy had come, and asked at once, “What joy?” The officer said, “Today we collected the notice and had only just got to the market square to hang it up when four monks appeared. They say they are sent from the Great Tang in the Land of the East to India, to the Great Thunderclap Monastery, to worship the Buddha and seek scriptures. They read the notice and said straight out that they could pray down a sweet rain, so I have come at once to report it.” The prefect straightened his robes and set out on foot, taking neither sedan chair nor horse nor any great retinue, and went directly to the market square to make his request with all courtesy. Suddenly someone called out, “His Honour the prefect is coming!” The crowd shrank aside. The moment the prefect saw the Tang Monk, unafraid of how hideous his disciples were, he threw himself down in the middle of the street and bowed. “This humble officer is Shangguan, Prefect of Fengxian,” he said. “I have bathed and perfumed myself to beg you, master, to pray for rain and save the people.” “I look to you, master, to pour out your great compassion, to set your divine powers working, and to save us — save us.” Tripitaka returned the courtesy. “This is no place to talk,” he said. “Let this poor monk get to a temple or a monastery, and then the business can be done properly.” The prefect said, “Come with me to my own government office, master. There is a clean place to be had there.” So master and disciples led the horse and shouldered the baggage and went straight to the prefect's own compound, where they were introduced all round. The prefect at once ordered tea to be served and a vegetarian meal laid out, and in a little while the meal arrived. Bajie gave his appetite free rein and bolted the food like a starving tiger. It so frightened the servants carrying the trays that their hearts jumped and their gall trembled. Back and forth they went, topping up the soup and topping up the rice, spinning like a lantern-carousel, and no sooner was a dish set down than it was gone; he ate until he was full and only then stopped. When the meal was done the Tang Monk gave thanks for it, and then asked, “Your Honour, how long has this district been in drought?”
The prefect said:
“My poor country is the great realm of India, and I am shepherd of Fengxian, an outer prefecture.
“Three years together we have met dry famine. Not even weed seed sprouts, and the five grains have failed.
“Households great and small can neither buy nor sell. Of every ten doors, nine stand weeping.
“Of three parts of the people, two have starved to death, and the part remaining is like a candle in the wind.
“This humble officer put out a notice seeking worthy men far and wide, and by good fortune true monks have come to my country.
“If you would grant us but a cùn of rain and relieve the common people, I will gladly offer a thousand in gold to repay so deep a kindness!”
Pilgrim heard him out, and delight spread over his whole face. He laughed aloud. “Say no more, say no more. If you talk of a thousand in gold by way of thanks, you will not get half a drop of sweet rain. But talk of piling up merit and accumulating virtue, and Old Monkey will send you a great rain.” Now the prefect was in fact a thoroughly upright and decent man, who cared deeply for his people. He invited Pilgrim at once to the seat of honour, bowed his head and made obeisance. “If you will truly pour out your compassion, master,” he said, “this humble officer will assuredly not dare to act against virtue.” Pilgrim said, “Enough talk. Get up, please. Only trouble yourself to look after my master properly while Old Monkey gets to work.” Sha Monk said, “Elder brother, how will you go about it?” Pilgrim said, “You and Bajie come over here. Stand below the hall behind me and be my wings while Old Monkey calls up a dragon to make rain.” Bajie and Sha Monk carefully did as they were told, and the three of them stood together below the hall. The prefect burned incense and made his obeisance. Tripitaka sat and recited scripture.
Pilgrim recited the true words and intoned the spell, and at once a black cloud appeared away to the east and came down slowly in front of the hall. It was Ao Guang, the old Dragon King of the Eastern Ocean. Ao Guang gathered up the trailing edges of his cloud, changed into human shape, came forward and bowed to Pilgrim. “Great Sage, you have summoned this small dragon — where is he to be used?” Pilgrim said, “Get up, please. Sorry to have dragged you so far. There is nothing much to it. This is Fengxian Prefecture. There has been drought year after year. I want to ask you why you have not come and made it rain.” The old dragon said, “Let it be reported to the Great Sage for his information: I am able to make rain, true, but I am one of those sent out to do it by Heaven. If Heaven does not send me, how would I dare come here and make rain on my own authority?” Pilgrim said, “I was passing through this district, saw a long drought and a people in misery, and sent for you specially to come and grant rain and relieve them. Why are you making excuses?” The Dragon King said, “How would I dare make excuses? When the Great Sage recites the true words and calls, I dare not fail to come. But first, I have received no edict from Heaven, and second, I have not brought with me the divine officers who work the rain. How am I to set the Rain Department moving?” “Since the Great Sage has a mind to deliver them, let this small dragon go back to the sea and muster his troops, while the Great Sage takes the trouble to go up to the Palace of Heaven, obtain approval, and request an edict for rainfall. Then let the Water Officer release the dragons, and I shall be able to send down rain to the amount the edict specifies.” Seeing that the dragon had reason on his side, Pilgrim had no choice but to dismiss him back to the sea. He at once sprang out of the ritual pacing and told the Tang Monk the whole business of the Dragon King. The Tang Monk said, “If that is how it stands, then go and do it — and be sure you tell no lies about it.” Pilgrim gave his orders to Bajie and Sha Monk: “Guard the master. I am off to the Palace of Heaven.” Fine Great Sage! He said the word go, and was silently gone. The prefect, trembling with alarm, said, “Where has His Honour Sun gone?” Bajie laughed. “Ridden a cloud up to heaven.” The prefect, in great reverence, sent out urgent notices ordering that through every street and lane of the city, without distinction of noble or commoner, soldier or civilian, every household should set up a tablet to the Dragon King, place a jar of clean water at the door with a willow sprig standing in it, and keep incense burning; and so they worshipped Heaven, of which no more need be said. Now then: Pilgrim took one leap of his somersault cloud and came straight to the outside of the Western Gate of Heaven, where the Nation-Guarding Heavenly King, leading his celestial soldiers and strongmen, came forward to meet him. “Great Sage — is the business of the scriptures finished?” Pilgrim said, “Not far off now.”
“We have now got as far as the border of India. There is an outer prefecture there called Fengxian. For three years no rain has fallen there. The people are in great hardship, and Old Monkey wishes to pray for rain and rescue them. I called the Dragon King there, and he says that without an edict he dare not do it on his own account. So I have come specially to present myself to the Jade Emperor and request one.” The Heavenly King said, “Over in that quarter, I rather think rain is not supposed to fall. I heard some time back that the prefect there behaved outrageously and offended Heaven and Earth. The Supreme Emperor found him guilty and set up a mountain of rice, a mountain of flour and a great golden lock. Only when those three things fall and break is rain to fall there.” Pilgrim could not make out what any of this meant, and wanted to see the Jade Emperor. The Heavenly King did not dare stop him, and let him through. He went straight to the outside of the Hall of Perfect Light, where the Four Great Preceptors met him. “What brings the Great Sage here?” Pilgrim said, “While escorting the Tang Monk we came to the border of India, where Fengxian Prefecture has had no rain, and the prefect has called for a master to pray for it. Old Monkey called up the Dragon King meaning to order rain, and he said that without an edict from the Jade Emperor he dared not act on his own authority. So I have come specially to request the edict, and relieve the people in their distress.” The Four Great Preceptors said, “Rain is not due to fall in that quarter.” Pilgrim laughed. “Due or not due — take the trouble to present me, present me, and we shall see what Old Monkey's standing is worth.” The Immortal Ge said, “As the common saying goes: a fly wrapped in a net — what a very large face.” The Immortal Xu said, “Stop talking nonsense. Just take him in.” Qiu Hongji, Zhang Daoling and the Perfected Men Ge and Xu, four in all, led him to the foot of the Hall of Divine Mists and made their report: “Your Majesty, Sun Wukong has come by way of Fengxian Prefecture in the country of India. He wishes to pray for rain there, and has come specially to request an edict.”
The Jade Emperor said, “Three years ago, on the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month, that fellow — I was abroad inspecting the ten thousand heavens and drifting through the three realms. My carriage came to that region, and I saw that Shangguan was behaving without decency: he had pushed over the vegetarian offering set out for Heaven and fed it to the dogs, and foul words had come out of his mouth. He had committed the offence of blasphemy, and I at once set up three things in the Hall of Diffused Fragrance. Take Sun Wukong and let him look at them. If the three things have fallen and broken, then issue him the edict; and if they have not fallen and broken, then leave the matter alone.” The Four Preceptors led Pilgrim into the Hall of Diffused Fragrance to look, and there he saw a mountain of rice, some ten zhàng in height; and a mountain of flour, some twenty zhàng in height. Beside the mountain of rice there was a chick the size of a fist, and there it was, a quick peck and a slow peck, taking up the rice in its beak and eating it. Beside the mountain of flour there was a golden-furred lapdog, and there it was, a long lick and a short lick, licking up the flour and eating it. On the left hung an iron frame, and on the frame hung a golden lock, something like a chǐ and three or four cùn in length, its shackle about as thick as a finger. Below it stood a lit lamp, and the lamp flame played against that shackle. Pilgrim could not make out what it meant, and turned to ask the Preceptors, “What is the sense of all this?” A Preceptor said, “That fellow offended Heaven, and the Jade Emperor set up these three things. Only when the chick has pecked the rice away to nothing, and the dog has licked the flour away to nothing, and the lamp flame has burned through the shackle — only then is rain to fall there.” Pilgrim heard this, went pale with shock, dared make no further petition, and walked out of the hall with his face full of shame. The Four Preceptors said, smiling, “The Great Sage need not be distressed. This matter can only be undone by doing good. If there is but a single thought of goodness and mercy, and it startles Heaven, then those mountains of rice and flour will topple that very instant, and the shackle will snap that very instant. Go and persuade him to turn to goodness, and good fortune will come of itself.”
Pilgrim did as they said. He did not go up to the Hall of Divine Mists to take his leave of the Jade Emperor, but came straight back down to the world below to report to mortal men. In a moment he was at the Western Gate of Heaven, and there was the Nation-Guarding Heavenly King again. The Heavenly King said, “How did the petition go?” Pilgrim told over the whole business of the rice mountain, the flour mountain and the golden lock, and said, “It was just as you told me. He would not issue the edict. Just now the Preceptors saw me out, and told me to persuade the fellow to turn to goodness — that being the very source of good fortune.” So they took leave of each other, and he brought his cloud down to the world below. The prefect, along with Tripitaka, Bajie, Sha Monk and officials great and small, met him as he came down, and they crowded and clustered round to ask what had happened. Pilgrim bellowed at the prefect: “It is all because you, fellow, offended Heaven and Earth three years ago on the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month, and brought this suffering on the common people. That is why no rain will be sent.” So flustered was the prefect that he dropped to his knees and lay flat on the ground. “Master, how do you know of something from three years ago?” Pilgrim said, “That vegetarian offering set out for Heaven — how did you come to push it over and feed it to the dogs? Tell me the truth of it.” The prefect dared not conceal it. “Three years ago, on the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month, I was presenting the offering to Heaven inside my own government office. My wife behaved badly, we fell to quarrelling with hard words, and in a moment of blind temper I pushed over the altar table, spilled the meatless dishes, and did indeed call the dogs in to eat them. These two years past it has stayed on my mind. My thoughts have been unsettled, and there has been nowhere I could set it right. I did not know that Heaven had found me guilty, and that the harm was falling on the common people. Now that you have come down to us, master, I beg you to make it plain — how does the world above reckon the account?” Pilgrim said, “That day happened to be the very day the Jade Emperor came down to the world below. He saw you feed the offering to the dogs, and foul words coming out of your mouth besides, and he set up three things there and then to mark it against you.” Bajie asked, “What three things?” Pilgrim said, “In the Hall of Diffused Fragrance there stands a mountain of rice, some ten zhàng in height; and a mountain of flour, some twenty zhàng in height. Beside the mountain of rice there is a little chick the size of a fist, and there it is, a quick peck and a slow peck, taking up the rice in its beak and eating; and beside the mountain of flour there is a golden-furred lapdog, and there it is, a long lick and a short lick, licking up the flour and eating. On the left again there is an iron frame, and hanging on the frame a great golden lock, its shackle about as thick as a finger. Below it stands a lit lamp, and the lamp flame plays against that shackle.
“Only when that chick has pecked the rice away to nothing, and the dog has licked the flour away to nothing, and the lamp has burned through the shackle — only then is rain due to fall here.” Bajie laughed. “No trouble at all, no trouble at all. If elder brother will take me along, I will turn out my true body, eat up all his rice and flour at one sitting, snap the shackle, and there will be rain, guaranteed.” Pilgrim said, “Idiot, stop talking nonsense. This is a device set up by Heaven above. How would you even get to see it?” Tripitaka said, “If that is how it is, then what is to be done?” Pilgrim said, “Not hard, not hard. When I was leaving, the Four Preceptors told me that only the doing of good can undo it.” The prefect lay prostrate on the ground and pleaded, “Whatever the master directs, this humble officer will follow in every particular.” Pilgrim said, “If you will turn your heart to goodness, and set about reciting the Buddha's name and reading the scriptures without delay, I will act on your behalf; But if you go on as before and do not change, then I cannot undo it either. Before long Heaven will strike you down, and your life will not be saved.” The prefect knocked his head on the ground in reverence and vowed to take refuge. There and then he summoned the local monks and Daoist priests, opened a ritual ground, and had documents written out and sent up, one from each, to report to the Three Heavens.
The prefect led them all in taking up incense and bowing in worship, giving thanks to Heaven and Earth, taking the blame on himself and confessing his fault aloud. Tripitaka also recited scriptures for him. Meanwhile more urgent notices went out, ordering every household inside the city and out, great or small, men and women alike, to burn incense and recite the Buddha's name. From that moment a single sound of goodness filled every ear. Only then was Pilgrim pleased. He said to Bajie and Sha Monk, “You two look after the master properly. Old Monkey will go up for him once more and come straight back.” Bajie said, “Where is elder brother off to this time?” Pilgrim said, “This prefect has believed what Old Monkey told him and has genuinely taken the instruction. He is reverent, good and kind, and recites the Buddha's name with a sincere heart. So I am going up to petition the Jade Emperor again, and ask for some rain.” Sha Monk said, “If elder brother means to go, then do not hang about — it is holding up our journey. Get the rain prayed down properly, and it may go towards the ripening of our own merit.” Fine Great Sage! Once more he leapt on his cloud and went straight to the outside of the Gate of Heaven, where he met the Nation-Guarding Heavenly King again. The Heavenly King said, “What have you come for this time?” Pilgrim said, “That prefect has turned to goodness.” The Heavenly King was pleased too.
Just as they were speaking, up came the Duty Talisman Officer, bearing the Daoist documents and the Buddhist certificates in both hands, to hand them in at the Gate of Heaven. The talisman officer saw Pilgrim, saluted him and said, “This comes about through the Great Sage's merit in urging goodness.” Pilgrim said, “Where are you taking these documents?” The talisman officer said, “Straight up to the Hall of Perfect Light, to be passed by the Preceptors before the Jade Emperor, the Great Honoured One of Heaven.” Pilgrim said, “In that case, you go first and I will follow behind.” The talisman officer went in through the Gate of Heaven. The Nation-Guarding Heavenly King said, “Great Sage, there is no need to see the Jade Emperor. Just go to the Bureau of the Nine Heavens That Answers the Prime, borrow a few thunder gods, sound the thunder and loose the lightning yourself, and the rain will come to him of its own accord.” Sure enough Pilgrim did as he was told. He went in through the Gate of Heaven, did not go up to the Hall of Divine Mists to request an edict, but turned his cloud-step and made straight for the Bureau of the Nine Heavens That Answers the Prime, where the Envoy of the Thunder Gate, the Recording Officer and the Investigating Officer all came out to meet him and saluted. “What brings the Great Sage here?” Pilgrim said, “I have business, and must see the Honoured One.” The three envoys at once reported him in. The Honoured One came down at once from his screen of nine phoenixes and cinnabar cloud, straightened his robes and came out to meet him. When the courtesies of meeting were done, Pilgrim said, “There is one matter I have come specially to request.” The Honoured One said, “What matter?” Pilgrim said, “Escorting the Tang Monk I came to Fengxian Prefecture, saw how severe the drought was, and promised them rain. So I have come specially to borrow officers of your department, to go there and sound the thunder.” The Honoured One said, “I know that prefect offended Heaven above, and that three things were set up. I am not sure whether rain is due there yet?” Pilgrim laughed. “Yesterday I saw the Jade Emperor and asked for the edict. The Jade Emperor had the Preceptors take me to the Hall of Diffused Fragrance to look at the three things — a mountain of rice, a mountain of flour and a golden lock. Only when the three fall and break is rain due. I was worried they would never fall and break, but the Preceptors told me to convert the prefect and his people to doing good — on the principle that if a man has a good thought, Heaven will follow it. In that way the mind of Heaven might be turned, and the calamity undone. Now the good thought has sprung up all at once, and the sound of goodness fills every ear. Just now the Duty Talisman Officer took the documents about their reform and turning to goodness up to the Jade Emperor, and so Old Monkey has come specially to your honoured office to borrow officers of the Thunder Department to help — to help.” The Honoured One said, “In that case — detail Deng, Xin, Zhang and Tao, with the Lightning Lady under their command, to go down at once with the Great Sage to Fengxian Prefecture and sound the thunder.” It was no long time before the four marshals and the Great Sage reached the borders of Fengxian, and there in mid-air they set the magic working. There came the sound of thunder going hū lài lài, and lightning flickering with a spatter and a hiss.
It was truly a case of:
Lightning whipped out like a purple-gold snake; thunder crashed and the hibernating creatures woke in uproar.
A dazzling glare of flying firelight; thunderclaps that split the mountain caves.
Forked lightning filled the whole sky with light; the shock ran quaking clear across the earth.
One red flash burst, and the seedlings sprouted; ten thousand lǐ of rivers and hills were shaken awake.
Inside the city of Fengxian and out, officials great and small, soldiers and civilians alike, had not heard thunder or lightning for three whole years; and today, seeing thunder and flashing lightning, they knelt down all together, holding censers upon their heads and some with willow sprigs between their fingers, and all of them chanting, “Homage to Amitabha Buddha! Homage to Amitabha Buddha!” That single sound of good intent did indeed startle Heaven into motion. This is just what the old poem says:
Let a single thought arise in the human heart, and Heaven and Earth know it entirely.
If good and evil brought no recompense, then Heaven and Earth would be keeping something back for themselves.
But leave aside the Great Sage Sun directing his thunder marshals, loosing lightning and crashing thunder over Fengxian Prefecture, and every soul turning to goodness. Now then: up in the world above, the Duty Talisman Officer delivered the documents from both the Buddhist and the Daoist side to the Hall of Perfect Light, and the Four Preceptors forwarded them to the Hall of Divine Mists. The Jade Emperor read them and said, “Since those fellows have had a good thought — go and see how the three things stand.” He was still speaking when the officer in charge of the Hall of Diffused Fragrance came in with a report: “The mountains of rice and flour that were set up have both fallen. In an instant the rice and the flour were gone entirely, and the shackle has snapped as well.” The report was not finished when the Heavenly Officer on carriage duty brought in the local Earth God of Fengxian, the City God, the Altar Lord and other spirits, who bowed and reported together: “The prefect of this prefecture, and every household of the common people in the city, great and small — there is not one house and not one person who has not taken refuge in the fruit of goodness and now worships the Buddha and reveres Heaven. We now beg that mercy be extended, that a sweet rain fall on all alike, and the common people be relieved.” The Jade Emperor was greatly pleased at this, and issued the edict at once: “Let the Wind Department, the Cloud Department and the Rain Department each follow orders, go down to the world below, take the bounds of Fengxian Prefecture, and this very day and this very hour sound thunder, spread cloud, and send down rain to three chǐ and forty-two drops.” The Four Great Preceptors received the edict and passed it to each department to go down at that same hour, and each put out its divine power and all set to work together. Pilgrim was up in the air with Deng, Xin, Zhang and Tao, working the Lightning Lady, when he saw all the gods arriving and the whole sky gathering into one. In that moment wind and cloud met together, and the sweet rain came down in torrents.
A fine rain it was:
Dense cloud spread wide and grey; black mist hanging fine and thick.
Thunder-chariots rumbling and rolling; lightning flashing bright and sharp.
Wild wind rolling on and on; sudden rain running and gurgling.
This is what is meant by one thought turning Heaven, and ten thousand people getting all they hoped for.
All owing to the Great Sage setting the prime motion working; ten thousand lǐ of rivers and hills shaded over everywhere.
A fine rain, tipping rivers and upending seas, blotting out the fields and blinding the sky.
Waterfalls hanging from the eaves; a clear ringing sound outside the windows.
At ten thousand doors and a thousand gates the people chant the Buddha's name; through six streets and three markets the water runs in flood.
East and west the watercourses are full, every one; north and south the creeks and bends run clear, everywhere.
Withered seedlings get their moisture; dead wood comes back to life.
In the fields hemp and wheat stand thick; in the villages beans and grain rise up.
Travelling merchants are glad the trade routes are open; farmers take pleasure in their weeding and ploughing.
From now on the millet will grow long and easy, and naturally the sowing and reaping will come to a rich harvest.
Wind harmonious and rain timely, the people at peace and content; seas calm and rivers clear, enjoying the great peace.
In one day the rain fell its full three chǐ and forty-two drops, and the assembled spirits gradually drew it back. The Great Sage Sun called out in a stern loud voice: “You gods of the four departments — hold your cloud-following a moment, and let Old Monkey go and fetch the prefect to thank you properly. Your worships might part the cloud and mist and each show your true form, so these mortals can see with their own eyes — then they will make their offerings with real faith.” Hearing this, the gods had no choice but to halt, all of them, up in the air. Pilgrim brought his cloud down and went straight into the prefecture, where Tripitaka, Bajie and Sha Monk were already coming out to meet him; and the prefect came to thank him with a bow at every step. Pilgrim said, “Do not thank me yet. I have kept the spirits of the four departments waiting. You should send out word for a crowd to come and give thanks along with you, so that they will be willing to bring rain here again hereafter.” The prefect immediately sent out urgent notices calling the people to give thanks together, and one after another they took up incense and bowed towards them.
And there the spirits of the four departments parted the cloud and mist, and each showed his true form. The four departments were these: the Rain Department, the Thunder Department, the Cloud Department and the Wind Department. And this is what was seen:
The Dragon King showed his likeness; the Thunder Marshal stretched out his body;
the Cloud Lad came into view; the Earl of Wind let down his true shape.
The Dragon King showed his likeness — silver-bearded, hoary of face, without a match in this world;
the Thunder Marshal stretched out his body — hook-beaked, awful of countenance, truly beyond comparison.
The Cloud Lad came into view — who has such a jade face and golden cap;
the Earl of Wind let down his true shape — ever like a man with scorched brows and rings for eyes.
All together they showed themselves in the blue heavens, each ranged in order in his holy bearing.
Only then did the people within the bounds of Fengxian believe; they bowed to the ground, took up incense, and their bad natures turned.
Today they look up and pay court to the generals of Heaven, washing their hearts, turning to goodness, taking refuge to a soul.
The assembled spirits waited quietly for a full shíchen, and the people did not stop bowing. Sun the Pilgrim rose again to the edge of the cloud, saluted them all and said, “Much obliged, much obliged. Your worships may each return to your own departments. Old Monkey will further see that the households within this prefecture make offerings to your exalted persons, and hold thanksgiving rites at the proper festivals. And your worships, from this time on — a wind every fifth day, a rain every tenth — come back and deliver them, deliver them.” The gods did as he said, and each returned to his department, of which no more need be said. Now then: the Great Sage dropped down from his cloud and said to Tripitaka, “The business is done and the people are safe. We may pack up and take the road.” Hearing this the prefect hurriedly made his bow. “Your Honour Sun, what a thing to say! What has happened here is a kindness beyond all measure and all bound. This humble officer will send people to lay on a small banquet, to answer such deep kindness. I shall also buy land from the people and put up a monastery for Your Honours, and set up a living shrine to Your Honours, cut a stele and inscribe the names, with sacrifices at the four seasons. Even carving it on my bones and engraving it on my heart, I could not repay a ten-thousandth of it. How can you talk of taking the road?” Tripitaka said, “Your Honour's words are apt enough, but we are monks who hang up our bowls and go on foot towards the West. We dare not stay long. Within a day or two we shall certainly be gone.” But the prefect was in no way willing to let them go, and sent people that same night to prepare the feast and start building the shrine. Next day the fine banquet was thrown open. The Tang Monk was invited to the high seat, with the Great Sage Sun, Bajie and Sha Monk seated in order beside him. The prefect, with the officials of the prefecture great and small and their departmental staff, raised cups and offered dishes, with pipes and drums played softly, and entertained them for a whole day. It was indeed a happy occasion. There are verses in proof of it:
Long-parched farmland has met with sweet rain; the watercourses carry trade, and everywhere is open.
Deep thanks that holy monks came within our bounds; much obliged that the Great Sage went up to the Palace of Heaven.
The three things undone, and with them the wrong done before; one thought of taking refuge, and the fruit of goodness is vast.
From now on may it be as in the age of Yao and Shun — a wind every fifth day, a rain every tenth, and rich harvests for ten thousand years.
One day a feast, the next day a banquet; today a thanksgiving, tomorrow another round of thanks. They were held back for nearly half a month, only waiting for the monastery and the living shrine to be finished. One day the prefect invited the four of them to come and look. The Tang Monk was astonished. “The works are on an enormous scale. How were they completed so fast?” The prefect said, “This humble officer drove the labour on, day and night without a pause, ordered it finished at speed, and has invited Your Honours specially to have a look.” Pilgrim laughed. “He really is a worthy and capable man — a good and worthy marquis indeed.” They went at once to the new monastery, and seeing the halls and towers rising in grandeur and the mountain gate splendid, they could not stop praising it. Pilgrim asked his master to leave the monastery a name. Tripitaka said, “There is one. Let the name left to it be the Monastery of Sweet Rain and Universal Relief.” The prefect said approvingly, “Very good, very good.” Gold leaf was applied, monks were widely recruited, and the incense fires were tended. On the left of the main hall a living shrine to the four of them was set up, with sacrifices at the four seasons every year; and temples were also raised to the Thunder Gods and the Dragon Gods and the rest, to answer their divine merit. When they had finished looking, the order was given to hurry on.
The people of the whole prefecture, knowing they could not be kept much longer, each prepared parting gifts — and not a single cash was accepted. So the officials of the whole prefecture and all the rest set out drums and music in full, spread banners and pennants wide, and saw them off for some thirty lǐ; and still unwilling to part, they covered their tears and watched them go, and only turned back when they could no longer be seen. This is just the case of:
The holy monk of great virtue left Universal Relief behind him; the Great Sage Equal to Heaven spread his kindness wide.
In the end there is no telling how many days lie between this departure and the sight of the Tathagata. Listen to the next instalment, and it will be explained.