This is a fresh, complete English translation of Wu Cheng’en’s public-domain one-hundred-chapter novel, produced with GPT-5.3-Codex-Spark assistance. It is an AI-assisted first edition, not a reproduction of an existing translation.

Benevolence and rectitude gather every ten-thousandfold tie; a good name spreads across the four regions. Wisdom and bright light ascend to the far shore; a low moaning wind, dense banks of cloud rise at the sky’s edge. The Buddhas respond together in accord, and the Jade Terrace abides for ten thousand autumns. Break the butterfly dream of the human world; hush and be still, cleanse the worldly dust and stir up no sorrow.

The pilgrims with Tripitaka left the filthy byways and rode the carefree road, and time passed swiftly once more in the fierce heat. It was just then:

Brocade-dyed pomegranate blooms are strewn like scattered sprays, and lotus leaves split open, blue as jade trays. Along both roads, green willows hide young swallows; travelers ward off the heat with silk fans that sway. As they moved on they soon saw a city near by. Tripitaka pulled up his horse and called, "Disciples, what place is that?" Sun Wukong replied, "Master, I see you never learned your letters; how could you have taken the Tang king’s order and left the court?" Tripitaka said, "I was a monk from childhood and know a thousand scriptures and myriads of classics. How can you say I do not read?" Sun Wukong said, "If you can read, how come you cannot recognize the three large characters on the apricot-yellow banners atop the city wall, and ask where this place is?" Tripitaka barked, "This unruly monkey is babbling. The flag is flapping in the wind; even if there are words, they are unreadable." Sun Wukong said, "Old Sun sees what?" Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing said, "Master, do not listen to your elder brother’s mischief. From such distance the city itself is unclear to us—how could he plainly see the name on it?" Sun Wukong said, "It is no less than the characters ‘Zhuzi Country’ ()." Tripitaka said, "The Zhuzi Country belongs to the western kingdoms, yet we still must have our pass documents exchanged." Sun Wukong said, "No need to go on."

Before long they arrived below the city gate, dismounted, crossed the bridge, and entered through three successive gates. It was indeed a fine capital, and one could see:

The gate towers rose high and lofty, the ramparts stacked in even rows. Streams flowed lively about it, and high mountains faced one another to the south and north. Six streets and three markets teemed with goods; ten thousand households and a thousand homes flourished with business. Indeed it was an imperial metropolis, a capital of heaven’s treasury. From far-off frontiers roads and ships came to it; afar, jade and silk from distant realms arrived in abundance. Its commanding form joined far ridges and ranges; the palace walls met the clear waters of Han. Three gates held fast with sealed locks and keys, and for ten thousand ages joy rose in peace.

When the pilgrims walked through the main streets and markets, there were men and women with dignified bearing, neatly dressed and clear in speech, no less handsome than those in Great Tang. On either side, while people went about buying and selling, they suddenly noticed Zhu Bajie’s ugly face and Sha Wujing’s black complexion and tall frame, and Sun Wukong’s shaggy face and broad brow. Everyone abandoned their errands and crowded to watch. Tripitaka only called out, "Do not invite mischief. Keep your heads lowered as you walk." Zhu Bajie obeyed, tucking his melon-like mouth into his robe; Sha Wujing did not dare to raise his eyes; only Sun Wukong kept turning this way and that, following closely beside Tripitaka. Those who had business to attend to saw this and went back. Some idlers and some impish boys, laughing and jeering, rushed forward throwing tile shards and bricks at Zhu Bajie as a jest. Tripitaka broke into a sweat and only repeated, "Do not make trouble." The idiot dared not lift his head.

Before long, turning a corner, they suddenly saw a gate wall with three characters reading, "Huitong Hall" (會同館). Tripitaka said, "My disciple, let us enter this yamen." Sun Wukong asked, "Why go in?" Tripitaka said, "Huitong Hall is a place where all under heaven meet in accord. We may use it to settle things. Let us go inside and rest. I will seek audience, have the travel permit renewed, and then hurry out of the city." On hearing this, Zhu Bajie thrust out his muzzle and frightened away dozens of onlookers in panic. He stepped forward and said, "The Master is correct: we should go in and hide ourselves for now, to avoid this flock of noisy people." So they entered the hall, and those people gradually withdrew.

In that hall there were two attendants, one the chief and the other his deputy, both in the main room tallying and checking men to meet officials at the gate. Seeing Tripitaka arrive, each was startled and all cried, "Who are they? Who are they? Where are they going?" Tripitaka joined his palms and said, "I am the poor monk dispatched by the Great Tang court of the East to fetch the sūtras from the Western Heaven. Having now reached Baofang, I do not dare to pass privately. I have my pass document to verify and exchange for passage, and beg leave to rest briefly in this high office." On hearing this, the two attendants sent everyone away, and each straightened his hat and belt before coming out to meet him in the hall below. They ordered rooms to be cleaned for their lodging and had plain food and support provided. Tripitaka gave thanks. The two officials then led attendants out of the hall and went their way. The subordinate attendants asked that they be given rooms and told to rest; Tripitaka did so. Sun Wukong grumbled, "This fellow is lazy and indolent—why does he not seat Old Monkey in the main hall?" Tripitaka said, "Here he does not recognize the authority of my Great Tang command, nor does he connect himself with my country, and moreover officials and visiting superiors come and go at all hours, so he cannot properly receive us in that way." Sun Wukong said, "So be it: I insist that he receive us properly."

Just as this was being said, an attendant came with provisions: one tray of white rice, one tray of white flour, two bundles of greens, four squares of tofu, two measures of flour dough, one tray of dried bamboo shoots, and one tray of wood ear mushrooms. Tripitaka told his disciples to collect them and thanked the attendant. The attendant said, "A clean stove and hearth are in the west room, with fuel ready at hand. Please prepare your meal there yourselves." Tripitaka asked, "Tell me, is the king in the main hall?" The attendant replied, "Our Son of Heaven has not gone to court for long. Today is an auspicious day and he is with civil and military ministers issuing the Yellow List. If you need your pass documents renewed, go now while he is in a hurry and you may still catch the moment. If it waits until tomorrow, it may not be possible; who knows how long one has left to attend on him." Tripitaka said, "Wukong, you and the others arrange the monastic meal here. I will rush to have the permit verified and return to eat, then we can go on." Zhu Bajie quickly took out the monastic pass document. Tripitaka gathered his robe and set out for audience, only enjoining his disciples not to go out and cause trouble.

It was not long before they had arrived before Five-Phoenix Hall. Beyond words was the lofty sweep of the towers and pavilions and the impressive beauty of its structures. They continued to the outer threshold of the main gate, where an officiating clerk conveyed the matter to the court: the pass document must be verified. That gatekeeper finally came to the jade stairs and presented the report: "Outside the palace gate is a monk envoy from the Great Tang of the Eastern Land, traveling to the Buddha’s West-of-Sound-Temple in the Western Heaven to fetch the scriptures, and requesting renewal of the transit pass. Hear and consider this." Upon hearing this, the king said with joy, "My lord has long been ill and has not mounted the throne. Today, though, we gather in the palace hall to issue the proclamation and summon physicians. A high monk has arrived in my realm." He then issued an order announcing the same to the steps below. Tripitaka knelt and paid homage. The king likewise ordered him to the golden hall and granted him a seat, commanding the Bright Mansion of the Imperial Household to prepare the offering meal. Tripitaka thanked the grace and presented his document.

The king, after reading it, was greatly pleased and said, "Dharma Master, how many dynasties have ruled your Great Tang? How many generations of worthy ministers have followed one another? And about the Tang king—why has such illness taken hold, sending you across mountains and rivers in search of scripture?" At that the elder replied, bowing, hands together:

In the age of the Three Sovereigns, the world was rightly governed; among the Five Emperors, order was divided among the realms. Yao and Shun held the proper seats, Yü and Tang settled the people and calmed the land. The children of the Great Zhou each established heaven and earth. The strong leaned on force and oppressed the weak, partitioning realms and claiming lordship. Eighteen kings divided borders and fields and outer lands. Later it became twelve, and the universe settled in common harmony. Without chariots and horses they still devoured one another. Seven powers contended for supremacy, and six states returned to Qin. Heaven-born rulers of Lu and Pei held little in their hearts of benevolence. The domain came under Han, whose laws were revered and duly observed. Han passed to the Sima line, and Jin fell again into disorder. South and north became twelve in turn: Song, Qi, Liang, and Chen. One ruler succeeded another; the Great Sui inherited the true way. Rewards were given without right measure, and multitudes of people were seared by grief. My sovereign is of the Li clan; the state is called the Tang. The High Ancestor is Yanjia, and the present ruler is Shimin. River-clear waters and sea-calmness prevailed, and Great Virtue was broad and merciful. Now for this reason: north of Chang’an there is an evil water-dragon spirit that withholds sweet rain and should bring loss of life. One night it came in a dream and told the king to summon aid. The king approved the pardon decree and quickly called ministers. He kept him in the hall; the game boards were turned slowly. At noon that day, that worthy minister dreamt that he had beheaded the dragon. When the king asked, "Dharma Master, from what land is that worthy minister?" Tripitaka replied, "He is Wei Zheng, formerly the prime minister serving before my king. He is of the surname Wei and given name Zheng. He knows astronomy, understands geography, discerns yin and yang, and is the Grand Minister who settles a state and sustains its kingdom. Because he dreamt that he cut down the dragon king of the Jing River, that dragon spirit carried complaint to the Underworld and said the king had been forgiven and then killed by his own hand; therefore my king’s body declined until it was near death. Wei Zheng wrote a letter and sent it with my king to the Underworld, addressed to Cui Jue, the magistrate of Fengdu City. Shortly after, the Tang king died and after three days returned to life again. By Wei Zheng’s merit, through Magistrate Cui the documents were altered and my king received twenty more years of life. Therefore now he wishes to hold a Great Water-Land Assembly, and sends this poor monk far across lands and through the realms, worshipping the Buddha and seeking the Great Vehicle sūtras to lift sin-bound suffering and raise [them] toward heaven." The king groaned and sighed, "Indeed yours is truly a heavenly Great State, with an upright ruler and worthy ministers. As for me, poor as I am, I have been sick for long and have no single minister who can save me." The elder heard and stole a glance; he saw the emperor’s face yellow and flesh thin, his body drained of strength and his spirit spent. The elder was about to begin a question when an officer of the Office of Courtly Service stepped forward and requested that Tripitaka receive a formal meal. The king decreed, "In the Hall of Perfuming Incense, set out my own meal as well, and the Dharma Master is to share it." Tripitaka thanked the grace and dined and offered alms with the king; no further account is given here.

Now it is told that Sun Wukong in the Hall of Accord had Sha Wujing arrange tea and gruel and set out plain vegetables. Sha Wujing said, “It is easy to cook the tea and rice, but vegetables are not easy to set up.” Sun Wukong asked, “How so?” Sha Wujing replied, “There is not even oil, salt, sauce, or vinegar.” Sun Wukong said, “I have a few wen of spare coins. Send Zhu Bajie into the street to buy them.” The fool dodged the matter and said, “I do not dare to go. My face is not of a dignified sort; it may cause trouble, and Master will scold me.” Sun Wukong said, “This is a fair exchange. I neither changed him into a beast, nor robbed him. What misfortune can there be?” Zhu Bajie said, “You never look at what it is like in a busy market crowd. Have you not seen that braying monster at the gate, who drags out his mouth and frightens ten or so people to their knees? If he goes into the dense crowd of the city, who knows how many people he will terrify into death?” Sun Wukong said, “You only know crowds and shouting. Have you ever seen what is sold in that market?” Zhu Bajie said, “Master only told me to keep my head down and avoid trouble. Truly, I have not even seen.” Sun Wukong said, “Tea houses, grain shops, and mills—no need to speak of them. Beyond those, there are excellent tea stalls, noodle shops, great baked cakes, and stuffed pastries. Inns have good soups and rice, good peppers and seasonings, good vegetables, and strange specialties: sugar cakes, steamed pastries, sweets, 𩜇zi, fried foods, honeyed foods—countless fine things. Why don’t I buy a few and invite you? ” At those words Zhu Bajie dribbled in his mouth, swallowed with a gurgling sound in his throat, and jumped up: “Elder brother, this time I have troubled you. Next time I will chase up money and I, too, will invite you when we return.” Sun Wukong laughed softly: “Sha Wujing, cook the meal well and wait. We are going to buy condiments.” Sha Wujing understood he was being toyed with, and only by the way agreed: “You two go; buy plenty and return after everyone has eaten their fill.” The fool took the bowls and cups and followed Sun Wukong out. Two in authority asked, “Where are you going, Venerable Elder?” Sun Wukong said, “To buy condiments.” They replied, “Go this street westward, turn the corner by the Drum Tower. At Zheng’s general shop you may buy whatever you need: oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, ginger, pepper, tea leaves—all complete.”

The two walked together holding each other’s hands and went straight west through the street. Sun Wukong passed several tea rooms and several inns, sometimes buying and sometimes not buying, sometimes eating and sometimes not eating. Zhu Bajie called, “Elder brother, let us do with whatever is available here.” Sun Wukong had intended only to tease him; he would not buy at once. He said, “Wise younger brother, you are not being prudent. Let us go on and choose better ones.” The two talked as they walked, and they drew lots of people following them to watch. From time to time they reached the Drum Tower side, and below it they saw endless people shouting, pressing and shoving, filling street and road. Zhu Bajie said, “Brother, I will not go on. They are shouting loudly there; it is likely a man-chasing crowd for a monk. And in such a crowd, with a suspicious-looking newcomer, how can one say what will happen if they seize me?” Sun Wukong said, “Nonsense! Monks do not break the law. Why would they take me? We shall go through and buy condiments at Zheng’s shop.” Zhu Bajie said, “No, no, no. I will not court disaster. If I push into that crowd, I will seize someone by the ears, he and two others will fall and crawl, and if he dies, who can save my life!” Sun Wukong said, “Then stand here, rooted against this wall, until I go buy some and come back with things, and then we can buy plain noodles and baked buns.” The fool handed the bowls and cups to Sun Wukong, set his mouth against the wall’s base, turned his back, and did not move even if dead.

The Great Sage reached the edge of the tower and indeed found it packed with pressing crowds. He edged into the crowd and listened; it was a royal proclamation hung below, so many were crowding to look. He came close, drew his Fire-Eyed Golden-Pupil gaze away from them, and examined it carefully. On the board it read:

西牛賀洲朱紫國王，自立業以來，四方平服，百姓清安。近因國事不祥，沉痾伏枕，淹延日久難痊。本國太醫院屢選良方，未能調治。今出此榜文，普招天下賢士。不拘北往東來，中華外國，若有精醫藥者，請登寶殿，療理朕躬。稍得病愈，願將社稷平分，決不虛示。為此出給張掛。須至榜者。 After reading it, his heart brightened. He thought, “As the ancients said, ‘Success in action rests on three parts of fortune.’ It was too late to sit dazed in the hall. There is no need to buy condiments now; even if matters of the scriptures must be delayed one day, let it stand. Let Old Sun play the physician a bit.”

The Great Sage bent low, dropped bowl and cup, pinched up a handful of dust, and cast it upward while chanting his spell to become hidden. Then, moving lightly, he lifted the notice from its place. He faced the southeast, drew in a breath of immortal qi, and blew it out; a sudden gale rose and blew the crowd apart. He turned back at once and walked straight to where Zhu Bajie stood. The fool was pressing his mouth against the wall-base as if asleep. Sun Wukong was not startled, folded the proclamation, tucked it gently inside him, and then turned and went off first, making for the Hall of Accord. No more is to be said there.

Now below that tower the crowd saw the wind rise. Each person covered the head and closed the eyes. Before they knew, the wind had passed and the imperial board was gone. All were frightened. The board had been put up just under the charge of twelve eunuchs and twelve captains who had begun the morning guard; it had been there for less than three hours. Startled, they rushed about, and there, near their hands, they saw a strip of paper peeping from Zhu Bajie’s bosom. The crowd came close and asked, “Did you take down the board?” The fool jerked up his head and opened his mouth in a terrifying way. It frightened the captains, who staggered and fell to the ground. He turned to run, but several braver men grabbed him and said, “It was you who took down the medical decree. If not, where are you going? You should go at once to the court to treat the Great King.” The fool, flustered, cried, “If your sons tore down the board, your grandchildren can treat.” The captains asked, “What is that tucked away in your bosom?” The fool only then lowered his head to look, and indeed there was a sheet of writing. He opened it, gritted his teeth, and cursed, “That monkey has ruined me, too.” He snarled, and as he was about to tear it, he was immediately restrained by many and told, “You would die for this. This is an edict issued by the current king. Who dares to tear it? Since you have it hidden in your bosom, you must have the skill to heal the kingdom. Come with us.” Zhu Bajie shouted, “You know nothing. It was not I who took down that board. My elder brother Sun Wukong did. He secretly put it into my breast and then left me here. If this is made clear, I will seek him out with you.” The crowd said, “What nonsense are you spewing? Will you now strike the bell and forge the gong? You have already taken down the edict. Who are we to search for him? Let us take you and present you to the Lord.” The men did not distinguish innocence from guilt and kept pushing Zhu Bajie along. He braced his feet as though rooted to the ground; ten of them could not move him. He said, “You do not know your place and measure. If you pull me one more while longer, and rouse my dull-nature, then do not blame me.”

Before long the neighborhood was in uproar and had gathered around him. Two aged eunuchs asked, “Your face is strange, and your voice does not fit it. Where do you come from? How come such a rough voice?” Zhu Bajie said, “We are from the Eastern Land and have come to the West for the scriptures. Our Master is Tripitaka, the Dharma master and younger brother of the Tang king. He only just entered court and has gone to exchange travel permits. I and my elder brother came here to buy condiments. Seeing the crowd below, I did not dare to go. It was my elder brother who told me to wait here. He saw the royal edict, conjured a whirlwind and took it down, then secretly tucked it inside my bosom and left first.” One of the eunuchs said, “Earlier I saw a white-faced fat monk run straight toward the Hall Gate of Audience. I thought, might that be your Master?” Zhu Bajie said, “Exactly, exactly.” The eunuch said, “Where then did your elder brother go?” Zhu Bajie replied, “The four of our party are the rest with Master. He went to exchange the travel permits, while the three of us, with pack and mounts, are all resting at the Hall of Accord. My elder brother toyed with me, and he returned there first.” The eunuch said, “Captain, do not pull at him. Come with us to the hall and you will learn the matter plainly.” Zhu Bajie said, “You two old grandmothers know everything.” A captain said, “This monk does not know value. How can he, in front of gentlemen, call for grandmothers like that?” Zhu Bajie laughed and said, “Shame on you. You have reversed yin and yang. If you see my two old mothers there, would you call them madams and grandmothers? You call me grandpa and old uncle instead?” The men said, “Enough banter. Go quickly and fetch your elder brother.”

Noisy commotion filled the street and street corners, not merely three or five hundred people, and they all carried him to the hall gate. Zhu Bajie said, “Everyone, stop. My elder brother is not one for let you make play of him. He is a fierce, serious man. When you see him, you must offer proper ceremony, call him Lord Sun, and he will hold himself accordingly. If not, he will change face on a dime, and then this will come to nothing.” All the eunuchs and captains said, “If your elder brother truly has such skill and can cure the king, then he deserves half the realm. We are all obliged to bow.”

The idle crowd and loose-tongued onlookers outside were clamoring. Zhu Bajie, leading a few eunuchs and xiaowei, strode straight into the guest hall. He could only hear Sun Wukong and Sha Wujing in the guest room, laughing and joking about the matter of the posted notice. Zhu Bajie came forward and grabbed him, shouting wildly: “Are you even a proper man? You sent me to buy plain noodles, flat cakes, and mo-mo for me to eat, and it turns out all of it was a trick. Then you made a whirlwind, posted some imperial medical notice, and secretly stuffed it in my bosom to fatten me up. Does this count as brotherly conduct?” Sun Wukong laughed: “You’re an idiot, you’ve gone in the wrong direction—go off somewhere else. I went by the Drum Tower, bought the balancing medicine, and came back quickly, but I could not find you; so I arrived first. Where did I post what emperor’s edict?” Zhu Bajie said, “The officials who are reading the notice are here.” He had hardly finished, and those eunuchs and xiaowei came forward and knelt in attendance: “Master Sun, today my lord is blessed; Heaven has sent Your Lordship down. Certainly you can extend your great management and, with just three bends of your mighty arm, cure my king’s illness and restore order to realm and altars.” Hearing this, Sun Wukong changed his expression, took the proclamation from Zhu Bajie, and said to the crowd: “Do you think you are officials sent to read the notice?” One eunuch knelt and struck his head: “This servant is an inner court eunuch of the Office of Rites. These others are brocade-uniformed military captains.” Sun Wukong said, “That medical bulletin was indeed posted by me, so I sent my junior brother to present it. Since your ruler is sick, there is an old saying: ‘One does not sell medicine lightly; one does not seek a physician carelessly.’ Go tell the king himself to invite me, and I can treat him with my hand-on cure.” The eunuchs and captains, hearing this, were all startled in awe. A captain said, “He speaks grandly and with measure. Let half of us make a discreet request here, and half enter court to submit a memorial.”

Four eunuchs and six xiaowei were selected. They did not even wait to be summoned but entered court directly, and on the steps reported: “Your Majesty, endless joy!” The king, who had just finished his meal and chatting with the monk, suddenly heard this and asked, “From where does this joy come?” A eunuch reported, “Your humble servant and the others were already ordered to post the physician’s edict below the Drum Tower. A holy monk from the distant Great Tang in the Western Regions, Elder Sun, has posted it. He is now in the guesthouse with the attendants, and our king should go himself to invite him. He has the art of curing illness as soon as his hand is put to use. Therefore we present this at once.” Hearing this, the king was overjoyed and asked Tripitaka, “Master, how many excellent disciples do you have?” Tripitaka joined his palms and answered, “I, poor monk, have three unruly disciples.” The king asked, “Which one among your disciples is skilled in medicine?” Tripitaka replied, “I will not hide the truth from Your Majesty. My unruly disciples are all rustic roughnecks from mountains and fields. They can carry loads and ride horses, cross streams and follow ripples, lead this poor monk across ridges and high peaks, and perhaps at perilous heights they can wrestle demons and demons and seize tigers and dragons. None of them knows the properties of medicines.” The king said, “Master, why be so self-effacing? Today, as I ascended the hall, it is truly heaven’s own appointment that I should meet you in audience. Though your disciples do not know medicine, how could one of them dare to post my notice and ask that I receive him personally? By his courage, he must surely be able to heal a kingdom.” He then called: “All ministers, civil and military. My body is weak and my strength slight; I do not dare to mount the sedan. You all go instead to the outer court and urgently invite Elder Sun. When you see him, do not be casual with him. Address him as ‘Divine Monk Elder Sun,’ and receive him in the manner of ruler and subject.”

Those ministers obeyed the order and, with the eunuchs in charge of the notice, went straight to the gathering hall, formed ranks, and paid obeisance. They were startled to find Zhu Bajie hiding in a side room and Sha Wujing tucked under the wall. The Great Sage sat in the middle, upright and unmoving. Zhu Bajie muttered to himself with complaint: “This ape is killing us slowly. Why do all these officials bow to him, and he does not return their bow, nor even stand up?” After some time, following the bows, they presented their report in rank: “We respectfully report to Divine Monk Elder Sun. We are all ministers of the Zhuzi king. Now, by the king’s order, we offer clean ritual ceremony and respectfully invite the divine monk into the court to treat the king’s illness.” Only then did Sun Wukong rise, and said to the gathering: “Why does your king not come himself?” The ministers answered, “Our king is weak in body and timid in strength, and he dares not ride in sedan. He specifically ordered us to come in his stead and honorably invite the divine monk.” Sun Wukong said, “If that is what it is, then all of you go ahead; I will follow.” Each minister kept to his rank and marched in formation. Sun Wukong straightened his robe and rose. Zhu Bajie said, “Brother, do not bring us out with you.” Sun Wukong said, “I do not need you brought out. Only that the two of you collect medicines for me.” Sha Wujing asked, “Collect what medicines?” Sun Wukong said, “When anyone brings medicine to me, receive it and count it all, then when I return I will take it and use it.” The two gave their assent; no further words were recorded.

Sun Wukong, accompanying many officials, reached there in but a short interval. The ministers entered first and reported to the king. He drew up the pearl curtains, his eyes flashing like dragon and phoenix, and spoke with gold-mouthed authority: “Which one is Divine Monk Elder Sun?” Sun Wukong stepped forward and called out in a harsh voice: “It is Old Sun.” Hearing such a fierce tone, and seeing his strange countenance, the king trembled in fear, shook with fright, and fell onto the dragon bed. Alarmed, the female attendants and inner eunuchs hurried to support him and carry him into the inner palace. They exclaimed, “He frightened our lord to the point of death!” All the officials were displeased and blamed Sun Wukong: “What kind of monk is this, so crude and rustic? How dare he dare post an imperial edict on his own?”

Sun Wukong, hearing this, laughed: “You have all mistaken me. If one treats a king this slowly, even one thousand years would not make him well.” The ministers said, “How many years can a person have of life? Even one thousand years is still not enough?” Sun Wukong replied, “He is a sick ruler now; when he dies he is a sick spirit, and when he is born again he is still sick. Is not even one thousand years still not enough?” The ministers, in anger, said, “This monk knows no courtesy. How can he speak such reckless nonsense?” Sun Wukong laughed: “Not nonsense—listen to what I say:

In the medical art, the principles are deep and mysterious; the main thing is that the heart continually turn and spiral. Observation, listening, inquiry, and pulse-taking are four kinds of matter; if one is missing, none is complete: First, observe his vigor and complexion, whether dry or lustrous, full or thin, rising and sleeping. Second, hear whether his voice is clear or muddled, and listen both to his true words and his wild speech. Third, ask how long the illness has persisted and how he has eaten, and in what way. Fourth, take the pulse and know the channels: whether floating or sinking, and whether it is exterior or interior. If I do not do seeing, hearing, asking, and pulse-taking, in this life do not hope to be at rest.” Among both civil and martial officials, there was a physician-official. On hearing this, he spoke before all: “This monk speaks reasonably. Even immortals who diagnose diseases must still use seeing, hearing, asking, and pulse-taking, and bring those together with divine and virtuous skill.”

By these words, the ministers told the attendants, “The elder says he will treat the illness by the method of seeing, hearing, asking, and pulse-taking before identifying the disease and prescribing medicine.” The king lay on the dragon bed and called again and again: “Send him away. I cannot bear to see the face of the living.” A close attendant came out of the palace: “That monk, by His Majesty’s command, you are told to go. The king cannot face the look of a living person.” Sun Wukong said, “If the king cannot face a living face, I can diagnose the pulse by a suspended thread.” The officials, delighted in secret, said, “A suspended-thread diagnosis—our ears have heard of it, but we have not seen it with our eyes. Report again.” That attendant entered palace again and reported, “Your Majesty, that Elder Sun says he can diagnose by suspended thread without seeing Your Majesty’s face.” The king thought inwardly, “I have been ill for three years and have never tried this. Let him be allowed in.” The attendant hastily announced: “His Majesty has permitted Elder Sun to diagnose by suspended thread. Quickly summon Elder Sun into the palace for examination.”

Sun Wukong then entered the Treasure Hall. Tripitaka turned to him and scolded, “You wild monkey—you have ruined me.” Sun Wukong laughed: “Good Master, wait and watch—you have made me seem so when you blame me?” Tripitaka shouted, “In the years I have been with you, have you ever cured anyone? You do not know medicinal properties, you have not read the medical books. How dare you boldly crash into this great calamity?” Sun Wukong laughed: “Master, you truly did not know. I have several herbal formulas that can treat severe illness; whether they make him well is enough. Even if a life is lost, only a charge of bungling doctor’s guilt can be made—not enough to die for. Why do you worry? Sit down and look at how I read the pulse.” The elder said, “Have you ever seen verses from the ‘Plain Questions,’ the ‘Difficult Classic,’ the ‘Materia Medica,’ or the ‘Pulse Manual’? How do you explain their clauses? How can you speak such nonsense and know suspended-thread diagnosis?” Sun Wukong laughed: “I have golden thread in my own body—you have not seen it.” He thrust his hand down and pulled three hairs from his tail, twisted them in one grasp, and called out, “Transform!” They became three strands of silk at once, each twenty-four chi long, arranged into the twenty-four pulses and held in his hand. He said to Tripitaka: “Are these not my golden threads?” A nearby inner-attendant said, “Great Master, do not go on talking. Please go into the palace and diagnose.” Sun Wukong left Tripitaka and followed the attendant in to examine the king. It was exactly:

A heart that holds a secret formula can heal a realm; within it lies the wondrous key for long life, and life may be prolonged.

In the end, what illness was detected there and what medicines were used, what and how, remains unknown. To learn the truth, listen to the explanation in the next chapter.