Great Demon Sun Wukong-Chapter 574: Eighth Reply: Journey to the West 4.0

The North Sea Dragon King Ao Shun said, "That's true. I have a pair of lotus-thread cloud-stepping boots here." The West Sea Dragon King Ao Run said, "I have brought a set of chain golden armor." The South Sea Dragon King Ao Qin said, "I have a phoenix wing purple gold crown here." The old dragon was overjoyed, led them into the Crystal Palace to meet, and presented these gifts.

The Three Sea Dragon Kings originally had no idea what was going on, but they all brought clothing, boots, and hats with them. And what was even more outrageous, they brought exactly one complete set. Such efforts truly troubled the Four Sea Dragon Kings.

The Power of Tathagata—The Netherworld

How did the Kings of Hell in the Netherworld perform? How did the Jade Emperor confer titles?

First, King Yama led Sun Wukong to the Netherworld.

After drinking, Wukong fell asleep and dreamt that two people were holding an order with his name, "Sun Wukong," written on it. They approached him, bound him with rope without a word, and took away the soul of the Beautiful Monkey King.

These two with the order were the messengers tasked with claiming lives.

When these messengers set out to claim a soul, they would usually say this dialogue first: "So-and-so, your time in the sun has ended. I have been ordered by King Yama to claim you. Follow me to the Netherworld!" But this time it was different, they simply roped him up and left without a word. The reason for this was fear! What were they afraid of? They feared failing their task.

When Sun Wukong arrived at the Netherworld, he gradually sobered up, thinking, "The Netherworld is King Yama's abode. Why have I come here?"

Only when the task was complete did the messengers recite their lines: "Your time under the sun has now ended. We two bear an order to claim you." But Wukong beat them into meat paste!

The messengers had an order, which meant they were sent by King Yama to bring Wukong to the Netherworld. So, what was King Yama's purpose in bringing Sun Wukong to the Netherworld?

This was how King Yama encountered Wukong.

The ten judges of the Netherworld hastily adjusted their clothes upon his arrival; seeing his ferocious appearance, they quickly arranged themselves in order of rank and called out loudly, "Immortal, please leave your name! Immortal, please leave your name!"

The Monkey King said, "If you do not recognize me, why send someone to claim me?"

The ten judges said, "We dare not! We must have sent the wrong person."

The Monkey King said, "Even though you occupy your kingships, supposedly perceiving spirits with clarity, how can you not know right from wrong? I, Old Sun, have cultivated immortality, my lifespan equals that of Heaven, transcending beyond the Three Realms, stepping out of the influence of the Five Elements. Why have you sent people to detain me?" The ten judges said, "Immortal, calm your anger. There are many in the world who share the same name and surname. Perhaps the messengers made a mistake?"

The Monkey King said, "Nonsense! Nonsense! The common saying goes, 'Officials may err in their duties, but their messengers do not stray.' Quickly fetch the Book of Life and Death for me to see!"

King Yama spoke very tactfully, mentioning twice that the messengers might have made a mistake. His implication was: "If you do not believe, you can go and check! Check what? Check the Book of Life and Death!" Therefore, Wukong said: "Quickly fetch the Book of Life and Death for me to see!"

So, what secrets are hidden within the Book of Life and Death?

The Book of Life and Death is divided into two categories: the register of five and six, which encompasses ten types of beings, and there is another book.

The ten types of beings are: the five immortals, which are the deities of heaven, earth, mankind, and ghosts; and the five insects, which are the winged, scaled, hairy, feathered, and crawling creatures.

The other book: All souls. Sun Wukong's name was listed under soul number one thousand three hundred and fifty.

Upon personally inspecting the other book, Wukong found his name listed under soul number one thousand three hundred and fifty. It stated: Sun Wukong, the Stone Monkey born of Heaven, destined to live for three hundred forty-two years, prosper and die a natural death!

To understand the Book of Life and Death is rather difficult! Everything in Journey to the West is listed in the ten types of beings, so why is there another book? We must start with this idea of "soul"!

"Soul" actually means without a physical body, which is to say Sun Wukong has two identities: the one with a physical body is in the ten types of beings, while the one existing as another physical body is listed in the other book.

That is to say: The other book is the record of his changed identity. If Taoism were to investigate, they could discover who Sun Wukong initially was.

Now, King Yama's purpose is quite clear, he brought Sun Wukong to the Netherworld with two goals in mind!

1: To remind Sun Wukong that it has been over three hundred forty years, and it's time to take action.

2: Sun Wukong is off to cause trouble. Before he does so, erase the records. If Taoism were to investigate, they would find at most: This monkey, a Stone Monkey born of Heaven three hundred years ago.

Let's see how Sun Wukong erased the Book of Life and Death!

Wukong took the book, marked off every named being belonging to the monkey category. Then he put down the book and exclaimed, "Accounts settled, accounts settled! From now on, I am not under your jurisdiction!" He fought his way out of the Netherworld with his staff. The ten judges dared not get close, all went to the Jade Pool to pay respects to the Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha, to discuss and draw up a presentation to report to Heaven.

Monkeys are not included in the human registers, and those who have names in another register exist in another capacity. So, which monkeys still have names? They are the Four Generals of Flower Fruit Mountain: Marshal Ma and Marshal Beng, General Liu'er and General Ba.

The four elder monkeys knew of a Water Curtain Cave behind the waterfall, which allowed Wukong to become the Monkey King!

The four elder monkeys knew: To the east two hundred li of water, there lies the land of Aolai, where there are weapons. This turned Flower Fruit Mountain into an impenetrable fortress! These four elder monkeys knew: Beneath this iron bridge, the waters connect to the East Sea Dragon Palace. This allowed Wukong to obtain the Golden Hoop Staff!

The four elder monkeys knew: A day in Heaven is a year in the Lower Realm. This kept the mythologies of Buddhism and Taoism from being debunked!

These four elder monkeys are in fact two of the "Four Disorderly Monkeys" spoken by Tathagata, and they were actually arranged by Tathagata, which is why their files were also erased.

After Wukong wiped his name off the Book of Life and Death, King Yama went to the Cuiyun Palace to consult with Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.

After reading the report, the Jade Emperor said, "Which divine general shall descend to the Lower Realm to subdue him?" Before he had finished speaking, Taibai Venus darted out from the ranks and prostrated himself to submit a report, "May Your Majesty consider the compassionate act of creation and issue an edict to summon him to the Upper Realm, bestow upon him a minor official title, register his name in the records to constrain him here. If he accepts the heavenly decree, he may be further rewarded later; if he defies the heavenly decree, he may be captured on the spot. Firstly, this spares the effort of the entire host; secondly, it brings an immortal into the fold."

Taibai and the Jade Emperor played their parts well, the Jade Emperor hadn't even finished speaking when Taibai took over, with a good rationale: Firstly, this spares the effort of the entire host; secondly, it brings an immortal into the fold. This granted Sun Wukong the official title of Bi Ma Wen (the appointment is quite meticulously arranged in Journey to the West).

How did Sun Wukong ascend to the Great Sage Equalling Heaven? What was Sun Wukong's original identity?

The Jade Emperor first conferred upon Sun Wukong the title of Bi Ma Wen, so why start with this title? Let us understand how the Jade Emperor conferred it. The Jade Emperor ordered the selection of martial and immortal officials, checking for any lack of office, and appointed Sun Wukong to fill the vacancy. Wuqu Xingjun stepped forward and reported: "In every palace and hall in the Heavenly Palace, in every direction and place, there is no shortage of officials, only the Imperial Horse Supervisor lacks a head steward." The Jade Emperor decreed, "Then remove him to be the Bi Ma Wen."

At that time the Monkey King was overjoyed, and accompanied by the Wood Deity Star Officer, he went directly to assume his post. After the affair was settled, the Wood Deity returned to his own palace. He, in the supervisor's office, gathered the head deputy, assistant deputies, registrars, strongmen, and various officials, inspecting all affairs of the bureau, there were but a thousand heavenly horses.

From this, it is apparent that in Heaven there were no vacant official positions, even the Imperial Horse Supervisor had a leader, it was the head deputy. All immortals in heaven had peaches to eat, and everyone was immortal, hence securing an official position in Heaven was very difficult!

However, when the Jade Emperor asked, Wukong must be placed somewhere; thus Wuqu Xing said: The Imperial Horse Supervisor lacks a head steward.

Meaning, the title of Bi Ma Wen was newly created.

So what does the newly conferred "Bi Ma Wen" by the Jade Emperor mean?

Some have said: Bi Ma Wen simply means to 'avoid horse plague', meaning that the menstrual blood of a female monkey can be used to prevent horse plagues. Haha, I do not know how to comment, I reserve my opinion!

Taking the literal interpretation of Bi Ma Wen: Bi means to assist and to care for. Wen represents a temperature that is neither cold nor hot. It means that the care for the horses must be just right. Of course, Sun Wukong's performance was also noteworthy; in just half a month, he had all the heavenly horses well-fed and plump. (A bit too zealous perhaps.)

But the position of Bi Ma Wen was insignificant and without prestige. Such a title was the lowest and most minor, in plain terms, not even an official position.

So Wukong said, "This is how they scorn me! I was king and patriarch on Flower Fruit Mountain, how could they trick me into tending their horses for them? Tending horses is the work of juniors and the humble, is it fitting for me? No, I shall not do it, I shall not do it! I'm leaving!"

This was the Jade Emperor's first step with Sun Wukong! Allowing Sun Wukong to make his stance clear: he would take an official position in Heaven, but not a minor one.

As soon as Sun Wukong returned to Flower Fruit Mountain, two One-Horned Ghost Kings arrived.

The Ghost King straightened his clothes and ran into the cave, bowing down. The Beautiful Monkey King asked him, "What business do you have with me?" The Ghost King said, "Having long heard of the Great King inviting talents, there was no way to meet with you. Now seeing the Great King return from Heaven with honor and joy, would you not disdain the humble and accept this petty one, allowing me also to exert the labor of a horse or dog?"

The Monkey King was delighted and immediately appointed the Ghost King as the commander-in-chief of the vanguard. The Ghost King completed his thanks and then reported, "Great King, you spent quite some time in Heaven; may I ask what position were you granted?" The Monkey King said, "The Jade Emperor undervalues the virtuous, he appointed me as some Bi Ma Wen!"

Upon hearing this, the Ghost King replied, "With the Great King's divine skills, how could you tend to his horses? Why not become the Great Sage Equalling Heaven?" The Monkey King, hearing this, was overwhelmingly delighted and repeatedly exclaimed, "Good, good, good!" He ordered the Four Generals, "Hurry and arrange for a banner which bears the words 'Great Sage Equalling Heaven' in big letters." On the surface, the two Ghost Kings came to submit to Sun Wukong after he was awarded the heavenly commission because they did not come early or late, but precisely after Wukong was granted an official title.

But in reality, it was not so. Under any normal circumstances: Sun Wukong would have walked to his death by resigning and self-proclaiming the Great Sage Equalling Heaven. If the Ghost Kings had merely come to submit, they would not have given Wukong the title "Great Sage Equalling Heaven!"

Therefore, the only purpose of the Ghost Kings coming to Flower Fruit Mountain was to deliver a name to Sun Wukong.

How so? Wuqu Xing had stated that there were no spare official positions in Heaven. Hence, when the Jade Emperor countermanded, there was no significant title to confer, so Sun Wukong was to self-proclaim an official title, and that was the Great Sage Equalling Heaven. And these two Ghost Kings were sent on orders.

Having previously caused uproar in the Dragon Palace, stormed the Netherworld, Sun Wukong was already sentenced to death; now you disdain the minor title and rebel against Heaven again. The Jade Emperor must signify something, right?

Therefore, the Jade Emperor decreed: "Order the two Divine Generals back to their posts, I will send heavenly soldiers to capture this demon." The Heavenly King Li and Nezha the Third Prince stepped forward and reported, "Your Majesty, I beg the decree to subdue this demon." The Jade Emperor was delighted and immediately appointed Heavenly King Li as the Grand Marshal for Subduing Demons, and Nezha the Third Prince as the Great God of the Three Altars Sea Meeting, and they set off for the Lower Realm immediately.

Updated from freewёbnoνel.com.

Take note here: the Jade Emperor was delighted when Heavenly King Li volunteered. Why? Because Heavenly King Li was one of his own, and he had significant ties to Buddhism.

After descending to the Lower Realm, Heavenly King Li first set up camp at Pingyang on Flower Fruit Mountain, ordered the General of the Mighty Spirit to challenge. (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to vote for it with a recommendation ticket, a monthly pass at Starting Point ). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please read at m.qidian.com.)