Chapter 4: Chen Xuanzang of the Great Tang Dynasty in the Eastern Lands

Tang Sanzang and Liu Boqin, along with their companions, traversed mountain ridges and valleys for most of the day, finally reaching the edge of a peak. From there, they gazed into the distance and saw a towering mountain rising into the blue heavens, steep and formidable.

Exhausted, Tang Sanzang reached the precipice just as Liu Boqin turned to him, standing by the horse and said, “Elder Tang, you must proceed on your own from here. I must bid you farewell and return.”

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang, wary of the dangers lurking in these wild mountains, hastily dismounted and pleaded, “Please, Master Liu, could you not accompany me a little further?”

Liu Boqin replied kindly, “Elder Tang, you may not know: this mountain is called the Mountain of Two Realms. The eastern half is governed by our Great Tang, the western half belongs to the Tatars. As for the wolves and tigers on that side, it is not that I cannot subdue them, but even if I could, I am forbidden to cross the border. So, Elder, you must journey onward alone.”

Tang Sanzang’s heart trembled as he looked westward—only wild, desolate mountains stretched before him, filled with the cries of night birds and unseen monsters. A surge of bleak determination arose within him, and he understood; he solemnly bid farewell, grasping the corner of Liu Boqin’s robe.

Liu Boqin, too, was moved by the hardships Tang Sanzang faced traveling alone. Sadness welled on his face, and just as he was about to offer words of comfort, a thunderous shout resounded from the foot of the Mountain of Two Realms: “The master has arrived? The master has arrived! Hey, stop pouring wine for me, Land God, hurry and get your grandpa down here!”

Startled by this uproar, Tang Sanzang and Liu Boqin listened closely—“the master has arrived”—and were left bewildered.

A subordinate spoke up, “That must be the old ape in the stone crevice at the mountain’s base.”

Liu Boqin nodded, “Yes, that's him! It’s certainly him!”

Tang Sanzang asked, “What old ape?”

Liu Boqin explained, “This mountain was once called the Five Elements Mountain. Later, after the Great Tang’s western campaign, it was renamed the Mountain of Two Realms. I recall the elders once saying: ‘When Wang Mang usurped the Han, Heaven cast down this mountain and imprisoned a divine monkey beneath it. He fears neither cold nor heat, eats nothing and drinks nothing, watched over by the local earth spirit, forced to endure iron pellets for hunger and copper juice for thirst. From ancient times until now, he has not perished from cold or hunger.’ I believe that must be the one calling out. Elder Tang, do not fear; let us go down and see—it may be a great turning point for you.”

With no other choice, Tang Sanzang followed, leading his horse down the mountain. After only a short walk, they saw, wedged in the rocks at the mountain’s foot, a monkey sticking out his head and waving his hand at them, beckoning wildly.

“Master, you’ve finally come! I—no, your disciple—have waited so long for you! Hey, Land God, stop dawdling and get your grandpa over here!”

At last, Tang Sanzang saw beside the monkey’s head a tray of wine and meat, and next to him a squat, ugly old man, who put down his chopsticks and stared blankly at the newcomers.

Seeing Tang Sanzang’s confusion, the ugly old man cleared his throat and explained, “Greetings, venerable monk of the Great Tang. I am the earth spirit of this land, and this is Sun Wukong, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, who caused such havoc in Heaven five hundred years ago.”

“Sun Wukong?! He’s the legendary Monkey King?” Upon hearing the earth spirit, Liu Boqin and his followers looked on with awe and curiosity. They gazed at the monkey, his sharp features, golden eyes, and face covered in golden fur—by human standards, he was even somewhat handsome.

The monkey’s body was pinned under the mountain, unable to move, yet his appearance was tidy and well-groomed, clearly tended to daily; it must be the work of this so-called earth spirit.

Indeed, just as Liu Boqin and the others guessed, ever since Hu Rong had moved Guanyin’s mountain away, the local earth spirit no longer dared to bring copper juice or iron pellets. Instead, he provided fine food and wine three times a day at Hu Rong’s request, and even a midnight snack.

Under such attentive care, Hu Rong had consolidated his rank as a Golden Immortal, and had thoroughly mastered his skills, secretly practicing the subtleties of his divine axe. On this day, as Hu Rong enjoyed the earth spirit’s offerings, he heard voices atop the Five Elements Mountain. Suspecting it was the bald monk Tang Sanzang, he called out, drawing Tang Sanzang and Liu Boqin down.

Hu Rong’s fiery eyes peered past the earth spirit, fixing on Tang Sanzang—a fair, delicate face, red lips and white teeth, a refined, scholarly bearing. He looked every bit the “pretty boy” of later ages.

Tsk tsk, worthy of being the Buddha’s disciple—so handsome and gentle. No wonder, on this westward journey, the male demons captured him to eat his flesh, and the female demons captured him to marry him.

Liu Boqin, mustering his courage, stepped forward, saluted the earth spirit, and asked Hu Rong, “Great Sage, you called us down—do you have something to say?”

Hu Rong shook his head and, pointing at Tang Sanzang behind Liu Boqin, replied, “I have nothing to say to you. Let my master come forward; I have words for him.”

Tang Sanzang approached and asked, “Great Sage, what do you wish to say?”

Hu Rong smiled, “You must be Tang Sanzang, sent by Emperor Taizong of the Great Tang to fetch the scriptures from the West, are you not?”

“I am. But why do you ask?” Tang Sanzang replied.

Hu Rong explained, “The earth spirit has already introduced me. I am your would-be disciple, Sun Wukong, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, who caused havoc in Heaven five hundred years ago. Because of a small dispute with the Tathagata Buddha, I was struck down from the heavens and imprisoned here for five centuries. Of course, I have repented thoroughly during these five hundred years. Not long ago, Guanyin Bodhisattva, carrying the Buddha’s decree, came to the Eastern Land to seek a scripture pilgrim. Passing by the Five Elements Mountain, she saw my sincere repentance and my affinity with your faith, so she instructed me to embrace Buddhism, to accompany and protect the scripture seeker from the Great Tang, and journey to the Thunderclap Monastery in the West. I have awaited you day and night, anxious and hopeful, only to be rescued by you, take you as my master, and protect you on your journey to the West.”

These words filled Tang Sanzang with joy, though he looked around uncertainly and asked, “Your heart is set on good, you have received the Bodhisattva’s teaching, and wish to become my disciple. But I have no axe or chisel—how can I possibly free you?”

Hu Rong chuckled, “Master, there’s no need for axes or chisels. If only you are willing to rescue your disciple, I will be able to free myself.”

Tang Sanzang said, “Of course I wish to save you, but how will you come out?”

Hu Rong curled his finger and pointed upward. “Master, atop the Five Elements Mountain lies a golden seal pressed down by your Buddha. If you climb up and remove the seal, I will be freed.”

With that, Hu Rong turned to the earth spirit and shouted, “Did you hear that, you old Land God? Hurry and help your grandpa up the mountain! If you let any harm come to him, I’ll make you pay dearly!”

“Aye, aye!” The earth spirit, realizing that the scripture seeker had truly come to rescue Hu Rong from the Five Elements Mountain, no longer doubted the deep connection between Hu Rong and Guanyin Bodhisattva. Terrified of this powerful monkey, he decided to send off this calamity as quickly as possible. Thus, he led Tang Sanzang and his companions up to the summit of the Five Elements Mountain.