Chapter 87: Fengxian County Defies Heaven and Stops the Rain; Sun Wukong Urges Goodness and Brings Rain

The Great Way is deep and hidden. Why should it be spoken plain? To speak it forth is to make ghosts and gods tremble. It enfolds the cosmos and splits open the dark radiance. In the world below, there is no joy like it. Before Spirit Vulture Peak, the jewel was plucked forth, its light reflecting the five kinds of brilliance.

It shines across heaven and earth and all living things. Whoever knows it will have a life as long as mountains and seas.

Now to return to Tripitaka and the four disciples. After taking leave of the woodcutter, they descended from Hidden-Mist Mountain and hurried back onto the main road. After traveling several days, they saw a city ahead. Tripitaka said, "Wukong, look at that city up ahead. Is that the land of India?"

Wukong waved a hand. "No, no. Even though the Blissful Land is where the Buddha dwells, there is no city there, only a great mountain. On that mountain are towers, halls, and palaces, and it is called the Great Thunderclap Monastery on Lingshan. Even if we have reached India, it is still not the Buddha's dwelling place. We still do not know how far it is from India to Lingshan. That city must be a county outside India. We will know once we get close."

Soon they arrived outside the city. Tripitaka dismounted and entered through the third gate. The government business looked desolate, and the streets were quiet and empty. At the marketplace he saw many men in blue robes standing on both sides, and a few officials in caps and belts standing beneath the eaves of houses. The four of them walked down the street, and those people did not make way.

Bajie was a rustic fool. He raised his long snout and shouted, "Make way, make way!"

The people looked up at him, and when they saw how he looked, they all went weak in the bones and stumbled back, crying, "Demons are here! Demons are here!"

The cap-and-belt officials under the eaves trembled and bowed, asking, "Where have you come from?"

Tripitaka feared they would cause trouble, so he stepped forward and said to them, "This poor monk is one sent by the Tang court in the Eastern Land to worship the Buddha at the Great Thunderclap Monastery in India and seek the scriptures. We passed through your honored place without knowing the name, and because we had not yet found lodging, we entered the city without proper ceremony. Please forgive us."

The official then bowed and said, "This place is a western county of India. Its name is Fengxian County. Because of successive years of drought, the county magistrate has had us post notices here to seek a master who can pray for rain and save the people."

Wukong said, "Where is your notice?"

The officials said, "It is here. We only just finished sweeping the corridor and have not yet posted it."

Wukong said, "Bring it here and let me see."

They unfolded the notice and hung it under the eaves. Wukong and the others stepped forward to read it.

The notice said:

The magistrate of Fengxian County in the Great Tang India hereby issues this proclamation to invite a wise master and seek a great ritual. Because this county is broad and the soldiers and people are plentiful, yet year after year it has suffered drought, the crops have failed for many seasons, the people's fields are stricken while the soldiers' lands are sparse, and rivers and canals are low and empty. Wells hold no water, and springs have no moisture. The rich can barely keep themselves alive; the poor cannot survive. A peck of millet is worth a hundred gold pieces, and a bundle of firewood is worth five taels of silver. Ten-year-old daughters are traded for three sheng of rice, and five-year-old sons are taken away by anyone who will carry them. In the city, people fear the law and pawn their clothes to survive; in the countryside, they cheat the government, rob, and eat one another to stay alive. For this reason we issue this notice and look to worthy sages in all directions to pray for rain and save the people. A full reward will be given, with a thousand taels of gold in thanks, and this is no empty promise.

When Wukong finished reading, he asked the officials, "What about the magistrate's name, Shangguan?"

The officials said, "Shangguan is the surname. That is the surname of our magistrate."

Wukong laughed. "That surname is a little rare."

Bajie said, "Brother has not read enough. In the old Hundred Family Surnames, there is a line that says 'Shangguan and Ouyang.'"

Tripitaka said, "Disciples, stop chatting. Whoever can pray for rain should pray for a good rain and relieve the people's suffering. That would be a great good deed. If you cannot do it, we should keep moving and not delay the road."

Wukong said, "What is hard about praying for rain? Old Sun can stir the rivers and seas, turn the stars, kick open the sky and toy with the wells, spit out mist and call down clouds. Carry mountains and chase the moon, summon rain and call wind - which of those was not just child's play to me in my youth? What is there to wonder at?"

The officials heard this and sent two men at once into the county to report, "My lords, great joy has arrived."

The county magistrate was then burning incense and praying in silence. When he heard the report, he was overjoyed and asked, "What joy?"

The official said, "Today we posted the notice. As soon as it was hung in the marketplace, four monks came by saying they had been sent by the Great Tang in the Eastern Land to the Great Thunderclap Monastery in India to worship the Buddha and seek the scriptures. When they saw the notice, they said they could pray for a sweet rain. They came especially to tell us."

At once the magistrate straightened his clothes, walked out on foot, and did not use a sedan chair or many attendants. He went straight to the marketplace and respectfully invited them.

Then someone reported, "The magistrate is coming."

The people quickly moved aside.

When the magistrate saw Tripitaka, he did not fear the ugly faces of the disciples. In the middle of the street he threw himself down and bowed, saying, "This official is Shangguan, the magistrate of Fengxian County. I humbly invite the master to pray for rain and save the people. I beg you to show great compassion and use your divine power to rescue us."

Tripitaka returned the bow and said, "This is not the place for talk. Wait until I reach a temple or monastery, and then we can act."

The magistrate said, "Master, come with me to my little office. There is a clean place there."

So the pilgrims led the horse and carried the luggage straight to the magistrate's office, where they all met one another. The magistrate ordered tea and a vegetarian meal. Before long, the meal arrived. Bajie ate in huge gulps like a hungry tiger.

He frightened the bearers so badly that their hearts were in their throats. They went back and forth carrying soup and rice, refilling bowls and platters like a spinning lantern. As soon as the food was set down, he ate until he was full and then stopped.

When the meal was done, Tripitaka thanked him and asked, "Magistrate, how long has the drought lasted in your district?"

The magistrate said:

In great India, my county is Fengxian, where I serve as magistrate.
For three full years now we have met with drought and waste.
The grass will not grow, and the grains are cut off.
In rich homes, buying and selling is hard; in poor homes, every door is full of tears.
Two parts in three are dead of hunger, and the remaining third is like a candle in the wind.
I have posted notices everywhere and sought worthy men, and happily I have met true monks in my land.
If you can grant even a drop of rain to aid the common people, I will gladly offer a thousand taels to repay your great virtue.

Wukong heard this, and his face brightened with delight. He laughed heartily. "Do not speak of the reward. If you do, there will not be a drop of sweet rain. Let us speak only of merit and virtue. Old Sun will give you a great rain."

The magistrate was indeed upright and benevolent, with a heart that loved the people. At once he invited Wukong to sit in the honored place and bowed deeply, saying, "If you will truly show mercy, I will never dare to fall short of virtue."

Wukong said, "Do not talk for the moment. Please rise. Only watch over my master carefully while Old Sun gets to work."

Sha Wujing asked, "Brother, how will you do it?"

Wukong said, "You and Bajie come over here and stand under this hall as my wings, while Old Sun calls the dragons to make rain."

Bajie and Sha Wujing obeyed. The three of them stood under the hall. The magistrate burned incense and bowed. Tripitaka sat reciting sutras.

Wukong chanted the true words and muttered the spell. At once a black cloud appeared in the east and drifted to the front of the hall. It was Ao Guang, the old Dragon King of the Eastern Sea.

Ao Guang drew in the edge of the cloud and took human shape, then came forward and bowed to Wukong. "Great Sage, you summoned this little dragon. For what use?"

Wukong said, "Rise. I have troubled you to come all this way for nothing serious. This is Fengxian County. It has not rained for years. Why have you not come down to give rain?"

The old dragon said, "I beg the Great Sage to know this: though I can make rain, I am one of the ones sent and employed by Heaven. If Heaven does not issue the order, how would I dare come here and rain on my own?"

Wukong said, "I passed through this place and saw the people suffer from long drought, so I specially summoned you to bring rain and relief. Why do you make excuses?"

The Dragon King said, "How would I dare excuse myself? But since the Great Sage called me with true words, I could not but come. First, I have not yet received the imperial decree from Heaven. Second, I did not bring any rain-generals. How can I move the rain department? If the Great Sage truly wishes to save them, let little dragon return to the sea and summon the troops. Please trouble the Great Sage to go to the Heavenly Palace and petition for a decree to make rain. Then ask the Water Officials to release the dragons, and I will rain according to the number named in the order."

Wukong saw his reasoning was sound and let the old dragon return to the sea.

He leaped out of the ritual circle and told Tripitaka all about the Dragon King. Tripitaka said, "If that is how it is, go and do it, but do not tell lies."

Wukong then instructed Bajie and Sha Wujing, "Protect Master. I am going to the Heavenly Palace."

The Great Sage said the word and vanished at once. The magistrate, trembling with fear and respect, asked, "Where has Lord Sun gone?"

Bajie laughed. "He rode the clouds up to Heaven."

The magistrate was deeply reverent. He immediately sent out a proclamation that all the streets and alleys, all the homes of nobles and commoners alike, should set up the Dragon King's tablet, place a clear-water jar at the door, put willow branches in the jar, and keep incense burning. No more need be said of that.

Now to return to Wukong. Riding a somersault cloud, he went straight to the western Heaven Gate. There he met the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King, who led the heavenly soldiers and strong men to welcome him, asking, "Great Sage, is the scripture-seeking work finished?"

Wukong said, "Not yet, but we are nearly there. We have now reached the border of India, in a district called Fengxian County. There has been no rain for three years, and the people suffer greatly. I want to pray for rain and save them.

"I summoned the Dragon King there, but he said he could not act without a decree from Heaven. So I came to court to ask for an order to make rain."

The Heavenly King said, "That place may indeed not deserve rain. I once heard that the magistrate was unruly and offended Heaven and Earth. Because the Supreme Heaven saw his offense, it set up a mountain of rice, a mountain of flour, and a golden lock. Only when those three things are broken will rain be due."

Wukong did not know what that meant and wanted to see the Jade Emperor. The Heavenly King did not dare stop him and let him pass.

He went straight to the Hall of Clear Brightness and met the Four Heavenly Masters, who came forward and asked, "Great Sage, what brings you here?"

Wukong said, "Because I am escorting Tripitaka, I passed to the border of India and reached Fengxian County, where there is no rain. The magistrate has invited masters to pray. I summoned the Dragon King and told him to rain, but he said he had not received the Jade Emperor's decree and dared not act on his own. So I have come to ask for an order to ease the people's suffering."

The Four Heavenly Masters said, "That place does not deserve rain."

Wukong laughed. "Whether it deserves it or not, please take the matter in and report it. Let me see whether my face has any weight."

Ge Xianweng said, "As the old saying goes, 'A fly wrapped in a net - what a big face.'"

Xu Jingyang said, "Do not talk nonsense. Just take him in."

Qiu Hongji, Zhang Daoling, and Ge and Xu, the four immortals, led him to the foot of the Hall of Miraculous Mists and reported, "Your Majesty, Sun Wukong has arrived from Fengxian County in India and wants to ask for rain. He has come specially to petition."

The Jade Emperor said, "That fellow, on the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month three years ago, was roaming the three realms as I made inspection rounds of all heaven. I happened to pass his land and saw that Shangguan was being utterly unkind. He overturned the vegetarian offerings made to Heaven and fed them to the dogs, and he spoke filthy words, thus creating an offense against Heaven. I immediately set up the three things in the Fragrance-Bearing Hall. Let you lead Sun Wukong to see them. If those three things are broken, then issue him the decree. If they are not broken, do not meddle in this affair."

The Four Heavenly Masters led Wukong into the Fragrance-Bearing Hall. There he saw a mountain of rice, about ten zhang high, and a mountain of flour, about twenty zhang high. Beside the rice mountain there was a chicken the size of a fist, pecking the grain with one long peck after another. Beside the flour mountain there was a golden-haired lapdog, stretching out its tongue and licking the flour.

On the left hung an iron frame. From it hung a golden lock, about a zhang and three or four chi long, with the shackle as thick as a finger. Beneath it was a bright lamp, and the flame licked at the shackle.

Wukong did not understand the meaning and turned to ask the Heavenly Masters, "What does this mean?"

The masters said, "That man offended Heaven. The Jade Emperor set up these three things and said that only when the chicken pecks away all the rice, the dog licks away all the flour, and the lamp flame burns through the lock shackle will rain be due."

Wukong was shocked and did not dare make the petition. He came out of the hall ashamed.

The Four Heavenly Masters laughed. "Great Sage, do not be troubled. This matter can be resolved only by goodness. If a single good and compassionate thought moves Heaven, the rice mountain and flour mountain will fall at once, and the lock shackle will break at once. Go persuade them to return to goodness, and fortune will come of itself."

Wukong took their advice, did not wait to leave the Hall of Miraculous Mists in audience with the Jade Emperor, and went straight back to the mortal world. In a moment he reached the western Heaven Gate and again met the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King.

The Heavenly King asked, "How did the petition go?"

Wukong told him the whole story of the rice mountain, flour mountain, and golden lock, then said, "As you said, they would not issue the decree. The Heavenly Masters just now sent me away and told me to persuade the magistrate and the rest to turn to goodness. Then fortune would be restored."

The Heavenly King said, "Then I will go along with you."

Wukong descended the clouds.

The magistrate, Tripitaka, Bajie, Sha Wujing, and the many officials all came out to meet him. Wukong shouted to the magistrate, "Because three years ago, on the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month, you offended Heaven and Earth, the common people have suffered. That is why rain has not fallen."

The magistrate, startled, knelt on the ground and said, "How does the master know what happened three years ago?"

Wukong said, "Tell the truth about how you overturned the vegetarian offerings made to Heaven and fed them to the dogs."

The magistrate dared not hide anything and said, "Three years ago, on the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month, I made offerings to Heaven in this office. Because my wife was unkind and we quarreled bitterly, I lost my temper and in my ignorance overturned the offering table, spilling the vegetarian dishes and indeed calling the dogs to eat them. For two years I have kept it in my heart and my spirit has been bewildered, but I had nowhere to explain myself. I did not know Heaven had seen my offense and had thereby harmed the common people.

"Now that I have met the master, I beg you to make clear what calculation the upper realm has made."

Wukong said, "That day happened to be the day the Jade Emperor came down to the mortal world. He saw you feeding the vegetarian offerings to dogs and speaking filthy words. He immediately set up those three things to record your offense."

Bajie asked, "What three things?"

Wukong said, "In the Fragrance-Bearing Hall there is a mountain of rice, about ten zhang high, and a mountain of flour, about twenty zhang high. Beside the rice mountain there is a chicken the size of a fist, pecking away at the rice one bite at a time. Beside the flour mountain there is a golden-haired lapdog, licking away the flour. On the left there is also an iron frame, from which hangs a golden lock with a shackle as thick as a finger. Under it is a bright lamp, and the flame licks at the shackle. Only when the chicken has pecked away the rice, the dog has licked away the flour, and the flame has burned through the shackle will rain be due."

Bajie laughed. "No matter, no matter. If brother takes me there and I change to my true body, I will eat up his rice and flour at one go and break the shackle off for sure. Then we can count on rain."

Wukong said, "Fool, stop talking nonsense. This is a device set up by Heaven. How could you go see it?"

Tripitaka said, "If that is so, what should we do?"

Wukong said, "It is not hard, not hard. When I left, the Four Heavenly Masters told me that only goodness can solve it."

The magistrate knelt and begged, "If you will only guide me, I will take refuge in each point."

Wukong said, "If you turn your heart toward goodness, and if you hurry to recite Buddha and read sutras, I will help you do the rest. If you do not change as before, I cannot make it clear. Heaven will shortly punish you, and your life cannot be saved."

The magistrate knocked his head to the ground and vowed to take refuge.

At once he summoned the local monks and Daoists, established a ritual altar, and wrote and sent memorials up to the Three Heavens. The magistrate and the people gathered incense and worshiped, thanked Heaven and Earth, and confessed their offense.

Tripitaka recited sutras for them as well.

At the same time a proclamation was sent out, ordering every household in the city and outside it, high and low, men and women alike, to burn incense and recite Buddha's name. From that moment, one can hear only the sound of goodness filling the ears.

Wukong was pleased and said to Bajie and Sha Wujing, "You two must guard Master well. Old Sun will go back and forth once more."

Bajie asked, "Where are you going now, brother?"

Wukong said, "The magistrate has trusted my words and truly taken instruction. He has become respectful, good, and compassionate, and has recited Buddha in sincerity. I am going back to petition the Jade Emperor once more and ask for rain."

Sha Wujing said, "Since brother is going, there is no need to delay. Do not hold up our journey. If you can petition for one altar of rain, it will help us attain our proper fruition."

That Great Sage again rode the clouds straight to the Heavenly Gate, where he met the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King.

The Heavenly King said, "What do you want now?"

Wukong said, "The magistrate has returned to goodness."

The Heavenly King was pleased too.

As they were speaking, the messenger of the tally was already bringing Daoist memorials and Buddhist petitions to the Heavenly Gate for delivery. When the messenger saw Wukong, he bowed and said, "This is all because of the Great Sage's work in persuading them toward goodness."

Wukong said, "Where will you send these memorials?"

The messenger said, "Straight to the Hall of Miraculous Mists, and from there through the Heavenly Masters to the Great Honored Jade Emperor."

Wukong said, "In that case, you go first. I will follow after."

The messenger entered the Heavenly Gate.

The Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King said, "Great Sage, there is no need to see the Jade Emperor again. Go straight to the Nine-Heavens Office of Thunder and borrow a bit of thunder. Then have them sound thunder and lash lightning, and rain will fall naturally."

Wukong really did follow that advice. He did not go to the Hall of Miraculous Mists to petition for another decree. Instead he turned his cloud-step and went directly to the Nine-Heavens Office of Thunder, where the thunder gate messengers and clerks came out to meet him and asked, "Great Sage, what brings you here?"

Wukong said, "I have business to see the Heavenly Venerable."

The three messengers immediately conveyed the report. The Heavenly Venerable came down from the Nine-Phoenix Danxia screen, straightened his robes, and came out to receive him.

After the greetings, Wukong said, "I have one matter and come especially to ask for your help."

The Heavenly Venerable asked, "What matter?"

Wukong said, "I escorted Tripitaka to Fengxian County and saw that the drought there was severe. I have already promised to beg for rain, so I have come to borrow your department's officers and generals to go there and sound thunder."

The Heavenly Venerable said, "I know that the magistrate offended Heaven, and three things were set up. I do not know whether rain should fall there."

Wukong laughed. "Yesterday I already went to the Jade Emperor to ask for a decree. The Jade Emperor had the Heavenly Masters lead me to the Fragrance-Bearing Hall to see the three things: the rice mountain, the flour mountain, and the golden lock. Only when the three things are broken would rain be due. I was worried that I could not get them broken, but the Heavenly Masters told me to persuade the magistrate and the others to do good, for when there is goodness in the human heart, Heaven will surely follow.

"Now the good thought has already arisen, and the sound of goodness fills the ears. Just now the messenger of the tally already took the memorial of repentance and reform up to the Jade Emperor. So Old Sun has specially come to your honored office to borrow the thunder department officers and ask for your help."

The Heavenly Venerable said, "If that is so, let Deng, Xin, Zhang, and Tao lead the Lightning Maiden and descend with the Great Sage to Fengxian County and sound thunder."

The four generals went with the Great Sage. In no long time they reached the Fengxian region and began their arts in midair. There was a rumble of thunder and a flash of lightning. Truly:

Lightning lashed like purple-gold snakes, and thunder shook like a crowd of waking hibernators. Firelight flashed bright, and the thunder crashed like mountains breaking. Heaven lit up with forked light, and the earth shook with the shock. A single flash could awaken green buds, and ten thousand li of land trembled.

In the city and outside the city of Fengxian, the great and small officials, the soldiers and common people, had not heard thunder or lightning for three whole years. Today they saw the thunder and flashes and all knelt down. Some held incense burners on their heads, some held willow branches in their hands, and all recited, "Namo Amitabha! Namo Amitabha!"

That one good thought truly moved Heaven.

As the old poem says:

When a thought is born in the human heart, Heaven and earth both know it.
If good and evil have no retribution, then heaven and earth must be partial.

Now to return to the Great Sage, who directed the thunder generals and set the lightning and thunder rolling over Fengxian County so that all turned toward goodness. Meanwhile, the messenger of the tally brought the Buddhist and Daoist memorials to the Hall of Clear Brightness, and the Four Heavenly Masters transmitted them to the Hall of Miraculous Mists.

When the Jade Emperor saw them, he said, "Since those fellows have good thoughts, let us see what became of the three things."

As he spoke, a guard from the Fragrance-Bearing Hall reported, "The rice mountain and flour mountain have both fallen. In an instant the rice and flour were all gone, and the lock shackle has broken too."

Before he had finished, another heavenly officer came with the Earth God of Fengxian County, the city god, the local shrine deity, and others to kneel and report, "In our county, our magistrate and all the common people, high and low, have all returned to goodness. They worship Buddha and honor Heaven. Now we beg your mercy and ask for a sweet rain to save the people."

The Jade Emperor was delighted and immediately issued an order:

"Tell the Wind Department, Cloud Department, and Rain Department to obey the command. Go down below to Fengxian County and, at this very time, sound thunder, spread clouds, and send down rain to the depth of three zhang and forty-two points."

The Four Heavenly Masters carried the decree to the departments, and the ministers all descended in turn, each displaying divine power. Wukong was still in the sky with Deng, Xin, Zhang, and Tao and the Lightning Maiden when all the gods arrived and came together in one heaven. At that moment wind and clouds met and sweet rain came down in torrents.

Good rain:

Thick clouds gathered, and black mist covered all.
Thunder carts roared, and lightning flashed bright.
Fierce winds rolled, and sudden rain poured down.
One thought turned Heaven, and the whole people's hope was fulfilled.
Thanks to the Great Sage's power, all the land lay in shade.
The rain fell like an overturned river or sea, hiding the fields and filling the sky.
Before the eaves it hung like waterfalls, and outside the windows it rang like jade tinkling.
Ten thousand homes and a thousand gates were all reciting Buddha's name, and the six streets and three markets were flooded through.
River channels east and west were all filled, and every creek and bend to the north and south ran full.
Dry seedlings drank their fill, and withered trees came back to life.
Fields of hemp and wheat thrived, and the villages swelled with beans and grain.
Travelers were glad to resume their trade, and farmers loved to hoe and plant.
From this day on millet and grain would prosper everywhere, and the harvest would naturally be abundant.
Wind and rain were timely, the people were peaceful and happy, and the seas were calm and the rivers clear in a time of true peace.

After one day, the rain had fallen the full three zhang and forty-two points, and the gods gradually withdrew.

The Great Sage cried out sharply, "Those four departments of gods, pause your clouds for now. Let Old Sun go call the magistrate to thank you all. Please part the clouds and mist and show your true forms, so that this mortal man may see you with his own eyes and only then believe and make offerings."

The gods heard this and had no choice but to stop in the air.

Wukong lowered his cloud and went straight back to the county. Tripitaka, Bajie, and Sha Wujing all came out to meet him. The magistrate came step by step to thank him.

Wukong said, "Do not thank me yet. I have kept the four departments of gods in place. You should summon many people to thank them together, so that later they will know to send rain again."

The magistrate immediately sent out a proclamation, summoning everyone to give thanks. All of them came and bowed in worship. Then the four departments of gods opened the clouds and mist and revealed their true forms.

Those four were the Rain Department, Thunder Department, Cloud Department, and Wind Department.

Look:

The Dragon Kings revealed their forms, the thunder generals stretched their bodies, the cloud boys appeared, and the wind lords showed themselves. The Dragon Kings revealed their forms, with silver whiskers and ancient faces beyond compare. The thunder generals stretched their bodies, with hooked mouths and majestic faces unmatched. The cloud boys appeared, with jade faces and golden caps. The wind lords showed themselves, with dry brows and ringed eyes. All of them stood in order high in the blue sky, each displaying holy dignity. Only then did the people of Fengxian County truly believe. They knelt and bowed, burned incense, and turned their evil hearts back to goodness.

The gods remained there for an hour, while the people kept bowing without end.

Sun Wukong then rose again into the clouds and bowed to the assembly, saying, "Much trouble, much trouble. Please all of you return to your departments. Old Sun will have the people of this county set up offerings to the higher powers and thank you at the proper festivals. From this point on, every five days let there be a wind, every ten days a rain, and return again to save and aid them."

The gods obeyed and returned to their departments.

Now to return to the Great Sage, who descended from the clouds and said to Tripitaka, "The work is done and the people are at peace. We can pack up and move on."

When the magistrate heard this, he hurried to bow and said, "Lord Sun, what are you saying? This one event is boundless and immeasurable kindness.

"This official will send men at once to prepare a small banquet in gratitude. We will also buy land for the people and build you a monastery, raise a living shrine for you, and carve a stele with your name, offering sacrifice in all four seasons. Even if we carve it into our bones and hearts, we cannot repay a ten-thousandth of your kindness. How can you talk of leaving so soon?"

Tripitaka said, "Though your words are proper, we are monks who travel and lodge in the West. We dare not stay long. In one day or two, we are sure to be gone."

The magistrate would not let them go. That night he sent many people to prepare the banquet and begin the shrine. The next day he opened a great feast and invited Tripitaka to sit in the place of honor, while the Great Sage, Bajie, and Sha Wujing sat on the side. The magistrate and all the county officials together raised cups and offered food, while the music and bells sounded, and they hosted them for a full day. It was truly joyous. There is a poem to prove it:

For long drought, the fields meet sweet rain. The waterways and roads open everywhere. Deeply moved, the holy monks came to the county, and the Great Sage traveled up to the Heavenly Palace in many a turn. The three former evils were removed, and one thought of return spread goodness broadly. From this time on, may there be the reign of Yao and Shun, and five winds to ten rains for ten thousand years of plenty.

One day of banquet, two days of feasting; today gratitude, tomorrow thanks. They kept them there for nearly half a month, waiting only for the temple and living shrine to be finished.

One day the magistrate invited the four pilgrims to come and see it.

Tripitaka said in surprise, "The work is huge. How was it completed so quickly?"

The magistrate said, "This official urged the laborers night and day without pause and ordered the work finished at once. I specially invite the lords to come and look."

Wukong laughed. "You truly are a capable and talented magistrate."

At once they all went to the new monastery and saw that the halls and pavilions were lofty and grand, and the mountain gate magnificent. Everyone praised it without end.

Wukong asked his master to choose a name for the monastery.

Tripitaka said, "There is one. Let it be called the Monastery of Universal Sweet Rain."

The magistrate said, "Excellent, excellent."

He used gold notices to invite monks from all around to serve the incense. On the left side of the hall he raised a living shrine for the four pilgrims, to be worshiped each season. He also built temples for the Thunder Gods and the Dragon Gods to repay their divine merit.

After they had looked it over, he ordered them to continue on their way.

The people of the whole county knew they could not keep them there forever, so they prepared gifts for their departure, and the pilgrims accepted not a single coin. Thus all the officials and common people of the county set out drums and music, banners and canopies, and escorted them for thirty li or more. They still could not bear to part and wiped their tears as they watched them leave, only turning back when the travelers were no longer in sight.

Truly:

The holy monk of great virtue stayed behind a temple of universal aid, and the Great Sage Equal to Heaven spread his grace far and wide.

But how many more days it will take before they see the Tathagata, that must wait for the next chapter.