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02 The Golden-Hooped Rod

To find a weapon worthy of his hand, the Handsome Monkey King Sun Wukong went to the Dragon Palace of the Eastern Sea in search of a treasure. He worked a water-parting spell, formed the mystic gesture, and leapt from the head of the Iron Plate Bridge into the water. The waves parted before him, and straight down he went to the bed of the Eastern Ocean. As he pressed on, a patrolling yaksha of the sea barred his way and cried aloud, ‘What deity approaches? Declare your name!’ Said Wukong, ‘I am Sun Wukong, the Handsome Monkey King of Flower-Fruit Mountain, a neighbor of your Old Dragon King. Go in at once and announce me!’ At this the yaksha hurried back to the Crystal Palace and reported to Ao Guang, Dragon King of the Eastern Sea. Hearing that Wukong had come, the Dragon King hastily led his dragon sons and grandsons, his shrimp soldiers and crab generals, out of the palace to greet him. ‘I have heard,’ he said, ‘that Your Immortality destroyed the Demon King of Chaos and subdued the fiends of the seventy-two caves, till your might shook hill and forest. I am filled with admiration!’ The Dragon King led Wukong into the main hall of the Dragon Palace, and host and guest took their seats. Said the Dragon King, ‘Though your immortality and I are close neighbors, we have never had dealings. Now that you honor my poor abode with your presence, may I ask what instruction you bring?’ Said Wukong, ‘Of late I have been drilling my monkey troops, and for want of a weapon that suits my hand I have been sorely vexed. I hear the Dragon Palace holds great store of treasures, and so I have come especially to beg one of the Old Dragon King.’ The Dragon King was most unwilling at heart, yet dared not offend Wukong. He ordered the Mandarin-Fish Commander to bring forth a great sabre. Its blade flashed with cold light and breathed a chilling air — one look showed it was no common thing. Wukong sat in his chair, cast a single glance at it, and waved his hand. ‘This old Sun has no skill with a sabre. Bring me another.’ The Dragon King gave a further order, and the Grand Marshal led eel strongmen bearing a nine-pronged fork that weighed three thousand six hundred catties. Wukong leapt down from his chair, took the nine-pronged fork, brandished it a while, and flung it to the ground. ‘Light! Light! Light!’ he cried. ‘Bring me another!’ Helpless, the Dragon King ordered the Bream Commander and the Carp Captain to carry in a square-heaven painted halberd. Wukong ran forward, took it in hand, and whirled it about. Seeing this, the Dragon King marveled aloud, ‘Your Immortality has truly the strength of a god!’ But Wukong went through a few passes and cast the halberd aside as well, shouting, ‘It does not suit my hand, and it is too light — too light!’ The Dragon King said in alarm, ‘This painted halberd weighs seven thousand two hundred catties and is the heaviest weapon in my palace. If it will not serve, then there is nothing suitable left.’ Said Wukong, ‘Go and look again, Old Dragon King. I refuse to believe that the great Dragon Palace of the Eastern Sea cannot produce one decent weapon.’

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