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02 The Golden-Hooped Rod

After seeing the six demon kings off, Wukong drank several more cups with the chieftains of the mountain, great and small. The wine took hold of him, and he lay down beneath a pine tree and fell asleep. In a daze he saw two imps approach bearing a warrant with the three characters ‘Sun Wukong’ written upon it. Without a word of explanation they looped a rope about him and dragged him away. Stumbling along, they brought him to the walls of a city. Wukong’s eyes were hazy with wine, but he looked up and saw an iron plaque upon the gate reading ‘The Realm of Darkness.’ Suddenly he came to himself. ‘The Realm of Darkness is where Yama dwells. Why have you brought me here?’ ‘Your allotted span of life ends this day,’ said the two imps. ‘We are commanded to fetch you.’ Said Wukong, ‘I stand beyond the Three Realms and outside the Five Elements; I am no longer under the jurisdiction of the courts of the dead. How then do you come to fetch me?’ The two imps paid him no heed at all, but tugged and hauled, trying to drag him through the gate. Stung to anger, Wukong twisted free of the rope, drew the golden-hooped rod from his ear, shook it several times until it was as thick as the rim of a bowl, and with one blow beat the two imps to pulp. Still not satisfied, Wukong swung the rod and fought his way into the city. The ghostly guards had never seen such a sight; every one of them scattered in terror, clutching their heads as they fled. A guard ran up to the Hall of Yama and reported to the Ten Kings of the Underworld, ‘My lords, disaster! A hairy-faced Thunder God has fought his way in!’ The Ten Kings heard the report, straightened their robes, and hurried out. Seeing Wukong’s fierce countenance and murderous air, their hearts quailed; but they gathered their courage and said, ‘Pray tell us your name, Immortality!’ Wukong shouted, ‘I am Sun Wukong, the Handsome Monkey King of Flower-Fruit Mountain! What offices do you hold? Declare them at once, and spare yourselves a beating!’ The Ten Kings hastily gave their names in order. Wukong demanded, ‘This old Sun has cultivated the Way and attained immortality, with a life as long as heaven’s. Since you did not know me, why did you send men to fetch me?’ The Ten Kings said, ‘Calm your anger, Immortality. There are many of like name in the registers of life and death. We fear the wrong man was taken.’ ‘Nonsense!’ cried Wukong in wrath. ‘Bring me the registers of life and death, and let me see!’ At this the Ten Kings hastily invited Wukong into the hall to examine them. Rod in hand, Wukong strode into the Hall of Senluo and sat in the seat of honor. The judges, trembling with fear, presented six or seven volumes of the registers of life and death. Wukong took them and began flipping through them at random. He searched a long while before finding the name ‘Sun Wukong’ in the volume of apes, with a note beside it: ‘Stone monkey born of heaven; allotted life three hundred and forty-two years.’ Said Wukong, ‘I care not how many years are written — suffice it to strike out the name.’ Then he called, ‘A brush, quickly!’ and a judge hurried forward with one. Wukong took the brush and struck out every monkey’s name in the registers. Then he flung the brush down. ‘Settled! Settled! From this day forward you have no hold over us!’ With that, Wukong whirled his rod and fought his way clear of the Realm of Darkness. The Ten Kings dared not approach him; they gathered together and took counsel, then drew up a memorial to lay before the heavenly court. Wukong fought his way out of the city, caught his foot on a clump of grass, and fell headlong. With a start he awoke — it had all been a dream.

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