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04 Five Elements Mountain

When the Jade Emperor learned that the demon ape had been subdued, his joy knew no bounds. He at once laid on a feast in the Buddha's honour and summoned all the immortals to celebrate, and for a while immortal music drifted on the air and song and dance filled the hall. Pinned beneath the Five-Elements Mountain, Wukong's heart and lungs near burst with rage. "Buddha — you cheated me!" he cried again and again, and straining with all his might he shook the rock until it heaved and thrust his head out from under the mountain. The patrol officer saw it and hurried into the palace to report. The Jade Emperor and all the immortals were alarmed at the news, but the Buddha said, "No matter," drew a written charm from his sleeve, and told Ananda to paste it on the mountain. Ananda climbed to the summit and stuck the charm on a square block of stone. There was a great rumbling crack; the rock sealed its seams, the mountain took root, and Wukong was squeezed fast. When the feast broke up, the Buddha took leave of the Jade Emperor and went out through the heavenly gate with his two attendants. Moved by a sudden pity, he summoned the local earth god of the Five-Elements Mountain and charged him: "When the demon ape is hungry, give him iron pellets to eat; when he is thirsty, give him molten copper to drink." This said, he returned to the West. To learn what happens next, see the next volume: Slaying the Dragon King.

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