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08 The Stolen Cassock

The Tang Monk dismounted at the temple gate, and a monk happened to come out. The Tang Monk stepped forward and bowed. "I am a disciple come from the great Tang in the east, bound for the Western Heaven to worship the Buddha and seek the scriptures. Night is falling — might I beg lodging for one night?" The monk heard him out and warmly invited him in. The Tang Monk called Wukong, and with the horse in tow they went in together. At the sight of Wukong the monk started back in fright. "What demon is that, leading the horse? So hideous!" "He is my disciple," the Tang Monk answered. "Ugly enough to look at, it is true, but his powers are great." The three entered the mountain gate and saw four great characters written above the main hall: "Guanyin Monastery." The Tang Monk was overjoyed. "I have received much of the Bodhisattva's holy grace. To come upon her monastery today — this is my chance to give thanks." The monk had the doors opened and invited the Tang Monk in to worship. Wukong, having nothing to do, went and began to ring the bell, laughing as he did so. "This is what they call 'a monk for a day, ring the bell for a day'!" Wukong rang on without stopping, until he had roused every monk in the temple, great and small. They came crowding out together and demanded, "What savage is banging away out here?" Wukong leapt out among them. "It is your grandsire Sun, ringing for the fun of it!" At the sight of him the monks tumbled over one another in terror and flung themselves flat, crying, "Lord of Thunder, spare us!" "The Thunder God is my great-grandson," said Wukong. The Tang Monk heard the uproar and hurried over to apologise to the monks. Seeing how honest and kindly he looked, they set their fears aside and invited master and disciple to the rear hall for tea. Master and disciple went into the rear hall. Then two young acolytes came supporting an old monk, bent and hunched, from the back quarters, and said by way of introduction, "This is the abbot of our monastery, the Venerable Jinchi." The Tang Monk made haste to salute him. When they were seated the Tang Monk asked, "How many years has the reverend abbot seen?" "Two hundred and seventy, idly passed," said Jinchi. Wukong, hearing this, said, "Why, he would be my grandson ten thousand times over!" "Nonsense!" the Tang Monk rebuked him. The Venerable Jinchi took no offence and ordered tea. Two acolytes came in: one bearing a mutton-fat jade tray holding three gold-mounted enamel cups, the other carrying a white copper pot. They poured three cups of fragrant tea. The Tang Monk sipped and praised it. "Fine tea, and fine vessels!" "These things are not worth mentioning," said Jinchi. "But you come from the celestial court — have you any treasure about you? Let this disciple feast his eyes." "I am ashamed to say the eastern land has no treasures," said the Tang Monk, "and if it had, the road is long and I brought none with me." But Wukong loved to show off. "Master," he said, "that cassock in the bundle is a treasure. Why not take it out and let him see it?" The old man was unconvinced and gave a cold laugh. "I will not speak of other things, but I have been a monk for over two hundred years and own seven or eight hundred cassocks." He ordered the monks: "Bring out my cassocks first!" In a little while the monks carried out twelve chests, unlocked them, shook out the cassocks one by one and hung them up for the Tang Monk to see. The hall was filled with embroidery, the four walls with damask and silk. Wukong looked them over and laughed. "Put them away — now let us show you ours." The Tang Monk caught hold of him and whispered, "Disciple, do not vie with others in wealth. We are two lone travellers far from home; I fear it will bring trouble."

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