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23 The False Monkey King

Hearing this, Wukong at once took leave of the Bodhisattva with Sandy, and the two of them mounted beams of auspicious light and left the South Sea. Wukong's somersault cloud was the faster and he was about to go on ahead, but Sandy pulled him back, saying, "Don't play the sneak, brother. Wait until I have made arrangements and I will go with you." The two of them arrived at Flower-Fruit Mountain. Wukong looked closely from outside the Water-Curtain Cave and indeed saw another Wukong, his exact double in appearance, sitting high on a tree by the stone platform, drinking and making merry with the monkeys. Wukong flew into a rage. Brandishing his golden-hooped rod, he leapt forward and cursed, "Whence do you come, you monster, that you dare take on my face, occupy my immortal cave, and deceive my children and grandchildren?" At the sight of him the other Wukong said nothing but raised his golden-hooped rod and met the attack. The two Wukongs fought as one. Their martial skills were matched, their transformations equally skillful — now each was a pilgrim in cassock and tiger-skin kilt, now a Monkey King in golden helm and armor. They tangled and struck at each other, and the fight was so even that no one could tell who had the upper hand. Sandy, unable to tell the real from the false, dared not lend a hand for fear of striking the true Wukong. While they fought, Sandy used his staff to scatter the monkeys, then searched everywhere for the luggage, but could not find it. At this, one Wukong said, "Junior brother, go back first and report to the Master. I will go with this monster to the Bodhisattva Guanyin and have the truth told!" The other Wukong, the moment the words were out, said the very same thing. Sandy, unable to tell them apart, had to go back to the Master. The two Wukongs fought as they went, and the brawl carried all the way to Mount Potalaka in the South Sea. The guardian deities were alarmed and hurried into the Sound-of-the-Tide Cave to report to the Bodhisattva, "Outside there are two Sun Wukongs fighting their way in!" The Bodhisattva came out of the cave with Moksa and the Good Wealth Lad and called, "Hold!" The two Wukongs clutched each other and said with one voice, "We beg the Bodhisattva to tell the true from the false and make clear the righteous from the wicked." The guardian deities and the Bodhisattva looked for a long time, but none could tell the real from the false. The Bodhisattva thought: When I recite the band-tightening spell, the one who feels pain will be the true one, and the one who does not will be the false. So she silently began the spell. To her surprise, both Wukongs cried out in pain, both clasped their heads and rolled on the ground, wailing, "Stop! Stop!" The Bodhisattva said helplessly, "In the days when you were the Bimawen and when you raised havoc in the heavenly palace, every god and general knew you. Go up to the Upper Realm and let them decide." The two Wukongs, hearing this, thanked her at the same time. The two of them tugged and shoved, fought and cursed, until they came to the gate of the Southern Heaven. The guarding celestial soldiers, weapons in hand, blocked the way, saying, "Great Sage, where are you going?" The two Wukongs explained why they had come, but the heavenly hosts looked at them for a long time and still could not tell them apart. The two of them shouted, "If you cannot tell us apart, then stand aside and let us go in to see the Jade Emperor!" The gods had no choice but to open the gate of Heaven and let them through. The two Wukongs, still wrangling, made their way up to the Hall of the Divine Mists. The Jade Emperor hurried down from his throne and asked, "Why are you two brawling and forcing your way into the heavenly palace?" The two of them vied with each other to recount the whole story. The Jade Emperor ordered the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King to bring out the Demon-Detecting Mirror, and he and all the gods came to look. The mirror showed only the two figures of Sun Wukong, in every hair and every thread of clothing exactly alike. The Jade Emperor, unable to tell them apart, had them driven out of the hall. One Wukong laughed coldly, the other laughed aloud with glee. The two of them fought their way out through the gate of Heaven, and one said, "Come with me to see the Master!"

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