Bajie Takes a Nap

Journey to the West 33 Bajie Takes a Nap

After the Tang Monk sent Wukong away, he and the others continued west. Later that day they stopped to rest. Bajie sat down in the grass next to the road. He let out a great big yawn. “ Bajie, ” said the Tang Monk. “ Why don’t you go find us some food? Wujing and I will wait here. ” The pig moaned. “ Ugh! I just sat down! ” He got back up. “ This journey is too difficult, ” he said. Then he wandered off.

After a few minutes of walking, Bajie looked around. He was all alone. “ I’m too tired to look for food, ” he said to himself. “ But if I go back now, Master will be angry. ” He yawned. “ I’ll take a nap. When I wake up, I’ll go back to Master. I’ll tell him I searched everywhere but couldn’t find any food. ”

The pig lay down behind some bushes. Soon he was snoring loudly. An hour later the Tang Monk and Wujing were still waiting by the road. “ What is taking Bajie so long?” asked the monk.

Wujing looked annoyed. “ He probably found food and is now eating it all himself. I’ll go and look for him. ” Wujing got up and headed down the road. “ Mmm, ” said a voice suddenly. “ Yummy noodles! ” Wujing frowned. “ That’s Bajie. He didfind food, and he’s not sharing it with us! ”

Meanwhile the Tang Monk became bored. He stood up to stretch his legs. He looked around. “ This is a beautiful forest, ” he said to himself. “ I’ll take a short walk. ” The monk walked quietly through the woods, admiring flowers and plants as he went. He went deeper and deeper into the forest. Then, in the midst of all the trees, he saw a pagoda.