The Tang Monk and the River

Journey to the West 104 The Tang Monk and the River

Wukong and his companions walked through the Western Paradise. The road weaved through a field of flowers and toward the Spirit Mountain. Bajie looked up at the huge mountain and shook his head. “ It won’t be easy to climb that. ” Wukong laughed. “ Don’t ask me to carry you! ”

The travelers soon arrived at a river with a strong current. Waves crashed into jagged rocks, spraying water everywhere. “ This river looks dangerous, ” said Wujing. “ But we must cross it to get to the Spirit Mountain. ” Bajie sighed. “ We will never be able to cross this river safely. Let’s just go home. ” “ Nonsense, ” said Wukong. “ Look over there. ”

The monkey pointed upstream. A thin log lay across the river. It wobbled and shook as the water rushed under it. The Tang Monk looked at the log. “ Don’t be silly, Wukong. We can’t walk across that log—it’s too thin. And it looks quite slippery. ” “ But that log is the only way to reach the Spirit Mountain, ” said Wukong. “ You must believe that it’s safe. Watch me! ”

The monkey hopped onto the log and ran across the river and back. “ See?” he said. “ It’s safe. ” Bajie snorted. “ You don’t weigh much, Wukong. But if I step on that log, it will break. ” “ I believe Wukong, ” said Wujing. “ We must walk across the log. ” “ Follow me, Master, ” said Wukong. He pulled the Tang Monk toward the log.

The monk trembled with fear. “ Don’t make me walk across that! I’ll fall into the river and drown! ” “ Let’s just fly over the river, ” suggested Bajie. “ We can carry Master and the horse. ” “ No, ” insisted Wukong. “ The Tang Monk must make the entire journey by himself. We’re here to protect him, not to carry him. Buddha won’t allow Master to have the True Scriptures if he doesn’t take every step himself. ”