Part One

Divine Root conceives and the spring breaks forth;

As the congenital nature is cultivated, the Tao arises.
Before Chaos was divided, Heaven and arth were one;
All was a shapeless blur, and no !en had appeared.
"nce #an $u destro%ed the nor!ous &agueness
The separation of clear and i!pure began.
'iving things have alwa%s tended towards hu!anit%
(ro! their creation all beings i!prove.
)f %ou want to know about Creation and Ti!e,
Read Difficulties Resolved on the *ourne% to the west.
)n the arith!etic of the universe, +,-,.// %ears !ake one c%cle. ach c%cle can be divided into twelve
phases0 ), )), ))), )&, &, &), &)). &))), )1, 1, 1) and 1)), the twelve branches. ach phase lasts +/,2//
%ears.
3ow within a single da%, the positive begins at the ti!e ); at )) the cock crows; at ))) it is not 4uite light;
at )& the sun rises; & is after breakfast; and at &) one does business. &)) is when the sun reaches noon;
at &))) it is slipping towards the west; )1 is late afternoon; the sun sets at 1; 1) is dusk; and at 1))
people settle down for the night.
)f %ou co!pare this with the big nu!bers, then at the end of #hase 1) Heaven and arth were still one,
and no beings had appeared. 5,6// %ears later ca!e the beginning of #hase 1)), when all was darkness
and there were still no people or other creatures; for this reason it was called Chaos. Another 5,6//
%ears later #hase 1)) was drawing to a close and a new c%cle was about to begin. As #hase ) of the new
era approached, graduall% there was light. As 7hao 8ong said,
9:hen winter reaches the !id;point of #hase )
The heart of Heaven does not !ove.
:here the #ositive first appears
3othing has %et co!e to life.9
At this ti!e, Heaven first had a foundation. 5,6// %ears laterin the !iddle of #hase ) lightand pure rose
upwards sun!oonstars constellations were created. These called (our )!ages. Hence the sa%ing that
heaven began in #hase ).
Another 5,6// %ears later, when #hase ) was nearing its end and #hase )) was i!!inent, things
graduall% solidified. As the Book of Changes sa%s, 9$reat is the #ositive, far reaching is the 3egative<
All things are endowed and born in accordance with Heaven.9 This was when the earth began to
congeal. After 5,6// !ore %ears ca!e the height of #hase )), when the heav% and i!pure solidified, and
water, fire, !ountains, stone, and earth ca!e into being. These five were called the (ive le!ents.
Therefore it is said that the arth was created in #hase )).
After a further 5,6// %ears, at the end of #hase )) and the beginning of the #hase ))), living beings were
created. )n the words of the Book of the Calendar0 =The 4i of the sk% ca!e down and the 4i of earth
went up.Heaven and arth inter!ingled, and all creatures were born.9 Then Heaven was bright and
arth was fresh, and the #ositive inter!ingled with the 3egative. 5,6// %ears later, when #hase ))) was
at its height, !en, birds and beasts were created. Thus the Three #owers;;;Heaven, arth and >an;;;
now had their set places. Therefore it is said that !an was created in #hase ))).
>oved b% #an $u=s creation, the Three !perors put the world in order and the (ive Rulers laid down
the !oral code. The world was then divided into four great continents0 The astern Continent of
7uperior Bod%, the :estern Continent of Cattle;gift, the 7outhern Continent of *a!bu and the 3orthern
Continent of ?uru.
This book deals onl% with the astern Continent of 7uperior Bod%. Be%ond the seas there is a countr%
called Aolai. This countr% is ne@t to an ocean, and in the !iddle of the ocean is a fa!ous island called
the >ountain of (lowers and (ruit. This !ountain is the ancestral arter% of the Ten Continents, the
origin of the Three )slands; it was for!ed when the clear and i!pure were separated and the nor!ous
&agueness was divided. )t is a reall% splendid !ountain and there are so!e verses to prove it0
)t stills the ocean with its !ight,
)t awes the Aade sea into cal!.
)t stills the ocean with its !ight0
Tides wash its silver slopes and fish swi! into its caves.
)t awes the Aade sea into cal!0
A!id the snow% breakers the sea;serpent rises fro! the deep.
)t rises high in the corner of the world where (ire and :ood !eet;
)ts su!!it towers above the astern 7ea.
Red cliffs and strange rocks;
Beetling crags and Aagged peaks.
"n the red cliffs phoeni@es sing in pairs;
'one unicorns lie before the beetling crags.
The cr% of pheasants is heard upon the peaks;
)n caves the dragons co!e and go.
There are deer of long life and !agic fo@es in the woods;
>iraculous birds and black cranes in the trees.
There are flowers of Aade and strange plants that wither not;
$reen pine and bluish c%press ever in leaf,
>agic peaches alwa%s in fruit.
Clouds gather round the tall ba!boo.
The wisteria grows thick around the !ountain brook
And the banks around are newl% colored with flowers.
(ar is the Heaven;supporting pillar where all the rivers !eet,
The arth=s root, unchanged through a !%riad acons.
There was once a !agic stone on the top of this !ountain which was thirt%;si@ feet five inches high
and twent%;four feet round. )t was thirt%;si@ feet five inches high to correspond with the B.5 degrees of
the heavens, and twent%;four feet round to !atch the twent%;four divisions of the solar calendar. "n
top of it were nine apertures and eight holes, for the 3ine #alaces and the ight Trigra!s. There were
no trees around it to give shade, but !agic fungus and orchids clung to its sides. ver since Creation
began it had been receiving the truth of Heaven, the beaut% of arth, the essence of the 7un and the
splendor of the >oon; and as it had been influenced b% the! for so long it had !iraculous powers. )t
developed a !agic wo!b, which burst open one da% to produce a stone egg about the siCe of a ball.
:hen the wind blew on this egg it turned into a stone !onke%, co!plete with the five senses and four
li!bs. :hen the stone !onke% had learnt to crawl and walk, he bowed to each of the four 4uarters. As
his e%es !oved, two bea!s of golden light shot towards the #ole 7tar #alace and startled the 7upre!e
Heavenl% 7age, the $reatl% Co!passionate *ade !peror of the ACure &ault of Heaven, who was
sitting surrounded b% his i!!ortal !inisters on his throne in the Hall of >iraculous >ist in the
$olden;gated Cloud #alace. :hen he saw the daCCling golden light he ordered Thousand;!ile %e and
:ind;acco!pan%ing ar to open the 7outhern $ate of Heaven and take a look. The two officers went
down through the gate in obedience to the i!perial co!!and, and while one observed what was going
on the other listened carefull%. 7oon afterwards the% reported back.
9)n obedience to the )!perial >andate %our subAects observed and listened to the source of the golden
light. :e found that at the edge of the countr% of Aolai, which is east of the ocean belonging to the
astern Continent of 7uperior Bod%, there is an island called the >ountain of (lowers and (ruit. A
!agic stone on the top of this !ountain produced a !agic egg, and when the wind blew on this egg it
turned into a stone !onke% which bowed to each of the four 4uarters. :hen he !oved his e%es, golden
light shot towards the #ole 7tar #alace; but now that he is eating and drinking, the golden light is
graduall% d%ing.
)n his benevolence and !erc% the *ade !peror said, 9Creatures down below are born of the 4i of
heaven and earth0 there is nothing re!arkable about hi!.
"n his !ountain the !onke% was soon able to run and lu!p, feed fro! plants and trees, drink fro!
brooks and springs; pick !ountain flowers and look for fruit. He !ade friends with the wolves, went
around with the tigers and leopards, was on good ter!s with the deer, and had the other !onke%s and
apes for relations. At night he slept under the rockfaces, and he roa!ed around the peaks and eaves b%
da%. As the sa%ing so rightl% goes, 9There is no calendar in the !ountains, and when winter=s over %ou
don=t know the ti!e of %ear.9 "n hot !ornings he and all the other !onke%s would pla% under the
shade of so!e pines to avoid the heat. *ust look at the! all0
Cli!bing trees, picking flowers, looking for fruit;
Throwing pellets, pla%ing knucke bones;
Running round sand% hollows, building stone pagodas;
Chasing dragonDlies and catching locusts;
:orshipping the sk% and visiting flodhisattvas;
Tearing off creepers and weaving straw hats;
Catching fleas then popping the! with their teeth and fingers;
Crooning their coats and sharpening their nails;
ating, scratching, pushing, s4uashing, tearing and tugging;
#la%ing all over the place under the pine trees;
:ashing the!selves beside the green strea!.
After pla%ing, the !onke%s would go and bathe in the strea!, a !ountain torrent that tu!bled along
like rolling !elons. There is an old sa%ing, birds have bird language and, ani!als have ani!al talk.9 All
the !onke%s said to each other, 9) wonder where that water co!es fro!. :e=ve got nothing else to do
toda%, so wouldn=t it be fun to go upstrea! and find its sourceE9 :ith a shout the% all ran off, leading
their children and calling to their brothers. The% cli!bed up the !ountain beside the strea! until the%
reached its source, where a water;fall cascaded fro! a spring.
The% saw
"ne white rainbow arching,
A thousand strands of fl%ing snow,
Fnbroken b% the sea winds,
7tilt there under the !oon.
Cold air divides the green crags,
7plashes !oisten the !ountainside;
A noble water fall cascades,
Hanging suspended like a curtain.
The !onke%s clapped their hands and e@plained with delight, 9:hat lovel% water. )t !ust go all the
wa% to the hot torn of the !ountain and Aoin the waves of the sea.9
Then one !onke% !ade a suggestion. 9)f an%one is clever enough to go through the fall, find the
source, and co!e out in one piece, let=s !ake hi! our king.9 :hen this challenge had been shouted
three ti!es, the stone !onke% leapt out fro! the crowd and answered at the top of his voice, 9)=ll go, )=ll
go.9 7plendid !onke%< )ndeed,
Toda% he will !ake his na!e;
To!orrow his destin% shall triu!ph.
He is fated to live here;
As a ?ing he will enter the )!!ortals= palace.
:atch hi! as he shuts his e%es, crouches, and springs, leaping straight into the waterfall. :hen he
opened his e%es and raised his head to look round, he saw neither water nor waves. A bridge stood in
front of hi!. He stopped, cal!ed hi!self, took a closer look, and saw that the bridge was !ade of
iron. The water that rushed under it poured out through a fissure in the rocks, screening the gatewa% to
the bridge. He started walking towards the bridge, and as he looked he !ade out what see!ed to be a
house. )t was a reall% good place. He saw0
!erald !oss piled an in heaps of blue,
:hite clouds like drifting Aade,
:hile the light flickered a!ong wisps of A 4uiet house with peaceful windows,
Dragon pearls hanging in niches,
@otic bloo!s all around.
Traces of fire beside the stove,
7craps of food in the vessels b% table.
Adorable stone chairs and beds,
ven better stone plates and bowls. "ne or two tall ba!boo,
A few pines that alwa%s attract rain,
All Aust like a real ho!e,
colored nust.
The !onke% took a good, long look and then sca!pered to the !iddle of the bridge, fro! where he
noticed a stone tablet. "n the tablet had been carved in big s4uare letters0 HA##8 'A3D "( TH
>"F3T>3 "( ('":R7 A3D (RF)T, CA& HA&3 "( TH :ATR CFRTA)3. The stone
!onke% was beside hi!self with glee. He rushed awa%, shut his e%es, crouched, and leapt back
through the water fall. 9:e=re in luck, we=re in luck,9 he said with a chuckle. All the other !onke%s
crowded round hi! asking, 9:hat=s it like in thereE How deep is the waterE9 9There=s no water, none at
all,9 replied the stone !onke%. 9There=s an iron bridge and on the other side of the bridge there=s a
house that !ust have been !ade b% Heaven and arth.9 9How ever could %ou see a house thereE9 the
other !onke%s asked. The stone !onke% chuckled again. 9The water here co!es under the bridge and
through the rocks, and it hides the gatewa% to the bridge fro! view. There are flowers and trees b% the
bridge, and a stone house too. )nside the house are stone roo!s, a stone stove, stone bowls, stone
plates, stone beds, and even stone benches. )n the !iddle of it all is a tablet which sa%s =Happ% 'and of
the >ountain of (lowers and (ruit, Cave Heaven of the :ater Curtain=. )t=s Aust the place for us to settle
down in;;;there=s roo! there for thousands. 'et=s all !ove in, then we won=t have to put up with an%
!ore nonsense fro! heaven. )n thereG
:e can hide there fro! the wind,
And shelter fro! the rain,
:ith nothing to fro! frost and snow,
And never a ru!ble of thunder.
The colored !ists grow bright
And the place s!ells luck%.
The pine and ba!boo will alwa%s be beautiful,
And rare flowers blosso! ever% da%.
The other !onke%s were all so delighted to hear this that the% said, 98ou go first and take us with %ou.9
The stone !onke% shut his e%es, crouched, and leapt in again, shouting, 9(ollow !e in, follow !e in.9
The braver !onke%s all lu!ped through. The !ore ti!id ones peered forward, shrank back, rubbed
their ears, scratched their cheeks+ shouted, and %elled at the top of their voices, before going in all
clinging to each other. After rushing across the bridge the% all grabbed plates and snatched bowls,
bagged stoves and fought over beds, and !oved ever%thing around. >onke%s are born naught% and
the% could not keep 4uiet for a single !o!ent until the% had worn the!selves out !oving things
around.
The stone !onke% sat hi!self in the !ain seat and said, 9$entle!en, =A !an who breaks his word is
worthless.= *ust now %ou said that if an%one was clever enough to co!e in here and get out again in one
piece, %ou=d !ake hi! king. :ell, then. )=ve co!e in and gone out, and gone out and co!e in. )=ve
found %ou gentle!en a cave heaven where %ou can sleep in peace and all settle down to live in bliss.
:h% haven=t %ou !ade !e kingE9 "n hearing this all the !onke%s bowed and prostrated the!selves,
not daring to disobe%. The% lined up in groups in order of age and paid their ho!age as at court, all
acclai!ing hi! as the 9$reat ?ing of a Thousand 8ears9. The stone !onke% then took the throne, !ade
the word 9stone9 taboo, and called hi!self Handso!e >onke% ?ing. There is a poe! to prove it that
goes0
Part Two

All things are born fro! the Three #ositives;
The !agic stone was 4uick with the essence of sun and !oon.
An egg was turned into a !onke% to co!plete the Tao;
He was lent a na!e so that the eli@ir would be co!plete,
'ooking inside he perceives nothing because he has no consciousness of his e@istence,
"utside he uses his intelligence to create visible things,
>en have alwa%s been like this0
Those who are called 7aints and sages do Aust as the% wish.
Taking control of his host of !onke%s, apes, gibbons and others, the Handso!e >onke% ?ing divided
the! into rulers and subAects, assistants and officers. )n the !orning the% roa!ed the >ountain of
(lowers and (ruit and in the evening the% settled down for the night in the :ater Curtain Cave. The%
!ade a co!pact that the% would not Aoin the ranks of the birds or go with the running beasts. The% had
their own king, and the% thoroughl% enAo%ed the!selves.
)n spring the% picked flowers for food and drink,
)n su!!er the% lived on fruit.
)n autu!n the% gathered taros and chestnuts,
The% got through the winter on 7olo!on=s;seat
The Handso!e >onke% ?ing=s innocent high 7pirits could not, of course, last three or four hundred
%ears. "ne da% he suddenl% felt depressed during a ban4uet with his !onke% host, and he started to
weep. The startled !onke%s crowded round, bowed to hi! and asked, 9:hat=s the !atter, 8our
>aAest%E9 9Although )=! happ% now,9 the >onke% ?ing replied, 9)=! worried about the future. That=s
what=s getting !e down.9 The other !onke%s laughed and said, 98our >aAest% is being greed%. :e
have parties ever% da%; we live in a !ountain paradise, in an ancient cave in a divine continent. :e are
spared the rule of unicorns, the do!ination of phoeni@es, and the restraints of hu!an kings. :e are free
to do Aust as we like;;; we are infinitel% luck%. :h% !ake %ourself !iserable worr%ing about the
futureE9 To this the >onke% ?ing replied, 98es, we don=t have to sub!it to the laws and regulations of
hu!an kings, and we don=t live in terror of the power of birds and beasts. But the ti!e will co!e when
we are old and weak, and the underworld is controlled b% the ?ing of Hell. :hen the ti!e co!es for us
to die, we won=t be able to go on living a!ong the Blessed, and our lives will have been in vain.9 All
the !onke%s covered their faces and wept as ever%one of the! thought about death.
7uddenl% a gibbon Au!ped out fro! their ranks and shrieked in a piercing voice, H)f 8our >aAest% is
thinking so far ahead, this is the beginning of enlighten!ent. 3ow of the (ive Creatures, there are onl%
three that do not co!e under the Aurisdiction of the ?ing of Hell.9 9Do %ou know which the% areE9
asked the >onke% ?ing. 98es,I the ape replied. 9The% are the Buddha, the )!!ortals and the 7ages.
The% are free fro! the :heel of Reincarnation. The% are not born and the% do not die. The% are as
eternal as Heaven and arth, as the !ountains and the rivers.9 9:here do the% liveE9 the >onke% ?ing
asked. 9"nl% in the hu!an world,9 the ape replied, Hin ancient caves on !agic !ountains.9 The
>onke% ?ing was delighted to hear this. H) shall leave %ou all to!orrowI he said, 9and go down the
!ountain. )f ) have to, )=ll roa! the corners of the oceans and go to the edge of the sk% to find these
three kinds of beings and discover the secrets of eternal life that will keep us out of the clutches of the
?ing of Hell for ever.I $oodness< Because of these words he was to learn how to be free fro! the
:heel of Reincarnation and beco!e the $reat 7age 4ualing Heaven. All the !onke%s clapped with
approval and said, 9$reat< $reat< To!orrow we=ll cli!b all over the !ountain and get lots of fruit to
give 8our >aAest% a reall% big ban4uet to send %ou off.I
The ne@t da% the !onke%s set out to pick !agic peaches, gather rare fruits, dig out %a!s, and cut
7olo!on=s;seal. >agic fungus and fragrant orchid were collected and ever%thing was set on the stone
benches and the stone tables, with fair% wine and dishes. 8ou could see
$olden pills and pearl pellets,
Bursting red and plu!p %ellow.
The golden pills and pearl pellets were winter cherries, beautiful and sweet;
The burning red and plu!p %ellow were ripe plu!s,
tast% and sharp.
(resh, sweet;fleshed longans with thin skins.
(ier% lichees with tin% stones in a red sack.
Branch after branch of crab;apples,
8ellow;skinned lo4uats with their leaves on.
Rabbit;head pears and chicken;heart AuAubes
To 4uench %our thirst, re!ove %our cares, and sober %ou up.
(ragrant peaches and tender apricots.
As sweet and luscious as Aade wine.
Crisp plu!s and arbutus,
As sharp as glistening %oghurt.
Ripe !elons with red coats and black seeds,
Big, four;sectioned persi!!ons with %ellow skin.
Bursting po!egranates0
Cinnabar pip, shining like fire;cr%stal pearls.
"pened water;chestnuts
:ith fir! round flesh like golden agate.
:alnuts and gingko fruits to eat with tea;
Coconuts and grapes to !ake into wine,
Dishes loaded with pine cones, %ew;nuts, filberts, and crab;apples;
Tangerines, sugar;cane and oranges covering the table.
Hot roast %a!,
Tender boiled 7olo!on=s;seal.
#ounded china;root and *ob=s tears.
7i!!ered in soup in a stone;pot.
Although we hu!ans have rare delicacies to eat,
:e are no happier than those !onke%s in the !ountains.
The host of !onke%s ushered the Handso!e >onke% ?ing to the seat of honor and sat down below
hi! according to age. ach of the! took it in turns to bring hi! wine, flowers, and fruit, and the%
drank hard for a whole da%. The ne@t !orning the Handso!e >onke% ?ing got up earl% and ordered,
HChildren, tear down so!e old pines and !ake !e a raft. (ind a ba!boo pole to punt with and load it
up with fruit. )=! going.I He went aboard the raft all b% hi!self, pushed off with all his !ight, and
floated off towards the waves of the ocean. He intended to sail with the wind and cross over to the
7outhern *a!bu Continent.
The heaven;born !onke%, whose conduct was so noble,
'eft his island to drift with heaven=s winds.
He sailed oceans and seas to find the :a% of )!!ortalit%,
Deepl% deter!ined to do a great deed.
The predestined one should not have vulgar longings;
He can attain the pri!al truth without care or worr%.
He is bound to find a kindred spirit.
To e@plain the origins and the laws of nature.
He had chosen Aust the right ti!e for his Aourne%. After he boarded his raft the southeastern wind blew
hard for da%s on end and bore hi! to the northwestern shore of the 7outhern Continent. Testing the
depth of the water with his pole he found that it was shallow, so he abandoned the raft and Au!ped
ashore. He saw hu!ans b% the coast, fishing, hunting geese, gathering cla!s, and e@tracting salt. He
went up to the!, leaping around and !aking faces, which so scared the! that the% dropped their
baskets and nets and fled in all directions as fast as the% could. The >onke% ?ing grabbed one of the!
who was a poor runner, stripped hi! of his clothes, and dressed hi!self in the! like a hu!an. He
swaggered through the provinces and prefectures, learning hu!an behavior and hu!an speech in the
!arket places. :hether he was eating his breakfast or going to bed at night he was alwa%s asking about
Buddha, )!!ortals and 7ages, and seeking the secrets of eternal life. He observed that the people of the
world were too concerned with fa!e and fortune to be interested in their fates.
:hen will the struggle for la!e and fortune endE
Toiling fro! !orning till night, never resting %ourself one !o!ent.
Those who ride donke%s long for stallions,
The #ri!e >inister alwa%s wants to be a prince.
The% onl% worr% about having to stop work to eat or dress;
The% never fear that the ?ing of Hell will co!e to get the!.
:hen tr%ing to ensure their sons and grandsons inherit their wealth and power,
The% have no ti!e to stop and think.
Although he asked about the wa% of the )!!ortals, the >onke% ?ing was unable to !eet one. He spent
eight or nine %ears in the 7outhern *a!bu Continent, going through its great walls and visiting its little
counties. :hen he found that he had reached the $reat :estern "cean he thought that there !ust be
7ages and )!!ortals on the other side of it, so he !ade hi!self another raft like the last one, and
floated across the :estern "cean until he ca!e to the :estern Continent of Cattle;gift. He went ashore
and !ade e@tensive and length% en4uiries until one da% he ca!e upon a high and beautiful !ountain,
thickl% forested on its lower slopes. 3ot fearing wolves, and undaunted b% tigers or leopards, he
cli!bed to the su!!it to see the view. )t was indeed a fine !ountain
A thousand peaks brandishing halberds,
7creens ten thousand !easures tall
)n the sunlight the !ountain haCe is lightl% touched with blue;
Alter the rain the black rocks look coldl% green.
:ithered creepers coil round ancient trees,
And the old ford !arks the bounds of the !%sterious.
7trange flowers and precious plants,
(lourishing in all four seasons, rivaling fair%land.
The nearb% cr% of a hidden bird,
The clear running of a spring.
&alle% upon valle% of !ushroo! and orchid,
lichen grows all over the cliffs.
The range rises and dips in dragon;like !aAest%.
7urel% there !ust be loft% her!its here.
As he was looking at the view the >onke% ?ing heard a hu!an voice co!ing fro! the depths of the
forest. He rushed into the trees, and when he cocked his ear to listen he heard a song.
H:atching the chess ga!e ) cut through the rotten,
(elling trees, ding, ding,
7trolling at the edge of the cloud and the !outh the valle%,
) sell firewood to bu% wine,
Cackling with laughter and perfectl% happ%. ) pillow !%self on a pine root, looking up at the !oon.
:hen ) wake up it is light.
RecogniCing the old forest
) scale cliffs and cross ridges,
Cutting down withered creepers with !% a@e. :hen )=ve gathered a basketful
) walk down to the !arket with a song,
And trade it for three pints of rice.
3obod% else co!petes with !e,
7o prices are stable.
) don=t speculate or tr% sharp practice, Couldn=t care less what people think of !e,
Cal!l% lengthening !% da%s.
The people ) !eet
Are Taoists and )!!ortals;
7itting 4uietl% and e@pounding the book 8ellow Court.9
The >onke% ?ing was overAo%ed to hear this, and he said with glee, H7o this is where the )!!ortals
have been hiding.9 He hounded deeper into the woods for a closer look and saw that the singer was a
woodcutter cutting firewood. He was wearing the !ost unusual clothes0
"n his head be wore a hat
:oven front the first skin shed b% new ba!boo shoots.
The clothes on his bod%
:ere !ade of %arn fro! the wild cotton;tree.
The belt round his waist
:as of silk fro! an old silkwor!.
The straw sandals under his feet
Had straps torn fro! rotten sago trees.
)n his hand he held a steel a@e
"n his hack he carried a he!pen rope
At cli!bing pines and felling dead trees,
:ho was a !atch for this woodcutterE
The >onke% ?ing went closer and called to hi!, 9"ld )!!ortal, %our disciple greets %ou.9 The
woodcutter dropped his a@e in astonish!ent and turned round to sa%, 93o, no. ) don=t even have enough
to eat or drink, so how can ) possibl% let %ou call !e an )!!ortalE9 9)f %ou=re not an i!!ortal,9 the
>onke% ?ing said, 9wh% do %ou talk like oneE9 9) don=t talk like an )!!ortal.9 the woodcutter said.
9At the edge of the wood Aust now,9 the >onke% ?ing replied, 9) heard %ou sa%, HThe people ) !eet are
Taoists and )!!ortals, sitting 4uietl% and e@pounding the >an TingfangI The >antingfang contains
the truth about the Tao, so if %ou=re not an )!!ortal, what are %ouE9 The woodcutter laughed. 9)t=s 4uite
true that the song is called =The (ragrance of the >antingfang= and an )!!ortal who lives near !% hut
taught !e it. He said he saw how hard ) had to work and how ) was alwa%s worried, so he !ade !e
sing this song when things were getting !e down. )t lightens !% cares and !akes !e forget !%
weariness. ) was singing it Aust now because ) had so!e proble!s on !% !ind, and ) never i!agined
that %ou would be listening.9 9)f %ou=ve got an )!!ortal for a neighbor, %ou ought to learn fro! hi!
how to pursue Tao and get hi! to teach %ou a recipe for eternal %outh.9 9)=ve had a hard life,9 the
woodcutter replied. 9>% !other and father brought !e up tilt ) was about eight and Aust when ) was
beginning to know about life !% father died. >% !other re!ained a widow, and ) had no brothers or
sisters. As ) was the onl% child ) had to look after !% !other !orning and night. 3ow she is old that )
can=t possibl% leave her. "ur land is so overgrown that ) can=t grow enough to feed and clothe both of
us, so ) have to cut a couple of bundles of firewood to sell in the !arket for a handful of coppers to bu%
the few pints of rice that ) cook for !%self and for !% !other. That=s wh% ) can=t practice to pursue
Tao.9
9(ro! what %ou sa%,9 the >onke% ?ing replied, 9%ou=re a filial son and a gentle!an;;;%ou=re bound to
be rewarded for it one da%. But )=d be grateful if %ou could show !e where that )!!ortal lives, so that )
can go and pa% hi! !% respects.9 The woodcutter said, 9)t=s not far fro! here. This !ountain is the
7pirit Tower Heart >ountain, and in it there is the Cave of the 7etting >oon and the Three 7tars. )n
that cave lives an )!!ortal called the #atriarch 7ubhuti. ) don=t know how !an% disciples he has
trained;;;there are thirt% or fort% of the! pursue Tao with hi! at the !o!ent. )f %ou take that path
south for two or three !iles %ou=ll reach his ho!e.9 The >onke% ?ing tugged at the woodcutter and
said, 9Take !e there, lder Brother. )f ) get an%thing out of this, ) won=t forget %our kindness.9 98ou
idiot,9 the woodcutter replied. 9didn=t %ou understand what ) told %ou Aust nowE )f ) went with %ou )
wouldn=t be able to earn !% living, and who would look after !% poor old !other thenE )=ve got to get
on with !% woodcutting. $o b% %ourself.9
After hearing this the >onke% ?ing had to take his leave. He ca!e out of the forest and found the path,
which led up a !ountain slope for two or three !iles, when he saw the cave. He pulled hi!self up to
his full height to take a look, and it was a reall% !agnificent place0
>ist% clouds scattered colors,
7un and !oon shi!!ered bright.
A thousand ancient c%presses,
Ten thousand loft% ba!boos.
A thousand ancient c%presses,
A soft green drawing the rain fro! the sk%.
Ten thousand loft% ba!boos,
And a !ist% valle% is aCure blue.
"utside the gate rare flowers spread brocade0
Beside the bridge wafts the scent of Aade flowers.
Rock% crags Aut, gloss% with green !oss;
"n overhanging cliffs blue lichen grows.
7o!eti!es the call of the crane is heard
And often %ou see the phoeni@ soar.
The call of the crane
choes be%ond the 3inth Heaven and the >ilk% :a%.
:hen the phoeni@ soars,
The brilliance of its wings colors the clouds.
Black apes and white deer can be Aust !ade out;
$olden lions and Aade elephants prefer to keep hidden.
)f %ou look closel% at this happ% land,
8ou will see that it rivals paradise.
He saw that the doors of the cave were shut fast, and that ever%thing was still, with no signs of an%
people. He turned round and noticed that there was a stone tablet about thirt% feet high and eight feet
wide at the top of the cliff. "n it was carved in enor!ous letters0 7#)R)T;T":R HART >"F3;
TA)3, CA& "( TH 7TT)3$ >""3 A3D TH THR 7TAR7, The >onke% ?ing e@clai!ed
with delight, 9The people here reall% are honest. The !ountain and the cave do e@ist.9 He took a good
long look, but did not date to knock on the door. He cli!bed to the end of a pine branch and ate so!e
pine seeds to a!use hi!self.
Before long the doors of the cave opened with a creak, and an i!!ortal bo% ca!e out. )n the nobilit% of
his bearing and the e@ceptional purit% of his features he was co!pletel% different fro! an ordinar% bo%.

His hair was bound with a pair of silken hands,
His flowing gown had two capacious sleeves.
His face and bod% were naturall% distinguished;
His !ind and appearance were both e!pt%.
(or !an% %ears a guest be%ond the world of things,
An eternal child a!id the !ountains.
Fntouched b% an% speck of dust,
He let the %ears go tu!bling b%.
:hen this bo% had co!e out he shouted, 9:ho=s !aking that row out hereE9 The >onke% ?ing
sca!pered down the tree, went up to hi!, and said with a bow, 9)!!ortal child, ) a! a disciple who
has co!e to ask about the :a% and stud% under the )!!ortal. The last thing )=d do would be to !ake a
row hereE9 The bo% laughed. 97o %ou=ve co!e to ask about the Tao, have %ouE9 98es,9 the >onke%
?ing replied. 9"ur !aster has Aust got up,9 the bo% said, 9and has now !ounted the dais to e@pound the
Tao. Before he had started to e@plain about origins he told !e to open the door. He said, =There is
so!eone outside who wants to pursue Tao. $o and welco!e hi!.= ) suppose he !ust have !eant %ou.
=8es, he !eant !e,9 the >onke% ?ing said with a s!ile. 9Co!e with !e,9 the bo% said.
The >onke% ?ing straightened his clothes and followed the bo% deep into the depths of the cave. He
saw !aAestic pavilions and towers of red Aade, pearl palaces and gatewa%s of cowrie, and countless
roo!s of silence and secluded cells leading all wa% to a Aasper dais. He saw the #atriarch 7ubhuti
sitting on the dais and thirt%;si@ !inor )!!ortals standing below it.
An )!!ortal of great enlighten!ent is free fro! an% dust,
7ubhuti, the !arvel of the :estern :orld.
3either d%ing nor born, he practises the triple !editation,
His spirit and soul entirel% benevolent.
)n e!pt% detach!ent he follows the changes;
Having found his true nature he lets it run free.
As eternal as Heaven, and !aAestic in bod%.
The great teacher of 3ature is enlightened through aeons.
As soon as the Handso!e >onke% ?ing saw hi! he bowed low and knocked his head on the ground
before hi! !an% ti!es, sa%ing, H>aster, !aster, %our disciple pa%s his deepest respects.I H:here are
%ou fro!EI the #atriarch asked, H8ou !ust tell !e %our na!e and address before %ou can beco!e !%
pupil.I H) co!e fro! the :ater Curtain Cave in the (lowers and (ruit >ountain in the land of Aolai in
the astern Continent of 7uperior Bod%,I replied the >onke% ?ing. HThrow hi! out,I the #atriarch
roared. HHe=s a liar and a cheat, and even if he tried cultivating his conduct he would get nowhere.I The
>onke% ?ing desperatel% kept hitting his head on the ground and said, H8our disciple spoke the truth.
) pro!ise ) wasn=t l%ing.I The #atriarch asked, 9)f %ou were speaking the truth, wh% did %ou sa% that
%ou ca!e fro! the astern Continent of 7uperior Bod%E Between here and the astern Continent there
are two seas and the 7outhern *a!bu Continent, so how could %ou possibl% have co!e here fro!
thereE9 The >onke% ?ing, still kowtowing, replied, 9) sailed across seas and oceans, crossed frontiers
and wandered through !an% countries for over ten %ears before ) arrived here.9
97o %ou ca!e here b% stages,9 the #atriarch re!arked. 9:hat is %our surna!eE9 9)=! not surl%,9 the
>onke% ?ing replied. H)f people call !e na!es it doesn=t bother !e, and if the% bit !e ) don=t get
angr%. )=! Aust polite to the! and that=s that. )=ve never been surl%.9 9) didn=t ask if %ou were surl%. )
wanted to know the surna!e %ou inherited fro! %our parents.9 9) didn=t have an% parents, the >onke%
?ing replied. 9)f %ou had no parents, did %ou grow on a treeE9 9) grew not on a tree but in a stone,9 the
>onke% ?ing replied. 9All ) re!e!ber is that there was a !agic stone on the top of the (lower and
(ruit >ountain, and that one %ear the stone split open and ) was born.9 Concealing his delight at
hearing this, the #atriarch re!arked, 9)n other words, %ou were born of Heaven and arth. :alk around
for a !o!ent and let !e have a look at %ou. The >onke% ?ing leapt to his feet and sha!bled round a
couple of ti!es. The #atriarch s!iled and said, 9Though %ou have rather a base sort of bod%, %ou look
like one of the rhesus !onke%s that eat pine seeds, and ) ought to give %ou a surna!e that fits %our
appearance and call %ou Hu J=>aca4ue=K. The ele!ents that !ake up the character Ru are =ani!al=, =old=
and =!oon=. :hat is old is ancient, and the !oon e!bodies the 3egative principle, and what is ancient
and 3egative cannot be transfor!ed. But ) think ) would do !uch better to call %ou 7un J=>onke%=K.
Apart fro! the =ani!al= ele!ent, the character 7un has one part i!pl%ing !ale and one part suggesting
a bab%, which fits in with !% basic theories about children. 8our surna!e will he 7un.9
:hen the >onke% ?ing heard this he kowtowed with delight and said, 9$reat< $reat< 3ow ) have a
surna!e. ) a! eternall% grateful to %ou for %our !erc% and co!passion, !aster. ) beg %ou to give !e a
personal na!e to go with !% new surna!e, then it will be !uch easier to address !e. 9There are
twelve words within !% sect,9 said the #atriarch, 9which ) give as na!es. 8ou belong to the tenth
generation of !% disciples.9 9:hat are these twelve wordsE9 asked the >onke% ?ing. 9Broad, great,
wisdo!, intelligence, true, likeness, nature, sea, bright, awakened, co!plete and enlighten!ent. )f we
work out the generations of disciples, then %ou should have a na!e with :u J=Awakened=K in it. 7o we
can give %ou the Dhar!a;na!e 7un :ukong, which !eans =>onke% Awakened to !ptiness=. :ill that
doE9 9>arvelous, !arvelous,9 said the s!iling >onke% ?ing. 9(ro! now on !% na!e will be 7un
:ukong.9 )ndeed,
:hen the $reat &agueness was separated there were no surna!es;
To s!ash dead e!ptiness he had to be awakened to live e!ptiness.
)f %ou want to know what success he had in pursuing Tao %ou !ust listen to the e@planation in the ne@t
install!ent.
Part Three
He beco!es aware of the wonderful truth of enlighten!ent;
B% getting rid of the cognitive !ind;will he unearths his congenital nature.
The stor% goes on to tell how after being given a na!e the Handso!e >onke% ?ing Au!ped for Ao% and
bowed to 7ubhuti to e@press his thanks. The #atriarch then ordered the others to take 7un :ukong out
through the double doors and teach hi! how to sprinkle and sweep the floor, answer orders, and deport
hi!self properl%. All the i!!ortals went out in obedience to this co!!and. :hen 7un :ukong was
outside the doors he bowed to all his fellow elder brothers and laid out his bed on the verandah. The
ne@t !orning and ever% following da% he studied language and deport!ent under his fellow elder
brothers, e@pounded the scriptures, discussed the Dao, practiced calligraph%, and burnt incense. :hen
he had an% spare ti!e he would sweep the grounds, dig the vegetable patch, grow flowers, tend trees,
look for kindling, light the fire, carr% water, and fetch so%. ver%thing he needed was provided. Thus
si@ or seven %ears slipped b% in the cave without his noticing the!. "ne da% the #atriarch took his seat
on the dais, called all the )!!ortals together, and began to e@plain what is Dao.
Heavenl% flowers fell in profusion,
:hile golden lotuses burst forth fro! the earth.
Brilliantl% he e@pounded the doctrine of the Three &ehicles,
7etting forth ten thousand Dhar!as in all their details.
As he slowl% waved his whisk, Aewels fell fro! his !outh,
choing like thunder and shaking the 3ine Heavens.
3ow preaching the Tao,
3ow teaching !editation,
He showed that the Three Beliefs are basicall% the sa!e.
)n e@plaining a single word he brought one back to the truth,
And taught the secrets of avoiding birth and understanding one=s congenital nature.
As >onke% sat at the side listening to the e@position he was so delighted that he tugged at his ear,
scratched his cheek and s!iled. He could not help waving his hands and sta!ping. :hen the #atriarch
noticed this he said to >onke%, 9:h% are %ou leaping around like a !ad!an in class instead of
listening to the lessonE9 98our disciple is listening to the e@position with all his attention,9 >onke%
replied, 9but %our !arvelous words !ade !e so happ% that ) started Au!ping around without realiCing
what ) was doing. #lease forgive !e.9 To this the #atriarch replied, 9)f %ou reall% understand !%
!arvelous words, then answer this 4uestion. How long have %ou been in !% caveE9 98ou disciple was
born stupid,9 >onke% replied, 9so )=ve no idea how long )=ve been here. All ) know is that whenever
the fire in the stove goes out ) go to the other side of the !ountain to collect firewood and there ) see a
hill covered with fine peach trees. )=ve had seven good feeds of peaches there.9 9That hill is called
Tender #each Hill. )f %ou have eaten there seven ti!es %ou !ust have been here seven %ears. :hat sort
of Tao do %ou want to learn fro! !eE9 9That depends what %ou teach !e, !aster. As long is there=s a
whiff of Tao to it, %our disciple will learn it.9
9There are three hundred and si@t% side;entrances to the Tao, and the% all lead to their respective
result,9 the #atriarch said. 9:hich branch would %ou like to stud%E9 9) will do whatever %ou think best,
!aster,9 replied >onke%. 9:hat about teaching %ou the >agic ArtsE9 9:hat does =the >agic Arts=
!eanE9 9>agic arts,9 the #atriarch replied, 9include su!!oning )!!ortals, using the !agic
sandboard, and divining b% !ilfoil. :ith the! one can learn how to bring on good fortune and avert
disaster.9 9Can %ou beco!e i!!ortal this wa%E9 asked >onke%. 93o, certainl% not,9 replied the
#atriarch. 93o. 7han=t learn it.9
97hall ) teach %ou the :a% of 7ectsE9 the #atriarch asked. 9:hat are the principles of the 7ectsE9 said
>onke%. 9:ithin the branch of 7ects, there is Confucianis!, Buddhis!, Taois!, the stud% of the
3egative and #ositive, >ohis!, !edicine, reading scriptures and chanting the na!e of a Buddha. 8ou
can also su!!on )!!ortals and 7ages with this branch.9 9Can %ou attain i!!ortalit% that wa%E9 asked
>onke%. 9To tr% and attain i!!ortalit% that wa%,9 the #atriarch replied, 9is like =putting a pillar in the
wall=.9 9>aster,9 >onke% said, 9)=! a si!ple chap and ) can=t understand %our technical Aargon. :hat
do %ou !ean b% =putting a pillar in the wall=E9 9:hen a !an builds a house and wants to !ake it strong
he puts a pillar in the wall. But when the da% co!es for his !ansion to collapse the pillar is bound to
rot.9 9(ro! what %ou sa%, >onke% observed, 9it=s not eternal. 3o. 7han=t learn it.9
97hall ) teach %ou the :a% of 7ilenceE9 the #atriarch then asked. 9:hat True Result can he got fro!
7ilenceE9 said >onke%, 9)t involves abstaining fro! grain, preserving one=s essence, silence, inaction,
!editation, abstaining fro! speech, eating vegetarian food, perfor!ing certain e@ercises when asleep
or standing up, going into trances, and being walled up in total isolation.9 9)s this a wa% of beco!ing
i!!ortalE9 >onke% asked. 9)t=s like building the top of a kiln with sun;dried bricks,9 the #atriarch
replied. 98ou do go on, !aster,9 said 7un :ukong. 9)=ve alread% told %ou that ) can=t understand %our
technical Aargon. :hat does =building the top of a kiln with sun;dried bricks= !eanE9 9)f %ou build the
top of a kiln with sun;dried bricks the% !a% !ake it look all right, but if the% have not been hardened
with fire and water, then the% will cru!ble awa% in the first heav% rainstor!.9 9There=s nothing eternal
about that either, then,9 replied >onke%. 93o. 7han=t learn that.9
97hall ) teach %ou the :a% of Action thenE9 the #atriarch asked. 9:hat=s that likeE9 >onke% asked. 9)t
involves actions and doing, e@tracting the 3egative and building up the #ositive, drawing the bow and
loading the crossbow, rubbing the navel to !ake the subtle hu!ors flow, refining eli@irs according to
for!ulae, lighting fires under cauldrons, consu!ing =Red lead=, purif%ing =Autu!n 7tone=, and drinking
wo!en=s !ilk.9 9Can doing things like that !ake !e live for everE9 >onke% asked. 9To tr% and attain
i!!ortalit% that wa% is like =lifting the !oon out of water=.9 9:hat does =lifting the !oon out of water=
!eanE9 9The !oon is in the sk%,9 the #atriarch replied, 9and onl% its reflection is in the water. Although
%ou can see it there, %ou will tr% in vain to lift it out.9 93o. 7han=t learn that,9 >onke% e@clai!ed.
:hen the #atriarch heard this he gasped and cli!bed down fro! his dais. #ointing at 7un :ukong with
his cane he said, 98ou won=t stud% this and %ou won=t stud% that, so what do %ou want, %ou !onke%E9
He went up to >onke% and hit hi! three ti!es on the head, then went inside with his hands behind his
back and shut the !ain door, abandoning the! all. The class was shocked, and the% all bla!ed 7un
:ukong. 98ou cheek% ape, %ou=ve no idea how to behave. The !aster was teaching %ou the Tao, so
wh% did %ou have to argue with hi! instead of learning fro! hi!E 3ow %ou=ve offended hi! we don=t
know when he=ll co!e out again.9 The% were all ver% angr% with hi! and regarded hi! with loathing
and conte!pt. But 7un :ukong was not bothered in the least, and his face was covered with s!iles.
The >onke% ?ing had understood the riddle, and had the answer hidden awa% in his !ind. 7o he did
not argue with the others but bore it all without a word. :hen the #atriarch hit hi! three ti!es he had
been telling hi! to pa% attention at the third watch; and when he went inside with his hands behind his
back and shut the !ain door he had told the >onke% ?ing to go in through the back door and be taught
the Tao in secret.
The delighted 7un :ukong spent the rest of that da% with the others in front of the Three 7tars $ave,
looking at the sk% and i!patient for night to co!e. At dusk he went to bed like all the others, pretended
to close his e%es, controlled his breathing, and cal!ed hi!self down. 3obod% beats the watches or
calls out the hour in the !ountains, so he had no wa% of knowing the ti!e e@cept b% regulating the
breath going in and out of his nose. :hen he reckoned that it was about the third watch he got up ver%
4uietl%, dressed, and slipped out through the front door awa% fro! the others. :hen he was outside he
looked up and saw
The !oon was bright and clear and cold,
The vast space of the eight points was free fro! dust.
Deep in the trees a bird slept hidden,
:hile the water flowed fro! the spring.
(ireflies scattered their lights
And a line of geese was stretched across the clouds.
)t was e@actl% the third watch,
The right ti!e to ask about the Tao.
:atch the >onke% ?ing as he follows the old path to the back door, which he found to be aAar. 9The
#atriarch has left the door open, so he reall% intends to teach !e the Tao,9 he e@clai!ed in delight. He
tiptoed forward, went in sidewa%s through the door, and walked over to the #atriarch=s bed, where he
saw the #atriarch sleeping curled up, facing the inside of the roo!. 3ot daring to disturb hi!, 7un
:ukong knelt in front of the bed. Before long the #atriarch woke up, stretched out both his legs, and
!u!bled to hi!self0
9)t=s hard, hard, hard. The Tao is ver% obscure,
Don=t !ake light of the golden eli@ir and regard it as so!ething co!!on.
To learn !iraculous spells fro! an% but the #erfect >an,
)s to tire the voice and dr% the tongue in vain.9
7un :ukong said in repl%, 9>aster, %our disciple has been kneeling here for a long ti!e.9 :hen the
#atriarch heard that it was 7un :ukong who was speaking he pulled so!e clothes on, sat up cross;
legged, and shouted, =it=s that !onke%. :h% have %ou co!e into !% roo! instead of sleeping out in
frontE9 9>aster, %ou told !e publicl% in front of the altar %esterda% that %our disciple was to co!e in
here through the back gate at the third watch as %ou were going to teach !e the Ta%. That is wh% !ade
so bold as to co!e to pa% !% respects beside !% !aster=s bed.9 The #atriarch was ver% pleased to hear
this and said to hi!self, 9This wretch was indeed born of Heaven and arth. "therwise he wouldn=t
have been able to understand !% cr%ptic !essage. 7un :ukong said, 9There is no third pair of ears in
this roo! %our disciple is the onl% other person here. ) hope, !aster, that in %our great !erc% %ou will
teach !e the Tao of )!!ortalit%. )f %ou do, )=ll alwa%s be grateful to %ou. 98ou are predestined,9 the
#atriarch said, 9so ) shall be happ% to tell %ou. 7ince %ou understood !% cr%ptic !essage, co!e over
here and listen carefull% while ) teach %ou the !iraculous Tao of )!!ortalit%.9 7un :ukong kowtowed
with gratitude and knelt before the bed, listening with all his attention. The #atriarch said0
9True spells, revealing secrets and all powerful,
Are the onl% sure wa% of protecting one=s life force and congenital nature.
The% all co!e fro! fertiliCing fluid, vita;vapor, and congenital !ind;will,
>ust be stored awa% securel%, and never be divulged.
>ust never be divulged, and be stored in the bod%.
Then the Tao ) teach %ou will flourish of itself.
>an% are the benefits of learning spells0
The% give protection fro! evil desires and !ake one pure.
>ake one pure with a daCCling radiance
'ike a bright !oon shining on a cinnabar tower,
The !oon contains a *ade Rabbit, the sun a $olden Crow,
The Tortoise and the 7nake are alwa%s intertwined.
Alwa%s intertwined, then life is fir!,
And one can plant golden lotuses in fire.
$rasp all the (ive le!ents and turn the! upside down,
And when %ou are successful %ou can beco!e a Buddha, or an )!!ortal.9
The #atriarch=s e@planation went to the root of things, and 7un :ukong=s heart was filled with bliss as
he co!!itted the spells to !e!or%. He bowed to the #atriarch to e@press his deep gratitude and went
out of the back door to look. He saw that there was a trace of white in the east, while the golden light of
the !oon was shining in the west. He went to the front door b% the old path, pushed it open gentl%, and
went in. He saw down where he had been sleeping earlier, shook his bedding and said loudl%. 9)t=s
dawn, it=s dawn. $et up.9 The others were all asleep, unaware of 7un :ukong=s good fortune. At
da%break he got up and !uddled through the da%, while secretl% keeping to what he had been told. )n
the afternoon and evening he regulated his breathing.
After three %ears had passed in this wa% the #atriarch once !ore sat on his lecturing throne and
e@pounded the Dhar!a to the students. He recounted fa!ous sa%ings and parables, and discussed
e@ternal pheno!ena and e@ternal appearances. :ithout warning he asked, 9:here is 7un :ukongE9
7un :ukong went forward, knelt down and replied, 98our disciple is present. :hat Tao have %ou
cultivated since Corning hereE9 98our disciple is now fairl% well conversant with the Dhar!a,9 7un
:ukong replied, 9and !% 7ource is getting graduall% stronger.9 9)f %ou are conversant with the Dhar!a
and %ou know about the 7ource,9 the #atriarch replied, 9and if the spirit has alread% flowed into %ou,
then %ou !ust beware of the =Three Disasters=.9 7un :ukong thought for a long ti!e, then he said,
9#atriarch, ) have often heard that the Tao is loft% and its power !ight%, that it is as eternal as Heaven,
that it can overco!e fire and water, and prevent all illnesses fro! arising, so how could there be =Three
Disasters=E9 To this the #atriarch replied, 9This is not the ordinar% Tao0 it involves seiCing the ver%
creation of Heaven and arth, and encroaching on the hidden workings of the sun and !oon. "nce the
eli@ir is !ade, devils and spirits cannot tolerate it. Although it will preserve the %outhfulness of %our
face and prolong %our life, in five hundred %ears= ti!e Heaven will strike %ou with a thunderbolt. 8ou
!ust be clear;sighted in nature and !ind, so that %ou can hide fro! it before it co!es. )f %ou succeed
in avoiding it %ou will live as long as Heaven; and if %ou don=t, it will kill %ou. Another five hundred
%ears later Heaven will burn %ou with fire. This fire will be not heavenl% fire or ordinar% fire but
=hidden fire=. )t will burn %ou fro! the soles of %our feet to the crown of %our head; %our five viscera
will be reduced to ashes, %our four li!bs will be destro%ed, and a thousand %ears of asceticis! will
have been so !uch wasted ti!e. 8et another five hundred %ears later a wind will blow at %ou. )t will
not be the north, south, east, or west wind, nor will it be a war!, fragrant wind fro! the northwest; nor
will it be the kind of wind that blows a!ong flowers, willows, pine, and ba!boo. )t will be what is
called a =!onster wind=. )t will blow through the crown of %our head down into %our si@ entrails. )t will
go through the Cinnabar (ield below %our navel and penetrate %our nine orifices. 8our flesh and %our
bones will be destro%ed and %our bod% will disintegrate. 7o %ou !ust avoid all three of these disasters.==
:hen he heard this 7un :ukong=s hair stood on end, and he kowtowed with the words, 9) i!plore %ou,
!% lord, to show pit% and teach !e how to avoid these three disasters. )f %ou do ) will be grateful to
%ou for ever,9 9That would be eas%, the #atriarch replied, 9but for the fact that %ou are different fro!
other people;;;which !eans that ) can=t.9 9) have a head that faces the sk% and feet standing on earth,9
said 7un :ukong. 9) have nine orifices and four li!bs, five viscera and si@ entrails. How a! ) different
fro! an%one elseE9 9Although %ou are 4uite like other people, %our cheeks are too s!all.9 3ow that
!onke% had a funn% face, with cheeks that caved inwards and a sharp chin. 7un :ukong felt it with his
hand and replied with a laugh, 9>aster, %ou didn=t take ever%thing into account. Although )=! a bit
short of Aaw, )=ve got !ore dewlap than other people to !ake up for it.9 9&er% well then,9 the #atriarch
said, 9which would %ou prefer to learn0 the thirt% si@ heavenl% transfor!ations or the sevent%;two
earthl% onesE 98our disciple wants to get as !uch out of it as he can, so ) would like to learn the
sevent%;two earthl% ones.9 9)f that=s what %ou want,9 the #atriarch replied, 9co!e here and )=ll teach
%ou the spells.9 Thereupon he whispered into. 7un :ukong=s ear, and who knows what !iraculous
spells he taught hi!E The >onke% ?ing was the sort of person who understands ever%thing once he is
told a tin% part, and he learnt the spells on the spot. He practised and trained until he had !astered all
sevent%;two transfor!ations.
"ne da% the #atriarch and all his disciples were enAo%ing the sunset outside the Three 7tars Cave. The
#atriarch asked 7un :ukong, 9Have %ou succeeded %etE9 7un :ukon2 replied, 9Thanks to %our
infinite !erc%, !aster, %our disciple=s results have been perfect, and ) can now rise on the clouds and
fl%,9 9'et !e see %ou tr% a flight,9 the #atriarch said. 7un :ukong used his skill to perfor! a series of
so!ersaults that carried hi! fift% or si@t% feet into the air, then walked around on the clouds for about
as long as it takes to eat a !eal. He covered about a !ile altogether before landing in front of the
#atriarch, folding his ar!s across his chest, and sa%ing, 9>aster, that=s fl%ing and soaring in the
clouds.9 The #atriarch laughed. 9That=s not soaring on the clouds;;;it=s Aust cli!bing up the!. There is
an old sa%ing that an )!!ortal visits the 3orthern 7ea in the !orning and Cangwu in the evening=. But
to take as long as %ou did Aust to go a !ile doesn=t count as cli!bing on the clouds.9 9How can it be
possible to visit the 3orthern 7ea in the !orning and Cangwu in the eveningE9 7un :ukong asked.
9All cloud;soarers start off fro! the 3orthern 7ea earl% in the !orning, visit the astern, :estern and
7outhern 7eas, and then co!e hack to Cangwu. Cangwu is what the 3orthern 7ea is called in the
'ingling language. :hen %ou can go be%ond all four seas in a single da% %ou can regard %ourself as a
cloud;soarer.9 9But that !ust be ver% difficult,9 7un :ukong observed. 9:here there=s a will there=s a
wa%,9 the #atriarch replied. 93othing b% halves, !aster,9 replied 7un :ukong with bows and kowtows,
9) beg of %ou in %our great !erc% to teach !e the art of cloud;soaring. ) pro!ise that ) will alwa%s be
grateful.9 9i!!ortals take off with a sta!p of their feet,9 said the #atriarch, 9but %ou do it differentl%;;;
Aust now ) saw %ou pull %ourself up. As that is the wa% %ou do it, )=ll show %ou how to do it %our own
wa% and teach %ou the so!ersault cloud=.9 7un :ukong bowed again, i!ploring hi! to do so, and the
#atriarch taught hi! the spell. 9(or this kind of cloud,9 the #atriarch said, 9%ou !ake the !agic b%
clasping %our hands in the special wa%, recite the words of the spell, clench %our fist, shake %ourself,
and lu!p. :ith one so!ersault %ou can go si@t% thousand !iles.9 :hen the others heard this the% all
e@clai!ed with a laugh. 9'uck% old 7un :ukong. :ith !agic like this he could be a !essenger
delivering official letters and reports, and he=d never go short of a !eal.9 :hen it was dark the
#atriarch and his pupils returned to the cave. That night 7un :ukong !oved his congenital !ind;will,
practised the techni4ue, and !astered the cloud so!ersault. (ro! then on he was free fro! all restraint
and he enAo%ed the delights of i!!ortalit%, drifting around as he pleased.
"n a da% when spring was giving wa% to su!!er, and all the students had been sitting under so!e pine
trees listening to lectures for a long ti!e, the% said, 97un :ukong, in what life did %ou earn %our
present destin%E The other da% our teacher whispered to %ou how to do the transfor!ations to avoid the
Three Disasters. Can %ou do the! all %etE9 9)t=s true, brothers,9 said 7un :ukong with a grin, 9) can do
the! all. )n the first place, it=s because our !aster taught !e; and in the second place, it=s because )
practised the! hard da% and night.9 9This would be a good ti!e for %ou to give us a de!onstration.9
At this suggestion 7un :ukong braced his spirit to show off his skill. 9:hat=s it to be, brothersE Tell
!e what %ou=d like !e to turn !%self into.9 9Turn into a pine tree,9 the% all said. 7un :ukong clenched
his fist, said the !agic words, shook hi!self, and changed into a pine tree. )t was trul%
$reen and !ist% throughout the four seasons,
Raising its upright beaut% to the clouds.
3ot in the least like a de!on !onke%,
ver% inch a tree that withstands frost and snow.
7a!ll water wheel and large water wheel and !ore...
Both s!all water wheel and big water wheel are the creation and presentation when the s!all universe
of the hu!an bod% begins to co!!unicate with the big universe. The great internal alche!ist Lhang
7an (eng likened peopleMs ph%sical bod% to a tree that has no root and things !a% go worse than that0
the hu!an bod% even do not have the 4ualification in co!parison with the weed who often die awa%
%ear on %ear but keep their roots deep in earth when the winter da%s co!e. )t begin to flourish again
when 7pring unveils her char! again. )n such respect, how hu!an bod% can co!peteE )n this
respective, we can understand how shortl% the peopleMs life span is. The following passage fro!
Chuang TCu can vividl% describe the peopleMs whole like ti!e0
Man's life between heaven and earth is like the passing of a white colt glimpsed through a crack in the
wall-whoosh!--and in an instant coming to an end. Overflowing, starting forth, there is nothing that
does not come out; gliding away, slipping into silence, there is nothing that does not go back in. y a
transformation they live, and by another transformation they die. !iving things grieve over it, mankind
sheds tears for it.

Therefore, the people should learn to i!itate the living st%le fro! the weedE )f so, how, %ou !a% askE
'earn how to return to the ver% root for keeping the life force which is at the ver% base level.
Therefore, there co!es the popular sa%ing0 going along the life course to beco!e a hu!an being
whereas going against the life currents to acco!plish the i!!ortalit%. :e well understand that
corporeal i!!ortalit% is i!possible because the ph%sical bod% onl% serves as a te!porar% carrier or
nest like the butterfl% that is !eta!orphosesed fro! chr%salis who, accordingl%, is developed fro! a
larva.
:ater can de!onstrate itself in a wealth of presentation for!s Jwaves, ice, currents, drops, rain, dueK
but the essential of it re!ains the sa!e ;;; water. All !%riads of things are but the !%thical
transfor!ations fro! the ver% co!!on one and there is no an% e@ception. 8et, still people do not
acknowledge it and refuse to accept such fact. 7o!e people with belief of philosoph% of !aterialis!
hold that onl% !aterialis! bear so!ething !eaningful. Here we borrow so!e words fro! Chuang TCu
to help such people understand !ore0
"#ell indeed" answered !ien $hu, "#e cannot e%pect a blind man to appreciate beautiful designs, nor
do we e%pect a deaf man to en&oy the music from bells and drum. 'ot only are there the physical
blindness and deafness, there also e%ist the intellectual blindness and deafness!
How to go against the life currents to acco!plish the i!!ortalit%, %ou !a% askE 'earn the e@a!ple the
weed !akes. Then 'ao TCu JTao Teh ChingK offered his idea for the returning process in chapter +.0
(o )uiet down the heart to stay at a constant stillness,
(o settle down the heart to remain in an infinite emptiness,
*ll the myriad things are involved in constant motion, but + &ust ga,e into emptiness to unintentionally
wait for the coming of the Mysterious -ass.
.es, though all things flourish with myriad variations, each one will eventually return to the very root
of birth and death.
(o return to the root needs constant stillness.
Only by staying in a constant stillness can pre-heaven nature be recovered.
(o fully recover pre-heaven nature is called /hang.
(o know /hang is called 0enlightenment.1
(o not know /hang and to act blindly will result in disaster.
Only knowing 0/hang1 one can tolerate all,
Only tolerating all one can be impartial.
y being impartial one can be all accommodating,
y being all accommodating, one can e)ual 2eaven,
y e)ualing 2eaven, one can accomplish (ao, which lasts without death.
Only by accomplishing (ao can one be rid of death and birth,
lasting eternally without any danger.
7uch chapter offers an outline as to the process regarding to return to the ver% root of both birth and
death which is ter!ed as >%sterious #ass. "nce %ou follow the se4uence to get close the the
>%sterious #ass the division between the artificial and the natural get blurred and die out. 7o, it is
co!plete chaotic state Jpeople !a% think %ou are sleeping but it is notK. Therefore, b% approaching to
the >%sterious #ass and dwelling in it J%ou do not know howK %ou are in the process of adhering to the
ver% root. #lease read the following chapter ,5 fro! Tao Teh Ching for !ore reference0
(here was something naturally formed as infinite achromatic chaos, long before 2eaven and 3arth.
oundlessly still and desolately comprehensive, it remains unchanged and independent ever since,
functioning in all in a thoroughly-going way without any lapse.
One can regard it as the mother of everything.
+ do not know its name,
+n a farfetched way + name it as (ao,
+n a farfetched way + term it as 4reatness.
(erming it as 4reatness, because it transcends all,
(erming it transcending all, because it e%hausts infinitude,
(erming it e%hausting infinitude, because it is contained in all.
(herefore (ao is great,
2eaven is great,
3arth is great,
$age is great,
(here are altogether four greatness in the nameless realm,
(he $age is one of them.
Man follows the way of 3arth,
3arth follows the way of 2eaven,
2eaven follows the way of (ao,
(ao is characteristic of the great 'atural #ay.
Therefore, b% following the e@a!ple of arth people beco!e fir!, 4uiet and graduall% get detached
fro! the accusto!ed attach!ent to the cogniCing obAects. "nl% via the detach!ent the independence
can gained little b% little. *ust such the initial process has to get s!all water wheel and large water
wheel involved.
The s!all water wheel JDu channel along the back and Ren channel in front co!bine to for! a circleK
co!es into being because Ni begins to circulate. 'arge water wheel is a big circle reaching as far as to
the acupoint of 8ongNuan Jthe center points of two feetK, which !ostl% is the circulation of 7hen. )n
fact, to co!!unicate with the outside universe both s!all water wheel and large water wheel pla% an
critical role. #eople should understand the s!all universe of hu!an bod% is a deca%ed s%ste! and do
not have the 4ualification to sit side b% side with outside universe. 7o, in );Ching theor% there ca!e the
theor% of #re;heaven trigra!s and #ost;heaven trigra!s which are used to de!onstrate the difference
between the two s%ste!. (irst is to open the deca%ed s%ste!, then invite the pre;heaven ele!ents JNi
and 7henK to graduall% transfor! the post;heaven s%ste!. )n taois! theor% there e@ists the popular
sa%ing of Otwo la%ers of Heaven and arth and four kinds of 8in and 8angM which de!onstrate such
co!!unication procedure.

3ow let go further to the details of s!all water wheel. There are !uch !etaphor used to illustrate the
procedure of s!all water wheel J%ou can find lots in the book HFnderstanding the Realit%IK. To tell the
truth, the% cannot go be%ond the scope of transfor!ing the #ost;heaven trigra!s back to #re;heaven
trigra!s and !ostl% the !aneuvering of four e!ble!atic s%!bols. Therefore, things begin to be be
!ade !ore and !ore secretive and !%thical b% so!e scholars in this regard and so!e ter!inolog% as
lead, !ercur%, virgin bod%, !iddle;wo!an, !oon rabbit, gold father, wood !other, etc start to confuse
peopleMs !ind continuousl% fro! the ver% ancient ti!e to nowada%s. ) think, in the future it will persist
to tr% peopleMs !ind and test their wisdo!.
8es, the description is correct in theor%. But the point is in #re;heaven state there is no an% !ind or idea
to !anipulate Jdo %ou think the Heaven and arth have !ind to do so!ethingK an%thing %et ever%thing
see!s to be well done. )n #ost;heaven state all people want to acco!plish so!ething with their wisdo!
%et nothing is perfectl% done. During the reversing process the !anipulation should go as before, %ou
!a% askE To get a correct answer to this 4uestion to have to understand what is :u earth and what is *i
earth Jthe true intention and the dissipated intentionK. )t is s long talk and here ) have to cut it short. To
successfull% reverse to the #re;heaven state the people have to let the ver% natural to preside over the
artificial Jwe cannot kill our !ind or destro% it co!pletel%K. 7o, under such principle %ou can well
understand the goings are that initiated b% the ver% natural rather than the artificial and the artificial
reall% has no an% 4ualification to finish this Aob. Here people can understand how is 8ou:ei ;;; doing
so!ething with intention and :u:ei;;; action without action9 or 9effortless doing.I 7o, %ou can get
the answer as to how to proceed correctl% with %our practice. But, reall% there is no an% role involved
with the artificialE )t would be co!pletel% wrong if %ou reall% think so.
8es, we have to confess so!e ?ungfu practitioners want to acco!plish so!e special power b%
deplo%ing the Ni in a special wa%. This is another arts and it differs ver% !uch fro! what ) a! talking
about. 7o, please do not add such argu!ent to refute.