Chapter 12: The Recruitment of Sha Wujing at the Flowing Sands River

Summary

Tang Sanzang and his disciples encounter the Flowing Sands River, where a water demon, later revealed to be the exiled Curtain-Lifting General, attacks them. After failing to defeat him, Wukong seeks help from Guanyin, who reveals that the demon, Sha Wujing, is destined to aid them. With Guanyin’s intervention, Wujing repents and joins the group. Using his skulls, they create a ferry and successfully cross the river, continuing their journey westward.

Content

Tang Sanzang and his three disciples traveled past Yellow Wind Ridge. The terrain was flat, and as summer passed, autumn soon arrived. One day, while traveling, they encountered a vast body of water blocking their path. From his horse, Tang Sanzang called out, "Disciples, look at this turbulent river! There isn’t a single boat in sight. How should we cross?"

Sun Wukong leaped into the air, shading his eyes with his hand as he scanned the horizon. He saw the vast expanse of water stretching endlessly. He said to Tang Sanzang, "Master, crossing this river is truly difficult." Tang Sanzang sighed in distress and turned his horse around, when suddenly he noticed a stone tablet on the riverbank. The three of them approached to examine it closely. The inscription read "Flowing Sands River," accompanied by a poem:

"Eight hundred miles of flowing sand, three thousand feet deep. A goose feather cannot float; a reed flower sinks to the bottom."

As they were reading, a sudden commotion arose from the water. A fearsome creature emerged—a demon with wild red hair, eyes as bright as lanterns, a blue-black face, and nine skulls strung around his neck. In his hand, he wielded a magic staff. The demon charged directly at Tang Sanzang.

Wukong swiftly lifted his master and leaped to higher ground. Zhu Bajie set down his load and swung his rake at the demon, who immediately blocked it with his staff. The two battled fiercely on the riverbank for twenty rounds without a clear victor. Wukong, watching over Tang Sanzang, grew eager to join the fight. He said, "Master, rest assured—I will deal with this demon too!" With that, he drew his iron staff and leaped into the fray.

The demon, already engaged in a heated fight with Bajie, saw Wukong charging at him and quickly dived back into the water. Bajie stomped in frustration, complaining, "Why did you interfere? Just a few more rounds and I would've caught him! Now that he’s escaped, what do we do?" Wukong laughed, "I didn't expect him to be such a coward."

The two returned to Tang Sanzang. "Did you capture the demon?" asked the master. Bajie grumbled, "I almost had him, but Brother Wukong scared him off!" Wukong chuckled, "He wasn't much of a fighter after all." Tang Sanzang sighed, "This river is boundless, and without a boat, we need someone skilled in water to guide us across." Wukong nodded, "That demon has lived here for years—he must know the way across. If we capture him, he can lead us over."

Bajie suggested, "Brother, you should go get him while I guard Master." Wukong smirked, "Compared to you, I’m not as good in water. I can swim, but I need a water-repelling spell or must transform into a fish to dive deep." Bajie boasted, "Back in Heaven, I commanded 80,000 water soldiers, so I know my way around water. But if that demon calls his whole clan, I might not stand a chance."

Wukong devised a plan: "You go down and lure him out. I'll ambush him on the shore." Bajie agreed, removed his outer robes, and dived into the river. He parted the waters and swam swiftly to find the demon.

Meanwhile, the demon was catching his breath underwater when he noticed Bajie approaching with his rake. He raised his staff and shouted, "Monk, where do you think you're going?" Bajie retorted, "Who are you to haunt this river? Speak the truth, or I won't spare your life!"

The demon declared, "I was once the Curtain-Lifting General of Heaven, but I was exiled for breaking celestial laws. How dare you barge into my domain? I will cut you to pieces!" Furious, Bajie swung his rake, and the two fought underwater. After a few rounds, Bajie feigned defeat and swam toward the shore, leading the demon in pursuit. As soon as they reached the riverbank, Wukong sprang from his hiding place, ready to strike. The demon, startled, immediately dove back into the water.

Bajie scolded Wukong, "You impatient monkey! You should've let me lure him out further before blocking his escape!" Wukong laughed, "No use complaining now. Let's report back to Master."

Tang Sanzang, concerned, asked about their progress. Bajie replied, "That demon fights at my level. I pretended to flee, and he chased me ashore, but when Brother Wukong attacked, he escaped again." Tang Sanzang sighed, "What now?"

Wukong reassured him, "Master, don’t worry. It's late. I'll go beg for some food, and we’ll plan again tomorrow." With that, he somersaulted away and soon returned with a bowl of vegetarian food. Tang Sanzang, surprised at his speed, suggested asking the villagers for a way to cross the river. Wukong laughed, "Master, the nearest village is thousands of miles away. How could they know?"

Bajie interjected, "Brother, you're lying! How could you travel thousands of miles so quickly?" Wukong smirked, "A single somersault covers 108,000 miles. A few thousand miles is just a couple of nods and bows for me!"

Bajie joked, "Then why not carry Master across with a few somersaults instead of fighting that demon?" Wukong retorted, "If it's so easy, why don’t you carry him?" Bajie protested, "Master is mortal and as heavy as Mount Tai. I can’t lift him!"

Wukong explained, "Then how could I? I have many tricks, but Master must endure hardships to attain true scriptures. If reaching Buddha was easy, I would've fetched scriptures long ago." Bajie fell silent.

The next morning, they lured the demon out again, but this time, he was more cautious. He chased Bajie only to the water’s edge, ignoring his taunts. Wukong grew impatient and decided to strike from above. He leaped into the air and swooped down like a hawk, but the demon noticed in time and vanished into the depths again.

Tang Sanzang, disheartened, wept. "What should we do now?" Wukong comforted him, "Master, don’t worry. Bajie, stay here. I’ll visit the South Sea."

With a leap, Wukong arrived at Mount Putuo. The celestial guardians greeted him respectfully and led him to Guanyin. "Why aren’t you protecting Tang Sanzang?" she asked.

Wukong explained their predicament. Guanyin said, "That demon is the former Curtain-Lifting General. He has already repented and is willing to aid your journey. Just tell him you are the scripture-seekers, and he will surrender."

She handed a red gourd to her attendant, Huian, and instructed, "Go with Wukong. Call out 'Wujing' at the river, and he will surface. Let him pledge allegiance to Tang Sanzang. Then, arrange his nine skulls in a nine-palace formation with this gourd to create a ferry for them to cross."

Huian and Wukong returned to the river. When Huian called, "Wujing! The scripture-seekers are here! Why do you not surrender?" the demon, startled, surfaced. Seeing Huian, he greeted him respectfully and inquired about Guanyin.

Huian explained, "The Bodhisattva commands you to follow Tang Sanzang and become his disciple. Arrange your skulls into a ferry and guide him across the river."

Realizing his error, Wujing bowed before Tang Sanzang. "Master, I was blind and did not recognize you. Please forgive my offenses." Tang Sanzang asked, "Do you sincerely wish to follow me?" Wujing replied, "I have taken refuge under Guanyin as Sha Wujing. I am truly devoted."

Tang Sanzang had Wukong shave Wujing’s head, formally making him a monk and renaming him Sha He Shang.

With the ferry assembled, they swiftly crossed the river. On the other side, the gourd vanished, and the skulls transformed into nine wisps of smoke. Thanking Huian and Guanyin, the four disciples resumed their journey westward.