The Battle in Journey to the West-Chapter 31 - 0 Emperor Ming of Han Dreams of the Golden
Chapter 31: Chapter 031: Emperor Ming of Han Dreams of the Golden Man
Chapter 31 -031: Emperor Ming of Han Dreams of the Golden Man
Wukong and the others returned to Uttara Kuru Kingdom, Wusheng bid his farewells and left, and Yang Jian also resolved a karmic tie with the Map of Mountains and Rivers, then returned to the Temple of the True Monarch at Guan Jiangkou.
However, Wukong invited Yang Jian to return to Flower-Fruit Mountain with him, where they feasted for several days. After indulging in ample amounts of drink, he then let him depart. Their relationship had thus become even closer, a preparation for future plans.
The Ox Demon King belched from drinking and cursed, “At sea, the fishy smell almost killed me, but now I can finally drink and eat meat. It’s truly refreshing!”
Jiao Demon King, however, sighed, “What a pity that my foundation was destroyed in an instant. If it weren’t for the remaining Dragon Whale, I would have been utterly alone.”
Wukong patted Jiao Demon King on the shoulder and said, “Don’t worry, second brother. With our brothers united, we will eventually rebuild a great foundation.”
In these past days, the Daoist Equal to Heaven had fully matured, his mana was now no different from Wukong’s, reaching the Third Layer of Celestial Realm as a Taiyi Golden Immortal.
The Daoist Equal to Heaven was indeed endowed with a pleasing appearance; elegant and graceful, with sword-like eyebrows and tiger-like eyes, a straight nose and a square mouth. Dressed as a Taoist, he truly resembled an enlightened sage.
Wukong had received a great opportunity, and even if his physical body was to be killed by Tathagata, he would still have the body of the Daoist Equal to Heaven to use. Both were originally from the same source, and the Daoist Equal to Heaven was indeed Wukong. However, the Daoist Equal to Heaven carried much of Wukong’s aggression. Although inherently upright and straightforward, he was slightly somber, something Wukong hadn’t anticipated. Perhaps, this had something to do with “Cutting the Three Corpses,” and the Daoist might be carrying the evil corpse? However, with Wukong’s current realm, he was definitely unable to cut out the Three Corpses.
As the brothers of the Ox Demon King drank and chatted about various matters, let’s leave that aside and talk about the time the Daoist Equal to Heaven arrived at Southern Toad Continent.
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At that time, it was the era of the Great Han Dynasty. Following the contention between Chu and Han, Xiang Yu was defeated, and the ancestral founder Liu Bang rose in revolt by slaying a white snake, hence securing the realm.
Now, Emperor Ming of Han, Liu Zhuang, ruled during the tenth year of Yongping, Southern Toad Continent was still predominantly Daoist. Although some scattered Buddhist temples existed, their incense offerings were not flourishing. Only the cities close to West Cow He State had greater reverence for Buddhism.
That day, Emperor Ming of Han finished reviewing the last memorial in his sleeping quarters and felt an overwhelming weariness, so he went straight to sleep.
In his dream, Emperor Ming saw a golden man flying within the imperial palace courtyard. This golden figure was formidable and radiant, which he took to be a divine sign. Awakening the next day, he asked his ministers in the court hall.
“My dear subjects, last night as I was going to bed, a golden man appeared in my dream, flying through our imperial palace courtyard. Among you, there are surely those with extraordinary talents. Do you know why this happened?” Emperor Ming sat high upon the Dragon Throne, his head adorned with the flat heaven crown, and asked softly.
The historian Fu Yi stepped forward, bowed with his hands clasped, and said, “Your Majesty! There is a great sage in the West, named Buddha, who cultivates a Golden Body. Your Majesty probably dreamed of the Western saint.”
General Liu Cang contradicted, “Nonsense, our Great Han Dynasty is protected by the Three Pure Ones. How could there be any Western saint?”
Fu Yi slowly replied, “General Liu Cang may not know this, but the world is vast, divided into the Four Great Continents: Southern Toad Continent, Dongsheng Immortal State, Uttara Kuru Kingdom, and West Cow He State. The Great Han Dynasty is located on Southern Toad Continent, while that Western saint resides in West Cow He State!”
Liu Cang coldly said, “Utter nonsense! Our Great Han Dynasty has always only revered Taoism. How can there be any Western saint?”
However, Emperor Ming of Han, Liu Zhuang, spoke calmly, “Dear subjects, there’s no need to quarrel. Since Historian Fu has said so, let us send someone to the Western Regions to invite this Western saint and see for ourselves.”
Liu Cang, being the biological brother of Liu Zhuang, felt extremely reluctant after hearing him speak thus. The previous night, a sage who had attained Dao visited them, claiming Buddhism intended to encroach on Southern Toad Continent and spread their doctrine there. This person from Buddhism had sinister intentions, and it was definitely impossible to allow their doctrine to enter the Han Dynasty. This sage was indeed the Daoist Equal to Heaven, and seeing the prowess of the Daoist after meeting him, Liu Cang couldn’t help but believe.
After all, considering that Liu Zhuang was a human emperor and carried the fate of the nation, it was difficult to approach him directly. It was better to persuade those around him, ensuring that Buddhist doctrine was kept outside of Southern Toad Continent. Buddhism was formidable, and once it established a foothold, it would spread very quickly. Taoism pursued a philosophy of inaction, and immortals lived freely, unbothered by mortal affairs, beautifully termed as ‘following the Heavenly Dao.’
Afterwards, Buddhist masters repeatedly demonstrated divine powers in front of the people of Southern Toad Continent, thus thoroughly spread their doctrine that, in later generations, even came to slightly surpass Taoism.
The Daoist Equal to Heaven sighed to Liu Cang, “Alas, man is rarely born, and time shifts quickly; life is unpredictable and short, how can one escape the repercussions of their actions? If one does not awaken early and just calmly awaits the end, a single moment of divergence at the crossroads may instantly plunge them into the three evil realms, then they wander through aeons of dust, with no hope for liberation. At such a time, even regrets are too late. Therefore, the elderly Buddhist sect opens the convenient door of life and death through teaching cultivation to escape reincarnation. The Buddhist sect takes emptiness and quiescence as its core, if one gains sudden complete enlightenment, they directly transcend to the other shore; but if habitual tendencies are not yet fully extinguished, they still cling to the life of form.”
This single statement essentially negated the Western Buddhist Sect, and since Liu Cang revered Taoism, he deeply agreed with this.
Buddhist Law greatly conflicted with the current Confucian and Daoist teachings, and due to the rise of Buddhism, future Confucian scholars had to prioritize “Inner Learning,” misinterpreting Sage Confucius’ intents, transforming Confucianism’s principle of Inner Sage and Outer King into abandoning the Outer King, leading the whole society of the Eastern Land into administrative laziness and negativity. In later times, it developed to the astounding extent that taxes and services were no longer required, causing many people, reluctant to pay taxes, to become monks. Even more shockingly, any criminal, upon converting to Buddhism, could escape punishment! Future dynasties faced severe impacts due to Buddhism, leading to three instances of Emperor’s eradicating Buddhism, although Buddhism had by then become deeply entrenched and was difficult to eradicate completely.
Wukong, stepping out of the Heavenly Dao and overlooking the Four Seas, however, did not inherently see Buddhist Law as harmful but rather it was immensely dangerous purely for the dynasties of the Eastern Land!
Which rulers who deeply believed in Buddhism ever had a good end? Once it entered the Eastern Land, it resulted in the total destruction of local technology, indulging in empty talk which brought the country to ruin. In later times, figures like Emperor Wu of Liang, Emperor Huizong of Song, Li Yu, Emperor Shunzong of Tang engaged in Zen meditation that led to their downfalls, causing the weakening of the Eastern Land dynasties over time, and with the rise of self-glorifying scholars, Confucian academics turned into a “plague”! Of course, this is a discussion for another time and shall not be broached now.
Fu Yi, having already received guidance from a high-ranking Buddhist adept, immediately kneeled and proclaimed, “Your Majesty is wise!”
“Where is General of the Household, Cai Yin?” Liu Zhuang asked.
Liu Zhuang, a man of extraordinary talent and strategy, had led the Eastern Han Dynasty to ever greater prosperity. With a Golden Man entering his dream, this was an auspicious sign, held in utmost regard by emperors for it symbolized the rewards and recognition of the heavens. And, being a wise and resolute emperor, Liu Zhuang was staunch in his decisions once made. An auspicious sign from heaven was indeed a legacy to be cherished forever, even a foolish ruler like King Zhou of Shang would be pleased, let alone the wise Liu Zhuang?
The General of the Household, Cai Yin, stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, I am present!”
Liu Zhuang declared, “Cai Yin, take heed of the decree!”
Cai Yin kneeled to await the imperial decree.
Liu Zhuang stated, “I order you to lead envoys to the West Cow He State that Historian Fu mentioned, to see if there truly exists a Great Saint.”
Cai Yin asked, “What if there isn’t?”
Liu Zhuang glanced at Fu Yi and said indifferently, “If there isn’t, then I shall deem Fu Yi to have deceived his sovereign!”
Everyone looked at Fu Yi, but saw the historian composed and unconcerned.
Cai Yin then inquired, “And if there is?”
Liu Zhuang replied, “If there truly is one, then you shall invite the Great Saint of the West to our Eastern Land for a visit, to spread their Daoist teachings and manifest benevolence.”
Liu Zhuang, styling himself as Son of Heaven, was a firm believer in destiny, with the dream of the Golden Man serving as a sign.
Liu Cang, sitting below, gritted his teeth with hatred but was helpless, knowing once his elder brother Liu Zhuang decided on something, it was hardly changeable, hence he could only remain silent.
After the court was dismissed, Liu Cang hastily ran back to his residence to seek advice from the Daoist Equal to Heaven on what could be done.
After all, it is uncertain whether Buddhist Law can spread to the Eastern Land, please tune in next time for more details.
