In Journey to the West, Sun Wukong encounters a woodcutter who guides him to seek a master and learn immortality. This woodcutter’s role mirrors an ancient Chinese legend, weaving Taoist themes of timelessness and illusion into the narrative.
As he was looking about, he suddenly heard the sound of a man speaking deep within the woods. Hurriedly he dashed into the forest and cocked his ear to listen. It was someone singing, and the song went thus:
I watch chess games, my ax handle’s rotted.
I chop at wood, zheng zheng the sound.
I walk slowly by the cloud’s fringe at the valley’s entrance.
Selling my firewood to buy some wine,
I am happy and laugh without restraint.
When the path is frosted in autumn’s height,
I face the moon, my pillow the pine root.
Sleeping till dawn
I find my familiar woods.
I climb the plateaus and scale the peaks
To cut dry creepers with my ax.
When I gather enough to make a load,
I stroll singing through the marketplace
And trade it for three pints of rice,
With nary the slightest bickering
Over a price so modest.
Plots and schemes I do not know;
Without vainglory or attaint
My life’s prolonged in simplicity.
Those I meet,
If not immortals, would be Daoists,
Seated quietly to expound the Yellow Court .When the Handsome Monkey King heard this, he was filled with delight, saying, “So the immortals are hiding in this place.”
— Journey to the West, Chapter 1
The Legend of “Watching Chess Until the Axe Rots”
The woodcutter’s story in the novel nods to the fable of Wang Zhi (王质), recorded in Records of Mysterious Phenomena (《述异记》) by Ren Fang (任昉) of the Southern Qi Dynasty.
Wang Zhi, a Jin Dynasty woodcutter, ventures deep into Mount Shishi and stumbles upon immortals playing Weiqi (Chinese Go). Entranced, he watches for what feels like moments.
The immortals give him a date-like seed to stave off hunger. When he finally leaves, his axe handle has rotted, and centuries have passed in the mortal world. His village and family are long gone.
This tale coined the idiom “观棋烂柯” (“watching chess until the axe rots”), symbolizing:
- Timelessness of the Divine: A single game for immortals spans mortal generations.
- Illusion of Reality: The blurring of temporal boundaries between mortal and celestial realms.
Weiqi’s Historical and Cultural Legacy
Weiqi, dating back over 4,000 years, is one of humanity’s oldest board games. Its alternative name, 烂柯 (“rotten axe”), directly references Wang Zhi’s legend.
Emperor Taizong Plays Chess with Wei Zheng
In Chapter 10, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty summons his minister Wei Zheng to play chess in the palace. This act is part of a plan to save the Dragon King of Jing River, who had violated heavenly law by altering rainfall and was sentenced to execution.
The Dragon King, desperate to avoid death, begs Taizong in a dream to intervene. Taizong agrees and attempts to distract Wei Zheng—who is secretly appointed as the ”human affairs officer” tasked with carrying out heavenly punishments—by keeping him occupied with a chess game.
During their match, Wei Zheng suddenly dozes off at noon (the scheduled execution hour). While his body remains seated at the chessboard, his spirit ascends to heaven to behead the Dragon King. Taizong, unaware of Wei Zheng’s dual role(both mortal and divine), assumes his minister is merely tired and does not interrupt.
The emperor asked the royal attendants to bring out a large chess set, saying, “We shall have a game with our worthy subject.” The various concubines took out the chessboard and set it on the imperial table. After expressing his gratitude, Wei Zheng set out to play chess with the Tang emperor, both of them moving the pieces step by step into positions.
The two of them, emperor and subject, played chess until three quarters past the noon hour, but the game was not yet finished. Suddenly Wei Zheng put his head on the table and fell fast asleep. Taizong laughed and said, “Our worthy subject truly has worn himself out for the state and exhausted his strength on behalf of the empire. He has therefore fallen asleep in spite of himself.” Taizong allowed him to sleep on and did not arouse him.
— Journey to the West, Chapter 10
The Dragon King is slain, and his vengeful spirit haunts Taizong, leading to the emperor’s near-death experience and a subsequent journey to the underworld.
The chess game symbolizes human powerlessness against divine decree, as even an emperor cannot thwart heaven’s judgment.
Weiqi’s Historical and Cultural Legacy
Weiqi, dating back over 4,000 years, is one of humanity’s oldest board games. Its alternative name, 烂柯 (“rotten axe”), directly references Wang Zhi’s legend.
With its strategic depth and cosmic symbolism (black/white stones as yin/yang), Weiqi reflects the novel’s themes of balance and destiny.
The chessboard’s the earth; the pieces are the sky;
The colors are light and dark as the whole universe.
When playing reaches that skillful, subtle stage,
Boast and laugh with the old Immortal of Chess.— Journey to the West, Chapter 10
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