One day, as the monkeys drilled in the training grounds, the Handsome Monkey King, swept up in the fervor, leaped into the fray, brandishing a heavy ringed blade. Silver light flashed like meteors, drawing cheers from his troops.
Crack! The blade snapped in two. Displeased, Wukong tossed it aside.
“You all have become adept with the bow and arrow and proficient in the use of weapons. But this scimitar of mine is truly cumbersome, not at all to my liking. What can I do?”
The four elder monkeys came forward and memorialized, “The great king is a divine sage, and therefore it is not fit for him to use an earthly weapon. Beneath our Iron-Plank Bridge lies a path to the Dragon Palace of the Eastern Sea. Why not seek a weapon from the Dragon King?”
Dragon Palace of the Eastern Ocean
“Splendid idea! Let me make the trip!” Wukong exclaimed. At the bridge, he cast a water-repelling spell and plunged into the depths, racing toward the Eastern Ocean.
Alerted by his guards, Ao Guang, the Dragon King of the Eastern Ocean, hurriedly greeted him with his sons, grandsons, and shrimp-soldier-crab-general entourage.
“High Immortal,” he said, “please come in!” They went into the palace for proper introduction, and after offering Wukong the honored seat and tea, the king asked, “When did the high immortal become accomplished in the Dao, and what kind of divine magic did he receive?” Wukong said, “Since the time of my birth, I have left the family to practice self-cultivation. I have now acquired a birthless and deathless body. Recently I have been teaching my children how to protect our mountain cave, but unfortunately I am without an appropriate weapon. I have heard that my noble neighbor, who has long enjoyed living in this green-jade palace and its shell portals, must have many divine weapons to spare. I came specifically to ask for one of them.”
Reluctant to refuse, the Dragon King ordered a perch commander to bring out a 3,600-catty nine-pronged fork. Wukong twirled it once and scoffed, “Too light! It doesn’t suit my hand!”
The Dragon King was becoming rather fearful; he ordered a bream admiral and a carp brigadier to carry out a giant halberd, weighing seven thousand two hundred pounds. When he saw this, Wukong ran forward and took hold of it. He tried a few thrusts and parries and then stuck it in the ground, saying, “It’s still light! Much too light!” The old Dragon King was completely unnerved.
Trembling, the Dragon King said, “This is our heaviest weapon!”
Laughing, Wukong said, “As the old saying goes, ‘Who worries about the Dragon King’s lacking treasures!’ Go and look some more, and if you find something I like, I’ll offer you a good price.”
The tortoise advisor whispered, “Great King, the Divine Sea-Anchoring Iron Pillar has glowed mysteriously lately—could it be meant for him?”
“That,” said the Dragon King, “was the measure with which the Great Yu fixed the depths of rivers and oceans when he conquered the Flood. It’s a piece of magic iron, but of what use could it be to him?” “Let’s not be concerned with whether he could find any use for it,” said the Tortoise Minister. “Let’s give it to him, and he can do whatever he wants with it. The important thing is to get him out of this palace!”
Nodding, the Dragon King led Wukong to the ocean’s heart, pointing at a golden-radiant pillar. “If you can lift it, it’s yours.”
The pillar, thick as a barrel and over twenty feet long, stood rooted. Wukong gripped it, muttering, “It’s a little too long and too thick. It would be more serviceable if it were somewhat shorter and thinner.”
Hardly had he finished speaking when the treasure shrunk a few feet in length and became a layer thinner. “Smaller still would be even better,” said Wukong, giving it another bounce in his hands. Again the treasure became smaller. Highly pleased, Wukong yanked it free, shaking the ocean and scattering the Dragon Court in terror.
The treasure revealed itself: a black iron rod with golden bands, inscribed “Compliant Golden-Hooped Rod(Ruyi Jingu Bang) – 13,500 Catties.” Thrilled, Wukong shrank it to needle size, tucked it into his ear, and bid the Dragon King farewell—ignoring the chaos left in his wake.
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