Sanzang and his companions departed Chang’an, traveling tirelessly each day. The Tang monk was somewhat impatient to get going.
One predawn, he arose a trifle too early. The fact is that this was late autumn, when cocks crow rather early—at about the time of the fourth watch. Under frost and moonlight, they journeyed for some twenty or thirty miles, when they came upon a mountain range – the Twin Fork Ridge (Double-Fork Ridge). It soon became exceedingly difficult for them to find their way. As they had to poke around in the grass to look for a path, they began to worry that they might be heading in the wrong direction.
Tumbled into the den of tigers
In that very anxious moment, they suddenly tripped; all three of them as well as the horse tumbled into a deep pit. Tripitaka was terrified; his companions all shook with fear. They were still trembling when they heard voices shouting, “Seize them! Seize them!”
A violent wind swept by, and a mob of fifty or sixty ogres appeared, who seized Tripitaka with his companions and hauled them out of the pit. Quivering and shivering, the Master of the Law stole a glance around and saw a ferocious Monster King(a tiger-headed overlord) seated up on high. A hulking black figure (a black bear demon) and a rotund brute (a wild ox demon) entered, devouring Sanzang’s two companions with gruesome crunching. Sanzang fainted in terror.
The Rescue of Tripitaka
At dawn, he awoke to an old man freeing his bonds. “This is Twin Fork Ridge,” the elder said. “The demons you met were the General Yin (a tiger spirit), the Mountain Lord (a black bear spirit), and the Steer Hermit (a wild bull spirit). The various ogres are all demons of mountains and trees, spirits of strange beasts and wolves. Follow me—I’ll guide you.”
Grateful, Sanzang followed the old man out of the pit. As he bowed to thank him, the elder transformed into a gust of wind, mounting a white crane skyward. A scroll fluttered down:
“I am Venus of the West, sent to save your life.
Divine aid awaits ahead—persevere, and cease your strife.”
Sanzang kowtowed toward heaven, then resumed his journey—destiny’s gears now turning toward his fabled disciples.
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