In Journey to the West, Guanyin Bodhisattva grants Tang Sanzang the Tightening Curse (Tight-Fillet Spell) and its accompanying golden fillet to subdue Sun Wukong.
“I have a spell which is called the True Words for Controlling the Mind, or the Tight-Fillet Spell. You must memorize it secretly; commit it firmly to your memory, and don’t let anyone learn of it. I’ll try to catch up with him and persuade him to come back and follow you. When he returns, give him the shirt and the cap to wear; and if he again refuses to obey you, recite the spell silently. He will not dare do violence or leave you again.”
On hearing these words, Tripitaka bowed his head to thank her. The old woman changed herself into a shaft of golden light and vanished toward the east. Then Tripitaka realized that it was the Bodhisattva Guanyin who had taught him the True Words.
— Journey to the West, Chapter 14
When Tang Sanzang recites the incantation(the “True Words for Controlling the Mind” as stated in the novel), the golden fillet tightens, inflicting unbearable agony on Sun Wukong’s head, forcing him into submission.
Metaphor for Discipline
This spell symbolizes the necessity to rein in Sun Wukong’s mischievous and rebellious nature, while also reflecting his gradual transformation from a wild, untamable being into a Buddhist disciple guided by wisdom and morality.
The fillet mirrors Buddhist teachings on ”taming the mind”. Just as the spell physically restrains Sun Wukong, Buddhist precepts curb destructive impulses, guiding practitioners toward liberation.
Its tightening parallels the ”suffering of attachment”, where clinging to ego causes pain, a theme central to Sun Wukong’s arc.
The spell embodies the tension between free will and destiny, a recurring motif in the pilgrims’ quest.
Enlightenment and Autonomy
Sun Wukong’s eventual self-mastery mirrors the novel’s message: true freedom lies in overcoming inner chaos, not external rebellion.
As Sun Wukong endures trials and ultimately attains enlightenment, he discovers the golden fillet has vanished. This disappearance signifies that he has achieved inner awakening and no longer requires external constraints. He has mastered self-discipline and self-cultivation, embodying the Buddhist ideal of transcending earthly desires through spiritual growth.
Enlightenment dissolves all illusions of separation between self and the universe.
The fillet’s disappearance also aligns with the Daoist concept of ”wuwei” (non-action)—true mastery arises not from forced control but spontaneous harmony with the Tao.
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