In Journey to the West, why did the Nine-Tailed Fox Spirit have the Golden Binding Rope (the yellow-gold rope)?
One view suggests she might have been a close attendant or lover of Laozi (Taoist Supreme Lord) in his celestial palace. As the Golden Binding Rope was Laozi’s personal item, it would not be casually given to others — only someone intimately connected to him could possess it.
However, this theory is purely speculative and finds no basis in the original text.
Origin of the Golden Binding Rope
As stated in the original work, the Golden Binding Rope was stolen by Golden Horn and Silver Horn from Laozi before they descended to the mortal realm:
Laozi explained: “The gourd holds my elixirs, the vase stores my holy water, the sword subdues demons, the fan fans my furnace flames, and the rope is my belt. Those two demons—one tended my golden furnace, the other my silver furnace. They stole my treasures and fled to the mortal world. I could not find them until you captured them today.”
— Journey to the West, Chapter 35
A Gift for Maternal Protection
As for why the Nine-Tailed Fox Spirit held the rope, it is likely that Golden Horn and Silver Horn gave it to her out of filial devotion — both for safekeeping and self-defense.
This also served as a strategic precaution: dispersing their treasures avoided concentrating all assets in one place, ensuring backup tools during crises.
“That Golden Binding Rope is kept by our old mother in the Press-Dragon Cave of Press-Dragon Mountain. We’ve sent two imps to invite her to feast on Tang Monk’s flesh and bring the rope to capture Sun Wukong.”
— Journey to the West, Chapter 34
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