In Journey to the West, the Purple Gold Alms Bowl was bestowed upon Tang Sanzang by Emperor Taizong of Tang (Li Shimin) before his pilgrimage. While providing attendants and a horse was practical, the emperor’s deliberate choice of this sacred vessel demands scrutiny.
The emperor summoned him up to the treasure hall and said, “Royal Brother, today is an auspicious day for the journey, and your rescript for free passage is ready. We also present you with a bowl made of purple gold for you to collect alms on your way. Two attendants have been selected to accompany you, and a horse will be your means of travel. You may begin your journey at once.”
— Journey to the West, Chapter 12
Notably:
- The bowl was specially crafted for Xuanzang—imperial palaces don’t stock monastic alms bowls, let alone ones made of purple gold.
- Purple gold is exceptionally rare in the narrative, appearing only in elite items like Sun Wukong’s crown, Laozi’s Purple Golden Gourd(once stolen by Great Kings of the Golden Horn and Silver Horn), and Guanyin’s purple-golden bells(once stolen by her mount, the red-furred lion).
Symbolism of Imperial Authority
Emperor Taizong’s motives were multilayered:
- Constant Reminder: To ensure Tripitaka never forgot his role as the Tang Empire’s emissary.
- Political Signaling: To demonstrate imperial patronage of Buddhism to monastic orders.
- Status Display: The bowl’s luxury marked Sanzang as no ordinary monk, commanding respect along the journey.
This symbolism proved effective: even gravely ill, the Tang monk prioritized notifying the emperor to send a replacement pilgrim, consistently identifying himself as “a subject of Tang and the emperor’s sworn brother.”
Identity Crisis at Journey’s End
Upon retrieving the scriptures, Tripitaka’s dual loyalty became problematic. As a Tripitaka Dharma Master now holding Buddhism’s core teachings, his primary allegiance should shift to the faith—not the Tang throne. Both Ānanda and Kāśyapa, under Tathāgata Buddha’s tacit approval, confronted this conflict.
Separation of body and soul
As the scripture quest neared completion, the Golden Cicada discarded Chen Xuanzang’s mortal body, exchanging it for a purified the Golden Cicada essence or spirit. Thunderclap Temple required and recognized the scripture seeker as the Golden Cicada’s primordial spirit. Not only was it not the Tang monk Xuanzang who ultimately achieved Buddhahood, but even the entity that walked onto the Spirit Mountain.
The Bowl’s Ritual Sacrifice
Ānanda and Kāśyapa’s demand for “gifts” in exchange for scriptures served a deeper purpose:
- Surface Act: Extorting the bowl as “transmission fee.”
- Spiritual Test: Forcing Sanzang to renounce his last tie to secular authority, proving his devotion to Buddha.
Tang monk’s reluctant surrender of the bowl symbolized his final transcendence from imperial envoy to pure disciple.
The Ultimate Enlightenment
This transformation culminated when Sanzang, preparing to expound scriptures in Chang’an, immediately abandoned the texts upon hearing the Vajrapanis’ summons. His swift departure confirmed:
The Purple Gold Alms Bowl’s true purpose was never utility—it was a vessel for spiritual metamorphosis, now emptied to achieve perfect enlightenment.
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