The Mountain of Flowers and Fruits is the legendary birthplace and kingdom of Sun Wukong (the Monkey King) in Journey to the West. While its name superficially refers to its lush flora, it carries profound Buddhist symbolism.
Flowers in Buddhism
In Buddhism, flowers, especially the lotus, symbolize blossoming of wisdom, divine blessings and spiritual purity.
One day the Patriarch ascended the platform and took his high seat. Calling together all the immortals, he began to lecture on a great doctrine. He spoke
With words so florid and eloquent
That gold lotus sprang up from the ground.
The doctrine of three vehicles he subtly rehearsed,
Including even the laws’ minutest tittle.
The yak’s-tail waved slowly and spouted elegance:
His thunderous voice moved e’en the Ninth Heaven.
For a while he lectured on Dao;
For a while he spoke on Chan
To harmonize the Three Parties is a natural thing.
One word’s elucidation filled with truth
Points to the birthless showing nature’s mystery.Wukong, who was standing there and listening, was so pleased with the talk that he scratched his ear and rubbed his jaw. Grinning from ear to ear, he could not refrain from dancing on all fours!
— Journey to the West, Chapter 2
The plot alludes to the Buddhist tale where flowers rained from heaven as the Buddha preached sutras.
In Journey to the West, both Guanyin Bodhisattva and the Buddha are depicted seated on lotus flowers, referred to as the ‘Lotus Throne’ or ‘Lotus Platform’.
The two sages received the decree and went straight to the Spirit Mountain. After they had greeted the Four Vajra-Buddhas and the Eight Bodhisattvas in front of the Treasure Temple of Thunderclap, they asked them to announce their arrival. The deities therefore went before the Treasure Lotus Platform and made their report. Tathāgata at once invited them to appear before him, and the two sages made obeisance to the Buddha three times before standing in attendance beneath the platform.
— Journey to the West, Chapter 7
“It was I who personally sought pardon from the Jade Emperor for him, so that he might serve as a means of transportation for the Tang Monk. I can’t understand how he could swallow the monk’s horse instead. But if that’s what happened, I’ll have to get over there myself.” The Bodhisattva left her lotus platform and went out of the divine cave. Mounting the auspicious luminosity with the Guardian, she crossed the South Sea.
— Journey to the West, Chapter 15
The ritual scattering of flowers, as a vital element of Buddhist ceremonies, is also depicted in Journey to the West.
Only then did the old man become convinced that they were his disciples. He turned quickly to bow to Tripitaka, saying, “Venerable Father, it doesn’t matter! It doesn’t matter! They were putting out the lights and scattering the flowers just now because the ceremony was almost done anyway.” “If it’s over,” said Eight Rules, “bring out the end-of-service feast so that we can enjoy it and sleep.”
— Journey to the West, Chapter 47
Fruits in Buddhism
Fruits signify both karmic consequences and spiritual fruition—the rewards of virtuous deeds and disciplined cultivation.
Karmic consequences(causes and effects)
The novel repeatedly emphasizes karmic retribution.
For example, the Emperor Taizong promises to save the Dragon King of Jing River, executed for defying heaven’s rainfall decree. However, he failed to do so. As a result, the Dragon King’s ghost haunts Taizong, forcing him to host a Grand Assembly of Souls and sponsor the scripture quest. The White Bone Demon attempts to kill Tang Sanzang three times, driven by greed for immortality. Sun Wukong destroys her three transformations, annihilating her spirit. Her obsession with immortality leads to permanent dissolution. Sun Wukong’s defiance of heaven leads to 500 years of imprisonment.
Sun Wukong’s journey from a stone-born monkey to the Victorious Fighting Buddha embodies this concept, as his actions (causes) shape his destiny (effects).
Spiritual fruition
In Buddhism, fruits carries multilayered meanings. It refers to the rewards of virtuous deeds and disciplined cultivation. It signifies realization of enlightenment, liberation from suffering, authentic fruition of practice, etc.
Such ultimate spiritual attainment can only be achieved through rigorous cultivation and adherence to the Dharma.
“There is a saying,” said the Bodhisattva,
A man with good intent
Will win Heaven’s assent.If you are willing to return to the fruits of truth, there will be means to sustain your body. There are five kinds of grain in this world and they all can relieve hunger. Why do you need to pass the time by devouring humans?”
— Journey to the West, Chapter 8
Unlike ordinary karmic results, the fruits of righteousness (zhengguo) specifically denotes irreversible attainment, such as becoming an arhat (perfected being), bodhisattva, or Buddha.
“You shall keep the teachings and hold the rosary to enter our gate of Buddha, so that you may again cultivate the fruits of righteousness. Will you do that?”
“I’m willing, I’m willing,” said the Great Sage repeatedly.
— Journey to the West, Chapter 8
The Mountain of Flowers and Fruits is more than a setting—it is a cosmic allegory. Its flowers represent fleeting beauty and divine grace, while its fruits embody the eternal law of cause and effect. Through Wukong’s arc, the novel teaches that enlightenment begins in the “garden” of the self, where every thought and deed plants seeds for future harvest.
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