In the novel, the monk and the emperor swore brotherhood in the palace, and the Tang Monk, accompanied by his horse, set off westward.
Highly pleased, the Tang emperor went forward to raise up the monk with his royal hands, saying, “If the Master is willing to express his loyalty this way, undaunted by the great distance or by the journey over mountains and streams, we are willing to become bond brothers with you.” Xuanzang touched his forehead to the ground to express his gratitude. Being indeed a righteous man, the Tang emperor went at once before Buddha’s image in the temple and bowed to Xuanzang four times, addressing him as “our brother and holy monk.”
— Journey to the West, Chapter 12
In Journey to the West, the Tang Monk embarked on his journey as an official envoy.
What is the true story?
In reality, the Tang Monk had repeatedly petitioned the imperial court for permission to travel west, but received no response. Defiantly, he made a daring decision.
In the autumn of 629 AD, as severe frost struck the northern provinces of the Tang Empire, Emperor Taizong permitted his subjects to venture out in search of food. Seizing this opportunity, the 29-year-old Tang Monk disguised himself among refugees and slipped out of Chang’an. He had never met the emperor, let alone been honored as a royal brother or appointed as an official envoy. More dramatically, shortly after his departure, he was declared a stowaway.
The novel Journey to the West depicts multiple instances where the Tang Monk had to present his travel passport. At each kingdom he passed through, he would show the ruler a passport issued by the Tang emperor, which the king would then endorse with his seal.
In reality, the Tang Monk possessed no such document. Upon reaching the border city of Liangzhou, he found it nearly impossible to proceed. Forced to travel clandestinely, he moved by night and hid by day. The closer he drew to the frontier, the riskier his escape became. Remarkably, many individuals aided him—including Tang magistrates and foreign kings along his route to India.
For example, a Tartar named Shipantuo, deeply inspired by Xuanzang, sought initiation into the Five Precepts of Buddhism and volunteered to guide him. Some scholars believe Shipantuo served as the prototype for the Monkey King in Journey to the West.
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