We know that in Journey to the West, Chen Xuanzang (Tang Sanzagn or Tripitaka) is the reincarnation of the Golden Cicada (Gold Cicada or Jin Chanzi). So, did Guanyin Bodhisattva choose Chen Xuanzang or the Golden Cicada as the scripture seeker? And who ultimately achieves Buddhahood?
In Journey to the West, it is explicitly stated that Chen Xuanzang is the reincarnation of the Golden Cicada.
When Guanyin Bodhisattva went to Chang’an to find the scripture seeker, she clearly stated that she chose Chen Xuanzang, the reincarnation of the Golden Cicada.
At the same time, the Bodhisattva said to Moksa, “Today is the formal celebration of the Grand Mass, the first seventh of seven such occasions. It’s about time for you and me to join the crowd. First, we want to see how the mass is going; second, we want to find out whether Gold Cicada is worthy of my treasures; and third, we can discover what division of Buddhism he is preaching about.”
— Journey to the West, Chapter 12
The Great Immortal Zhenyuan of Wuzhuang Temple on Longevity Mountain also directly stated that Tang Sanzang is the Golden Cicada.
“You should know,” said the Great Immortal, “that that monk happens to be the incarnate Gold Cicada, the second disciple of Tathāgata, the Aged Sage of the West. Five hundred years ago, I became acquainted with him during the Feast of the Ullambana Bowl.”
— Journey to the West, Chapter 25
Sun Wukong likewise explicitly pointed out that Tang Sanzang is the Golden Cicada.
“You’re babbling again, Idiot!” said Pilgrim. “You don’t realize that Master was the second disciple of our Buddha Tathagata, and originally he was called Elder Gold Cicada. Because he slighted the Law, he was fated to experience this great ordeal.”
— Journey to the West, Chapter 81
Furthermore, among the 81 Tribulations experienced by the scripture-seeking monk, the first tribulation was the “demotion of the Golden Cicada.”
Therefore, the true scripture seeker has always been the Golden Cicada, who was merely cultivating through Chen Xuanzang’s physical body.
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. Chen Xuanzang’s mortal, flesh-and-blood body could not ascend Ling Mountain (the Spirit Mountain / Vulture Peak) directly; hence, it was discarded at Cloud-Transcending Ford (Cloud-Transcending Ferry or Lingyun Du). Not only was it not the Tang dynasty monk Chen Xuanzang who ultimately achieved Buddhahood, but even the entity that walked onto the Spirit Mountain was not that Tang monk’s physical body.
Thus, in the novel, when the Tang dynasty monk who sought the Great Vehicle Scriptures (Mahayana Sutras) finally delivered the scriptures to Chang’an and prepared to expound them, he was summoned by Vajrapanis. At their call, he immediately set down the scriptures and ascended to the cloud and left.
Tang Sanzang in the Chinese history
Fortunately, in actual history, the Tang dynasty monk Chen Xuanzang (Sanzang) journeyed west to seek the Dharma. He traveled for 17 years round trip, covering 50,000 li, passing through 138 countries. He brought back 520 bundles containing 657 volumes of Mahayana and Hinayana Buddhist sutras, vinaya (monastic rules), and shastras (commentaries). After returning, Chen Xuanzang devoted himself entirely to scholarship, spending another 20 years translating scriptures. He became one of China’s Four Great Buddhist Translators and founded the East Asian Yogācāra (Consciousness-Only) School. This is the true Tang Sanzang who sought the genuine scriptures.
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