When Sun Wukong failed to defeat the Green Bull Demon, he sought aid from Tathagata Buddha. Though aware of the demon’s origins, Tathagata withheld this knowledge, fearing Wukong’s indiscretion. He dispatched Arhats instead of intervening personally — even when they too proved ineffective.
The Unspoken Threat
Tathagata surveyed the distance with his wisdom-eye and declared:
“Though I know that fiend, I cannot tell you. You, ape, cannot keep secrets! Should he learn I exposed him, he would cease fighting you and storm Mount Ling(Spirit Mountain) instead, bringing calamity upon me. I shall grant you divine power to capture him.”
— Journey to the West, Chapter 52
Tathagata implied that revealing the demon’s identity would provoke an assault on Mount Ling. Why would Buddha fear such an attack? The true concern lay not with the bull demon itself, but the formidable power behind it.
The Logic of Cosmic Checks and Balances
The Green Bull Demon(One-Horned Buffalo) was no ordinary monster — he was the “Single-horned Rhinoceros” mount of Taoist Patriarch Laozi. In Journey to the West, subduing demons follows the principle of “specific counters to specific evils”:
- Most demons are celestial mounts, attendants, or pets (e.g., Golden Horn and Silver Horn Kings requiting Laozi’s retrieval).
- Ultimate resolution requires intervention by their original masters (e.g., Maitreya Buddha reclaiming the Yellow-browed Demon).
Buddhist-Taoist Jurisdictional Boundaries
Though Buddhism and Taoism cooperated (e.g., jointly supporting the pilgrimage), they maintained distinct spheres of influence:
- Laozi represented Taoism’s core authority. The bull demon’s descent was a Taoist “internal oversight.”
- Tathagata, as Buddhism’s leader, risked disrupting balance by intervening in Taoist affairs.
Thus, deploying Eighteen Arhats constituted a measured intervention:
Their defeat prompted instructing Wukong to seek Laozi at Tushita Palace.
This acknowledged Buddhism’s awareness while returning jurisdiction to Taoism — preserving mutual respect and cosmic equilibrium.
The Pilgrimage as Spiritual Crucible
The pilgrimage’s essence was spiritual tempering, not mere monster-slaying. As architect of this trial, Tathagata adhered to “experiential learning”
The Green Bull ordeal taught Wukong “even his powers required higher assistance” and strategic alliance-building (seeking aid from heavens/Buddha) — integral to his enlightenment.
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