--- title: T’ang Sung’s Journey to Get the Buddhist Classics — Gleanings from Chinese folklore · full text with trees · page 2 description: T’ang Sung’s Journey to Get the Buddhist Classics, «Gleanings from Chinese folklore» by Nellie Naomi Russell: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: In the year 629 A.D., a very devout monk, T’ang Sung, hoping to achieve merit by which he might avoid de --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75089/16/page/2/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Gleanings from Chinese folklore](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75089/) / T’ang Sung’s Journey to Get the Buddhi… # T’ang Sung’s Journey to Get the Buddhist Classics · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75089/16/) **2** Now, Sun Hou saw the look and so changed himself into a bird, flew up over the monk, and seeing the worm, flew down and in picking it up saw that it was the “Minister Sheep,” to whom he said, “If this is the trick I will show you what I can do,” and changed himself into a centipede, and crawled upon Minister Fox.[79](../../79/ "tree and pragmatics") He entered his nose, got into his ear, and up into his head, and so distracted did the minister become that he could not endure the pain, and threw himself from the platform and thus died.[80](../../80/ "tree and pragmatics") When the “Minister Deer” saw the calamity he said, “Our great elder brother is dead, I will see what I can do,” so he said, “Let us see who can cut his head off, throw it away, get it again and grow it on.”[81](../../81/ "tree and pragmatics") Sun Hou said, “That is good.[82](../../82/ "tree and pragmatics") It is not the monk’s turn; this is my turn.”[83](../../83/ "tree and pragmatics") Minister Deer asked, “Who will try first, you or I?”[84](../../84/ "tree and pragmatics") Sun Hou replied, “I can cut my head off and grow it on again ten times.”[85](../../85/ "tree and pragmatics") The Deer replied, “I can only once.”[86](../../86/ "tree and pragmatics") So Sun Hou said, “I will try first,” and immediately cut off his head, upon which Minister Deer said, “I can only cut mine off once and I won’t do it now.”[87](../../87/ "tree and pragmatics") “If you don’t, we will fight,” said Sun Hou.[88](../../88/ "tree and pragmatics") Thus driven, he cut his head off, and the monkey, changing to a dog, ran away with it and was gone two hours,—so long that the man died also.[89](../../89/ "tree and pragmatics") Then said Minister Sheep, “You must conquer me or I shall kill you.”[90](../../90/ "tree and pragmatics") “Well,” said Sun Hou, “what shall we do?[91](../../91/ "tree and pragmatics") You decide.”[92](../../92/ "tree and pragmatics") “Well,” said the Sheep, “we will build a fire, put on a big kettle of oil, and when it boils we will take turns in getting in and staying two hours.[93](../../93/ "tree and pragmatics") The one who can do it will be the victor.”[94](../../94/ "tree and pragmatics") So all was ready and Sun Hou got in; before getting in he repeated a charm to the dragon, who came and changed him into a nail and kept the oil in the bottom of the kettle cold while it boiled on top.[95](../../95/ "tree and pragmatics") After two hours Minister Sheep said, “He is dead,” and getting a skimmer he felt around and brought out a nail, which changed to a man, saying, “Ah, I was asleep; having such a good rest.[96](../../96/ "tree and pragmatics") Now it is your turn and I shall not sleep any more.”[97](../../97/ "tree and pragmatics") Thus the Minister Sheep was obliged to get in.[98](../../98/ "tree and pragmatics") Then Sun Hou called the king and said to him, “Look at your great ministers; how can you expect the country to grow and improve when your three greatest ministers are such demons?[99](../../99/ "tree and pragmatics") See what frauds they are, and how they impose on you and the people.”[100](../../100/ "tree and pragmatics") To this the king replied, “I see you are great men and wonderful.[101](../../101/ "tree and pragmatics") You cannot go yet; it is a famine year and you must call down rain for us.”[102](../../102/ "tree and pragmatics") Sun Hou said, “I will go to Heaven and plead with the great Lord of the Heaven (Yü Wang).”[103](../../103/ "tree and pragmatics") With a jump he was in Heaven; to his petition the great God said, “There is no rain for Thibet for three years.”[104](../../104/ "tree and pragmatics") After much pleading from Sun Hou the God replied, “I will give you two inches only.”[105](../../105/ "tree and pragmatics") When the king heard this he said, “That is not enough, I must have more.[106](../../106/ "tree and pragmatics") If you can get two inches you can get more, and then I will let you go.”[107](../../107/ "tree and pragmatics") So Sun Hou said, “I will get you two feet.”[108](../../108/ "tree and pragmatics") “That is too much,” replied the king, “but a little more than we need is no great matter, only get it.”[109](../../109/ "tree and pragmatics") When Sun Hou told the great God of Rain, he said, “I will not let them say how much I am to give, I will give enough.”[110](../../110/ "tree and pragmatics") When Sun Hou took this message to the king he thanked them and let them go on their way, promising to entertain them on their return.[111](../../111/ "tree and pragmatics") They went on their journey; the monk, T’ang Sung, riding the white horse, the priest praying and reading.[112](../../112/ "tree and pragmatics") At night they came to the foot of a high mountain where there was a temple where lived a demon.[113](../../113/ "tree and pragmatics") This temple was called the “Temple of Thunder.”[114](../../114/ "tree and pragmatics") Sun Hou told the priest he did not think the temple was safe, but the priest said it must be because it was a temple, and he was sure they would find rest and food.[115](../../115/ "tree and pragmatics") When they saw the name of the temple they knocked their heads and went slowly forward until they saw what seemed a great image of Buddha.[116](../../116/ "tree and pragmatics") When Sun Hou came close to it he said, “That is not the Buddha,” and refused to knock his head.[117](../../117/ "tree and pragmatics") Just then a voice said, “Why do you not knock your head?” to which Sun Hou replied, “I do not think you look like Buddha.”[118](../../118/ "tree and pragmatics") Immediately they heard a bell strike and something was let down from above and enveloped them in darkness.[119](../../119/ "tree and pragmatics") Sun Hou felt of it; it was hard like copper.[120](../../120/ "tree and pragmatics") They walked all around it but could not get out.[121](../../121/ "tree and pragmatics") They exerted all their combined strength but could not remove the darkness.[122](../../122/ "tree and pragmatics") Then Sun Hou repeated his wonderful charm and twenty-eight soldiers from the great lord of the Heaven suddenly came in the shape of a great cow.[123](../../123/ "tree and pragmatics") Sun Hou called to him to make a hole with his horn; this he did, but when he pulled out his horn the hole closed up; again he did it, and Sun Hou changed into a mustard seed and was pulled out by the cow.[124](../../124/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he let the soldiers out of the iron cow—and the great demon got a great string and bound them and put them in a cave.[125](../../125/ "tree and pragmatics") Sun Hou gradually grew smaller and his rope loosened and he escaped; with one jump he reached Heaven and brought down many soldiers from the great God.[126](../../126/ "tree and pragmatics") When the great demon saw them he said, “I am not afraid of you, even if you are from Heaven.[127](../../127/ "tree and pragmatics") I will yet eat you.”[128](../../128/ "tree and pragmatics") Among the Heavenly Soldiers was one very great one, and he wore a wheel of iron on one foot and a wheel of wind on the other; on his wrist was a beautiful bracelet and he wore a Heavenly chain.[129](../../129/ "tree and pragmatics") A terrible battle was fought in the air between the soldiers of the demons and the Heavenly band.[130](../../130/ "tree and pragmatics") The great demon threw up his charmed lasso and brought down the bracelet, and again, and brought down the chain.[131](../../131/ "tree and pragmatics") Then Sun Hou saw him lasso all the Heavenly Soldiers, and just as the string was to envelope him he gave a jump and turned a somersault—and landed on top of a mountain.[132](../../132/ "tree and pragmatics") There he gave himself up to despair in a cave.[133](../../133/ "tree and pragmatics") Along came a man who asked why he was crying and he said, “I promised to take a monk to India and to protect him.[134](../../134/ "tree and pragmatics") He and his companions are bound and in a cave.[135](../../135/ "tree and pragmatics") I got twenty-eight servants from the great God, they are also bound; and now all the Heavenly Soldiers have been defeated and are bound.”[136](../../136/ "tree and pragmatics") “You are too impatient,” replied the man.[137](../../137/ "tree and pragmatics") “Do you not remember that a great iron beam can be rubbed to a fine needle if you but take time?[138](../../138/ "tree and pragmatics") You go to the demons who live in these caves in the mountains, and find out what kind of a demon this is.”[139](../../139/ "tree and pragmatics") Sun Hou went to them all and at last found one who said he knew the demon of the Thunder temple.[140](../../140/ "tree and pragmatics") He had one time been his servant but had stolen his treasure and run away.[141](../../141/ "tree and pragmatics") “You can only take him by craft and I will help you.[142](../../142/ "tree and pragmatics") He is most fond of melons, and we will plant some melons and test him.[143](../../143/ "tree and pragmatics") I will be the gardener and you go and call him out.”[144](../../144/ "tree and pragmatics") Then Sun Hou went out and reviled the demon and he came out in great anger; Sun Hou changed into a fine melon and the demon, seeing him, ate him.[145](../../145/ "tree and pragmatics") Sun Hou said, “Now I will tear your heart out of you.”[146](../../146/ "tree and pragmatics") In his great distress the demon pleaded so hard that Sun Hou came out by the demon’s ear and together they fought all over the melon patch in the moonlight.[147](../../147/ "tree and pragmatics") After the battle, worn and weary, Sun Hou liberated the soldiers and his companions, and then looking about him saw there was no mountain, no temple, but a fine restful road with eating-houses and rest-houses on the way.[148](../../148/ "tree and pragmatics") “Ah, monk,” said he, “so it ever is with earth’s power and glory.[149](../../149/ "tree and pragmatics") It is all vanity—vanity—empty—empty.”[150](../../150/ "tree and pragmatics") In restful travel they reached their journey’s end and found the book.[151](../../151/ "tree and pragmatics") On their return journey they had many adventures, but they had all grown wiser and learned much.[152](../../152/ "tree and pragmatics") When they reached the bank of the river the turtle was there waiting to carry them across.[153](../../153/ "tree and pragmatics") They got on his back and when half-way over he asked if they had found the “Book” and seen the “great Buddha.”[154](../../154/ "tree and pragmatics") “Yes,” they said.[155](../../155/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the turtle asked them if they had remembered his request, and when they said they had forgotten it, the turtle was so angry he dropped down from under them and left them in the water.[156](../../156/ "tree and pragmatics") They had a terrible time getting to the other side, and as the book was paper all they could rescue of it were the words, “Ah-me t’on Fo,” and this they told the Emperor was all there was to the Classic.[157](../../157/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75089/16/) **2** - ← previous: [page 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75089/16/) - next →: [A Story of Old China, part 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75089/17/) - ↑ back to [Gleanings from Chinese folklore](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75089/)