The Journey to the West, Revised Edition, Volume 2 (94 page)

Line 8—go home,
huixiang
,
foeniculum vulgare
, is read as
huixiang
. For scientific names of the Chinese herbs, I have followed the kind suggestion and assistance by Dr. Tai-loi Ma to consult the
Zhongyao zhi
, prepared by Zhongguo yixue kexueyuan yaowu yanjiusuo
(4 vols., Beijing, 1959–61).

4
. Mountain: that is, the Spirit (Garu
ḍ
a) Mountain, the abode of Buddha.

5
. Eight-word brick wall: this may be a reference to the construction of a type of wall with cutaway corners so that it resembles the Chinese graph for eight,
ba
.

6
. Buddhas Alcove: literally, an alcove with ten thousand images of Buddha,
wanfo ge
.

7
. Great Hero:
daxiong
, a title of Buddha, which signifies his great power and wisdom to overcome all demonic barriers.

8
. Three honored Buddhas: that is, Śākyamuni and his two most beloved disciples.

9
. Pattra leaves: from the
Borassus flabelliformis
palm leaves used for writing.

10
. Vajra-guardians: Karl L. Reichelt in
Truth and Tradition in Chinese Buddhism
(Shanghai, 1927), p. 195, class these guardian deities “cherubs,” but their appearances hardly resemble those of their Western counterparts.

11
. This image of Guanyin is associated with one of her epiphanic manifestations, as the “Fish-basket Guanyin
.” For an authoritative account, see Yü, pp. 419–38; 39–48. The manifestation forms part of the “South Sea” mythology developed for the goddess and her cult that is also pervasive of this novel. In another episode of this volume
(chapters 47–49
), the “Fish-basket Guanyin” will be prominently featured.

12
. This poem is another lyric written to the tune of “Moon Over West River.”

13
. Grey hair is literally “autumnal hair
,” a seasonal metaphor for hair turning white, made more conspicuous by the moonlight. The reference to the Han court refers by implication to the quarters of the imperial harem, where the palace maidens are particularly anxious about any sign of aging that may diminish their attractiveness.

14
. Towers of Qin
: a common name for brothels.

15
. Yu Liang:
(289–340), an official of the Jin period and a passionate poet. See
Jinshu
,
j
73, in
Ershiwushi
2: 1272b–c.