The Cloud Dream of the Nine | Page 4

justify himself to the Master for his long tarrying, but though he tried
to rein in his thoughts when he retired to his cell the lure of earth was
strong. "If one study diligently the Confucian classics," said the tempter
to him, "one may become a General or a Minister of State, one may
dress in silk and bow before the King and dispense favours among the
people. One can look on beautiful things with the eyes and hear
delightful sounds with the ears, whereas we Buddhists have only our
little dish of rice and spare flask of water, many dry books to learn and
our beads to say over till we are old and grey. The vacant longings that
are never satisfied are too deep to express. When once the spirit and

soul dissipate into smoke and nothingness, who will ever know that a
person called Song-jin lived upon this earth?"
The young priest was tormented by visions of the eight fairy maidens,
his ears ringing with sweet voices until he became like one "half insane
or intoxicated." He burnt incense, knelt, called in all his thoughts,
counted his beads, and recalled to his consciousness the thousand
Buddhas who could help him. But in the middle of the night the Master
called him and, refusing all excuse, condemned him to Hell.
The young Song-jin pleaded with tears and many eloquent words,
saying: "I came to you when only [pxvii] twelve. Our love is as
between an only son and a father. My hopes are all here. Where shall I
go?"
To Song-jin's appeal for mercy the Master said: "While your mind
remains unpurified, even though you are here in the mountains, you
cannot attain to the Truth. But if you never forget it and hold fast, you
may mix with the dust and impurities of the way and your return is sure.
If you ever desire to come back here I will go to bring you. You desire
to go; that is what makes me send you off. You ask, 'Where shall I go?'
I answer, 'To the place where you desire to go.'"
Song-jin descended into Hell, and the King of that region was so
surprised and perplexed by his coming that he sent to the Buddhist God
of the Earth for advice about punishing him.
At the same time the eight fairy maidens arrived in Hell, and the King
after hearing their story commanded nine of his messengers, "in a low
voice," to "take these nine and get them back as soon as possible to the
world of the living."
So a great wind arose, tossed and carried the nine through space, and
after whirling them to the four ends of the earth, finally landed them on
solid ground. They were all born into different families, and as human
beings knew nothing of their former existence nor guessed that their
present experience was an expiation.

Song-jin was born again as the only child of a hermit and his wife.
They loved him greatly, for they saw that he was a heavenly visitor.
The father, who was originally of another world, when he recognised
his son to be a "Superior Man," said good-bye to [pxviii] his wife
whom he had faithfully loved, content now to leave her in the care of
their son, and he returned to his friends the genii on a famous
mountain.
There follows the story of Song-jin's earthly life and his eight-fold love
story. Each fairy maiden having an affinity with Song-jin was destined
to serve him as wife or mistress. Song-jin bore the name of his hermit
father, Yang, and the name given him at birth.
Master Yang, as we shall now know him, was a child of such beauty
and a youth of such wisdom that the governor of his county called him
the "Marvellous Lad" and offered to recommend him to the Court. His
physical strength, learning and ability in the Classics and composition,
his marvellous knowledge of astronomy and geomancy, his military
prowess--he was a wonder of skill in tossing the spear and fencing with
the short sword--were only equalled by his filial piety. He "deftly
solved the mysteries of life as one would split the bamboo."
While still in his teens Yang expressed his desire to go forth to compete
at the Government Examination so that he should "for ever establish
the reputation and honour" of his family. His faithful mother stifled her
fears for the long journey, for she saw that his "spirit was awake and
anxious." By selling her few treasures she was able to supply means for
his travels.
Master Yang set out on his adventure accompanied by a little
serving-lad and a limping donkey. As he had a long and leisured way
before him he was able