Interpretation of the Final Chapter of "Journey to the West": The Five Saints Attaining Truth and the Perfection of Cultivation

Brief Introduction

"The Five Saints Attaining Truth" is the core concept of the grand finale of the Ming Dynasty mythological novel Journey to the West. It refers to the process where Tang Seng, his four disciples, and the White Dragon Horse, after enduring the 81 tribulations and obtaining the true scriptures, are bestowed with titles of Buddhahood and Sainthood at Vulture Peak (Lingshan). This plot marks the perfect completion of the scripture-retrieval mission and serves as the ultimate sublimation of the book's theme of cultivation, symbolizing the final liberation after faith and hardships.

Core Knowledge Points

In Chapter 100 of Journey to the West, titled "Return Directly to the Eastern Land, Five Saints Attain Truth," the Tathagata Buddha bestowed different titles upon the group based on their cultivation merits. Specifically, it includes the following five members:

* Buddha of the Virtue of Sandalwood: Tang Seng. Due to his firm will, though mortal in flesh, his faith remained unswerving. He ultimately achieved true fruit, representing the ultimate victory of faith.
* Victorious Fighting Buddha: Sun Wukong. Due to his subduing of demons and monsters, and the rectification of the "Mind Monkey," he conquered both inner and outer demons, achieving the highest attainment, symbolizing the tempering of will.
* Envoy of the Pure Altar: Zhu Bajie. Although he had greed, he was able to correct his mistakes. He is responsible for enjoying the offerings and still belongs to the true fruit, embodying tolerance and transformation.
* Golden-Armed Arhat: Sha Wujing. Due to his honesty and integrity, and silently bearing the burden of luggage and protection, he received this title, symbolizing perseverance and dedication.
* Eight-Part Heavenly Dragon Horse: White Dragon Horse. Due to his merit in carrying Tang Seng, he restored his dragon form and ranked among the Eight-Part Heavenly Dragons, representing endurance and bearing.

Connection to the Book's Content

"The Five Saints Attaining Truth" did not come out of nowhere but was based on rigorous foreshadowing throughout the book. First, it directly relates to the completion of the 81st Tribulation. At the foot of Vulture Peak, because the scriptures were soaked by water, Guanyin Bodhisattva calculated and found one tribulation missing. She then instructed the Vajra to drop the master and disciples from the clouds to complete the setting of "81 Tribulations," only then were they bestowed titles. This reflects the Buddhist concept that "Cause and Effect is not false."

Secondly, this ending echoes the book's main theme of "Mental Cultivation." The five disciples are actually different aspects of one person's heart: Tang Seng represents faith, Wukong represents will, Bajie represents desire, Sha Seng represents perseverance, and the White Horse represents endurance. The Five Saints Attaining Truth symbolizes the unification and sublimation of various aspects of human nature after being tempered.

Furthermore, the differences in titles reflect the Buddhist view of karma. Wukong became a Buddha because he thoroughly subdued the Mind Monkey, while Bajie did not become a Buddha because he still had greed that needed tempering. This differentiated ending makes Journey to the West not just an adventure novel, but a classic work containing profound cultivation philosophy. The five disciples departed from Chang'an, traveled 108,000 li, and finally converged at Vulture Peak, completing the transformation from the mortal to the divine.

Conclusion

"The Five Saints Attaining Truth" is the perfect period for Journey to the West. It tells readers that only through enduring hardships and maintaining firm faith can one attain true fruit. This theme, having lasted for hundreds of years, still holds profound inspirational significance today.