Journey to the West Character Analysis: Judge Cui Yue of the Underworld and the Secret Alteration of the Book of Life and Death

Brief Introduction

In Wu Cheng'en's classical masterpiece Journey to the West, Cui Yue is a highly mysterious and pivotal figure. Serving as a Judge of the Underworld (Netherworld), he oversees the Book of Life and Death, which records the lifespans of all living beings. In the early stages of the story, he secretly modifies the Book of Life and Death to add years to the lifespan of Tang Seng (Xuanzang), thereby facilitating the great journey to fetch scriptures from the Western Heaven. This plot not only reveals the operation of the bureaucratic system within the Underworld but also implies that the quest for scriptures was destined by Heaven. It serves as a crucial bridge connecting human mission with the will of gods and Buddhas.

Core Knowledge Points

Identity and Background: Cui Yue's prototype originates from the Tang Dynasty historical figure Cui Jue. In folklore, he became a Judge of the Underworld after death. In Journey to the West*, he is depicted as a core official under the Ten Kings of Hell, responsible for reviewing and managing the Book of Life and Death for all beings, wielding the authority to cross off names and determine life or death.
* Key Action: Secretly Altering the Book of Life and Death. This is Cui Yue's most famous deed. Although he possessed the power to modify lifespans, in this instance, he chose to violate standard procedures to extend Tang Seng's life, demonstrating the intervention of "Divine Power" in "Life and Death."
* Causal Logic: Cui Yue dared to alter the record because he recognized Tang Seng as the reincarnation of the Golden Cicada, a disciple of Tathagata Buddha. The journey for scriptures was a decree from the Buddha. If the Underworld were to detain Tang Seng, it would be defying Heaven's will; therefore, he chose to cooperate with this divine mandate.
* Cultural Symbolism: He represents the submission to and cooperation with "Heaven's Will" within the feudal bureaucratic system. Simultaneously, he reflects the dialectical relationship in traditional Chinese culture between "Life and Death are Fated" and "Human Effort Can Alter Fate."

Connection to the Content of Journey to the West

This plot primarily appears in the first half of Chapter 10, "The Two Generals Guard the Palace Gates Against Ghosts; Emperor Taizong Returns His Soul from the Underworld."

At that time, Tang Seng was riding his horse through Snake Coiling Mountain and Eagle Sorrow Stream. Because his dragon horse was swallowed by the White Dragon, Tang Seng was attacked by a tiger demon and killed. His soul was summoned to the Underworld. Cui Yue, acting as the Judge, reviewed the Book of Life and Death and found Tang Seng's name, suddenly realizing he should not have died. He immediately added twenty years to his lifespan on the record and assisted the King of Hell in returning Tang Seng's soul to the human world.

This episode marks the starting point of Tang Seng's journey. Without Cui Yue's secret assistance, Tang Seng would not have been able to return to life, and the pilgrimage team could not have been formed. Furthermore, Cui Yue later mentioned in the book that he had a connection with Tang Seng in a past life, further strengthening the legitimacy and sanctity of the pilgrimage mission.

Cultural Impact and Summary

Although not a protagonist, Cui Yue is a key hub connecting the human world and the Underworld, driving the plot forward. His act of "secretly altering the Book of Life and Death" is not only a life-saving grace for Tang Seng but also a significant embodiment of the theme "Heaven's Will Cannot Be Defied" in Journey to the West. In subsequent cultural derivative works, Cui Yue is often portrayed as a just and compassionate deity. For research into the worldview of Journey to the West and the Taoist pantheon, Cui Yue is an indispensable subject of study; his existence enriches the mythological color of the novel.