Journey to the West: Qijue Mountain Explained – The 800-Li Persimmon Maze and the Legend of the Hou Demon

Brief Introduction

Qijue Mountain is a distinctive geographical landscape in the classic masterpiece Journey to the West, located during the later stage of Tang Seng and his disciples' journey to the Western Heaven. This mountain is famous for "stretching 800 li" and being "covered in persimmons." In the book, it is not an ordinary mountain of fruit trees, but rather a maze filled with obstacles and demonic energy. Qijue Mountain is not just a geographical hurdle; it is one of the trials that the master and his three disciples must overcome on their path of cultivation. Its unique environmental setting stands out distinctly throughout the entire work.

Core Knowledge Points

1. Geographical Features: The Hazardous Situation of Piled Rotten Persimmons

Although named "Qijue" (Seven Absurdities), the mountain is actually named for the persimmons covering it. The book describes the mountain as stretching 800 li, with trees bearing persimmons. However, these are not fresh fruits, but rotten persimmons. The ripe persimmons fall and rot, piling up like mountains, making the road slippery and difficult to traverse, with a foul odor. Tang Seng and his disciples could hardly even set foot there and had to find ways to clear the obstacles, embodying the cultivation metaphor that "the road lies underfoot, but the difficulty lies within the heart."

2. Demon Identity: The Hou Demon, Son of the Bull Demon King

The demon occupying Qijue Mountain is named the Hou Demon (also known as the "Qijue Mountain Badger Spirit"). It is the son of the Bull Demon King. The Hou Demon utilizes the hazardous environment formed by the rotten persimmons to block the pilgrims and attempts to harm Tang Seng. This setting connects Qijue Mountain with the earlier Flaming Mountains plot (the Bull Demon King's family), enriching the family lineage of the antagonist characters.

3. Resolution: The Intervention of the Heavenly General Nezha

Facing the dual obstacles of the Hou Demon and the rotten persimmons, Sun Wukong found it difficult to resolve the situation alone. Ultimately, the heavenly general Nezha was ordered to descend to the mortal realm to assist Sun Wukong in subduing the Hou Demon. Nezha used magical treasures such as the Qiankun Ring; he not only subdued the demon but also helped clear the obstacles on the mountain, allowing the master and disciples to pass.

Connection with the Book's Content

In the overall structure of Journey to the West, Qijue Mountain is located in the late stage of the pilgrimage journey (approaching the arrival in India). By this time, the master and disciples have experienced most of the 81 Tribulations and their mindset is more mature.

* Plot Connection: Qijue Mountain follows immediately after the Flaming Mountains. The Hou Demon, as the son of the Bull Demon King, continues the antagonist thread of the Bull Demon King clan, but the threat level is relatively lower, serving mainly as a transitional hurdle.
* Symbolic Meaning: The mountain covered in rotten persimmons symbolizes the "afflictions" and "habits" on the path of cultivation. Although the rotting fruits seem harmless, they block progress due to accumulation, implying that even minor evil habits accumulated can obstruct the great path. Clearing the persimmons and subduing the Hou Demon symbolizes eliminating internal distractions and external interferences.

Conclusion

Qijue Mountain is a scene in Journey to the West full of life-like atmosphere and symbolic meaning. With its unique setting of an "800-Li Persimmon Mountain," it showcases the rich imagination of the author, Wu Cheng'en. Through the story of the Hou Demon and Nezha, it not only advances the pilgrimage plot but also deepens the theme that "exorcising demons is cultivating the mind."

Keywords: Journey to the West, Qijue Mountain, Hou Demon, Nezha, Rotten Persimmons, Bull Demon King, Knowledge Popularization