Exploring the "Wordless Sutras" in Journey to the West: The Deep Metaphors of Ananda and Kasyapa Passing the Sutras

Brief Introduction

In Chapter 97 of Journey to the West, Tang Seng and his disciples, after enduring fourteen years of heat and cold, finally arrive at the Spirit Mountain and the Thunderclap Monastery in the Western Heaven. However, instead of being greeted with chests full of scriptures, they are presented with a few scrolls of blank, wordless sutras passed down by the Venerable Ananda and Kasyapa under the command of the Tathagata. This plot point, seemingly absurd, is actually the pinnacle of the book's religious philosophy and narrative art. It not only drives the story toward its climax but also contains profound Buddhist principles and real-world metaphors, serving as a key to understanding the spiritual core of Journey to the West.

Core Knowledge Points

* Buddhist Doctrine: No Reliance on Words, Transmission Outside the Scriptures
Zen Buddhism believes that truth transcends language; words are merely the "finger pointing at the moon," not the moon itself. The wordless sutras symbolize "Emptiness" (Sunyata), reminding the scripture seekers not to cling to the superficial appearance of text but to pursue awakening within their hearts. The Tathagata's explanation that "the white books are the true wordless sutras" intends to illustrate that the highest Dharma cannot be spoken and must be transmitted from mind to mind.

* Real-world Metaphor: Sutras Should Not Be Given Lightly and Satire of Bureaucracy
The two venerables demanded "human affairs" (a gift/bribe, specifically the Golden Alms Bowl), and the Tathagata tacitly approved of the saying "it cannot be given for free." This emphasizes both the "value of the Dharma," preventing the scriptures from being treated lightly, and satirizes the bureaucratic style and unwritten rules of the society at that time. This depiction of "unwritten rules even in heaven" adds a touch of human烟火 (earthly atmosphere) to the work, reflecting the gap between ideals and reality.

* Spiritual Test: The Dialectic of Form and Essence
Wukong's anger contrasts with Tang Seng's calmness. Wukong is attached to the form of the "true sutras," believing that wordless means useless; Tang Seng, however, gradually realizes that "wordless" is also a sutra, reflecting the maturity of a practitioner's nature. This represents the final cognitive upgrade for the master and disciple regarding the definition of "true sutras."

Connection to Book Content

* Plot Progression and the 81 Tribulations
The wordless sutra incident directly triggered Wukong's complaint to heaven, leading to the subsequent transmission of the written sutras. More importantly, during the return journey, the scriptures were scattered by wind and waves, which coincidentally completed the number of "Ninety-Nine Eight-One Tribulations." The wordless sutra incident is the last hurdle before the completion of the scripture fetching journey; without this interlude, the number of 81 tribulations could not be fulfilled, and the master and disciples could not achieve enlightenment.

* Thematic Sublimation: From "Fetching Sutras" to "Fetching the Meaning"
The true sutras are not on paper but on the journey of fetching them. This plot marks the perfection of the four disciples' cultivation, shifting from external exploration to internal realization. It tells readers that true Dharma lies in practice and comprehension, not in rote memorization.

* Character Arcs and the Ending
Sun Wukong's transition from initial anger and injustice to final understanding reflects the growth of the protector of the Dharma; Tang Seng's acceptance of the wordless sutras reflects the realm of the practitioner. This event foreshadows the final "Five Sages Achieve Enlightenment," indicating that they have transcended attachment to material things and reached the other shore of the Dharma.