Journey to the West

12. The Buddhist Robe Assembly

This volume is adapted and illustrated from chapters sixteen, seventeen, and eighteen of the classical literary masterpiece "Journey to the West." It depicts the episode where Tripitaka and his disciples, while passing by Guanyin Monastery, seek lodging. Sun Wukong, showing off his skills, encounters a bandit attack. The old abbot, Elder Jinchi, covets their treasures and devises a plan to set fire and commit murder to seize them. Sun Wukong sees through the scheme, guides the situation to a resolution, and burns down Guanyin Monastery. Amidst the chaos, the bandits are robbed by the Black Bear Demon, and Elder Jinchi, ashamed, takes his own life. After the Black Bear Demon steals the cassock, he plans to hold a Buddhist robe festival to celebrate. Upon discovering this, Sun Wukong engages in several futile battles with the Black Bear Demon, and finally seeks the assistance of Guanyin Bodhisattva, who captures the Black Bear Demon and retrieves the cassock.