第四十回 · 枯松訴苦 A Tale of Woe by the Withered Pine — Journey to the West

原文 Original text 繁體 Traditional Reader's edition

枯松訴苦 A Tale of Woe by the Withered Pine

那nà妖yāo魔mó見jiàn他tā下xià問wèn，越yuè弄nòng虛xū頭tóu，眼yǎn中zhōng噙qín淚lèi，叫jiào道dào：「師shī父fù呀ya，山shān西xī去qù有yǒu一yì條tiáo枯kū松sōng澗jiàn，澗jiàn那nà邊biān有yǒu一yì莊zhuāng村cūn，我wǒ是shì那nà裡lǐ人rén家jiā。我wǒ祖zǔ公gōng公gōng姓xìng紅hóng，只zhǐ因yīn廣guǎng積jī金jīn銀yín，家jiā私sī巨jù萬wàn，混hùn名míng喚huàn做zuò紅hóng百bǎi萬wàn。年nián老lǎo歸guī世shì已yǐ久jiǔ，家jiā產chǎn遺yí與yǔ我wǒ父fù。近jìn來lái人rén事shì奢shē侈chǐ，家jiā私sī漸jiàn廢fèi，改gǎi名míng喚huàn做zuò紅hóng十shí萬wàn。專zhuān一yī結jié交jiāo四sì路lù豪háo傑jié，將jiāng金jīn銀yín借jiè放fàng，希xī圖tú利lì息xī。怎zěn知zhī那nà無wú籍jí之zhī人rén，設shè騙piàn了le去qù啊a，本běn利lì無wú歸guī。我wǒ父fù發fā了le洪hóng誓shì，分fēn文wén不bú借jiè。那nà借jiè金jīn銀yín人rén，身shēn貧pín無wú計jì，結jié成chéng兇xiōng黨dǎng，明míng火huǒ執zhí杖zhàng，白bái日rì殺shā上shàng我wǒ門mén，將jiāng我wǒ財cái帛bó盡jìn情qíng劫jié擄lǔ；把bǎ我wǒ父fù親qīn殺shā了le；見jiàn我wǒ母mǔ親qīn有yǒu些xiē顏yán色sè，拐guǎi將jiāng去qù做zuò甚shén麼me壓yā寨zhài夫fū人rén。那nà時shí節jié，我wǒ母mǔ親qīn捨shě不bù得dé我wǒ，把bǎ我wǒ抱bào在zài懷huái裡lǐ，哭kū哀āi哀āi，戰zhàn兢jīng兢jīng，跟gēn隨suí賊zéi寇kòu。不bù期qī到dào此cǐ山shān中zhōng，又yòu要yào殺shā我wǒ。多duō虧kuī母mǔ親qīn哀āi告gào，免miǎn教jiào我wǒ刀dāo下xià身shēn亡wáng，卻què將jiāng繩shéng子zi吊diào我wǒ在zài樹shù上shàng，只zhǐ教jiào凍dòng餓è而ér死sǐ。那nà些xiē賊zéi將jiāng我wǒ母mǔ親qīn不bù知zhī掠lüè往wǎng那nǎ裡lǐ去qù了le。我wǒ在zài此cǐ已yǐ吊diào三sān日rì三sān夜yè，更gèng沒méi一yí個gè人rén來lái行xíng走zǒu。不bù知zhī那nǎ世shì裡lǐ修xiū積jī，今jīn生shēng得dé遇yù老lǎo師shī父fù。若ruò肯kěn捨shě大dà慈cí悲bēi，救jiù我wǒ一yí命mìng回huí家jiā，就jiù典diǎn身shēn賣mài命mìng，也yě酬chóu謝xiè師shī恩ēn。即jí使shǐ黃huáng沙shā蓋gài面miàn，更gèng不bù敢gǎn忘wàng也yě。」那nà妖yāo魔mó见jiàn他tā下xià问wèn，越yuè弄nòng虚xū头tóu，眼yǎn中zhōng噙qín泪lèi，叫jiào道dào：「师shī父fù呀ya，山shān西xī去qù有yǒu一yì条tiáo枯kū松sōng涧jiàn，涧jiàn那nà边biān有yǒu一yì庄zhuāng村cūn，我wǒ是shì那nà里lǐ人rén家jiā。我wǒ祖zǔ公gōng公gōng姓xìng红hóng，只zhǐ因yīn广guǎng积jī金jīn银yín，家jiā私sī巨jù万wàn，混hùn名míng唤huàn做zuò红hóng百bǎi万wàn。年nián老lǎo归guī世shì已yǐ久jiǔ，家jiā产chǎn遗yí与yǔ我wǒ父fù。近jìn来lái人rén事shì奢shē侈chǐ，家jiā私sī渐jiàn废fèi，改gǎi名míng唤huàn做zuò红hóng十shí万wàn。专zhuān一yī结jié交jiāo四sì路lù豪háo杰jié，将jiāng金jīn银yín借jiè放fàng，希xī图tú利lì息xī。怎zěn知zhī那nà无wú籍jí之zhī人rén，设shè骗piàn了le去qù啊a，本běn利lì无wú归guī。我wǒ父fù发fā了le洪hóng誓shì，分fēn文wén不bú借jiè。那nà借jiè金jīn银yín人rén，身shēn贫pín无wú计jì，结jié成chéng凶xiōng党dǎng，明míng火huǒ执zhí杖zhàng，白bái日rì杀shā上shàng我wǒ门mén，将jiāng我wǒ财cái帛bó尽jìn情qíng劫jié掳lǔ；把bǎ我wǒ父fù亲qīn杀shā了le；见jiàn我wǒ母mǔ亲qīn有yǒu些xiē颜yán色sè，拐guǎi将jiāng去qù做zuò甚shén么me压yā寨zhài夫fū人rén。那nà时shí节jié，我wǒ母mǔ亲qīn舍shě不bù得dé我wǒ，把bǎ我wǒ抱bào在zài怀huái里lǐ，哭kū哀āi哀āi，战zhàn兢jīng兢jīng，跟gēn随suí贼zéi寇kòu。不bù期qī到dào此cǐ山shān中zhōng，又yòu要yào杀shā我wǒ。多duō亏kuī母mǔ亲qīn哀āi告gào，免miǎn教jiào我wǒ刀dāo下xià身shēn亡wáng，却què将jiāng绳shéng子zi吊diào我wǒ在zài树shù上shàng，只zhǐ教jiào冻dòng饿è而ér死sǐ。那nà些xiē贼zéi将jiāng我wǒ母mǔ亲qīn不bù知zhī掠lüè往wǎng那nǎ里lǐ去qù了le。我wǒ在zài此cǐ已yǐ吊diào三sān日rì三sān夜yè，更gèng没méi一yí个gè人rén来lái行xíng走zǒu。不bù知zhī那nǎ世shì里lǐ修xiū积jī，今jīn生shēng得dé遇yù老lǎo师shī父fù。若ruò肯kěn舍shě大dà慈cí悲bēi，救jiù我wǒ一yí命mìng回huí家jiā，就jiù典diǎn身shēn卖mài命mìng，也yě酬chóu谢xiè师shī恩ēn。即jí使shǐ黄huáng沙shā盖gài面miàn，更gèng不bù敢gǎn忘wàng也yě。」

逐句解 Line by line

那nà妖yāo魔mó見jiàn他tā下xià問wèn，越yuè弄nòng虛xū頭tóu，眼yǎn中zhōng噙qín淚lèi，叫jiào道dào：「師shī父fù呀ya，山shān西xī去qù有yǒu一yì條tiáo枯kū松sōng澗jiàn，澗jiàn那nà邊biān有yǒu一yì莊zhuāng村cūn，我wǒ是shì那nà裡lǐ人rén家jiā。那nà妖yāo魔mó见jiàn他tā下xià问wèn，越yuè弄nòng虚xū头tóu，眼yǎn中zhōng噙qín泪lèi，叫jiào道dào：「师shī父fù呀ya，山shān西xī去qù有yǒu一yì条tiáo枯kū松sōng涧jiàn，涧jiàn那nà边biān有yǒu一yì庄zhuāng村cūn，我wǒ是shì那nà里lǐ人rén家jiā。

That demon, seeing him inquire below, played the fraud all the more, tears brimming in his eyes, and cried: "Master! Off to the west of the mountain there's a Withered Pine Gully, and on the far side of the gully a hamlet — I'm a person of that place.

那妖魔: deictic 那 = nà. 眼中噙淚: 中 = zhōng. 澗那邊: deictic 那 = nà. 我是那裡人家: deictic 那裡 = nà lǐ ("that place," referring back to the named gully).

我wǒ祖zǔ公gōng公gōng姓xìng紅hóng，只zhǐ因yīn廣guǎng積jī金jīn銀yín，家jiā私sī巨jù萬wàn，混hùn名míng喚huàn做zuò紅hóng百bǎi萬wàn。我wǒ祖zǔ公gōng公gōng姓xìng红hóng，只zhǐ因yīn广guǎng积jī金jīn银yín，家jiā私sī巨jù万wàn，混hùn名míng唤huàn做zuò红hóng百bǎi万wàn。

My grandfather was surnamed Hong, and because he had amassed vast gold and silver, a family fortune of untold thousands, his nickname was Hong-Hundred-Thousand.

混名 = "nickname." 紅百萬 ("Hong-Hundred-Thousand"): a wealth-boast name.

年nián老lǎo歸guī世shì已yǐ久jiǔ，家jiā產chǎn遺yí與yǔ我wǒ父fù。年nián老lǎo归guī世shì已yǐ久jiǔ，家jiā产chǎn遗yí与yǔ我wǒ父fù。

Being old, he had long since departed the world, and the family estate passed to my father.

歸世 = "passed away." 遺與我父: 遺 = yí ("to bequeath").

近jìn來lái人rén事shì奢shē侈chǐ，家jiā私sī漸jiàn廢fèi，改gǎi名míng喚huàn做zuò紅hóng十shí萬wàn。近jìn来lái人rén事shì奢shē侈chǐ，家jiā私sī渐jiàn废fèi，改gǎi名míng唤huàn做zuò红hóng十shí万wàn。

Of late, with extravagant living, the family fortune gradually wasted away, and his name was changed to Hong-Ten-Thousand.

奢侈 = "extravagance." 紅十萬: the diminished fortune reflected in the reduced boast-name.

專zhuān一yī結jié交jiāo四sì路lù豪háo傑jié，將jiāng金jīn銀yín借jiè放fàng，希xī圖tú利lì息xī。专zhuān一yī结jié交jiāo四sì路lù豪háo杰jié，将jiāng金jīn银yín借jiè放fàng，希xī图tú利lì息xī。

Single-mindedly he took up with stalwarts of the four roads, lending out his gold and silver in hopes of interest.

專一: 一 here lexical yī (专一 "single-minded"), NOT the sandhi-varying 一. 將金銀: disposal 將 = jiāng.

怎zěn知zhī那nà無wú籍jí之zhī人rén，設shè騙piàn了le去qù啊a，本běn利lì無wú歸guī。怎zěn知zhī那nà无wú籍jí之zhī人rén，设shè骗piàn了le去qù啊a，本běn利lì无wú归guī。

But who could know that those unregistered vagabonds, having swindled it all away, left both principal and interest gone for good.

那無籍之人: deictic 那 = nà. 設騙了去: aspect 了 = le.

我wǒ父fù發fā了le洪hóng誓shì，分fēn文wén不bú借jiè。我wǒ父fù发fā了le洪hóng誓shì，分fēn文wén不bú借jiè。

My father then swore a great oath to lend not a single cash.

發了洪誓: aspect 了 = le. 分文不借: 分 = fēn ("a cash, a farthing"); mechanical sandhi leaves 不 as bù before 借 (4th... 借 jiè is 4th tone, so 不→bú)

那nà借jiè金jīn銀yín人rén，身shēn貧pín無wú計jì，結jié成chéng兇xiōng黨dǎng，明míng火huǒ執zhí杖zhàng，白bái日rì殺shā上shàng我wǒ門mén，將jiāng我wǒ財cái帛bó盡jìn情qíng劫jié擄lǔ；那nà借jiè金jīn银yín人rén，身shēn贫pín无wú计jì，结jié成chéng凶xiōng党dǎng，明míng火huǒ执zhí杖zhàng，白bái日rì杀shā上shàng我wǒ门mén，将jiāng我wǒ财cái帛bó尽jìn情qíng劫jié掳lǔ；

Those who'd borrowed the gold and silver, being poor and at wits' end, banded into a savage gang, and with open torches and bared cudgels murdered their way to our gate in broad daylight, plundering all our goods and silks;

那借金銀人: deictic 那 = nà. 將我財帛: disposal 將 = jiāng. 盡情劫擄: 盡 = jìn (GLOBAL).

把bǎ我wǒ父fù親qīn殺shā了le；把bǎ我wǒ父fù亲qīn杀shā了le；

they killed my father;

把我父親殺了: aspect 了 = le. The false child's lie escalates to murder to sharpen the pathos.

見jiàn我wǒ母mǔ親qīn有yǒu些xiē顏yán色sè，拐guǎi將jiāng去qù做zuò甚shén麼me壓yā寨zhài夫fū人rén。见jiàn我wǒ母mǔ亲qīn有yǒu些xiē颜yán色sè，拐guǎi将jiāng去qù做zuò甚shén么me压yā寨zhài夫fū人rén。

and seeing that my mother had some beauty, they carried her off to be a stronghold-wife.

拐將去: disposal 將 = jiāng. 甚麼壓寨夫人: 甚 = shén; 壓寨夫人 = "stronghold-mistress," a bandit chief's forced consort.

那nà時shí節jié，我wǒ母mǔ親qīn捨shě不bù得dé我wǒ，把bǎ我wǒ抱bào在zài懷huái裡lǐ，哭kū哀āi哀āi，戰zhàn兢jīng兢jīng，跟gēn隨suí賊zéi寇kòu。那nà时shí节jié，我wǒ母mǔ亲qīn舍shě不bù得dé我wǒ，把bǎ我wǒ抱bào在zài怀huái里lǐ，哭kū哀āi哀āi，战zhàn兢jīng兢jīng，跟gēn随suí贼zéi寇kòu。

At that time my mother could not bear to leave me, and clasped me in her arms, weeping bitterly and trembling in terror, as she followed the bandits.

那時節: deictic 那 = nà. 捨不得我: 得 = dé ("could not bear to—").

不bù期qī到dào此cǐ山shān中zhōng，又yòu要yào殺shā我wǒ。不bù期qī到dào此cǐ山shān中zhōng，又yòu要yào杀shā我wǒ。

Not expecting it, they came to this mountain and meant to kill me as well.

到此山中: 中 = zhōng.

多duō虧kuī母mǔ親qīn哀āi告gào，免miǎn教jiào我wǒ刀dāo下xià身shēn亡wáng，卻què將jiāng繩shéng子zi吊diào我wǒ在zài樹shù上shàng，只zhǐ教jiào凍dòng餓è而ér死sǐ。多duō亏kuī母mǔ亲qīn哀āi告gào，免miǎn教jiào我wǒ刀dāo下xià身shēn亡wáng，却què将jiāng绳shéng子zi吊diào我wǒ在zài树shù上shàng，只zhǐ教jiào冻dòng饿è而ér死sǐ。

Thanks to my mother's piteous pleading, I was spared death beneath the blade, but they bound me with cords to this tree and left me only to freeze and starve.

免教我: causative 教 = jiào. 卻將繩子: disposal 將 = jiāng; suffix 子 = zi. 只教凍餓而死: causative 教 = jiào.

那nà些xiē賊zéi將jiāng我wǒ母mǔ親qīn不bù知zhī掠lüè往wǎng那nǎ裡lǐ去qù了le。那nà些xiē贼zéi将jiāng我wǒ母mǔ亲qīn不bù知zhī掠lüè往wǎng那nǎ里lǐ去qù了le。

Those bandits carried my mother off — I don't know where they've taken her.

那些賊: deictic 那 = nà. 將我母親: disposal 將 = jiāng. 掠往那裡去了: interrogative 那裡 = nà lǐ ("where"); aspect 了 = le.

我wǒ在zài此cǐ已yǐ吊diào三sān日rì三sān夜yè，更gèng沒méi一yí個gè人rén來lái行xíng走zǒu。我wǒ在zài此cǐ已yǐ吊diào三sān日rì三sān夜yè，更gèng没méi一yí个gè人rén来lái行xíng走zǒu。

I've hung here three days and three nights now, with not a single soul passing by.

更沒一個人: 更 = gèng ("not one at all"). 來行走: 行 = xíng.

不bù知zhī那nǎ世shì裡lǐ修xiū積jī，今jīn生shēng得dé遇yù老lǎo師shī父fù。不bù知zhī那nǎ世shì里lǐ修xiū积jī，今jīn生shēng得dé遇yù老lǎo师shī父fù。

I don't know from what former life's cultivation it is that I've met with you, old Master, this present life.

那世裡: interrogative 那 = nà ("which former life"); read nǎ. 得遇: 得 = dé ("come to meet").

若ruò肯kěn捨shě大dà慈cí悲bēi，救jiù我wǒ一yí命mìng回huí家jiā，就jiù典diǎn身shēn賣mài命mìng，也yě酬chóu謝xiè師shī恩ēn。若ruò肯kěn舍shě大dà慈cí悲bēi，救jiù我wǒ一yí命mìng回huí家jiā，就jiù典diǎn身shēn卖mài命mìng，也yě酬chóu谢xiè师shī恩ēn。

If you would but show great compassion and save my life, bring me home, I'd pledge myself in bondage and sell my very life to repay your kindness, Master.

救我一命: 一 sandhi → yí before 命 (4th tone). 典身賣命 = "pawn my body, sell my life."

即jí使shǐ黃huáng沙shā蓋gài面miàn，更gèng不bù敢gǎn忘wàng也yě。」即jí使shǐ黄huáng沙shā盖gài面miàn，更gèng不bù敢gǎn忘wàng也yě。」

Even were yellow sand to cover my face, I would never dare forget."

更不敢忘也: 更 = gèng ("never at all"); mechanical sandhi leaves 不 as bù before 敢 (3rd tone). 黃沙蓋面 = a vow unto death.

總評 Commentary

The false child's tale is a small masterpiece of manipulation, and the narrative gives it in full — a two-generation family saga of wealth won and lost (Hong-Hundred-Thousand declined to Hong-Ten-Thousand), a father's fatal oath against further lending, a bandit raid in broad daylight, a murdered father, an abducted mother, and a child left bound to freeze. Every element is calibrated to Tripitaka's sympathies: it is a story of innocence destroyed by greed and violence, precisely the kind of suffering the Master's compassion is least able to pass by, and it culminates in a vow of lifelong, self-selling gratitude that flatters the rescuer even as it begs.

What makes the passage more than a set-piece of villainy is its cunning as rhetoric. The demon does not merely claim distress; he builds a world — named places (Withered Pine Gully), named persons (the grandfather's and father's boast-names), a plausible economic mechanism (usury gone wrong) — because specificity is what makes a lie credible. The technique is the same one the book elsewhere admires in Wukong's own impostures, turned now to evil ends. And the deepest irony is embedded in the geography: the Withered Pine Gully (枯松澗) the child names as his home is, as the reader will learn, the demon's actual lair, the Fire-Cloud Cave's own ravine. The lie is stitched through with truth, which is exactly what makes it work — on the Master, and very nearly on Bajie, who in the next passage will take up the child's cause against Wukong's warnings.