18 The Third Disciple


high-definition creative commons posters depicting The Third Disciple from The Journey to the West, together with further information.

Tripitaka and his disciples, Monkey and Pigsy, reach the treacherous River of Flowing Sands. They are blocked by a terrifying, skull-wearing monster who lives in the depths. After several fierce battles, Monkey seeks help from the Bodhisattva Kuan-yin. Kuan-yin sends her disciple to convert the monster, Sandy. Sandy gladly submits, becomes Tripitaka’s disciple, and builds a holy ship using his skulls and a gourd to carry them all safely across.

The turbulent River of Flowing Sands, where even a goose-feather sinks, represents the ocean of Saṁsāra. Sandy represents the untamed ego and negative karma. By converting him, the pilgrims transform a spiritual obstacle into a companion. The holy ship made of Sandy’s nine skulls and Kuan-yin’s gourd symbolizes transforming past karmic suffering and mortality into the very vehicle (yāna) that carries seekers safely to the other shore of enlightenment.

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