Though Monkey was versatile² and boasted supernatural powers, Great Sage³ Sun as he was called, was fooled into coming up to heaven by the Great White Planet. The Jade⁴ Emperor conferred upon Monkey the title of Protector of the Horses. When Monkey realized that his job was to look after the horses he became so angry that he returned to his Mountain of Flowers and Fruit. Upon returning, he put up a sign which declared himself “the Great Sage Equalling Heaven.” The Jade Emperor swiftly ordered two heavenly generals to command some heavenly troops to capture Monkey. Li Jing and Ne Zha served as the commanders of the heavenly troops. When they arrived at the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit, they ordered the Mighty⁵ Magic Spirit to challenge Monkey. Great Sage Sun asked the Mighty Magic Spirit to forward his message to the Jade Emperor that if he was conferred the title of “The Great Sage Equalling Heaven,” he would refrain from attacking the Heavenly Palace of the Jade Emperor.

The Mighty Magic Spirit was too headstrong to flaunt⁶ his superiority but he was bitterly defeated by Monkey. Ne Zha changed into a fighter with three heads and six arms each holding a different weapon. Just as he was charging at Great Sage Sun, Monkey also changed into three heads and six arms wielding⁷ three gold cudgels. The two were soon engaged in a heated battle. Cudgels and spears were soon engaged in a heated battle. Cudgels and spears were wielded⁸ while swords and broad swords emitted flashes of light in front of a water-covered cave at the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit. The troops in either camp shouted and waved flags to express support for Great Sage Sun and Ne Zha. The sky was darkened by the asnd and stone stirred up by their bitter fight. When Monkey saw that it was hard to win the battle, he pulled out a thread of his hair and made it become an image of himself while his real body leapt behind Ne Zha for a surprise attack. Monkey wielded his cudgel and hit Ne Zha from behind. Ne Zha was forced to withdraw.

When Li Jing, also known as Heavenly King, saw that two of his generals were defeated, he sent out the signal to retreat. The Jade Emperor was thus forced to confer the title of “the Great Sage Equalling Heaven”upon Monkey.

The picture depicts⁹ the battle between Great Sage Sun and Ne Zha.



神通广大的孙猴，被太白星骗到天上，玉皇大帝封他为“弼马温”。当他得知“弼马温”只是个看马的小官后，一气之下跑回花果山水帘洞，并挂起了“齐天大圣”的旗帜。玉皇大帝召两路天神捉拿孙猴，李靖和哪吒领旨前去。他们来到花果山，令巨灵神前去叫阵，孙大圣叫巨灵神去给玉帝报信：若依他作“齐天大圣”，不动刀枪，否则打上灵霄宝殿。巨灵神逞强好胜，被大圣打得丢盔弃甲。哪吒上阵后，变作三头六臂，把金箍棒变作三条，和哪吒厮杀起来，水帘洞前刀光剑影，枪来棍去。两边阵中，摇旗呐喊，孙大圣、哪吒各显神通。直杀得天浑地暗，难解难分。孙大圣略施小计：拔根毫毛变作他的本相，真身提棒跳到哪吒脑后，一棒打下，哪吒躲闪不及，被大圣打下阵来。托塔天王李靖见两将俱败，不能取胜，便急忙鸣金收兵。玉帝一时也没有了主意，只好按孙猴的要求，准他作了“齐天大圣”。

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