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Today’s chapter is a story of transformations. As we read together, we’ll reflect on why transformations are used to deceive, why some characters see through them while others cannot, and how similar disguises appear in our own lives.

After the fiend of the Black Pine Forest captures Friar Sand, he transforms himself into a handsome young man to meet his father-in-law, the King of Elephantia. When he later encounters Sanzang in the palace hall, he uses a magic spell to turn him into a tiger, horrifying everyone present. As rumors spread that the Tang Priest is actually a tiger spirit, the White Horse can restrain himself no longer. He transforms himself into a beautiful palace maid, attempting to confront the fiend and rescue his master from danger.

Session Focus:
In this session, we witness frequent acts of transformation:
• the fiend disguising himself as a refined gentleman,
• the fiend transforming Sanzang into a tiger,
• and the White Horse transforming himself to counter deception with deception.

We will explore why transformation is so closely linked with deception in Journey to the West, and reflect on the many forms of transformation that appear in our contemporary world.

Key Questions for contemplation:

The princess replied to the monster, “…When you go to court like that the king will be bound to accept you as his son−in−law and make his civil and military officials give you a banquet, so if you have anything to drink, you must be very careful not to show your real face−−it wouldn't do to let the secret out."
"You don't need to tell me that," he said, "I understand perfectly well myself."
Q1: Why does the princess warn the monster not to drink at the banquet?
What is the relationship between intoxication and the revelation of one’s true nature?
What do you observe in the monster’s response to her warning?
Do you notice similar traits in people in everyday life?

When the ogre had been drinking until the second watch of the night he became too intoxicated to restrain his savagery and longer. He jumped up, bellowed with laughter, and turned back into his real self. A murderous impulse came upon him, and stretching out his hand as big as a basket he seized a girl who was playing a lute, dragged her towards him, and took a bite from her head..
Q2: Why is the fiend unable to restrain his savagery once intoxicated?
Is he aware that drinking is gradually exposing his brutal nature, or is he deceiving himself?

"If I may borrow half a saucer of water," answered the fiend, "I will turn him back into his real form." … The monster put the water in his hand, leapt forward, and did an Eye−deceiving Body−fixing Spell. He recited the words of the spell, spurted a mouthful of water over the Tang Priest, and shouted "Change!" Sanzang's real body was hidden away on top of the hall, and he was turned into a striped tiger.
Q3: Why does the fiend choose to turn Sanzang into a tiger specifically?
Why is he so successful in deceiving everyone in the palace?

The news was being spread outside that the Tang Priest was really a tiger spirit. The rumor soon reached the white horse at the government hostel.
The white horse thought, "My master is clearly a good man. That evil spirit must have changed him into a tiger to harm him, whatever shall I do?…” By the middle of the night he could wait no longer. He jumped up and said, "If I don't rescue the Tang Priest I'll win no merit at all." He could restrain himself no longer, and shook his bridle and girths loose, and changed himself back into a dragon.
From up in the air the dragon saw the bright lights in the Hall of Silvery Peace, he saw the monster sitting by himself in the seat of honour and drinking as he ate human flesh.…With a shake the splendid dragon king turned himself into a slim and seductive Palace Beauty. Hurrying inside he greeted the ogre and said, "If you spare my life, Your Highness, I'll hold your cup for you."
Q4: What motivates the White Horse to transform and take action when others remain passive?
How does his transformation differ in intention and moral direction from that of the fiend?

Q5: Are we aware that we live in a world full of transformations—of appearances, identities, narratives, and roles?

Can you share examples of such transformations in modern life?
Why are we so easily deceived by them?
What do you think is the key to seeing through transformations in our own lives?

Take your time with the text. Bring your questions, lived experiences, and quiet insights. This is a circle for shared contemplation, not right answers.

📚 Self-Study & Preparation:
https://chine.in/fichiers/jourwest.pdf
Chapter 30 (page 420 - 429).

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