清朝初期评论家汪象旭和黄太鸿认为《西游证道书》的主题就是解释道教阴阳五行理论。根据孙悟空大闹天宫这个事实，可说花果山是阴阳五行之源：花果指木，水帘洞指水，铁板桥指金，石山指土，孙悟空代表心，心属火。因此，五行都在可称为“一个理想的协调组织”中有代表，即是说那就是道的真正含义。接着孙悟空大闹天宫，那是五行毁灭而造成的，并未涉及任何社会因素。孙悟空作为心猿，属于火，玉帝封他为弼马温，是以火攻火。

在蟠桃园，因木生火，火更旺，八卦炉不能熔化孙悟空，那是因为用火攻火，两火都更熊。

只有在五行山补偿了五行不足之后，心猿才能被止住。汪和黄忽视了的结构，把注意力集中在概括的象征形象上，认为是象征形象的寓意构成了的真正旨义。例如，他们争论玄奘和他三个徒弟再加小龙白马组成了同伴五个，与五行相称：孙悟空属火，猪八戒属木，沙僧属金，玄奘属土，小龙白马属水。这些表明五行间互相促进和制约。必须记住，在吴承恩生活的时期，道教思想非常盛行，《西游记》中很多描述和观念不能不受阴阳五行理论的影响。不过，《西游记》是，而则是通过人物和故事情节来尽力表达思想感情的。

如果我们忽视人物和故事情节间形象化描述的联系，把它们简单地看成是一系列象征或谜语，那我们就违背了文学解释世界的特殊方法。《西游证道书》的影响是巨大的。接踵而来的是《西游真诠》、《新说西游记》、《西游原旨》。但只有少数学者有那种特殊洞察力，从的建构角度去探讨其中费解的五行。他们中有人谓其旨在劝学，或云其旨在谈禅，或言其旨在讲道，但我们必须看清大多数读者是把《西游记》当成来读的事实。

inheiraaoisinerpreaionofjourneyohewes，heearlyqingdynasycriicswangxiangxuandhuangaihongseehemainhemeofhenovelasaneducaionofheaoisheoriesofyinandyangandhefiveelemensmonkey’scausinghavocinheaven，accordingohispoinofview，isexpinedbysayinghahemounainofflowersandfruiishesourceofyinandyangandhefiveelemens：“fruiandflowersreferowood；hewaercurainrefersowaer；heironpedbridgerefersomeal；herockyhillrefersoearh；andmonkey，represeninghehear，residesinfiresoallhefiveelemensarerepresenedinwhacouldbecalled“anidealcosmicseup”haisosayhaiisheruemeaningofaoismandso，ifollowshamonkey’swreakinghavocinheavenwasbroughaboubyhewiheringofhefiveelemens，andherewerenosociealfacorsinvolvedsunwukongashemindape，belongsoheelemenfirehejadeemperormakinghimproecorofhehorseisusingfireofighfireinhegardenofhepeachesofimmoraliy，becausewoodproducesfire，hefireisenhancedheeighrigramsfurnaceca

omelmonkey，becauseiusesfireoaackhim，and“wofireelemensmakeeachohersronger”iisonlyaferhemounainofhefiveelemensremediesdeficienciesinhefiveelemenshahemindapeisreinedinwangandhuangignorehesrucureofhenovel，andconcenraeuponheimagesasgeneralizedsymbols，hemessagesofwhichconsiuehenovel’sruemeaningforinsance，heyarguehaxuangzangandhishreedisciplesplushewhiedragonhorsemakehenumberofhecompanionsfive，correspondingohefiveelemens：monkeybelongsofire；pigowood；friarsandomeal；xuanzangoearh；andhedragonhorseowaerhesemanifesaionsofhefiveelemensmuuallypromoeandresraineachoherimusberememberedhainheperiodinwhichwucheng’enlived，aoisconcepswereverymuchinfashion，andsomanyofhedeionsandconcepsinjourneyohewescouldnohelpbubeinfluencedbyheheoriesofyinandyangandhefiveelemensneverheless，journeyohewesisanovel，andanovelendeavorsoexpresshoughsandemoionshroughhemediumofhecharacersandheploifweignorehelinkofheimageryofhecharacersandheplo，andregardhemsimplyasaseriesofsymbolsorriddles，henwedeparfromhespecialmehodsbywhichlieraureinerpresheworld

heinfluenceofaaoisinerpreaionofjourneyoheweswasimmensefollowinginisfoosepscamearueinerpreaionofjourneyohewes，newexpnaionofjourneyohewesandsraighforwardguideojourneyoheweshefacishaherewereonlyasmallnumberofschorswhohadhespecialinsighoreaheobscureelemensinifromheangleofheconsrucionofhenovelsomeofhemexpinedhahehemeofhenoveljourneyoheweswasopersuadepeopleolearnsomeofheminerpreediaspropagaionofbuddhadharmasomeofhemsaidhaiwasopreachheaoisheory—hewayofnaurebuwemusseeclearlyhefachamosreadersreadjourneyohewesasanovel

在《西游记》一百回版本中，第一回至第十二回，讲述的是唐僧西天取经的缘由和取经团队是如何组成的。第十三回到第一百回，共有八十八回，讲述的都是唐僧取经团队在西行途中，遇到了各种妖魔鬼怪，都想吃唐僧肉以获得长生不死，他们经历了九九八十一难，终于到达西天，取得了真经。在阻拦唐僧取经团队西行道路的妖魔鬼怪中，一些是自然力量的化身——火焰山就是一个典型的例子，但大多数却是社会邪恶的表现。中描写的各种妖魔鬼怪都是当时各种黑暗、腐败的社会势力的形象。比如，车迟国王有三个最爱而被称为“国师”的道士，他们进出王宫不对国王打招呼，他们对人民的劫掠和折磨都给王国带来了一种致命的氛围。这种情况和明朝嘉靖时期皇帝被道士邵元节、陶仲文掌控如奴的情况非常接近。此外，比丘国王相信道士给他带来的延寿秘方，要一千一百一十一个小儿的心肝煎汤服药的故事，和灭法国王要杀一万个和尚的故事都是嘉靖时期皇帝听信道士谄媚的话并迫害佛教徒的政治现实的反映。中的许多恶魔都与天宫的高官有关系，例如，劫持宝象国公主的黄袍怪是天上二十八宿中的奎木狼星下凡的。平顶山莲花洞也有两个妖魔，金角大王和银角大王，是太上老君家奴，看守炼丹金炉和银炉的两个童子，托化妖魔，想吃唐僧肉。夺取乌鸡王国王权的妖怪是青毛狮子精，本是文殊菩萨的坐骑，乌鸡国王的灵魂向唐僧托梦哀述道：“他（青毛狮子精）神通广大，各处官吏他都熟悉：都城隍常与他会酒，海龙王尽与他有亲，东岳天齐是他的好朋友，十代阎罗是他的异兄弟。因此我也无处投告。”所有这些恶魔都有背后支持者和保护者，正如当时社会上普遍存在的贪官劣绅官官相护或寻求背后支持者，或直接要其受贿者保护一样。由此可见的主题思想：《西游记》通过创造一个充满荒诞和幻想的世界，间接地反映了作者生活时期的各种社会矛盾，歌颂头号主人公孙悟空代表的进步势力——他追求平等、自由，反叛天宫的欺诈和歧视而大闹天宫；揭露并批判了象征着贪官劣绅的妖魔鬼怪，他们代表反动势力，都有背后的支持者和保护者，即天上的“神、仙、佛”，“神、仙、佛”象征人间的皇帝和封建制度。妖魔鬼怪与神、仙、佛之间既有矛盾的一面，又有相互依存的一面。孙悟空很想除掉一切妖魔鬼怪，但他只能打死白骨夫人、红鳞大蟒、蜘蛛精之类的小妖。他既气愤又抱怨，但他知道他无能为力，他斗不过神、仙、佛的“联军”。这也反映了作者受时代影响难免有思想局限性。

inhe100chaperversionofhenoveljourneyohewes，fromchaper1ochaper12，iellsreadersabouhecauseswhyheangpriesravelsohewesofechhebuddhisuresandhowhecompanionsaremadeupoffromchaper13ochaper100，allogeher88chapers，iellsushaheangpriesandhiscompanionsonhejourneyohewesmeewihallkindsofmonsersanddemons，allofwhomareeageroeasomeofhefleshofheangpriessoasoaainimmoraliy，andhahey’vefinallyreachedhewesernparadiseandfechedherueuresaferheniimesnineordealsofhemonsersanddemonswhichbarheangpriesandhiscompanionsway，someareembodimensofnauralforces—hefierymounainsareacssicexample，bumosarerepresenaionsofsocialevilsallmonsersanddemonsdescribedinhenovelareimagesofconemporarydarkandcorrupsocialforcesforinsance，hekingofarrycarhashreefavorieswhomhecallshis“elders”hesehreeenerandleavehecourwihouacknowledginghekingheirdepredaionsandafflicionofhepeoplebringapesileniamosphereohekingdomhissiuaionisverycloseohaprevailinginhejiajingperiodofhemingdynasy，whenheemperorwasheldinhrallbyheaoispriessshaoyuanjieandaozhongweninaddiion，heepisodesinwhichhekingofbhiksundpushisfaihinasecrerecipeforlongeviybroughfromoverseasandgivenhimbyaaoisandrequiringasingredienshehearsandliversof1，111infans，andinwhichhekingofmiefawishesosy10，000monksarereflecionsofhedeludedandbarbarouspoliicalrealiyofhejiajingperiod，whenheemperorlenhisearoaoissycophansandpersecuedhebuddhissmanyofmonsersinhenovelareco

ecedwihhighofficialsinheaven，forinsance，heyellowrobedmonserwhoabducsheprincessofelephaniaishesrider，hewoodenwolffromheavenalso，hewodemons，kinggoldhornandkingsilverhornoflousflowercaveonfopmounain，whowishoeaxuanzang，areheboyswhowachlordozi’sfurnacehemonserwhichseizesconrolofhekingdomofwujiishebluehairedlion，uponwhichbodhisavamanjusriridesasheghosofhekingofwujimensoxuanzang：“hismagicpowersaresoexensiveandheissowellinwihallherelevanofficialshe’salwaysdrinkingwihheciygod，andhe’sco

ecedwihallhedragonkingsheheavenequalinggodofmounaiisafriendofhis，andallheenkingsofheunderworldarehisswornbroherswehavenowhereournifwewanobringacaseagainshim”allhesedemonshaveheirbehindhescenessupporersandproecors，jusashecorrupofficials，localyransandevilgenry，commonlyexisingheninhesociey，shieldoneanoherorseekforheirsupporersbehindhemordireclyaskheirbribeesoproecnowfromwhaisexpinedabovewecanseehemainhemeofhenovel：journeyohewesindireclyreflecsvariouskindsofconradicionsinhesocieyofheauhorwucheng’en’simebycreaingaworldfulloffanasyandillusionieulogizesheprogressiveforcesrepresenedbyno1heromonkey—hehasbeenseekingforequaliyandfreedomandrebelledagainsheaven’sdeceianddiscriminaionbypyinghavocinheaven；iexposesamdcriicizeshereacionaryforcesrepresenedbyhedemonsandmonsers，symbolizinghecorrupofficials，localyransandevilgenryheyallhaveheirbehindhescenessupporersandproecors，whoaregods，immoralsandbuddhasinheavenandsymbolizehehumanemperorandfeudalsysemhereionsbeweenmonsersandhegods，immoralsandbuddhasarebohconraryandmuuallydependenmonkeywansverymuchokillalldemonsandmonsersbuhecanonlykillheminoronessuchasdywhiebone，heredscaledpyhon，hespiderspiriandhelikeheisincensedandgrumblesbuheknowshahereisnohinghecandoabouhesiuaionandhejoinforcesofgods，immoralsandbuddhasareoosrongforhimodefeahisalsoreflecshaheauhor’shinkingisineviablylimiedunderheinfluenceofheimes

除上述表层主题外，《西游记》还含有一个非常深刻的深层次主题——“觅个长生不老之方”。如何获得长生不老的秘方呢？《西游记》说明了获取四种长生不老的捷径：

第一种，就是吃“瑶池王母自栽培”的蟠桃。“九千年一熟，人吃了与天地齐寿，日月同庚。”第二种，就是吃太上老君炼的仙丹，不但能长生不老，还能起死回生。第三种，就是吃万寿山上五庄观里镇元大仙的人参果，“三千年一开花，三千年一结果，再三千年才得熟，短头一万年方得吃。”“人若有缘，得那果子闻了一闻，就活三百六十岁；吃一个，就活四万七千年。”第四种，就是吃唐僧肉，唐僧乃金蝉长老转世，西方圣老如来佛第二个徒弟。那唐僧乃童身修行，一点元阳未泄，他是个十世修行的圣人。在所有的妖魔中，男的吃他肉，延寿长生，女的与他交配，可成太乙金仙。但是，没有凡人能走上述任何捷径，仅有极少数大神仙能吃到蟠桃或仙丹或人参果，甚至所有想吃唐僧肉或想与他交配长生不死的妖魔均以失败告终。

besidesheabovesurfacemainheme，adeepmainhemeisprofoundlyimpliedaswellinhenoveljourneyohewes—seekinghesecreofeernalyouhhowcanoneaainhesecreofeernalyouh？

journeyohewesdemonsraesfourshorcusoihefirsoneisoeahepeaches“inhepeachorchardendedbyhequeenmoherofhejadepool”“heyripenonceeverynihousandyears，andanyonewhoeashembecomesaseernalasheavenandearh，aslonglivedashesunandmoon”hesecondoneisoeasomegoldenpillsrefinedbylordozihegoldenpillsofrefinedelixircannoonlymakeanyonewhohasakenapillliveforeverbualsomakeanyonewhohasdiedcomebackolifehehirdoneisoeahegreaimmoralzhenyuan’smanfruiinhewuzhuangempleonhemounainofinfinielongeviy“iookhreehousandyearsoblossom，hreehousandyearsoformhefrui，andanoherhreehousandyearsforhefruioripen，sohaeverynearlyenhousandyearshadopassbeforehefruicouldbeeaen”“anyonewhosedesinypermiedhimosmellonewouldliveforhreehundredandsixyyears，andifyouaeoneyouwouldliveforforysevenhousandyears”hefourhoneisoeasomeofhefleshofheangpriesheangpriesisareincarnaionofhevenerablegoldencicada，heseconddiscipleofheahagaabuddha，heanciensageofhewesashaxuanzanghasbeenculivainghisconduceversincehewasaboyhehasneverlosadropofhisprimalmasculiniyhe’saholymanwho’sculivaedhisconducforensuccessivelifeimesamongallhedemonsandmonsers，hemaleswhoeasomeofhefleshofangpriescanliveforeverandhefemalesarelongingomaewihhimsohaheycanbecomegoldenimmoralsofhesupremeulimaebunoneofmoralscanakeanyofhefourshorcus

onlyfewofgreaimmoralscaneahepeachorhegoldenpillorhemanfrui，evenalldemonsandmonserswhohaveriedheirumosoeasomeofhefleshofheangpriesoromaewihhimoaainimmoraliyendupwihheirfailure

除上述捷径外，《西游记》当然也清楚地说明了获得长生不老秘方的通常途径，即长期修行，越长越好。玉皇大帝，“他自幼修持，苦历过一千七百五十劫，每劫该十二万九千六百年。”共计二十二亿六千八百万年，修得金身，成为万神之主。如来佛祖在雪山顶上，修成不坏金身，着有三藏真经，可以超脱苦恼，解释灾愆。太上老君，原是我们中国古代历史上的一个真人，姓李，名耳，是道家学说的创始人，着有道家经典《道德经》。他不但自己修成长生不死之身，还为神仙们炼制吃了能长生不死的仙丹。作者还通过讲述头号主人公孙悟空在《西游记》第一章就决心去“觅个长生不老之方”到最后一章“径回东土五圣成真”的故事，详细说明了西天取经团队如何经过“九九八十一难”、如何往返十四年，行程十万八千里，翻越千山万水，最终取回真经，普济众生，取经团队五圣都长生不死并到达了天堂。

besidesheabovemenionedshorcus，anormalwayoaainhesecreofeernalyouhis，ofcourse，clearlydemonsraedinjourneyoheweshaisoculivaeone’sconducforalongimehelonger，hebeerhejadeemperor“hasrainedhimselfsincechildhood，andsufferedhardshipforohousand，sevenhundredandfifyhalpaseachhalpais129，600years，allogeher2，268，000，000years”hehasrainedhisgoldenbodyandbecomehelordofallgodshelordbuddhahasculivaedhisimmoralgoldenbodyonhepeakofhesnowymounainandcreaedhreesoresofscripureshaofferdeliverancefromsufferingandreleasefromdisaserlordoziisoriginallyarealhumanbeinginchineseancienhisoryandhisfamilynameisli，hispersonalnameiserheishefounderofaoismandhaswrienheaoiscssichebookofaoandehhehasnoonlyrainedhisgoldenbodyobecomeimmoralbualsorefinedgoldenpillsforgodswhoakeapillandcanliveforeverheauhorofjourneyohewesalso，byellinghisno1heromonkey’ssoryfromhefirschaperinwhichmonkeyisdeerminedo“seekforhesecreofeernalyouh”oheschapereniled“hejourneybackoheeasismadehefiveimmoralsachievenirvana”，illusraesindeailsheexampleofhecompanionsohewesofechheureshowosandupoheniimesnineordeals，howoake14years，cover108，000li，climboverahousandmounainsandcrossoverenhousandriversandasfechedherueuresosavealllivingbeings，hefiveofhecompanionshavebecomeimmoralsandachievednirvana

当唐僧师徒走到凌云渡看到那只是一根独木桥时，三藏心惊胆战道：“悟空，这桥不是人走的。”悟空答道：“必须从此桥走过，方可成佛。”“三藏回头，忽见那下溜中有一人撑一只船来。”“那是一只无底的船儿。”三藏“还自惊疑，行者叉着膊子，往上一推。

那师父踏不住脚，毂辘的跌在水里，早被撑船人一把扯起，站在船上。师父还抖衣服，跺鞋脚，抱怨行者。行者却引沙僧八戒，牵马挑担，也上了船，都立在船上。那佛祖轻轻用力撑开，只见上溜头泱下一个死尸。长老见了大惊，行者笑道：‘师父莫怕，那个原来是你。’”“那撑船的打着号子也说：‘那是你！可贺可贺！’”“有诗为证，诗曰：‘脱却胎胞骨肉身，相亲相爱是元神。今朝行满方成佛，洗净当年六六尘。’”由此可见，一个像唐僧那样的凡人，只要人生的目的是“造福生灵，造福社罥”，在人生路上——取经途中，为人民尽可能多做好事善事，尽管他和世人一样，都有善恶两面，仍能成佛——长生不死。

但“不死”的是元神，而不是“胎胞骨肉身”。也就是说，人的生命是由肉体（物质）生命和精神（灵魂）生命组成的。肉体生命和所有的生物生命一样，有生物（动物）性，有生有死，正如老子在他《道德经》的第五十章中所说，“出生入死”；精神（灵魂）生命是长生不死的（如唐僧的“元神”，陈光蕊的魂魄，寇员外的魂灵等）。唐僧肉体生命死了，精神生命永恒。他求取真经，以济众生，造福生灵，造福社罥，真是修真之径，正善之门，完美之道。任何人，只要一生追求并维护和保持“真、善、美”，就能长生不死——精神生命永存——永远活在世人的心中。这就是长生不老之秘方——《西游记》之深层次主题。

whenheangpriesandhisdiscipleswenocloudouchingcrossingandsawhebridgewasonlyasinglelog，sanzangsaidinfearandrembling，“wukong，nomoralmancouldcrosshabridge”monkeyreplied，“youcanonlybecomeabuddhabycrossinghisbridge”“sanzanghenlookedroundoseeamanpolingaboaowardshemfromdownriver”“iwasaboomlesscraf”sanzang“wassillverydoubful，bumonkeyseizedhimbyhearmsandpushedhimforwardunableokeeponhisfee，hemaserumbledinohewaer，whereheferrymangrabbedholdofhimaonceandsoodhimonheboa

hemasershookhisclohesandsampedhisfee，compiningaboumonkey，wholedfriarsandandpigosandonboardbringingheluggageandhehorsewihhemgenlyandsronglyhebuddhapushedoff，awhichacorpsecamefloaingdownsreamohehorrorofhevenerableelder，“don’befrighened，maser，”saidmonkeysmilingly“ha’syou”heboamangaveacall，henalsopuin，oo，“i’syou！

congrauions！congrauions！”“hereisapoemabouhishagoes：

whenhewombbornfleshandbodyofbloodiscasaside，heprimalspirifindskinshipandlove

onhismorningofacionscompleedandbuddhahoodaainedhehirysixkindsofdusfromhepasarewashedaway”

fromherewecanseehaamoralmanlikeheangpries，solongashisgoaloflifeis“obringbenefiohepeopleandhecounry”，andonheroadoflife—onhejourneyohewesofechhescripures，rieshisbesodoasmanygooddeedsandbenefacionsaspossiblealhoughhehasahuma

aureofbohsides—jusasallhumanbeingshave—onesideisgoodwhileheoherisevil，canbecomeabuddha—immoralbu“heimmoral”is“heprimalspiri”，isno“hewombbornfleshandbodyofblood”haisosay，one’slifeismadeupofphysical(body)lifeandmoral(spiri)lifephysicallife，juslikehelifeofalllivingbeings(animals)hashenaureofhings—havingbirhanddeah，jusasozisaysinhisbookofaoandeh，chaper50，“hewhoaimsalifeachievesdeah”moral(spiri)lifeisimmoral(forinsance，heangpries’sprimalspiri，chenguangrui’ssoul，squirekou’sspiri，ec)heangpries’sphysicallifeisdeadwhilehismorallifeisimmoralhegoesohewesofechherueuressoasosavealllivingbeingsandbringbenefiohepeopleandhecounryheseareindeedhepahoheruh，hegaewayogoodness，hewayoperfecionanyone，solongasheseeksfor，mainainsandkeeps“ruh，goodnessandbeauy(perfecion)”allhislife，canbecomeimmoral—hismorallifecanbeeernal—livingforeverinhehearsofhepeopleinheworldhisishesecreofeernalyouh—hedeepmainhemeofhenoveljourneyohewes

14　主要人物的人生（经验教训）

14　majorcharacers’lives(experiencesandlessons)

唐僧：俗家姓陈，是唐朝海州弘农郡聚贤庄人氏。法名叫陈玄奘。只因大唐太宗皇帝赐他做御弟三藏，指唐为姓，故名唐僧。其父陈萼，表字光蕊，考毕中选，及廷试三策，唐王御笔亲赐状元，跨马游街三日。不期游到丞相殷开山门首，有丞相所生一女，名唤温娇，未曾婚配，正抛打绣球卜婿。适值陈光蕊在楼下经过，小姐一见光蕊人才出众，知是新科状元，就将绣球抛下，恰打着光蕊的乌纱帽，因此，光蕊被迎入相府成婚。太宗皇帝命陈光蕊为江州州主，即令收拾起身，勿误限期。光蕊领着母亲张氏和新婚妻子温娇一同往江州赴任。在路数日，一天晚上，前至刘小二的万花店住宿，张氏身体忽然染病，与光蕊道：“我身上不安，且在店中调养两日再去。”光蕊遵命。至次日早晨，光蕊见店门前有一人提着个金色鲤鱼叫卖，光蕊即将一贯钱买了，欲待烹与母亲吃，只见鲤鱼闪闪咪眼，光蕊惊异，就把鱼送在洪江里去放了生。光蕊为他母亲租了屋宇，付了盘缠，同妻拜辞前去。他们到达洪江渡口，看见刘洪、李彪二人撑船到岸边迎接。他们都上了船。刘洪见殷小姐如此漂亮，便和李彪设计，将船撑至没人处，候至夜静三更，先将家僮杀死，次将光蕊打死，把尸首都推在水里去了。但陈光蕊的尸首沉在水底不动。龙王仔细一看道：“此人正是救我的恩人。我今日须索救他性命，以报日前之恩。”他问知情况后说：“你前者所放金色鲤鱼即我也，你是救我的恩人，你今有难，我岂有不救你之理？”就把光蕊尸身安置一壁，口内含一颗定颜珠，休教损坏了，日后好还魂报仇。又道：“汝今真魂，权且在我水府中做个都领。”

heangpries：hissecursurnameischen，andheisfromjuxianvilge，hongnongprefecure，haizhou，inheangempirehisbuddhisnameischenxuanzangbuashegreaangemperoraizongcalledxuanzanghisyoungerbroherandgavehimhesurnameang，heisknownasheangprieshisfaherisnamedchene，whosecouresynameisguangruihavingbeensuccessfulinheexaminaion，chenewenohepaceforhehreequesionsesheangemperorpersonallyawardedhimhefirspce，andhewasparadedroundhesreesonhorsebackforhreedaysihappenedhajuswhenheprocessionwaspassinghegaewayofheminiseryinkaishan，heminiser’sunmarrieddaugherwenjiao，washrowinganembroideredballoseewhoherfuurehusbandwouldbewhenchenguangruipassedbelowshesawaoncehahewasexcepionallyhandsome，andsheknewhahehadcomefirsinherecenexaminaionswhenshedroppedherembroideredballindedsquarelyonhisbckhahusguangruiwasinviedinoheminiser’smansionomarryhisdaugheremperoraizongappoinedcheneprefecofjiangzhouandorderedhimopackhisbelongingsandseoffashehadobeherebyasedaeguangruiookhismohermadamezhangandhisnewlymarriedwifewenjiaoogeherohisposinjiangzhouonenigh，aferheyhadbeenonheroadforseveraldays，heypuupaheliuhesecond’senhousandflowersi

，wheremadamezhangwassuddenlyakenill“asi’mnofeelingwell，”shesaidoherson，“i’dbeersayinhisi

foracoupleofdaysogeoveribeforegoingon”guangruiaccepedhersuggesionhenexmorningguangruisawamansellingagoldencoloredcarpinfronofhei

andbroughifromhimforasringofcoppercoins，inendingohaveilighlyfriedforhismoherhenhenoicediblinkingguangruiwassurprisedandhadhefishakenbackohehongjiangriverobereleasedhere，guangruirenawingforhismoherandgavehersomemoney，henheandhiswifeookheirleaveofhermoherandseoffwhenheyreachedhefordoverhehongjiangesuary，heysawwoboamen，liuhongandlibiao，punheirferryohebankforhemheyallclimbedsedaelyinoheboaliuhongsaredamissyinandsawhersobeauifulhaevilhoughssurgedupinhim，andheconspiredwihlibiaoopunheboaoamisyanddeseredpceandwaiillhemiddleofhenigh，whenheykilledfirsheservanandhenchenguangruiheypushedbohhecorpsesinoheriverandwenawaybuchenguangrui’sbodysanksraighoheboomanddidnomovehedragonkingexaminedhebodycarefullyandsaid：“hisishebenefacorwhosavedmylifeimussavehislifeodayorepayhimforhefavorhedidmeinhepas”heaskedandlearnedhesiuaion，andhensaid：“iamhegoldencarpyoureleased

yousavedmehen，soimushelpyounowhayouareinrouble”hehadguangrui’sbodypcedbesideawallandpua“facereservingpearl”inismouhosopifromdecomposingsohahesoulcouldbereurnedoiinhefuureforhimoobainhisrevenge“asyouarenowaruesoul，youshallsayinmypaceforheimebeingasacommander，”hedragonkingadded

小姐见他打死了丈夫，也便将身赴水，刘洪一把抱住道：“你若从我，万事皆休！若不从时，一刀两断！那小姐寻思无计，只得权时应承，顺了刘洪。那贼把船渡到南岸，将船付与李彪自管，他就穿了光蕊衣冠，带了官凭，同小姐往江州上任去了。殷小姐只因身怀有孕，万不得已，权且勉强相从。光阴如飞。一日，殷小姐生下个男婴，紧紧包裹好，无计可施。忽然刘洪回来，一见此子，便要淹杀，小姐道：“今日天色已晚，容待明日抛去江中。”幸喜次早刘洪忽有紧急公事远出。小姐咬破手指，写下血书一纸，将父母姓名、跟脚原由，备细开载；又将此子左脚上一个小指，用口咬下，以为记验。取贴身汗衫一件，包裹此子，乘空抱出衙门。当她到达江边，她注意到江岸岸侧飘起一片木板，小姐即朝天拜祷，将此子安在板上，用带缚住，血书系在胸前，推放江中，听其所之。小姐含泪回衙。此子在木板上，顺水流去，一直流到金山寺脚下停住。那金山寺长老叫做法明和尚，正当打坐参禅，忽闻得小儿啼哭之声，一时心动，急到江边观看，只见涯边一片木板上，睡着一个婴儿，长老慌忙救起。见了怀中血书，方知来历，取个乳名，叫做江流，托人抚养，血书紧紧收藏。

whenheyoungdysawherhusbandkilledsheriedoflingherselfinohewaer，buliuhongpuhisarmsroundherandsaid，“ifyoucomewihme，you’llbeallrigh；buifyoudon’，i’llcuyouinhalf”unableohinkofanyoherwayou，heyoungdyhadoagreeosaywihliuhongforheimebeingaleashemurdererookheboaacrossohesouhernbankandgaveiolibiaohenhedressedupinchenguangrui’sclohesand，armedwihhedeadman’scredenials，wenwihheyoungdyoakeuphisposinjiangzhouasmissyinwaspregnanandhechildhadnoyebeenbornshehadoforceherselfogowihhimimeflewbyoneday，heyoungdygavebirhoasonandwrappedhebabyighinswaddlingclohesshecouldnohinkwhaodowhenliuhongcamebackhewanedodrownhechildhemomenhesawhim，buheyoungdysaid，“i’salreadydark：wecanhrowhiminheriveromorrow”forunaelyliuhonghadogoalongwayawayonurgenbusinesshenexearlymorningheyoungdybiopenherfingerandwroealeerinbloodgivingafullaccounofhisparenageandbackgroundhenshebioffhelileoeofhechild’sleffooobeanidenifyingmark，wrappedhimupinoneofherownshifs，andcarriedhimouofheofficialresidencewhennobodywaslookingwhenshereachedheriverbank，shenoicedaboardfloaingbesidehebankheyoungdybowedoheaveninhergraiudeandiedhechildoheboardwihhersash，pcinghebloodleernexohischeshenshepushedhimouinohesreamogowherehewouldandreurnedoheyameninearsheboyfloaeddownsreamonhepnkunilhecameoasopunderhejinshanempleheabboofhisemplewasamonkcalledfamingwhowassiingahismediaionandheardababycrying，andhurriedanxiouslydownoheriversideolookhesawababylyingonaboardbesidehebank，andgohimouofhewaerasquicklyashecouldwhenhereadheleerwrieninbloodhawasonhebaby’schesheknewwhyhewashere

hegavehechildhemilknamejiangliu，“rivercurren”，andarrangedforhimobefoseredheleerinbloodhepuawayinaverysafepce