One of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese Literature (16th Century).
Back when the world was small and China was its navel, a 7th Century monk defied the Tang Emperor's ban on traveling and headed to the Western World (present day India) to ask for the Scrolls of Wisdom. As the monk was pure of heart, beasts and monsters sought to capture him thinking he could bring them great power. Fortunately, he picked up fellow travelers along the way — companions who would protect him.
There was a Dragon Prince who became a white horse, a steed for him to ride on. Then there was a Sand Spirit — once a General in Heaven, who was disfigured for breaking a crystal goblet and sent to live beneath treacherous quicksand. There was also a Powerful Pig who — before he was transformed — commanded the Celestial Navy before making the terrible mistake of flirting with the Moon at the Jade Emperor's party. Last was the mightiest of them all: the Magic Monkey King, or Sun Wukong, who could transform himself seventy-two times, leap eighteen thousand leagues in an instant, and ride on the backs of clouds.
As they journeyed to the Peak of Vultures for the scrolls (present day Griddhraj Parvat), they encountered eighty-one trials. This is one of them:
On the banks of the Upward River, so named because it flowed against gravity to touch heaven, there was an Evil King who ruled his kingdom with a Hammer of Nine Bronze Petals. Each year, he would demand the sacrifice of a boy and a girl or he would bring his Hammer down and cause an earthquake so large, it would rip the waters from the river and bring a great flood that would kill all.
As the monk and his motley band of travelers came to this kingdom, they witnessed the families of the boy and girl crying along the path, begging for help. The monk at once asked, 'My good folks, why do you weep?'
'Merciful Teacher,' they cried, 'the King... the King has taken our boy and girl. He... plans to eat our children to give him strength for the coming year.'
'Eat them?' the monk exclaimed, 'We must stop this.' But the Monkey and the Pig disagreed with him, and they sought to push the band Westward towards the Vultures.
'Where's your courage?' the monk chided them, 'You, Pigsy, were a giant among the commanders of heaven, has your heart grown so weak? And you, Monkey, did you not cause a ruckus in heaven just on a whim, and did you not take from the Sea Dragon Kings their pillar of waves for your weapon, their golden armour, and a Phoenix feather cap? What do your trinkets do if not to help you be brave?'
And when that didn't work, the monk added gently, 'Perhaps a prayer might help your courage?'
Quick as a flash, they volunteered to come to the aid of the boy and girl (somewhat grateful the monk didn't launch into a chant that would squeeze the magic bands around their heads and turn their brains to mush).
The band approached the palace to confront the Evil King, but he was ready. He struck the ground with his Hammer and water burst out from the ground around them. The Sand Spirit grabbed the monk and built a wall of sand around them to keep the monk safe. The horse transformed back to his natural form as a River Dragon, but was too slow and was washed away.
The Pig and the Monkey transformed, both turning to river weeds, then into dragonflies, then into cranes, launching themselves at the King. The King screamed, his voice joined by the cries of the children he had eaten before — and it was so deafening that it stopped the two in their tracks, paralysing them.
They returned to the monk and the Sand Spirit, who was the strongest of the three in water, surged forward. The Sand Spirit twitched a finger and a thumb and the King's palace was consumed in quicksand, but the King was quicker. He called the river to him and jumped into it disappearing, taking the two children with him.
'No!' cried the monk. And he poured his soul into that cry.
'Look closely,' came a gentle voice in the breeze. The hairs on the Monkey's arm bristled and he peered into the river. He jumped a little when he realised that the King had returned to his true form — a giant Goldfish. The King had once lived as a goldfish in the lotus pond at Mount Putuo, and having heard the scriptures chanted daily, had memorised them and gained a measure of power. But instead of seeking enlightenment, the goldfish had sought power and dominion over humanity.
'Be gentle with him, Monkey,' the monk whispered.
Knowing the true nature of the King, Monkey knew how to defeat the Goldfish. He transformed himself into a giant bamboo basket that sat across the stream as it meandered up into the sky. The Goldfish, thinking that his enemies were behind him, swam rapidly up, seeking the safety of the clouds, and was swiftly caught. Monkey shook himself, and the Goldfish tumbled violently in the basket, throwing up all the children it had eaten. Releasing the children, the Monkey transformed once again to the Crane and took the Goldfish in his claws and jumped to Mount Putuo, the bodhimanda of Avalokitesvara (Guanyin), where the fish resides today. To ensure the Goldfish would never attempt to escape again, the goldfish was given a memory like a sieve, so that it would not remember the scriptures and gain power.
The people of the kingdom were so grateful, they brought out the finest food from their cupboards and set a feast for the band of travelers. But the monk and his companions (the Pig, most reluctantly) had slipped away quietly to find the Dragon Horse and continue on their Journey to the West.
And that, baby Dylan, is why goldfish are thought to have short memories.
