Journey to the West 016: The Encounter with Princess Iron Fan

The Return to Flame Mountain

After successfully crossing Flame Mountain with the help of Guanyin, Tripitaka and his disciples continued their journey westward. However, their path soon brought them back to the vicinity of Flame Mountain, where they encountered another challenge. The intense heat from the mountain had returned, making the journey unbearable and threatening to block their progress once again.

Realizing they needed to find a way to permanently extinguish the flames, Wukong decided to seek out Princess Iron Fan (also known as Tie Shan Gongzhu), the wife of the Bull Demon King and the mother of Red Boy. Princess Iron Fan possessed a powerful magical item called the Banana Leaf Fan, which had the ability to create strong winds and put out even the fiercest fires.

Wukong’s Request

Wukong, aware of the importance of the Banana Leaf Fan, approached Princess Iron Fan with the intention of borrowing it to quell the flames of Flame Mountain. However, the relationship between Wukong and Princess Iron Fan was strained due to Wukong’s earlier battle with Red Boy. She harbored a deep resentment towards Wukong for subduing her son and was unwilling to cooperate.

When Wukong arrived at her palace, he respectfully requested the use of the fan. Princess Iron Fan, still furious over the events involving her son, refused his request outright. She made it clear that she had no intention of helping him and, in fact, wanted to take revenge on him for what had happened to Red Boy.

Wukong’s Strategy

Undeterred by her refusal, Wukong decided to use his cunning and magical abilities to obtain the fan. He transformed himself into a small insect and secretly entered Princess Iron Fan’s palace, where he observed her closely. He noticed that she kept the fan close at all times and guarded it fiercely.

Wukong waited for the right moment to strike. When Princess Iron Fan was distracted, he reverted to his original form and attempted to seize the fan. However, Princess Iron Fan was quick to react, and a fierce struggle ensued. The two engaged in a magical duel, with Princess Iron Fan using the power of the Banana Leaf Fan to create powerful gusts of wind to fend off Wukong.

The Battle for the Banana Leaf Fan

The battle between Wukong and Princess Iron Fan was intense and filled with magical displays of power. Wukong, despite his strength and agility, found it difficult to overcome the might of the Banana Leaf Fan. The fan’s winds were so strong that they blew Wukong far away, making it nearly impossible for him to get close to Princess Iron Fan.

After several failed attempts to overpower her, Wukong decided to change tactics. He used his shape-shifting abilities to transform into the appearance of Bull Demon King, Princess Iron Fan’s husband. Disguised as her husband, Wukong approached Princess Iron Fan with kind words and feigned concern, convincing her to hand over the fan.

Believing that she was speaking to her husband, Princess Iron Fan reluctantly gave the fan to Wukong. As soon as he had the fan in his possession, Wukong revealed his true form and quickly fled with the fan, leaving Princess Iron Fan furious at being deceived.

Quelling the Flames of Flame Mountain

With the Banana Leaf Fan in hand, Wukong returned to Flame Mountain where Tripitaka and the other disciples were waiting. He used the fan to create powerful winds, which finally extinguished the flames of Flame Mountain, allowing the group to pass safely.

However, Princess Iron Fan, realizing that she had been tricked, pursued Wukong to retrieve the fan. The Bull Demon King, upon learning of the deception, also joined the fray, leading to a final confrontation between Wukong, the Bull Demon King, and Princess Iron Fan.

Resolution and Moving Forward

The battle that ensued was fierce, but with the help of Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing, Wukong managed to subdue both the Bull Demon King and Princess Iron Fan. In the end, Guanyin intervened once more to mediate the conflict. She convinced the Bull Demon King and Princess Iron Fan to let go of their grievances and allow Tripitaka and his disciples to continue their journey in peace.

With the flames of Flame Mountain extinguished for good, Tripitaka and his disciples were able to move forward on their journey to the West. This chapter emphasized the themes of perseverance, the clever use of strategy, and the importance of resolving conflicts peacefully—values that are integral to Journey to the West and are echoed in modern adaptations like Black Myth: Wukong, where the characters often face challenges that require both strength and wisdom.