Chapter One: The Jade Emperor Issues His Decree in the Hall of Luminous Clarity — The Golden Lad Teases the Weaving Maid and Is Condemned by Heaven

A poem to begin:

On the seventh eve, the Cowherd meets the Weaving Maid —

A thousand years of tender love, unchanged and unafraid.

Three lives of fortune grant at last a day of glad reunion;

Could heaven's joy be cast aside to sever such communion?

For chasing fleeting pleasure, they were doomed to toil and sorrow,

Banished to the dusty world to suffer till the morrow.

The Jade Emperor took pity and repaired their parted grieving —

On the magpie bridge they meet again, surpassing all believing.

In every age, for men and women alike, there is no escaping that single word: love. Where love takes root, it may blossom as tender affection, as bitter longing, as passionate desire, or as devoted infatuation. Even the immortal patriarch Lu, one of the Eight Transcendents of the Great Luo Heaven, was not immune — witness the tale of how he thrice dallied with the White Peony, a story that has delighted readers of fiction to this day. The tale set down here, however, concerns the fateful union across the Heavenly River and the celebrated meeting on the Bridge of Magpies. Yet this ancient legend dwells entirely in the towers and pavilions of a phantasmal realm, its inner workings strange and wondrous beyond all reckoning — much like the lantern-plays performed upon a stage. Its deeper purpose, however, is that of the Qixie Zhiyi: to lodge a moral within a marvel, to counsel and to caution. As it is said:

The clear night rings with a monastery bell,

And wakens those who in this world have strayed.

As for the history of the Cowherd and the Weaving Maid, a word of explanation is needed at the outset. If the two were already husband and wife, why is it said they meet only once a year, on the seventh night of the seventh month? According to the old accounts: to the east of the Heavenly River dwelt the Weaving Maid, a granddaughter of the Heavenly Emperor, who was diligent at her loom yet paid little heed to her appearance. By the Emperor's command she was given in marriage to the Cowherd, who dwelt to the west of the river. After her marriage, however, she abandoned her weaving entirely, and the Emperor, greatly angered, ordered her back to the eastern bank. The Cowherd on the western side pined for her without cease, and so the magpie bridge was made for their reunion — yet each year only the seventh night of the seventh month grants them a single day of perfect togetherness. Such is the origin of these two immortals. The author has felt it necessary to make this clear from the start, lest readers take him to task for recklessness. The intent having been stated, let the narrative proper begin.

As the old saying goes: The ancient affairs of the Heavenly River are passed down as tales for men of later ages.

Now: in the high and azure heavens, the Jade Emperor held dominion over the Thirty-Three Heavens, governing the Nine Luminaries and Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions, presiding over sun and moon and the seven regulators of the stars — supreme and boundless, a deity of mighty and majestic virtue. This was during the time when the Han dynasty had been restored in the world below and all under heaven was at peace. On the first day of the new year, the immortals gathered to offer their obeisance, requesting that the Jade Emperor hold court and ascend the Hall of Luminous Clarity. There the stellar deities of civil and martial rank stood in ordered ranks to pay their respects, while celestial breezes stirred the incense smoke that curled about the hall, and the music of sheng-pipes, flutes, and bamboo instruments filled the air. As a Tang poem attests:

A pale moon and scattered stars ring the Hall of Luminous Clarity;

Celestial winds waft down the fragrance of the imperial censer.

The attending gods stand like cranes in stillness;

A single crimson cloud bears the Jade Emperor aloft.

Before the throne, the herald star drew back the curtain and proclaimed: "Let those with matters to report come forward and speak; let those with none escort the imperial carriage back to the palace." Then the Grand Preceptor, the Most High Lord Lao, led forth the two Ministers of Left and Right, the Three Stars of Fortune, Prosperity, and Longevity, the Star Lords of the Southern and Northern Dippers, the Rectified Unity Mystic Altar Star Lord, the Star Lords of the Nine Heavens Thunder Bureau, the Grand White Star Lord, the Five Grains Star Lord, the Four-Direction Bodhisattvas, the Four Earth Vajras, the Nine Luminaries and Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions, and even the Hearth King who makes his court appearance at year's end — all filing in their ranks to pay homage with the cry: "Long live the Emperor! May His sacred longevity know no bounds!" The Jade Emperor issued his decree: "Let all my lords rise. How stand the seasons in the Han realm below? How fare the mortal souls in good and evil? Let the inspecting deities report at once." The Five Grains Star Lord raised his ivory tablet and stepped forward: "By the boundless grace of Your Majesty, the Han dynasty below has been restored — Wang Mang has met his end, the sovereign is wise and his ministers loyal, the winds and rains come in season, the realm is at peace, and the seas rest undisturbed. The happiness of the people is wholly the gift of Your Majesty." The Jade Emperor said: "Guangwu below is a ruler born to his destiny, who has delivered the people from fire and flood. Now that he has established the realm and secured the people's welfare, we shall further bless his dynasty with long continuance, so that the people may be spared future calamity." All the star lords prostrated themselves in gratitude. The Most High Lord Lao then memorialized: "The sixth day of the new year marks Your Majesty's sacred birthday. Your servant has prepared the Grand Peach Banquet in the Tushita Palace and has invited the great immortals to offer Your Majesty birthday felicitations. I humbly request Your Majesty's gracious approval." The Jade Emperor said: "In former years the Grand Peach Banquet was thrown into chaos by that mischievous monkey. Yet as this glorious occasion has come round again, it must not go unremarked — your memorial is approved." When Lord Lao had given thanks, he further memorialized: "This great birthday celebration falls on a cycle of five hundred years and differs from those of former years. Every treasure needed for the feast has been prepared, save only the coral eight-treasure warm-and-cool jade cup used by Your Majesty — this must be borrowed from the Queen Mother of the West at Jasper Lake to enhance the occasion's splendor." The Jade Emperor said: "That is easily arranged." He then summoned the twelfth Golden Lad of his personal attendants to the throne and said: "You shall go to the Holy Mother of the West at Jasper Lake, convey our imperial order, and borrow the warm-and-cool jade cup. Do not fail in this." The Golden Lad received the command, departed the court, mounted a divine cloud, and made straight for Jasper Lake. The Jade Emperor issued the decree to end the court session, and the immortals dispersed.

Now this twelfth Golden Lad had long admired the famed beauty of the Jasper Lake celestial palace and had often wished to pay a visit, yet had never found the occasion. Today, by a fortunate turn, he rode joyfully upon an auspicious cloud directly to the front of the Dipper-Ox Palace on the high mountain. He had barely descended from the cloud when a crimson-robed celestial maiden came forward to meet him. "What brings the esteemed immortal here?" she asked. "I come by imperial command," said the Golden Lad, "to see the Holy Mother." "If you come by imperial order, please enter," replied the maiden. The Golden Lad entered the Dipper-Ox Palace to find ten thousand flowers in full bloom, their fragrance filling his nostrils. As it is said:

The first of all immortal residences in heaven

Surpasses even the palaces of earthly kings.

Walking through the enchanting celestial scenery, the Golden Lad was too preoccupied to stop and enjoy it, and went straight through the palace gate. The attendant immortal youths at the inner gate, knowing he came by imperial command, did not obstruct him, so the Golden Lad walked boldly all the way to Jasper Lake. Suddenly a fragrant breeze reached him, and he encountered a celestial maiden with a plum blossom pinned in her hair, seated at a loom beneath the Moon-Gazing Pavilion. This was none other than the seventh celestial maiden of the Dipper-Ox Palace, born of the Celestial Lord Zhang, the Jade Emperor's son-in-law — commonly called the Seventh Maiden Zhang, she was also the Jade Emperor's granddaughter, and therefore known as the Heavenly Granddaughter, the Weaving Maid. Her beauty was peerless in the world, yet she cared little for adornment — she used no rouge or powder, dressed always in plain and simple robes, with coral pendants at her waist, and moved with the effortless grace of an immortal beyond compare.

The Golden Lad had been fine before he saw her, but the moment he did, earthly desires stirred in his heart. He stepped forward and bowed deeply: "Good day to you, Heavenly Elder Sister!" The Weaving Maid was startled and quickly returned the courtesy. "The esteemed immortal is one of the Jade Emperor's Golden Lads," she said. "What brings you here?" The Golden Lad replied: "I come by imperial decree to see the Holy Mother and to borrow the warm-and-cool jade cup." The Weaving Maid said: "The Holy Mother is just now playing chess with the Great Immortal Dongfang Shuo on the Gathering Immortals Terrace. Since you come on imperial orders, allow me to convey word on your behalf." Hearing this, the Golden Lad's spirits rose even higher, and he smiled broadly. "The Holy Mother is engaged with her chess — let us not disturb her just yet. I have long admired your renowned name, Elder Sister, and have always regretted I had no chance to meet you. Today I am fortunate indeed — the dearest wish of my life is fulfilled!" With that he gave another bow. The Weaving Maid, noticing the flirtatious gleam in his eye and seeing before her a young man of handsome bearing, could not help breaking into a faint smile.

At that smile, the Golden Lad misread her entirely — he took it for encouragement — and drew one step nearer. With elaborate courtesy he bowed again and said with a grin: "If you would deign to show me some kindness and ease my parched longing, I would be grateful beyond all words." The Weaving Maid said sharply: "You have come on an imperial errand — how dare you address me so impertinently? Step back at once! If the Holy Mother were to learn of this, you would bear no light guilt." The Golden Lad laughed: "Scold me as you will — the fault shall be mine. If you will not show me kindness, I am at least entirely sincere, with no thought of duplicity. As we cannot have a proper conversation today with the imperial errand in hand, I yet hope, Elder Sister, that you might show me extra favor and give me a token, so that we might have cause to meet again in the future." So saying, he reached up and plucked the plum blossom from the Weaving Maid's hair and made to leave. The Weaving Maid stretched out her hand to take it back.

Just as the dispute was rising, four ceremonial-robed celestial maidens came carrying sashes, announcing: "By order of the Holy Mother, the Heavenly Granddaughter is summoned at once to an audience." This gave the Golden Lad such a fright that his soul nearly left his body. The Weaving Maid seized the moment and said: "Very well, very well — come with me to see the Holy Mother." And with that, the whole party swept inside together.

They found the Queen Mother of the West wearing a nine-cloud coronet, robed in a gown of a hundred pheasant feathers, a jade belt at her waist and a ruyi scepter in her hand, seated in state upon the throne. Rows of celestial maidens stood to either side, and many Yellow-Scarved warriors stood below. The Weaving Maid knelt first and wept as she reported: "The twelfth Golden Lad has behaved outrageously — I beg the Holy Mother to render judgment." The Holy Mother said: "I had just finished my chess game with the Great Immortal Dongfang Shuo when my heart suddenly stirred with a premonition; I sensed that something in the palace was touched with mortal desire, and so I took my leave of the Immortal and returned immediately. Who was it that first gave rise to this? Speak the plain truth." The Weaving Maid placed the entire blame on the Golden Lad and pointed to the plum blossom in his hand as evidence. The Golden Lad could only bow his head in silence. The Holy Mother said: "Although it was the Golden Lad who initiated this, you ought not to have lingered with a smile and let feeling take hold — for once feeling is engaged, not even ten thousand lifetimes may undo it. The Heavenly Granddaughter is not without fault." At this the Weaving Maid flushed crimson and bowed her head to beg forgiveness. The Holy Mother said: "Since you have both harbored mortal desires, you have violated the laws of heaven; this cannot go unpunished, as a warning to others." She ordered the crimson-robed celestial maiden to take the Heavenly Granddaughter away under guard, and the maiden complied, leading the Weaving Maid down from the steps. The Holy Mother then said: "The twelfth Golden Lad came on imperial orders and succumbed to earthly desire; the warm-and-cool jade cup shall not be defiled by his hands — I shall present it to the Jade Emperor myself. Since he has violated the heavenly laws, he shall naturally be punished in accordance with precedent." She commanded the Yellow-Scarved warriors to secure the Golden Lad, and ordered the jade-guardian maiden to take up the warm-and-cool cup; then she at once mounted her six-cloud carriage, attended by twelve pairs of celestial youths and maidens, the Yellow-Scarved warriors escorting the twelfth Golden Lad, and rode forth on a cloud of colored splendor. Passing through the Numinous Empyrean Hall of the celestial palace, they arrived at the Jade Clarity Palace and descended. The palace-guarding celestial officer went in to announce them to the Jade Emperor in his inner chambers, who received them in the informal audience hall.

After the Holy Mother had paid her respects, she memorialized: "The coral eight-treasure warm-and-cool jade cup — your servant has brought it in person, and humbly requests Your Majesty to verify it. May the sacred longevity of Your Majesty know no bounds!" She commanded the jade-guardian maiden to kneel and present it before the throne. The Jade Emperor said: "The borrowing of the jade cup was a small matter — that you should have taken the trouble to come in person leaves my heart ill at ease. I presume the twelfth Golden Lad has given cause for offense?" For the Jade Emperor, not seeing the Golden Lad return with his report, and observing a trace of displeasure on the Holy Mother's face, had surmised that something was amiss. The Holy Mother memorialized: "Your Majesty's perception is clear. The twelfth Golden Lad molested and insulted the Heavenly Granddaughter Weaving Maid, treating the laws of heaven with contempt — he is truly guilty. The Weaving Maid I have placed under guard; the Golden Lad is also in attendance below the steps. I request Your Majesty's disposal." The Jade Emperor said in anger: "I have always trusted in the discretion of the twelfth Golden Lad and showed him particular favor — and yet he has presumed to sport with my own granddaughter. The law of heaven must be satisfied." He ordered the Yellow-Scarved warriors to bring the Golden Lad before the throne and kneel, then demanded: "For corrupting the celestial court and disrespecting an imperial errand, what punishment do you deserve?" The Golden Lad prostrated himself and declared himself deserving of ten thousand deaths. The Jade Emperor said: "The code of heavenly law cannot be made lenient for a single individual." He commanded the Judiciary Star Official to take the Yellow-Scarved warriors, escort the twelfth Golden Lad to the Immortal-Slaying Terrace, and behead him with the Immortal-Severing Sword. The Golden Lad repented bitterly, his tears falling like rain. The Yellow-Scarved warriors on both sides were just driving him out through the palace gate, and the Judiciary Star Official had just received the imperial command, when from outside the gate a cloud of luminous light appeared and a venerable immortal descended, crying out: "Stay the execution! Let this old subject have an audience with the Emperor — there is a way to save this life." All the gods looked — it was none other than the Most High Lord Lao.

What happened next, the reader shall learn in the following chapter.