Episode Guide to Gensomaden Saiyuki

3. His God My God

(manga Vol. 1, chapters 4-5)

The SI, traveling afoot through a steep mountain pass (too rocky and narrow for a Jeep =), come to a monastery and ask permission to stay the night. The monks offer no welcome until they overhear the group's conversation and realize that its leader is the legendary Sanzo Genjyo-houshi; Genjyo's master, Koumyou, visited this place years ago. Of course, he's now most welcome to stay with them, though Sanzo mutters that they'll expect some words of priestly wisdom in return. His followers are less welcome, but are permitted to enter when Sanzo claims they're his servants (to their indignation). A novice monk, Yo, is assigned to provide for their needs and greatly amuses the troupe with his wide-eyed hero-worship of Sanzo. The SI asks how well defended the temple is against demons; the kid tells them they have no weapons and preach complete non-violence here, believing that pure devotion to Buddha's principles will guarantee them divine protection. As he leaves the youkai collapse in laughter, remarking that "ignorance is bliss" and wondering how the kid would react if he saw Sanzo blazing away with his pistol. (Yo is duly horrified when he catches all 4 knocking back beers while having an evening game of mah-jongg.)

They decide to leave the next day before anything can happen here. As Sanzo expected, that night the head monks implore him to stay and discourse on the teachings for them. He refuses, saying it's for the same reason his master would not preach to them on his visit--they're lazy and selfish, and won't do anything practical to defend themselves, placing all their trust in scriptures. (The way he prefaces this is priceless; he remarks that his master was a lenient man, and probably didn't tell them directly why he wouldn't share with them, but he, Genjyo, is sure he knows why...and then he lets them have it. ) Meanwhile Kougaiji's next assassin has arrived and is making chutney out of the monks, who try chanting against it in vain. The SI make short work of the youkai, but are confronted by little Yo, who demands to know how they can kill so easily when it goes against all Buddha's teachings. Sanzo bluntly asks how Yo can say that when he sees how many of his fellow monks are dead, and tells him that the easiest way to get close to Buddha is to die, as they did. ==Too bad for us, adds Gojyo with his slow grin; we're still alive. (Less godly, but still breathing; a fair price, yeah.)

The next day as they set out Yo hopes they'll return some day, and adds that he hopes Master Sanzo will teach him how to play mah-jongg. Sanzo favors him with a very rare smile, and says he'll remember that.

[BTW, this is the first ep in which we see that he wears glasses when reading.]

Updated notes for Gensomaden #3:

Goku, losing his tenth rock-paper-scissors match, is again the one to carry (drag) the group's baggage and yells at Hakuryu that he ought to be able to transform into something other than a car.

When the monks of Iwayama Temple first deny the group entrance, Gojyo growls "that's why I hate monks" and Sanzo retorts "that's news to me". =)

Gojyo asks if Sanzo is really that much of a bigshot and Hakkai replies with some background on the sutras and the Sanzos' status. How did a godless bastard like him get to be a Sanzo? demands Gojyo. Ah, that's beyond Hakkai's knowledge...

Indignant Yo: "You are all sure to meet Buddha's retribution someday!" Goku, wistfully, "Hey, Sanzo, can you eat Buddha's retribution?" Sanzo, indifferently reading the paper: "Yes, but it probably won't taste very good."

The ikkou assess their opponent. =) ==G: so, whatcha think? Go: that attitude of his pisses me off: minus 20 points. H: He has a vulgar laugh, minus 15 points. Youkai: nanda?! --And an extra minus 5 for unbrushed teeth. --it sprouts a bone blade from its forearm and spars with Goku, but Sanzo walks in and knocks it flat with a punch (!) adding insult to injury with a minus 40 for falling so clumsily. Sanzo remarks that Lord Kougaiji must not think much of the ikkou if this is the calinber of fighter he sends against them, and asks the youkai for information about the Gyomaoh plot; it sneers that a blood-stained man like him is an insult to the name of Sanzo. That's minus 20, retorts the monk--game over (said in English).

o yeah, and the youkai is appalled that the ikkou can manifest such powers with their limiters on =)

Return to Episode Guide front page.
Go back to Gunning for the Buddha mainpage.