Chapter One

There was once a magic stone on the summit of the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit. Since the beginning of the world it had received the nurture of Heaven and Earth, the light of the sun and moon, until at last it became quick with life.

One day the stone split open. From it came a stone egg, and when the wind touched the egg it became a stone monkey, complete in every limb and feature.

The monkey bowed to the four quarters. A golden light flashed from his eyes and reached the Palace of the Pole Star, but soon he ate and drank with the other creatures, and the light grew quiet.

“One work. Many languages. One reading experience.”