三蔵法師一行が天竺へ向かう旅の途中、一行の行く手を阻むように巨大な山脈が立ちはだかった。それは火焔山と呼ばれる、一年中猛火が燃え盛る恐ろしい山である。その熱気は凄まじく、近づくことすら不可能な有様であり、一行は歩みをとどめることを余儀なくされた。村人の話によれば、この炎を消すためには鉄扇公主が持つ「芭蕉扇」と呼ばれる不思議な扇が必要不可欠であるという。
While Sanzō Hōshi (Xuanzang) and his party were on their journey to Tenjiku (India), a massive mountain range stood in their way as if to block their path. This was the terrifying Fire Mountain, where fierce flames burned all year round. The heat was so intense that it was impossible even to approach, forcing the party to halt their progress. According to the villagers, an extraordinary fan called the "Bashōsen" (Plantain Fan) held by Tessan Kōshu (Princess Iron Fan) was indispensable to extinguish these flames.
孫悟空は一行を救わんがために、ただ一人火焔山へ向けて飛んだ。鉄扇公主はかつて悟空が戦った牛魔王の妻であるため、すんなりと扇を貸してくれるはずもない。悟空はあらゆる知略を用いて扇を借りようと試みたが、公主は聞く耳を持たず、逆に激しい怒りでもって悟空に襲いかかったのである。二人の激しい戦いは何日にも及び、天地を揺るがすほどの激闘を繰り広げた。
To save the party, Son Gokū (Sun Wukong) flew alone toward Fire Mountain. Since Tessan Kōshu was the wife of Gyūmaō (Bull Demon King), whom Gokū had fought before, she would not easily lend him the fan. Gokū attempted to borrow the fan using various clever schemes, but the Princess refused to listen and instead attacked Gokū with intense fury. Their fierce battle lasted for many days, unfolding as a struggle that shook the heavens and earth.
激戦の末、悟空は変化の術を駆使し、ついに芭蕉扇を奪い取ることに成功した。しかし、手に入れた扇は偽物であり、一目でそれと見抜く術がない悟空は、意気揚々と火焔山に向かって扇を仰いでしまった。すると炎は消えるどころか、ますます勢いを増して燃え広がり、悟空は命からがら逃げ出す始末であった。この一件により、悟空の怒りはいよいよ極まるところとなった。
After a hard-fought battle, Gokū made use of his transformation techniques and finally succeeded in seizing the Bashōsen. However, the fan he had obtained was a fake, and Gokū, unable to see through the trick at a glance, triumphantly fanned toward Fire Mountain. Instead of the flames being extinguished, they spread with increasing vigor, and Gokū barely escaped with his life. After this incident, Gokū's anger finally reached its peak.
本物の扇を手に入れるべく、悟空は牛魔王の姿に化けて再び鉄扇公主の元に赴き、見事に本物をだまし取ることに成功した。しかし、今度は牛魔王が猪八戒の姿に化け、悟空から再び扇を奪い返すという、騙し合いの応酬が展開されたのである。事ここに至って、悟空と牛魔王は持てる力のすべてをぶつけ合う死闘を演じることとなった。その戦いの激しさは、筆舌に尽くしがたい。
To get the real fan, Gokū transformed into Gyūmaō and visited Tessan Kōshu again, successfully deceiving her into giving him the real one. However, this time Gyūmaō transformed into Cho Hakkai (Zhu Bajie) and stole the fan back from Gokū, resulting in an exchange of deceptions. At this point, Gokū and Gyūmaō engaged in a fight to the death, pitting all their strength against each other. The intensity of that battle is beyond description.
最終的に神仏の助力を得た悟空は、ついに真の芭蕉扇を手中に収めるに至った。燃え盛る火焔山を前にして悟空が芭蕉扇を力強く扇ぐと、一面の猛火は嘘のように消え去り、涼やかな風が吹き抜けたのである。こうして最大の難所をものともせず乗り越えた一行は、再び天竺への果てしない旅路を歩み始めたのであった。
Ultimately, with the assistance of gods and Buddhas, Gokū finally brought the true Bashōsen into his hands. Confronting the blazing Fire Mountain, when Gokū powerfully fanned with the Bashōsen, the rampant flames disappeared as if they were a lie, and a cool breeze blew through. Having overcome the greatest ordeal without hesitation, the party set out once again on their endless journey to Tenjiku.