Bones of the Master: A Journey to Secret Mongolia

by George Crane

In 1959 a young monk named Tsung Tsai (Ancestor Wisdom) escapes the Red Army troops that destroy his monastery, and flees alone three thousand miles across a China swept by chaos and famine. Knowing his fellow monks are dead, himself starving and hunted, he is sustained by his to carry on the teachings of his Buddhist meditation master, who was too old to leave with his disciple.

Nearly forty years later Tsung Tsai — now an old master himself — persuades his American neighbor, maverick poet George Crane, to travel with him back to his birthplace at the edge of the Gobi Desert.

They are unlikely companions. Crane seeks freedom, adventure, sensation. Tsung Tsai is determined to find his master's grave and plant the seeds of a spiritual renewal in China. As their search culminates in a torturous climb to a remote mountain cave, it becomes clear that this seemingly quixotic quest may cost both men's lives.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Buddhism, Memoir, China, Spirituality, Biography

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Writer, journalist, editor and world traveler holds a Bachelors from the University of Illinois in English Literature and Art History and a Masters in Creative writing from San Francisco State University. He has taught at Manhattanville College, University of Indianapolis and has given seminars and readings around the world (New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, Seattle, Athens, Paris, Prague, Bucharest and at the 2008 International Writers Conference in Bulgaria.) He is author of two internationally acclaimed memoirs, Bones of the Master: A Journey to Secret Mongolia (Random House/Bantam Books) and Beyond the House of the False Lama: Travels with Monks Nomads and Outlaws (Harper Collins). Besides nonfiction, he has translated poetry from the Chinese, A Thousand Pieces of Snow; and an upcoming novel, Never Been Killed, Never Been Eaten: A False Memoir (HarperCollins). Crane’s screenplay, an adaptation of his book, Bones of the Master, has been optioned and is currently in pre-production by Random Acts Entertainment. His writing has been translated into 16 languages.

Reviews

[Q · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favorite book of 2001. George Crane lived in upper NY state. He is a poet. The language of this book is sumptuous. Be it the beauty of the writing, the teachings offered and the pidgin English spoken at times. Chan master Tsung Tsai has a unique way of looking at and living life and a great sense of humor. The two main characters have a unique friendship. Tsung Tsai moves in next door to George. They both write loevley poetry. Geogre helps Tsing Tsai edit his words sometimes. And I also enjoyed this writing camaraderie. Tsing fled from Mongolia in 1959 and traveled 3000 miles thru China, at time starving and meeting severe obstacles and near death situations. His training sustained him. I was so inspired by him and how he lived his life now

40 years later, old and somewhat fragile Tsing Tsai asked Georgie to come with him to Mongolia to find his beloved teacher’s bones and give them a proper burial. In 1959 his teacher was old and frail and didn’t want to be a burden to Tssing. He wanted Tsing to survive.


~~~
There is so much heart and wisdom and care in their friendship; ever growing and widening. George and Tsing are extremely different at the beginning but grow to understand each other and help each other. They are wondrous characters If ever characters be.

The book has a sparkle that is unique. It’s a book about history too. And a different aspect of the Chinese Cultural Revolution. I am not finding the words right now to speak its wonder and capture its humanity and the amazing journey they take together.
.

[Jamini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Immensely enjoyable! A true tale of a poet meeting a Buddhist monk from Mongolia and then traveling back to Mongolia with him in search of the "Bones of the Master". Gives you chills and thrills as well as excellent history lesson on China/Mongolia and what people went through during communism. Also many beautiful, simple poems sprinkled throughout either written by the author and translated by the author and written by the monk. Any spiritual seeker would love this book!

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful read! It not only has a compelling plot to carry you through the book, with wonderful characters; it has wonderful philosophy and extremely memorable quotes throughout. I intend to read it more than once! I ended the book with a smile on my face, wishing there were more - and a deeper understanding of Buddhism and Chinese history and Zen poetry.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! It's David Caradine (Grasshopper) meets Henry Miller in Woodstock (and China).

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always been intrigued by Buddhist monks and their paths in this world. What specifically led me to this book is somewhat of a mystery, however. The synopsis was most likely the hook on how a somewhat nomadic American poet, George Crane, meets his Buddhist monk neighbor, Tsung Tsai, in rural upstate New York that leads them both to China on a mission to find the grave of the monk's master. Thus begins a fascinating journey of both the workings of Ch'an Buddhism and Tsung Tsai's past. Buddhist monks were maimed, slaughtered and scattered during Mao's Great Leap Forward and Cultural Revolution--of which Tsung Tsai was one. His harrowing journey from northern China on the Inner Mongolian border in 1959 (at about age 30) to escape the Red Army sets the stage for why he wants to go back to China in 1997. Adopting the author as his student, Tsung Tsai and George set off to China to find the master's bone and deliver a Buddha statue to where the temple used to be.

Their journey along with the backstory is truly amazing. One gets a gentle hint of how a Ch'an Buddhist monk thinks. But, I really don't have much education in Buddhism so I cannot give much of a definition of just what and how Ch'an Buddhism differs from other forms other than being an offshoot of Zen Buddhism. But, it is quite a colorful ride for George as he discovers just what rural China is like and how to live differently from an American lifestyle.

I can't say Crane is a very good writer - the book reads with an overly simplistic style that felt rushed mixed with filler to extend the content somewhat. I was also a bit concerned that some of the facts might have been embellished for color - very difficult to tell. Nonetheless, I enjoyed it and feel prompted to learn more about Buddhism in general.

[Hal Mahaffey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I needed this book after expending too much energy raging at the insane drivel in the news. Spiritual, wise, funny, sweet. A few startlingly beautiful passages. Not entirely clear what the final chapter was meant to be, hence the 4 stars.

"Two old men... They embodied Zen: Be happy to live. Be happy to die. Do your work and pass on. They were beyond my fear that the universe was without meaning."

I can breathe easier now.

Peace.

[Rochelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book which begins simply and subtly deepens, gaining momentum and power as it reaches its conclusion. The application of this monk's practice transforms his friend, and the story of that transformation transforms the reader. I found this story of steadfast practice deeply inspiring.

[Enso · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book enjoyable but I also found myself wishing the author would shut up about his own thoughts and opinions and focus more on his traveling companion, a monk of some 50+ years, whose journey this was to find his master's grave. The fact that the author was/is pretty much a layabout and, for lack of a better term, loser, who sleepwalks through his life and can't even bring himself to bow to his own teacher because of his own issues, made it a bit less enjoyable. Not a bad person but a detraction from the overall story.

The book definitely gives a feel for the Chinese parts of Mongolia, which I enjoyed.

[Philip Wyatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent travel book following a fish out of water American poet accompanying Tsung Tsai, his mystical but brash monk friend and neighbour back to the Mongolian temple he once had to flee from over thirty years ago, with a goal to locating his masters remains.

What follows is an entertaining, thought provoking and sometimes humourous buddy adventure, the crux of the story being the author's attempts to adapt to the Monk's way of life, but his 'fox-like' personality often getting in the way. Well written with Georges Crane's wonderful prose being a highlight.

Highly recommended 9/10

[Bish Denham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written story, poetic. It is magical, mystical, and human. If you're looking for a fast pace, you're not going to find it here. What you will find is the story of a journey taken by a Buddhist monk and non-believing American man. That these seeming opposite types connect and become fast friends is a testament to the beauty of the human spirit.

[Pete]

An alright read, quick. Crane's voice and personality gets annoying fast. And his poetry is rubbish. However, he keeps the book interesting and relevant through the innumerable dialogues which almost perfectly capture the essence of Tsung Tsai.

[Sydney · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first I thought the author would be annoying but I really got into this book and the amazing adventure thru China. Crane relates his friendship w/TsungTsai with honesty and lovely language.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. The narrative was compelling: an old Buddhist monk retracing his steps from his days in Mongolia long ago, as told by his American poet friend who accompanied him. Both these characters, Tsung Tsai the monk and George/Georgie the poet, were interesting and endearing. George was a fun narrator for this story, since he was often so frustratingly stubborn, ill-tempered, and hedonistic - in stark contrast to Tsung Tsai. They were an odd pair, and their differences and conversations provided many funny and interesting moments.
This book was quite well-written, with a nice balance of physical and emotional detail. George told the story from his own personal view without taking up too much of the narrative with his own ego. He was a good narrator.
The travels in this book and the people they met along the way were delightful and immersive. I loved reading this book the entire way through. Cool story delivered very well, and quite entertaining!

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love stories of spiritual quests, and this ranks as one of the most enjoyable I've read. The author, an American writer agrees to accompany his eccentric neighbor on a pilgrimage to Mongolia, to build a temple for the neighbor's long-ago master. The neighbor appears hapless and naive, and the author is worldly and perhaps a little over-sexed. There is a lot of humor in this contrast. There is suspense--will the pair be able to elude the rules and laws of the Chinese guards and police? And there is the beauty of the neighbor's faith and devotion. It's a great story.
To give you an idea of my taste, other books somewhat similar to this that I've enjoyed are:
Fourth Uncle in the Mountains
Living with the Himalayan Masters
Chronicles of Tao

[Randall Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a re-read of a personal favorite. The dedication of the Ch'an master Tsung Tsai to return to Mongolia is marvelous, but George Crane's willingness to accompany him is no small feat either. An adventure of a lifetime, and one nearly as fantastic as the one that preceded it. Tsung Tsai, in 1959, crossing the whole of China to Hong Kong, alone, on foot and dependent on the kindness of others.
The need to survive and keep his teacher's lessons alive and out of reach of the Chinese communists his only guide and motivation. What an incredible life, and what an incredible blessing for George Crane to have been a part of it.

[Sandra M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! It was a privilege to meet the great Tsung Tsai and travel with him and author George Crane from New York to Inner Mongolia. I have nothing but respect for the intensity of the old monk’s desire to re-connect with his old master and to climb to his hermitage on top of Crow Pull Mountain; and for the excellence of George Crane’s prose and storytelling abilities. I would love to see Crane’s travel journals, I really would. What a remarkable story—I can’t say enough good things about it. George, if you’re out there: beautiful work!

[Nickolai Vasilieff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Several years ago my wife and I traveled around the world. We had the good fortune to spend a week in Dunhuang, China, a town in the same region that George Crane writes about. I began his book for that reason, but was quickly captured by his story and his writing. This is a beautiful and sensitive piece of writing.

[Julia Kerr Henkel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the honesty and integrity of this book. The authors respect for the main protagonist, an esteemed and humble monk and friend, was evident throughout. An enticing journey into Ch’an Buddhism and insight into the effects of Chinas aggressive domination. Read it.

[Marilane Mccartney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting non-fiction of life in China (1959 and late 1980's, Life as a Buddhist Monk and friendship.

[A1b5jj · Rating 5 out of 5]

108 Bows

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

One man's quest is always a wonderful story. A wonderful collision of beatnik and buddhism.

[Eddie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book somewhat difficult, a big tiring. I think, maybe the drinking put me off. I read it years ago. I enjoyed some of it.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

poet
fox
monk
empty
free

[Garrett Merchant · Rating 5 out of 5]

It warmed my heart and had me chuckling with love and sadness. Laughter and emptiness. A beautiful journey to be certain.

[Liz Payne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book turned up in our Lilliput library....it touched my heart and spoke to my spirit..... 🙏

[Giocina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Viaggiare fuori è sempre viaggiare anche dentro.

[Helmut · Rating 5 out of 5]

弟子不必不如师,师不必贤于弟子
China und seine Religionen - das ist eine lange Geschichte. Buddhismus und Daoismus blühten lange Zeit in einem strahlenden Glanz, bis dieser Glanz Mitte des 20. Jahrhunderts mit einem Schlag zerstört wurde. In einem maßlosen, ignoranten Hass verschluckte eine Welle von Gewalt und Fanatismus die Zeugnisse der buddhistischen Kultur.

Ein Mönch floh aus den Wirren, und freundete sich dann später in seinem Exil in Amerika mit dem Schriftsteller George Crane an. Die Geschichte, wie Crane seinen Freund und Mentor Tsung Tsai in die innere Mongolei begleitet, um dort nach den titelgebenden Knochen seines alten, lange verstorbenen Meisters zu suchen, lesen wir hier. Die katastrophalen, brutalen und unvollstellbar menschenverachtenden Zustände der Fünfziger Jahre in China, die grusligen hygienischen und sozialen Bedingungen der Ende der Neunziger in Zügen, Städten und Dörfern, die chaotischen Verhältnisse der chinesischen Verwaltung, voller Korruption und Willkür - stellenweise schluckt man als Leser und wundert sich, wie Leute in einer solchen Umgebung überleben, nur um von der Freundlichkeit und Gastfreundschaft dieser Menschen überrascht zu werden. Überall trifft der Mönch Tsung Tsai auf Freunde, auf Verehrer, auf Gläubige, die es sich im repressiven Klima Chinas trotzdem nicht nehmen lassen, dem Lehrer ihre Aufwartung zu machen. Und Crane ist ein kluger, wenn auch sehr offener Beobachter - er kommentiert deftig, mitfühlend, kraftvoll.

Ich liebe diese Art von Literatur, halb Sachbuch und halb Roman. Eine sehr gelungene Mischung aus Reisebericht, historischem Abriss, Abenteuererzählung, religiösem Leitfaden und humorvoller Irreverenz; ein Buch, das man verschlingen kann, und man nach mehr davon schreit. Gerade die Mixtur aus dem feinsinnigen, manchmal etwas kryptischen Mönch und dem proletenhaften, sich oft selbstüberschätzenden und schwadronierenden Crane ist sehr stimmig. Cranes Art, alles zu hinterfragen, überall nur Probleme zu sehen und sein oft unangebrachter Lakonismus erinnern mich an den Spruch aus dem Eddie-Murphy-Film "The Golden Child": “Those magnificent Americans. So much power and so little understanding of what to do with it.”

Ein sehr schönes Buch, mal sehr traurig, mal zum Schreien komisch, mal nachdenklich, dabei aber immer spannend, das darüberhinaus noch mit einigen Schwarzweißfotos aufwartet, die die Reise der beiden ungleichen Partner visualisiert.

[Samilja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author George is a 40-something poet, cynic and would-be drifter. He moves with his wife and baby daughter to woodsy upstate New York where good fortune provides him the neighbor he never knew he needed.

Neighbor Tsung Tsai is a 70'ish Ch'an Buddhist monk with an extraordinary history highlighted by a year-long escape from Inner Mongolia, narrowly escaping starvation, death by train-hitching and, most importantly, Mao's Cultural Revolution.

We learn the details of Tsung Tsai's story, and gripping, colorful details they are, via the friendship that rapidly develops between these two seemingly unlikely companions. George spends more and more time at Tsung Tsai's self-built house, learning the monk's history, translating Buddhist poetry and sutra and becoming ever-fond of his eccentric, ascetic neighbor.

After a couple of years, the two embark upon a great journey together - a trip to Tsung Tsai's homeland; the monk's first since his escape 40 years earlier. This is the meat of the book - vivid descriptions of the industrial towns and the desolation and poverty of the rural areas of northern China and Inner Mongolia. Their quest: to visit the meditation cave of Tsung Tsai's mentor high in the sparsely inhabited and treacherous Ula Shan mountain range, to locate the mentor's secret burial site and recover a bone from the site with which they will construct a stupa to honor the master.

Poet Georgie, as Tsung Tsai affectionately nicknames him, shines here, perfecting images of the people that he and Tsung Tsai encounter, rely on and commune with during their months in the nether lands of northern China and Inner Mongolia. His depictions too of the geography and political climate with which they must do battle to realize their goals are both artistic and educational.

But grand illustrations and aspirations aside, what's really at the heart of this book is the relationship between G and TT and their mutual reliance, adoration and respect despite divergent life practices and outlooks. Anyone who has had the pleasure of being one half of an unlikely duo will have an immediate affinity for this book. If you just happen to like true life adventures, have an affection for eastern religions or are a lover of great characters well, you'll love it too.

[Bernie Gourley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some people are attracted to the girl next door, but I'm a sucker for a tale of the sage next door. In an unwise world, it's comforting to believe that the wise exist, and they walk among us. They are not relegated to secluded retreats. In Bones of the Master a quirky Asian man drops in on his neighbor. The neighbor turns out to be the author of this book, poet George Crane. The visitor is Tsung Tsai, a Cha'an monk who trekked from Inner Mongolia to Hong Kong in 1959 in order to ensure the teachings of his monastery would survive.

The two men strike up a friendship, collaborating on poetry translation and eventually making a journey together back to Tsung Tsai's home. The first part of the book describes Tsung Tsai's 1959 journey to freedom. The second part deals with the two men's mid-1990's return. The monk's ambitious plan is to find the bones of his master, cremate them, and relocate them in accord with the dictates of his religious tradition. He also wants to rebuild the temple that was razed by the Red Guard during the cultural revolution. As happens in nonfiction, not everything works out as it might in a novel. A brief third part tells of their return.

Much of the charm of the book stems from how the monk's worldview rubs off on the author. The monk assumes matter-of-factly that they will be able to sell the book for a sufficient advance to pay for the trip and the monument to his teacher. As one can imagine-- particularly anyone who knows a bit about publishing-- Crane is suitably skeptical, but ultimately buys into the plan. The monk often tells Crane that he worries too much. However, these are factors that would make most of us worry. For example, how to get a one ton statue from New York to Inner Mongolia, or more importantly whether the aged and ailing monk will be able to make the trip successfully.

There are tidbits of insight as well as poetry scattered throughout the book.

[Feral · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading this book was a very mixed experience. It's the story of an american poet who is neighbor to a buddhist monk from Mongolia who escaped the ravages of the cultural revolution (in the 60's?). The monk's story of escape is woven in flashbacks through the course of the book. The relationship of the two poets is explored, and then they both go back to Mongolia so the monk can build a shrine to his teacher, so then it becomes travelog. Which I don't know how to spell. The thing is, I found the american poet character a little disagreeable, and since the story is told in his voice, there was an edge of not really trusting/liking the author, who doesn't seem to like himself either. Whether this is intentional as fiction, or whether it's just not a clear voice, I don't know, but it made me feel a little unsettled throughout the reading. You can't help but like the monk, though, and he is not painted in pedestal strokes. He is straightforward and funny. The interest for me came in with the revelation of the Ch'an (?sp) tradition which pre-dated the Zen tradition. The Mongolian monk was Chan. The american poet was a zen practitioner. So then there is conflict when the zen american watches the practices of the Chan monk which range from zen sensibility to witch doctor, pagan, herbal medicine, casting out of demons, conjurer, etc. As in Tibetan buddhism, evidently in Mongolia the buddhists embraced much of the preceding pagan culture. Then zen guy is blow away by this. Lots of little zen-ish poems are interspersed throughout the story - which you'd think would make a poet reader happy. But mostly I'm not drawn to sparseness of language in poetry - maybe this is why I wasn't fond of the author/main character, whichever he was. Or maybe it was because he was a little sullen and priggish. I hope the authors never read these things.