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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 02:48:31 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 02:48:31 -0700 |
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diff --git a/29939-h/29939-h.htm b/29939-h/29939-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..94c0aef --- /dev/null +++ b/29939-h/29939-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,14352 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Chinese Fairy Book, by R. Wilhelm (Ed.) and Frederick H. Martens (Trans.). + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + a {text-decoration: none;} + + img {border: none;} + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-style: normal; + font-size: 12px; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .amends {margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + + .bbox {border: solid 2px; padding: 1em;} + .border {border: 5px double black; padding-left: 5em; padding-right: 5em;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .dropcap {float: left; width: auto; padding-right: 3px; font-size: 350%; line-height: 83%;} + /* Plain dropcaps */ + + .caption {font-weight: bold; text-align: center; font-size: 90%;} + .subcapt {font-weight: bold; text-align: right; font-size: 90%; padding-bottom: 2em;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i1 {display: block; margin-left: 1em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + + .tdl {text-align: left; vertical-align: top; padding-left: 2em; text-indent: -2em;} /* left align cell */ + .tdc {text-align: center; vertical-align: top; padding-top: 1em;} /* center align cell */ + .tdrt {text-align: right; vertical-align: top;} /* right top align cell */ + .tdrb {text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;} /* right bottom align cell */ + .tdlsc {text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; font-variant: small-caps;} /* left align cell small caps font */ + .tdbrd {border-top: 2px black solid; border-left: 2px black solid; border-right: 2px black solid; text-align: center; padding: 1em;} + .tdbrdb {border: 2px black solid; padding: 1em 1em 1em 2em;} + + .sig {text-align: right; margin-right: 4em;} /* signature aligned right */ + + .lrgfont {font-size: 120%;} + .smlfont {font-size: 80%;} + + .smlpadt {padding-top: 1.5em;} + .padtop {padding-top: 3em;} + .padbase {padding-bottom: 3em;} + .ipadtop {padding-top: 2em;} + .ipadboth {padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 2em;} + + .note {padding-top: 1em; font-size: 90%;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Chinese Fairy Book, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Chinese Fairy Book + +Author: Various + +Editor: R. Wilhelm + +Illustrator: George W. Hood + +Translator: Frederick H. Martens + +Release Date: September 8, 2009 [EBook #29939] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHINESE FAIRY BOOK *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Sam W. and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + +<div class="figcenter ipadboth" style="width: 395px;"> +<img src="images/cfb01.jpg" width="395" height="600" +alt="Front cover of the book, featuring a Chinese dragon" /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter ipadboth" style="width: 781px;"> +<img src="images/cfb02.jpg" width="781" height="600" +alt="Endpapers, showing a boy riding on a large tortoise" /> +</div> + + +<table class="border" summary="Title page"> +<tr><td> +<h1 class="padtop"><span class="smlfont">THE</span><br /> +CHINESE FAIRY<br /> +BOOK</h1> + +<p class="center smlpadt">EDITED BY<br /> +<span class="lrgfont">DR. R. WILHELM</span></p> + +<p class="center smlpadt padbase">TRANSLATED AFTER ORIGINAL SOURCES BY<br /> +<span class="lrgfont">FREDERICK H. MARTENS</span></p> + + +<div class="figcenter ipadboth" style="width: 187px;"> +<img src="images/cfb03.png" width="187" height="235" +alt="Publisher's device" /> +</div> + + +<p class="center padtop"><span class="smlfont">WITH SIX ILLUSTRATIONS IN COLOR BY</span><br /> +GEORGE W. HOOD</p> + + +<p class="center padtop padbase">NEW YORK<br /> +FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY<br /> +PUBLISHERS</p> +</td></tr> +</table> + + + +<p class="center padtop padbase smlfont"><i>Copyright, 1921, by</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">Frederick A. Stokes Company</span><br /> +———<br /> +<i>All Rights Reserved</i></p> + + + +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Other books in the series"> + <tr> + <td class="tdbrd">BOOKS IN THE “FAIRY SERIES”</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdbrdb"><i>The English Fairy Book</i><br /> +<i>The Welsh Fairy Book</i><br /> +<i>The Irish Fairy Book</i><br /> +<i>The Scottish Fairy Book</i><br /> +<i>The Italian Fairy Book</i><br /> +<i>The Hungarian Fairy Book</i><br /> +<i>The Indian Fairy Book</i><br /> +<i>The Jewish Fairy Book</i><br /> +<i>The Swedish Fairy Book</i><br /> +<i>The Chinese Fairy Book</i></td> + </tr> +</table> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter ipadtop" style="width: 434px;"> +<a name="weaving_maiden" id="weaving_maiden"></a> +<img src="images/cfb04.jpg" width="434" height="600" +alt="The maiden walks on the bridge of crows" /> +<p class="caption">“THE CROWS COME FLYING AND FORM A BRIDGE OVER +WHICH THE WEAVING MAIDEN CROSSES THE +SILVER RIVER.”</p> +<p class="subcapt">—<i>Page <a href="#Page_40">40</a></i></p> +</div> + + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[v]</a></span></p> + +<h2>PREFACE</h2> + + +<p>The fairy tales and legends of olden China have in +common with the “Thousand and One Nights” an +oriental glow and glitter of precious stones and gold +and multicolored silks, an oriental wealth of fantastic +and supernatural action. And yet they strike an exotic +note distinct in itself. The seventy-three stories +here presented after original sources, embracing +“Nursery Fairy Tales,” “Legends of the Gods,” +“Tales of Saints and Magicians,” “Nature and Animal +Tales,” “Ghost Stories,” “Historic Fairy Tales,” +and “Literary Fairy Tales,” probably represent the +most comprehensive and varied collection of oriental +fairy tales ever made available for American readers. +There is no child who will not enjoy their novel color, +their fantastic beauty, their infinite variety of subject. +Yet, like the “Arabian Nights,” they will amply repay +the attention of the older reader as well. Some are +exquisitely poetic, such as “The Flower-Elves,” “The +Lady of the Moon” or “The Herd Boy and the Weaving +Maiden”; others like “How Three Heroes Came +By Their Deaths Because Of Two Peaches,” carry us +back dramatically and powerfully to the Chinese age +of Chivalry. The summits of fantasy are scaled in the +quasi-religious dramas of “The Ape Sun Wu Kung” +and “Notscha,” or the weird sorceries unfolded in “The +Kindly Magician.” Delightful ghost stories, with +happy endings, such as “A Night on the Battlefield” +and “The Ghost Who Was Foiled,” are paralleled +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[vi]</a></span> +with such idyllic love-tales as that of “Rose of Evening,” +or such Lilliputian fancies as “The King of the +Ants” and “The Little Hunting Dog.” It is quite +safe to say that these Chinese fairy tales will give +equal pleasure to the old as well as the young. They +have been retold simply, with no changes in style or +expression beyond such details of presentation which +differences between oriental and occidental viewpoints +at times compel. It is the writer’s hope that others +may take as much pleasure in reading them as he did +in their translation.</p> + +<p class="sig smcap">Fredrick H. Martens.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[vii]</a></span></p> + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Table of contents"> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt" colspan="3"><small>PAGE</small></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt"> </td> + <td class="tdlsc">Preface</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#Page_v">v</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdc" colspan="3">NURSERY FAIRY TALES</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt"><small>CHAPTER</small></td> + <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">I</td> + <td class="tdlsc">Women’s Words Part Flesh and Blood</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#I">1</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">II</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The Three Rhymsters</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#II">4</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">III</td> + <td class="tdlsc">How Greed for a Trifling Thing Led a Man to Lose a Great One</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#III">6</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">IV</td> + <td class="tdlsc">Who Was the Sinner?</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#IV">9</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">V</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The Magic Cask</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#V">10</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">VI</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The Favorite of Fortune and the Child of Ill Luck</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#VI">11</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">VII</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The Bird with Nine Heads</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#VII">13</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">VIII</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The Cave of the Beasts</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#VIII">17</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">IX</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The Panther</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#IX">20</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">X</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The Great Flood</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#X">24</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">XI</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The Fox and the Tiger</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#XI">27</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">XII</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The Tiger’s Decoy</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#XII">28</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">XIII</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The Fox and the Raven</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#XIII">29</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">XIV</td> + <td class="tdlsc">Why Dog and Cat are Enemies</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#XIV">30</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdc" colspan="3">LEGENDS OF THE GODS</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">XV</td> + <td class="tdlsc">How the Five Ancients Became Men</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#XV">35</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">XVI</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The Herd Boy and the Weaving Maiden</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#XVI">37</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">XVII</td> + <td class="tdlsc">Yang Oerlang</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#XVII">42</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[viii]</a></span>XVIII</td> + <td class="tdlsc">Notscha</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#XVIII">44</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">XIX</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The Lady of the Moon</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#XIX">53</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">XX</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The Morning and the Evening Star</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#XX">55</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">XXI</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The Girl with the Horse’s Head or the Silkworm Goddess</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#XXI">56</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">XXII</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The Queen of Heaven</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#XXII">58</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">XXIII</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The Fire-God</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#XXIII">61</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">XXIV</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The Three Ruling Gods</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#XXIV">62</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">XXV</td> + <td class="tdlsc">A Legend of Confucius</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#XXV">64</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">XXVI</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The God of War</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#XXVI">66</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdc" colspan="3">TALES OF SAINTS AND MAGICIANS</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">XXVII</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The Halos of the Saints</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#XXVII">71</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">XXVIII</td> + <td class="tdlsc">Laotsze</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#XXVIII">73</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">XXIX</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The Ancient Man</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#XXIX">75</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">XXX</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The Eight Immortals (I)</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#XXX">76</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">XXXI</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The Eight Immortals (II)</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#XXXI">82</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">XXXII</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The Two Scholars</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#XXXII">84</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">XXXIII</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The Miserly Farmer</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#XXXIII">88</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">XXXIV</td> + <td class="tdlsc">Sky O’Dawn</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#XXXIV">90</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">XXXV</td> + <td class="tdlsc">King Mu of Dschou</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#XXXV">95</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">XXXVI</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The King of Huai Nan</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#XXXVI">99</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">XXXVII</td> + <td class="tdlsc">Old Dschang</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#XXXVII">102</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">XXXVIII</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The Kindly Magician</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#XXXVIII">107</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdc" colspan="3">NATURE AND ANIMAL TALES</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">XXXIX</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The Flower-Elves</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#XXXIX">119</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">XL</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The Spirit of the Wu-Lian Mountain</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#XL">124</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix">[ix]</a></span>XLI</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The King of the Ants</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#XLI">125</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">XLII</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The Little Hunting Dog</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#XLII">127</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">XLIII</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The Dragon After His Winter Sleep</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#XLIII">130</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">XLIV</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The Spirits of the Yellow River</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#XLIV">131</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">XLV</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The Dragon-Princess</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#XLV">137</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">XLVI</td> + <td class="tdlsc">Help in Need</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#XLVI">142</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">XLVII</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The Disowned Princess</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#XLVII">151</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">XLVIII</td> + <td class="tdlsc">Fox-Fire</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#XLVIII">161</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdc" colspan="3">GHOST STORIES</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">XLIX</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The Talking Silver Foxes</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#XLIX">165</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">L</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The Constable</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#L">168</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">LI</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The Dangerous Reward</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#LI">174</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">LII</td> + <td class="tdlsc">Retribution</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#LII">177</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">LIII</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The Ghost Who Was Foiled</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#LIII">180</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">LIV</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The Punishment of Greed</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#LIV">184</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">LV</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The Night on the Battlefield</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#LV">186</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">LVI</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The Kingdom of the Ogres</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#LVI">189</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">LVII</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The Maiden Who Was Stolen Away</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#LVII">196</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">LVIII</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The Flying Ogre</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#LVIII">199</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">LIX</td> + <td class="tdlsc">Black Arts</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#LIX">201</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdc" colspan="3">HISTORIC LEGENDS</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">LX</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The Sorcerer of the White Lotus Lodge</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#LX">209</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">LXI</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The Three Evils</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#LXI">212</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">LXII</td> + <td class="tdlsc">How Three Heroes Came By Their Deaths Because of Two Peaches</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#LXII">215</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">LXIII</td> + <td class="tdlsc">How the River God’s Wedding Was Broken Off</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#LXIII">218</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_x" id="Page_x">[x]</a></span>LXIV</td> + <td class="tdlsc">Dschang Liang</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#LXIV">220</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">LXV</td> + <td class="tdlsc">Old Dragonbeard</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#LXV">223</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">LXVI</td> + <td class="tdlsc">How Molo Stole the Lovely Rose-Red</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#LXVI">231</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">LXVII</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The Golden Canister</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#LXVII">235</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">LXVIII</td> + <td class="tdlsc">Yang Gui Fe</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#LXVIII">240</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">LXIX</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The Monk of the Yangtze-Kiang</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#LXIX">243</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdc" colspan="3">LITERARY FAIRY TALES</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">LXX</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The Heartless Husband</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#LXX">251</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">LXXI</td> + <td class="tdlsc">Giauna the Beautiful</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#LXXI">261</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">LXXII</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The Frog Princess</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#LXXII">271</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">LXXIII</td> + <td class="tdlsc">Rose of Evening</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#LXXIII">280</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt">LXXIV</td> + <td class="tdlsc">The Ape Sun Wu Kung</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#LXXIV">288</a></td> + </tr> +</table> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xi" id="Page_xi">[xi]</a></span></p> + +<h2>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + + +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="List of illustrations"> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">“The crows come flying and form a bridge over which the Weaving Maiden crosses the Silver River”</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#weaving_maiden"><i>Frontispiece</i></a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrt" colspan="2"><small>FACING PAGE</small></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">“Beside it stood a Cassia-tree”</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#cassia_tree">54</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">“‘And I crossed the water on the shoe’”</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#water_shoe">90</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">“A fisherboy dived into the water and brought up a pearl from beneath the chin of a black dragon”</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#pearl_diver">138</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">“Tsian Tang brought out a platter of red amber on which lay a carbuncle”</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#red_amber">156</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">“Then he took his master and Rose-Red upon his back and flew with them over the steep walls”</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#flying_master">234</a></td> + </tr> +</table> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xii" id="Page_xii"><!-- unnumbered page --></a></span></p> + +<h1 class="padtop">THE CHINESE FAIRY BOOK</h1> + + +<h2 class="padtop">NURSERY FAIRY TALES</h2> + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> + + +<h3 class="padtop"><a name="I" id="I"></a>I<br /> +<br /> +WOMEN’S WORDS PART FLESH AND BLOOD</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>NCE upon a time there were two brothers, who +lived in the same house. And the big brother +listened to his wife’s words, and because of them fell +out with the little one. Summer had begun, and the +time for sowing the high-growing millet had come. +The little brother had no grain, and asked the big one +to loan him some, and the big one ordered his wife to +give it to him. But she took the grain, put it in a large +pot and cooked it until it was done. Then she gave it +to the little fellow. He knew nothing about it, and went +and sowed his field with it. Yet, since the grain had +been cooked, it did not sprout. Only a single grain of +seed had not been cooked; so only a single sprout shot +up. The little brother was hard-working and industrious +by nature, and hence he watered and hoed the +sprout all day long. And the sprout grew mightily, +like a tree, and an ear of millet sprang up out of it like +a canopy, large enough to shade half an acre of +ground. In the fall the ear was ripe. Then the little +brother took his ax and chopped it down. But no +sooner had the ear fallen to the ground, than an +enormous Roc came rushing down, took the ear in his +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span> +beak and flew away. The little brother ran after him +as far as the shore of the sea.</p> + +<p>Then the bird turned and spoke to him like a human +being, as follows: “You should not seek to harm me! +What is this one ear worth to you? East of the sea +is the isle of gold and silver. I will carry you across. +There you may take whatever you want, and become +very rich.”</p> + +<p>The little brother was satisfied, and climbed on the +bird’s back, and the latter told him to close his eyes. +So he only heard the air whistling past his ears, as +though he were driving through a strong wind, and +beneath him the roar and surge of flood and waves. +Suddenly the bird settled on a rock: “Here we are!” +he said.</p> + +<p>Then the little brother opened his eyes and looked +about him: and on all sides he saw nothing but the +radiance and shimmer of all sorts of white and yellow +objects. He took about a dozen of the little things +and hid them in his breast.</p> + +<p>“Have you enough?” asked the Roc.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I have enough,” he replied.</p> + +<p>“That is well,” answered the bird. “Moderation +protects one from harm.”</p> + +<p>Then he once more took him up, and carried him +back again.</p> + +<p>When the little brother reached home, he bought +himself a good piece of ground in the course of time, +and became quite well to do.</p> + +<p>But his brother was jealous of him, and said to +him, harshly: “Where did you manage to steal the +money?”</p> + +<p>So the little one told him the whole truth of the +matter. Then the big brother went home and took +counsel with his wife.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> +“Nothing easier,” said his wife. “I will just cook +grain again and keep back one seedling so that it is +not done. Then you shall sow it, and we will see what +happens.”</p> + +<p>No sooner said than done. And sure enough, a single +sprout shot up, and sure enough, the sprout bore a +single ear of millet, and when harvest time came +around, the Roc again appeared and carried it off in +his beak. The big brother was pleased, and ran after +him, and the Roc said the same thing he had said before, +and carried the big brother to the island. There +the big brother saw the gold and silver heaped up +everywhere. The largest pieces were like hills, the +small ones were like bricks, and the real tiny ones were +like grains of sand. They blinded his eyes. He only +regretted that he knew of no way by which he could +move mountains. So he bent down and picked up as +many pieces as possible.</p> + +<p>The Roc said: “Now you have enough. You will +overtax your strength.”</p> + +<p>“Have patience but a little while longer,” said the +big brother. “Do not be in such a hurry! I must get +a few more pieces!”</p> + +<p>And thus time passed.</p> + +<p>The Roc again urged him to make haste: “The sun +will appear in a moment,” said he, “and the sun is so +hot it burns human beings up.”</p> + +<p>“Wait just a little while longer,” said the big +brother. But that very moment a red disk broke +through the clouds with tremendous power. The Roc +flew into the sea, stretched out both his wings, and beat +the water with them in order to escape the heat. But +the big brother was shrivelled up by the sun.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> +Note: This fairy-tale is traditionally narrated. The Roc is +called <i>pong</i> in Chinese, and the treasures on the island are spoken +of as “all sorts of yellow and white objects” because the little +fellow does not know that they are gold and silver.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="II" id="II"></a>II<br /> +<br /> +THE THREE RHYMSTERS</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>NCE there were three daughters in a family. The +oldest one married a physician, the second one +married a magistrate; but the third, who was more than +usually intelligent and a clever talker, married a +farmer.</p> + +<p>Now it chanced, once upon a time, that their parents +were celebrating a birthday. So the three daughters +came, together with their husbands, to wish them long +life and happiness. The parents-in-law prepared a +meal for their three sons-in-law, and put the birthday +wine on the table. But the oldest son-in-law, who knew +that the third one had not attended school, wanted +to embarrass him.</p> + +<p>“It is far too tiresome,” said he, “just to sit here +drinking: let us have a drinking game. Each one of +us must invent a verse, one that rimes and makes +sense, on the words: ‘in the sky, on the earth, at the +table, in the room,’ And whoever cannot do so, must +empty three glasses as a punishment.”</p> + +<p>All the company were satisfied. Only the third son-in-law +felt embarrassed and insisted on leaving. But +the guests would not let him go, and obliged him to +keep his seat.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> +Then the oldest son-in-law began: “I will make a +start with my verse. Here it is:</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“In the sky the phenix proudly flies,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">On the earth the lambkin tamely lies,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">At the table through an ancient book I wade,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In the room I softly call the maid.”<br /></span> +</div> +</div> + +<p>The second one continued: “And I say:</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“In the sky the turtle-dove flies round,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">On the earth the ox paws up the ground,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">At the table one studies the deeds of yore,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In the room the maid she sweeps the floor.”<br /></span> +</div> +</div> + +<p>But the third son-in-law stuttered, and found nothing +to say. And when all of them insisted, he broke +out in rough tones of voice:</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“In the sky—flies a leaden bullet,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">On the earth—stalks a tiger-beast,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">On the table—lies a pair of scissors,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In the room—I call the stable-boy.”<br /></span> +</div> +</div> + +<p>The other two sons-in-law clapped their hands and +began to laugh loudly.</p> + +<p>“Why the four lines do not rime at all,” said they, +“and, besides they do not make sense. A leaden bullet +is no bird, the stable-boy does his work outside, would +you call him into the room? Nonsense, nonsense! +Drink!”</p> + +<p>Yet before they had finished speaking, the third +daughter raised the curtain of the women’s room, and +stepped out. She was angry, yet she could not suppress +a smile.</p> + +<p>“How so do our lines not make sense?” said she. +“Listen a moment, and I’ll explain them to you: In +the sky our leaden bullet will shoot your phenix and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> +your turtle-dove. On the earth our tiger-beast will +devour your sheep and your ox. On the table our pair +of scissors will cut up all your old books. And finally, +in the room—well, the stable-boy can marry your +maid!”</p> + +<p>Then the oldest son-in-law said: “Well scolded! +Sister-in-law, you know how to talk! If you were a +man you would have had your degree long ago. And, +as a punishment, we will empty our three glasses.”</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: This is also a fairy-tale traditionally handed down.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="III" id="III"></a>III<br /> +<br /> +HOW GREED FOR A TRIFLING THING LED A MAN TO +LOSE A GREAT ONE</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>NCE upon a time there was an old woman, who +had two sons. But her older son did not love +his parents, and left his mother and brother. The +younger one served her so faithfully, however, that all +the people spoke of his filial affection.</p> + +<p>One day it happened that there was a theatrical performance +given outside the village. The younger son +started to carry his mother there on his back, so that +she might look on. But there was a ravine before the +village, and he slipped and fell down in the middle of +it. And his mother was killed by the rolling stones, +and her blood and flesh were sprinkled about everywhere. +The son stroked his mother’s corpse, and wept +bitterly. He was about to kill himself when, suddenly, +he saw a priest standing before him.</p> + +<p>The latter said: “Have no fear, for I can bring +your mother back to life again!” And as he said so, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> +he stooped, gathered up her flesh and bones, and laid +them together as they should be. Then he breathed upon +them, and at once the mother was alive again. This +made the son very happy, and he thanked the priest on +his knees. Yet on a sharp point of rock he still saw a +bit of his mother’s flesh hanging, a bit about an inch +long.</p> + +<p>“That should not be left hanging there either,” said +he, and hid it in his breast.</p> + +<p>“In truth, you love your mother as a son should,” +said the priest. Then he bade the son give him the bit +of flesh, kneaded a manikin out of it, breathed upon +it, and in a minute there it stood, a really fine-looking +little boy.</p> + +<p>“His name is Small Profit,” said he, turning to the +son, “and you may call him brother. You are poor +and have not the wherewithal with which to nourish +your mother. If you need something, Small Profit can +get it for you.”</p> + +<p>The son thanked him once more, then took his mother +on his back again, and his new little brother by the +hand, and went home. And when he said to Small +Profit: “Bring meat and wine!” then meat and wine +were at hand at once, and steaming rice was already +cooking in the pot. And when he said to Small Profit: +“Bring money and cloth!” then his purse filled itself +with money, and the chests were heaped up with cloth +to the brim. Whatever he asked for that he received. +Thus, in the course of time, they came to be very well +off indeed.</p> + +<p>But his older brother envied him greatly. And +when there was another theatrical performance in the +village, he took his mother on his back—by force—and +went to it. And when he reached the ravine, he slipped +purposely, and let his mother fall into the depths, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> +only intent to see that she really was shattered into +fragments. And sure enough his mother had such a +bad fall that her limbs and trunk were strewn around +in all directions. He then climbed down, took his +mother’s head in his hands, and pretended to weep.</p> + +<p>And at once the priest was on hand again, and said: +“I can wake the dead to life again, and surround white +bones with flesh and blood!”</p> + +<p>Then he did as he had done before, and the mother +came to life again. But the older brother already had +hidden one of her ribs on purpose. He now pulled it +out and said to the priest: “Here is a bone left. +What shall I do with it?”</p> + +<p>The priest took the bone, enclosed it in lime and +earth, breathed upon it, as he had done the other time, +and it became a little man, resembling Small Profit, +but larger in stature.</p> + +<p>“His name is Great Duty,” he told his older brother, +“if you stick to him he will always lend you a hand.”</p> + +<p>The son took his mother back again, and Great Duty +walked beside him.</p> + +<p>When he came to their courtyard door, he saw his +younger brother coming out, holding Small Profit in his +arms.</p> + +<p>“Where are you going?” he said to him.</p> + +<p>His brother answered: “Small Profit is a divine +being, who does not wish to dwell for all time among +men. He wants to fly back to the heavens, and so I +am escorting him.”</p> + +<p>“Give Small Profit to me! Don’t let him get away!” +cried the older brother.</p> + +<p>Yet, before he had ended his speech, Small Profit was +rising in the air. The older brother then quickly let +his mother drop on the ground, and stretched out his +hand to catch Small Profit. But he did not succeed, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> +and now Great Duty, too, rose from the ground, took +Small Profit’s hand, and together they ascended to the +clouds and disappeared.</p> + +<p>Then the older brother stamped on the ground, and +said with a sigh: “Alas, I have lost my Great Duty +because I was too greedy for that Small Profit!”</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: In China—usually on festive days or because of some +religious celebration—a provisional stage is erected before the village +or temple, and a play given. Permanent theaters are to be +found only in the large cities.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="IV" id="IV"></a>IV<br /> +<br /> +WHO WAS THE SINNER?</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>NCE upon a time there were ten farmers, who +were crossing a field together. They were +surprised by a heavy thunder-storm, and took refuge +in a half-ruined temple. But the thunder drew ever +nearer, and so great was the tumult that the air trembled +about them, while the lightning flew around the +temple in a continuous circle. The farmers were +greatly frightened, and thought that there must be a +sinner among them, whom the lightning would strike. +In order to find out who it might be, they agreed to +hang their straw hats up before the door, and he whose +hat was blown away was to yield himself up to his fate.</p> + +<p>No sooner were the hats outside, than one of them +was blown away, and the rest thrust its unfortunate +owner out of doors without pity. But as soon as +he had left the temple the lightning ceased circling +around, and struck it with a crash.</p> + +<p>The one whom the rest had thrust out, had been the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +only righteous one among them, and for his sake the +lightning had spared the temple. So the other nine +had to pay for their hard-heartedness with their lives.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: A traditionally narrated fairy-tale.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="V" id="V"></a>V<br /> +<br /> +THE MAGIC CASK</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>NCE upon a time there was a man who dug up a +big, earthenware cask in his field. So he took it +home with him and told his wife to clean it out. But +when his wife started brushing the inside of the cask, +the cask suddenly began to fill itself with brushes. No +matter how many were taken out, others kept on taking +their place. So the man sold the brushes, and the +family managed to live quite comfortably.</p> + +<p>Once a coin fell into the cask by mistake. At once +the brushes disappeared and the cask began to fill +itself with money. So now the family became rich; for +they could take as much money out of the cask as ever +they wished.</p> + +<p>Now the man had an old grandfather at home, who +was weak and shaky. Since there was nothing else he +could do, his grandson set him to work shoveling +money out of the cask, and when the old grandfather +grew weary and could not keep on, he would fall into +a rage, and shout at him angrily, telling him he was lazy +and did not want to work. One day, however, the old +man’s strength gave out, and he fell into the cask +and died. At once the money disappeared, and the +whole cask began to fill itself with dead grandfathers. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> +Then the man had to pull them all out and have them +buried, and for this purpose he had to use up again all +the money he had received. And when he was through, +the cask broke, and he was just as poor as before.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: “The Magic Cask” is a traditionally narrated tale. In +Northern China wooden casks or barrels are unknown. Large +vessels, open at the top, of earth or stone are used to hold water and +other liquids.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="VI" id="VI"></a>VI<br /> +<br /> +THE FAVORITE OF FORTUNE AND THE CHILD OF ILL LUCK</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>NCE upon a time there was a proud prince who +had a daughter. But the daughter was a child +of ill luck. When it came time for her to marry, she +had all her suitors assemble before her father’s palace. +She was going to throw down a ball of red silk among +them, and whoever caught it was to be her husband. +Now there were many princes and counts gathered +before the castle, and in their midst there was also a +beggar. And the princess could see dragons crawling +into his ears and crawling out again from his +nostrils, for he was a child of luck. So she threw the +ball to the beggar and he caught it.</p> + +<p>Her father asked angrily: “Why did you throw +the ball into the beggar’s hands?”</p> + +<p>“He is a favorite of Fortune,” said the princess, +“I will marry him, and then, perhaps, I will share in +his good luck.”</p> + +<p>But her father would not hear of it, and since she insisted, +he drove her from the castle in his rage. So +the princess had to go off with the beggar. She dwelt +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +with him in a little hut, and had to hunt for herbs and +roots, and cook them herself, so that they might have +something to eat; and often they both went hungry.</p> + +<p>One day her husband said to her: “I will set out +and seek my fortune. And when I have found it, I will +come back again and fetch you.” The princess was +willing, and he went away, and was gone for eighteen +years. Meanwhile the princess lived in want and +affliction, for her father remained hard and merciless. +If her mother had not secretly given her food and money, +no doubt she would have starved to death during +all that time.</p> + +<p>But the beggar found his fortune, and at length +became emperor. He returned and stood before his +wife. She however, no longer recognized him: She +only knew that he was the powerful emperor.</p> + +<p>He asked her how she were getting along.</p> + +<p>“Why do you ask me how I am getting along?” she +replied. “I am too far beneath your notice.”</p> + +<p>“And who may your husband be!”</p> + +<p>“My husband was a beggar. He went away to seek +his fortune. That was eighteen years ago, and he has +not yet returned.”</p> + +<p>“And what have you done during all those long +years?”</p> + +<p>“I have been waiting for him to return.”</p> + +<p>“Do you wish to marry some one else, seeing +that he has been missing so long?”</p> + +<p>“No, I will remain his wife until I die.”</p> + +<p>When the emperor saw how faithful his wife was, he +told her who he was, had her clothed in magnificent +garments, and took her with him to his imperial palace. +And there they lived in splendor and happiness.</p> + +<p>After a few days the emperor said to his wife: “We +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +spend every day in festivities, as though every day +were New Year.”</p> + +<p>“And why should we not celebrate,” answered his +wife, “since we have now become emperor and +empress?”</p> + +<p>Yet his wife was a child of ill luck. When she had +been empress no more than eighteen days, she fell +sick and died. But her husband lived for many a long +year.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: “The Favorite of Fortune and the Child of Ill Luck” is a +traditionally narrated fairy-tale. The dragon is the symbol of imperial +rule, and the New Year’s feasts, which old and young celebrate +for weeks, is the greatest of Chinese festivals.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="VII" id="VII"></a>VII<br /> +<br /> +THE BIRD WITH NINE HEADS</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">L</span>ONG, long ago, there once lived a king and a queen +who had a daughter. One day, when the daughter +went walking in the garden, a tremendous storm +suddenly came up and carried her away with it. Now +the storm had come from the bird with nine heads, who +had robbed the princess, and brought her to his cave. +The king did not know whither his daughter had disappeared, +so he had proclaimed throughout the land: +“Whoever brings back the princess may have her for +his bride!”</p> + +<p>Now a youth had seen the bird as he was carrying the +princess to his cave. This cave, though, was in the +middle of a sheer wall of rock. One could not climb +up to it from below, nor could one climb down to it +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +from above. And as the youth was walking around +the rock, another youth came along and asked him +what he was doing there. So the first youth told him +that the bird with nine heads had carried off the king’s +daughter, and had brought her up to his cave. The +other chap knew what he had to do. He called together +his friends, and they lowered the youth to the +cave in a basket. And when he went into the cave, he +saw the king’s daughter sitting there, and washing the +wound of the bird with nine heads; for the hound of +heaven had bitten off his tenth head, and his wound +was still bleeding. The princess, however, motioned +to the youth to hide, and he did so. When the king’s +daughter had washed his wound and bandaged it, the +bird with nine heads felt so comfortable, that one +after another, all his nine heads fell asleep. Then +the youth stepped forth from his hiding-place, and cut +off his nine heads with a sword. But the king’s daughter +said: “It would be best if you were hauled up +first, and I came after.”</p> + +<p>“No,” said the youth. “I will wait below here, until +you are in safety.” At first the king’s daughter was +not willing; yet at last she allowed herself to be persuaded, +and climbed into the basket. But before she +did so, she took a long pin from her hair, broke it into +two halves and gave him one and kept the other. +She also divided her silken kerchief with him, and told +him to take good care of both her gifts. But when the +other man had drawn up the king’s daughter, he took +her along with him, and left the youth in the cave, in +spite of all his calling and pleading.</p> + +<p>The youth now took a walk about the cave. There +he saw a number of maidens, all of whom had been +carried off by the bird with nine heads, and who had +perished there of hunger. And on the wall hung a +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +fish, nailed against it with four nails. When he +touched the fish, the latter turned into a handsome +youth, who thanked him for delivering him, and they +agreed to regard each other as brothers. Soon the +first youth grew very hungry. He stepped out in front +of the cave to search for food, but only stones were lying +there. Then, suddenly, he saw a great dragon, who +was licking a stone. The youth imitated him, and before +long his hunger had disappeared. He next asked +the dragon how he could get away from the cave, and +the dragon nodded his head in the direction of his tail, +as much as to say he should seat himself upon it. So +he climbed up, and in the twinkling of an eye he was +down on the ground, and the dragon had disappeared. +He then went on until he found a tortoise-shell full of +beautiful pearls. But they were magic pearls, for if +you flung them into the fire, the fire ceased to burn and +if you flung them into the water, the water divided and +you could walk through the midst of it. The youth +took the pearls out of the tortoise-shell, and put them +in his pocket. Not long after he reached the sea-shore. +Here he flung a pearl into the sea, and at once the +waters divided and he could see the sea-dragon. The +sea-dragon cried: “Who is disturbing me here in my +own kingdom?” The youth answered: “I found +pearls in a tortoise-shell, and have flung one into the +sea, and now the waters have divided for me.”</p> + +<p>“If that is the case,” said the dragon, “then come +into the sea with me and we will live there together.” +Then the youth recognized him for the same dragon +whom he had seen in the cave. And with him was the +youth with whom he had formed a bond of brotherhood: +He was the dragon’s son.</p> + +<p>“Since you have saved my son and become his brother, +I am your father,” said the old dragon. And he +entertained him hospitably with food and wine.</p> + +<p>One day his friend said to him: “My father is sure +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> +to want to reward you. But accept no money, nor any +jewels from him, but only the little gourd flask over +yonder. With it you can conjure up whatever you +wish.”</p> + +<p>And, sure enough, the old dragon asked him what he +wanted by way of a reward, and the youth answered: +“I want no money, nor any jewels. All I want is the +little gourd flask over yonder.”</p> + +<p>At first the dragon did not wish to give it up, but +at last he did let him have it, after all. And then the +youth left the dragon’s castle.</p> + +<p>When he set his foot on dry land again he felt hungry. +At once a table stood before him, covered with a fine +and plenteous meal. He ate and drank. After he had +gone on a while, he felt weary. And there stood an ass, +waiting for him, on which he mounted. After he had +ridden for a while, the ass’s gait seemed too uneven, +and along came a wagon, into which he climbed. But +the wagon shook him up too, greatly, and he thought: +“If I only had a litter! That would suit me better.” +No more had he thought so, than the litter came along, +and he seated himself in it. And the bearers carried +him to the city in which dwelt the king, the queen +and their daughter.</p> + +<p>When the other youth had brought back the king’s +daughter, it was decided to hold the wedding. But the +king’s daughter was not willing, and said: “He is not +the right man. My deliverer will come and bring with +him half of the long pin for my hair, and half my silken +kerchief as a token.” But when the youth did not +appear for so long a time, and the other one pressed +the king, the king grew impatient and said: “The +wedding shall take place to-morrow!” Then the king’s +daughter went sadly through the streets of the city, +and searched and searched in the hope of finding her +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> +deliverer. And this was on the very day that the litter +arrived. The king’s daughter saw the half of her +silken handkerchief in the youth’s hand, and filled +with joy, she led him to her father. There he had to +show his half of the long pin, which fitted the other +exactly, and then the king was convinced that he was +the right, true deliverer. The false bridegroom was +now punished, the wedding celebrated, and they lived +in peace and happiness till the end of their days.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: “The Bird With Nine Heads” is a traditionally narrated +fairy-tale. The long hair needle is an example of the halved jewel +used as a sign of recognition by lovers (see No. <a href="#LXVIII">68</a>, “Yang Gui Fe”). +The “Fish” in the cave is the dragon’s son, for like East +Indian <i>Nagaradjas</i>, the Chinese dragons are often sea-gods. Gourd +flasks often occur as magic talismans in Chinese fairy-tales, and +spirits who serve their owners are often imprisoned in them. See +No. 81.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="VIII" id="VIII"></a>VIII<br /> +<br /> +THE CAVE OF THE BEASTS</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>NCE upon a time there was a family in which there +were seven daughters. One day when the father +went out to gather wood, he found seven wild duck +eggs. He brought them home, but did not think of +giving any to his children, intending to eat them himself, +with his wife. In the evening the oldest daughter +woke up, and asked her mother what she was cooking. +The mother said: “I am cooking wild duck eggs. +I will give you one, but you must not let your sisters +know.” And so she gave her one. Then the second +daughter woke up, and asked her mother what she was +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +cooking. She said: “Wild duck eggs. If you will +not tell your sisters, I’ll give you one.” And so it +went. At last the daughters had eaten all the eggs, +and there were none left.</p> + +<p>In the morning the father was very angry with the +children, and said: “Who wants to go along to grandmother?” +But he intended to lead the children into +the mountains, and let the wolves devour them there. +The older daughters suspected this, and said: “We +are not going along!” But the two younger ones said: +“We will go with you.” And so they drove off with +their father. After they had driven a good ways, they +asked: “Will we soon get to grandmother’s house?” +“Right away,” said their father. And when they had +reached the mountains he told them: “Wait here. I +will drive into the village ahead of you, and tell grandmother +that you are coming.” And then he drove off +with the donkey-cart. They waited and waited, but +their father did not come. At last they decided that +their father would not come back to fetch them, and +that he had left them alone in the mountains. So they +went further and further into the hills seeking a +shelter for the night. Then they spied a great stone. +This they selected for a pillow, and rolled it over to +the place where they were going to lie down to sleep. +And then they saw that the stone was the door to a +cave. There was a light in the cave, and they went +into it. The light they had seen came from the many +precious stones and jewels of every sort in the cave, +which belonged to a wolf and a fox. They had a number +of jars of precious stones and pearls that shone by +night. The girls said: “What a lovely cave this is! +We will lie right down and go to bed.” For there +stood two golden beds with gold-embroidered covers. +So they lay down and fell asleep. During the night the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +wolf and fox came home. And the wolf said: “I +smell human flesh!” But the fox replied: “Oh, nonsense! +There are no human beings who can enter our +cave. We lock it up too well for that.” The wolf said: +“Very well, then let us lie down in our beds and sleep.” +But the fox answered: “Let us curl up in the kettles +on the hearth. They still hold a little warmth from +the fire.” The one kettle was of gold and the other of +silver, and they curled up in them.</p> + +<p>When the girls rose early in the morning, they saw +the wolf and the fox lying there, and were much frightened. +And they put the covers on the kettles and +heaped a number of big stones on them, so that the wolf +and the fox could not get out again. Then they made +a fire. The wolf and the fox said: “Oh, how nice +and warm it is this morning! How does that happen?” +But at length it grew too hot for them. Then they +noticed that the two girls had kindled a fire and they +cried: “Let us out! We will give you lots of precious +stones, and lots of gold, and will do you no +harm!” But the girls would not listen to them, and +kept on making a bigger fire. So that was the end of +the wolf and the fox in the kettles.</p> + +<p>Then the girls lived happily for a number of days +in the cave. But their father was seized with a longing +for his daughters, and he went into the mountains +to look for them. And he sat right down on the stone +in front of the cave to rest, and tapped his pipe against +it to empty the ashes. Then the girls within called +out: “Who is knocking at our door?” And the father +said: “Are those not my daughters’ voices?” +While the daughters replied: “Is that not our father’s +voice?” Then they pushed aside the stone and +saw that it was their father, and their father was glad to +see them once more. He was much surprised to think +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +that they should have chanced on this cave full of +precious stones, and they told him the whole story. +Then their father fetched people to help him carry +home the jewels. And when they got home, his wife +wondered where he had obtained all these treasures. +So the father and daughters told her everything, and +they became a very wealthy family, and lived happily +to the end of their days.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: “The Cave of the Beasts” is traditionally narrated.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="IX" id="IX"></a>IX<br /> +<br /> +THE PANTHER</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>NCE upon a time there was a widow who had two +daughters and a little son. And one day the +mother said to her daughters: “Take good care of +the house, for I am going to see grandmother, together +with your little brother!” So the daughters promised +her they would do so, and their mother went off. On +her way a panther met her, and asked where she were +going.</p> + +<p>She said: “I am going with my child to see my +mother.”</p> + +<p>“Will you not rest a bit?” asked the panther.</p> + +<p>“No,” said she, “it is already late, and it is a long +road to where my mother lives.”</p> + +<p>But the panther did not cease urging her, and finally +she gave in and sat down by the road side.</p> + +<p>“I will comb your hair a bit,” said the panther. +And the woman allowed the panther to comb her hair. +But as he passed his claws through her hair, he tore +off a bit of her skin and devoured it.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +“Stop!” cried the woman, “the way you comb my +hair hurts!”</p> + +<p>But the panther tore off a much larger piece of skin. +Now the woman wanted to call for help, but the panther +seized and devoured her. Then he turned on her +little son and killed him too, put on the woman’s +clothes, and laid the child’s bones, which he had not +yet devoured, in her basket. After that he went to the +woman’s home, where her two daughters were, and +called in at the door: “Open the door, daughters! +Mother has come home!” But they looked out through +a crack and said: “Our mother’s eyes are not so large +as yours!”</p> + +<p>Then the panther said: “I have been to grandmother’s +house, and saw her hens laying eggs. That +pleases me, and is the reason why my eyes have grown +so large.”</p> + +<p>“Our mother had no spots in her face such as you +have.”</p> + +<p>“Grandmother had no spare bed, so I had to sleep +on the peas, and they pressed themselves into my +face.”</p> + +<p>“Our mother’s feet are not so large as yours.”</p> + +<p>“Stupid things! That comes from walking such +a distance. Come, open the door quickly!”</p> + +<p>Then the daughters said to each other: “It must +be our mother,” and they opened the door. But when +the panther came in, they saw it was not really their +mother after all.</p> + +<p>At evening, when the daughters were already in +bed, the panther was still gnawing the bones he had +brought with him.</p> + +<p>Then the daughters asked: “Mother, what are +you eating?”</p> + +<p>“I’m eating beets,” was the answer.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> +Then the daughters said: “Oh, mother, give us +some of your beets, too! We are so hungry!”</p> + +<p>“No,” was the reply, “I will not give you any. Now +be quiet and go to sleep.”</p> + +<p>But the daughters kept on begging until the false +mother gave them a little finger. And then they saw +that it was their little brother’s finger, and they said +to each other: “We must make haste to escape else +he will eat us as well.” And with that they ran +out of the door, climbed up into a tree in the yard, +and called down to the false mother: “Come out! We +can see our neighbor’s son celebrating his wedding!” +But it was the middle of the night.</p> + +<p>Then the mother came out, and when she saw that +they were sitting in the tree, she called out angrily: +“Why, I’m not able to climb!”</p> + +<p>The daughters said: “Get into a basket and throw us +the rope and we will draw you up!”</p> + +<p>The mother did as they said. But when the basket +was half-way up, they began to swing it back and forth, +and bump it against the tree. Then the false mother +had to turn into a panther again, lest she fall down. +And the panther leaped out of the basket, and ran +away.</p> + +<p>Gradually daylight came. The daughters climbed +down, seated themselves on the doorstep, and cried +for their mother. And a needle-vender came by and +asked them why they were crying.</p> + +<p>“A panther has devoured our mother and our +brother,” said the girls. “He has gone now, but he is +sure to return and devour us as well.”</p> + +<p>Then the needle-vender gave them a pair of needles, +and said: “Stick these needles in the cushion of the +arm chair, with the points up.” The girls thanked +him and went on crying.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +Soon a scorpion-catcher came by; and he asked them +why they were crying. “A panther has devoured our +mother and brother,” said the girls. “He has +gone now, but he is sure to return and devour us as +well.”</p> + +<p>The man gave them a scorpion and said: “Put it behind +the hearth in the kitchen.” The girls thanked +him and went on crying.</p> + +<p>Then an egg-seller came by and asked them why they +were crying. “A panther has devoured our mother +and our brother,” said the girls. “He has gone now, +but he is sure to return and devour us as well.”</p> + +<p>So he gave them an egg and said: “Lay it beneath +the ashes in the hearth.” The girls thanked him and +went on crying.</p> + +<p>Then a dealer in turtles came by, and they told him +their tale. He gave them a turtle and said: “Put it +in the water-barrel in the yard.” And then a man +came by who sold wooden clubs. He asked them why +they were crying. And they told him the whole story. +Then he gave them two wooden clubs and said: +“Hang them up over the door to the street.” The girls +thanked him and did as the men had told them.</p> + +<p>In the evening the panther came home. He sat down +in the armchair in the room. Then the needles in the +cushion stuck into him. So he ran into the kitchen to +light the fire and see what had jabbed him so; and then +it was that the scorpion hooked his sting into his hand. +And when at last the fire was burning, the egg burst +and spurted into one of his eyes, which was blinded. +So he ran out into the yard and dipped his hand into +the water-barrel, in order to cool it; and then the turtle +bit it off. And when in his pain he ran out through the +door into the street, the wooden clubs fell on his head +and that was the end of him.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> +Note: “The Panther” in this tale is in reality the same beast as +“the talking silver fox” in No. <a href="#XLIX">49</a>, and the fairy-tale is made up of +motives to be found in “Little Red Riding-Hood,” “The Wolf and the +Seven Kids,” and “The Vagabonds.”</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="X" id="X"></a>X<br /> +<br /> +THE GREAT FLOOD</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>NCE upon a time there was a widow, who had a +child. And the child was a kind-hearted boy of +whom every one was fond. One day he said to his +mother: “All the other children have a grandmother, +but I have none. And that makes me feel very sad!”</p> + +<p>“We will hunt up a grandmother for you,” said +his mother. Now it once happened that an old beggar-woman +came to the house, who was very old and feeble. +And when the child saw her, he said to her: “You shall +be my grandmother!” And he went to his mother and +said: “There is a beggar-woman outside, whom I +want for my grandmother!” And his mother was +willing and called her into the house; though the old +woman was very dirty. So the boy said to his mother: +“Come, let us wash grandmother!” And they washed +the woman. But she had a great many burrs in her +hair, so they picked them all out and put them in a jar, +and they filled the whole jar. Then the grandmother +said: “Do not throw them away, but bury them in +the garden. And you must not dig them up again +before the great flood comes.”</p> + +<p>“When is the great flood coming?” asked the boy.</p> + +<p>“When the eyes of the two stone lions in front of +the prison grow red, then the great flood will come,” +said the grandmother.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> +So the boy went to look at the lions, but their eyes +were not yet red. And the grandmother also said to +him: “Make a little wooden ship and keep it in a little +box.” And this the boy did. And he ran to the prison +every day and looked at the lions, much to the astonishment +of the people in the street.</p> + +<p>One day, as he passed the chicken-butcher’s shop, +the butcher asked him why he was always running to +the lions. And the boy said: “When the lions’ eyes +grow red then the great flood will come.” But the +butcher laughed at him. And the following morning, +quite early, he took some chicken-blood and rubbed it +on the lions’ eyes. When the boy saw that the lions’ +eyes were red he ran swiftly home, and told his mother +and grandmother. And then his grandmother said: +“Dig up the jar quickly, and take the little ship out of +its box.” And when they dug up the jar, it was filled +with the purest pearls and the little ship grew larger +and larger, like a real ship. Then the grandmother +said: “Take the jar with you and get into the ship. +And when the great flood comes, then you may save all +the animals that are driven into it; but human beings, +with their black heads, you are not to save.” So they +climbed into the ship, and the grandmother suddenly +disappeared.</p> + +<p>Now it began to rain, and the rain kept falling more +and more heavily from the heavens. Finally there +were no longer any single drops falling, but just one +big sheet of water which flooded everything.</p> + +<p>Then a dog came drifting along, and they saved him +in their ship. Soon after came a pair of mice, with +their little ones, loudly squeaking in their fear. And +these they also saved. The water was already rising +to the roofs of the houses, and on one roof stood a cat, +arching her back and mewing pitifully. They took the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> +cat into the ship, too. Yet the flood increased and rose +to the tops of the trees. And in one tree sat a raven, +beating his wings and cawing loudly. And him, too, +they took in. Finally a swarm of bees came flying +their way. The little creatures were quite wet, and +could hardly fly. So they took in the bees on their +ship. At last a man with black hair floated by on the +waves. The boy said: “Mother, let us save him, +too!” But the mother did not want to do so. “Did +not grandmother tell us that we must save no black-headed +human beings?” But the boy answered: +“We will save the man in spite of that. I feel sorry +for him, and cannot bear to see him drifting along in +the water.” So they also saved the man.</p> + +<p>Gradually the water subsided. Then they got out +of their ship, and parted from the man and the beasts. +And the ship grew small again and they put it away +in its box.</p> + +<p>But the man was filled with a desire for the pearls. +He went to the judge and entered a complaint against +the boy and his mother, and they were both thrown +into jail. Then the mice came, and dug a hole in the +wall. And the dog came through the hole and brought +them meat, and the cat brought them bread, so they +did not have to hunger in their prison. But the raven +flew off and returned with a letter for the judge. +The letter had been written by a god, and it said: “I +wandered about in the world of men disguised as a +beggar woman. And this boy and his mother took me +in. The boy treated me like his own grandmother, and +did not shrink from washing me when I was dirty. Because +of this I saved them out of the great flood by +means of which I destroyed the sinful city wherein they +dwelt. Do you, O judge, free them, or misfortune +shall be your portion!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +So the judge had them brought before him, and +asked what they had done, and how they had made their +way through the flood. Then they told him everything, +and what they said agreed with the god’s letter. So +the judge punished their accuser, and set them both at +liberty.</p> + +<p>When the boy had grown up he came to a city of +many people, and it was said that the princess intended +to take a husband. But in order to find the +right man, she had veiled herself, and seated herself +in a litter, and she had had the litter, together with +many others, carried into the market place. In every +litter sat a veiled woman, and the princess was in their +midst. And whoever hit upon the right litter, he was +to get the princess for his bride. So the youth went +there, too, and when he reached the market place, he +saw the bees whom he had saved from the great flood, +all swarming about a certain litter. Up he stepped +to it, and sure enough, the princess was sitting in it. +And then their wedding was celebrated, and they lived +happily ever afterward.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: “The Great Flood” is traditionally narrated and a diluvian +legend seems to underlie it. Compare with Grimm’s fairy-tale +(No. 73) “The Queen of the Bees.”</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="XI" id="XI"></a>XI<br /> +<br /> +THE FOX AND THE TIGER</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>NCE a fox met a tiger. The latter bared his +teeth, stretched out his claws, and was about to +devour him. But the fox spoke and said: “My dear +sir, you must not think that you are the only king of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +beasts. Your courage does not compare with my own. +Let us walk together, and do you keep behind me. And +if men catch sight of me and do not fear me, then you +may devour me.” The tiger was willing, and so the +fox led him along a broad highway. But the travelers, +when they saw the tiger in the distance, were all frightened +and ran away.</p> + +<p>Then the fox said: “How about it? I went in advance, +and the men saw me and had not as yet seen +you.”</p> + +<p>And thereupon the tiger drew in his tail and ran +away himself.</p> + +<p>The tiger had remarked quite well that the men +were afraid of the fox, but he had not noticed that the +fox had borrowed the terror he inspired from him.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: This universally known fable is traditionally narrated. +Animal fables are very rare in China.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="XII" id="XII"></a>XII<br /> +<br /> +THE TIGER’S DECOY</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">T</span>HAT the fox borrowed the terror he inspired from +the tiger is more than a simile; but that the tiger +has his decoy is something we read about in the story +books, and grandfathers talk about a good deal, too. +So there must be some truth in it. It is said that +when a tiger devours a human being, the latter’s spirit +cannot free itself, and that the tiger then uses it +for a decoy. When he goes out to seek his prey, the +spirit of the man he has devoured must go before him, +to hide him, so that people cannot see him. And +the spirit is apt to change itself into a beautiful girl, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +or a lump of gold or a bolt of silk. All sorts of deceptions +are used to lure folk into the mountain gorges. +Then the tiger comes along and devours his victim, and +the new spirit must serve as his decoy. The old +spirit’s time of service is over and it may go. And so +it continues, turn by turn. Probably that is why they +say of people who are forced to yield themselves up +to cunning and powerful men, in order that others may +be harmed: “They are the tiger’s decoys!”</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: This tale is traditionally narrated.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="XIII" id="XIII"></a>XIII<br /> +<br /> +THE FOX AND THE RAVEN</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">T</span>HE fox knows how to flatter, and how to play +many cunning tricks. Once upon a time he +saw a raven, who alighted on a tree with a piece of +meat in his beak. The fox seated himself beneath the +tree, looked up at him, and began to praise him.</p> + +<p>“Your color,” he began, “is pure black. This +proves to me that you possess all the wisdom of Laotzse, +who knows how to shroud his learning in darkness. +The manner in which you manage to feed your +mother shows that your filial affection equals that +which the Master Dsong had for his parents. Your +voice is rough and strong. It proves that you have +the courage with which King Hiang once drove his +foes to flight by the mere sound of his voice. In truth, +you are the king of birds!”</p> + +<p>The raven, hearing this, was filled with joy and said: +“I thank you! I thank you!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> +And before he knew it, the meat fell to earth from +his opened beak.</p> + +<p>The fox caught it up, devoured it and then said, +laughing: “Make note of this, my dear sir: if some +one praises you without occasion, he is sure to have +a reason for doing so.”</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: Traditionally narrated, it may be taken for granted that +this is simply Æsop’s fable in Chinese dress. The manner of presentation +is characteristically Chinese. For “the wisdom of Laotzse” +compare, p. 30, “The Ancient’s Book of Wisdom and Life”: “Who +sees his light, yet dwells in darkness.” Master Dsong was King Dsi’s +most faithful pupil, renowned for his piety. The raven is known in +China as “the bird of filial love,” for it is said that the young ravens +bring forth the food they have eaten from their beaks again, in order +to feed the old birds.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="XIV" id="XIV"></a>XIV<br /> +<br /> +WHY DOG AND CAT ARE ENEMIES</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>NCE upon a time there was a man and his wife +and they had a ring of gold. It was a lucky ring, +and whoever owned it always had enough to live on. +But this they did not know, and hence sold the ring for +a small sum. But no sooner was the ring gone than +they began to grow poorer and poorer, and at last did +not know when they would get their next meal. They +had a dog and a cat, and these had to go hungry as well. +Then the two animals took counsel together as to how +they might restore to their owners their former +good fortune. At length the dog hit upon an +idea.</p> + +<p>“They must have the ring back again,” he said to the +cat.</p> + +<p>The cat answered: “The ring has been carefully +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +locked up in the chest, where no one can get at it.”</p> + +<p>“You must catch a mouse,” said the dog, “and the +mouse must gnaw a hole in the chest and fetch out the +ring. And if she does not want to, say that you will +bite her to death, and you will see that she will do it.”</p> + +<p>This advice pleased the cat, and she caught a mouse. +Then she wanted to go to the house in which stood the +chest, and the dog came after. They came to a broad +river. And since the cat could not swim, the dog took +her on his back and swam across with her. Then the +cat carried the mouse to the house in which the chest +stood. The mouse gnawed a hole in the chest, and +fetched out the ring. The cat put the ring in her mouth +and went back to the river, where the dog was waiting +for her, and swam across with her. Then they started +out together for home, in order to bring the lucky ring +to their master and mistress. But the dog could only +run along the ground; when there was a house in the +way he always had to go around it. The cat, however, +quickly climbed over the roof, and so she reached home +long before the dog, and brought the ring to her master.</p> + +<p>Then her master said to his wife: “What a good +creature the cat is! We will always give her enough +to eat and care for her as though she were our own +child!”</p> + +<p>But when the dog came home they beat him and +scolded him, because he had not helped to bring home +the ring again. And the cat sat by the fireplace, +purred and said never a word. Then the dog grew +angry at the cat, because she had robbed him of his +reward, and when he saw her he chased her and tried to +seize her.</p> + +<p>And ever since that day cat and dog are enemies.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: “Why Dog and Cat are Enemies.” This fairy-tale is given +in the current popular version.</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32"><!-- blank page --></a></span></p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33"><!-- unnumbered page --></a></span></p> + +<h2 class="padtop">LEGENDS OF THE GODS</h2> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34"><!-- blank page --></a></span></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span></p> + +<h3 class="padtop"><a name="XV" id="XV"></a>XV<br /> +<br /> +HOW THE FIVE ANCIENTS BECAME MEN</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">B</span>EFORE the earth was separated from the heavens, +all there was was a great ball of watery +vapor called chaos. And at that time the spirits of the +five elemental powers took shape, and became the five +Ancients. The first was called the Yellow Ancient, and +he was the ruler of the earth. The second was called +the Red Lord, and he was the ruler of the fire. The +third was called the Dark Lord, and he was the ruler of +the water. The fourth was known as the Wood Prince, +and he was the ruler of the wood. The fifth was called +the Mother of Metals, and ruled over them. These +five Ancients set all their primal spirit into motion, so +that water and earth sank down. The heavens floated +upward, and the earth grew firm in the depths. Then +they allowed the waters to gather into rivers and seas, +and hills and plains made their appearance. So the +heavens opened and the earth was divided. And there +were sun, moon and all the stars, wind, clouds, rain, and +dew. The Yellow Ancient set earth’s purest power +spinning in a circle, and added the effect of fire and +water thereto. Then there came forth grasses and +trees, birds and beasts, and the tribes of the serpents +and insects, fishes and turtles. The Wood Prince and +the Mother of Metals combined light and darkness, and +thus created the human race as men and women. And +thus the world gradually came to be.</p> + +<p>At that time there was one who was known as +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> +the True Prince of the Jasper Castle. He had acquired +the art of sorcery through the cultivation of +magic. The five Ancients begged him to rule as the +supreme god. He dwelt above the three and thirty +heavens, and the Jasper Castle, of white jade with +golden gates, was his. Before him stood the stewards +of the eight-and-twenty houses of the moon, and the +gods of the thunders and the Great Bear, and in addition +a class of baneful gods whose influence was evil +and deadly. They all aided the True Prince of the +Jasper Castle to rule over the thousand tribes under +the heavens, and to deal out life and death, fortune +and misfortune. The Lord of the Jasper Castle is now +known as the Great God, the White Jade Ruler.</p> + +<p>The five Ancients withdrew after they had done their +work, and thereafter lived in quiet purity. The +Red Lord dwells in the South as the god of fire. The +Dark Lord dwells in the North, as the mighty master +of the somber polar skies. He lived in a castle of +liquid crystal. In later ages he sent Confucius down +upon earth as a saint. Hence this saint is known as +the Son of Crystal. The Wood Prince dwells in the +East. He is honored as the Green Lord, and watches +over the coming into being of all creatures. In him +lives the power of spring and he is the god of love. +The Mother of Metals dwells in the West, by the sea +of Jasper, and is also known as the Queen-Mother of +the West. She leads the rounds of the fairies, and +watches over change and growth. The Yellow Ancient +dwells in the middle. He is always going about in the +world, in order to save and to help those in any distress. +The first time he came to earth he was the Yellow Lord, +who taught mankind all sorts of arts. In his later +years he fathomed the meaning of the world on the +Ethereal Mount, and flew up to the radiant sun. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> +Under the rule of the Dschou dynasty he was born again +as Li Oerl, and when he was born his hair and beard +were white, for which reason he was called Laotsze, +“Old Child.” He wrote the book of “Meaning and +Life” and spread his teachings through the world. +He is honored as the head of Taoism. At the beginning +of the reign of the Han dynasty, he again appeared +as the Old Man of the River, (Ho Schang +Gung). He spread the teachings of Tao abroad mightily, +so that from that time on Taoism flourished +greatly. These doctrines are known to this day as the +teachings of the Yellow Ancient. There is also a saying: +“First Laotsze was, then the heavens were.” +And that must mean that Laotsze was that very same +Yellow Ancient of primal days.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: “How the Five Ancients Became Men.” This fairy-tale, +the first of the legends of the gods, is given in the version current +among the people. In it the five elemental spirits of earth, fire, +water, wood and metal are brought into connection with a creation +myth. “Prince of the Jasper Castle” or “The White Jade Ruler,” +Yu Huang Di, is the popular Chinese synonym for “the good lord.” +The phrase “White Jade” serves merely to express his dignity. All +in all, there are 32 other Yu Huangs, among whom he is the highest. +He may be compared to Indra, who dwells in a heaven that also +comprises 33 halls. The astronomic relationship between the two +is very evident.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="XVI" id="XVI"></a>XVI<br /> +<br /> +THE HERD BOY AND THE WEAVING MAIDEN</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">T</span>HE Herd Boy was the child of poor people. +When he was twelve years old, he took service +with a farmer to herd his cow. After a few years the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +cow had grown large and fat, and her hair shone like +yellow gold. She must have been a cow of the gods.</p> + +<p>One day while he had her out at pasture in the mountains, +she suddenly began to speak to the Herd Boy in +a human voice, as follows: “This is the Seventh Day. +Now the White Jade Ruler has nine daughters, who +bathe this day in the Sea of Heaven. The seventh +daughter is beautiful and wise beyond all measure. +She spins the cloud-silk for the King and Queen of +Heaven, and presides over the weaving which maidens +do on earth. It is for this reason she is called the +Weaving Maiden. And if you go and take away her +clothes while she bathes, you may become her husband +and gain immortality.”</p> + +<p>“But she is up in Heaven,” said the Herd Boy, “and +how can I get there?”</p> + +<p>“I will carry you there,” answered the yellow cow.</p> + +<p>So the Herd Boy climbed on the cow’s back. In a +moment clouds began to stream out of her hoofs, and +she rose into the air. About his ears there was a +whistling like the sound of the wind, and they flew along +as swiftly as lightning. Suddenly the cow stopped.</p> + +<p>“Now we are here,” said she.</p> + +<p>Then round about him the Herd Boy saw forests of +chrysophrase and trees of jade. The grass was of +jasper and the flowers of coral. In the midst of all +this splendor lay a great, four-square sea, covering +some five-hundred acres. Its green waves rose and +fell, and fishes with golden scales were swimming +about in it. In addition there were countless magic +birds who winged above it and sang. Even in the distance +the Herd Boy could see the nine maidens in the +water. They had all laid down their clothes on the +shore.</p> + +<p>“Take the red clothes, quickly,” said the cow, “and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> +hide away with them in the forest, and though she ask +you for them never so sweetly do not give them back +to her until she has promised to become your wife.”</p> + +<p>Then the Herd Boy hastily got down from the cow’s +back, seized the red clothes and ran away. At the +same moment the nine maidens noticed him and were +much frightened.</p> + +<p>“O youth, whence do you come, that you dare to take +our clothes?” they cried. “Put them down again +quickly!”</p> + +<p>But the Herd Boy did not let what they said trouble +him; but crouched down behind one of the jade trees. +Then eight of the maidens hastily came ashore and +drew on their clothes.</p> + +<p>“Our seventh sister,” said they, “whom Heaven +has destined to be yours, has come to you. We will +leave her alone with you.”</p> + +<p>The Weaving Maiden was still crouching in the +water.</p> + +<p>But the Herd Boy stood before her and laughed.</p> + +<p>“If you will promise to be my wife,” said he, “then +I will give you your clothes.”</p> + +<p>But this did not suit the Weaving Maiden.</p> + +<p>“I am a daughter of the Ruler of the Gods,” said +she, “and may not marry without his command. Give +back my clothes to me quickly, or else my father will +punish you!”</p> + +<p>Then the yellow cow said: “You have been destined +for each other by fate, and I will be glad to arrange +your marriage, and your father, the Ruler of the Gods, +will make no objection. Of that I am sure.”</p> + +<p>The Weaving Maiden replied: “You are an unreasoning +animal! How could you arrange our marriage?”</p> + +<p>The cow said: “Do you see that old willow-tree +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +there on the shore? Just give it a trial and ask it. +If the willow tree speaks, then Heaven wishes your +union.”</p> + +<p>And the Weaving Maiden asked the willow.</p> + +<p>The willow replied in a human voice:</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“This is the Seventh day,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The Herd Boy his court to the Weaver doth pay!”<br /></span> +</div> +</div> + +<p>and the Weaving Maiden was satisfied with the verdict. +The Herd Boy laid down her clothes, and went +on ahead. The Weaving Maiden drew them on and +followed him. And thus they became man and wife.</p> + +<p>But after seven days she took leave of him.</p> + +<p>“The Ruler of Heaven has ordered me to look after +my weaving,” said she. “If I delay too long I fear +that he will punish me. Yet, although we have to part +now, we will meet again in spite of it.”</p> + +<p>When she had said these words she really went away. +The Herd Boy ran after her. But when he was quite +near she took one of the long needles from her hair +and drew a line with it right across the sky, and this +line turned into the Silver River. And thus they now +stand, separated by the River, and watch for one +another.</p> + +<p>And since that time they meet once every year, on +the eve of the Seventh Day. When that time comes, +then all the crows in the world of men come flying and +form a bridge over which the Weaving Maiden crosses +the Silver River. And on that day you will not see a +single crow in the trees, from morning to night, no +doubt because of the reason I have mentioned. And +besides, a fine rain often falls on the evening of the +Seventh Day. Then the women and old grandmothers +say to one another: “Those are the tears which the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +Herd Boy and the Weaving Maiden shed at parting!” +And for this reason the Seventh Day is a rain festival.</p> + +<p>To the west of the Silver River is the constellation +of the Weaving Maiden, consisting of three stars. And +directly in front of it are three other stars in the form +of a triangle. It is said that once the Herd Boy was +angry because the Weaving Maiden had not wished to +cross the Silver River, and had thrown his yoke at her, +which fell down just in front of her feet. East of the +Silver River is the Herd Boy’s constellation, consisting +of six stars. To one side of it are countless little +stars which form a constellation pointed at both ends +and somewhat broader in the middle. It is said that +the Weaving Maiden in turn threw her spindle at the +Herd Boy; but that she did not hit him, the spindle +falling down to one side of him.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: “The Herd Boy and the Weaving Maiden” is retold after +an oral source. The Herd Boy is a constellation in Aquila, the +Weaving Maiden one in Lyra. The Silver River which separates +them is the Milky Way. The Seventh Day of the seventh month is +the festival of their reunion. The Ruler of the Heavens has nine +daughters in all, who dwell in the nine heavens. The oldest married +Li Dsing (comp. “Notscha,” No. <a href="#XVIII">18</a>); the second is the mother of +Yang Oerlang (comp. No. <a href="#XVII">17</a>); the third is the mother of the planet +Jupiter (comp. “Sky O’Dawn,” No. <a href="#XXXIV">34</a>); and the fourth dwelt with +a pious and industrious scholar, by name of Dung Yung, whom she +aided to win riches and honor. The seventh is the Spinner, and the +ninth had to dwell on earth as a slave because of some transgression +of which she had been guilty. Of the fifth, the sixth and the eighth +daughters nothing further is known.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="XVII" id="XVII"></a>XVII<br /> +<br /> +YANG OERLANG</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">T</span>HE second daughter of the Ruler of Heaven once +came down upon the earth and secretly became +the wife of a mortal man named Yang. And when she +returned to Heaven she was blessed with a son. But +the Ruler of Heaven was very angry at this desecration +of the heavenly halls. He banished her to earth +and covered her with the Wu-I hills. Her son, however, +Oerlang by name, the nephew of the Ruler of +Heaven, was extraordinarily gifted by nature. By the +time he was full grown he had learned the magic art of +being able to control eight times nine transformations. +He could make himself invisible, or could assume the +shape of birds and beasts, grasses, flowers, snakes and +fishes, as he chose. He also knew how to empty out +seas and remove mountains from one place to another. +So he went to the Wu-I hills and rescued his mother, +whom he took on his back and carried away. They +stopped to rest on a flat ledge of rock.</p> + +<p>Then the mother said: “I am very thirsty!”</p> + +<p>Oerlang climbed down into the valley in order to +fetch her water, and some time passed before he returned. +When he did his mother was no longer there. +He searched eagerly, but on the rock lay only her skin +and bones, and a few blood-stains. Now you must +know that at that time there were still ten suns in the +heavens, glowing and burning like fire. The Daughter +of Heaven, it is true, was divine by nature; yet because +she had incurred the anger of her father and had been +banished to earth, her magic powers had failed her. +Then, too, she had been imprisoned so long beneath +the hills in the dark that, coming out suddenly into the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +sunlight, she had been devoured by its blinding radiance.</p> + +<p>When Oerlang thought of his mother’s sad end, his +heart ached. He took two mountains on his shoulders, +pursued the suns and crushed them to death between +the mountains. And whenever he had crushed another +sun-disk, he picked up a fresh mountain. In this way +he had already slain nine of the ten suns, and there +was but one left. And as Oerlang pursued him relentlessly, +he hid himself in his distress beneath the leaves +of the portulacca plant. But there was a rainworm +close by who betrayed his hiding-place, and kept repeating: +“There he is! There he is!”</p> + +<p>Oerlang was about to seize him, when a messenger +from the Ruler of the Heaven suddenly descended +from the skies with a command: “Sky, air and earth +need the sunshine. You must allow this one sun to +live, so that all created beings may live. Yet, because +you rescued your mother, and showed yourself to be a +good son, you shall be a god, and be my bodyguard in +the Highest Heaven, and shall rule over good and evil +in the mortal world, and have power over devils and +demons.” When Oerlang received this command he +ascended to Heaven.</p> + +<p>Then the sun-disk came out again from beneath the +portulacca leaves, and out of gratitude, since the plant +had saved him, he bestowed upon it the gift of a free-blooming +nature, and ordained that it never need fear +the sunshine. To this very day one may see on the +lower side of the portulacca leaves quite delicate little +white pearls. They are the sunshine that remained +hanging to the leaves when the sun hid under them. +But the sun pursues the rainworm, when he ventures +forth out of the ground, and dries him up as a punishment +for his treachery.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +Since that time Yang Oerlang has been honored as +a god. He has oblique, sharply marked eyebrows, +and holds a double-bladed, three-pointed sword in his +hand. Two servants stand beside him, with a falcon +and a hound; for Yang Oerlang is a great hunter. The +falcon is the falcon of the gods, and the hound is the +hound of the gods. When brute creatures gain possession +of magic powers or demons oppress men, he +subdues them by means of the falcon and hound.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: Yang Oerlang is a huntsman, as is indicated by his falcon +and hound. His Hound of the Heavens, literally “the divine, biting +hound” recalls the hound of Indra. The myth that there were originally +ten suns in the skies, of whom nine were shot down by an archer, +is also placed in the period of the ruler Yau. In that story the +archer is named Hou I, or I (comp. No. <a href="#XIX">19</a>). Here, instead of the +shooting down of the suns with arrows, we have the Titan motive +of destruction with the mountains.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="XVIII" id="XVIII"></a>XVIII<br /> +<br /> +NOTSCHA</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">T</span>HE oldest daughter of the Ruler of Heaven had +married the great general Li Dsing. Her sons +were named Gintscha, Mutscha and Notscha. But when +Notscha was given her, she dreamed at night that a +Taoist priest came into her chamber and said: +“Swiftly receive the Heavenly Son!” And straightway +a radiant pearl glowed within her. And she was +so frightened at her dream that she awoke. And when +Notscha came into the world, it seemed as though a ball +of flesh were turning in circles like a wheel, and the +whole room was filled with strange fragrances and a +crimson light.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +Li Dsing was much frightened, and thought it was an +apparition. He clove the circling ball with his sword, +and out of it leaped a small boy whose whole body +glowed with a crimson radiance. But his face was +delicately shaped and white as snow. About his right +arm he wore a golden armlet and around his thighs +was wound a length of crimson silk, whose glittering +shine dazzled the eyes. When Li Dsing saw the child +he took pity on him and did not slay him, while his +wife began to love the boy dearly.</p> + +<p>When three days had passed, all his friends came to +wish him joy. They were just sitting at the festival +meal when a Taoist priest entered and said: “I am the +Great One. This boy is the bright Pearl of the Beginning +of Things, bestowed upon you as your son. +Yet the boy is wild and unruly, and will kill many men. +Therefore I will take him as my pupil to gentle his +savage ways.” Li Dsing bowed his thanks and the +Great One disappeared.</p> + +<p>When Notscha was seven years old he once ran away +from home. He came to the river of nine bends, whose +green waters flowed along between two rows of weeping-willows. +The day was hot, and Notscha entered +the water to cool himself. He unbound his crimson +silk cloth and whisked it about in the water to wash +it. But while Notscha sat there and whisked about +his scarf in the water, it shook the castle of the Dragon-King +of the Eastern Sea to its very foundations. So +the Dragon-King sent out a Triton, terrible to look +upon, who was to find out what was the matter. When +the Triton saw the boy he began to scold. But the +latter merely looked up and said: “What a strange-looking +beast you are, and you can actually talk!” Then +the Triton grew enraged, leaped up and struck at Notscha +with his ax. But the latter avoided the blow, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +and threw his golden armlet at him. The armlet struck +the Triton on the head and he sank down dead.</p> + +<p>Notscha laughed and said: “And there he has gone +and made my armlet bloody!” And he once more +sat down on a stone, in order to wash his armlet. +Then the crystal castle of the dragon began to tremble +as though it were about to fall apart. And a watchman +also came and reported that the Triton had been +slain by a boy. So the Dragon-King sent out his son +to capture the boy. And the son seated himself on the +water-cleaving beast, and came up with a thunder of +great waves of water. Notscha straightened up and +said: “That is a big wave!” Suddenly he saw a +creature rise out of the waves, on whose back sat an +armed man who cried in a loud voice: “Who has +slain my Triton?” Notscha answered: “The Triton +wanted to slay me so I killed him. What difference +does it make?” Then the dragon assailed him with +his halberd. But Notscha said: “Tell me who you +are before we fight.” “I am the son of the Dragon-King,” +was the reply. “And I am Notscha, the son +of General Li Dsing. You must not rouse my anger +with your violence, or I will skin you, together with +that old mud-fish, your father!” Then the dragon +grew wild with rage, and came storming along furiously. +But Notscha cast his crimson cloth into the +air, so that it flashed like a ball of fire, and cast the +dragon-youth from his breast. Then Notscha took his +golden armlet and struck him on the forehead with it, +so that he had to reveal himself in his true form as a +golden dragon, and fall down dead.</p> + +<p>Notscha laughed and said: “I have heard tell that +dragon-sinews make good cords. I will draw one out +and bring it to my father, and he can tie his armor +together with it.” And with that he drew out the +dragon’s back sinew and took it home.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +In the meantime the Dragon-King, full of fury, had +hastened to Notscha’s father Li Dsing and demanded +that Notscha be delivered up to him. But Li Dsing +replied: “You must be mistaken, for my boy is only +seven years old and incapable of committing such misdeeds.” +While they were still quarreling Notscha +came running up and cried: “Father, I’m bringing +along a dragon’s sinew for you, so that you may bind +up your armor with it!” Now the dragon broke out into +tears and furious scolding. He threatened to report +Li Dsing to the Ruler of the Heaven, and took himself +off, snorting with rage.</p> + +<p>Li Dsing grew very much excited, told his wife +what had happened, and both began to weep. Notscha, +however, came to them and said: “Why do you +weep? I will just go to my master, the Great One, and +he will know what is to be done.” And no sooner had +he said the words than he had disappeared. He came +into his master’s presence and told him the whole tale. +The latter said: “You must get ahead of the dragon, +and prevent him from accusing you in Heaven!” +Then he did some magic, and Notscha found himself +set down by the gate of Heaven, where he waited for +the dragon. It was still early in the morning; the gate +of Heaven had not yet been opened, nor was the watchman +at his post. But the dragon was already climbing +up. Notscha, whom his master’s magic had rendered +invisible, threw the dragon to the ground with his armlet, +and began to pitch into him. The dragon scolded +and screamed. “There the old worm flounders +about,” said Notscha, “and does not care how hard he +is beaten! I will scratch off some of his scales.” And +with these words he began to tear open the dragon’s +festal garments, and rip off some of the scales beneath +his left arm, so that the red blood dripped out. Then +the dragon could no longer stand the pain and begged +for mercy. But first he had to promise Notscha that +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +he would not complain of him, before the latter would +let him go. And then the dragon had to turn himself +into a little green snake, which Notscha put into his +sleeve and took back home with him. But no sooner +had he drawn the little snake from his sleeve than it +assumed human shape. The dragon then swore that +he would punish Li Dsing in a terrible manner, and +disappeared in a flash of lightning.</p> + +<p>Li Dsing was now angry with his son in earnest. +Therefore Notscha’s mother sent him to the rear of the +house to keep out of his father’s sight. Notscha disappeared +and went to his master, in order to ask him +what he should do when the dragon returned. His +master advised him and Notscha went back home. +And all the Dragon Kings of the four seas were assembled, +and had bound his parents, with cries and tumult, +in order to punish them. Notscha ran up and cried +with a loud voice: “I will take the punishment for +whatever I have done! My parents are blameless! +What is the punishment you wish to lay upon me?” +“Life for life!” said the dragon. “Very well then, I +will destroy myself!” And so he did and the dragons +went off satisfied; while Notscha’s mother buried him +with many tears.</p> + +<p>But the spiritual part of Notscha, his soul, fluttered +about in the air, and was driven by the wind to the +cave of the Great One. He took it in and said to it: +“You must appear to your mother! Forty miles distant +from your home rises a green mountain cliff. On +this cliff she must build a shrine for you. And after +you have enjoyed the incense of human adoration for +three years, you shall once more have a human body.” +Notscha appeared to his mother in a dream, and gave +her the whole message, and she awoke in tears. But +Li Dsing grew angry when she told him about it. “It +serves the accursed boy right that he is dead! It is +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +because you are always thinking of him that he appears +to you in dreams. You must pay no attention to him.” +The woman said no more, but thenceforward he appeared +to her daily, as soon as she closed her eyes, and +grew more and more urgent in his demand. Finally all +that was left for her to do was to erect a temple for Notscha +without Li Dsing’s knowledge.</p> + +<p>And Notscha performed great miracles in his temple. +All prayers made in it were granted. And from far +away people streamed to it to burn incense in his honor.</p> + +<p>Thus half a year passed. Then Li Dsing, on the +occasion of a great military drill, once came by the +cliff in question, and saw the people crowding thickly +about the hill like a swarm of ants. Li Dsing inquired +what there were to see upon the hill. “It is a new god, +who performs so many miracles that people come from +far and near to honor him.” “What sort of a god is +he?” asked Li Dsing. They did not dare conceal from +him who the god was. Then Li Dsing grew angry. +He spurred his horse up the hill and, sure enough, +over the door of the temple was written: “Notscha’s +Shrine.” And within it was the likeness of Notscha, +just as he had appeared while living. Li Dsing said: +“While you were alive you brought misfortune to your +parents. Now that you are dead you deceive the +people. It is disgusting!” With these words he drew +forth his whip, beat Notscha’s idolatrous likeness to +pieces with it, had the temple burned down, and the +worshipers mildly reproved. Then he returned home.</p> + +<p>Now Notscha had been absent in the spirit upon that +day. When he returned he found his temple destroyed; +and the spirit of the hill gave him the details. +Notscha hurried to his master and related with tears +what had befallen him. The latter was roused and +said: “It is Li Dsing’s fault. After you had given +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> +back your body to your parents, you were no further +concern of his. Why should he withdraw from you +the enjoyment of the incense?” Then the Great One +made a body of lotus-plants, gave it the gift of life, +and enclosed the soul of Notscha within it. This done +he called out in a loud voice: “Arise!” A drawing +of breath was heard, and Notscha leaped up once more +in the shape of a small boy. He flung himself down before +his master and thanked him. The latter bestowed +upon him the magic of the fiery lance, and Notscha +thenceforward had two whirling wheels beneath his +feet: The wheel of the wind and the wheel of fire. +With these he could rise up and down in the air. The +master also gave him a bag of panther-skin in which +to keep his armlet and his silken cloth.</p> + +<p>Now Notscha had determined to punish Li Dsing. +Taking advantage of a moment when he was not +watched, he went away, thundering along on his rolling +wheels to Li Dsing’s dwelling. The latter was unable to +withstand him and fled. He was almost exhausted +when his second son, Mutscha, the disciple of the holy +Pu Hain, came to his aid from the Cave of the White +Crane. A violent quarrel took place between the +brothers; they began to fight, and Mutscha was overcome; +while Notscha once more rushed in pursuit of Li +Dsing. At the height of his extremity, however, the +holy Wen Dschu of the Hill of the Five Dragons, the +master of Gintscha, Li Dsing’s oldest son, stepped forth +and hid Li Dsing in his cave. Notscha, in a rage, insisted +that he be delivered up to him; but Wen Dschu +said: “Elsewhere you may indulge your wild nature +to your heart’s content, but not in this place.”</p> + +<p>And when Notscha in the excess of his rage turned his +fiery lance upon him, Wen Dschu stepped back a pace, +shook the seven-petaled lotus from his sleeve, and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +threw it into the air. A whirlwind arose, clouds and +mists obscured the sight, and sand and earth were +flung up from the ground. Then the whirlwind collapsed +with a great crash. Notscha fainted, and when +he regained consciousness found himself bound to a +golden column with three thongs of gold, so that he +could no longer move. Wen Dschu now called Gintscha +to him and ordered him to give his unruly brother +a good thrashing. And this he did, while Notscha, +obliged to stand it, stood grinding his teeth. In his +extremity he saw the Great One floating by, and called +out to him: “Save me, O Master!” But the latter did +not notice him; instead he entered the cave and thanked +Wen Dschu for the severe lesson which he had given +Notscha. Finally they called Notscha in to them and +ordered him to be reconciled to his father. Then +they dismissed them both and seated themselves to +play chess. But no sooner was Notscha free than he +again fell into a rage, and renewed his pursuit of his +father. He had again overtaken Li Dsing when still +another saint came forward to defend the latter. This +time it was the old Buddha of the Radiance of the +Light. When Notscha attempted to battle with him he +raised his arm, and a pagoda shaped itself out of red, +whirling clouds and closed around Notscha. Then +Radiance of Light placed both his hands on the pagoda +and a fire arose within it which burned Notscha so that +he cried loudly for mercy. Then he had to promise to +beg his father’s forgiveness and always to obey him in +the future. Not till he had promised all this did the +Buddha let him out of the pagoda again. And he gave +the pagoda to Li Dsing; and taught him a magic saying +which would give him the mastery over Notscha. It is +for this reason that Li Dsing is called the Pagoda-bearing +King of Heaven.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +Later on Li Dsing and his three sons, Gintscha, Mutscha +and Notscha, aided King Wu of the Dschou +dynasty to destroy the tyrant Dschou-Sin.</p> + +<p>None could withstand their might. Only once did a +sorcerer succeed in wounding Notscha in the left arm. +Any other would have died of the wound. But the Great +One carried him into his cave, healed his wound and +gave him three goblets of the wine of the gods to drink, +and three fire-dates to eat. When Notscha had eaten +and drunk he suddenly heard a crash at his left side and +another arm grew out from it. He could not speak and +his eyes stood out from their sockets with horror. But +it went on as it had begun: six more arms grew out of +his body and two more heads, so that finally he had +three heads and eight arms. He called out to his Master: +“What does all this mean?” But the latter only +laughed and said: “All is as it should be. Thus +equipped you will really be strong!” Then he taught +him a magic incantation by means of which he could +make his arms and heads visible or invisible as he +chose. When the tyrant Dschou-Sin had been destroyed, +Li Dsing and his three sons, while still on +earth, were taken up into heaven and seated among +the gods.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: Li Dsing, the Pagoda-bearing King of Heaven, may be +traced back to Indra, the Hindoo god of thunder and lightning. The +Pagoda might be an erroneous variant of the thunderbolt Vadjra. +In such case Notscha would be a personification of the thunder. The +Great One (Tai I), is the condition of things before their separation +into the active and passive principles. There is a whole genealogy +of mythical saints and holy men who took part in the battles between +King Wu of Dschou and the tyrant Dschou-Sin. These saints are, +for the most part, Buddhist-Brahminic figures which have been reshaped. +The Dragon-King of the Eastern Sea also occurs in the +tale of Sun Wu Kung (No. <a href="#LXXIV">74</a>). “Dragon sinew” means the spinal +cord, the distinction between nerves and sinews not being carefully +observed. “Three spirits and seven souls”: man has three spirits, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +usually above his head, and seven animal souls. “Notscha had been +absent in the spirit upon that day”: the idol is only the seat of the +godhead, which the latter leaves or inhabits as he chooses. Therefore +the godhead must be summoned when prayers are offered, by means +of bells and incense. When the god is not present, his idol is merely +a block of wood or stone. Pu Hain, the Buddha of the Lion, is the +Indian Samantabharda, one of the four great Boddhisatvas of the +Tantra School. Wen Dschu, the Buddha on the Golden-haired +Mountain Lion, (Hou), is the Indian Mandjusri. The old Buddha +of the Radiance of the Light, Jan Dong Go Fu, is the Indian Dipamkara.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="XIX" id="XIX"></a>XIX<br /> +<br /> +THE LADY OF THE MOON</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">I</span>N the days of the Emperor Yau lived a prince by +the name of Hou I, who was a mighty hero and a +good archer. Once ten suns rose together in the sky, +and shone so brightly and burned so fiercely that the +people on earth could not endure them. So the Emperor +ordered Hou I to shoot at them. And Hou I shot +nine of them down from the sky. Besides his bow, Hou +I also had a horse which ran so swiftly that even the +wind could not catch up with it. He mounted it to go a-hunting, +and the horse ran away and could not be +stopped. So Hou I came to Kunlun Mountain and met +the Queen-Mother of the Jasper Sea. And she gave +him the herb of immortality. He took it home with +him and hid it in his room. But his wife who was +named Tschang O, once ate some of it on the sly when +he was not at home, and she immediately floated up to +the clouds. When she reached the moon, she ran into +the castle there, and has lived there ever since as the +Lady of the Moon.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +On a night in mid-autumn, an emperor of the Tang +dynasty once sat at wine with two sorcerers. And one +of them took his bamboo staff and cast it into the air, +where it turned into a heavenly bridge, on which the +three climbed up to the moon together. There they +saw a great castle on which was inscribed: “The +Spreading Halls of Crystal Cold.” Beside it stood a +cassia tree which blossomed and gave forth a fragrance +filling all the air. And in the tree sat a man +who was chopping off the smaller boughs with an ax. +One of the sorcerers said: “That is the man in the +moon. The cassia tree grows so luxuriantly that in +the course of time it would overshadow all the moon’s +radiance. Therefore it has to be cut down once in +every thousand years.” Then they entered the +spreading halls. The silver stories of the castle +towered one above the other, and its walls and columns +were all formed of liquid crystal. In the walls were +cages and ponds, where fishes and birds moved as +though alive. The whole moon-world seemed made of +glass. While they were still looking about them on all +sides the Lady of the Moon stepped up to them, clad in +a white mantle and a rainbow-colored gown. She +smiled and said to the emperor: “You are a prince of +the mundane world of dust. Great is your fortune, +since you have been able to find your way here!” And +she called for her attendants, who came flying up on +white birds, and sang and danced beneath the cassia +tree. A pure clear music floated through the air. Beside +the tree stood a mortar made of white marble, in +which a jasper rabbit ground up herbs. That was the +dark half of the moon. When the dance had ended, +the emperor returned to earth again with the sorcerers. +And he had the songs which he had heard on +the moon written down and sung to the accompaniment +of flutes of jasper in his pear-tree garden.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +Note: This fairy-tale is traditional. The archer Hou I (or Count +I, the Archer-Prince, comp. Dschuang Dsi), is placed by legend in +different epochs. He also occurs in connection with the myths +regarding the moon, for one tale recounts how he saved the moon +during an eclipse by means of his arrows. The Queen-Mother is +Si Wang Mu (comp. with No. <a href="#XV">15</a>). The Tang dynasty reigned 618-906 +<small>A.D.</small> “The Spreading Halls of Crystal Cold”: The goddess +of the ice also has her habitation in the moon. The hare in the +moon is a favorite figure. He grinds the grains of maturity or the +herbs that make the elixir of life. The rain-toad Tschan, who has +three legs, is also placed on the moon. According to one version +of the story, Tschang O took the shape of this toad.</p> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter ipadtop" style="width: 432px;"> +<a name="cassia_tree" id="cassia_tree"></a> +<img src="images/cfb05.jpg" width="432" height="600" +alt="Three men meet under a cassia-tree" /> +<p class="caption">“BESIDE IT STOOD A CASSIA-TREE.”</p> +<p class="subcapt">—<i>Page <a href="#Page_54">54</a></i></p> +</div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="XX" id="XX"></a>XX<br /> +<br /> +THE MORNING AND THE EVENING STAR</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>NCE upon a time there were two stars, sons of the +Golden King of the Heavens. The one was +named Tschen and the other Shen. One day they quarreled, +and Tschen struck Shen a terrible blow. Thereupon +both stars made a vow that they would never +again look upon each other. So Tschen only appears +in the evening, and Shen only appears in the morning, +and not until Tschen has disappeared is Shen again to +be seen. And that is why people say: “When two +brothers do not live peaceably with one another they +are like Tschen and Shen.”</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: Tschen and Shen are Hesperus and Lucifer, the morning +and evening stars. The tale is told in its traditional form.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="XXI" id="XXI"></a>XXI<br /> +<br /> +THE GIRL WITH THE HORSE’S HEAD<br /> +OR<br /> +THE SILKWORM GODDESS</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">I</span>N the dim ages of the past there once was an old +man who went on a journey. No one remained at +home save his only daughter and a white stallion. The +daughter fed the horse day by day, but she was lonely +and yearned for her father.</p> + +<p>So it happened that one day she said in jest to the +horse: “If you will bring back my father to me then I +will marry you!”</p> + +<p>No sooner had the horse heard her say this, than he +broke loose and ran away. He ran until he came to the +place where her father was. When her father saw the +horse, he was pleasantly surprised, caught him and +seated himself on his back. And the horse turned back +the way he had come, neighing without a pause.</p> + +<p>“What can be the matter with the horse?” thought +the father. “Something must have surely gone wrong +at home!” So he dropped the reins and rode back. +And he fed the horse liberally because he had been so +intelligent; but the horse ate nothing, and when he saw +the girl, he struck out at her with his hoofs and tried to +bite her. This surprised the father; he questioned his +daughter, and she told him the truth, just as it had +occurred.</p> + +<p>“You must not say a word about it to any one,” +spoke her father, “or else people will talk about us.”</p> + +<p>And he took down his crossbow, shot the horse, and +hung up his skin in the yard to dry. Then he went on +his travels again.</p> + +<p>One day his daughter went out walking with the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +daughter of a neighbor. When they entered the yard, +she pushed the horse-hide with her foot and said: +“What an unreasonable animal you were—wanting to +marry a human being! What happened to you served +you right!”</p> + +<p>But before she had finished her speech, the horse-hide +moved, rose up, wrapped itself about the girl and +ran off.</p> + +<p>Horrified, her companion ran home to her father and +told him what had happened. The neighbors looked for +the girl everywhere, but she could not be found.</p> + +<p>At last, some days afterward, they saw the girl hanging +from the branches of a tree, still wrapped in the +horse-hide; and gradually she turned into a silkworm +and wove a cocoon. And the threads which she spun +were strong and thick. Her girl friend then took down +the cocoon and let her slip out of it; and then she spun +the silk and sold it at a large profit.</p> + +<p>But the girl’s relatives longed for her greatly. So +one day the girl appeared riding in the clouds on her +horse, followed by a great company and said: “In +heaven I have been assigned to the task of watching +over the growing of silkworms. You must yearn for me +no longer!” And thereupon they built temples to her +in her native land, and every year, at the silkworm season, +sacrifices are offered to her and her protection is +implored. And the Silkworm Goddess is also known +as the girl with the Horse’s Head.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: This tale is placed in the times of the Emperor Hau, and +the legend seems to have originated in Setchuan. The stallion +is the sign of the zodiac which rules the springtime, the season when +the silkworms are cultivated. Hence she is called the Goddess with +the Horse’s Head. The legend itself tells a different tale. In addition +to this goddess, the spouse of Schen Nung, the “Divine Husbandman,” +is also worshiped as the goddess of silkworm culture. The +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +Goddess with the Horse’s Head is more of a totemic representation +of the silkworm as such; while the wife of Schen Nung is regarded +as the protecting goddess of silk culture, and is supposed to have +been the first to teach women its details. The spouse of the Yellow +Lord is mentioned in the same connection. The popular belief distinguishes +three goddesses who protect the silkworm culture in turn. +The second is the best of the three, and when it is her year the silk +turns out well.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="XXII" id="XXII"></a>XXII<br /> +<br /> +THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">T</span>HE Queen of Heaven, who is also known as the +Holy Mother, was in mortal life a maiden of +Fukien, named Lin. She was pure, reverential and +pious in her ways and died at the age of seventeen. +She shows her power on the seas and for this reason +the seamen worship her. When they are unexpectedly +attacked by wind and waves, they call on her and she +is always ready to hear their pleas.</p> + +<p>There are many seamen in Fukien, and every year +people are lost at sea. And because of this, most likely, +the Queen of Heaven took pity on the distress of her +people during her lifetime on earth. And since her +thoughts are uninterruptedly turned toward aiding the +drowning in their distress, she now appears frequently +on the seas.</p> + +<p>In every ship that sails a picture of the Queen of +Heaven hangs in the cabin, and three paper talismans +are also kept on shipboard. On the first she is painted +with crown and scepter, on the second as a maiden in +ordinary dress, and on the third she is pictured with +flowing hair, barefoot, standing with a sword in her +hand. When the ship is in danger the first talisman +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +is burnt, and help comes. But if this is of no avail, +then the second and finally the third picture is burned. +And if no help comes then there is nothing more to be +done.</p> + +<p>When seamen lose their course among wind and +waves and darkling clouds, they pray devoutly to the +Queen of Heaven. Then a red lantern appears on the +face of the waters. And if they follow the lantern +they will win safe out of all danger. The Queen of +Heaven may often be seen standing in the skies, +dividing the wind with her sword. When she does +this the wind departs for the North and South, and the +waves grow smooth.</p> + +<p>A wooden wand is always kept before her holy picture +in the cabin. It often happens that the fish-dragons +play in the seas. They are two giant fish who spout up +water against one another till the sun in the sky is +obscured, and the seas are shrouded in profound darkness. +And often, in the distance, one may see a bright +opening in the darkness. If the ship holds a course +straight for this opening it will win through, and is +suddenly floating in calm waters again. Looking back, +one may see the two fishes still spouting water, and +the ship will have passed directly beneath their jaws. +But a storm is always near when the fish dragons +swim; therefore it is well to burn paper or wool so +that the dragons do not draw the ship down into the +depths. Or the Master of the Wand may burn incense +before the wand in the cabin. Then he must take the +wand and swing it over the water three times, in a +circle. If he does so the dragons will draw in their +tails and disappear.</p> + +<p>When the ashes in the censer fly up into the air without +any cause, and are scattered about, it is a sign that +great danger is threatening.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +Nearly two-hundred years ago an army was fitted +out to subdue the island of Formosa. The captain’s +banner had been dedicated with the blood of a white +horse. Suddenly the Queen of Heaven appeared at +the tip of the banner-staff. In another moment she +had disappeared, but the invasion was successful.</p> + +<p>On another occasion, in the days of Kien Lung, the +minister Dschou Ling was ordered to install a new +king in the Liu-Kiu Islands. When the fleet was sailing +by south of Korea, a storm arose, and his ship was +driven toward the Black Whirlpool. The water had +the color of ink, sun and moon lost their radiance, and +the word was passed about that the ship had been +caught in the Black Whirlpool, from which no living +man had ever returned. The seaman and travelers +awaited their end with lamentations. Suddenly an untold +number of lights, like red lanterns, appeared on +the surface of the water. Then the seamen were overjoyed +and prayed in the cabins. “Our lives are +saved!” they cried, “the Holy Mother has come to our +aid!” And truly, a beautiful maiden with golden earrings +appeared. She waved her hand in the air and +the winds became still and the waves grew even. And +it seemed as though the ship were being drawn along +by a mighty hand. It moved plashing through the +waves, and suddenly it was beyond the limits of the +Black Whirlpool.</p> + +<p>Dschou Ling on his return told of this happening, +and begged that temples be erected in honor of the +Queen of Heaven, and that she be included in the list +of the gods. And the emperor granted his prayer.</p> + +<p>Since then temples of the Queen of Heaven are to be +found in all sea-port towns, and her birthday is +celebrated on the eighth day of the fourth month with +spectacles and sacrifices.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> +Note: “The Queen of Heaven,” whose name is Tian Hou, or +more exactly, Tian Fe Niang Niang, is a Taoist goddess of seamen, +generally worshiped in all coast towns. Her story is principally +made up of local legends of Fukien province, and a variation of +the Indian Maritschi (who as Dschunti with the eight arms, is the +object of quite a special cult). Tian Hou, since the establishment +of the Manchu dynasty, is one of the officially recognized godheads.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="XXIII" id="XXIII"></a>XXIII<br /> +<br /> +THE FIRE-GOD</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">L</span>ONG before the time of Fu Hi, Dschu Yung, the +Magic Welder, was the ruler of men. He discovered +the use of fire, and succeeding generations learned +from him to cook their food. Hence his descendants +were intrusted with the preservation of fire, while he +himself was made the Fire-God. He is a personification +of the Red Lord, who showed himself at the beginning +of the world as one of the Five Ancients. The +Fire-God is worshiped as the Lord of the Holy Southern +Mountain. In the skies the Fiery Star, the southern +quarter of the heavens and the Red Bird belong to +his domain. When there is danger of fire the Fiery +Star glows with a peculiar radiance. When countless +numbers of fire-crows fly into a house, a fire is sure +to break out in it.</p> + +<p>In the land of the four rivers there dwelt a man who +was very rich. One day he got into his wagon and set +out on a long journey. And he met a girl, dressed in +red, who begged him to take her with him. He allowed +her to get into the wagon, and drove along for half-a-day +without even looking in her direction. Then the +girl got out again and said in farewell: “You are +truly a good and honest man, and for that reason I +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +must tell you the truth. I am the Fire-God. To-morrow +a fire will break out in your house. Hurry +home at once to arrange your affairs and save what +you can!” Frightened, the man faced his horses about +and drove home as fast as he could. All that he possessed +in the way of treasures, clothes and jewels, he +removed from the house. And, when he was about to +lie down to sleep, a fire broke out on the hearth which +could not be quenched until the whole building had +collapsed in dust and ashes. Yet, thanks to the Fire-God, +the man had saved all his movable belongings.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: “The Fire-God” (comp. with No. <a href="#XV">15</a>). The Holy Southern +Mountain is Sung-Schan in Huan. The Fiery Star is Mars. +The constellations of the southern quarter of the heavens are grouped +by the Chinese as under the name of the “Red Bird.” The “land of the +four rivers” is Setchuan, in the western part of present-day China.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="XXIV" id="XXIV"></a>XXIV<br /> +<br /> +THE THREE RULING GODS</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">T</span>HERE are three lords: in heaven, and on the +earth and in the waters, and they are known as +the Three Ruling Gods. They are all brothers, and +are descended from the father of the Monk of the +Yangtze-kiang. When the latter was sailing on the +river he was cast into the water by a robber. But he +did not drown, for a Triton came his way who took +him along with him to the dragon-castle. And when +the Dragon-King saw him he realized at once that +there was something extraordinary about the Monk, +and he married him to his daughter.</p> + +<p>From their early youth his three sons showed a +preference for the hidden wisdom. And together +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +they went to an island in the sea. There they seated +themselves and began to meditate. They heard nothing, +they saw nothing, they spoke not a word and they +did not move. The birds came and nested in their +hair; the spiders came and wove webs across their +faces; worms and insects came and crawled in and out +of their noses and ears. But they paid no attention to +any of them.</p> + +<p>After they had meditated thus for a number of +years, they obtained the hidden wisdom and became +gods. And the Lord made them the Three Ruling Gods. +The heavens make things, the earth completes things, +and the waters create things. The Three Ruling Gods +sent out the current of their primal power to aid in +ordering all to this end. Therefore they are also known +as the primal gods, and temples are erected to them all +over the earth.</p> + +<p>If you go into a temple you will find the Three Ruling +Gods all seated on one pedestal. They wear +women’s hats upon their heads, and hold scepters in +their hands, like kings. But he who sits on the last +place, to the right, has glaring eyes and wears a look of +rage. If you ask why this is you are told: “These +three were brothers and the Lord made them the Ruling +Gods. So they talked about the order in which they +were to sit. And the youngest said: ‘To-morrow +morning, before sunrise, we will meet here. Whoever +gets here first shall have the seat of honor in the +middle; the second one to arrive shall have the second +place, and the third the third.’ The two older brothers +were satisfied. The next morning, very early, the +youngest came first, seated himself in the middle place, +and became the god of the waters. The middle brother +came next, sat down on the left, and became the god of +the heavens. Last of all came the oldest brother. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +When he saw that his brothers were already sitting in +their places, he was disgusted and yet he could not say +a word. His face grew red with rage, his eyeballs +stood forth from their sockets like bullets, and his +veins swelled like bladders. And he seated himself on +the right and became god of the earth.” The artisans +who make the images of the gods noticed this, so they +always represent him thus.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: “The Three Ruling Gods” is set down as told by the +people. It is undoubtedly a version of the Indian Trimurti. The +meaning of the terrible appearance of the third godhead, evidently +no longer understood by the people, points to Siva, and has given +rise to the fairy-tale here told. As regards the Monk of the Yangtze-kiang, +comp. with No. <a href="#LXIX">69</a>.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="XXV" id="XXV"></a>XXV<br /> +<br /> +A LEGEND OF CONFUCIUS</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">W</span>HEN Confucius came to the earth, the Kilin, +that strange beast which is the prince of all +four-footed animals, and only appears when there is a +great man on earth, sought the child and spat out a jade +whereon was written: “Son of the Watercrystal +you are destined to become an uncrowned king!” And +Confucius grew up, studied diligently, learned wisdom +and came to be a saint. He did much good on earth, +and ever since his death has been reverenced as the +greatest of teachers and masters. He had foreknowledge +of many things. And even after he had +died he gave evidence of this.</p> + +<p>Once, when the wicked Emperor Tsin Schi Huang +had conquered all the other kingdoms, and was traveling +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> +through the entire empire, he came to the homeland +of Confucius. And he found his grave. And, +finding his grave, he wished to have it opened and see +what was in it. All his officials advised him not to do +so, but he would not listen to them. So a passage was +dug into the grave, and in its main chamber they +found a coffin, whose wood appeared to be quite fresh. +When struck it sounded like metal. To the left of the +coffin was a door, which led into an inner chamber. +In this chamber stood a bed, and a table with books +and clothing, all as though meant for the use of a living +person. Tsin Schi Huang seated himself on the bed +and looked down. And there on the floor stood two +shoes of red silk, whose tips were adorned with a woven +pattern of clouds. A bamboo staff leaned against the +wall. The Emperor, in jest, put on the shoes, took +the staff and left the grave. But as he did so a tablet +suddenly appeared before his eyes on which stood the +following lines:</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">O’er kingdoms six Tsin Schi Huang his army led,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To ope my grave and find my humble bed;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He steals my shoes and takes my staff away<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To reach Schakiu—and his last earthly day!<br /></span> +</div> +</div> + +<p>Tsin Schi Huang was much alarmed, and had the grave +closed again. But when he reached Schakiu he fell +ill of a hasty fever of which he died.</p> + +<div class="note"><p>Note: The Kilin is an okapi-like legendary beast of the most +perfected kindness, prince of all the four-footed animals. The +“Watercrystal” is the dark Lord of the North, whose element is +water and wisdom, for which last reason Confucius is termed his +son. Tsin Schi Huang (<small>B.C.</small> 200) is the burner of books and +reorganizer of China famed in history. Schakiu (Sandhill) was +a city in the western part of the China of that day.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="XXVI" id="XXVI"></a>XXVI<br /> +<br /> +THE GOD OF WAR</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">T</span>HE God of War, Guan Di, was really named Guan +Yu. At the time when the rebellion of the Yellow +Turbans was raging throughout the empire, he, together +with two others whom he met by the wayside, +and who were inspired with the same love of country +which possessed him, made a pact of friendship. One +of the two was Liu Be, afterward emperor, the other +was named Dschang Fe. The three met in a peach-orchard +and swore to be brothers one to the other, although +they were of different families. They sacrificed +a white steed and vowed to be true to each other +to the death.</p> + +<p>Guan Yu was faithful, honest, upright and brave +beyond all measure. He loved to read Confucius’s +“Annals of Lu,” which tell of the rise and fall of empires. +He aided his friend Liu Be to subdue the +Yellow Turbans and to conquer the land of the four +rivers. The horse he rode was known as the Red Hare, +and could run a thousand miles in a day. Guan Yu +had a knife shaped like a half-moon which was called +the Green Dragon. His eyebrows were beautiful like +those of the silk-butterflies, and his eyes were long-slitted +like the eyes of the Phenix. His face was +scarlet-red in color, and his beard so long that it hung +down over his stomach. Once, when he appeared before +the emperor, the latter called him Duke Fairbeard, +and presented him with a silken pocket in which +to place his beard. He wore a garment of green brocade. +Whenever he went into battle he showed +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +invincible bravery. Whether he were opposed by a +thousand armies or by ten thousand horsemen—he attacked +them as though they were merely air.</p> + +<p>Once the evil Tsau Tsau had incited the enemies of +his master, the Emperor, to take the city by treachery. +When Guan Yu heard of it he hastened up with an army +to relieve the town. But he fell into an ambush, +and, together with his son, was brought a captive to +the capital of the enemy’s land. The prince of that +country would have been glad to have had him go over +to his side; but Guan Yu swore that he would not yield +to death himself. Thereupon father and son were +slain. When he was dead, his horse Red Hare ceased +to eat and died. A faithful captain of his, by name +of Dschou Dsang, who was black-visaged and wore a +great knife, had just invested a fortress when the news +of the sad end of the duke reached him. And he, as +well as other faithful followers would not survive their +master, and perished.</p> + +<p>At the time a monk, who was an old compatriot and +acquaintance of Duke Guan was living in the Hills of +the Jade Fountains. He used to walk at night in the +moonlight.</p> + +<p>Suddenly he heard a loud voice cry down out of the +air: “I want my head back again!”</p> + +<p>The monk looked up and saw Duke Guan, sword in +hand, seated on his horse, just as he appeared while +living. And at his right and left hand, shadowy +figures in the clouds, stood his son Guan Ping and his +captain, Dschou Dsang.</p> + +<p>The monk folded his hands and said: “While you +lived you were upright and faithful, and in death you +have become a wise god; and yet you do not understand +fate! If you insist on having your head back +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +again, to whom shall the many thousands of your +enemies who lost their lives through you appeal, in +order to have life restored to them?”</p> + +<p>When he heard this the Duke Guan bowed and disappeared. +Since that time he has been without interruption +spiritually active. Whenever a new dynasty +is founded, his holy form may be seen. For this +reason temples and sacrifices have been instituted for +him, and he has been made one of the gods of the +empire. Like Confucius, he received the great sacrifice +of oxen, sheep and pigs. His rank increases +with the passing of centuries. First he was worshiped +as Prince Guan, later as King Guan, and +then as the great god who conquers the demons. The +last dynasty, finally, worships him as the great, divine +Helper of the Heavens. He is also called the God of +War, and is a strong deliverer in all need, when men +are plagued by devils and foxes. Together with Confucius, +the Master of Peace, he is often worshiped as +the Master of War.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: The Chinese God of War is a historical personality from +the epoch of the three empires, which later joined the Han dynasty, +about 250 <small>A.D.</small> Liu Be founded the “Little Han dynasty” in +Setchuan, with the aid of Guan Yu and Dschang Fe. Guan Yu or +Guan Di, i.e., “God Yuan,” has become one of the most popular +figures in Chinese legend in the course of time, God of War and +deliverer in one and the same person. The talk of the monk with +the God Guan Di in the clouds is based on the Buddhist law of +Karma. Because Guan Di—even though his motives might be good—had +slain other men, he must endure like treatment at their hands, +even while he is a god.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69"><!-- unnumbered page --></a></span></p> + +<h2 class="padtop">TALES OF SAINTS AND MAGICIANS</h2> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70"><!-- blank page --></a></span></p> + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span></p> + +<h3 class="padtop"><a name="XXVII" id="XXVII"></a>XXVII<br /> +<br /> +THE HALOS OF THE SAINTS</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">T</span>HE true gods all have halos around their heads. +When the lesser gods and demons see these halos, +they hide and dare not move. The Master of the +Heavens on the Dragon-Tiger Mountain meets the +gods at all times. One day the God of War came down +to the mountain while the mandarin of the neighboring +district was visiting the Master of the Heavens. The +latter advised the mandarin to withdraw and hide +himself in an inner chamber. Then he went out to +receive the God of War. But the mandarin peeped +through a slit in the door, and he saw the red face and +green garment of the God of War as he stood there, +terrible and awe-inspiring. Suddenly a red halo +flashed up above his head, whose beams penetrated +into the inner chamber so that the mandarin grew +blind in one eye. After a time the God of War went +away again, and the Master of the Heavens accompanied +him. Suddenly Guan Di said, with alarm: +“Confucius is coming! The halo he wears illumines +the whole world. I cannot endure its radiance even a +thousand miles away, so I must hurry and get out of +the way!” And with that he stepped into a cloud +and disappeared. The Master of the Heavens then +told the mandarin what had happened, and added: +“Fortunately you did not see the God of War face to +face! Whoever does not possess the greatest virtue +and the greatest wisdom, would be melted by the red +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +glow of his halo.” So saying he gave him a pill of the +elixir of life to eat, and his blind eye gradually regained +its sight.</p> + +<p>It is also said that scholars wear a red halo around +their heads which devils, foxes and ghosts fear when +they see it.</p> + +<p>There was once a scholar who had a fox for a friend. +The fox came to see him at night, and went walking +with him in the villages. They could enter the houses, +and see all that was going on, without people being any +the wiser. But when at a distance the fox saw a red +halo hanging above a house he would not enter it. The +scholar asked him why not.</p> + +<p>“Those are all celebrated scholars,” answered the +fox. “The greater the halo, the more extensive is +their knowledge. I dread them and do not dare enter +their houses.”</p> + +<p>Then the man said: “But I am a scholar, too! +Have I no halo which makes you fear me, instead of +going walking with me?”</p> + +<p>“There is only a black mist about your head,” +answered the fox. “I have never yet seen it surrounded +by a halo.”</p> + +<p>The scholar was mortified and began to scold him; +but the fox disappeared with a horse-laugh.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: This tale is told as traditionally handed down. The +Master of the Heavens, Tian Schi, who dwells on the Lung Hu Schan, +is the so-called Taoist pope.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="XXVIII" id="XXVIII"></a>XXVIII<br /> +<br /> +LAOTSZE</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">L</span>AOTSZE is really older than heaven and earth put +together. He is the Yellow Lord or Ancient, +who created this world together with the other four. +At various times he has appeared on earth, under various +names. His most celebrated incarnation, however, +is that of Laotsze, “The Old Child,” which name +he was given because he made his appearance on earth +with white hair.</p> + +<p>He acquired all sorts of magic powers by means of +which he extended his life-span. Once he hired a servant +to do his bidding. He agreed to give him a +hundred pieces of copper daily; yet he did not pay him, +and finally he owed him seven million, two hundred +thousand pieces of copper. Then he mounted a black +steer and rode to the West. He wanted to take his +servant along. But when they reached the Han-Gu +pass, the servant refused to go further, and insisted +on being paid. Yet Laotsze gave him nothing.</p> + +<p>When they came to the house of the guardian of the +pass, red clouds appeared in the sky. The guardian +understood this sign and knew that a holy man was +drawing near. So he went out to meet him and took +him into his house. He questioned him with regard to +hidden knowledge, but Laotsze only stuck out his tongue +at him and would not say a word. Nevertheless, the +guardian of the pass treated him with the greatest +respect in his home. Laotsze’s servant told the +servant of the guardian that his master owed him a +great deal of money, and begged the latter to put in a +good word for him. When the guardian’s servant +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +heard how large a sum it was, he was tempted to win +so wealthy a man for a son-in-law, and he married him +to his daughter. Finally the guardian heard of the +matter and came to Laotsze together with the servant. +Then Laotsze said to his servant: “You rascally +servant. You really should have been dead long ago. +I hired you, and since I was poor and could give you no +money, I gave you a life-giving talisman to eat. That +is how you still happen to be alive. I said to you: ‘If +you will follow me into the West, the land of Blessed +Repose, I will pay you your wages in yellow gold. But +you did not wish to do this.’” And with that he +patted his servant’s neck. Thereupon the latter +opened his mouth, and spat out the life-giving talisman. +The magic signs written on it with cinnabar, quite fresh +and well-preserved, might still be seen. But the servant +suddenly collapsed and turned into a heap of dry +bones. Then the guardian of the pass cast himself to +earth and pleaded for him. He promised to pay the +servant for Laotsze and begged the latter to restore +him to life. So Laotsze placed the talisman among the +bones and at once the servant came to life again. The +guardian of the pass paid him his wages and dismissed +him. Then he adored Laotsze as his master, and the +latter taught him the art of eternal life, and left him +his teachings, in five thousand words, which the guardian +wrote down. The book which thus came into being +is the Tao Teh King, “The Book of the Way and Life.” +Laotsze then disappeared from the eyes of men. The +guardian of the pass however, followed his teachings, +and was given a place among the immortals.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: The Taoists like to assert that Laotsze’s journey to the +West was undertaken before the birth of Buddha, who, according +to many, is only a reincarnation of Laotsze. The guardian of the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +Han-Gu pass is mentioned by the name of Guan Yin Hi, in the Lia +Dsi and the Dschuang Dsi.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="XXIX" id="XXIX"></a>XXIX<br /> +<br /> +THE ANCIENT MAN</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>NCE upon a time there was a man named Huang +An. He must have been well over eighty and +yet he looked like a youth. He lived on cinnabar and +wore no clothing. Even in winter he went about +without garments. He sat on a tortoise three feet +long. Once he was asked: “About how old might this +tortoise be?” He answered: “When Fu Hi first invented +fish-nets and eel-pots he caught this tortoise +and gave it to me. And since then I have worn its +shield quite flat sitting on it. The creature dreads the +radiance of the sun and moon, so it only sticks its head +out of its shell once in two thousand years. Since I +have had the beast, it has already stuck its head out +five times.” With these words he took his tortoise on +his back and went off. And the legend arose that this +man was ten thousand years old.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: Cinnabar is frequently used in the preparation of the +elixir of life (comp. No. <a href="#XXX">30</a>). Fu Hi is “the life-breeding breath.” +Tortoises live to a great age.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="XXX" id="XXX"></a>XXX<br /> +<br /> +THE EIGHT IMMORTALS (I)</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">T</span>HERE is a legend which declares that Eight Immortals +dwell in the heavens. The first is +named Dschung Li Kuan. He lived in the time of the +Han dynasty, and discovered the wonderful magic of +golden cinnabar, the philosopher’s stone. He could +melt quicksilver and burn lead and turn them into +yellow gold and white silver. And he could fly through +the air in his human form. He is the chief of the +Eight Immortals.</p> + +<p>The second is named Dschang Go. In primal times +he gained hidden knowledge. It is said that he was +really a white bat, who turned into a man. In the +first days of the Tang dynasty an ancient with a white +beard and a bamboo drum on his back, was seen riding +backward on a black ass in the town of Tschang An. +He beat the drum and sang, and called himself old +Dschang Go. Another legend says that he always had +a white mule with him which could cover a thousand +miles in a single day. When he had reached his destination +he would fold up the animal and put it in his +trunk. When he needed it again, he would sprinkle +water on it with his mouth, and the beast would regain +its first shape.</p> + +<p>The third is named Lu Yuan or Lu Dung Bin (The +Mountain Guest). His real name was Li, and he belonged +to the ruling Tang dynasty. But when the +Empress Wu seized the throne and destroyed the Li +family to almost the last man, he fled with his wife into +the heart of the mountains. They changed their names +to Lu, and, since they lived in hiding in the caverns in +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> +the rocks, he called himself the Mountain Guest or the +Guest of the Rocks. He lived on air and ate no bread. +Yet he was fond of flowers. And in the course of time +he acquired the hidden wisdom.</p> + +<p>In Lo Yang, the capital city, the peonies bloomed +with special luxuriance. And there dwelt a flower +fairy, who changed herself into a lovely maiden with +whom Guest of the Rocks, when he came to Lo Yang, +was wont to converse. Suddenly along came the +Yellow Dragon, who had taken the form of a handsome +youth. He mocked the flower fairy. Guest of +the Rocks grew furious and cast his flying sword at +him, cutting off his head. From that time onward he +fell back again into the world of mundane pleasure and +death. He sank down into the dust of the diurnal, and +was no longer able to wing his way to the upper regions. +Later he met Dschung Li Kuan, who delivered him, +and then he was taken up in the ranks of the +Immortals.</p> + +<p>Willowelf was his disciple. This was an old willow-tree +which had drawn into itself the most ethereal +powers of the sunrays and the moonbeams, and had +thus been able to assume the shape of a human being. +His face is blue and he has red hair. Guest of the +Rocks received him as a disciple. Emperors and kings +of future times honor Guest of the Rocks as the ancestor +and master of the pure sun. The people call +him Grandfather Lu. He is very wise and powerful. +And therefore the people still stream into Grandfather +Lu’s temples to obtain oracles and pray for good luck. +If you want to know whether you will be successful or +not in an undertaking, go to the temple, light incense +and bow your head to earth. On the altar is a +bamboo goblet, in which are some dozens of little lottery +sticks. You must shake them while kneeling, until +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +one of the sticks flies out. On the lottery-stick is inscribed +a number. This number must then be looked +up in the Book of Oracles, where it is accompanied by a +four-line stanza. It is said that fortune and misfortune, +strange to think, occur to one just as foretold by +the oracle.</p> + +<p>The fourth Immortal is Tsau Guo Gui (Tsau the +Uncle of the State). He was the younger brother of +the Empress Tsau, who for a time ruled the land. For +this reason he was called the Uncle of the State. From +his earliest youth he had been a lover of the hidden +wisdom. Riches and honors were no more to him than +dust. It was Dschung Li Kuan who aided him to become +immortal.</p> + +<p>The fifth is called Lan Tsai Ho. Nothing is known +of his true name, his time nor his family. He was often +seen in the market-place, clad in a torn blue robe and +wearing only a single shoe, beating a block of wood +and singing the nothingness of life.</p> + +<p>The sixth Immortal is known as Li Tia Guai (Li +with the iron crutch). He lost his parents in early +youth and was brought up in his older brother’s home. +His sister-in-law treated him badly and never gave him +enough to eat. Because of this he fled into the hills, +and there learned the hidden wisdom.</p> + +<p>Once he returned in order to see his brother, and said +to his sister-in-law: “Give me something to eat!” She +answered: “There is no kindling wood on hand!” +He replied: “You need only to prepare the rice. I +can use my leg for kindling wood, only you must not +say that the fire might injure me, and if you do not no +harm will be done.”</p> + +<p>His sister-in-law wished to see his art, so she poured +the rice into the pot. Li stretched one of his legs out +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +under it and lit it. The flames leaped high and the leg +burned like coal.</p> + +<p>When the rice was nearly boiled his sister-in-law +said: “Won’t your leg be injured?”</p> + +<p>And Li replied angrily: “Did I not warn you not +to say anything! Then no harm would have been done. +Now one of my legs is lamed.” With these words he +took an iron poker and fashioned it into a crutch for +himself. Then he hung a bottle-gourd on his back, and +went into the hills to gather medicinal herbs. And +that is why he is known as Li with the Iron Crutch.</p> + +<p>It is also told of him that he often was in the habit +of ascending into the heavens in the spirit to visit his +master Laotsze. Before he left he would order a +disciple to watch his body and soul within it, so that +the latter did not escape. Should seven days have +gone by without his spirit returning, then he would +allow his soul to leave the empty tenement. Unfortunately, +after six days had passed, the disciple +was called to the death-bed of his mother, and when +the master’s spirit returned on the evening of the +seventh day, the life had gone out of its body. Since +there was no place for his spirit in his own body, in +his despair he seized upon the first handy body from +which the vital essence had not yet dispersed. It was +the body of a neighbor, a lame cripple, who had just +died, so that from that time on the master appeared in +his form.</p> + +<p>The seventh Immortal is called Hang Siang Dsi. +He was the nephew of the famous Confucian scholar +Han Yu, of the Tang dynasty. From his earliest +youth he cultivated the arts of the deathless gods, left +his home and became a Taoist. Grandfather Lu +awakened him and raised him to the heavenly world. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +Once he saved his uncle’s life. The latter had been +driven from court, because he had objected when the +emperor sent for a bone of Buddha with great pomp. +When he reached the Blue Pass in his flight, a deep +snowfall had made the road impassable. His horse +had floundered in a snow-drift, and he himself was +well-nigh frozen. Then Hang Siang Dsi suddenly appeared, +helped him and his horse out of the drift, and +brought them safely to the nearest inn along the Blue +Pass. Han Yu sang a verse, in which the lines +occurred:</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Tsin Ling Hill ’mid clouds doth lie,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And home is far, beyond my sight!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Round the Blue Pass snow towers high,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And who will lead the horse aright?<br /></span> +</div> +</div> + +<p>Suddenly it occurred to him that several years before, +Hang Siang Dsi had come to his house to congratulate +him on his birthday. Before he had left, he had written +these words on a slip of paper, and his uncle had read +them, without grasping their meaning. And now he +was unconsciously singing the very lines of that song +that his nephew had written. So he said to Hang +Siang Dsi, with a sigh: “You must be one of the Immortals, +since you were able thus to foretell the +future!”</p> + +<p>And thrice Hang Siang Dsi sought to deliver his +wife from the bonds of earth. For when he left his +home to seek the hidden wisdom, she sat all day long +yearning for his presence. Hang Siang Dsi wished to +release her into immortality, but he feared she was not +capable of translation. So he appeared to her in +various forms, in order to try her, once as a beggar, +another time as a wandering monk. But his wife did +not grasp her opportunities. At last he took the shape +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> +of a lame Taoist, who sat on a mat, beat a block of wood +and read sutras before the house.</p> + +<p>His wife said: “My husband is not at home. I can +give you nothing.”</p> + +<p>The Taoist answered: “I do not want your gold +and silver, I want you. Sit down beside me on the mat, +and we will fly up into the air and you shall find your +husband again!”</p> + +<p>Hereupon the woman grew angry and struck at him +with a cudgel.</p> + +<p>Then Hang Siang Dsi changed himself into his true +form, stepped on a shining cloud and was carried aloft. +His wife looked after him and wept loudly; but he had +disappeared and was not seen again.</p> + +<p>The eighth Immortal is a girl and was called Ho Sian +Gu. She was a peasant’s daughter, and though her +step-mother treated her harshly she remained respectful +and industrious. She loved to give alms, though +her step-mother tried to prevent her. Yet she was +never angry, even when her step-mother beat her. +She had sworn not to marry, and at last her step-mother +did not know what to do with her. One day, +while she was cooking rice, Grandfather Du came and +delivered her. She was still holding the rice-spoon in +her hand as she ascended into the air. In the heavens +she was appointed to sweep up the fallen flowers at +the Southern Gate of Heaven.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: The legends of the Eight Immortals, regarded as one +group, do not go back further than the Manchu dynasty, though +individual ones among them were known before. Some of the +Immortals, like Han Siang Dsi, are historic personages, others +purely mythical. In the present day they play an important part +in art and in the art-crafts. Their emblems also occur frequently: +Dschung Li Kuan is represented with a fan. Dschang Go has a +bamboo drum with two drum-sticks (and his donkey). Lu Dung +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +Bin has a sword and a flower-basket on his back. Tsau Guo Gui +has two small boards, (Yin Yang Ban), which he can throw into +the air. Li Tia Guai has the bottle-gourd, out of which emerges a +bat, the emblem of good fortune. Lan Tsai Ho, who is also pictured as +a woman, has a flute. Han Siang Dsi has a flower-basket and a +dibble. Ho Sian Gu has a spoon, usually formed in the shape of +a lotus-flower.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="XXXI" id="XXXI"></a>XXXI<br /> +<br /> +THE EIGHT IMMORTALS (II)</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>NCE upon a time there was a poor man, who at +last had no roof to shelter him and not a bite to +eat. So, weary and worn, he lay down beside a little +temple of the field-god that stood by the roadside and +fell asleep. And he dreamed that the old, white-bearded +field-god came out of his little shrine and +said to him: “I know of a means to help you! To-morrow +the Eight Immortals will pass along this road. +Cast yourself down before them and plead to them!”</p> + +<p>When the man awoke he seated himself beneath the +great tree beside the field-god’s little temple, and waited +all day long for his dream to come true. At last, when +the sun had nearly sunk, eight figures came down the +road, which the beggar clearly recognized as those of +the Eight Immortals. Seven of them were hurrying +as fast as they could, but one among them, who had a +lame leg, limped along after the rest. Before him—it +was Li Tia Guai—the man cast himself to earth. But +the lame Immortal did not want to bother with him, and +told him to go away. Yet the poor man would not give +over pleading with him, begging that he might go with +them and be one of the Immortals, too. That would be +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> +impossible, said the cripple. Yet, as the poor man did +not cease his prayers and would not leave him, he at +last said: “Very well, then, take hold of my coat!” +This the man did and off they went in flying haste over +paths and fields, on and on, and even further on. Suddenly +they stood together high up on the tower of Pong-lai-schan, +the ghost mountain by the Eastern Sea. +And, lo, there stood the rest of the Immortals as well! +But they were very discontented with the companion +whom Li Tia Guai had brought along. Yet since the +poor man pleaded so earnestly, they too allowed themselves +to be moved, and said to him: “Very well! We +will now leap down into the sea. If you follow us you +may also become an Immortal!” And one after another +the seven leaped down into the sea. But when it +came to the man’s turn he was frightened, and would +not dare the leap. Then the cripple said to him: “If +you are afraid, then you cannot become an Immortal!”</p> + +<p>“But what shall I do now?” wailed the man, “I am +far from my home and have no money!” The cripple +broke off a fragment of the battlement of the tower, +and thrust it into the man’s hand; then he also leaped +from the tower and disappeared into the sea like his +seven companions.</p> + +<p>When the man examined the stone in his hand more +closely, he saw that it was the purest silver. It +provided him with traveling money during the many +weeks it took him to reach his home. But by that time +the silver was completely used up, and he found himself +just as poor as he had been before.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: Little field-god temples, Tu Di Miau, are miniature stone +chapels which stand before every village. As regards the field-god, +see No. <a href="#LI">51</a>.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="XXXII" id="XXXII"></a>XXXII<br /> +<br /> +THE TWO SCHOLARS</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>NCE upon a time there were two scholars. One +was named Liu Tschen and the other Yuan +Dschau. Both were young and handsome. One spring +day they went together into the hills of Tian Tai to +gather curative herbs. There they came to a little +valley where peach-trees blossomed luxuriantly on +either side. In the middle of the valley was a cave, +where two maidens stood under the blossoming trees, +one of them clad in red garments, the other in green. +And they were beautiful beyond all telling. They +beckoned to the scholars with their hands.</p> + +<p>“And have you come?” they asked. “We have been +waiting for you overlong!”</p> + +<p>Then they led them into the cave and served them +with tea and wine.</p> + +<p>“I have been destined for the lord Liu,” said +the maiden in the red gown; “and my sister is for the +lord Yuan!”</p> + +<p>And so they were married. Every day the two +scholars gazed at the flowers or played chess so that +they forgot the mundane world completely. They only +noticed that at times the peach-blossoms on the trees +before the cave opened, and at others that they fell +from the boughs. And, at times, unexpectedly, they +felt cold or warm, and had to change the clothing they +were wearing. And they marveled within themselves +that it should be so.</p> + +<p>Then, one day, they were suddenly overcome by +homesickness. Both maidens were already aware of it.</p> + +<p>“When our lords have once been seized with +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> +homesickness, then we may hold them no longer,” said they.</p> + +<p>On the following day they prepared a farewell +banquet, gave the scholars magic wine to take along +with them and said:</p> + +<p>“We will see one another again. Now go your way!”</p> + +<p>And the scholars bade them farewell with tears.</p> + +<p>When they reached home the gates and doors had +long since vanished, and the people of the village were +all strangers to them. They crowded about the +scholars and asked who they might be.</p> + +<p>“We are Liu Tschen and Yuan Dschau. Only a few +days ago we went into the hills to pick herbs!”</p> + +<p>With that a servant came hastening up and looked +at them. At last he fell at Liu Tschen’s feet with +great joy and cried: “Yes, you are really my master! +Since you went away, and we had no news of any kind +regarding you some seventy years or more have +passed.”</p> + +<p>Thereupon he drew the scholar Liu through a high +gateway, ornamented with bosses and a ring in a +lion’s mouth, as is the custom in the dwellings of those +of high estate.</p> + +<p>And when he entered the hall, an old lady with white +hair and bent back, leaning on a cane, came forward +and asked: “What man is this?”</p> + +<p>“Our master has returned again,” replied the servant. +And then, turning to Liu he added: “That +is the mistress. She is nearly a hundred years old, +but fortunately is still strong and in good health.”</p> + +<p>Tears of joy and sadness filled the old lady’s eyes.</p> + +<p>“Since you went away among the immortals, I had +thought that we should never see each other again in +this life,” said she. “What great good fortune that +you should have returned after all!”</p> + +<p>And before she had ended the whole family, men +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> +and women, came streaming up and welcomed him in +a great throng outside the hall.</p> + +<p>And his wife pointed out this one and that and said: +“That is so and so, and this is so and so!”</p> + +<p>At the time the scholar had disappeared there had +been only a tiny boy in his home, but a few years old. +And he was now an old man of eighty. He had served +the empire in a high office, and had already retired to +enjoy his old age in the ancestral gardens. There +were three grand-children, all celebrated ministers; +there were more than ten great-grand-children, of whom +five had already passed their examinations for the +doctorate; there were some twenty great-great-grand-children, +of whom the oldest had just returned home +after having passed his induction examinations for the +magistracy with honor. And the little ones, who were +carried in their parents’ arms, were not to be counted. +The grand-children, who were away, busy with their +duties, all asked for leave and returned home when +they heard that their ancestor had returned. And the +girl grand-children, who had married into other families, +also came. This filled Liu with joy, and he had a +family banquet prepared in the hall, and all his descendants, +with their wives and husbands sat about +him in a circle. He himself and his wife, a white-haired, +wrinkled old lady, sat in their midst at the upper +end. The scholar himself still looked like a youth +of twenty years, so that all the young people in the +circle looked around and laughed.</p> + +<p>Then the scholar said: “I have a means of driving +away old age!”</p> + +<p>And he drew out his magic wine and gave his wife +some of it to drink. And when she had taken three +glasses, her white hair gradually turned black again, +her wrinkles disappeared, and she sat beside her +husband, a handsome young woman. Then his son and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +the older grand-children came up and all asked for a +drink of the wine. And whichever of them drank only +so much as a drop of it was turned from an old man +into a youth. The tale was bruited abroad and came +to the emperor’s ears. The emperor wanted to call Liu +to his court, but he declined with many thanks. Yet he +sent the emperor some of his magic wine as a gift. +This pleased the emperor greatly, and he gave Liu a +tablet of honor, with the inscription:</p> + +<p class="center">“The Common Home of Five Generations”</p> + +<p>Besides this he sent him three signs which he had written +with his own imperial brush signifying:</p> + +<p class="center">“Joy in longevity”</p> + +<p>As to the other of the two scholars, Yuan Dschau, he +was not so fortunate. When he came home he found +that his wife and child had long since died, and his +grand-children and great-grand-children were mostly +useless people. So he did not remain long, but returned +to the hills. Yet Liu Tschen remained for +some years with his family, then taking his wife with +him, went again to the Tai Hills and was seen no more.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: This tale is placed in the reign of the Emperor Ming Di +(<small>A.D.</small> 58-75). Its motive is that of the legend of the Seven Sleepers, +and is often found in Chinese fairy tales.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="XXXIII" id="XXXIII"></a>XXXIII<br /> +<br /> +THE MISERLY FARMER</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>NCE upon a time there was a farmer who had +carted pears to market. Since they were very +sweet and fragrant, he hoped to get a good price for +them. A bonze with a torn cap and tattered robe +stepped up to his cart and asked for one. The farmer +repulsed him, but the bonze did not go. Then the +farmer grew angry and began to call him names. The +bonze said: “You have pears by the hundred in your +cart. I only ask for one. Surely that does you no +great injury. Why suddenly grow so angry about +it?”</p> + +<p>The bystanders told the farmer that he ought to +give the bonze one of the smaller pears and let him go. +But the farmer would not and did not. An artisan +saw the whole affair from his shop, and since the +noise annoyed him, he took some money, bought a pear +and gave it to the bonze.</p> + +<p>The bonze thanked him and said: “One like myself, +who has given up the world, must not be miserly. +I have beautiful pears myself, and I invite you all to +eat them with me.” Then some one asked: “If you +have pears then why do you not eat your own?” He +answered: “I first must have a seed to plant.”</p> + +<p>And with that he began to eat the pear with gusto. +When he had finished, he held the pit in his hand, +took his pick-ax from his shoulder; and dug a hole +a couple of inches deep. Into this he thrust the pit, and +covered it with earth. Then he asked the folk in the +market place for water, with which to water it. A +pair of curiosity seekers brought him hot water from +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> +the hostelry in the street, and with it the bonze +watered the pit. Thousands of eyes were turned on +the spot. And the pit could already be seen to sprout. +The sprout grew and in a moment it had turned into a +tree. Branches and leaves burgeoned out from it. It +began to blossom and soon the fruit had ripened: +large, fragrant pears, which hung in thick clusters +from the boughs. The bonze climbed into the tree and +handed down the pears to the bystanders. In a moment +all the pears had been eaten up. Then the bonze +took his pick-ax and cut down the tree. Crash, crash! +so it went for a while, and the tree was felled. Then +he took the tree on his shoulder and walked away at an +easy gait.</p> + +<p>When the bonze had begun to make his magic, the +farmer, too, had mingled with the crowd. With neck +outstretched and staring eyes he had stood there +and had entirely forgotten the business he hoped to do +with his pears. When the bonze had gone off he +turned around to look after his cart. His pears had +all disappeared. Then he realized that the pears the +bonze had divided had been his own. He looked more +closely, and the axle of his cart had disappeared. It +was plainly evident that it had been chopped off quite +recently. The farmer fell into a rage and hastened +after the bonze as fast as ever he could. And when he +turned the corner, there lay the missing piece from the +axle by the city wall. And then he realized that the +pear-tree which the bonze had chopped down must +have been his axle. The bonze, however, was nowhere +to be found. And the whole crowd in the market +burst out into loud laughter.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: The axle in China is really a handle, for the little Chinese +carts are one-wheel push-carts with two handles or shafts.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="XXXIV" id="XXXIV"></a>XXXIV<br /> +<br /> +SKY O’DAWN</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>NCE upon a time there was a man who took a +child to a woman in a certain village, and told +her to take care of him. Then he disappeared. And +because the dawn was just breaking in the sky when +the woman took the child into her home, she called +him Sky O’Dawn. When the child was three years +old, he would often look up to the heavens and talk +with the stars. One day he ran away and many +months passed before he came home again. The +woman gave him a whipping. But he ran away again, +and did not return for a year. His foster-mother was +frightened, and asked: “Where have you been all +year long?” The boy answered: “I only made a +quick trip to the Purple Sea. There the water stained +my clothes red. So I went to the spring at which the +sun turns in, and washed them. I went away in the +morning and I came back at noon. Why do you speak +about my having been gone a year?”</p> + +<p>Then the woman asked: “And where did you pass +on your way?”</p> + +<p>The boy answered: “When I had washed my +clothes, I rested for a while in the City of the Dead and +fell asleep. And the King-Father of the East gave me +red chestnuts and rosy dawn-juice to eat, and my hunger +was stilled. Then I went to the dark skies and +drank the yellow dew, and my thirst was quenched. +And I met a black tiger and wanted to ride home on +his back. But I whipped him too hard, and he bit me +in the leg. And so I came back to tell you about it.”</p> + +<div class="figcenter ipadtop" style="width: 434px;"> +<a name="water_shoe" id="water_shoe"></a> +<img src="images/cfb06.jpg" width="434" height="600" +alt="The boy paddles the shoe down the river" /> +<p class="caption">“‘AND I CROSSED THE WATER ON THE SHOE.’”</p> +<p class="subcapt">—<i>Page <a href="#Page_91">91</a></i></p> +</div> + +<p>Once more the boy ran away from home, thousands +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> +of miles, until he came to the swamp where dwelt the +Primal Mist. There he met an old man with yellow +eyebrows and asked him how old he might be. The +old man said: “I have given up the habit of eating, +and live on air. The pupils of my eyes have gradually +acquired a green glow, which enables me to see all hidden +things. Whenever a thousand years have passed I +turn around my bones and wash the marrow. And +every two thousand years I scrape my skin to get rid +of the hair. I have already washed my bones thrice +and scraped my skin five times.”</p> + +<p>Afterward Sky O’Dawn served the Emperor Wu +of the Han dynasty. The Emperor, who was fond of +the magic arts, was much attached to him. One day he +said to him: “I wish that the empress might not grow +old. Can you prevent it?”</p> + +<p>Sky O’Dawn answered: “I know of only one means +to keep from growing old.”</p> + +<p>The Emperor asked what herbs one had to eat. Sky +O’Dawn replied: “In the North-East grow the mushrooms +of life. There is a three-legged crow in the +sun who always wants to get down and eat them. But +the Sun-God holds his eyes shut and does not let him +get away. If human beings eat them they become +immortal, when animals eat them they grow stupefied.”</p> + +<p>“And how do you know this?” asked the Emperor.</p> + +<p>“When I was a boy I once fell into a deep well, from +which I could not get out for many decades. And down +there was an immortal who led me to this herb. But +one has to pass through a red river whose water is +so light that not even a feather can swim on it. Everything +that touches its surface sinks to the depths. But +the man pulled off one of his shoes and gave it to me. +And I crossed the water on the shoe, picked the herb +and ate it. Those who dwell in that place weave mats +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> +of pearls and precious stones. They led me to a spot +before which hung a curtain of delicate, colored skin. +And they gave me a pillow carved of black jade, on +which were graven sun and moon, clouds and thunder. +They covered me with a dainty coverlet spun of the +hair of a hundred gnats. A cover of that kind is very +cool and refreshing in summer. I felt of it with my +hands, and it seemed to be formed of water; but when I +looked at it more closely, it was pure light.”</p> + +<p>Once the Emperor called together all his magicians +in order to talk with them about the fields of the blessed +spirits. Sky O’Dawn was there, too, and said: +“Once I was wandering about the North Pole and I +came to the Fire-Mirror Mountain. There neither +sun nor moon shines. But there is a dragon who holds +a fiery mirror in his jaws in order to light up the darkness. +On the mountain is a park, and in the park is +a lake. By the lake grows the glimmer-stalk grass, +which shines like a lamp of gold. If you pluck it and +use it for a candle, you can see all things visible, and +the shapes of the spirits as well. It even illuminates +the interior of a human being.”</p> + +<p>Once Sky O’Dawn went to the East, into the country +of the fortunate clouds. And he brought back with +him from that land a steed of the gods, nine feet high. +The Emperor asked him how he had come to find it.</p> + +<p>So he told him: “The Queen-Mother of the West +had him harnessed to her wagon when she went to +visit the King-Father of the East. The steed was +staked out in the field of the mushrooms of life. But +he trampled down several hundred of them. This made +the King-Father angry, and he drove the steed away +to the heavenly river. There I found him and rode +him home. I rode three times around the sun, because +I had fallen asleep on the steed’s back. And then, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +before I knew it, I was here. This steed can catch up +with the sun’s shadow. When I found him he was +quite thin and as sad as an aged donkey. So I mowed +the grass of the country of the fortunate clouds, which +grows once every two-thousand years on the Mountain +of the Nine Springs and fed it to the horse; and that +made him lively again.”</p> + +<p>The Emperor asked what sort of a place the country +of the fortunate clouds might be. Sky O’Dawn +answered: “There is a great swamp there. The people +prophesy fortune and misfortune by the air and the +clouds. If good fortune is to befall a house, clouds +of five colors form in the rooms, which alight on the +grass and trees and turn into a colored dew. This dew +tastes as sweet as cider.”</p> + +<p>The Emperor asked whether he could obtain any of +this dew. Sky O’Dawn replied: “My steed could +take me to the place where it falls four times in the +course of a single day!”</p> + +<p>And sure enough he came back by evening, and +brought along dew of every color in a crystal flask. +The Emperor drank it and his hair grew black again. +He gave it to his highest officials to drink, and the old +grew young again and the sick became well.</p> + +<p>Once, when a comet appeared in the heavens, Sky +O’Dawn gave the Emperor the astrologer’s wand. +The Emperor pointed it at the comet and the comet +was quenched.</p> + +<p>Sky O’Dawn was an excellent whistler. And whenever +he whistled in full tones, long drawn out, the +motes in the sunbeams danced to his music.</p> + +<p>Once he said to a friend: “There is not a soul on +earth who knows who I am with the exception of the +astrologer!”</p> + +<p>When Sky O’Dawn had died, the Emperor called +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> +the astrologer to him and asked: “Did you know +Sky O’Dawn?”</p> + +<p>He replied: “No!”</p> + +<p>The Emperor said: “What do you know?”</p> + +<p>The astrologer answered: “I know how to gaze on +the stars.”</p> + +<p>“Are all the stars in their places?” asked the +Emperor.</p> + +<p>“Yes, but for eighteen years I have not seen the Star +of the Great Year. Now it is visible once more.”</p> + +<p>Then the Emperor looked up towards the skies and +sighed: “For eighteen years Sky O’Dawn kept me +company, and I did not know that he was the Star of +the Great Year!”</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: The mother of Sky O’Dawn, (Dung Fang So) who makes +so mysterious an appearance on earth, according to one tradition, +is the third daughter of the Lord of the Heavens. (Comp. Note to +No. <a href="#XVI">16</a>). Dung Fang So is an incarnation of the Wood Star or Star +of the Great Year (Jupiter). The King-Father of the East, one of +the Five Ancients, is the representative of wood (comp. No. <a href="#XV">15</a>). +Red chestnuts, like fire-dates, are fruits of the gods, and bestow +immortality. Sky O’Dawn was an excellent whistler. Whistling +is a famous means of magic among the Taoists. The Emperor Wu +of the Han dynasty, was a prince who is reputed to have devoted +much attention to the magic arts. He reigned from 140 to 86 <small>B.C.</small> +The three-legged crow in the sun is the counterpart of the three-legged +ram-toad in the moon. The Red River recalls the Weak +River by the Castle of the Queen-Mother of the West.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="XXXV" id="XXXV"></a>XXXV<br /> +<br /> +KING MU OF DSCHOU</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">I</span>N the days of King Mu of Dschou a magician came +out of the uttermost West, who could walk +through water and fire, and pass through metal and +stone. He could make mountains and rivers change +place, shift about cities and castles, rise into emptiness +without falling, strike against solid matter without +finding it an obstruction; and he knew a thousand transformations +in all their inexhaustible variety. And he +could not only change the shape of things but he could +change men’s thoughts. The King honored him like a +god, and served him as he would a master. He resigned +his own apartments that the magician might be lodged +in them, had beasts of sacrifice brought to offer him, +and selected sweet singers to give him pleasure. But +the rooms in the King’s palace were too humble—the +magician could not dwell in them; and the King’s singers +were not musical enough to be allowed to be near +him. So King Mu had a new palace built for him. +The work of bricklayers and carpenters, of painters +and stainers left nothing to be desired with regard to +skill. The King’s treasury was empty when the tower +had reached its full height. It was a thousand fathoms +high, and rose above the top of the mountain before the +capital. The King selected maidens, the loveliest and +most dainty, gave them fragrant essences, had their +eyebrows curved in lines of beauty, and adorned their +hair and ears with jewels. He garbed them in fine +cloth, and with white silks fluttering about them, and +had their faces painted white and their eyebrows +stained black. He had them put on armlets of precious +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +stones and mix sweet-smelling herbs. They filled the +palace and sang the songs of the ancient kings in order +to please the magician. Every month the most costly +garments were brought him, and every morning the +most delicate food. The magician allowed them to do +so, and since he had no choice, made the best of it.</p> + +<p>Not long afterward the magician invited the King to +go traveling with him. The King grasped the magician’s +sleeve, and thus they flew up through the air to +the middle of the skies. When they stopped they found +they had reached the palace of the magician. It was +built of gold and silver, and adorned with pearls and +precious stones. It towered high over the clouds and +rain; and none could say whereon it rested. To the eye +it had the appearance of heaped-up clouds. All that it +offered the senses was different from the things of the +world of men. It seemed to the King as though he were +bodily present in the midst of the purple depths of the +city of the air, of the divine harmony of the spheres, +where the Great God dwells. The King looked down, +and his castles and pleasure-houses appeared to him +like hills of earth and heaps of straw. And there the +King remained for some decades and thought no more +of his kingdom.</p> + +<p>Then the magician again invited the King to go traveling +with him once more. And in the place to which +they came there was to be seen neither sun nor moon +above, nor rivers or sea below. The King’s dazzled +eyes could not see the radiant shapes which showed +themselves; the King’s dulled ears could not hear the +sounds which played about them. It seemed as though +his body were dissolving in confusion; his thoughts +began to stray, and consciousness threatened to leave +him. So he begged the magician to return. The magician +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> +put his spell upon him, and it seemed to the King +as though he were falling into empty space.</p> + +<p>When he regained consciousness, he was sitting at the +same place where he had been sitting when the magician +had asked him to travel with him for the first +time. The servants waiting on him were the same, +and when he looked down, his goblet was not yet +empty, and his food had not yet grown cold.</p> + +<p>The King asked what had happened. And the servants +answered, “The King sat for a space in silence.” +Whereupon the King was quite bereft of reason, +and it was three months before he regained his right +mind. Then he questioned the magician. The magician +said: “I was traveling with you in the spirit, O +King! What need was there for the body to go along? +And the place in which we stayed at that time was +no less real than your own castle and your own +gardens. But you are used only to permanent conditions, +therefore visions which dissolve so suddenly +appear strange to you.”</p> + +<p>The King was content with the explanation. He +gave no further thought to the business of government +and took no more interest in his servants, but resolved +to travel afar. So he had the eight famous steeds +harnessed, and accompanied by a few faithful retainers, +drove a thousand miles away. There he came +to the country of the great hunters. The great hunters +brought the King the blood of the white brant to drink, +and washed his feet in the milk of mares and cows. +When the King and his followers had quenched their +thirst, they drove on and camped for the night on the +slope of the Kunlun Mountain, south of the Red River. +The next day they climbed to the peak of Kunlun Mountain +and gazed at the castle of the Lord of the Yellow +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> +Earth. Then they traveled on to the Queen-Mother +of the West. Before they got there they had to pass +the Weak River. This is a river whose waters will +bear neither floats nor ships. All that attempts to +float over it sinks into its depths. When the King +reached the shore, fish and turtles, crabs and salamanders +came swimming up and formed a bridge, +so that he could drive across with the wagon.</p> + +<p>It is said of the Queen-Mother of the West that she +goes about with hair unkempt, with a bird’s beak and +tiger’s teeth, and that she is skilled in playing the flute. +Yet this is not her true figure, but that of a spirit who +serves her, and rules over the Western sky. The +Queen-Mother entertained King Mu in her castle by +the Springs of Jade. And she gave him rock-marrow +to drink and fed him with the fruit of the jade-trees. +Then she sang him a song and taught him a magic +formula by means of which one could obtain long life. +The Queen-Mother of the West gathers the immortals +around her, and gives them to eat of the peaches of +long life; and then they come to her with wagons with +purple canopies, drawn by flying dragons. Ordinary +mortals sink in the Weak River when they try to cross. +But she was kindly disposed to King Mu.</p> + +<p>When he took leave of her, he also went on to the +spot where the sun turns in after running three thousand +miles a day. Then he returned again to his +kingdom.</p> + +<p>When King Mu was a hundred years old, the Queen-Mother +of the West drew near his palace and led him +away with her into the clouds.</p> + +<p>And from that day on he was seen no more.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: King Mu of Dschou reigned from 1001 to 946 <small>B.C.</small> +With his name are associated the stories of the marvelous travels +into the land of the far West, and especially to the Queen-Mother +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> +(who is identified by some with Juno). The peaches of immortality +suggest the apples of the Hesperides. (Comp. with the story of +“The Ape Sun Wu Kung.”)</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="XXXVI" id="XXXVI"></a>XXXVI<br /> +<br /> +THE KING OF HUAI NAN</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">T</span>HE King of Huai Nan was a learned man of the +Han dynasty. Since he was of the blood royal +the emperor had given him a kingdom in fee. He cultivated +the society of scholars, could interpret signs +and foretell the future. Together with his scholars +he had compiled the book which bears his name.</p> + +<p>One day eight aged men came to see him. They all +had white beards and white hair. The gate-keeper +announced them to the King. The King wished to try +them, so he sent back the gate-keeper to put difficulties +in the way of their entrance. The latter said to them: +“Our King is striving to learn the art of immortal +life. You gentlemen are old and feeble. How can +you be of aid to him? It is unnecessary for you to pay +him a visit.”</p> + +<p>The eight old men smiled and said: “Oh, and are +we too old to suit you? Well, then we will make ourselves +young!” And before they had finished speaking +they had turned themselves into boys of fourteen +and fifteen, with hair-knots as black as silk and faces +like peach-blossoms. The gate-keeper was frightened, +and at once informed the King of what had happened. +When the King heard it, he did not even take time to +slip into his shoes, but hurried out barefoot to receive +them. He led them into his palace, had rugs of brocade +spread for them, and beds of ivory set up, fragrant +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +herbs burned and tables of gold and precious stones +set in front of them. Then he bowed before them as +pupils do before a teacher, and told them how glad he +was that they had come.</p> + +<p>The eight boys changed into old men again and said: +“Do you wish to go to school to us, O King? Each one +of us is master of a particular art. One of us can call +up wind and rain, cause clouds and mists to gather, +rivers to flow and mountains to heave themselves up, +if he wills it so. The second can cause high mountains +to split asunder and check great streams in their +course. He can tame tigers and panthers and soothe +serpents and dragons. Spirits and gods do his bidding. +The third can send out doubles, transform himself +into other shapes, make himself invisible, cause +whole armies to disappear, and turn day into night. +The fourth can walk through the air and clouds, can +stroll on the surface of the waves, pass through walls +and rocks and cover a thousand miles in a single +breath. The fifth can enter fire without burning, and +water without drowning. The winter frost cannot +chill him, nor the summer heat burn him. The sixth +can create and transform living creatures if he feel inclined. +He can form birds and beasts, grasses and +trees. He can transplace houses and castles. The +seventh can bake lime so that it turns to gold, and cook +lead so that it turns to silver; he can mingle water and +stone so that the bubbles effervesce and turn into +pearls. The eighth can ride on dragons and cranes to +the eight poles of the world, converse with the immortals, +and stand in the presence of the Great Pure +One.”</p> + +<p>The King kept them beside him from morning to +night, entertained them and had them show him what +they could do. And, true enough, they could do everything +just as they had said. And now the King began +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> +to distil the elixir of life with their aid. He had finished, +but not yet imbibed it when a misfortune overtook +his family. His son had been playing with a +courtier and the latter had heedlessly wounded him. +Fearing that the prince might punish him, he joined +other discontented persons and excited a revolt. And +the emperor, when he heard of it, sent one of his +captains to judge between the King and the rebels.</p> + +<p>The eight aged men spoke: “It is now time to go. +This misfortune has been sent you from heaven, O +King! Had it not befallen you, you would not have +been able to resolve to leave the splendors and glories +of this world!”</p> + +<p>They led him on to a mountain. There they offered +sacrifices to heaven, and buried gold in the earth. +Then they ascended into the skies in bright daylight. +The footprints of the eight aged men and of the king +were imprinted in the rock of the mountain, and may be +seen there to this very day. Before they had left the +castle, however, they had set what was left of the elixir +of life out in the courtyard. Hens and hounds picked +and licked it up, and all flew up into the skies. In Huai +Nan to this very day the crowing of cocks and the +barking of hounds may be heard up in the skies, +and it is said that these are the creatures who followed +the King at the time.</p> + +<p>One of the King’s servants, however, followed him +to an island in the sea, whence he sent him back. He +told that the King himself had not yet ascended to the +skies, but had only become immortal and was wandering +about the world. When the emperor heard of the +matter he regretted greatly that he had sent soldiers +into the King’s land and thus driven him out. He +called in magicians to aid him, in hope of meeting the +eight old men himself. Yet, for all that he spent great +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +sums, he was not successful. The magicians only +cheated him.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: The King of Huai Nan was named Liu An. He belonged +to the Han dynasty. He dabbled largely in magic, and +drew to his court many magicians whose labors are collected in the +philosophical work which bears his name. Liu An lived at the time +of the Emperor Wu (see No. <a href="#XXXIV">34</a>). The latter having no heirs, +Liu An entered into a conspiracy which, however, was discovered. +As a consequence he killed himself, 122 <small>B.C.</small> Our fairy-tale +presents these events in their legendary transformation.</p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="XXXVII" id="XXXVII"></a>XXXVII<br /> +<br /> +OLD DSCHANG</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>NCE upon a time there was a man who went +by the name of Old Dschang. He lived in the +country, near Yangdschou, as a gardener. His neighbor, +named Sir We, held an official position in Yangdschou. +Sir We had decided that it was time for his +daughter to marry, so he sent for a match-maker and +commissioned her to find a suitable husband. Old +Dschang heard this, and was pleased. He prepared +food and drink, entertained the match-maker, and told +her to recommend him as a husband. But the old +match-maker went off scolding.</p> + +<p>The next day he invited her to dinner again and gave +her money. Then the old match-maker said: “You +do not know what you wish! Why should a gentleman’s +beautiful daughter condescend to marry a poor +old gardener like yourself? Even though you had +money to burn, your white hair would not match her +black locks. Such a marriage is out of the question!”</p> + +<p>But Old Dschang did not cease to entreat her: +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +“Make an attempt, just one attempt, to mention me! +If they will not listen to you, then I must resign myself +to my fate!”</p> + +<p>The old match-maker had taken his money, so she +could not well refuse, and though she feared being +scolded, she mentioned him to Sir We. He grew angry +and wanted to throw her out of the house.</p> + +<p>“I knew you would not thank me,” said she, “but +the old man urged it so that I could not refuse to +mention his intention.”</p> + +<p>“Tell the old man that if this very day he brings me +two white jade-stones, and four hundred ounces of +yellow gold, then I will give him my daughter’s hand +in marriage.”</p> + +<p>But he only wished to mock the old man’s folly, for +he knew that the latter could not give him anything of +the kind. The match-maker went to Old Dschang and +delivered the message. And he made no objection; +but at once brought the exact quantity of gold and +jewels to Sir We’s house. The latter was very much +frightened and when his wife heard of it, she began +to weep and wail loudly. But the girl encouraged her +mother: “My father has given his word now and cannot +break it. I will know how to bear my fate.”</p> + +<p>So Sir We’s daughter was married to Old Dschang. +But even after the wedding the latter did not give up +his work as a gardener. He spaded the field and sold +vegetables as usual, and his wife had to fetch water +and build the kitchen fire herself. But she did her +work without false shame and, though her relatives +reproached her, she continued to do so.</p> + +<p>Once an aristocratic relative visited Sir We and said: +“If you had really been poor, were there not enough +young gentlemen in the neighborhood for your +daughter? Why did you have to marry her to such +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +a wrinkled old gardener? Now that you have thrown +her away, so to speak, it would be better if both of them +left this part of the country.”</p> + +<p>Then Sir We prepared a banquet and invited his +daughter and Old Dschang to visit him. When they +had had sufficient to eat and drink he allowed them to +get an inkling of what was in his mind.</p> + +<p>Said Old Dschang: “I have only remained here +because I thought you would long for your daughter. +But since you are tired of us, I will be glad to go. I +have a little country house back in the hills, and we +will set out for it early to-morrow morning.”</p> + +<p>The following morning, at break of dawn, Old +Dschang came with his wife to say farewell. Sir We +said: “Should we long to see you at some later time, +my son can make inquiries.” Old Dschang placed his +wife on a donkey and gave her a straw hat to wear. +He himself took his staff and walked after.</p> + +<p>A few years passed without any news from either +of them. Then Sir We and his wife felt quite a longing +to see their daughter and sent their son to make inquiries. +When the latter got back in the hills he met +a plow-boy who was plowing with two yellow steers. +He asked him: “Where is Old Dschang’s country +house?” The plow-boy left the plow in the harrow, +bowed and answered: “You have been a long +time coming, sir! The village is not far from here: +I will show you the way.”</p> + +<p>They crossed a hill. At the foot of the hill flowed +a brook, and when they had crossed the brook they +had to climb another hill. Gradually the landscape +changed. From the top of the hill could be seen a +valley, level in the middle, surrounded by abrupt crags +and shaded by green trees, among which houses and +towers peeped forth. This was the country house of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> +Old Dschang. Before the village flowed a deep brook +full of clear, blue water. They passed over a stone +bridge and reached the gate. Here flowers and trees +grew in luxurious profusion, and peacocks and cranes +flew about. From the distance could be heard the +sound of flutes and of stringed instruments. Crystal-clear +tones rose to the clouds. A messenger in a purple +robe received the guest at the gate and led him into a +hall of surpassing splendor. Strange fragrances +filled the air, and there was a ringing of little bells of +pearl. Two maid-servants came forth to greet him, +followed by two rows of beautiful girls in a long processional. +After them a man in a flowing turban, clad +in scarlet silk, with red slippers, came floating along. +The guest saluted him. He was serious and dignified, +and at the same time seemed youthfully fresh. At first +We’s son did not recognize him, but when he looked +more closely, why it was Old Dschang! The latter said +with a smile: “I am pleased that the long road to travel +has not prevented your coming. Your sister is just +combing her hair. She will welcome you in a moment.” +Then he had him sit down and drink tea.</p> + +<p>After a short time a maid-servant came and led him +to the inner rooms, to his sister. The beams of her +room were of sandalwood, the doors of tortoise-shell +and the windows inlaid with blue jade; her curtains +were formed of strings of pearls and the steps leading +into the room of green nephrite. His sister was magnificently +gowned, and far more beautiful than before. +She asked him carelessly how he was getting along, +and what her parents were doing; but was not very +cordial. After a splendid meal she had an apartment +prepared for him.</p> + +<p>“My sister wishes to make an excursion to the +Mountain of the Fairies,” said Old Dschang to him. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +“We will be back about sunset, and you can rest +until we return.”</p> + +<p>Then many-colored clouds rose in the courtyard, +and dulcet music sounded on the air. Old Dschang +mounted a dragon, while his wife and sister rode on +phenixes and their attendants on cranes. So they +rose into the air and disappeared in an easterly direction. +They did not return until after sunset.</p> + +<p>Old Dschang and his wife then said to him: “This +is an abode of the blessed. You cannot remain here +overlong. To-morrow we will escort you back.”</p> + +<p>On the following day, when taking leave, Old Dschang +gave him eighty ounces of gold and an old straw hat. +“Should you need money,” said he, “you can go to +Yangdschou and inquire in the northern suburb for +old Wang’s drug-shop. There you can collect ten +million pieces of copper. This hat is the order for +them.” Then he ordered his plow-boy to take him +home again.</p> + +<p>Quite a few of the folks at home, to whom he described +his adventures, thought that Old Dschang +must be a holy man, while others regarded the whole +thing a magic vision.</p> + +<p>After five or six years Sir We’s money came to an +end. So his son took the straw hat to Yangdschou and +there asked for old Wang. The latter just happened +to be standing in his drug-shop, mixing herbs. When +the son explained his errand he said: “The money is +ready. But is your hat genuine?” And he took the +hat and examined it. A young girl came from an inner +room and said: “I wove the hat for Old Dschang +myself. There must be a red thread in it.” And +sure enough, there was. Then old Wang gave young +We the ten million pieces of copper, and the latter now +believed that Old Dschang was really a saint. So he +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> +once more went over the hills to look for him. He +asked the forest-keepers, but they could tell him naught. +Sadly he retraced his steps and decided to inquire of +old Wang, but he had also disappeared.</p> + +<p>When several years had passed he once more came +to Yangdschou, and was walking in the meadow before +the city gate. There he met Old Dschang’s plow-boy. +The latter cried out: “How are you? How are +you?” and drew out ten pounds of gold, which he gave +to him, saying: “My mistress told me to give you +this. My master is this very moment drinking tea +with old Wang in the inn.” Young We followed the +plow-boy, intending to greet his brother-in-law. +But when he reached the inn there was no one in sight. +And when he turned around the plow-boy had disappeared +as well. And since that time no one ever +heard from Old Dschang again.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: The match-maker, according to Chinese custom—and the +custom of other oriental peoples—is an absolutely necessary mediator +between the two families. There are old women who make +their living at this profession.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="XXXVIII" id="XXXVIII"></a>XXXVIII<br /> +<br /> +THE KINDLY MAGICIAN</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>NCE upon a time there was a man named Du Dsi +Tschun. In his youth he was a spendthrift and +paid no heed to his property. He was given to drink +and idling. When he had run through all his money, +his relatives cast him out. One winter day he was +walking barefoot about the city, with an empty +stomach and torn clothes. Evening came on and still +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> +he had not found any food. Without end or aim he +wandered about the market place. He was hungry, +and the cold seemed well nigh unendurable. So he +turned his eyes upward and began to lament aloud.</p> + +<p>Suddenly an ancient man stood before him, leaning +on a staff, who said: “What do you lack since you +complain so?”</p> + +<p>“I am dying of hunger,” replied Du Dsi Tschun, +“and not a soul will take pity on me!”</p> + +<p>The ancient man said: “How much money would +you need in order to live in all comfort?”</p> + +<p>“If I had fifty thousand pieces of copper it would +answer my purpose,” replied Du Dsi Tschun.</p> + +<p>The ancient said: “That would not answer.”</p> + +<p>“Well, then, a million!”</p> + +<p>“That is still too little!”</p> + +<p>“Well, then, three million!”</p> + +<p>The ancient man said: “That is well spoken!” +He fetched a thousand pieces of copper out of his sleeve +and said: “That is for this evening. Expect me to-morrow +by noon, at the Persian Bazaar!”</p> + +<p>At the time set Du Dsi Tschun went there, and, sure +enough, there was the ancient, who gave him three +million pieces of copper. Then he disappeared, without +giving his name.</p> + +<p>When Du Dsi Tschun held the money in his hand, +his love for prodigality once more awoke. He rode +pampered steeds, clothed himself in the finest furs, +went back to his wine, and led such an extravagant life +that the money gradually came to an end. Instead of +wearing brocade he had to wear cotton, and instead +of riding horseback he went to the dogs. Finally he +was again running about barefoot and in rags as before, +and did not know how to satisfy his hunger. Once +more he stood in the market-place and sighed. But +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +the ancient was already there, took him by the hand +and said: “Are you back already to where you were? +That is strange! However, I will aid you once more!”</p> + +<p>But Du Dsi Tschun was ashamed and did not want +to accept his help. Yet the ancient insisted, and led +him along to the Persian Bazaar. This time he gave +him ten million pieces of copper, and Du Dsi Tschun +thanked him with shame in his heart.</p> + +<p>With money in hand, he tried to give time to adding +to it, and saving in order to gain great wealth. But, +as is always the case, it is hard to overcome ingrown +faults. Gradually he began to fling his money away +again, and gave free rein to all his desires. And once +more his purse grew empty. In a couple of years he +was as poor as ever he had been.</p> + +<p>Then he met the ancient the third time, but was +so ashamed of himself that he hid his face when he +passed him.</p> + +<p>The ancient seized his arm and said: “Where are +you going? I will help you once more. I will give +you thirty million. But if then you do not improve +you are past all aid!”</p> + +<p>Full of gratitude, Du Dsi Tschun bowed before him +and said: “In the days of my poverty my wealthy +relatives did not seek me out. You alone have thrice +aided me. The money you give me to-day shall not be +squandered, that I swear; but I will devote it to good +works in order to repay your great kindness. And +when I have done this I will follow you, if needs be +through fire and through water.”</p> + +<p>The ancient replied: “That is right! When you +have ordered these things ask for me in the temple of +Laotsze beneath the two mulberry trees!”</p> + +<p>Du Dsi Tschun took the money and went to Yangdschou. +There he bought a hundred acres of the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> +best land, and built a lofty house with many hundreds +of rooms on the highway. And there he allowed widows +and orphans to live. Then he bought a burial-place +for his ancestors, and supported his needy relations. +Countless people were indebted to him for +their livelihood.</p> + +<p>When all was finished, he went to inquire after the +ancient in the temple of Laotsze. The ancient was +sitting in the shade of the mulberry trees blowing the +flute. He took Du Dsi Tschun along with him to the +cloudy peaks of the holy mountains of the West. +When they had gone some forty miles into the mountains, +he saw a dwelling, fair and clean. It was surrounded +by many-colored clouds, and peacocks and +cranes were flying about it. Within the house was a +herb-oven nine feet high. The fire burned with a purple +flame, and its glow leaped along the walls. Nine +fairies stood at the oven, and a green dragon and a +white tiger crouched beside it. Evening came. The +ancient was no longer clad like an ordinary man; but +wore a yellow cap and wide, flowing garments. He +took three pellets of the White Stone, put them into a +flagon of wine, and gave them to Du Dsi Tschun to +drink. He spread out a tiger-skin against the western +wall of the inner chamber, and bade Du Dsi Tschun sit +down on it, with his face turned toward the East. +Then he said to him: “Now beware of speaking a +single word—no matter what happens to you, whether +you encounter powerful gods or terrible demons, +wild beasts or ogres, or all the tortures of the nether +world, or even if you see your own relatives suffer—for +all these things are only deceitful images! They +cannot harm you. Think only of what I have said, and +let your soul be at rest!” And when he had said this +the ancient disappeared.</p> + +<p>Then Du Dsi Tschun saw only a large stone jug +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> +full of clear water standing before him. Fairies, +dragon and tiger had all vanished. Suddenly he heard +a tremendous crash, which made heaven and earth +tremble. A man towering more than ten feet in height +appeared. He called himself the great captain, and +he and his horse were covered with golden armor. +He was surrounded by more than a hundred soldiers, +who drew their bows and swung their swords, and +halted in the courtyard.</p> + +<p>The giant called out harshly: “Who are you? Get +out of my way!”</p> + +<p>Du Dsi Tschun did not move. And he returned +no answer to his questions.</p> + +<p>Then the giant flew into a passion and cried with a +thundering voice: “Chop off his head!”</p> + +<p>But Du Dsi Tschun remained unmoved, so the giant +went off raging.</p> + +<p>Then a furious tiger and a poisonous serpent came +up roaring and hissing. They made as though to bite +him and leaped over him. But Du Dsi Tschun remained +unperturbed in spirit, and after a time they +dissolved and vanished.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a great rain began to fall in streams. It +thundered and lightninged incessantly, so that his +ears rang and his eyes were blinded. It seemed as +though the house would fall. The water rose to a flood +in a few moments’ time, and streamed up to the place +where he was sitting. But Du Dsi Tschun remained +motionless and paid no attention to it. And after a +time the water receded.</p> + +<p>Then came a great demon with the head of an ox. +He set up a kettle in the middle of the courtyard, in +which bubbled boiling oil. He caught Du Dsi Tschun +by the neck with an iron fork and said: “If you will +tell me who you are I will let you go!”</p> + +<p>Du Dsi Tschun shut his eyes and kept silent. Then +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> +the demon picked him up with the fork and flung him +into the kettle. He withstood the pain, and the boiling +oil did not harm him. Finally the demon dragged +him out again, and drew him down the steps of the +house before a man with red hair and a blue face, who +looked like the prince of the nether world. The latter +cried: “Drag in his wife!”</p> + +<p>After a time Du Dsi Tschun’s wife was brought +on in chains. Her hair was torn and she wept bitterly.</p> + +<p>The demon pointed to Du Dsi Tschun and said: +“If you will speak your name we will let her go!”</p> + +<p>But he answered not a word.</p> + +<p>Then the prince of evil had the woman tormented +in all sorts of ways. And she pleaded with Du Dsi +Tschun: “I have been your wife now for ten years. +Will you not speak one little word to save me? I can +endure no more!” And the tears ran in streams from +her eyes. She screamed and scolded. Yet he spoke +not a word.</p> + +<p>Thereupon the prince of evil shouted: “Chop her +into bits!” And there, before his eyes, it seemed as +though she were really being chopped to pieces. But +Du Dsi Tschun did not move.</p> + +<p>“The scoundrel’s measure is full!” cried the prince +of evil. “He shall dwell no longer among the living! +Off with his head!” And so they killed him, and it +seemed to him that his soul fled his body. The ox-headed +demon dragged him down into the nether regions, +where he tasted all the tortures in turn. But +Du Dsi Tschun remembered the words of the ancient. +And the tortures, too, seemed bearable. So he did not +scream and said not a word.</p> + +<p>Now he was once more dragged before the prince +of evil. The latter said: “As punishment for his +obstinacy this man shall come to earth again in the +shape of a woman!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +The demon dragged him to the wheel of life and +he returned to earth in the shape of a girl. He was +often ill, had to take medicine continually, and was +pricked and burned with hot needles. Yet he never +uttered a sound. Gradually he grew into a beautiful +maiden. But since he never spoke, he was known as the +dumb maid. A scholar finally took him for his bride, +and they lived in peace and good fellowship. And a +son came to them who, in the course of two years was +already beyond measure wise and intelligent. One +day the father was carrying the son on his arm. He +spoke jestingly to his wife and said: “When I look +at you it seems to me that you are not really dumb. +Won’t you say one little word to me? How delightful +it would be if you were to become my speaking rose!”</p> + +<p>The woman remained silent. No matter how he +might coax and try to make her smile, she would return +no answer.</p> + +<p>Then his features changed: “If you will not speak +to me, it is a sign that you scorn me; and in that case +your son is nothing to me, either!” And with that he +seized the boy and flung him against the wall.</p> + +<p>But since Du Dsi Tschun loved this little boy so +dearly, he forgot the ancient’s warning, and cried out: +“Oh, oh!”</p> + +<p>And before the cry had died away Du Dsi Tschun +awoke as though from a dream and found himself +seated in his former place. The ancient was there as +well. It must have been about the fifth hour of the +night. Purple flames rose wildly from the oven, and +flared up to the sky. The whole house caught fire and +burned like a torch.</p> + +<p>“You have deceived me!” cried the ancient. Then +he seized him by the hair and thrust him into the jug +of water. And in a minute the fire went out. The +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> +ancient spoke: “You overcame joy and rage, grief +and fear, hate and desire, it is true; but love you had +not driven from your soul. Had you not cried out +when the child was flung against the wall, then my +elixir would have taken shape and you would have attained +immortality. But in the last moment you failed +me. Now it is too late. Now I can begin brewing +my elixir of life once more from the beginning and +you will remain a mere mortal man!”</p> + +<p>Du Dsi Tschun saw that the oven had burst, and +that instead of the philosopher’s stone it held only a +lump of iron. The ancient man cast aside his garments +and chopped it up with a magic knife. Du Dsi Tschun +took leave of him and returned to Yangdschou, where +he lived in great affluence. In his old age he regretted +that he had not completed his task. He once more +went to the mountain to look for the ancient. But +the ancient had vanished without leaving a trace.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: The “pieces of copper” are the ancient Chinese copper +coins, with a hole in the middle, usually hung on strings to the +number of 500 or 1000. Money had a greater purchasing value in +ancient China, however, than in the China of to-day. The “Persian +Bazaar”: During the reign of the Tang dynasty China maintained +an active intercourse with the West, traces of which are at present +being investigated in Central Asia. At that time Persian bazaars +were no novelty in the city of Si-An-Fu, then the capital. “Herb-oven”: +a tripod kettle used for brewing the elixir of life, with which +the fairies, dragon and tiger (both the last-mentioned star-incarnations) +are connected. In order to prepare the elixir the master must +have absolute endurance. It is for this reason that he had placed Du +Dsi Tschun in his debt by means of kindness. The yellow cap +which the master wears is connected with the teachings of the Yellow +Ancient (comp. w. No. <a href="#XV">15</a>). The “prince of the nether world,” Yan +Wang, or Yan Lo Wang, is the Indian god Yama. There are in all +ten princes of the nether world, of whom the fifth is the highest and +most feared. “Obstinacy,” literally; his real offense is reticence, or +the keeping secret of a thing. This quality belongs to the Yin, the +dark or feminine principle, and determines Du Dsi Tschun’s +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +reappearance on earth as a woman. “Purple flames rose wildly from +the oven”: Though Du Dsi Tschun had overcome his other emotions, +so that fear and terror did not affect him, love, and love in its highest +form, mother-love, still remained in him. This love created the flames +which threatened to destroy the building. The highest point in +Taoism—as in Buddhism—is, however, the absolute negation of +all feeling.</p> +</div> + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116"><!-- blank page --></a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117"><!-- unnumbered page --></a></span></p> + +<h2 class="padtop">NATURE AND ANIMAL TALES</h2> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118"><!-- blank page --></a></span></p> + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span></p> + +<h3 class="padtop"><a name="XXXIX" id="XXXIX"></a>XXXIX<br /> +<br /> +THE FLOWER-ELVES</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>NCE upon a time there was a scholar who lived +retired from the world in order to gain hidden +wisdom. He lived alone and in a secret place. And +all about the little house in which he dwelt he had +planted every kind of flower, and bamboos and other +trees. There it lay, quite concealed in its thick grove +of flowers. With him he had only a boy servant, who +dwelt in a separate hut, and who carried out his orders. +He was not allowed to appear before his master unless +summoned. The scholar loved his flowers as he did +himself. Never did he set his foot beyond the boundaries +of his garden.</p> + +<p>It chanced that once there came a lovely spring evening. +Flowers and trees stood in full bloom, a fresh +breeze was blowing, the moon shone clearly. And the +scholar sat over his goblet and was grateful for the +gift of life.</p> + +<p>Suddenly he saw a maiden in dark garments come +tripping up in the moonlight. She made a deep courtesy, +greeted him and said: “I am your neighbor. +We are a company of young maids who are on our way +to visit the eighteen aunts. We should like to rest in +this court for awhile, and therefore ask your permission +to do so.”</p> + +<p>The scholar saw that this was something quite out +of the common, and gladly gave his consent. The +maiden thanked him and went away.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> +In a short time she brought back a whole crowd of +maids carrying flowers and willow branches. All +greeted the scholar. They were charming, with delicate +features, and slender, graceful figures. When +they moved their sleeves, a delightful fragrance was exhaled. +There is no fragrance known to the human +world which could be compared with it.</p> + +<p>The scholar invited them to sit down for a time in his +room. Then he asked them: “Whom have I really +the honor of entertaining? Have you come from the +castle of the Lady in the Moon, or the Jade Spring of +the Queen-Mother of the West?”</p> + +<p>“How could we claim such high descent?” said a +maiden in a green gown, with a smile. “My name is +Salix.” Then she presented another, clad in white, +and said: “This is Mistress Prunophora”; then one +in rose, “and this is Persica”; and finally one in a +dark-red gown, “and this is Punica. We are all +sisters and we want to visit the eighteen zephyr-aunts +to-day. The moon shines so beautifully this evening +and it is so charming here in the garden. We are most +grateful to you for taking pity on us.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, yes,” said the scholar.</p> + +<p>Then the sober-clad servant suddenly announced: +“The zephyr-aunts have already arrived!”</p> + +<p>At once the girls rose and went to the door to meet +them.</p> + +<p>“We were just about to visit you, aunts,” they said, +smiling. “This gentleman here had just invited us to +sit for a moment. What a pleasant coincidence that +you aunts have come here, too. This is such a lovely +night that we must drink a goblet of nectar in honor of +you aunts!”</p> + +<p>Thereon they ordered the servant to bring what was +needed.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> +“May one sit down here?” asked the aunts.</p> + +<p>“The master of the house is most kind,” replied the +maids, “and the spot is quiet and hidden.”</p> + +<p>And then they presented the aunts to the scholar. +He spoke a few kindly words to the eighteen aunts. +They had a somewhat irresponsible and airy manner. +Their words fairly gushed out, and in their neighborhood +one felt a frosty chill.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the servant had already brought in table +and chairs. The eighteen aunts sat at the upper end of +the board, the maids followed, and the scholar sat down +with them at the lowest place. Soon the entire table +was covered with the most delicious foods and most +magnificent fruits, and the goblets were filled with a +fragrant nectar. They were delights such as the world +of men does not know! The moon shone brightly and +the flowers exhaled intoxicating odors. After they +had partaken of food and drink the maids rose, danced +and sung. Sweetly the sound of their singing echoed +through the falling gloam, and their dance was like that +of butterflies fluttering about the flowers. The scholar +was so overpowered with delight that he no longer +knew whether he were in heaven or on earth.</p> + +<p>When the dance had ended, the girls sat down again +at the table, and drank the health of the aunts in flowing +nectar. The scholar, too, was remembered with a +toast, to which he replied with well-turned phrases.</p> + +<p>But the eighteen aunts were somewhat irresponsible +in their ways. One of them, raising her goblet, by +accident poured some nectar on Punica’s dress. +Punica, who was young and fiery, and very neat, stood +up angrily when she saw the spot on her red dress.</p> + +<p>“You are really very careless,” said she, in her +anger. “My other sisters may be afraid of you, but I +am not!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> +Then the aunts grew angry as well and said: “How +dare this young chit insult us in such a manner!”</p> + +<p>And with that they gathered up their garments and +rose.</p> + +<p>All the maids then crowded about them and said: +“Punica is so young and inexperienced! You must +not bear her any ill-will! To-morrow she shall go to +you switch in hand, and receive her punishment!”</p> + +<p>But the eighteen aunts would not listen to them and +went off. Thereupon the maids also said farewell, +scattered among the flower-beds and disappeared. +The scholar sat for a long time lost in dreamy yearning.</p> + +<p>On the following evening the maids all came back +again.</p> + +<p>“We all live in your garden,” they told him. “Every +year we are tormented by naughty winds, and therefore +we have always asked the eighteen aunts to protect us. +But yesterday Punica insulted them, and now we fear +they will help us no more. But we know that you +have always been well disposed toward us, for which we +are heartily grateful. And now we have a great favor +to ask, that every New Year’s day you make a small +scarlet flag, paint the sun, moon and five planets on it, +and set it up in the eastern part of the garden. Then +we sisters will be left in peace and will be protected +from all evil. But since New Year’s day has passed +for this year, we beg that you will set up the flag on +the twenty-first of this month. For the East Wind is +coming and the flag will protect us against him!”</p> + +<p>The scholar readily promised to do as they wished, +and the maids all said with a single voice: “We thank +you for your great kindness and will repay it!” Then +they departed and a sweet fragrance filled the entire +garden.</p> + +<p>The scholar, however, made a red flag as described, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> +and when early in the morning of the day in question +the East Wind really did begin to blow, he quickly set it +up in the garden.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a wild storm broke out, one that caused +the forests to bend, and broke the trees. The flowers +in the garden alone did not move.</p> + +<p>Then the scholar noticed that Salix was the willow; +Prunophora the plum; Persica the peach, and the +saucy Punica the Pomegranate, whose powerful blossoms +the wind cannot tear. The eighteen zephyr-aunts, +however, were the spirits of the winds.</p> + +<p>In the evening the flower-elves all came and brought +the scholar radiant flowers as a gift of thanks.</p> + +<p>“You have saved us,” they said, “and we have nothing +else we can give you. If you eat these flowers you +will live long and avoid old age. And if you, in turn, +will protect us every year, then we sisters, too, will +live long.”</p> + +<p>The scholar did as they told him and ate the flowers. +And his figure changed and he grew young again like +a youth of twenty. And in the course of time he attained +the hidden wisdom and was placed among the +Immortals.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note. Salix: the names of the “Flower Elves” are given in the +Chinese as family names, whose sound suggests the flower-names +without exactly using them. In the translation the play on words is +indicated by the Latin names. “Zephyr-aunts”: In Chinese the +name given the aunt is “Fong,” which in another stylization means +“wind.”</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="XL" id="XL"></a>XL<br /> +<br /> +THE SPIRIT OF THE WU-LIAN MOUNTAIN</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">T</span>O the west of the gulf of Kiautschou is the Wu-Lian +Mountain, where there are many spirits. +Once upon a time a scholar who lived there was sitting +up late at night, reading. And, as he stepped out before +the house, a storm rose up suddenly, and a monster +stretched out his claws and seized him by the hair. +And he lifted him up in the air and carried him away. +They passed by the tower which looks out to sea, a +Buddhist temple in the hills. And in the distance, in +the clouds, the scholar saw the figure of a god in golden +armor. The figure looked exactly like the image of +Weto which was in the tower. In its right hand it held +an iron mace, while its left pointed toward the monster, +and it looked at it with anger. Then the monster let +the scholar fall, right on top of the tower, and disappeared. +No doubt the saint in the tower had come to +the scholar’s aid, because his whole family worshiped +Buddha dutifully.</p> + +<p>When the sun rose the priest came and saw the +scholar on his tower. He piled up hay and straw on +the ground; so that he could jump down without hurting +himself. Then he took the scholar home, yet there +where the monster had seized his hair, the hair remained +stiff and unyielding. It did not improve until +half a year had gone by.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: This legend comes from Dschungschong, west of the gulf +of Kiautschou. “The tower which looks out to sea,” a celebrated +tower which gives a view of the ocean. At present the people give +this name to the Tsingtau Signal Station. Weto (Sanscrit, Veda), a +legendary Boddhisatva, leader of the hosts of the four kings of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> +heaven. His picture, with drawn sword, may be found at the +entrance of every Buddhist temple. In China, he is often represented +with a mace (symbolizing a thunderbolt) instead of a sword. +When this is the case he has probably been confused with Vaisramana.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="XLI" id="XLI"></a>XLI<br /> +<br /> +THE KING OF THE ANTS</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>NCE upon a time there was a scholar, who wandered +away from his home and went to Emmet +village. There stood a house which was said to be +haunted. Yet it was beautifully situated and surrounded +by a lovely garden. So the scholar hired it. +One evening he was sitting over his books, when +several hundred knights suddenly came galloping into +the room. They were quite tiny, and their horses were +about the size of flies. They had hunting falcons and +dogs about as large as gnats and fleas.</p> + +<p>They came to his bed in the corner of the room, and +there they held a great hunt, with bows and arrows: +one could see it all quite plainly. They caught a +tremendous quantity of birds and game, and all this +game was no larger than little grains of rice.</p> + +<p>When the hunt was over, in came a long procession +with banners and standards. They wore swords at +their side and bore spears in their hands, and came to +a halt in the north-west corner of the room. They +were followed by several hundred serving-men. These +brought with them curtains and covers, tents and tent-poles, +pots and kettles, cups and plates, tables and +chairs. And after them some hundreds of other +servants carried in all sorts of fine dishes, the best that +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> +land and water had to offer. And several hundred +more ran to and fro without stopping, in order to +guard the roads and carry messages.</p> + +<p>The scholar gradually accustomed himself to the +sight. Although the men were so very small he could +distinguish everything quite clearly.</p> + +<p>Before long, a bright colored banner appeared. +Behind it rode a personage wearing a scarlet hat and +garments of purple. He was surrounded by an escort +of several thousands. Before him went runners with +whips and rods to clear the way.</p> + +<p>Then a man wearing an iron helmet and with a golden +ax in his hand cried out in a loud voice: “His Highness +is graciously pleased to look at the fish in the Purple +Lake!” Whereupon the one who wore the scarlet +hat got down from his horse, and, followed by a retinue +of several hundred men, approached the saucer +which the scholar used for his writing-ink. Tents were +put up on the edge of the saucer and a banquet was +prepared. A great number of guests sat down to the +table. Musicians and dancers stood ready. There +was a bright confusion of mingled garments of purple +and scarlet, crimson and green. Pipes and flutes, +fiddles and cymbals sounded, and the dancers moved in +the dance. The music was very faint, and yet its +melodies could be clearly distinguished. All that was +said, too, the table-talk and orders, questions and calls, +could be quite distinctly heard.</p> + +<p>After three courses, he who wore the scarlet hat +said: “Quick! Make ready the nets and lines for +fishing!”</p> + +<p>And at once nets were thrown out into the saucer +which held the water in which the scholar dipped his +brush. And they caught hundreds of thousands of +fishes. The one with the scarlet hat contented himself +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> +with casting a line in the shallow waters of the saucer, +and caught a baker’s dozen of red carp.</p> + +<p>Then he ordered the head cook to cook the fish, and +the most varied dishes were prepared with them. The +odor of roasting fat and spices filled the whole room.</p> + +<p>And then the wearer of the scarlet hat in his arrogance, +decided to amuse himself at the scholar’s expense. +So he pointed to him and said: “I know +nothing at all about the writings and customs of the +saints and wise men, and still I am a king who is +highly honored! Yonder scholar spends his whole +life toiling over his books and yet he remains poor and +gets nowhere. If he could make up his mind to serve +me faithfully as one of my officials, I might allow him +to partake of our meal.”</p> + +<p>This angered the scholar, and he took his book and +struck at them. And they all scattered, wriggling and +crawling out of the door. He followed them and dug +up the earth in the place where they had disappeared. +And there he found an ants’ nest as large as a barrel, +in which countless green ants were wriggling around. +So he built a large fire and smoked them out.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: This charming tale is taken from the Tang Dai Tsung Schu.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="XLII" id="XLII"></a>XLII<br /> +<br /> +THE LITTLE HUNTING DOG</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>NCE upon a time, in the city of Shansi, there +lived a scholar who found the company of others +too noisy for him. So he made his home in a Buddhist +temple. Yet he suffered because there were always so +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> +many gnats and fleas in his room that he could not +sleep at night.</p> + +<p>Once he was resting on his bed after dinner, when +suddenly two little knights with plumes in their helmets +rode into the room. They might have been two +inches high, and rode horses about the size of grasshoppers. +On their gauntleted hands they held hunting +falcons as large as flies. They rode about the room +with great rapidity. The scholar had no more than set +eyes on them when a third entered, clad like the others, +but carrying a bow and arrows and leading a little +hunting dog the size of an ant with him. After him +came a great throng of footmen and horsemen, several +hundred in all. And they had hunting falcons and +hunting dogs by the hundred, too. Then the fleas and +gnats began to rise in the air; but were all slain by the +falcons. And the hunting dogs climbed on the bed, +and sniffed along the walls trailing the fleas, and ate +them up. They followed the trace of whatever hid in +the cracks, and nosed it out, so that in a short space of +time they had killed nearly all the vermin.</p> + +<p>The scholar pretended to be asleep and watched +them. And the falcons settled down on him, and the +dogs crawled along his body. Shortly after came a +man clad in yellow, wearing a king’s crown, who +climbed on an empty couch and seated himself there. +And at once all the horsemen rode up, descended from +their horses and brought him all the birds and game. +They then gathered beside him in a great throng, and +conversed with him in a strange tongue.</p> + +<p>Not long after the king got into a small chariot and +his bodyguards saddled their horses with the greatest +rapidity. Then they galloped out with great cries of +homage, till it looked as though some one were scattering +beans and a heavy cloud of dust rose behind them.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> +They had nearly all of them disappeared, while the +scholar’s eyes were still fixed on them full of terror +and astonishment, and he could not imagine whence +they had come. He slipped on his shoes and looked; +but they had vanished without a trace. Then he returned +and looked all about his room; but there was +nothing to be seen. Only, on a brick against the wall, +they had forgotten a little hunting dog. The scholar +quickly caught it and found it quite tame. He put it +in his paint-box and examined it closely. It had a very +smooth, fine coat, and wore a little collar around its +neck. He tried to feed it a few bread-crumbs, but the +little dog only sniffed at them and let them lie. Then +it leaped into the bed and hunted up some nits and +gnats in the folds of the linen, which it devoured. +Then it returned and lay down. When the night had +passed the scholar feared it might have run away; +but there it lay, curled up as before. Whenever the +scholar went to bed, the dog climbed into it and bit to +death any vermin it could find. Not a fly or gnat +dared alight while it was around. The scholar loved +it like a jewel of price.</p> + +<p>But once he took a nap in the daytime, and the little +dog crawled into bed beside him. The scholar woke +and turned around, supporting himself on his side. As +he did so he felt something, and feared it might be his +little dog. He quickly rose and looked, but it was +already dead—pressed flat, as though cut out of +paper!</p> + +<p>But at any rate none of the vermin had survived it.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: This tale is taken from the Liau Dschai (“Strange +Stories”) of P’u Sung Lang (b. 1622). It is a parallel of the +preceding one and shows how the same material returns in a different +working-out.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="XLIII" id="XLIII"></a>XLIII<br /> +<br /> +THE DRAGON AFTER HIS WINTER SLEEP</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>NCE there was a scholar who was reading in the +upper story of his house. It was a rainy, +cloudy day and the weather was gloomy. Suddenly he +saw a little thing which shone like a fire-fly. It crawled +upon the table, and wherever it went it left traces of +burns, curved like the tracks of a rainworm. Gradually +it wound itself about the scholar’s book and the book, +too, grew black. Then it occurred to him that it might +be a dragon. So he carried it out of doors on the book. +There he stood for quite some time; but it sat uncurled, +without moving in the least.</p> + +<p>Then the scholar said: “It shall not be said of me +that I was lacking in respect.” With these words he +carried back the book and once more laid it on the +table. Then he put on his robes of ceremony, made a +deep bow and escorted the dragon out on it again.</p> + +<p>No sooner had he left the door, than he noticed that +the dragon raised his head and stretched himself. +Then he flew up from the book with a hissing sound, +like a radiant streak. Once more he turned around +toward the scholar, and his head had already grown to +the size of a barrel, while his body must have been a full +fathom in length. He gave one more snaky twist, and +then there was a terrible crash of thunder and the +dragon went sailing through the air.</p> + +<p>The scholar then returned and looked to see which +way the little creature had come. And he could follow +his tracks hither and thither, to his chest of books.</p> + +<div class="note"><p>Note: This tale is also from the “Strange Stories.” The dragon, +head of all scaled creatures and insects, hibernates during the winter +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> +according to the Chinese belief. At the time he is quite small. When +the first spring storm comes he flies up to the clouds on the lightning. +Here the dragon’s nature as an atmospheric apparition is expressed.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="XLIV" id="XLIV"></a>XLIV<br /> +<br /> +THE SPIRITS OF THE YELLOW RIVER</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">T</span>HE spirits of the Yellow River are called Dai +Wang—Great King. For many hundreds of +years past the river inspectors had continued to report +that all sorts of monsters show themselves in the waves +of the stream, at times in the shape of dragons, at +others in that of cattle and horses, and whenever such +a creature makes an appearance a great flood follows. +Hence temples are built along the river banks. The +higher spirits of the river are honored as kings, +the lower ones as captains, and hardly a day goes by +without their being honored with sacrifices or theatrical +performances. Whenever, after a dam has been +broken, the leak is closed again, the emperor sends +officials with sacrifices and ten great bars of Tibetan +incense. This incense is burned in a great sacrificial +censer in the temple court, and the river inspectors +and their subordinates all go to the temple to thank the +gods for their aid. These river gods, it is said, are +good and faithful servants of former rulers, who died +in consequence of their toil in keeping the dams unbroken. +After they died their spirits became river-kings; +in their physical bodies, however, they appear +as lizards, snakes and frogs.</p> + +<p>The mightiest of all the river-kings is the Golden +Dragon-King. He frequently appears in the shape of +a small golden snake with a square head, low forehead +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> +and four red dots over his eyes. He can make himself +large or small at will, and cause the waters to rise +and fall. He appears and vanishes unexpectedly, and +lives in the mouths of the Yellow River and the Imperial +Canal. But in addition to the Golden Dragon-King +there are dozens of river-kings and captains, +each of whom has his own place. The sailors of the +Yellow River all have exact lists in which the lives and +deeds of the river-spirits are described in detail.</p> + +<p>The river-spirits love to see theatrical performances. +Opposite every temple is a stage. In the hall +stands the little spirit-tablet of the river-king, and on +the altar in front of it a small bowl of golden lacquer +filled with clean sand. When a little snake appears in +it, the river-king has arrived. Then the priests strike +the gong and beat the drum and read from the holy +books. The official is at once informed and he sends +for a company of actors. Before they begin to perform +the actors go up to the temple, kneel, and beg the king +to let them know which play they are to give. And +the river-god picks one out and points to it with his +head; or else he writes signs in the sand with his tail. +The actors then at once begin to perform the desired +play.</p> + +<p>The river-god cares naught for the fortunes or misfortunes +of human beings. He appears suddenly and +disappears in the same way, as best suits him.</p> + +<p>Between the outer and the inner dam of the Yellow +River are a number of settlements. Now it often happens +that the yellow water moves to the very edge of +the inner walls. Rising perpendicularly, like a wall, +it gradually advances. When people see it coming +they hastily burn incense, bow in prayer before the +waters, and promise the river-god a theatrical performance. +Then the water retires and the word goes +round: “The river-god has asked for a play again!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> +In a village in that section there once dwelt a wealthy +man. He built a stone wall, twenty feet high, around +the village, to keep away the water. He did not believe +in the spirits of the river, but trusted in his strong +wall and was quite unconcerned.</p> + +<p>One evening the yellow water suddenly rose and +towered in a straight line before the village. The +rich man had them shoot cannon at it. Then the water +grew stormy, and surrounded the wall to such a height +that it reached the openings in the battlements. The +water foamed and hissed, and seemed about to pour +over the wall. Then every one in the village was very +much frightened. They dragged up the rich man +and he had to kneel and beg for pardon. They promised +the river-god a theatrical performance, but in +vain; but when they promised to build him a temple in +the middle of the village and give regular performances, +the water sank more and more and gradually +returned to its bed. And the village fields suffered +no damage, for the earth, fertilized by the yellow +slime, yielded a double crop.</p> + +<p>Once a scholar was crossing the fields with a friend +in order to visit a relative. On their way they passed +a temple of the river-god where a new play was just +being performed. The friend asked the scholar to go +in with him and look on. When they entered the temple +court they saw two great snakes upon the front +pillars, who had wound themselves about the columns, +and were thrusting out their heads as though watching +the performance. In the hall of the temple stood the +altar with the bowl of sand. In it lay a small snake +with a golden body, a green head and red dots above +his eyes. His neck was thrust up and his glittering +little eyes never left the stage. The friend bowed and +the scholar followed his example.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> +Softly he said to his friend: “What are the three +river-gods called?”</p> + +<p>“The one in the temple,” was the reply, “is the +Golden Dragon-King. The two on the columns are +two captains. They do not dare to sit in the temple +together with the king.”</p> + +<p>This surprised the scholar, and in his heart he +thought: “Such a tiny snake! How can it possess +a god’s power? It would have to show me its +might before I would worship it.”</p> + +<p>He had not yet expressed these secret thoughts +before the little snake suddenly stretched forth his head +from the bowl, above the altar. Before the altar +burned two enormous candles. They weighed more +than ten pounds and were as thick as small trees. +Their flame burned like the flare of a torch. The +snake now thrust his head into the middle of the candle-flame. +The flame must have been at least an inch +broad, and was burning red. Suddenly its radiance +turned blue, and was split into two tongues. The +candle was so enormous and its fire so hot that even +copper and iron would have melted in it; but it did +not harm the snake.</p> + +<p>Then the snake crawled into the censer. The censer +was made of iron, and was so large one could not +clasp it with both arms. Its cover showed a dragon +design in open-work. The snake crawled in and out +of the holes in this cover, and wound his way through +all of them, so that he looked like an embroidery in +threads of gold. Finally all the openings of the cover, +large and small, were filled by the snake. In order to +do so, he must have made himself several dozen feet +long. Then he stretched out his head at the top of the +censer and once more watched the play.</p> + +<p>Thereupon the scholar was frightened, he bowed +twice, and prayed: “Great King, you have taken +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> +this trouble on my account! I honor you from my +heart!”</p> + +<p>No sooner had he spoken these words than, in a +moment, the little snake was back in his bowl, and just +as small as he had been before.</p> + +<p>In Dsiningdschou they were celebrating the river +god’s birthday in his temple. They were giving him +a theatrical performance for a birthday present. The +spectators crowded around as thick as a wall, when +who should pass but a simple peasant from the country, +who said in a loud voice: “Why, that is nothing but +a tiny worm! It is a great piece of folly to honor it +like a king!”</p> + +<p>Before ever he had finished speaking the snake flew +out of the temple. He grew and grew, and wound himself +three times around the stage. He became as thick +around as a small pail, and his head seemed like that of +a dragon. His eyes sparkled like golden lamps, and he +spat out red flame with his tongue. When he coiled +and uncoiled the whole stage trembled and it seemed +as though it would break down. The actors stopped +their music and fell down on the stage in prayer. The +whole multitude was seized with terror and bowed to +the ground. Then some of the old men came along, +cast the peasant on the ground, and gave him a good +thrashing. So he had to cast himself on his knees before +the snake and worship him. Then all heard a +noise as though a great many firecrackers were being +shot off. This lasted for some time, and then the +snake disappeared.</p> + +<p>East of Shantung lies the city of Dongschou. +There rises an observation-tower with a great temple. +At its feet lies the water-city, with a sea-gate at the +North, through which the flood-tide rises up to the city. +A camp of the boundary guard is established at this +gate.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> +Once upon a time there was an officer who had been +transferred to this camp as captain. He had formerly +belonged to the land forces, and had not yet been long +at his new post. He gave some friends of his a banquet, +and before the pavilion in which they feasted +lay a great stone shaped somewhat like a table. Suddenly +a little snake was seen crawling on this stone. +It was spotted with green, and had red dots on its +square head. The soldiers were about to kill the little +creature, when the captain went out to look into the +matter. When he had looked he laughed and said: +“You must not harm him! He is the river-king of +Dsiningdschou. When I was stationed in Dsiningdschou +he sometimes visited me, and then I always gave +sacrifices and performances in his honor. Now he has +come here expressly in order to wish his old friend luck, +and to see him once more.”</p> + +<p>There was a band in camp; the bandsmen could +dance and play like a real theatrical troupe. The +captain quickly had them begin a performance, had +another banquet with wine and delicate foods prepared, +and invited the river-god to sit down to the table.</p> + +<p>Gradually evening came and yet the river-god made +no move to go.</p> + +<p>So the captain stepped up to him with a bow and said: +“Here we are far removed from the Yellow River, +and these people have never yet heard your name +spoken. Your visit has been a great honor for me. +But the women and fools who have crowded together +chattering outside, are afraid of hearing about you. +Now you have visited your old friend, and I am sure +you wish to get back home again.”</p> + +<p>With these words he had a litter brought up; cymbals +were beaten and fire-works set off, and finally a +salute of nine guns was fired to escort him on his way. +Then the little snake crawled into the litter, and the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> +captain followed after. In this order they reached the +port, and just when it was about time to say farewell, +the snake was already swimming in the water. He had +grown much larger, nodded to the captain with his +head, and disappeared.</p> + +<p>Then there were doubts and questionings: “But +the river-god lives a thousand miles away from here, +how does he get to this place?”</p> + +<p>Said the captain: “He is so powerful that he can +get to any place, and besides, from where he dwells a +waterway leads to the sea. To come down that way +and swim to sea is something he can do in a moment’s +time!”</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: “The Spirits of the Yellow River.” The place of the old +river-god Ho Be (Count of the Stream), also mentioned in No. <a href="#LXIII">63</a>, +has to-day been taken by the Dai Wang in the popular belief. These +spirits are thought to have placed many hindrances in the way of the +erection of the railroad bridge across the Yellow River. The “spirit-tablet”: +images of the gods were first introduced in China by the +Buddhists. The old custom, which Confucianism and ancestor-worship +still follow, holds that the seat of the gods is a small wooden +tablet on which the name of the god to be honored is written. +Theatrical performances as religious services are as general in China +as they were in ancient Greece. Dsiningdschou is a district capital +on the Imperial Canal, near the Yellow River.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="XLV" id="XLV"></a>XLV<br /> +<br /> +THE DRAGON-PRINCESS</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">I</span>N the Sea of Dungting there is a hill, and in that +hill there is a hole, and this hole is so deep that it +has no bottom.</p> + +<p>Once a fisherman was passing there who slipped +and fell into the hole. He came to a country full of +winding ways which led over hill and dale for several +miles. Finally he reached a dragon-castle lying in a +great plain. There grew a green slime which reached +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> +to his knees. He went to the gate of the castle. It +was guarded by a dragon who spouted water which +dispersed in a fine mist. Within the gate lay a small +hornless dragon who raised his head, showed his claws, +and would not let him in.</p> + +<p>The fisherman spent several days in the cave, satisfying +his hunger with the green slime, which he found +edible and which tasted like rice-mush. At last he +found a way out again. He told the district mandarin +what had happened to him, and the latter reported the +matter to the emperor. The emperor sent for a wise +man and questioned him concerning it.</p> + +<p>The wise man said: “There are four paths in this +cave. One path leads to the south-west shore of the +Sea of Dungting, the second path leads to a valley in +the land of the four rivers, the third path ends in a +cave on the mountain of Lo-Fu and the fourth in an +island of the Eastern Sea. In this cave dwells the +seventh daughter of the Dragon-King of the Eastern +Sea, who guards his pearls and his treasure. It happened +once in the ancient days, that a fisherboy dived +into the water and brought up a pearl from beneath the +chin of a black dragon. The dragon was asleep, which +was the reason the fisherboy brought the pearl to the +surface without being harmed. The treasure which +the daughter of the Dragon-King has in charge is +made up of thousands and millions of such jewels. +Several thousands of small dragons watch over them +in her service. Dragons have the peculiarity of fighting +shy of wax. But they are fond of beautiful jade-stones, +and of kung-tsing, the hollowgreen wood, and +like to eat swallows. If one were to send a messenger +with a letter, it would be possible to obtain precious +pearls.”</p> + +<div class="figcenter ipadtop" style="width: 432px;"> +<a name="pearl_diver" id="pearl_diver"></a> +<img src="images/cfb07.jpg" width="432" height="600" +alt="The boy diving down through the water" /> +<p class="caption">“A FISHERBOY DIVED INTO THE WATER AND BROUGHT +UP A PEARL FROM BENEATH THE CHIN OF +A BLACK DRAGON.”</p> +<p class="subcapt">—<i>Page <a href="#Page_138">138</a></i></p> +</div> + +<p>The emperor was greatly pleased, and announced +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> +a large reward for the man who was competent to go +to the dragon-castle as his messenger.</p> + +<p>The first man to come forward was named So Pi-Lo. +But the wise man said: “A great-great-great-great-grandfather +of yours once slew more than a +hundred of the dragons of the Eastern Sea, and was +finally himself slain by the dragons. The dragons +are the enemies of your family and you cannot go.”</p> + +<p>Then came a man from Canton, Lo-Dsi-Tschun, with +his two brothers, who said that his ancestors had been +related to the Dragon-King. Hence they were well +liked by the dragons and well known to them. They +begged to be entrusted with the message.</p> + +<p>The wise man asked: “And have you still in your +possession the stone which compels the dragons to do +your will?”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said they, “we have brought it along with +us.”</p> + +<p>The wise man had them show him the stone; then he +spoke: “This stone is only obeyed by the dragons +who make clouds and send down the rain. It will not +do for the dragons who guard the pearls of the sea-king.” +Then he questioned them further: “Have +you the dragon-brain vapor?”</p> + +<p>When they admitted that they had not, the wise man +said: “How then will you compel the dragons to yield +their treasure?”</p> + +<p>And the emperor said: “What shall we do?”</p> + +<p>The wise man replied: “On the Western Ocean +sail foreign merchants who deal in dragon-brain vapor. +Some one must go to them and seek it from them. I +also know a holy man who is an adept in the art of +taming dragons, and who has prepared ten pounds of +the dragon-stone. Some one should be sent for that as +well.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> +The emperor sent out his messengers. They met +one of the holy man’s disciples and obtained two fragments +of dragon-stone from him.</p> + +<p>Said the wise man: “That is what we want!”</p> + +<p>Several more months went by, and at last a pill of +dragon-brain vapor had also been secured. The emperor +felt much pleased and had his jewelers carve two +little boxes of the finest jade. These were polished +with the ashes of the Wutung-tree. And he had an +essence prepared of the very best hollowgreen wood, +pasted with sea-fish lime, and hardened in the fire. +Of this two vases were made. Then the bodies and +the clothing of the messengers were rubbed with tree-wax, +and they were given five hundred roasted swallows +to take along with them.</p> + +<p>They went into the cave. When they reached the +dragon-castle, the little dragon who guarded the gate +smelled the tree-wax, so he crouched down and did them +no harm. They gave him a hundred roasted swallows +as a bribe to announce them to the daughter of the +Dragon-King. They were admitted to her presence +and offered her the jade caskets, the vases and the +four hundred roasted swallows as gifts. The dragon’s +daughter received them graciously, and they unfolded +the emperor’s letter.</p> + +<p>In the castle there was a dragon who was over a +thousand years old. He could turn himself into a +human being, and could interpret the language of +human beings. Through him the dragon’s daughter +learned that the emperor was sending her the gifts, +and she returned them with a gift of three great +pearls, seven smaller pearls and a whole bushel of ordinary +pearls. The messengers took leave, rode off +with their pearls on a dragon’s back, and in a moment +they had reached the banks of the Yangtze-kiang. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> +They made their way to Nanking, the imperial capital, +and there handed over their treasure of gems.</p> + +<p>The emperor was much pleased and showed them to +the wise man. He said: “Of the three great pearls +one is a divine wishing-pearl of the third class, and +two are black dragon-pearls of medium quality. Of +the seven smaller pearls two are serpent-pearls, and +five are mussel-pearls. The remaining pearls are in +part sea-crane pearls, in part snail and oyster-pearls. +They do not approach the great pearls in value, and yet +few will be found to equal them on earth.”</p> + +<p>The emperor also showed them to all his servants. +They, however, thought the wise man’s words all talk, +and did not believe what he said.</p> + +<p>Then the wise man said: “The radiance of wishing-pearls +of the first class is visible for forty miles, that +of the second class for twenty miles, and that of the +third for ten miles. As far as their radiance carries, +neither wind nor rain, thunder nor lightning, water, +fire nor weapons may reach. The pearls of the black +dragon are nine-colored and glow by night. Within +the circle of their light the poison of serpents and +worms is powerless. The serpent-pearls are seven-colored, +the mussel-pearls five-colored. Both shine by +night. Those most free from spots are the best. They +grow within the mussel, and increase and decrease in +size as the moon waxes and wanes.”</p> + +<p>Some one asked how the serpent and sea-crane +pearls could be told apart, and the wise man answered: +“The animals themselves recognize them.”</p> + +<p>Then the emperor selected a serpent-pearl and a +sea-crane pearl, put them together with a whole bushel +of ordinary pearls, and poured the lot out in the courtyard. +Then a large yellow serpent and a black crane +were fetched and placed among the pearls. At once the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> +crane took up a sea-crane pearl in his bill and began to +dance and sing and flutter around. But the serpent +snatched at the serpent-pearl, and wound himself about +it in many coils. And when the people saw this they +acknowledged the truth of the wise man’s words. As +regards the radiance of the larger and smaller +pearls it turned out, too, just as the wise man had said.</p> + +<p>In the dragon-castle the messengers had enjoyed +dainty fare, which tasted like flowers, herbs, ointment +and sugar. They had brought a remnant of it with +them to the capital; yet exposed to the air it had become +as hard as stone. The emperor commanded that these +fragments be preserved in the treasury. Then he bestowed +high rank and titles on the three brothers, and +made each one of them a present of a thousand rolls of +fine silk stuff. He also had investigated why it was +that the fisherman, when he chanced upon the cave, had +not been destroyed by the dragons. And it turned out +that his fishing clothes had been soaked in oil and +tree-wax. The dragons had dreaded the odor.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: As regards the Dragon-King of the Eastern Sea, see Nos. +<a href="#XVIII">18</a> and <a href="#LXXIV">74</a>. The pearl under the dragon’s chin comes from Dschuang +Dsi. With regard to So Pi-Lo and Lo-Dsi-Tschun, see No. <a href="#XLVI">46</a>.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="XLVI" id="XLVI"></a>XLVI<br /> +<br /> +HELP IN NEED</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">S</span>OME twenty miles east of Gingdschou lies the Lake +of the Maidens. It is several miles square and +surrounded on all sides by thick green thickets and tall +forests. Its waters are clear and dark-blue. Often +all kinds of wondrous creatures show themselves in the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> +lake. The people of the vicinity have erected a temple +there for the Dragon Princess. And in times of +drought all make pilgrimage there to offer up prayers.</p> + +<p>West of Gingdschou, two hundred miles away, is +another lake, whose god is named Tschauna, and who +performs many miracles. During the time of the Tang +dynasty there lived in Gingdschou a mandarin by name +of Dschou Bau. While he was in office it chanced that +in the fifth month clouds suddenly arose in the sky, +piling themselves up like mountains, among which +wriggled dragons and serpents; they rolled up and +down between the two seas. Tempest and rain, thunder +and lightning arose so that houses fell to pieces, trees +were torn up by the roots, and much damage was done +the crops. Dschou Bau took the blame upon himself, +and prayed to the heavens that his people might be +pardoned.</p> + +<p>On the fifth day of the sixth month he sat in his hall +of audience and gave judgment; and suddenly he felt +quite weary and sleepy. He took off his hat and laid +down on the cushions. No sooner had he closed his +eyes than he saw a warrior in helmet and armor, with a +halberd in his hand, standing on the steps leading to +the hall, who announced: “A lady is waiting outside +who wishes to enter!” Dschou Bau asked him: “Who +are you?” The answer was: “I am your door-keeper. +In the invisible world I already have been performing +this duty for many years.” Meanwhile two figures clad +in green came up the steps, knelt before him and said: +“Our mistress has come to visit you!” Dschou Bau +rose. He beheld lovely clouds, from which fell a fine +rain, and strange fragrances enchanted him. Suddenly +he saw a lady clad in a simple gown, but of surpassing +beauty, float down from on high, with a retinue +of many female servants. These were all neat and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> +clean in appearance, and waited upon the lady as +though she were a princess. When the latter entered +the hall she raised her arms in greeting. Dschou Bau +came forward to meet her and invited her to be seated. +From all sides bright-colored clouds came floating in, +and the courtyard was filled with a purple ether. +Dschou Bau had wine and food brought and entertained +them all in the most splendid way. But the +goddess sat staring straight before her with wrinkled +brows, and seemed to feel very sad. Then she rose +and said with a blush: “I have been living in this +neighborhood for many years. A wrong which has +been done me, permits me to pass the bounds of what +is fitting, and encourages me to ask a favor of you. +Yet I do not know whether you wish to save me!”</p> + +<p>“May I hear what it is all about,” answered Dschou +Bau. “If I can help you, I will be glad to place myself +at your disposal.”</p> + +<p>The goddess said: “For hundreds of years my family +has been living in the depth of the Eastern Sea. +But we were unfortunate in that our treasures excited +the jealousy of men. The ancestor of Pi-Lo nearly +destroyed our entire clan by fire. My ancestors had to +fly and hide themselves. And not long ago, our enemy +Pi-Lo himself wanted to deliver an imperial letter in +the cave of the Sea of Dungting. Under the pretext +of begging for pearls and treasures, he wished to enter +the dragon-castle and destroy our family. Fortunately +a wise man saw through his treacherous purpose, and +Lo-Dsi-Tschun and his brothers were sent in his stead. +Yet my people did not feel safe from future attacks. +For this reason they withdrew to the distant West. +My father has done much good to mankind and hence +is highly honored there. I am his ninth daughter. +When I was sixteen I was wedded to the youngest son +of the Rock-Dragon. But my good husband had a fiery +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> +temper, which often caused him to offend against the +laws of courtesy, and in less than a year’s time the +punishment of heaven was his portion. I was left +alone and returned to the home of my parents. My +father wished me to marry again; but I had promised +to remain true to the memory of my husband, and made +a vow not to comply with my father’s wish. My parents +grew angry, and I was obliged to retire to this +place in view of their anger. That was three years +ago. Who could imagine that the contemptible +dragon Tschauna, who was seeking a wife for his +youngest brother, would try to force the wedding-gift +upon me? I refused to accept it; but Tschauna +knew how to gain his point with my father, and was +determined to carry out his intention. My father, regardless +of my wishes, promised me to him. And +then the dragon Tschauna appeared with his youngest +brother and wanted to carry me off by sheer force of +arms. I encountered him with fifty faithful followers, +and we fought on the meadow before the city. We +were defeated, and I am more than ever afraid that +Tschauna will attempt to drag me off. So I have +plucked up courage to beg you to lend me your mercenaries +so that I may beat off my foes and remain as +I am. If you will help me I will be grateful to you till +the end of my days.”</p> + +<p>Dschou Bau answered: “You come from a noble +family. Have you no kinsfolk who will hasten to help +you in your need, that you are compelled to turn to +a mortal man?”</p> + +<p>“It is true that my kinsfolk are far-famed and numerous. +If I were to send out letters and they came to my +aid, they would rub out that scaly scoundrel Tschauna +as one might rub garlic. But my deceased husband +offended the high heavens and he has not yet been +pardoned. And my parents’ will, too, is opposed to +mine, so that I dare not call upon my kinsfolk for help. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> +You will understand my need.” Then Dschou Bau +promised to help her, and the princess thanked him +and departed.</p> + +<p>When he awoke, he sighed long thinking over his +strange experience. And the following day he sent +off fifteen hundred soldiers to stand guard by the Lake +of the Maidens.</p> + +<p>On the seventh day of the sixth month Dschou +Bau rose early. Darkness still lay before the windows, +yet it seemed to him as though he could glimpse a man +before the curtain. He asked who it might be. The +man said: “I am the princess’s adviser. Yesterday +you were kind enough to send soldiers to aid us in our +distress. But they were all living men, and such cannot +fight against invisible spirits. You will have to send +us soldiers of yours who have died, if you wish to aid +us.”</p> + +<p>Dschou Bau reflected for a time, and then it occurred +to him that of course such must be the case. So he had +his field-secretary examine the roster to see how many +of his soldiers had fallen in battle. And the latter +counted up to some two thousand foot-soldiers and five-hundred +horsemen. Dschou Bau appointed his deceased +officer Mong Yuan as their leader, and wrote his +commands on a paper which he burned, in order thus +to place them at the princess’s disposal. The living +soldiers he recalled. When they were being reviewed +in the courtyard after their return, a soldier suddenly +fell unconscious. It was not until early the following +morning that he came to his senses again. He was +questioned and replied: “I saw a man clad in red +who approached me and said: ‘Our princess is grateful +for the aid your master has so kindly given her. +Yet she still has a request to make and has asked me +to call you.’ I followed him to the temple. The princess +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> +bade me come forward and said to me: ‘I thank +your master from my heart for sending me the ghost +soldiers, but Mong Yuan, their leader is incapable. +Yesterday the robbers came with three thousand men, +and Mong Yuan was beaten by them. When you return +and again see your master, say that I earnestly beg +him to send me a good general. Perhaps that will save +me in my need.’ Then she had me led back again +and I regained consciousness.”</p> + +<p>When Dschou Bau had heard these words, which +seemed to fit strangely well with what he had dreamed, +he thought he would try to see if this were really the +case. Therefore he chose his victorious general +Dschong Tschong-Fu to take the place of Mong Yuan. +That evening he burned incense, offered wine and +handed over to the princess this captain’s soul.</p> + +<p>On the twenty-sixth of the month news came from +the general’s camp that he had suddenly died at midnight +on the thirteenth. Dschou Bau was frightened, +and sent a man to bring him a report. The latter informed +him that the general’s heart had hardly ceased +to beat, and that, in spite of the hot summer weather, +his body was free from any trace of decay. So the +order was given not to bury him.</p> + +<p>Then one night an icy, spectral wind arose, which +whirled up sand and stones, broke trees and tore down +houses. The standing corn in the fields was blown +down. The storm lasted all day. Finally, the crash +of a terrific thunderbolt was heard, and then the skies +cleared and the clouds scattered. That very hour the +dead general began to breathe painfully on his couch, +and when his attendants came to him, he had returned +to life again.</p> + +<p>They questioned him and he told them: “First I +saw a man in a purple gown riding a black horse, who +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> +came up with a great retinue. He dismounted before +the door. In his hand he held a decree of appointment +which he gave me, saying: ‘Our princess begs you +most respectfully to become her general. I hope that +you will not refuse.’ Then he brought forth gifts +and heaped them up before the steps. Jade-stones, brocades, +and silken garments, saddles, horses, helmets +and suits of mail—he heaped them all up in the courtyard. +I wished to decline, but this he would not allow, +and urged me to enter his chariot with him. We drove +a hundred miles and met a train of three-hundred +armored horsemen who had ridden out to escort me. +They led me to a great city, and before the city a tent +had been erected in which played a band of musicians. +A high official welcomed me. When I entered the city +the onlookers were crowded together like walls. Servants +ran to and fro bearing orders. We passed +through more than a dozen gates before we reached +the princess. There I was requested to dismount and +change my clothes in order to enter the presence of +the princess, for she wished to receive me as her guest. +But I thought this too great an honor and greeted her +below, on the steps. She, however, invited me to seat +myself near her in the hall. She sat upright in all her +incomparable beauty, surrounded by female attendants +adorned with the richest jewels. These plucked lute-strings +and played flutes. A throng of servitors stood +about in golden girdles with purple tassels, ready to +carry out her commands. Countless crowds were assembled +before the palace. Five or six visitors sat +in a circle about the princess, and a general led me to +my place. The princess said to me: ‘I have begged +you to come here in order to entrust the command of +my army to you. If you will break the power of my +foe I will reward you richly.’ I promised to obey her. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> +Then wine was brought in, and the banquet was served +to the sound of music. While we were at table a messenger +entered: ‘The robber Tschauna has invaded +our land with ten thousand footmen and horsemen, +and is approaching our city by various roads. His +way is marked by columns of fire and smoke!’ The +guests all grew pale with terror when they heard the +news. And the princess said: ‘This is the foe because +of whom I have sought your aid. Save me in +my hour of need!’ Then she gave me two chargers, +a suit of golden armor, and the insignia of a commander-in-chief, +and bowed to me. I thanked her and went, +called together the captains, had the army mustered +and rode out before the city. At several decisive points +I placed troops in ambush. The enemy was already +approaching in great force, careless and unconcerned, +intoxicated by his former victories. I sent out my most +untrustworthy soldiers in advance, who allowed themselves +to be beaten in order to lure him on. Light-armed +men then went out against him, and retreated +in skirmish order. And thus he fell into my ambush. +Drums and kettledrums sounded together, the ring +closed around them on all sides and the robber army +suffered a grievous defeat. The dead lay about like +hemp-stalks, but little Tschauna succeeded in breaking +through the circle. I sent out the light horsemen +after him, and they seized him before the tent of the +enemy’s commanding general. Hastily I sent word +to the princess, and she reviewed the prisoners before +the palace. All the people, high and low, streamed +together, to acclaim her. Little Tschauna was about +to be executed in the market place when a messenger +came spurring up with a command from the +princess’s father to pardon him. The princess did +not dare to disobey. So he was dismissed to his home +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> +after he had sworn to give up all thought of realizing +his traitorous plans. I was loaded with benefits as a +reward for my victory. I was invested with an estate +with three thousand peasants, and was given a +palace, horses and wagons, all sorts of jewels, men-servants +and women-servants, gardens and forests, +banners and suits of mail. And my subordinate +officers, too, were duly rewarded. On the following +day a banquet was held, and the princess herself +filled a goblet, sent it to me by one of her attendants, +and said: ‘Widowed early in life, I opposed the +wishes of my stern father and fled to this spot. Here +the infamous Tschauna harassed me and well-nigh put +me to shame. Had not your master’s great kindness +and your own courage come to my assistance, hard +would have been my lot!’ Then she began to thank +me and her tears of emotion flowed like a stream. I +bowed and begged her to grant me leave of absence, so +that I might look after my family. I was given a +month’s leave and the following day she dismissed me +with a splendid retinue. Before the city a pavilion +had been erected in which I drank the stirrup-cup. +Then I rode away and when I arrived before our own +gate a thunder-peal crashed and I awoke.”</p> + +<p>Thereupon the general wrote an account of what +had happened to Dschou Bau, in which he conveyed +the princess’s thanks. Then he paid no further heed +to worldly matters, but set his house in order and +turned it over to his wife and son. When a month +had passed, he died without any sign of illness.</p> + +<p>That same day one of his officers was out walking. +Suddenly he saw a heavy cloud of dust rising along +the highway, while flags and banners darkened the sun. +A thousand knights were escorting a man who sat his +horse proudly and like a hero. And when the officer +looked at his face, it was the general Dschong Tschong-Fu. +Hastily he stepped to the edge of the road, in +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> +order to allow the cavalcade to pass, and watched it +ride by. The horsemen took the way to the Lake of +the Maidens, where they disappeared.</p> + +<div class="note"><p>Note: The expression: “Dschou Bau took the blame upon himself” +is explained by the fact that the territorial mandarin is responsible +for his district, just as the emperor is for the whole empire. Since +extraordinary natural phenomena are the punishment of heaven, +their occurrence supposed the guilt of man. This train of thought +is in accord with the idea, as in this case, that differences occurring +among the spirits of the air lead to misfortune, since where virtue is +in the ascendant in the mortal world, the spirits are prevented from +giving way to such demonstrations. “Drums and kettledrums +sounded together”: the kettledrums sounded the attack, and the +drums the retreat. The simultaneous sounding of both signals was +intended to throw the enemy’s army into disorder.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="XLVII" id="XLVII"></a>XLVII<br /> +<br /> +THE DISOWNED PRINCESS</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">A</span>T the time that the Tang dynasty was reigning +there lived a man named Liu I, who had failed +to pass his examinations for the doctorate. So he +traveled home again. He had gone six or seven miles +when a bird flew up in a field, and his horse shied and +ran ten miles before he could stop him. There he saw +a woman who was herding sheep on a hillside. He +looked at her and she was lovely to look upon, yet her +face bore traces of hidden grief. Astonished, he asked +her what was the matter.</p> + +<p>The woman began to sob and said: “Fortune has +forsaken me, and I am in need and ashamed. Since +you are kind enough to ask I will tell you all. I am the +youngest daughter of the Dragon-King of the Sea of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> +Dungting, and was married to the second son of the +Dragon-King of Ging Dschou. Yet my husband ill-treated +and disowned me. I complained to my step-parents, +but they loved their son blindly and did +nothing. And when I grew insistent they both became +angry, and I was sent out here to herd sheep.” +When she had done, the woman burst into tears and +lost all control of herself. Then she continued: “The +Sea of Dungting is far from here; yet I know that +you will have to pass it on your homeward journey. +I should like to give you a letter to my father, but I +do not know whether you would take it.”</p> + +<p>Liu I answered: “Your words have moved my +heart. Would that I had wings and could fly away with +you. I will be glad to deliver the letter to your father. +Yet the Sea of Dungting is long and broad, and how am +I to find him?”</p> + +<p>“On the southern shore of the Sea stands an orange-tree,” +answered the woman, “which people call the tree +of sacrifice. When you get there you must loosen +your girdle and strike the tree with it three times in +succession. Then some one will appear whom you +must follow. When you see my father, tell him in +what need you found me, and that I long greatly for +his help.”</p> + +<p>Then she fetched out a letter from her breast and +gave it to Liu I. She bowed to him, looked toward the +east and sighed, and, unexpectedly, the sudden tears +rolled from the eyes of Liu I as well. He took the letter +and thrust it in his bag.</p> + +<p>Then he asked her: “I cannot understand why you +have to herd sheep. Do the gods slaughter cattle like +men?”</p> + +<p>“These are not ordinary sheep,” answered the +woman; “these are rain-sheep.”</p> + +<p>“But what are rain-sheep?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> +“They are the thunder-rams,” replied the woman.</p> + +<p>And when he looked more closely he noticed that these +sheep walked around in proud, savage fashion, quite +different from ordinary sheep.</p> + +<p>Liu I added: “But if I deliver the letter for you, +and you succeed in getting back to the Sea of Dungting +in safety, then you must not use me like a stranger.”</p> + +<p>The woman answered: “How could I use you as a +stranger? You shall be my dearest friend.”</p> + +<p>And with these words they parted.</p> + +<p>In course of a month Liu I reached the Sea of +Dungting, asked for the orange-tree and, sure enough, +found it. He loosened his girdle, and struck the tree +with it three times. At once a warrior emerged from +the waves of the sea, and asked: “Whence come you, +honored guest?”</p> + +<p>Liu I said: “I have come on an important mission +and want to see the King.”</p> + +<p>The warrior made a gesture in the direction of the +water, and the waves turned into a solid street along +which he led Liu I. The dragon-castle rose before +them with its thousand gates, and magic flowers and +rare grasses bloomed in luxurious profusion. The +warrior bade him wait at the side of a great hall.</p> + +<p>Liu I asked: “What is this place called?”</p> + +<p>“It is the Hall of the Spirits,” was the reply.</p> + +<p>Liu I looked about him: all the jewels known to earth +were there in abundance. The columns were of white +quartz, inlaid with green jade; the seats were made of +coral, the curtains of mountain crystal as clear as water, +the windows of burnished glass, adorned with rich +lattice-work. The beams of the ceiling, ornamented +with amber, rose in wide arches. An exotic fragrance +filled the hall, whose outlines were lost in darkness.</p> + +<p>Liu I had waited for the king a long time. To all +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> +his questions the warrior replied: “Our master is +pleased at this moment to talk with the priest of the +sun up on the coral-tower about the sacred book of the +fire. He will, no doubt, soon be through.”</p> + +<p>Liu I went on to ask: “Why is he interested in the +sacred book of the fire?”</p> + +<p>The reply was: “Our master is a dragon. The +dragons are powerful through the power of water. +They can cover hill and dale with a single wave. The +priest is a human being. Human beings are powerful +through fire. They can burn the greatest palaces by +means of a torch. Fire and water fight each other, +being different in their nature. For that reason our +master is now talking with the priest, in order to find +a way in which fire and water may complete each +other.”</p> + +<p>Before they had quite finished there appeared a man +in a purple robe, bearing a scepter of jade in his hand.</p> + +<p>The warrior said: “This is my master!”</p> + +<p>Liu I bowed before him.</p> + +<p>The king asked: “Are you not a living human being? +What has brought you here?”</p> + +<p>Liu I gave his name and explained: “I have been +to the capital and there failed to pass my examination. +When I was passing by the Ging Dschou River, I +saw your daughter, whom you love, herding sheep in +the wilderness. The winds tousled her hair, and the +rain drenched her. I could not bear to see her trouble +and spoke to her. She complained that her husband +had cast her out and wept bitterly. Then she gave me +a letter for you. And that is why I have come to visit +you, O King!”</p> + +<p>With these words he fetched out his letter and handed +it to the king. When the latter had read it, he hid his +face in his sleeve and said with a sigh: “It is my own +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> +fault. I picked out a worthless husband for her. Instead +of securing her happiness I have brought her +to shame in a distant land. You are a stranger and +yet you have been willing to help her in her distress, +for which I am very grateful to you.” Then he once +more began to sob, and all those about him shed tears. +Thereupon the monarch gave the letter to a servant +who took it into the interior of the palace; and soon +the sound of loud lamentations rose from the inner +rooms.</p> + +<p>The king was alarmed and turned to an official: +“Go and tell them within not to weep so loudly! I +am afraid that Tsian Tang may hear them.”</p> + +<p>“Who is Tsian Tang?” asked Liu I.</p> + +<p>“He is my beloved brother,” answered the king. +“Formerly he was the ruler of the Tsian-Tang River, +but now he has been deposed.”</p> + +<p>Liu I asked: “Why should the matter be kept from +him?”</p> + +<p>“He is so wild and uncontrollable,” was the reply, +“that I fear he would cause great damage. The deluge +which covered the earth for nine long years in the +time of the Emperor Yau was the work of his anger. +Because he fell out with one of the kings of heaven, +he caused a great deluge that rose and covered the tops +of five high mountains. Then the king of heaven grew +angry with him, and gave him to me to guard. I had +to chain him to a column in my palace.”</p> + +<p>Before he had finished speaking a tremendous turmoil +arose, which split the skies and made the earth +tremble, so that the whole palace began to rock, and +smoke and clouds rose hissing and puffing. A red +dragon, a thousand feet long, with flashing eyes, blood-red +tongue, scarlet scales and a fiery beard came surging +up. He was dragging along through the air +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> +the column to which he had been bound, together with +its chain. Thunders and lightnings roared and darted +around his body; sleet and snow, rain and hail-stones +whirled about him in confusion. There was a crash +of thunder, and he flew up to the skies and disappeared.</p> + +<p>Liu I fell to earth in terror. The king helped him +up with his own hand and said: “Do not be afraid! +That is my brother, who is hastening to Ging Dschou +in his rage. We will soon have good news!”</p> + +<p>Then he had food and drink brought in for his guest. +When the goblet had thrice made the rounds, a gentle +breeze began to murmur and a fine rain fell. A youth +clad in a purple gown and wearing a lofty hat entered. +A sword hung at his side. His appearance was manly +and heroic. Behind him walked a girl radiantly beautiful, +wearing a robe of misty fragrance. And when +Liu I looked at her, lo, it was the dragon-princess +whom he had met on his way! A throng of maidens in +rosy garments received her, laughing and giggling, +and led her into the interior of the palace. The king, +however, presented Liu I to the youth and said: +“This is Tsian Tang, my brother!”</p> + +<p>Tsian Tang thanked him for having brought the +message. Then he turned to his brother and said: +“I have fought against the accursed dragons and have +utterly defeated them!”</p> + +<p>“How many did you slay?”</p> + +<p>“Six hundred thousand.”</p> + +<p>“Were any fields damaged?”</p> + +<p>“The fields were damaged for eight hundred miles +around.”</p> + +<p>“And where is the heartless husband?”</p> + +<p>“I ate him alive!”</p> + +<div class="figcenter ipadtop" style="width: 432px;"> +<a name="red_amber" id="red_amber"></a> +<img src="images/cfb08.jpg" width="432" height="600" +alt="Tsian Tang holds out the platter" /> +<p class="caption">“TSIAN TANG BROUGHT OUT A PLATTER OF RED AMBER +ON WHICH LAY A CARBUNCLE.”</p> +<p class="subcapt">—<i>Page <a href="#Page_157">157</a></i></p> +</div> + +<p>Then the king was alarmed and said: “What the +fickle boy did was not to be endured, it is true. But +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> +still you were a little too rough with him; in future +you must not do anything of the sort again.” And +Tsian Tang promised not to.</p> + +<p>That evening Liu I was feasted at the castle. Music +and dancing lent charm to the banquet. A thousand +warriors with banners and spears in their hands stood +at attention. Trombones and trumpets resounded, and +drums and kettledrums thundered and rattled as the +warriors danced a war-dance. The music expressed +how Tsian Tang had broken through the ranks of the +enemy, and the hair of the guest who listened to it rose +on his head in terror. Then, again, there was heard +the music of strings, flutes and little golden bells. +A thousand maidens in crimson and green silk danced +around. The return of the princess was also told in +tones. The music sounded like a song of sadness and +plaining, and all who heard it were moved to tears. +The King of the Sea of Dungting was filled with joy. +He raised his goblet and drank to the health of his +guest, and all sorrow departed from them. Both rulers +thanked Liu I in verses, and Liu I answered them in +a rimed toast. The crowd of courtiers in the palace-hall +applauded. Then the King of the Sea of Dungting +drew forth a blue cloud-casket in which was the horn +of a rhinoceros, which divides the water. Tsian Tang +brought out a platter of red amber on which lay a +carbuncle. These they presented to their guest, and +the other inmates of the palace also heaped up embroideries, +brocades and pearls by his side. Surrounded +by shimmer and light Liu I sat there, smiling, and +bowed his thanks to all sides. When the banquet was +ended he slept in the Palace of Frozen Radiance.</p> + +<p>On the following day another banquet was held. +Tsian Tang, who was not quite himself, sat carelessly +on his seat and said: “The Princess of the Dungting +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> +Sea is handsome and delicately fashioned. She has +had the misfortune to be disowned by her husband, and +to-day her marriage is annulled. I should like to find +another husband for her. If you were agreeable it +would be to your advantage. But if you were not +willing to marry her, you may go your way, and should +we ever meet again we will not know each other.”</p> + +<p>Liu I was angered by the careless way in which Tsian +Tang spoke to him. The blood rose to his head and he +replied: “I served as a messenger, because I felt +sorry for the princess, but not in order to gain an advantage +for myself. To kill a husband and carry off a +wife is something an honest man does not do. And +since I am only an ordinary man, I prefer to die rather +than do as you say.”</p> + +<p>Tsian Tang rose, apologized and said: “My words +were over-hasty. I hope you will not take them ill!” +And the King of the Dungting Sea also spoke kindly to +him, and censured Tsian Tang because of his rude +speech. So there was no more said about marriage.</p> + +<p>On the following day Liu I took his leave, and the +Queen of the Dungting Sea gave a farewell banquet in +his honor.</p> + +<p>With tears the queen said to Liu I: “My daughter +owes you a great debt of gratitude, and we have not had +an opportunity to make it up to you. Now you are going +away and we see you go with heavy hearts!”</p> + +<p>Then she ordered the princess to thank Liu I.</p> + +<p>The princess stood there, blushing, bowed to him and +said: “We will probably never see each other again!” +Then tears choked her voice.</p> + +<p>It is true that Liu I had resisted the stormy urging +of her uncle, but when he saw the princess standing before +him in all the charm of her loveliness, he felt sad +at heart; yet he controlled himself and went his way. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> +The treasures which he took with him were incalculable. +The king and his brother themselves escorted +him as far as the river.</p> + +<p>When, on his return home, he sold no more than a +hundredth part of what he had received, his fortune +already ran into the millions, and he was wealthier +than all his neighbors. He decided to take a wife, and +heard of a widow who lived in the North with her +daughter. Her father had become a Taoist in his later +years and had vanished in the clouds without ever returning. +The mother lived in poverty with the daughter; +yet since the girl was beautiful beyond measure +she was seeking a distinguished husband for her.</p> + +<p>Liu I was content to take her, and the day of the +wedding was set. And when he saw his bride unveiled +on the evening of her wedding day, she looked just like +the dragon-princess. He asked her about it, but she +merely smiled and said nothing.</p> + +<p>After a time heaven sent them a son. Then she told +her husband: “To-day I will confess to you that I +am truly the Princess of Dungting Sea. When you had +rejected my uncle’s proposal and gone away, I fell ill +of longing, and was near death. My parents wanted to +send for you, but they feared you might take exception +to my family. And so it was that I married you disguised +as a human maiden. I had not ventured to tell +you until now, but since heaven has sent us a son, I +hope that you will love his mother as well.”</p> + +<p>Then Liu I awoke as though from a deep sleep, and +from that time on both were very fond of each other.</p> + +<p>One day his wife said: “If you wish to stay with me +eternally, then we cannot continue to dwell in the world +of men. We dragons live ten thousand years, and you +shall share our longevity. Come back with me to the +Sea of Dungting!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> +Ten years passed and no one knew where Liu I, who +had disappeared, might be. Then, by accident, a relative +went sailing across the Sea of Dungting. Suddenly +a blue mountain rose up out of the water.</p> + +<p>The seamen cried in alarm: “There is no mountain +on this spot! It must be a water-demon!”</p> + +<p>While they were still pointing to it and talking, the +mountain drew near the ship, and a gaily-colored boat +slid from its summit into the water. A man sat in +the middle, and fairies stood at either side of him. +The man was Liu I. He beckoned to his cousin, and +the latter drew up his garments and stepped into the +boat with him. But when he had entered the boat it +turned into a mountain. On the mountain stood a +splendid castle, and in the castle stood Liu I, surrounded +with radiance, and with the music of stringed +instruments floating about him.</p> + +<p>They greeted each other, and Liu I said to his cousin: +“We have been parted no more than a moment, and +your hair is already gray!”</p> + +<p>His cousin answered: “You are a god and blessed: +I have only a mortal body. Thus fate has decreed.”</p> + +<p>Then Liu I gave him fifty pills and said: “Each +pill will extend your life for the space of a year. When +you have lived the tale of these years, come to me and +dwell no longer in the earthly world of dust, where +there is nothing but toil and trouble.”</p> + +<p>Then he took him back across the sea and disappeared.</p> + +<p>His cousin, however, retired from the world, and +fifty years later, and when he had taken all the pills, +he disappeared and was never seen again.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: The outcast princess is represented as “herding sheep.” In +Chinese the word sheep is often used as an image for clouds. (Sheep +and goats are designated by the same word in Chinese.) Tsian +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> +Tang is the name of a place used for the name of the god of that +place. The deluge is the flood which the great Yu regulated as minister +of the Emperor Yau. It is here represented in an exaggerated +sense, as a deluge.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="XLVIII" id="XLVIII"></a>XLVIII<br /> +<br /> +FOX-FIRE</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>NCE upon a time there was a strong young +farmer who came home late one evening from +market. His way led him past the gardens of a +wealthy gentleman, in which stood a number of tall +buildings. Suddenly he saw something shining floating +in the air inside the gardens, something which +glowed like a ball of crystal. He was astonished, and +climbed the wall around the gardens, but there was not +a human being in sight; all he saw was, at a distance, +something which appeared to be a dog, looking up at +the moon. And whenever it blew its breath out a ball +of fire came out of its mouth, and rose to the moon. +And whenever it drew its breath in the ball sank down +again, and it caught it in its jaws. And so it went on +without a stop. Then the farmer realized that it was a +fox, who was preparing the elixir of life. He hid +in the grass and waited until the ball of fire came down +again, at about the height of his own head. Then he +stepped hastily from his hiding-place, took it away and +at once swallowed it. And he could feel it glow as it +passed down his throat into his stomach. When the +fox saw what had happened he grew angry. He looked +furiously at the farmer, but feared his strength. For +this reason he did not dare attack him, but went +angrily on his way.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> +From that time on the farmer-boy could make himself +invisible, was able to see ghosts and devils, and had +intercourse with the spirit-world. In cases of sickness, +when people lay unconscious, he could call back +their souls, and if some one had committed a sin he +could plead for them. He earned much money owing +to these gifts.</p> + +<p>When he reached his fiftieth year, he withdrew from +all things and would no longer exercise his arts. One +summer evening he was sitting in his courtyard, enjoying +the cool air. While there he drank a number of +goblets of wine, and by midnight had fallen fast +asleep. Suddenly he awoke, feeling ill. It seemed as +though some one were patting him on the back, and before +he knew it, the ball of fire had leaped out from his +throat. At once a hand reached for it and a voice +said: “For thirty long years you kept my treasure +from me, and from a poor farmer-lad you have grown +to be a wealthy man. Now you have enough, and I +would like to have my fire-ball back again!”</p> + +<p>Then the man knew what had happened, but the fox +was gone.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: The thought underlying the story is the belief that the fox +prepares the elixir of life out of his own breath, which he allows to +rise to the moon. If a thief can rob him of the elixir he gains +supernatural powers.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163"><!-- unnumbered page --></a></span></p> + +<h2 class="padtop">GHOST STORIES</h2> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164"><!-- blank page --></a></span></p> + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span></p> + +<h3 class="padtop"><a name="XLIX" id="XLIX"></a>XLIX<br /> +<br /> +THE TALKING SILVER FOXES</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">T</span>HE silver foxes resemble other foxes, but are yellow, +fire-red or white in color. They know how to +influence human beings, too. There is a kind of silver +fox which can learn to speak like a man in a year’s time. +These foxes are called “Talking Foxes.”</p> + +<p>South-west of the bay of Kaiutschou there is a +mountain by the edge of the sea, shaped like a tower, +and hence known as Tower Mountain. On the mountain +there is an old temple with the image of a goddess, +who is known as the Old Mother of Tower Mountain. +When children fall ill in the surrounding villages, +the magicians often give orders that paper figures of +them be burned at her altar, or little lime images of +them be placed around it. And for this reason the +altar and its surroundings are covered with hundreds +of figures of children made in lime. Paper flowers, +shoes and clothing are also brought to the Old Mother, +and lie in a confusion of colors. The pilgrimage festivals +take place on the third day of the third month, +and the ninth day of the ninth month, and then there +are theatrical performances, and the holy writings +are read. And there is also an annual fair. The girls +and women of the neighborhood burn incense and pray +to the goddess. Parents who have no children go there +and pick out one of the little children made of lime, +and tie a red thread around its neck, or even secretly +break off a small bit of its body, dissolve it in water +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> +and drink it. Then they pray quietly that a child may +be sent them.</p> + +<p>Behind the temple is a great cave where, in former +times, some talking foxes used to live. They would +even come out and seat themselves on the point of a +steep rock by the wayside. When a wanderer came +by they would begin to talk to him in this fashion: +“Wait a bit, neighbor; first smoke a pipe!” The +traveler would look around in astonishment, to see +where the voice came from, and would become very +much frightened. If he did not happen to be exceptionally +brave, he would begin to perspire with terror, +and run away. Then the fox would laugh: “Hi hi!”</p> + +<p>Once a farmer was plowing on the side of the +mountain. When he looked up he saw a man with a +straw hat, wearing a mantle of woven grass and carrying +a pick across his shoulder coming along the way.</p> + +<p>“Neighbor Wang,” said he, “first smoke a pipeful +and take a little rest! Then I will help you plow.”</p> + +<p>Then he called out “Hu!” the way farmers do when +they talk to their cattle.</p> + +<p>The farmer looked at him more closely and saw then +that he was a talking fox. He waited for a favorable +opportunity, and when it came gave him a lusty blow +with his ox-whip. He struck home, for the fox +screamed, leaped into the air and ran away. His straw +hat, his mantle of woven grass and the rest he left lying +on the ground. Then the farmer saw that the straw +hat was just woven out of potato-leaves; he had cut it +in two with his whip. The mantle was made of oak-leaves, +tied together with little blades of grass. And +the pick was only the stem of a kau-ling plant, to +which a bit of brick had been fastened.</p> + +<p>Not long after, a woman in a neighboring village +became possessed. A picture of the head priest of the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> +Taoists was hung up in her room, but the evil spirit +did not depart. Since there were none who could +exorcise devils in the neighborhood, and the trouble +she gave was unendurable, the woman’s relatives decided +to send to the temple of the God of War and +beg for aid.</p> + +<p>But when the fox heard of it he said: “I am not +afraid of your Taoist high-priest nor of your God of +War; the only person I fear is your neighbor Wang in +the Eastern village, who once struck me cruelly with +his whip.”</p> + +<p>This suited the people to a T. They sent to the +Eastern village, and found out who Wang was. And +Wang took his ox-whip and entered the house of the +possessed woman.</p> + +<p>Then he said in a deep voice: “Where are you? +Where are you? I have been on your trail for a long +time. And now, at last, I have caught you!”</p> + +<p>With that he snapped his whip.</p> + +<p>The fox hissed and spat and flew out of the window.</p> + +<p>They had been telling stories about the talking fox +of Tower Mountain for more than a hundred years +when one fine day, a skilful archer came to that part +of the country who saw a creature like a fox, with a +fiery-red pelt, whose back was striped with gray. It +was lying under a tree. The archer aimed and shot +off its hind foot.</p> + +<p>At once it said in a human voice: “I brought myself +into this danger because of my love for sleep; +but none may escape their fate! If you capture me +you will get at the most no more than five thousand +pieces of copper for my pelt. Why not let me go instead? +I will reward you richly, so that all your +poverty will come to an end.”</p> + +<p>But the archer would not listen to him. He killed +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> +him, skinned him and sold his pelt; and, sure enough, +he received five thousand pieces of copper for it.</p> + +<p>From that time on the fox-spirit ceased to show itself.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: The silver fox is known in Chinese as “Pi,” the same word +also being used for “panthers,” since this legendary beast partakes of +the nature of both animals. “The Old Mother” is really the mother-goddess +of the Taischan. But in other localities she is chiefly +honored as a child-giving goddess. “A picture of the head priest of +the Taoists”: Talismans painted by the head priest of the Taoists +or the Taoist pope, the so-called “Master of the Heavens,” (Tian +Schi) have special virtues against all kinds of sorcery and enchantment. +The war god Guan Di also is appealed to as a savior in all +sorts of emergencies.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="L" id="L"></a>L<br /> +<br /> +THE CONSTABLE</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">I</span>N a city in the neighborhood of Kaiutschou there +once lived a constable by the name of Dung. One +day when he returned from a hunt after thieves the +twilight had already begun to fall. So before he +waded through the stream that flowed through the city +he sat down on the bank, lit a pipe and took off his +shoes. When he looked up, he suddenly saw a man in +a red hat dressed as a constable crouching beside him.</p> + +<p>Astonished, he inquired: “Who are you? Your +clothes indicate that you are a member of our profession, +but I have never yet seen you among the men +of our local force. Tell me, pray, whence you come?”</p> + +<p>The other answered: “I am weary, having come a +long journey, and would like to enjoy a pipeful of +tobacco in your company. I am sure you will not object +to that.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> +Dung handed him a pipe and tobacco.</p> + +<p>But the other constable said: “I do not need them. +Just you keep on smoking. It is enough for me to enjoy +the odor.”</p> + +<p>So they chatted awhile together, and together waded +through the stream. And gradually they became quite +confidential and the stranger said: “I will be quite +frank with you. I am the head constable of the Nether +World, and am subject to the Lord of the Great Mountain. +You yourself are a constable of reputation here +in the upper world. And, because of my skill, I have +standing in the world below. Since we are so well +suited to each other, I should like to enter into a bond +of brotherhood with you.”</p> + +<p>Dung was agreeable and asked: “But what really +brings you here?”</p> + +<p>Said the other: “In your district there lives a +certain Wang, who was formerly superintendent of +the granaries, and at that time caused the death of an +officer. This man has now accused him in the Nether +World. The King of the Nether World cannot come +to a decision in the case, and therefore has asked the +Lord of the Great Mountain to settle it. The Lord of +the Great Mountain has ordered that Wang’s property +and life be shortened. First his property is to be sequestered +here in the upper world, and then his soul +is to be dragged to the nether one. I have been sent out +by the Judge of the Dead to fetch him. Yet the established +custom is, when some one is sent for, that the +constable has first to report to the god of the city. The +god of the city then issues a summons, and sends one +of his own spirit constables to seize the soul and deliver +it over to me. Only then may I take it away with +me.”</p> + +<p>Dung asked him further particulars; but the other +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> +merely said: “Later on you will see it all for yourself.”</p> + +<p>When they reached the city Dung invited his colleague +to stay at his home, and entertained him with wine and +food. But the other only talked and touched neither +the goblet nor the chop-sticks.</p> + +<p>Said Dung: “In my haste I could not find any +better meal for you. I am afraid it is not good +enough.”</p> + +<p>But his guest replied: “Oh no, I am already surfeited +and satisfied! We spirits feed only on odors; +in which respect we differ from men.”</p> + +<p>It was late at night before he set out to visit the +temple of the city god.</p> + +<p>No sooner did morning dawn than he reappeared to +take farewell and said: “Now all is in order: I am +off! In two years’ time you will go to Taianfu, the +city near the Great Mountain, and there we will meet +again.”</p> + +<p>Dung began to feel ill at ease. A few days later, in +fact, came the news that Wang had died. The district +mandarin journeyed to the dead man’s natal village +in order to express his sympathy. Among his followers +was Dung. The inn-keeper there was a tenant +of Wang’s.</p> + +<p>Dung asked him: “Did anything out of the ordinary +happen when Sir Wang died?”</p> + +<p>“It was all very strange,” answered the inn-keeper, +“and my mother who had been very busy in his house, +came home and fell into a violent fever. She was unconscious +for a day and a night, and could hardly +breathe. She came to on the very day when the +news of Sir Wang’s death was made public, and said: +‘I have been to the Nether World and I met him there. +He had chains about his neck and several devils were +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span> +dragging him along. I asked him what he had done, +but he said: “I have no time to tell you now. When +you return ask my wife and she will tell you all!”’ +And yesterday my mother went there and asked her. +And Wang’s wife told her with tears: ‘My master +was an official, but for a long time he did not make any +head-way. He was superintendent of the granaries in +Nanking, and in the same city was a high officer, with +whom my master became very intimate. He always +came to visit at our house and he and my master would +talk and drink together. One day my master said to +him: “We administrative mandarins have a large +salary and a good income besides. You are an officer, +and have even reached the second step in rank, yet +your salary is so small that you cannot possibly make +it do. Have you any other income aside from it?” +The officer replied: “We are such good friends that I +know I can speak openly to you. We officers are +compelled to find some additional sources of revenue +in order that our pockets may not be altogether empty. +When we pay our men we make a small percentage of +gains on the exchange; and we also carry more soldiers +on our rosters than there actually are present. If we +had to live on our salaries we would die of hunger!”</p> + +<p>“‘When my husband heard him say this he could +not rid himself of the idea that by disclosing these +criminal proceedings the State would be indebted to +him, and that it would surely aid his plans for advancement. +On the other hand, he reflected that it +would not be right to abuse his friend’s confidence. +With these ideas in his mind he retired to his inner +rooms. In the courtyard stood a round pavilion. +Lost in heavy thought, he crossed his hands behind his +back, and for a long time walked round and round the +pavilion. Finally he said with a sigh: “Charity +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> +begins at home; I will sacrifice my friend!” Then he +drew up his report, in which the officer was indicted. +An imperial order was issued, the matter was investigated, +and the officer was condemned to death. My +husband, however, was at once increased in rank, and +from that time on advanced rapidly. And with the +exception of myself no one ever knew anything of the +matter.’ When my mother told them of her encounter +with Wang in the Nether World, the whole family +burst into loud weeping. Four tents full of Buddhist +and Taoist priests were sent for, who fasted and +read masses for thirty-five days in order that Wang +might be delivered. Whole mountains of paper +money, silk and straw figures were burned, and the +ceremonies have not as yet come to an end.”</p> + +<p>When Dung heard this he was very much frightened.</p> + +<p>Two years later he received an order to journey to +Taianfu in order to arrest some robbers there. +He thought to himself: “My friend, the spirit, must be +very powerful indeed, to have known about this trip so +far in advance. I must inquire for him. Perhaps I +will see him again.”</p> + +<p>When he reached Taianfu he sought out an inn.</p> + +<p>The inn-keeper received him with the words: “Are +you Master Dung, and have you come from the bay of +Kaiutschou?”</p> + +<p>“I am the man,” answered Dung, alarmed, “how do +you happen to know me?”</p> + +<p>The inn-keeper replied: “The constable of the temple +of the Great Mountain appeared to me last night +and said: ‘To-morrow a man by the name of Dung +who is a good friend of mine is coming from the bay of +Kaiutschou!’ And then he described your appearance +and your clothes to me exactly, and told me to make +careful note of them, and when you came to treat you +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> +with the greatest consideration, and to take no pay +from you, since he would repay me lavishly. So when +I saw you coming everything was exactly as my +dreams had foretold, and I knew you at once. I have +already prepared a quiet room for you, and beg that +you will condescend to make yourself at ease.”</p> + +<p>Joyfully Dung followed him, and the inn-keeper +waited on him with the greatest consideration, and saw +that he had great plenty to eat and to drink.</p> + +<p>At midnight the spirit arrived. Without having +opened the door, he stood by Dung’s bedside, gave him +his hand, and asked how things had gone with him +since he had last seen him.</p> + +<p>Dung answered all his questions and thanked him +into the bargain for appearing to the inn-keeper in a +dream.</p> + +<p>He continued to live for some days at the inn. During +the day he went walking on the Great Mountain +and at night his friend came to visit him and talked +with him, and at the same time asked him what had +happened to Sir Wang.</p> + +<p>“His sentence has already been spoken,” answered +the other. “This man pretended to be conscientious, +and traitorously brought about the death of his friend. +Of all sins there is no greater sin than this. As a punishment +he will be sent forth again into the world as an +animal.” Then he added: “When you reach home +you must take constant care of your health. Fate has +allowed you seventy-eight years of mortal life. When +your time is up I will come to fetch you myself. Then +I will see that you obtain a place as constable in the +Nether World, where we can always be together.”</p> + +<p>When he had said this, he disappeared.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> +Note: “The Constable” is a tale of modern origin. The Lord of +the Great Mountain (Taischan) is even greater than Yan Wang, the +God of Death. His Temple of the Easterly Holy Mountain (Dung +Yuo Miau), is to be found in every district capital. These temples +play an important part in the care of the dead before interment.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="LI" id="LI"></a>LI<br /> +<br /> +THE DANGEROUS REWARD</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>NCE upon a time a man named Hu-Wu-Bau, +who lived near the Great Mountain, went walking +there one day. And there, under a tree, he met a +messenger in a red robe who called out to him: “The +Lord of the Great Mountain would like to see you!” +The man was much frightened, but dared offer no objection. +The messenger bade him shut his eyes, and +when he was allowed to open them again after a short +time, he found himself standing before a lofty palace. +He entered it to see the god. The latter had a meal +prepared for him and said: “I only sent for you to-day +because I had heard you intended traveling +to the West. And in that case I should like to give you +a letter to take to my daughter.”</p> + +<p>“But where is your daughter?” asked the man.</p> + +<p>“She is married to the river-god,” was the reply. +“All you need to do is to take along the letter lying +there. When you reach the middle of the Yellow River, +beat against the side of the ship and call out: ‘Greencoat!’ +Then some one will appear and take the letter +from you.”</p> + +<p>And with these words he handed Hu-Wu-Bau the +letter, and he was taken back again to the upper +world.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> +When he came to the Yellow River on his journey, he +did what the Lord of the Great Mountain had told him, +and cried: “Greencoat!” And sure enough, a girl in +green garments rose from the water, took him by the +hand and told him to close his eyes. Then she led him +into the palace of the river-god and he delivered the +letter. The river-god entertained him splendidly, and +thanked him as best he knew how. At parting he said: +“I am grateful that you have made this long journey +to see me. I have nothing to give you, however, save +this pair of green silk shoes. While you are wearing +them you can keep on walking as long as you like and +never grow weary. And they will give you the second +sight, so that you will be able to see the spirits and +gods.”</p> + +<p>The man thanked him for the gift and returned to +his ship. He continued on his journey to the West, +and after a year had passed, came back again. When +he reached the Great Mountain, he thought it would be +fit and proper to report to the god. So he once more +knocked against the tree and gave his name. In a moment +the red-clad messenger appeared and led him to +the Lord of the Mountain. So he reported that he had +delivered the letter to the river-god, and how all things +were there, and the Lord of the Mountain thanked him. +During the meal which the god had prepared for him, +he withdrew for a few moments to a quiet spot. Suddenly +he saw his deceased father, bound and loaded +with chains, who together with several hundred other +criminals, was doing menial labor.</p> + +<p>Moved to tears, he asked: “O my father, why are +you here?”</p> + +<p>His father replied: “During my life on earth I happened +to tread on bread, hence I was condemned to +hard labor at this spot. I have passed two years in +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> +this manner, yet their bitterness has been unspeakable. +Since you are acquainted with the Lord of the Mountain, +you might plead for me, and beg him to excuse +me from this task and make me the field-god in our +village.”</p> + +<p>His son promised to do so, and went back and pleaded +with the Lord of the Mountain as he had agreed. +The latter seemed inclined to listen to his prayer, yet +said warningly: “The quick and the dead tread different +paths. It is not well for the dead and the living +to abide near one another permanently.”</p> + +<p>The man returned home. Yet, in about a year’s +time nearly all his children had died. In the terror of +his heart he turned to the Lord of the Great Mountain. +He beat on the tree; the red-coat came and led him into +the palace. There he told of his misfortune and +begged the god to protect him. The Lord of the Mountain +smiled: “Did I not tell you in the start that the +quick and the dead tread different paths, and that it is +not well if they abide near each other permanently? +Now you see what has happened!” Yet he sent his +messenger to fetch the man’s father. The father +came and the god spake to him as follows: “I forgave +you your offense and sent you back to your home as a +field-god. It was your duty to bring happiness to your +family. Instead, nearly all of your grand-children +have died off. Why is this?”</p> + +<p>And the father said: “I had been away from home +so long that I was overjoyed to return. Besides I had +meat and drink in overflowing measure. So I thought +of my little grand-children and called them to me.”</p> + +<p>Then the Lord of the Great Mountain appointed another +field-god for that village, and also gave the +father another place. And from that time no further +misfortune happened to the family of Hu-Wu-Bau.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> +Note: The Lord of the Great Mountain was originally Huang +Fe-Hu, a faithful servant of the tyrant Dschou-Sin. Because of an +insult offered him, he joined King Wu, and when the latter overcame +the tyrant, was made Lord of the Mountain, and overlord of the ten +princes of the nether world.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="LII" id="LII"></a>LII<br /> +<br /> +RETRIBUTION</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>NCE upon a time there was a boy named Ma, +whose father taught him himself, at home. The +window of the upper story looked out on the rear upon +a terrace belonging to old Wang, who had a garden +of chrysanthemums there. One day Ma rose early, and +stood leaning against the window, watching the day +dawn. And out came old Wang from his terrace and +watered his chrysanthemums. When he had just finished +and was going in again, along came a water-carrier, +bearing two pails on his shoulders, who seemed to +want to help him. But the old man grew annoyed and +motioned him off. Yet the water-carrier insisted on +mounting the terrace. So they pulled each other about +on the terrace-edge. It had been raining, the terrace +was slippery, its border high and narrow, and when the +old man thrust back the water-carrier with his hand, +the latter lost his balance, slipped and tumbled down +the slope. Then the old man hastened down to pick +him up; but the two pails had fallen on his chest and +he lay there with feet outstretched. The old man was +extremely frightened. Without uttering a sound, he +took hold of the water-carrier’s feet, and dragged him +through the back door to the bank of the stream which +flowed by the garden. Then he fetched the pails and +set them down beside the corpse. After that he went +home, locked the door and went to bed again.</p> + +<p>Little Ma, in spite of his youth, thought it would be +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> +better to say nothing about an affair of this kind, in +which a human life was involved. He shut the window +and withdrew. The sun rose higher, and soon he heard +a clamor without: “A dead man is lying on the river-bank!” +The constable gave notice, and in the afternoon +the judge came up to the beating of gongs, and +the inspector of the dead knelt down and uncovered +the corpse; yet the body showed no wound. So it was +said: “He slipped and fell to his death!” The judge +questioned the neighbors, but the neighbors all insisted +that they knew nothing of the matter. Thereupon the +judge had the body placed in a coffin, sealed it with his +seal, and ordered that the relatives of the deceased be +found. And then he went his way.</p> + +<p>Nine years passed by, and young Ma had reached the +age of twenty-one and become a baccalaureate. His +father had died, and the family was poor. So it +came about that in the same room in which he had formerly +studied his lessons, he now gathered a few pupils +about him, to instruct them.</p> + +<p>The time for examinations drew near. Ma had +risen early, in order to work. He opened the window +and there, in the distant alley, he saw a man with two +pails gradually drawing nearer. When he looked +more closely, it was the water-carrier. Greatly frightened, +he thought that he had returned to repay old +Wang. Yet he passed the old man’s door without +entering it. Then he went a few steps further to the +house of the Lis; and there went in. The Lis were +wealthy people, and since they were near neighbors +the Mas and they were on a visiting footing. The +matter seemed very questionable to Ma, and he got up +and followed the water-carrier.</p> + +<p>At the door of Li’s house he met an old servant who +was just coming out and who said: “Heaven is +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> +about to send a child to our mistress! I must go buy +incense to burn to the gods in order to show our +gratitude!”</p> + +<p>Ma asked: “Did not a man with two pails of water +on his shoulder just go in?”</p> + +<p>The servant said there had not, but before he had finished +speaking a maid came from the house and said: +“You need not go to buy incense, for I have found +some. And, through the favor of heaven, the child +has already come to us.” Then Ma began to realize +that the water-carrier had returned to be born again +into the life of earth, and not to exact retribution. +He wondered, though, for what merit of his the former +water-carrier happened to be re-born into so wealthy +a family. So he kept the matter in mind, and from +time to time inquired as to the child’s well-being.</p> + +<p>Seven more years went by, and the boy gradually +grew up. He did not show much taste for learning, +but he loved to keep birds. Old Wang was still strong +and healthy. And though he was by this time more +than eighty years old, his love for his chrysanthemums +had only increased with age.</p> + +<p>One day Ma once more rose early, and stood leaning +against his window. And he saw old Wang come out +upon his terrace and begin to water his chrysanthemums. +Little Li sat in the upper story of his house +flying his pigeons. Suddenly some of the pigeons flew +down on the railing of the flower-garden. The boy was +afraid they might fly off and called them, but the pigeons +did not move. The boy did not know what to do: +he picked up stones and threw them at the birds. By +mistake one of them struck old Wang. The old man +started, slipped, and fell down over the terrace. Time +passed and he did not rise. He lay there with his feet +outstretched. The boy was very much frightened. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> +Without uttering a sound he softly closed his window +and went away. The sun gradually rose higher, and +the old man’s sons and grandsons all came out to look +for him. They found him and said: “He slipped and +fell to his death!” And they buried him as was the +custom.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: This little tale, from the “Sin Tsi Hia,” is a literary masterpiece +because of the exactness with which the punishment follows +upon the act, long after the latter has been forgiven, and all chance +of mishap seemed to have passed.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="LIII" id="LIII"></a>LIII<br /> +<br /> +THE GHOST WHO WAS FOILED</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">T</span>HERE are ghosts of many kinds, but the ghosts +of those who have hung themselves are the +worst. Such ghosts are always coaxing other living +people to hang themselves from the beams of the roof. +If they succeed in persuading some one to hang himself, +then the road to the Nether World is open to +them, and they can once more enter into the wheel of +transformation. The following story of such a ghost +is told by persons worthy of belief.</p> + +<p>Once upon a time there lived a man in Tsing Tschoufu +who had passed his military examination, and had +been ordered to Tsinanfu to report for duty. It was +at the season of rains. So it happened that evening +came on before he could reach the town-inn where he +had expected to pass the night. Just as the sun was +setting he reached a small village and asked for a +night’s lodging. But there were only poor families in +the village who had no room for him in their huts. So +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> +they directed him to an old temple which stood outside +the village, and said he could spend the night there.</p> + +<p>The images of the gods in the temple were all decayed, +so that one could not distinguish one from the +other. Thick spider-webs covered the entrance, and +the dust lay inches high everywhere. So the soldier +went out into the open, where he found an old flight of +steps. He spread out his knapsack on a stone step, +tied his horse to an old tree, took his flask from his +pocket and drank—for it had been a hot day. There +had been a heavy rain, but it had just cleared again. +The new moon was on the decline. The soldier closed +his eyes and tried to sleep.</p> + +<p>Suddenly he heard a rustling sound in the temple, +and a cool wind passed over his face and made him +shudder. And he saw a woman come out of the temple, +dressed in an old dirty red gown, and with a face +as white as a chalk wall. She stole past quietly as +though she were afraid of being seen. The soldier +knew no fear. So he pretended to be asleep and did +not move, but watched her with half-shut eyes. +And he saw her draw a rope from her sleeve and disappear. +Then he knew that she was the ghost of one +who had hung herself. He got up softly and followed +her, and, sure enough, she went into the village.</p> + +<p>When she came to a certain house she slipped into +the court through a crack in the door. The soldier +leaped over the wall after her. It was a house with +three rooms. In the rear room a lamp was burning +dimly. The soldier looked through the window into +the room, and there was a young woman of about +twenty sitting on the bed, sighing deeply, and her +kerchief was wet through with tears. Beside her lay a +little child, asleep. The woman looked up toward the +beam of the ceiling. One moment she would weep and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> +the next she would stroke the child. When the soldier +looked more closely, there was the ghost sitting up on +the beam. She had passed the rope around her neck +and was hanging herself in dumb show. And whenever +she beckoned with her hand the woman looked up +toward her. This went on for some time.</p> + +<p>Finally the woman said: “You say it would be best +for me to die. Very well, then, I will die; but I cannot +part from my child!”</p> + +<p>And once more she burst into tears. But the ghost +merely laughed and coaxed her again.</p> + +<p>So the woman said determinedly: “It is enough. I +will die!”</p> + +<p>With these words she opened her chest of clothes, +put on new garments, and painted her face before the +mirror. Then she drew up a bench and climbed up on +it. She undid her girdle and knotted it to the beam. +She had already stretched forth her neck and was +about to leap from the bench, when the child suddenly +awoke and began to cry. The woman climbed down +again and soothed and quieted her child, and while she +was petting it she wept, so that the tears fell from her +eyes like a string of pearls. The ghost frowned and +hissed, for it feared to lose its prey. In a short time +the child had fallen asleep again, and the woman once +more began to look aloft. Then she rose, again +climbed on the bench, and was about to lay the noose +about her neck when the soldier began to call out +loudly and drum on the window-pane. Then he broke +it and climbed into the room. The woman fell to the +ground and the ghost disappeared. The soldier recalled +the woman to consciousness, and then he saw +something hanging down from the beam, like a cord +without an end. Knowing that it belonged to the +ghost of the hanged woman he took and kept it.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> +Then he said to the woman: “Take good care of +your child! You have but one life to lose in this +world!”</p> + +<p>And with that he went out.</p> + +<p>Then it occurred to him that his horse and his baggage +were still in the temple. And he went there to +get them. When he came out of the village there was +the ghost, waiting for him in the road.</p> + +<p>The ghost bowed and said: “I have been looking for +a substitute for many years, and to-day, when it seemed +as though I should really get one, you came along and +spoiled my chances. So there is nothing more for me +to do. Yet there is something which I left behind me +in my hurry. You surely must have found it, and I +will ask you to return it to me. If I only have this one +thing, my not having found a substitute will not worry +me.”</p> + +<p>Then the soldier showed her the rope and said with +a laugh: “Is this the thing you mean? Why, if I +were to give it back to you then some one is sure +to hang themselves. And that I could not allow.”</p> + +<p>With these words he wound the rope around his arm, +drove her off and said: “Now be off with you!”</p> + +<p>But then the ghost grew angry. Her face turned +greenish-black, her hair fell in wild disorder down her +neck, her eyes grew bloodshot, and her tongue hung +far out of her mouth. She stretched forth both hands +and tried to seize the soldier, but he struck out at her +with his clenched fist. By mistake he hit himself in +the nose and it began to bleed. Then he sprinkled a +few drops of blood in her direction and, since the ghosts +cannot endure human blood, she ceased her attack, +moved off a few paces and began to abuse him. This +she did for some time, until the cock in the village began +to crow. Then the ghost disappeared.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> +In the meantime the farmer-folk of the village had +come to thank the soldier. It seems that after he had +left the woman her husband had come home, and asked +his wife what had happened. And then for the first +time he had learned what had occurred. So they all +set out together along the road in order to look for the +soldier outside the village. When they found him he +was still beating the air with his fists and talking +wildly. So they called out to him and he told them +what had taken place. The rope could still be seen on +his bare arm; yet it had grown fast to it, and surrounded +it in the shape of a red ring of flesh.</p> + +<p>The day was just dawning, so the soldier swung himself +into his saddle and rode away.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: This tale has been handed down traditionally, and is given +as told among the people.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="LIV" id="LIV"></a>LIV<br /> +<br /> +THE PUNISHMENT OF GREED</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>NCE upon a time there lived a man south of the +Yangtze-kiang. He had taken a position as a +teacher in Sutschoufu, on the border of Shantung. +But when he got there he found that the schoolhouse +had not yet been completed. Yet a two-story building +in the neighborhood had been rented, in which the +teacher was to live and hold school in the meantime. +This house stood outside the village, not far from the +river bank. A broad plain, overgrown with tangled +brush, stretched out from it on every side. The +teacher was pleased with the view.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> +Well, one evening he was standing in the door of his +house watching the sun go down. The smoke that +rose from the village chimneys gradually merged with +the twilight shadows. All the noises of the day had +died away. Suddenly, off in the distance, along the +river bank, he beheld a fiery gleam. He hurried away +at once in order to see what it might be. And there, +on the bank, he found a wooden coffin, from which +came the radiance he had noticed. Thought the +teacher to himself: “The jewels with which they +adorn the dead on their journey shine by night. Perhaps +there are gems in the coffin!” And greed awoke +in his heart, and he forgot that a coffin is a resting-place +of the dead and should be respected. He took +up a large stone, broke the cover of the coffin, and +bent over to look more closely. And there in the coffin +lay a youth. His face was as white as paper, he +wore a mourning turban on his head, his body was +wrapped in hempen garments, and he wore straw sandals +on his feet. The teacher was greatly frightened +and turned to go away. But the corpse had already +raised itself to a sitting posture. Then the teacher’s +fear got the better of him, and he began to run. And +the corpse climbed out of its coffin and ran after him. +Fortunately the house was not far away. The teacher +ran as fast as he could, flew up the steps and locked the +door after him. Gradually he caught his breath again. +Outside there was not a sound to be heard. So he +thought that perhaps the corpse had not followed him +all the way. He opened the window and peered down. +The corpse was leaning against the wall of the house. +Suddenly it saw that the window had been opened, and +with one leap it bounded up and in through it. Overcome +by terror, the teacher fell down the stairs of the +house, and rolled unconscious to the bottom of the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> +flight. And when he did so the corpse fell down on the +floor of the room above.</p> + +<p>At the time the school children had all long since +gone home. And the owner of the house lived in another +dwelling, so that no one knew anything about +what had happened. On the following morning the +children came to school as usual. They found the door +locked, and when they called no one answered. Then +they broke down the door and found their teacher lying +unconscious on the ground. They sprinkled him +with ginger, but it took a long time before he woke +from his coma. When they asked he told them all +that had occurred. Then they all went upstairs and +took away the corpse. It was taken outside the village +limits and burned, and the bones which remained +were once more laid in the coffin. But the teacher +said, with a sigh: “Because of a moment’s greed, I +nearly lost my life!” He resigned his position, +returned home and never, through all the days of his +life, did he speak of gain again.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: The corpse wears a mourning turban and is dressed in +mourning. According to local tradition, young people who die +before their parents, are laid in their coffins clad in mourning, so +that even in death they may do their duty and be able to mourn +their parents when the latter shall have died. The tale is taken +from the Su Tsi Hia.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="LV" id="LV"></a>LV<br /> +<br /> +THE NIGHT ON THE BATTLEFIELD</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>NCE upon a time there was a merchant, who was +wandering toward Shantung with his wares, +along the road from the South. At about the second +watch of the night, a heavy storm blew up from the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> +North. And he chanced to see an inn at one side of +the road, whose lights were just being lit. He went in +to get something to drink and order lodgings for the +night, but the folk at the inn raised objections. Yet +an old man among them took pity on his unhappy +situation and said: “We have just prepared a meal +for warriors who have come a long distance, and we +have no wine left to serve you. But there is a little +side room here which is still free, and there you may +stay overnight.” With these words he led him into it. +But the merchant could not sleep because of his hunger +and thirst. Outside he could hear the noise of men +and horses. And since all these proceedings did not +seem quite natural to him, he got up and looked +through a crack in the door. And he saw that the +whole inn was filled with soldiers, who were sitting on +the ground, eating and drinking, and talking about +campaigns of which he had never heard. After a +time they began calling to each other: “The general +is coming!” And far off in the distance could be +heard the cries of his bodyguard. All the soldiers +hurried out to receive him. Then the merchant saw a +procession with many paper lanterns, and riding in +their midst a man of martial appearance with a long +beard. He dismounted, entered the inn, and took his +place at the head of the board. The soldiers mounted +guard at the door, awaiting his commands, and the +inn-keeper served food and drink, to which the general +did full justice.</p> + +<p>When he had finished his officers entered, and he +said to them: “You have now been underway for +some time. Go back to your men. I shall rest a little +myself. It will be time enough to beat the assembly +when the order to advance is given.”</p> + +<p>The officers received his commands and withdrew. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> +Then the general called out: “Send Asti in!” and +a young officer entered from the left side of the house. +The people of the inn locked the gates and withdrew +for the night, while Asti conducted the long-haired general +to a door at the left, through a crack of which +shone the light of a lamp. The merchant stole from +his room and looked through the crack in the door. +Within the room was a bed of bamboo, without covers +or pillows. The lamp stood on the ground. The long-bearded +general took hold of his head. It came off +and he placed it on the bed. Then Asti took hold of +his arms. These also came off and were carefully +placed beside the head. Then the old general threw +himself down on the bed crosswise, and Asti took hold +of his body, which came apart below the thighs, and +the two legs fell to the ground. Then the lamp went +out. Overcome by terror the merchant hurried back +to his room as fast as he could, holding his sleeves +before his eyes, and laid down on his bed, where he +tossed about sleepless all night.</p> + +<p>At last he heard a cock crow in the distance. He +was shivering. He took his sleeves from his face and +saw that dawn was stealing along the sky. And when +he looked about him, there he was lying in the middle +of a thick clump of brush. Round about him was a +wilderness, not a house, not even a grave was to be +seen anywhere. In spite of being chilled, he ran about +three miles till he came to the nearest inn. The inn-keeper +opened the door and asked him with astonishment +where he came from at that early hour. So the +merchant told him his experiences and inquired as to +the sort of place at which he had spent the night. The +inn-keeper shook his head: “The whole neighborhood +is covered with old battlefields,” was his reply, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span> +“and all sorts of supernatural things take place on +them after dark.”</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: This tale is taken from the Sin Tsi Hia.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="LVI" id="LVI"></a>LVI<br /> +<br /> +THE KINGDOM OF THE OGRES</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">I</span>N the land of Annam there once dwelt a man named +Su, who sailed the seas as a merchant. Once his +ship was suddenly driven on a distant shore by a great +storm. It was a land of hills broken by ravines and +green with luxuriant foliage, yet he could see something +along the hills which looked like human dwellings. So +he took some food with him and went ashore. No +sooner had he entered the hills than he could see at +either hand the entrances to caves, one close beside +the other, like a row of beehives. So he stopped and +looked into one of the openings. And in it sat two +ogres, with teeth like spears and eyes like fiery lamps. +They were just devouring a deer. The merchant was +terrified by this sight and turned to flee; but the ogres +had already noticed him and they caught him and +dragged him into their cave. Then they talked to each +other with animal sounds, and were about to tear his +clothes from his body and devour him. But the merchant +hurriedly took a bag of bread and dried meat out +and offered it to them. They divided it, ate it up and +it seemed to taste good to them. Then they once more +went through the bag; but he gestured with his hand +to show them that he had no more.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> +Then he said: “Let me go! Aboard my ship I +have frying-pans and cooking-pots, vinegar and spices. +With these I could prepare your food.”</p> + +<p>The ogres did not understand what he was saying, +however, and were still ferocious. So he tried to make +them understand in dumb show, and finally they seemed +to get an idea of his meaning. So they went to the +ship with him, and he brought his cooking gear to the +cave, collected brush-wood, made a fire and cooked the +remains of the deer. When it was done to a turn he +gave them some of it to eat, and the two creatures devoured +it with the greatest satisfaction. Then they +left the cave and closed the opening with a great rock. +In a short space of time they returned with another +deer they had caught. The merchant skinned it, +fetched fresh water, washed the meat and cooked several +kettles full of it. Suddenly in came a whole herd +of ogres, who devoured all he had cooked, and became +quite animated over their eating. They all kept +pointing to the kettle which seemed too small to them. +When three or four days had passed, one of the ogres +dragged in an enormous cooking-pot on his back, +which was thenceforth used exclusively.</p> + +<p>Now the ogres crowded about the merchant, bringing +him wolves and deer and antelopes, which he had to +cook for them, and when the meat was done they would +call him to eat it with them.</p> + +<p>Thus a few weeks passed and they gradually came to +have such confidence in him that they let him run about +freely. And the merchant listened to the sounds +which they uttered, and learned to understand them. +In fact, before very long he was able to speak the language +of the ogres himself. This pleased the latter +greatly, and they brought him a young ogre girl and +made her his wife. She gave him valuables and fruit +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> +to win his confidence, and in course of time they grew +much attached to each other.</p> + +<p>One day the ogres all rose very early, and each one +of them hung a string of radiant pearls about his neck. +They ordered the merchant to be sure and cook a great +quantity of meat. The merchant asked his wife what +it all meant.</p> + +<p>“This will be a day of high festival,” answered she, +“we have invited the great king to a banquet.”</p> + +<p>But to the other ogres she said: “The merchant +has no string of pearls!”</p> + +<p>Then each of the ogres gave him five pearls and his +wife added ten, so that he had fifty pearls in all. +These his wife threaded and hung the pearl necklace +about his neck, and there was not one of the pearls +which was not worth at least several hundred ounces +of silver.</p> + +<p>Then the merchant cooked the meat, and having done +so left the cave with the whole herd in order to receive +the great king. They came to a broad cave, in the +middle of which stood a huge block of stone, as smooth +and even as a table. Round it were stone seats. The +place of honor was covered with a leopard-skin, and +the rest of the seats with deerskins. Several dozen +ogres were sitting around the cave in rank and file.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a tremendous storm blew up, whirling +around the dust in columns, and a monster appeared +who had the figure of an ogre. The ogres all crowded +out of the cave in a high state of excitement to receive +him. The great king ran into the cave, sat down with +his legs outstretched, and glanced about him with eyes +as round as an eagle’s. The whole herd followed him +into the cave, and stood at either hand of him, looking +up to him and folding their arms across their breasts +in the form of a cross in order to do him honor.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> +The great king nodded, looked around and asked: +“Are all the folk of the Wo-Me hills present?”</p> + +<p>The entire herd declared that they were.</p> + +<p>Then he saw the merchant and asked: “From +whence does he hail?”</p> + +<p>His wife answered for him, and all spoke with praise +of his art as a cook. A couple of ogres brought in the +cooked meat and spread it out on the table. Then the +great king ate of it till he could eat no more, praised it +with his mouth full, and said that in the future they +were always to furnish him with food of this kind.</p> + +<p>Then he looked at the merchant and asked: “Why +is your necklace so short?”</p> + +<p>With these words he took ten pearls from his own +necklace, pearls as large and round as bullets of a +blunderbuss. The merchant’s wife quickly took them +on his behalf and hung them around his neck; and the +merchant crossed his arms like the ogres and spoke his +thanks. Then the great king went off again, flying +away like lightning on the storm.</p> + +<p>In the course of time heaven sent the merchant children, +two boys and a girl. They all had a human form +and did not resemble their mother. Gradually the +children learned to speak and their father taught them +the language of men. They grew up, and were soon so +strong that they could run across the hills as though +on level ground.</p> + +<p>One day the merchant’s wife had gone out with one +of the boys and the girl and had been absent for half-a-day. +The north wind was blowing briskly, and in +the merchant’s heart there awoke a longing for his old +home. He took his son by the hand and went down to +the sea-shore. There his old ship was still lying, so he +climbed into it with his boy, and in a day and a night +was back in Annam again.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> +When he reached home he loosened two of his pearls +from his chain, and sold them for a great quantity of +gold, so that he could keep house in handsome style. +He gave his son the name of Panther, and when the +boy was fourteen years of age he could lift thirty hundred +weight with ease. Yet he was rough by nature +and fond of fighting. The general of Annam, astonished +at his bravery, appointed him a colonel, and in +putting down a revolt his services were so meritorious +that he was already a general of the second rank +when but eighteen.</p> + +<p>At about this time another merchant was also driven +ashore by a storm on the island of Wo-Me. When he +reached land he saw a youth who asked him with astonishment: +“Are you not from the Middle Kingdom?”</p> + +<p>The merchant told him how he had come to be driven +ashore on the island, and the youth led him to a little +cave in a secret valley. Then he brought deer-flesh for +him to eat, and talked with him. He told him that his +father had also come from Annam, and it turned out +that his father was an old acquaintance of the man to +whom he was talking.</p> + +<p>“We will have to wait until the wind blows from the +North,” said the youth, “then I will come and escort +you. And I will give you a message of greeting to +take to my father and brother.”</p> + +<p>“Why do you not go along yourself and hunt up +your father?” asked the merchant.</p> + +<p>“My mother does not come from the Middle Kingdom,” +replied the youth. “She is different in speech +and appearance, so it cannot well be.”</p> + +<p>One day the wind blew strongly from the North, and +the youth came and escorted the merchant to his ship, +and ordered him, at parting, not to forget a single one +of his words.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span> +When the merchant returned to Annam, he went to +the palace of Panther, the general, and told him all +that had happened. When Panther listened to him +telling about his brother, he sobbed with bitter grief. +Then he secured leave of absence and sailed out to sea +with two soldiers. Suddenly a typhoon arose, which +lashed the waves until they spurted sky-high. The +ship turned turtle, and Panther fell into the sea. He +was seized by a creature and flung up on a strand +where there seemed to be dwellings. The creature who +had seized him looked like an ogre, so Panther addressed +him in the ogre tongue. The ogre, surprised, +asked him who he was, and Panther told him his +whole story.</p> + +<p>The ogre was pleased and said: “Wo-Me is my old +home, but it lies about eight thousand miles away from +here. This is the kingdom of the poison dragons.”</p> + +<p>Then the ogre fetched a ship and had Panther seat +himself in it, while he himself pushed the ship before +him through the water so that it clove the waves like +an arrow. It took a whole night, but in the morning +a shoreline appeared to the North, and there on the +strand stood a youth on look-out. Panther recognized +his brother. He stepped ashore and they clasped hands +and wept. Then Panther turned around to thank the +ogre, but the latter had already disappeared.</p> + +<p>Panther now asked after his mother and sister and +was told that both were well and happy, so he wanted to +go to them with his brother. But the latter told him to +wait, and went off alone. Not long after he came back +with their mother and sister. And when they saw Panther, +both wept with emotion. Panther now begged +them to return with him to Annam.</p> + +<p>But his mother replied: “I fear that if I went, +people would mock me because of my figure.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span> +“I am a high officer,” replied Panther, “and people +would not dare to insult you.”</p> + +<p>So they all went down to the ship together with him. +A favorable wind filled their sails and they sped home +swiftly as an arrow flies. On the third day they +reached land. But the people whom they encountered +were all seized with terror and ran away. Then Panther +took off his mantle and divided it among the +three so that they could dress themselves.</p> + +<p>When they reached home and the mother saw her +husband again, she at once began to scold him violently +because he had said not a word to her when he went +away. The members of his family, who all came to +greet the wife of the master of the house, did so with +fear and trembling. But Panther advised his mother +to learn the language of the Middle Kingdom, dress +in silks, and accustom herself to human food. This +she agreed to do; yet she and her daughter had men’s +clothing made for them. The brother and sister gradually +grew more fair of complexion, and looked like +the people of the Middle Kingdom. Panther’s brother +was named Leopard, and his sister Ogrechild. Both +possessed great bodily strength.</p> + +<p>But Panther was not pleased to think that his +brother was so uneducated, so he had him study. +Leopard was highly gifted; he understood a book at +first reading; yet he felt no inclination to become a man +of learning. To shoot and to ride was what he best +loved to do. So he rose to high rank as a professional +soldier, and finally married the daughter of a distinguished +official.</p> + +<p>It was long before Ogrechild found a husband, because +all suitors were afraid of their mother-in-law +to be. But Ogrechild finally married one of her +brother’s subordinates. She could draw the strongest +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span> +bow, and strike the tiniest bird at a distance of a hundred +paces. Her arrow never fell to earth without +having scored a hit. When her husband went out to +battle she always accompanied him, and that he finally +became a general was largely due to her. Leopard was +already a field marshal at the age of thirty, and +his mother accompanied him on his campaigns. When +a dangerous enemy drew near, she buckled on armor, +and took a knife in her hand to meet him in place of +her son. And among the enemies who encountered her +there was not a single one who did not flee from her in +terror. Because of her courage the emperor bestowed +upon her the title of “The Superwoman.”</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: The ogres here mentioned are the primitive inhabitants of +the Island of Ceylon, also called Rakshas, who appear in legend +as man-devouring monsters.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="LVII" id="LVII"></a>LVII<br /> +<br /> +THE MAIDEN WHO WAS STOLEN AWAY</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">I</span>N the western portion of the old capital city of Lo +Yang there was a ruined cloister, in which stood +an enormous pagoda, several hundred stories high. +Three or four people could still find room to stand on +its very top.</p> + +<p>Not far from it there lived a beautiful maiden, and +one very hot summer’s day she was sitting in the +courtyard of her home, trying to keep cool. And as +she sat there a sudden cyclone came up and carried her +off. When she opened her eyes, there she was on +top of the pagoda, and beside her stood a young man +in the dress of a student.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> +He was very polite and affable, and said to her: +“It seems as though heaven had meant to bring us +together, and if you promise to marry me, we +will be very happy.” But to this the maiden would +not agree. So the student said that until she changed +her mind she would have to remain on the pagoda-top. +Then he produced bread and wine for her to satisfy +her hunger and thirst, and disappeared.</p> + +<p>Thereafter he appeared each day and asked her +whether she had changed her mind, and each day she +told him she had not. When he went away he always +carefully closed the openings in the pagoda-top with +stones, and he had also removed some of the steps of +the stairs, so that she could not climb down. And +when he came to the pagoda-top he always brought her +food and drink, and he also presented her with rouge +and powder, dresses and mandarin-coats and all sorts +of jewelry. He told her he had bought them in the +market place. And he also hung up a great carbuncle-stone +so that the pagoda-top was bright by +night as well as by day. The maiden had all that heart +could wish, and yet she was not happy.</p> + +<p>But one day when he went away he forgot to lock the +window. The maiden spied on him without his knowing +it, and saw that from a youth he turned himself +into an ogre, with hair as red as madder and a face as +black as coal. His eyeballs bulged out of their sockets, +and his mouth looked like a dish full of blood. +Crooked white fangs thrust themselves from his lips, +and two wings grew from his shoulders. Spreading +them, he flew down to earth and at once turned into a +man again.</p> + +<p>The maiden was seized with terror and burst into +tears. Looking down from her pagoda she saw a wanderer +passing below. She called out, but the pagoda +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span> +was so high that her voice did not carry down to him. +She beckoned with her hand, but the wanderer did not +look up. Then she could think of nothing else to do +but to throw down the old clothes she had formerly +worn. They fluttered through the air to the ground.</p> + +<p>The wanderer picked up the clothes. Then he +looked up at the pagoda, and quite up at the very top +he saw a tiny figure which looked like that of a girl; +yet he could not make out her features. For a long +time he wondered who it might be, but in vain. Then +he saw a light.</p> + +<p>“My neighbor’s daughter,” said he to himself, +“was carried away by a magic storm. Is it possible +that she may be up there?”</p> + +<p>So he took the clothes with him and showed them +to the maiden’s parents, and when they saw them they +burst into tears.</p> + +<p>But the maiden had a brother, who was stronger and +braver than any one for miles around. When the tale +had been told him he took a heavy ax and went to the +pagoda. There he hid himself in the tall grass and +waited for what would happen. When the sun was +just going down, along came a youth, tramping the hill. +Suddenly he turned into an ogre, spread his wings +and was about to fly. But the brother flung his ax at +him and struck him on the arm. He began to roar +loudly, and then fled to the western hills. But when +the brother saw that it was impossible to climb the pagoda, +he went back and enlisted the aid of several +neighbors. With them he returned the following +morning and they climbed up into the pagoda. Most +of the steps of the stairway were in good condition +for the ogre had only destroyed those at the top. But +they were able to get up with a ladder, and then the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span> +brother fetched down his sister and brought her safely +home again.</p> + +<p>And that was the end of the enchantment.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: In this tale the ogre is a Yakscha or a Fe Tian Ya Tscha.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="LVIII" id="LVIII"></a>LVIII<br /> +<br /> +THE FLYING OGRE</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">T</span>HERE once lived in Sianfu an old Buddhist monk, +who loved to wander in lonely places. In the +course of his wanderings he once came to the Kuku-Nor, +and there he saw a tree which was a thousand +feet high and many cords in breadth. It was hollow +inside and one could see the sky shining down into it +from above.</p> + +<p>When he had gone on a few miles, he saw in the distance +a girl in a red coat, barefoot, and with unbound +hair, who was running as fast as the wind. In a +moment she stood before him.</p> + +<p>“Take pity on me and save my life!” said she to +him.</p> + +<p>When the monk asked her what was the trouble, she +replied: “A man is pursuing me. If you will tell +him you have not seen me, I will be grateful to you all +my life long!”</p> + +<p>With that she ran up to the hollow tree and crawled +into it.</p> + +<p>When the monk had gone a little further, he met one +who rode an armored steed. He wore a garment of +gold, a bow was slung across his shoulders, and a sword +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span> +hung at his side. His horse ran with the speed of +lightning, and covered a couple of miles with every +step. Whether it ran in the air or on the ground, +its speed was the same.</p> + +<p>“Have you seen the girl in the red coat?” asked the +stranger. And when the monk replied that he had +seen nothing, the other continued: “Bonze, you +should not lie! This girl is not a human being, but a +flying ogre. Of flying ogres there are thousands of +varieties, who bring ruin to people everywhere. I +have already slain a countless number of them, and +have pretty well done away with them. But this one +is the worst of all. Last night the Lord of the Heavens +gave me a triple command, and that is the +reason I have hurried down from the skies. There +are eight thousand of us under way in all directions +to catch this monster. If you do not tell the truth, +monk, then you are sinning against heaven itself!”</p> + +<p>Upon that the monk did not dare deceive him, but +pointed to the hollow tree. The messenger of the +skies dismounted, stepped into the tree and looked +about him. Then he once more mounted his horse, +which carried him up the hollow trunk and out at +the end of the tree. The monk looked up and could +see a small, red flame come out of the tree-top. It +was followed by the messenger of the skies. Both +rose up to the clouds and disappeared. After a time +there fell a rain of blood. The ogre had probably been +hit by an arrow or captured.</p> + +<p>Afterward the monk told the tale to the scholar +who wrote it down.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: This flying ogre is also of the Yakscha tribe.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="LIX" id="LIX"></a>LIX<br /> +<br /> +BLACK ARTS</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">T</span>HE wild people who dwell in the South-West +are masters of many black arts. They often +lure men of the Middle Kingdom to their country by +promising them their daughters in marriage, but their +promises are not to be trusted. Once there was the +son of a poor family, who agreed to labor for three +years for one of the wild men in order to become his +son-in-law. At the end of that time the wedding was +celebrated, and the couple were given a little house +for a home. But no sooner had they entered it than +the wife warned her husband to be on his guard, since +her parents did not like him, and would seek to do him +harm. In accordance with the custom she entered the +house first with a lighted lantern, but when the bridegroom +followed her she had disappeared. And thus +it went, day by day. During the daytime she was +there, but when evening came she disappeared.</p> + +<p>And one day, not long after they had been married, +his wife said to him: “To-morrow morning my +mother celebrates her birthday, and you must go to +congratulate her. They will offer you tea and food. +The tea you may drink, but be sure not to touch any +of the food. Keep this in mind!”</p> + +<p>So the following day the wife and husband went +to her mother’s home and offered their congratulations. +Her parents seemed highly pleased, +and served them with tea and sweets. The son-in-law +drank, but ate nothing, though his wife’s parents, +with kind words and friendly gestures, kept urging +him to help himself. At last the son-in-law did not +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span> +know what to do, and thought that surely they could +mean him no ill. And seeing the fresh caught eels +and crabs on the plate before him, he ate a little of +them. His wife gave him a reproachful glance, and +he offered some excuse for taking his leave.</p> + +<p>But his mother-in-law said: “This is my birthday. +You simply must taste my birthday noodles!”</p> + +<p>With that she placed a great dish before him, filled +with noodles that looked like threads of silver, mingled +with fat meat, and spiced with fragrant mushrooms. +During all the time he had been living in the +country the son-in-law had never yet seen such an +appetizing dish. Its pleasant odor rose temptingly +to his nostrils, and he could not resist raising his +chop-sticks. His wife glanced over at him, but he +pretended that he did not see her.</p> + +<p>She coughed significantly, but he acted as though +he did not hear. Finally she trod on his foot under +the table; and then he regained control of himself.</p> + +<p>He had not as yet eaten half of the food and said: +“My hunger is satisfied.”</p> + +<p>Then he took leave, and went off with his wife.</p> + +<p>“This is a serious matter,” said the latter. “You +would not listen to my words, and now you will surely +have to die!”</p> + +<p>But still he did not believe her, until he suddenly +felt terrible pains, which soon grew unbearable, so +that he fell to the ground unconscious. His wife at +once hung him up by the feet from the beam of the +roof, and put a panful of glowing charcoal under his +body, and a great jar of water, into which she had +poured sesame oil, in front of the fire, directly below +his mouth. And when the fire had heated him thoroughly, +he suddenly opened his mouth—and can you +imagine what came out of it? A squirming, crawling +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> +mass of poisonous worms, centipedes, toads and tadpoles, +who all fell into the jar of water. Then his wife +untied him, carried him to bed, and gave him wine +mingled with realgar to drink. Then he recovered.</p> + +<p>“What you ate in the belief that they were eels and +crabs,” said his wife, “were nothing but toads and +tadpoles, and the birthday noodles were poisonous +worms and centipedes. But you must continue to be +careful. My parents know that you have not died, +and they will think up other evil plans.”</p> + +<p>A few days later his father-in-law said to him: +“There is a large tree growing on the precipice which +juts over the cave. In it is the nest of the phenix. +You are still young and able to climb, so go there +quickly and fetch me the eggs!”</p> + +<p>His son-in-law went home and told his wife.</p> + +<p>“Take long bamboo poles,” said she, “and tie them +together, and fasten a curved sword at the top. And +take these nine loaves of bread and these hens’ eggs, +there are seven times seven of them. Carry them +along with you in a basket. When you come to the +spot you will see a large nest up in the branches. Do +not climb the tree, but chop it down with the curved +sword. Then throw away your poles, and run for +dear life. Should a monster appear and follow you, +throw him the loaves of bread, three loaves at a time, +and finally throw down the eggs on the ground and +make for home as quickly as you can. In this way you +may escape the danger which threatens you.”</p> + +<p>The man noted all she said exactly and went. And +sure enough he saw the bird’s nest—it was as large +as a round pavilion. Then he tied his curved sword +to the poles, chopped at the tree with all his strength, +laid down his poles on the ground and never looked +around but ran for dear life. Suddenly he heard the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span> +roaring of a thunder-storm rising above him. When +he looked up he saw a great dragon, many fathoms +long and some ten feet across. His eyes gleamed +like two lamps and he was spitting fire and flame from +his maw. He had stretched out two feelers and was +feeling along the ground. Then the man swiftly flung +the loaves into the air. The dragon caught them, +and it took a little time before he had devoured them. +But no sooner had the man gained a few steps than +the dragon once more came flying after him. Then +he flung him more loaves and when the loaves came +to an end, he turned over his basket so that the eggs +rolled over the ground. The dragon had not yet satisfied +his hunger and opened his greedy jaws wide. +When he suddenly caught sight of the eggs, he descended +from the air, and since the eggs were scattered +round about, it took some time before he had +sucked them all. In the meantime the man succeeded +in escaping to his home.</p> + +<p>When he entered the door and saw his wife, he +said to her, amid sobs: “It was all I could do to +escape, and I am lucky not to be in the dragon’s +stomach! If this sort of thing keeps up much longer +I am bound to die!”</p> + +<p>With these words he kneeled and begged his wife +pitifully to save his life.</p> + +<p>“Where is your home?” asked his wife.</p> + +<p>“My home is about a hundred miles away from +here, in the Middle Kingdom, and my old mother is +still living. The only thing that worries me is that +we are so poor.”</p> + +<p>His wife said: “I will flee with you, and we will +find your mother. And waste no regrets on your +poverty.”</p> + +<p>With that she gathered up all the house held in the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span> +way of pearls and precious stones, put them in a bag +and had her husband tie it around his waist. Then +she also gave him an umbrella, and in the middle of +the night they climbed the wall with the aid of a ladder, +and stole away.</p> + +<p>His wife had also said to him: “Take the umbrella +on your back and run as fast as ever you can! +Do not open it, and do not look around! I will follow +you in secret.”</p> + +<p>So he turned North and ran with all his might and +main. He had been running for a day and a night, +had covered nearly a hundred miles, and passed the +boundaries of the wild people’s country, when his legs +gave out and he grew hungry. Before him lay a +mountain village. He stopped at the village gate to +rest, drew some food from his pocket and began to +eat. And he looked around without being able to see +his wife.</p> + +<p>Said he to himself: “Perhaps she has deceived me +after all, and is not coming with me!”</p> + +<p>After he had finished eating, he took a drink from +a spring, and painfully dragged himself further. +When the heat of the day was greatest a violent +mountain rain suddenly began to fall. In his haste +he forgot what his wife had told him and opened his +umbrella. And out fell his wife upon the ground.</p> + +<p>She reproached him: “Once more you have not +listened to my advice. Now the damage has been +done!”</p> + +<p>Quickly she told him to go to the village, and there +to buy a white cock, seven black tea-cups, and half a +length of red nettlecloth.</p> + +<p>“Do not be sparing of the silver pieces in your +pocket!” she cried after him as he went off.</p> + +<p>He went to the village, attended to everything, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span> +and came back. The woman tore the cloth apart, +made a coat of it and put it on. No sooner had they +walked a few miles before they could see a red cloud +rising up in the South, like a flying bird.</p> + +<p>“That is my mother,” said the woman.</p> + +<p>In a moment the cloud was overhead. Then the +woman took the black tea-cups and threw them at it. +Seven she threw and seven fell to earth again. And +then they could hear the mother in the cloud weeping +and scolding, and thereupon the cloud disappeared.</p> + +<p>They went on for about four hours. Then they +heard a sound like the noise of silk being torn, and +could see a cloud as black as ink, which was rushing +up against the wind.</p> + +<p>“Alas, that is my father!” said the woman. “This +is a matter of life and death, for he will not let us be! +Because of my love for you I will now have to disobey +the holiest of laws!”</p> + +<p>With these words she quickly seized the white cock, +separated its head from its body, and flung the head +into the air. At once the black cloud dissolved, and +her father’s body, the head severed from the trunk, +fell down by the edge of the road. Then the woman +wept bitterly, and when she had wept her fill they +buried the corpse. Thereupon they went together to +her husband’s home, where they found his old mother +still living. They then undid the bag of pearls and +jewels, bought a piece of good ground, built a fine +house, and became wealthy and respected members +of the community.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: Realgar: The Chinese believe that realgar is a mithridate +and tonic.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207"><!-- unnumbered page --></a></span></p> + +<h2 class="padtop">HISTORIC LEGENDS</h2> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208"><!-- blank page --></a></span></p> + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span></p> + +<h3 class="padtop"><a name="LX" id="LX"></a>LX<br /> +<br /> +THE SORCERER OF THE WHITE LOTUS LODGE</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>NCE upon a time there was a sorcerer who belonged +to the White Lotus Lodge. He knew +how to deceive the multitude with his black arts, and +many who wished to learn the secret of his enchantments +became his pupils.</p> + +<p>One day the sorcerer wished to go out. He placed +a bowl which he covered with another bowl in the hall +of his house, and ordered his pupils to watch it. But +he warned them against uncovering the bowl to see +what might be in it.</p> + +<p>No sooner had he gone than the pupils uncovered +the bowl and saw that it was filled with clear water. +And floating on the water was a little ship made of +straw, with real masts and sails. They were surprised +and pushed it with their fingers till it upset. +Then they quickly righted it again and once more +covered the bowl. By that time the sorcerer was +already standing among them. He was angry and +scolded them, saying: “Why did you disobey my +command?”</p> + +<p>His pupils rose and denied that they had done so.</p> + +<p>But the sorcerer answered: “Did not my ship turn +turtle at sea, and yet you try to deceive me?”</p> + +<p>On another evening he lit a giant candle in his room, +and ordered his pupils to watch it lest it be blown out +by the wind. It must have been at the second watch +of the night and the sorcerer had not yet come back. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> +The pupils grew tired and sleepy, so they went to bed +and gradually fell asleep. When they woke up again +the candle had gone out. So they rose quickly and +re-lit it. But the sorcerer was already in the room, +and again he scolded them.</p> + +<p>“Truly we did not sleep! How could the light +have gone out?”</p> + +<p>Angrily the sorcerer replied: “You let me walk +fifteen miles in the dark, and still you can talk such +nonsense!”</p> + +<p>Then his pupils were very much frightened.</p> + +<p>In the course of time one of his pupils insulted the +sorcerer. The latter made note of the insult, but +said nothing. Soon after he told the pupil to feed the +swine, and no sooner had he entered the sty than his +master turned him into a pig. The sorcerer then at +once called in a butcher, sold the pig to the man, and +he went the way of all pigs who go to the butcher.</p> + +<p>One day this pupil’s father turned up to ask after +his son, for he had not come back to his home for a +long time. The sorcerer told him that his son had +left him long ago. The father returned home and inquired +everywhere for his son without success. But +one of his son’s fellow-pupils, who knew of the matter, +informed the father. So the father complained to +the district mandarin. The latter, however, feared +that the sorcerer might make himself invisible. He +did not dare to have him arrested, but informed his +superior and begged for a thousand well-armed soldiers. +These surrounded the sorcerer’s home and +seized him, together with his wife and child. All +three were put into wooden cages to be transported to +the capital.</p> + +<p>The road wound through the mountains, and in the +midst of the hills up came a giant as large as a tree, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span> +with eyes like saucers, a mouth like a plate, and teeth a +foot long. The soldiers stood there trembling and +did not dare to move.</p> + +<p>Said the sorcerer: “That is a mountain spirit. +My wife will be able to drive him off.”</p> + +<p>They did as he suggested, unchained the woman, +and she took a spear and went to meet the giant. The +latter was angered, and he swallowed her, tooth and +nail. This frightened the rest all the more.</p> + +<p>The sorcerer said: “Well, if he has done away +with my wife, then it is my son’s turn!”</p> + +<p>So they let the son out of his cage. But the giant +swallowed him in the same way. The rest all looked +on without knowing what to do.</p> + +<p>The sorcerer then wept with rage and said: “First +he destroys my wife, and then my son. If only he +might be punished for it! But I am the only one +who can punish him!”</p> + +<p>And, sure enough, they took him out of his cage, +too, gave him a sword, and sent him out against the +giant. The sorcerer and the giant fought with each +other for a time, and at last the giant seized the sorcerer, +thrust him into his maw, stretched his neck and +swallowed him. Then he went his way contentedly.</p> + +<p>And now when it was too late, the soldiers realized +that the sorcerer had tricked them.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: The Lodge of the White Lotus is one of the secret revolutionary +societies of China. It harks back to Tung Tian Giau Dschu +as its founder. Compare note to No. <a href="#XVIII">18</a>. The “mountain spirit,” of +course, is an optical illusion called up by the sorcerer, by means of +which he frees his family and himself from the soldiers.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="LXI" id="LXI"></a>LXI<br /> +<br /> +THE THREE EVILS</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>NCE upon a time, in the old days, there lived +a young man by the name of Dschou Tschu. +He was of more than ordinary strength, and no one +could withstand him. He was also wild and undisciplined, +and wherever he was, quarrels and brawls +arose. Yet the village elders never ventured to punish +him seriously. He wore a high hat on his head, +adorned with two pheasants’ wings. His garments +were woven of embroidered silk, and at his side hung +the Dragonspring sword. He was given to play and +to drinking, and his hand was inclined to take that +which belonged to others. Whoever offended him +had reason to dread the consequences, and he always +mixed into disputes in which others were engaged. +Thus he kept it up for years, and was a pest throughout +the neighborhood.</p> + +<p>Then a new mandarin came to that district. When +he had arrived, he first went quietly about the country +and listened to the people’s complaints. And they +told him that there were three great evils in that district.</p> + +<p>Then he clothed himself in coarse garments, and +wept before Dschou Tschu’s door. Dschou Tschu +was just coming from the tavern, where he had been +drinking. He was slapping his sword and singing +in a loud voice.</p> + +<p>When he reached his house he asked: “Who is +weeping here so pitifully?”</p> + +<p>And the mandarin replied: “I am weeping because +of the people’s distress.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span> +Then Dschou Tschu saw him and broke out into +loud laughter.</p> + +<p>“You are mistaken, my friend,” said he. “Revolt +is seething round about us like boiling water in a kettle. +But here, in our little corner of the land, all is +quiet and peaceful. The harvest has been abundant, +corn is plentiful, and all go happily about their work. +When you talk to me about distress I have to think +of the man who groans without being sick. And +who are you, tell me that, who instead of grieving for +yourself, are grieving for others? And what are you +doing before my door?”</p> + +<p>“I am the new mandarin,” replied the other. +“Since I left my litter I have been looking about in the +neighborhood. I find the people are honest and simple +in their way of life, and every one has sufficient to +wear and to eat. This is all just as you state. Yet, +strange to say, when the elders come together, they always +sigh and complain. And if they are asked why, +they answer: ‘There are three great evils in our +district!’ I have come to ask you to do away with +two of them, as to the third, perhaps I had better +remain silent. And this is the reason I weep before +your door.”</p> + +<p>“Well, what are these evils?” answered Dschou +Tschu. “Speak freely, and tell me openly all that +you know!”</p> + +<p>“The first evil,” said the mandarin, “is the evil +dragon at the long bridge, who causes the water to +rise so that man and beast are drowned in the river. +The second evil is the tiger with the white forehead, +who dwells in the hills. And the third evil, Dschou +Tschu—is yourself!”</p> + +<p>Then the blush of shame mounted to the man’s +cheek, and he bowed and said: “You have come here +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> +from afar to be the mandarin of this district, and yet +you feel such sympathy for the people? I was born +in this place and yet I have only made our elders +grieve. What sort of a creature must I be? I beg +that you will return home again. I will see to it that +matters improve!”</p> + +<p>Then he ran without stopping to the hills, and +hunted the tiger out of his cave. The latter leaped +into the air so that the whole forest was shaken as +though by a storm. Then he came rushing up, roaring, +and stretching out his claws savagely to seize his +enemy. Dschou Tschu stepped back a pace, and the +tiger lit on the ground directly in front of him. Then +he thrust the tiger’s neck to the ground with his left +hand, and beat him without stopping with his right, +until he lay dead on the earth. Dschou Tschu loaded +the tiger on his back and went home.</p> + +<p>Then he went to the long bridge. He undressed, +took his sword in his hand, and thus dived into the +water. No sooner had he disappeared, than there was +a boiling and hissing, and the waves began to foam +and billow. It sounded like the mad beating of thousands +of hoofs. After a time a stream of blood shot +up from the depths, and the water of the river turned +red. Then Dschou Tschu, holding the dragon in his +hand, rose out of the waves.</p> + +<p>He went to the mandarin and reported, with a bow: +“I have cut off the dragon’s head, and have also done +away with the tiger. Thus I have happily accomplished +your command. And now I shall wander away +so that you may be rid of the third evil as well. +Lord, watch over my country, and tell the elders that +they need sorrow no more!”</p> + +<p>When he had said this he enlisted as a soldier. In +combat against the robbers he gained a great reputation +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span> +and once, when the latter were pressing him +hard, and he saw that he could not save himself, he +bowed to the East and said: “The day has come at +last when I can atone for my sin with my life!” +Then he offered his neck to the sword and died.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: A legendary tale rather than a folk-story, with a fine +moral.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="LXII" id="LXII"></a>LXII<br /> +<br /> +HOW THREE HEROES CAME BY THEIR DEATHS BECAUSE OF +TWO PEACHES</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">A</span>T the beginning of his reign Duke Ging of Tsi +loved to draw heroes about him. Among those +whom he attached to him were three of quite extraordinary +bravery. The first was named Gung Sun +Dsia, the second Tian Kai Giang, the third Gu I Dsi. +All three were highly honored by the prince, but the +honor paid them made them presumptuous, they kept +the court in a turmoil, and overstepped the bounds of +respect which lie between a prince and his servants.</p> + +<p>At the time Yan Dsi was chancellor of Tsi. The +duke consulted him as to what would be best to do. +And the chancellor advised him to give a great court +banquet and invite all his courtiers. On the table, +the choicest dish of all, stood a platter holding four +magnificent peaches.</p> + +<p>Then, in accordance with his chancellor’s advice, +the Duke rose and said: “Here are some magnificent +peaches, but I cannot give one to each of you. +Only those most worthy may eat of them. I myself +reign over the land, and am the first among the princes +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> +of the empire. I have been successful in holding my +possessions and power, and that is my merit. Hence +one of the peaches falls to me. Yan Dsi sits here as +my chancellor. He regulates communications with +foreign lands and keeps the peace among the people. +He has made my kingdom powerful among the kingdoms +of the earth. That is his merit, and hence the +second peach falls to him. Now there are but two +peaches left; yet I cannot tell which ones among you +are the worthiest. You may rise yourselves and tell +us of your merits. But whoever has performed no +great deeds, let him hold his tongue!”</p> + +<p>Then Gung Sun Dsia beat upon his sword, rose up +and said: “I am the prince’s captain general. In +the South I besieged the kingdom of Lu, in the West +I conquered the kingdom of Dsin, in the North I captured +the army of Yan. All the princes of the East +come to the Duke’s court and acknowledge the overlordship +of Tsi. That is my merit. I do not know +whether it deserves a peach.”</p> + +<p>The Duke replied: “Great is your merit! A peach +is your just due!”</p> + +<p>Then Tian Kai Giang rose, beat on the table, and +cried: “I have fought a hundred battles in the army +of the prince. I have slain the enemy’s general-in-chief, +and captured the enemy’s flag. I have extended +the borders of the Duke’s land till the size of +his realm has been increased by a thousand miles. +How is it with my merit?”</p> + +<p>The Duke said: “Great is your merit! A peach +is your just due!”</p> + +<p>Then Gu I Dsi arose; his eyes started from their +sockets, and he shouted with a loud voice: “Once, +when the Duke was crossing the Yellow River, wind +and waters rose. A river-dragon snapped up one of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span> +the steeds of the chariot and tore it away. The ferry-boat +rocked like a sieve and was about to capsize. +Then I took my sword and leaped into the stream. I +fought with the dragon in the midst of the foaming +waves. And by reason of my strength I managed +to kill him, though my eyes stood out of my head +with my exertions. Then I came to the surface with +the dragon’s head in one hand, and holding the rein of +the rescued horse in the other, and I had saved my +prince from drowning. Whenever our country was +at war with neighboring states, I refused no service. +I commanded the van, I fought in single combat. +Never did I turn my back on the foe. Once the +prince’s chariot stuck fast in the swamp, and the enemy +hurried up on all sides. I pulled the chariot out, +and drove off the hostile mercenaries. Since I have +been in the prince’s service I have saved his life more +than once. I grant that my merit is not to be compared +with that of the prince and that of the chancellor, +yet it is greater than that of my two companions. +Both have received peaches, while I must do without. +This means that real merit is not rewarded, and that +the Duke looks on me with disfavor. And in such case +how may I ever show myself at court again!”</p> + +<p>With these words he drew his sword and killed himself.</p> + +<p>Then Gung Sun Dsia rose, bowed twice, and said +with a sigh: “Both my merit and that of Tian Kai +Giang does not compare with Gu I Dsi’s and yet the +peaches were given us. We have been rewarded beyond +our deserts, and such reward is shameful. Hence +it is better to die than to live dishonored!”</p> + +<p>He took his sword and swung it, and his own head +rolled on the sand.</p> + +<p>Tian Kai Giang looked up and uttered a groan of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span> +disgust. He blew the breath from his mouth in front +of him like a rainbow, and his hair rose on end with +rage. Then he took sword in hand and said: “We +three have always served our prince bravely. We +were like the same flesh and blood. The others are +dead, and it is my duty not to survive them!”</p> + +<p>And he thrust his sword into his throat and died.</p> + +<p>The Duke sighed incessantly, and commanded that +they be given a splendid burial. A brave hero values +his honor more than his life. The chancellor knew this, +and that was why he purposely arranged to incite the +three heroes to kill themselves by means of the two +peaches.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: Duke Ging of Tsi (Eastern Shantung) was an older +contemporary of Confucius. The chancellor Yan Dsi, who is the +reputed author of a work on philosophy, is the same who prevented +the appointment of Confucius at the court of Tsi.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="LXIII" id="LXIII"></a>LXIII<br /> +<br /> +HOW THE RIVER-GOD’S WEDDING WAS BROKEN OFF</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">A</span>T the time of the seven empires there lived a man +by the name of Si-Men Bau, who was a governor +on the Yellow River. In this district the river-god +was held in high honor. The sorcerers and witches who +dwelt there said: “Every year the river-god looks +for a bride, who must be selected from among the people. +If she be not found then wind and rain will not +come at the proper seasons, and there will be scanty +crops and floods!” And then, when a girl came of age +in some wealthy family, the sorcerers would say that +she should be selected. Whereupon her parents, who +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span> +wished to protect their daughter, would bribe them with +large sums of money to look for some one else, till the +sorcerers would give in, and order the rich folk to +share the expense of buying some poor girl to be cast +into the river. The remainder of the money they +would keep for themselves as their profit on the transaction. +But whoever would not pay, their daughter +was chosen to be the bride of the river-god, and was +forced to accept the wedding gifts which the sorcerers +brought her. The people of the district chafed grievously +under this custom.</p> + +<p>Now when Si-Men entered into office, he heard of this +evil custom. He had the sorcerers come before him +and said: “See to it that you let me know when the +day of the river-god’s wedding comes, for I myself +wish to be present to honor the god! This will please +him, and in return he will shower blessings on my people.” +With that he dismissed them. And the sorcerers +were full of praise for his piety.</p> + +<p>So when the day arrived they gave him notice. Si-Men +dressed himself in his robes of ceremony, entered +his chariot and drove to the river in festival procession. +The elders of the people, as well as the sorcerers +and the witches were all there. And from far and near +men, women and children had flocked together in order +to see the show. The sorcerers placed the river-bride +on a couch, adorned her with her bridal jewels, and +kettledrums, snaredrums and merry airs vied with +each other in joyful sound.</p> + +<p>They were about to thrust the couch into the stream, +and the girl’s parents said farewell to her amid tears. +But Si-Men bade them wait and said: “Do not be in +such a hurry! I have appeared in person to escort the +bride, hence everything must be done solemnly and in +order. First some one must go to the river-god’s +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span> +castle, and let him know that he may come himself and +fetch his bride.”</p> + +<p>And with these words he looked at a witch and said: +“You may go!” The witch hesitated, but he ordered +his servants to seize her and thrust her into the stream. +After which about an hour went by.</p> + +<p>“That woman did not understand her business,” +continued Si-Men, “or else she would have been back +long ago!” And with that he looked at one of the sorcerers +and added: “Do you go and do better!” The +sorcerer paled with fear, but Si-Men had him seized +and cast into the river. Again half-an-hour went by.</p> + +<p>Then Si-Men pretended to be uneasy. “Both of +them have made a botch of their errand,” said he, “and +are causing the bride to wait in vain!” Once more +he looked at a sorcerer and said: “Do you go and +hunt them up!” But the sorcerer flung himself on the +ground and begged for mercy. And all the rest of +the sorcerers and witches knelt to him in a row, and +pleaded for grace. And they took an oath that they +would never again seek a bride for the river-god.</p> + +<p>Then Si-Men held his hand, and sent the girl back to +her home, and the evil custom was at an end forever.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: Si-Men Bau was an historical personage, who lived five +centuries before Christ.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="LXIV" id="LXIV"></a>LXIV<br /> +<br /> +DSCHANG LIANG</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">D</span>SCHANG LIANG was a native of one of those +states which had been destroyed by the Emperor +Tsin Schi Huang. And Dschang Liang determined to +do a deed for his dead king’s sake, and to that end +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span> +gathered followers with whom to slay Tsin Schi Huang.</p> + +<p>Once Tsin Schi Huang was making a progress +through the country. When he came to the plain of +Bo Lang, Dschang Liang armed his people with iron +maces in order to kill him. But Tsin Schi Huang always +had two traveling coaches which were exactly alike +in appearance. In one of them he sat himself, +while in the other was seated another person. Dschang +Liang and his followers met the decoy wagon, and +Dschang Liang was forced to flee from the Emperor’s +rage. He came to a ruined bridge. An icy wind was +blowing, and the snowflakes were whirling through the +air. There he met an old, old man wearing a black turban +and a yellow gown. The old man let one of his +shoes fall into the water, looked at Dschang Liang and +said: “Fetch it out, little one!”</p> + +<p>Dschang Liang controlled himself, fetched out the +shoe and brought it to the old man. The latter +stretched out his foot to allow Dschang Liang to put it +on, which he did in a respectful manner. This pleased +the old man and he said: “Little one, something may +be made of you! Come here to-morrow morning +early, and I will have something for you.”</p> + +<p>The following morning at break of dawn, Dschang +Liang appeared. But the old man was already there +and reproached him: “You are too late. To-day I +will tell you nothing. To-morrow you must come +earlier.”</p> + +<p>So it went on for three days, and Dschang Liang’s +patience was not exhausted. Then the old man was +satisfied, brought forth the Book of Hidden Complements, +and gave it to him. “You must read it,” said +he, “and then you will be able to rule a great emperor. +When your task is completed, seek me at the +foot of the Gu Tschong Mountain. There you will +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> +find a yellow stone, and I will be by that yellow +stone.”</p> + +<p>Dschang Liang took the book and aided the ancestor +of the Han dynasty to conquer the empire. The emperor +made him a count. From that time forward +Dschang Liang ate no human food and concentrated in +spirit. He kept company with the four whitebeards of +the Shang Mountain, and with them shared the sunset +roses in the clouds. Once he met two boys who were +singing and dancing:</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“Green the garments you should wear,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">If to heaven’s gate you’d fare;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">There the Golden Mother greet,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Bow before the Wood Lord’s feet!”<br /></span> +</div> +</div> + +<p>When Dschang Liang heard this, he bowed before the +youths, and said to his friends: “Those are angel +children of the King Father of the East. The Golden +Mother is the Queen of the West. The Lord of Wood +is the King Father of the East. They are the two primal +powers, the parents of all that is male and female, +the root and fountain of heaven and earth, to whom +all that has life is indebted for its creation and nourishment. +The Lord of Wood is the master of all the +male saints, the Golden Mother is the mistress of all +the female saints. Whoever would gain immortality, +must first greet the Golden Mother and then bow before +the King Father. Then he may rise up to the +three Pure Ones and stand in the presence of the Highest. +The song of the angel children shows the manner +in which the hidden knowledge may be acquired.”</p> + +<p>At about that time the emperor was induced to have +some of his faithful servants slain. Then Dschang +Liang left his service and went to the Gu Tschong +Mountain. There he found the old man by the yellow +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span> +stone, gained the hidden knowledge, returned home, +and feigning illness loosed his soul from his body and +disappeared.</p> + +<p>Later, when the rebellion of the “Red Eyebrows” +broke out, his tomb was opened. But all that was +found within it was a yellow stone. Dschang Liang +was wandering with Laotsze in the invisible world.</p> + +<p>Once his grandson Dschang Dau Ling went to Kunlun +Mountain, in order to visit the Queen Mother of +the West. There he met Dschang Liang. Dschang +Dau Ling gained power over demons and spirits, and +became the first Taoist pope. And the secret of his +power has been handed down in his family from generation +to generation.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: “In a yellow robe,” is an indication of Taoism: compare +with No. <a href="#XXXVIII">38</a>. “The Book of Hidden Complements” (Yin Fu Ging). +Compare with Lia Dsi, Introduction.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="LXV" id="LXV"></a>LXV<br /> +<br /> +OLD DRAGONBEARD</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">A</span>T the time of the last emperor of the Sui dynasty, +the power was in the hands of the emperor’s +uncle, Yang Su. He was proud and extravagant. In +his halls stood choruses of singers and bands of dancing +girls, and serving-maids stood ready to obey his +least sign. When the great lords of the empire came +to visit him he remained comfortably seated on his +couch while he received them.</p> + +<p>In those days there lived a bold hero named Li +Dsing. He came to see Yang Su in humble clothes in +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span> +order to bring him a plan for the quieting of the empire.</p> + +<p>He made a low bow to which Yang Su did not reply, +and then he said: “The empire is about to be troubled +by dissension and heroes are everywhere taking +up arms. You are the highest servant of the imperial +house. It should be your duty to gather the bravest +around the throne. And you should not rebuff people +by your haughtiness!”</p> + +<p>When Yang Su heard him speak in this fashion he +collected himself, rose from his place, and spoke to +him in a friendly manner.</p> + +<p>Li Dsing handed him a memorial, and Yang Su +entered into talk with him concerning all sorts of +things. A serving-maid of extraordinary beauty stood +beside them. She held a red flabrum in her hand, +and kept her eyes fixed on Li Dsing. The latter at +length took his leave and returned to his inn.</p> + +<p>Later in the day some one knocked at his door. He +looked out, and there, before the door, stood a person +turbaned and gowned in purple, and carrying a bag +slung from a stick across his shoulder.</p> + +<p>Li Dsing asked who it was and received the answer: +“I am the fan-bearer of Yang Su!”</p> + +<p>With that she entered the room, threw back her mantle +and took off her turban. Li Dsing saw that she +was a maiden of eighteen or nineteen.</p> + +<p>She bowed to him, and when he had replied to her +greeting she began: “I have dwelt in the house of +Yang Su for a long time and have seen many famous +people, but none who could equal you. I will serve you +wherever you go!”</p> + +<p>Li Dsing answered: “The minister is powerful. I +am afraid that we will plunge ourselves into misfortune.”</p> + +<p>“He is a living corpse, in whom the breath of life +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span> +grows scant,” said the fan-bearer, “and we need not +fear him.”</p> + +<p>He asked her name, and she said it was Dschang, +and that she was the oldest among her brothers and +sisters.</p> + +<p>And when he looked at her, and considered her courageous +behavior and her sensible words, he realized +that she was a girl of heroic cast, and they agreed to +marry and make their escape from the city in secret. +The fan-bearer put on men’s clothes, and they mounted +horses and rode away. They had determined to go to +Taiyuanfu.</p> + +<p>On the following day they stopped at an inn. They +had their room put in order and made a fire on the +hearth to cook their meal. The fan-bearer was combing +her hair. It was so long that it swept the ground, +and so shining that you could see your face in it. Li +Dsing had just left the room to groom the horses. +Suddenly a man who had a long curling mustache +like a dragon made his appearance. He came along +riding on a lame mule, threw down his leather bag on +the ground in front of the hearth, took a pillow, made +himself comfortable on a couch, and watched the fan-bearer +as she combed her hair. Li Dsing saw him +and grew angry; but the fan-bearer had at once seen +through the stranger. She motioned Li Dsing to control +himself, quickly finished combing her hair and tied +it in a knot.</p> + +<p>Then she greeted the guest and asked his name.</p> + +<p>He told her that he was named Dschang.</p> + +<p>“Why, my name is also Dschang,” said she, “so we +must be relatives!”</p> + +<p>Thereupon she bowed to him as her elder brother.</p> + +<p>“How many are there of you brothers?” she then +inquired.</p> + +<p>“I am the third,” he answered, “and you?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span> +“I am the oldest sister.”</p> + +<p>“How fortunate that I should have found a sister +to-day,” said the stranger, highly pleased.</p> + +<p>Then the fan-bearer called to Li Dsing through the +door and said: “Come in! I wish to present my +third brother to you!”</p> + +<p>Then Li Dsing came in and greeted him.</p> + +<p>They sat down beside each other and the stranger +asked: “What have you to eat?”</p> + +<p>“A leg of mutton,” was the answer.</p> + +<p>“I am quite hungry,” said the stranger.</p> + +<p>So Li Dsing went to the market and brought bread +and wine. The stranger drew out his dagger, cut the +meat, and they all ate in company. When they had +finished he fed the rest of the meat to his mule.</p> + +<p>Then he said: “Sir Li, you seem to be a moneyless +knight. How did you happen to meet my sister?”</p> + +<p>Li Dsing told him how it had occurred.</p> + +<p>“And where do you wish to go now?”</p> + +<p>“To Taiyuanfu,” was the answer.</p> + +<p>Said the stranger: “You do not seem to be an +ordinary fellow. Have you heard anything regarding +a hero who is supposed to be in this neighborhood?”</p> + +<p>Li Dsing answered: “Yes, indeed, I know of one, +whom heaven seems destined to rule.”</p> + +<p>“And who might he be?” inquired the other.</p> + +<p>“He is the son of Duke Li Yuan of Tang, and he is +no more than twenty years of age.”</p> + +<p>“Could you present him to me some time?” asked +the stranger.</p> + +<p>And when Li Dsing has assured him he could, he +continued: “The astrologers say that a special sign +has been noticed in the air above Taiyuanfu. Perhaps +it is caused by the very man. To-morrow you +may await me at the Fenyang Bridge!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span> +With these words he mounted his mule and rode away, +and he rode so swiftly that he seemed to be flying.</p> + +<p>The fan-bearer said to him: “He is not a pleasant +customer to deal with. I noticed that at first he had +no good intentions. That is why I united him to us +by bonds of relationship.”</p> + +<p>Then they set out together for Taiyuanfu, and at +the appointed place, sure enough, they met Dragonbeard. +Li Dsing had an old friend, a companion of +the Prince of Tang.</p> + +<p>He presented the stranger to this friend, named +Liu Wendsing, saying: “This stranger is able to foretell +the future from the lines of the face, and would +like to see the prince.”</p> + +<p>Thereupon Liu Wendsing took him in to the prince. +The prince was clothed in a simple indoor robe, but +there was something impressive about him, which made +him remarked among all others. When the stranger +saw him, he fell into a profound silence, and his face +turned gray. After he had drunk a few flagons of +wine he took his leave.</p> + +<p>“That man is a true ruler,” he told Li Dsing. “I +am almost certain of the fact, but to be sure my friend +must also see him.”</p> + +<p>Then he arranged to meet Li Dsing on a certain +day at a certain inn.</p> + +<p>“When you see this mule before the door, together +with a very lean jackass, then you may be certain I am +there with my friend.”</p> + +<p>On the day set Li Dsing went there and, sure enough +he saw the mule and the jackass before the door. He +gathered up his robe and descended to the upper story +of the inn. There sat old Dragonbeard and a Taoist +priest over their wine. When the former saw Li +Dsing he was much pleased, bade him sit down and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span> +offered him wine. After they had pledged each other, +all three returned to Liu Wendsing. He was engaged +in a game of chess with the prince. The prince rose +with respect and asked them to be seated.</p> + +<p>As soon as the Taoist priest saw his radiant and +heroic countenance he was disconcerted, and greeted +him with a low bow, saying: “The game is up!”</p> + +<p>When they took their leave Dragonbeard said to Li +Dsing: “Go on to Sianfu, and when the time has +come, ask for me at such and such a place.”</p> + +<p>And with that he went away snorting.</p> + +<p>Li Dsing and the fan-bearer packed up their belongings, +left Taiyuanfu and traveled on toward the +West. At that time Yang Su died, and great disturbance +arose throughout the empire.</p> + +<p>In the course of a few days Li Dsing and his wife +reached the meeting-place appointed by Dragonbeard. +They knocked at a little wooden door, and out came +a servant, who led them through long passages. When +they emerged magnificent buildings arose before them, +in front of which stood a crowd of slave girls. Then +they entered a hall in which the most valuable dowry +that could be imagined had been piled up: mirrors, +clothes, jewelry, all more beautiful than earth is wont +to show. Handsome slave girls led them to the bath, +and when they had changed their garments their friend +was announced. He stepped in clad in silks and fox-pelts, +and looking almost like a dragon or a tiger. He +greeted his guests with pleasure and also called in his +wife, who was of exceptional loveliness. A festive banquet +was served, and all four sat down to it. The +table was covered with the most expensive viands, so +rare that they did not even know their names. Flagons +and dishes and all the utensils were made of gold and +jade, and ornamented with pearls and precious stones. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span> +Two companies of girl musicians alternately blew +flutes and chalameaus. They sang and danced, and it +seemed to the visitors that they had been transported +to the palace of the Lady of the Moon. The rainbow +garments fluttered, and the dancing girls were beautiful +beyond all the beauty of earth.</p> + +<p>After they had banqueted, Dragonbeard commanded +his servitors to bring in couches upon which embroidered +silken covers had been spread. And after they +had seen everything worth seeing, he presented them +with a book and a key.</p> + +<p>Then he said: “In this book are listed the valuables +and the riches which I possess. I make you a wedding-present +of them. Nothing great may be undertaken +without wealth, and it is my duty to endow my sister +properly. My original intention had been to take the +Middle Kingdom in hand and do something with it. +But since a ruler has already arisen to reign over it, +what is there to keep me in this country? For Prince +Tang of Taiyuanfu is a real hero, and will have restored +order within a few years’ time. You must both of you +aid him, and you will be certain to rise to high honors. +You, my sister, are not alone beautiful, but you have +also the right way of looking at things. None other +than yourself would have been able to recognize the +true worth of Li Dsing, and none other than Li Dsing +would have had the good fortune to encounter you. +You will share the honors which will be your husband’s +portion, and your name will be recorded in history. +The treasures which I bestow upon you, you are to use +to help the true ruler. Bear this in mind! And in +ten years’ time a glow will rise far away to the South-east, +and it shall be a sign that I have reached my goal. +Then you may pour a libation of wine in the direction +of the South-east, to wish me good fortune!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span> +Then, one after another, he had his servitors and +slave-girls greet Li Dsing and the fan-bearer, and +said to them: “This is your master and your mistress!”</p> + +<p>When he had spoken these words, he took his wife’s +hand, they mounted three steeds which were held ready, +and rode away.</p> + +<p>Li Dsing and his wife now established themselves +in the house, and found themselves possessed of countless +wealth. They followed Prince Tang, who restored +order to the empire, and aided him with their money. +Thus the great work was accomplished, and after +peace had been restored throughout the empire, Li +Dsing was made Duke of We, and the fan-bearer became +a duchess.</p> + +<p>Some ten years later the duke was informed that in +the empire beyond the sea a thousand ships had landed +an army of a hundred thousand armored soldiers. +These had conquered the country, killed its prince, and +set up their leader as its king. And order now reigned +in that empire.</p> + +<p>Then the duke knew that Dragonbeard had accomplished +his aim. He told his wife, and they robed +themselves in robes of ceremony and offered wine in +order to wish him good fortune. And they saw a +radiant crimson ray flash up on the South-eastern +horizon. No doubt Dragonbeard had sent it in answer. +And both of them were very happy.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: Yang Su died in the year 606 <small>A.D.</small> The Li Dsing +of this tale has nothing in common with Li Dsing, the father of +Notscha (No. <a href="#XVIII">18</a>). He lived as a historical personage, 571-649 +<small>A.D.</small> Li Yuan was the founder of the Tang dynasty, 565-635 +<small>A.D.</small> His famous son, to whom he owed the throne, the “Prince +of Tang,” was named Li Schi Min. His father abdicated in 618 +in his favor. This tale is not, of course, historical, but legendary. +Compare with the introduction of the following one.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="LXVI" id="LXVI"></a>LXVI<br /> +<br /> +HOW MOLO STOLE THE LOVELY ROSE-RED</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">A</span>T the time when the Tang dynasty reigned over +the Middle Kingdom, there were master swordsmen +of various kinds. Those who came first were the +saints of the sword. They were able to take different +shapes at will, and their swords were like strokes of +lightning. Before their opponents knew they had been +struck their heads had already fallen. Yet these master +swordsmen were men of lofty mind, and did not +lightly mingle in the quarrels of the world. The second +kind of master swordsmen were the sword heroes. +It was their custom to slay the unjust, and to come to +the aid of the oppressed. They wore a hidden dagger +at their side and carried a leather bag at their belt. +By magic means they were able to turn human heads +into flowing water. They could fly over roofs and +walk up and down walls, and they came and went and +left no trace. The swordsmen of the lowest sort were +the mere bought slayers. They hired themselves out +to those who wished to do away with their enemies. +And death was an everyday matter to them.</p> + +<p>Old Dragonbeard must have been a master swordsman +standing midway between those of the first and of +the second order. Molo, however, of whom this story +tells, was a sword hero.</p> + +<p>At that time there lived a young man named Tsui, +whose father was a high official and the friend of the +prince. And the father once sent his son to visit his +princely friend, who was ill. The son was young, +handsome and gifted. He went to carry out his father’s +instructions. When he entered the prince’s +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span> +palace, there stood three beautiful slave girls, who piled +rosy peaches into a golden bowl, poured sugar over +them and presented them to him. After he had eaten +he took his leave, and his princely host ordered one of +the slave girls, Rose-Red by name, to escort him to the +gate. As they went along the young man kept looking +back at her. And she smiled at him and made signs +with her fingers. First she would stretch out three fingers, +then she would turn her hand around three times, +and finally she would point to a little mirror which she +wore on her breast. When they parted she whispered +to him: “Do not forget me!”</p> + +<p>When the young man reached home his thoughts +were all in confusion. And he sat down absent-mindedly +like a wooden rooster. Now it happened that he +had an old servant named Molo, who was an extraordinary +being.</p> + +<p>“What is the trouble, master,” said he. “Why are +you so sad? Do you not want to tell your old slave +about it?”</p> + +<p>So the boy told him what had occurred, and also mentioned +the signs the girl had made to him in secret.</p> + +<p>Said Molo: “When she stretched out three fingers, +it meant that she is quartered in the third court of the +palace. When she turned round her hand three times, +it meant the sum of three times five fingers, which is +fifteen. When she pointed at the little mirror, she +meant to say that on the fifteenth, when the moon is +round as a mirror, at midnight, you are to go for her.”</p> + +<p>Then the young man was roused from his confused +thoughts, and was so happy he could hardly control +himself.</p> + +<p>But soon he grew sad again and said: “The +prince’s palace is shut off as though by an ocean. How +would it be possible to win into it?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span> +“Nothing easier,” said Molo. “On the fifteenth we +will take two pieces of dark silk and wrap ourselves up +in them, and thus I will carry you there. Yet there is a +wild dog on guard at the slave girl’s court, who is +strong as a tiger and watchful as a god. No one can +pass by him, so he must be killed.”</p> + +<p>When the appointed day had come, the servant said: +“There is no one else in the world who can kill this dog +but myself!”</p> + +<p>Full of joy the youth gave him meat and wine, and +the old man took a chain-hammer and disappeared +with it.</p> + +<p>And after no more time had elapsed than it takes to +eat a meal he was back again and said: “The dog is +dead, and there is nothing further to hinder us!”</p> + +<p>At midnight they wrapped themselves in dark silk, +and the old man carried the youth over the tenfold +walls which surrounded the palace. They reached the +third gateway and the gate stood ajar. Then they saw +the glow of a little lamp, and heard Rose-Red sigh +deeply. The entire court was silent and deserted. +The youth raised the curtain and stepped into the +room. Long and searchingly Rose-Red looked at him, +then seized his hand.</p> + +<p>“I knew that you were intelligent, and would understand +my sign language. But what magic power have +you at your disposal, that you were able to get here?”</p> + +<p>The youth told her in detail how Molo had helped +him.</p> + +<p>“And where is Molo?” she asked.</p> + +<p>“Outside, before the curtain,” was his answer.</p> + +<p>Then she called him in and gave him wine to drink +from a jade goblet and said: “I am of good family +and have come here from far away. Force alone has +made me a slave in this palace. I long to leave it. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span> +For though I have jasper chop-sticks with which to eat, +and drink my wine from golden flagons, though silk and +satin rustle around me and jewels of every kind are at +my disposal, all these are but so many chains and fetters +to hold me here. Dear Molo, you are endowed +with magic powers. I beg you to save me in my distress! +If you do, I will be glad to serve your master +as a slave, and will never forget the favor you do me.”</p> + +<p>The youth looked at Molo. Molo was quite willing. +First he asked permission to carry away Rose-Red’s +gear and jewels in sacks and bags. Three times he +went away and returned until he had finished. Then +he took his master and Rose-Red upon his back, and +flew away with them over the steep walls. None of +the watchmen of the prince’s palace noticed anything +out of the way. At home the youth hid Rose-Red in a +distant room.</p> + +<p>When the prince discovered that one of his slave-girls +was missing, and that one of his wild dogs had +been killed, he said: “That must have been some powerful +sword hero!” And he gave strict orders that +the matter should not be mentioned, and that investigations +should be made in secret.</p> + +<p>Two years passed, and the youth no longer thought +of any danger. Hence, when the flowers began to +bloom in the spring, Rose-Red went driving in a small +wagon outside the city, near the river. And there one +of the prince’s servants saw her, and informed his +master. The latter sent for the youth, who, since he +could not conceal the matter, told him the whole story +exactly as it had happened.</p> + +<p>Said the prince: “The whole blame rests on Rose-Red. +I do not reproach you. Yet since she is now +your wife I will let the whole matter rest. But Molo +will have to suffer for it!”</p> + +<div class="figcenter ipadtop" style="width: 435px;"> +<a name="flying_master" id="flying_master"></a> +<img src="images/cfb09.jpg" width="435" height="600" +alt="Molo carrying his passengers" /> +<p class="caption">“THEN HE TOOK HIS MASTER AND ROSE-RED UPON HIS +BACK AND FLEW WITH THEM OVER THE STEEP WALLS.”</p> +<p class="subcapt">—<i>Page <a href="#Page_234">234</a></i></p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span> +So he ordered a hundred armored soldiers, with +bows and swords, to surround the house of the youth, +and under all circumstances to take Molo captive. But +Molo drew his dagger and flew up the high wall. +Thence he looked about him like a hawk. The arrows +flew as thick as rain, but not one hit him. And in a +moment he had disappeared, no one knew where.</p> + +<p>Yet ten years later one of his former master’s servants +ran across him in the South, where he was selling +medicine. And he looked exactly as he had looked ten +years before.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: This fairy-tale has many features in common with the +fairy-tales of India, noticeably the use of the sign language, which +the hero himself does not understand, but which is understood by his +companion.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="LXVII" id="LXVII"></a>LXVII<br /> +<br /> +THE GOLDEN CANISTER</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">I</span>N the days of the Tang dynasty there lived a certain +count in the camp at Ludschou. He had a slave +who could play the lute admirably, and was also so +well versed in reading and writing that the count employed +her to indite his confidential letters.</p> + +<p>Once there was a great feast held in the camp. Said +the slave-girl: “The large kettledrum sounds so sad +to-day; some misfortune must surely have happened to +the kettledrummer!”</p> + +<p>The count sent for the kettledrummer and questioned +him.</p> + +<p>“My wife has died,” he replied, “yet I did not venture +to ask for leave of absence. That is why, in spite +of me, my kettledrum sounded so sad.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span> +The count allowed him to go home.</p> + +<p>At that time there was much strife and jealousy +among the counts along the Yellow River. The emperor +wished to put an end to their dissensions by allying +them to each other by marriages. Thus the daughter +of the Count of Ludschou had married the son of the +old Count of Webo. But this did not much improve +matters. The old Count of Webo had lung trouble, and +when the hot season came it always grew worse, and +he would say: “Yes, if I only had Ludschou! It is +cooler and I might feel better there!”</p> + +<p>So he gathered three thousand warriors around him, +gave them good pay, questioned the oracle with regard +to a lucky day, and set out to take Ludschou by force.</p> + +<p>The Count of Ludschou heard of it. He worried day +and night, but could see no way out of his difficulties. +One night, when the water-clock had already been set +up, and the gate of the camp had been locked, he walked +about the courtyard, leaning on his staff. Only his +slave-girl followed him.</p> + +<p>“Lord,” said she, “it is now more than a month since +sleep and appetite have abandoned you! You live sad +and lonely, wrapped up in your grief. Unless I am +greatly deceived it is on account of Webo.”</p> + +<p>“It is a matter of life and death,” answered the +count, “of which you women understand nothing.”</p> + +<p>“I am no more than a slave-girl,” said she, “and +yet I have been able to guess the cause of your grief.”</p> + +<p>The count realized that there was meaning in +her words and replied: “You are in truth an extraordinary +girl. It is a fact that I am quietly reflecting on +some way of escape.”</p> + +<p>The slave-girl said: “That is easily done! You +need not give it a thought, master! I will go to Webo +and see how things are. This is the first watch of the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span> +night. If I go now, I can be back by the fifth watch.”</p> + +<p>“Should you not succeed,” said the count, “you +merely bring misfortune upon me the more quickly.”</p> + +<p>“A failure is out of the question,” answered the +slave-girl.</p> + +<p>Then she went to her room and prepared for her +journey. She combed her raven hair, tied it in a knot +on the top of her head, and fastened it with a golden +pin. Then she put on a short garment embroidered +with purple, and shoes woven of dark silk. In her +breast she hid a dagger with dragon-lines graved on it, +and upon her forehead she wrote the name of the +Great God. Then she bowed before the count and +disappeared.</p> + +<p>The count poured wine for himself and waited for +her, and when the morning horn was blown, the slave-girl +floated down before him as light as a leaf.</p> + +<p>“Did all go well?” asked the count.</p> + +<p>“I have done no discredit to my mission,” replied +the girl.</p> + +<p>“Did you kill any one?”</p> + +<p>“No, I did not have to go to such lengths. Yet I +took the golden canister at the head of Webo’s couch +along as a pledge.”</p> + +<p>The count asked what her experience had been, +and she began to tell her story:</p> + +<p>“I set out when the drums were beating their first +tattoo and reached Webo three hours before midnight. +When I stepped through the gate, I could see the sentries +asleep in their guard-rooms. They snored so that +it sounded like thunder. The camp sentinels were pacing +their beats, and I went in through the left entrance +into the room in which the Count of Webo slept. +There lay your relative on his back behind the curtain, +plunged in sweet slumber. A costly sword showed +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span> +from beneath his pillow; and beside it stood an open +canister of gold. In the canister were various +slips. On one of them was set down his age and the +day of his birth, on another the name of the Great +Bear God. Grains of incense and pearls were scattered +over it. The candles in the room burned dimly, +and the incense in the censers was paling to ash. The +slave-girls lay huddled up, round about, asleep. I +could have drawn out their hair-pins and raised their +robes and they would not have awakened. Your relative’s +life was in my hand, but I could not bring myself +to kill him. So I took the golden canister and +returned. The water-clock marked the third hour +when I had finished my journey. Now you must have +a swift horse saddled quickly, and must send a man to +Webo to take back the golden canister. Then the Lord +of Webo will come to his senses, and will give up his +plans of conquest.”</p> + +<p>The Count of Ludschou at once ordered an officer to +ride to Webo as swiftly as possible. He rode all day +long and half the night and finally arrived. In Webo +every one was excited because of the loss of the golden +canister. They were searching the whole camp rigorously. +The messenger knocked at the gate with his +riding-whip, and insisted on seeing the Lord of Webo. +Since he came at so unusual an hour the Lord of Webo +guessed that he was bringing important information, +and left his room to receive the messenger. The latter +handed him a letter which said: “Last night a +stranger from Webo came to us. He informed us that +with his own hands he had taken a golden canister from +beside your bed. I have not ventured to keep it and +hence am sending it back to you by messenger.” +When the Lord of Webo saw the golden canister he +was much frightened. He took the messenger into his +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span> +own room, treated him to a splendid meal, and rewarded +him generously.</p> + +<p>On the following day he sent the messenger back +again, and gave him thirty thousand bales of silk and +a team of four horses along as a present for his master. +He also wrote a letter to the Count of Ludschou:</p> + +<p>“My life was in your hand. I thank you for having +spared me, regret my evil intentions and will improve. +From this time forward peace and friendship shall +ever unite us, and I will let no thought to the contrary +enter my mind. The citizen soldiery I have gathered I +will use only as a protection against robbers. I have +already disarmed the men and sent them back to their +work in the fields.”</p> + +<p>And thenceforward the heartiest friendship existed +between the two relatives North and South of the +Yellow River.</p> + +<p>One day the slave-girl came and wished to take leave +of her master.</p> + +<p>“In my former existence,” said the slave-girl, “I +was a man. I was a physician and helped the sick. +Once upon a time I gave a little child a poison to drink +by mistake instead of a healing draught, and the child +died. This led the Lord of Death to punish me, and I +came to earth again in the shape of a slave-girl. Yet I +remembered my former life, tried to do well in my new +surroundings, and even found a rare teacher who +taught me the swordsman’s art. Already I have +served you for nineteen years. I went to Webo for you +in order to repay your kindness. And I have succeeded +in shaping matters so that you are living at +peace with your relatives again, and thus have saved +the lives of thousands of people. For a weak woman +this is a real service, sufficient to absolve me of my +original fault. Now I shall retire from the world and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span> +dwell among the silent hills, in order to labor for sanctity +with a clean heart. Perhaps I may thus succeed in +returning to my former condition of life. So I beg of +you to let me depart!”</p> + +<p>The count saw that it would not be right to detain +her any longer. So he prepared a great banquet, +invited a number of guests to the farewell meal, and +many a famous knight sat down to the board. And +all honored her with toasts and poems.</p> + +<p>The count could no longer hide his emotion, and the +slave-girl also bowed before him and wept. Then +she secretly left the banquet-hall, and no human being +ever discovered whither she had gone.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: This motive of the intelligent slave-girl also occurs in the +story of the three empires. “On her forehead she wrote the name +of the Great God”: Regarding this god, Tai I, the Great One, +compare annotation to No. <a href="#XVIII">18</a>. The God of the Great Bear, i.e., +of the constellation. The letters which are exchanged are quite +as noticeable for what is implied between the lines, as for what +is actually set down.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="LXVIII" id="LXVIII"></a>LXVIII<br /> +<br /> +YANG GUI FE</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">T</span>HE favorite wife of the emperor Ming Huang of +the Tang dynasty was the celebrated Yang Gui +Fe. She so enchanted him by her beauty that he did +whatever she wished him to do. But she brought her +cousin to the court, a gambler and a drinker, and because +of him the people began to murmur against the +emperor. Finally a revolt broke out, and the emperor +was obliged to flee. He fled with his entire court +to the land of the four rivers.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span> +But when they reached a certain pass his own soldiers +mutinied. They shouted that Yang Gui Fe’s +cousin was to blame for all, and that he must die or +they would go no further. The emperor did not know +what to do. At last the cousin was delivered up to +the soldiers and was slain. But still they were not +satisfied.</p> + +<p>“As long as Yang Gui Fe is alive she will do all +in her power to punish us for the death of her cousin, +so she must die as well!”</p> + +<p>Sobbing, she fled to the emperor. He wept bitterly +and endeavored to protect her; but the soldiers grew +more and more violent. Finally she was hung from +a pear-tree by a eunuch.</p> + +<p>The emperor longed so greatly for Yang Gui Fe +that he ceased to eat, and could no longer sleep. Then +one of his eunuchs told him of a man named Yang Shi +Wu, who was able to call up the spirits of the departed. +The emperor sent for him and Yang Shi Wu +appeared.</p> + +<p>That very evening he recited his magic incantations, +and his soul left its body to go in search of Yang Gui +Fe. First he went to the Nether World, where the +shades of the departed dwell. Yet no matter how +much he looked and asked he could find no trace of +her. Then he ascended to the highest heaven, where +sun, moon and stars make their rounds, and looked +for her in empty space. Yet she was not to be found +there, either. So he came back and told the emperor +of his experience. The emperor was dissatisfied and +said: “Yang Gui Fe’s beauty was divine. How can +it be possible that she had no soul!”</p> + +<p>The magician answered: “Between hill and valley +and amid the silent ravines dwell the blessed. I will +go back once more and search for her there.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span> +So he wandered about on the five holy hills, by the +four great rivers and through the islands of the sea. +He went everywhere, and finally came to fairyland.</p> + +<p>The fairy said: “Yang Gui Fe has become a blessed +spirit and dwells in the great south palace!”</p> + +<p>So the magician went there and knocked on the door. +A maiden came out and asked what he wanted, and +he told her that the emperor had sent him to look for +her mistress. She let him in. The way led through +broad gardens filled with flowers of jade and trees of +coral, giving forth the sweetest of odors. Finally +they reached a high tower, and the maiden raised +the curtain hanging before a door. The magician +kneeled and looked up. And there he saw Yang Gui +Fe sitting on a throne, adorned with an emerald +headdress and furs of yellow swans’ down. Her face +glowed with rosy color, yet her forehead was wrinkled +with care.</p> + +<p>She said: “Well do I know the emperor longs for +me! But for me there is no path leading back to the +world of men! Before my birth I was a blessed sky-fairy, +and the emperor was a blessed spirit as well. +Even then we loved each other dearly. Then, when +the emperor was sent down to earth by the Lord of +the Heavens, I, too, descended to earth and found him +there among men. In twelve years’ time we will meet +again. Once, on the evening of the seventh day, when +we stood looking up at the Weaving Maiden and the +Herd Boy, we swore eternal love. The emperor had +a ring, which he broke in two. One half he gave to +me, the other he kept himself. Take this half of +mine, bring it to the emperor, and tell him not to forget +the words we said to each other in secret that +evening. And tell him not to grieve too greatly because +of me!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span> +With that she gave him the ring, with difficulty suppressing +her sobs. The magician brought back the +ring with him. At sight of it the emperor’s grief +broke out anew.</p> + +<p>He said: “What we said to each other that evening +no one else has ever learned! And now you bring +me back her ring! By that sign I know that your +words are true and that my beloved has really become +a blessed spirit.”</p> + +<p>Then he kept the ring and rewarded the magician +lavishly.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: The emperor Ming Huang of the Tang dynasty ruled +from 713 to 756 <small>A.D.</small> The introduction to the tale is historical. +The “land of the four rivers” is Setchuan.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="LXIX" id="LXIX"></a>LXIX<br /> +<br /> +THE MONK OF THE YANGTZE-KIANG</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">B</span>UDDHISM took its rise in southern India, on +the island of Ceylon. It was there that the son +of a Brahminic king lived, who had left his home in +his youth, and had renounced all wishes and all sensation. +With the greatest renunciation of self he did +penance so that all living creatures might be saved. In +the course of time he gained the hidden knowledge +and was called Buddha.</p> + +<p>In the days of the Emperor Ming Di, of the dynasty +of the Eastern Hans, a golden glow was seen in the +West, a glow which flashed and shone without interruption.</p> + +<p>One night the emperor dreamed that he saw a golden +saint, twenty feet in height, barefoot, his head shaven, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span> +and clothed in Indian garb enter his room, who said +to him: “I am the saint from the West! My gospel +must be spread in the East!”</p> + +<p>When the ruler awoke he wondered about this +dream, and sent out messengers to the lands of the +West in order to find out what it meant.</p> + +<p>Thus it was that the gospel of Buddha came to +China, and continued to gain in influence up to the +time of the Tang dynasty. At that time, from emperors +and kings down to the peasants in the villages, the +wise and the ignorant alike were filled with reverence +for Buddha. But under the last two dynasties his +gospel came to be more and more neglected. In these +days the Buddhist monks run to the houses of the rich, +read their sutras and pray for pay. And one hears +nothing of the great saints of the days gone by.</p> + +<p>At the time of the Emperor Tai Dsung, of the Tang +dynasty, it once happened that a great drought reigned +in the land, so that the emperor and all his officials +erected altars everywhere in order to plead for rain.</p> + +<p>Then the Dragon-King of the Eastern Sea talked +with the Dragon of the Milky Way and said: “To-day +they are praying for rain on earth below. The Lord +of the Heavens has granted the prayer of the King of +Tang. To-morrow you must let three inches of rain +fall!”</p> + +<p>“No, I must let only two inches of rain fall,” said +the old dragon.</p> + +<p>So the two dragons made a wager, and the one who +lost promised as a punishment to turn into a mud +salamander.</p> + +<p>The following day the Highest Lord suddenly +issued an order saying that the Dragon of the Milky +Way was to instruct the wind and cloud spirits to +send down three inches of rain upon the earth. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span> +To contradict this command was out of the question.</p> + +<p>But the old dragon thought to himself: “It seems +that the Dragon-King had a better idea of what was +going to happen than I had, yet it is altogether too +humiliating to have to turn into a mud salamander!” +So he let only two inches of rain fall, and reported +back to the heavenly court that the command had +been carried out.</p> + +<p>Yet the Emperor Tai Dsung then offered a prayer +of thanks to heaven. In it he said: “The precious +fluid was bestowed upon us to the extent of two inches +of depth. We beg submissively that more may be sent +down, so that the parched crops may recover!”</p> + +<p>When the Lord of the Heavens read this prayer he +was very angry and said: “The criminal Dragon of +the Milky Way has dared diminish the rain which I +had ordered. He cannot be suffered to continue his +guilty life. So We Dschong, who is a general among +men on earth, shall behead him, as an example for all +living beings.”</p> + +<p>In the evening the Emperor Tai Dsung had a dream. +He saw a giant enter his room, who pleaded with +hardly restrained tears: “Save me, O Emperor! Because +of my own accord I diminished the rainfall, the +Lord of the Heavens, in his anger, has commanded +that We Dschong behead me to-morrow at noon. If +you will only prevent We Dschong from falling asleep +at that time, and pray that I may be saved, misfortune +once more may pass me by!”</p> + +<p>The emperor promised, and the other bowed and +left him.</p> + +<p>The following day the emperor sent for We Dschong. +They drank tea together and played chess.</p> + +<p>Toward noon We Dschong suddenly grew tired and +sleepy; but he did not dare take his leave. The +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span> +emperor, however, since one of his pawns had been taken, +fixed his gaze for a moment on the chess-board and +pondered, and before he knew it We Dschong was already +snoring with a noise like a distant thunder. +The emperor was much frightened, and hastily called +out to him; but he did not awake. Then he had two +eunuchs shake him, but a long time passed before he +could be aroused.</p> + +<p>“How did you come to fall asleep so suddenly!” +asked the emperor.</p> + +<p>“I dreamed,” replied We Dschong, “that the Highest +God had commanded me to behead the old dragon. +I have just hewn off his head, and my arm still aches +from the exertion.”</p> + +<p>And before he had even finished speaking a dragon’s +head, as large as a bushel-measure, suddenly fell down +out of the air. The emperor was terribly frightened +and rose.</p> + +<p>“I have sinned against the old dragon,” said he. +Then he retired to the inner chambers of his palace +and was confused in mind. He remained lying on his +couch, closed his eyes, said not a word, and breathed +but faintly.</p> + +<p>Suddenly he saw two persons in purple robes who +had a summons in their hands. They spoke to him as +follows: “The old Dragon of the Milky Way has complained +against the emperor in the Nether World. +We beg that you will have the chariot harnessed!”</p> + +<p>Instinctively the emperor followed them, and in the +courtyard there stood his chariot before the castle, +ready and waiting. The emperor entered it, and off +they went flying through the air. In a moment they +had reached the city of the dead. When he entered he +saw the Lord of the High Mountain sitting in the midst +of the city, with the ten princes of the Nether World +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span> +in rows at his right and left. They all rose, bowed to +him and bade him be seated.</p> + +<p>Then the Lord of the High Mountain said: “The +old Dragon of the Milky Way has really committed a +deed which deserved punishment. Yet Your Majesty +has promised to beg the Highest God to spare him, +which prayer would probably have saved the old +dragon’s life. And that this matter was neglected +over the chess-board might well be accounted a mistake. +Now the old dragon complains to me without +ceasing. When I think of how he has striven to gain +sainthood for more than a thousand years, and must +now fall back into the cycle of transformations, I am +really depressed. It is for this reason I have called +together the princes of the ten pits of the Nether +World, to find a way out of the difficulty, and have +invited Your Majesty to come here to discuss the +matter. In heaven, on earth and in the Nether World +only the gospel of Buddha has no limits. Hence, when +you return to earth great sacrifices should be made +to the three and thirty lords of the heavens. Three +thousand six hundred holy priests of Buddha must +read the sutras in order to deliver the old dragon so +that he may rise again to the skies, and keep his +original form. But the writings and readings of men +will not be enough to ensure this. It will be necessary +to go to the Western Heavens and thence bring +words of truth.”</p> + +<p>This the emperor agreed to, and the Lord of the +Great Mountain and the ten princes of the Nether +World rose and said as they bowed to him: “We beg +that you will now return!”</p> + +<p>Suddenly Tai Dsung opened his eyes again, and +there he was lying on his imperial couch. Then he +made public the fact that he was at fault, and had the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span> +holiest among the priests of Buddha sent for to fetch +the sutras from the Western Heavens. And it was +Huan Dschuang, the Monk of the Yangtze-kiang, who +in obedience to this order, appeared at court.</p> + +<p>The name of this Huan Dschuang had originally +been Tschen. His father had passed the highest examinations +during the reign of the preceding emperor, +and had been intrusted with the office of district mandarin +on the Yangtze-kiang. He set out with his wife +for this new district, but when their ship reached the +Yellow River it fell in with a band of robbers. Their +captain slew the whole retinue, threw father Tschen +into the river, took his wife and the document appointing +him mandarin, went to the district capital under +an assumed name and took charge of it. All the +serving-men whom he took along were members of his +robber-band. Tschen’s wife, however, together with +her little boy, he imprisoned in a tower room. And +all the servants who attended her were in the confidence +of the robbers.</p> + +<p>Now below the tower was a little pond, and in this +pond rose a spring which flowed beneath the walls to +the Yellow River. So one day Tschen’s wife took +a little basket of bamboo, pasted up the cracks and +laid her little boy in the basket. Then she cut her +finger, wrote down the day and hour of the boy’s +birth on a strip of silk paper with the blood, and +added that the boy must come and rescue her when +he had reached the age of twelve. She placed the +strip of silk paper beside the boy in the basket, and +at night, when no one was about, she put the basket +in the pond. The current carried it away to the Yangtze-kiang, +and once there it drifted on as far as the +monastery on the Golden Hill, which is an island +lying in the middle of the river. There a priest who +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span> +had come to draw water found it. He fished it out and +took it to the monastery.</p> + +<p>When the abbot saw what had been written in blood, +he ordered his priests and novices to say nothing +about it to any one. And he brought up the boy in +the monastery.</p> + +<p>When the latter had reached the age of five, he +was taught to read the holy books. The boy was +more intelligent than any of his fellow-students, soon +grasped the meaning of the sacred writings, and entered +more and more deeply into their secrets. So +he was allowed to take the vows, and when his head +had been shaven was named: “The Monk of the +Yangtze-kiang.”</p> + +<p>By the time he was twelve he was as large and +strong as a grown man. The abbot, who knew of the +duty he still had to perform, had him called to a +quiet room. There he drew forth the letter written +in blood and gave it to him.</p> + +<p>When the monk had read it he flung himself down +on the ground and wept bitterly. Thereupon he +thanked the abbot for all that the latter had done for +him. He set out for the city in which his mother +dwelt, ran around the yamen of the mandarin, beat +upon the wooden fish and cried: “Deliverance from +all suffering! Deliverance from all suffering!”</p> + +<p>After the robber who had slain his father had slipped +into the post he held by false pretences, he had +taken care to strengthen his position by making +powerful friends. He even allowed Tschen’s wife, +who had now been a prisoner for some ten years, a +little more liberty.</p> + +<p>On that day official business had kept him abroad. +The woman was sitting at home, and when she heard +the wooden fish beaten so insistently before the door +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span> +and heard the words of deliverance, the voice of her +heart cried out in her. She sent out the serving-maid +to call in the priest. He came in by the back door, +and when she saw that he resembled his father in +every feature, she could no longer restrain herself, +but burst into tears. Then the monk of the Yangtze-kiang +realized that this was his mother and he took +the bloody writing out and gave it to her.</p> + +<p>She stroked it and said amid sobs: “My father is +a high official, who has retired from affairs and dwells +in the capital. But I have been unable to write to +him, because this robber guarded me so closely. So +I kept alive as well as I could, waiting for you to +come. Now hurry to the capital for the sake of your +father’s memory, and if his honor is made clear then +I can die in peace. But you must hasten so that no +one finds out about it.”</p> + +<p>The monk then went off quickly. First he went +back to his cloister to bid farewell to his abbot; and +then he set out for Sianfu, the capital.</p> + +<p>Yet by that time his grandfather had already died. +But one of his uncles, who was known at court, was +still living. He took soldiers and soon made an end +of the robbers. But the monk’s mother had died in +the meantime.</p> + +<p>From that time on, the Monk of the Yangtze-kiang +lived in a pagoda in Sianfu, and was known as Huan +Dschuang. When the emperor issued the order calling +the priests of Buddha to court, he was some +twenty years of age. He came into the emperor’s +presence, and the latter honored him as a great +teacher. Then he set out for India.</p> + +<p>He was absent for seventeen years. When he returned +he brought three collections of books with him, +and each collection comprised five-hundred and forty +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span> +rolls of manuscript. With these he once more entered +the presence of the emperor. The emperor was overjoyed, +and with his own hand wrote a preface of the +holy teachings, in which he recorded all that had happened. +Then the great sacrifice was held to deliver +the old Dragon of the Milky Way.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: The emperor Tai Dsung is Li Schi Min, the Prince of +Tang mentioned in No. <a href="#LXV">65</a>. He was the most glorious and splendid +of all Chinese rulers. The “Dragon-King of the Eastern Sea” has +appeared frequently in these fairy-tales. As regards the “Lord of +the High Mountain,” and the ten princes of the Nether World, comp. +Nos. <a href="#XXXVIII">38</a> and <a href="#L">50</a>. The Highest Lord is Yu Huang, the Lord of Jade +or of Nephrite. Huan Dschuang was originally known as Tschen. +Regarding his father’s fate subsequent to his being drowned, and +that of his sons in the spirit-world see No. <a href="#XXIV">24</a>. The “bamboo +basket” is a Moses motive which occurs in other Chinese fairy-tales. +“The Monk of the Yangtze-kiang” is, literally, (in Chinese, Giang +Liu Ho Schang) “The monk washed ashore by the stream.” +“Wooden fish”: A hollow piece of wood in the form of a fish, +which is beaten by the Buddhists as sign of watchfulness. Three +collections of books—the Tripitaka. As regards one of the legendary +companions of Huan Dschuang on his journey, see No. <a href="#LXXIV">74</a>.</p> +</div> + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252"><!-- blank page --></a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253"><!-- unumbered page --></a></span></p> + +<h2 class="padtop">LITERARY FAIRY TALES</h2> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254"><!-- blank page --></a></span></p> + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span></p> + +<h3 class="padtop"><a name="LXX" id="LXX"></a>LXX<br /> +<br /> +THE HEARTLESS HUSBAND</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">I</span>N olden times Hanchow was the capital of Southern +China, and for that reason a great number of +beggars had gathered there. These beggars were in +the habit of electing a leader, who was officially entrusted +with the supervision of all begging in the +town. It was his duty to see that the beggars did +not molest the townsfolk, and he received a tenth of +their income from all his beggar subjects. When it +snowed or rained, and the beggars could not go out +to beg, he had to see to it that they had something to +eat, and he also had to conduct their weddings and +funerals. And the beggars obeyed him in all things.</p> + +<p>Well, it happened that there was a beggar king of +this sort in Hanchow by the name of Gin, in whose +family the office had been handed down from father +to son for seven generations. What they had taken +in by way of beggars’ pence they had lent out on interest, +and so the family had gradually become well-to-do, +and finally even rich.</p> + +<p>The old beggar-king had lost his wife at the age of +fifty. But he had an only child, a girl who was called +“Little Golden Daughter.” She had a face of rare +beauty and was the jewel of his love. She had been +versed in the lore of books from her youth up, and +could write, improvise poems and compose essays. +She was also experienced in needlework, a skilled +dancer and singer, and could play the flute and zither. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span> +The old beggar-king above all else wanted her to have +a scholar for a husband. Yet because he was a beggar-king +the distinguished families avoided him, and +with those who were of less standing than himself he +did not wish to have anything to do. So it came +about that Little Golden Daughter had reached the +age of eighteen without being betrothed.</p> + +<p>Now at that time there dwelt in Hanchow, near the +Bridge of Peace, a scholar by the name of Mosu. He +was twenty years of age, and universally popular because +of his beauty and talent. His parents were +both dead, and he was so poor that he could hardly +manage to keep alive. His house and lot had long +since been mortgaged or sold, and he lived in an abandoned +temple, and many a day passed at whose end +he went hungry to bed.</p> + +<p>A neighbor took pity on him and said to him one +day: “The beggar-king has a child named Little +Golden Daughter, who is beautiful beyond all telling. +And the beggar-king is rich and has money, but no +son to inherit it. If you wish to marry into his family +his whole fortune would in the end come to you. Is +that not better than dying of hunger as a poor +scholar?”</p> + +<p>At that time Mosu was in dire extremity. Hence, +when he heard these words he was greatly pleased. +He begged the neighbor to act as a go-between in the +matter.</p> + +<p>So the latter visited the old beggar-king and talked +with him, and the beggar-king talked over the matter +with Little Golden Daughter, and since Mosu came +from a good family and was, in addition, talented +and learned, and had no objection to marrying into +their family, they were both much pleased with the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[257]</a></span> +prospect. So they agreed to the proposal, and the +two were married.</p> + +<p>So Mosu became a member of the beggar-king’s +family. He was happy in his wife’s beauty, always +had enough to eat and good clothes to wear. So he +thought himself lucky beyond his deserts, and lived +with his wife in peace and happiness.</p> + +<p>The beggar-king and his daughter, to whom their +low estate was a thorn in the flesh, admonished Mosu +to be sure to study hard. They hoped that he would +make a name for himself and thus reflect glory on +their family as well. They bought books for him, +old and new, at the highest prices, and they always +supplied him liberally with money so that he could +move in aristocratic circles. They also paid his examination +expenses. So his learning increased day +by day, and the fame of it spread through the entire +district. He passed one examination after another in +rapid succession, and at the age of twenty-three was +appointed mandarin of the district of Wu We. He +returned from his audience with the emperor in ceremonial +robes, high on horseback.</p> + +<p>Mosu had been born in Hanchow, so the whole town +soon knew that he had passed his examination successfully, +and the townsfolk crowded together on both +sides of the street to look at him as he rode to his +father-in-law’s house. Old and young, women and +children gathered to enjoy the show, and some idle +loafer called out in a loud voice:</p> + +<p>“The old beggar’s son-in-law has become a mandarin!”</p> + +<p>Mosu blushed with shame when he heard these +words. Speechless and out of sorts he seated himself +in his room. But the old beggar-king in the joy of +his heart did not notice his ill humor. He had a great +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[258]</a></span> +festival banquet prepared, to which he invited all his +neighbors and good friends. But most of the invited +guests were beggars and poor folk, and he insisted +that Mosu eat with them. With much difficulty Mosu +was induced to leave his room. Yet when he saw the +guests gathered around the table, as ragged and dirty +as a horde of hungry devils, he retired again with +disdain. Little Golden Daughter, who realized how +he felt, tried to cheer him up again in a hundred and +one ways, but all in vain.</p> + +<p>A few days later Mosu, with his wife and servants, +set out for the new district he was to govern. One +goes from Hanchow to Wu We by water. So they +entered a ship and sailed out to the Yangtze-kiang. +At the end of the first day they reached a city where +they anchored. The night was clear and the moonrays +glittered on the water, and Mosu sat in the front +part of the ship enjoying the moonlight. Suddenly +he chanced to think of the old beggar-king. It was +true that his wife was wise and good, but should +heaven happen to bless them with children, these +children would always be the beggar’s nephews and +nieces, and there was no way of preventing such a +disgrace. And thus thinking a plan occurred to him. +He called Little Golden Daughter out of the cabin to +come and enjoy the moonlight, and she came out to +him happily. Men servants and maid servants and +all the sailors had long since gone to sleep. He looked +about him on all sides, but there was no one to be seen. +Little Golden Daughter was standing at the front of +the ship, thinking no evil, when a hand suddenly thrust +her into the water. Then Mosu pretended to be +frightened, and began to call out: “My wife made a +misstep and has fallen into the water!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[259]</a></span> +And when they heard his words, the servants +hurried up and wanted to fish her out.</p> + +<p>But Mosu said: “She has already been carried +away by the current, so you need not trouble yourselves!” +Then he gave orders to set sail again as +soon as possible.</p> + +<p>Now who would have thought that owing to a fortunate +chance, Sir Hu, the mandarin in charge of the +transportation system of the province, was also about +to take charge of his department, and had anchored +in the same place. He was sitting with his wife at +the open window of the ship’s cabin, enjoying the +moonlight and the cool breeze.</p> + +<p>Suddenly he heard some one crying on the shore, +and it sounded to him like a girl’s voice. He quickly +sent people to assist her, and they brought her aboard. +It was Little Golden Daughter.</p> + +<p>When she had fallen into the water, she had felt +something beneath her feet which held her up so that +she did not sink. And she had been carried along by +the current to the river-bank, where she crept out of +the water. And then she realized that her husband, +now that he had become distinguished, had forgotten +how poor he had been, and for all she had not been +drowned, she felt very lonely and abandoned, and +before she knew it her tears began to flow. So when +Sir Hu asked her what was the matter, she told him +the whole story. Sir Hu comforted her.</p> + +<p>“You must not shed another tear,” said he. “If +you care to become my adopted daughter, we will take +care of you.”</p> + +<p>Little Golden Daughter bowed her thanks. But +Hu’s wife ordered her maids to bring other clothes +to take the place of the wet ones, and to prepare a +bed for her. The servants were strictly bidden to call +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[260]</a></span> +her “Miss,” and to say nothing of what had occurred.</p> + +<p>So the journey continued and in a few days’ time +Sir Hu entered upon his official duties. Wu We, where +Mosu was district mandarin, was subject to his rule, +and the latter made his appearance in order to visit +his official superior. When Sir Hu saw Mosu he +thought to himself: “What a pity that so highly +gifted a man should act in so heartless a manner!”</p> + +<p>When a few months had passed, Sir Hu said to his +subordinates: “I have a daughter who is very pretty +and good, and would like to find a son-in-law to marry +into my family. Do you know of any one who might +answer?”</p> + +<p>His subordinates all knew that Mosu was young +and had lost his wife. So they unanimously suggested +him.</p> + +<p>Sir Hu replied: “I have also thought of that gentleman, +but he is young and has risen very rapidly. I +am afraid he has loftier ambitions, and would not +care to marry into my family and become my son-in-law.”</p> + +<p>“He was originally poor,” answered his people, +“and he is your subordinate. Should you care to +show him a kindness of this sort, he will be sure to +accept it joyfully, and will not object to marrying into +your family.”</p> + +<p>“Well, if you all believe it can be done,” said Sir +Hu, “then pay him a visit and find out what he thinks +about it. But you must not say that I have sent you.”</p> + +<p>Mosu, who was just then reflecting how he might +win Sir Hu’s favor, took up the suggestion with pleasure, +and urgently begged them to act as his go-between +in the matter, promising them a rich reward when the +connection was established.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[261]</a></span> +So they went back again and reported to Sir Hu.</p> + +<p>He said: “I am much pleased that the gentleman +in question does not disdain this marriage. But my +wife and I are extremely fond of this daughter of ours, +and we can hardly resign ourselves to giving her up. +Sir Mosu is young and aristocratic, and our little +daughter has been spoiled. If he were to ill-treat +her, or at some future time were to regret having +married into our family, my wife and I would be inconsolable. +For this reason everything must be +clearly understood in advance. Only if he positively +agrees to do these things would I be able to receive +him into my family.”</p> + +<p>Mosu was informed of all these conditions, and +declared himself ready to accept them. Then he +brought gold and pearls and colored silks to Sir Hu’s +daughter as wedding gifts, and a lucky day was chosen +for the wedding. Sir Hu charged his wife to talk to +Little Golden Daughter.</p> + +<p>“Your adopted father,” said she, “feels sorry for +you, because you are lonely, and therefore has picked +out a young scholar for you to marry.”</p> + +<p>But Little Golden Daughter replied: “It is true +that I am of humble birth, yet I know what is fitting. +It chances that I agreed to cast my lot with Mosu for +better or for worse. And though he has shown me +but little kindness, I will marry no other man so long +as he lives. I cannot bring myself to form another +union and break my troth.”</p> + +<p>And thus speaking the tears poured from her eyes. +When Sir Hu’s wife saw that nothing would alter her +resolve, she told her how matters really stood.</p> + +<p>“Your adopted father,” said she, “is indignant at +Mosu’s heartlessness. And although he will see to it +that you meet again, he has said nothing to Mosu +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[262]</a></span> +which would lead him to believe that you are not our +own daughter. Therefore Mosu was delighted to marry +you. But when the wedding is celebrated this evening, +you must do thus and so, in order that he may +taste your just anger.”</p> + +<p>When she had heard all this, Little Golden Daughter +dried her tears, and thanked her adopted parents. +Then she adorned herself for the wedding.</p> + +<p>The same day, late at evening, Mosu came to the +house wearing golden flowers on his hat, and a red +scarf across his breast, riding on a gaily trapped +horse, and followed by a great retinue. All his friends +and acquaintances came with him in order to be present +at the festival celebration.</p> + +<p>In Sir Hu’s house everything had been adorned +with colored cloths and lanterns. Mosu dismounted +from his horse at the entrance of the hall. Here Sir +Hu had spread a festival banquet to which Mosu and +his friends were led. And when the goblet had made +the rounds three times, serving-maids came and invited +Mosu to follow them to the inner rooms. The +bride, veiled in a red veil, was led in by two maid-servants. +Following the injunctions of the master +of the ceremony, they worshiped heaven and earth +together, and then the parents-in-law. Thereupon +they went into another apartment. Here brightly +colored candles were burning, and a wedding dinner +had been prepared. Mosu felt as happy as though +he had been raised to the seventh heaven.</p> + +<p>But when he wanted to leave the room, seven or +eight maids with bamboo canes in their hands appeared +at each side of the door, and began to beat him +without mercy. They knocked his bridal hat from +his head, and then the blows rained down upon his +back and shoulders. When Mosu cried for help he +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[263]</a></span> +heard a delicate voice say: “You need not kill that +heartless bridegroom of mine completely! Ask him +to come in and greet me!”</p> + +<p>Then the maids stopped beating him, and gathered +about the bride, who removed her bridal veil.</p> + +<p>Mosu bowed with lowered head and said: “But +what have I done?”</p> + +<p>Yet when he raised his eyes he saw that none other +than his wife, Little Golden Daughter, was standing +before him.</p> + +<p>He started with fright and cried: “A ghost, a +ghost!” But all the servants broke out into loud +laughter.</p> + +<p>At last Sir Hu and his wife came in, and the former +said: “My dear son-in-law, you may rest assured +that my adopted daughter, who came to me while I +was on my way to this place, is no ghost.”</p> + +<p>Then Mosu hastily fell on his knees and answered: +“I have sinned and beg for mercy!” And he kowtowed +without end.</p> + +<p>“With that I have nothing to do,” remarked Sir +Hu, “if our little daughter only gets along well with +you, then all will be in order.”</p> + +<p>But Little Golden Daughter said: “You heartless +scoundrel! In the beginning you were poor and needy. +We took you into our family, and let you study so +that you might become somebody, and make a name +for yourself. But no sooner had you become a mandarin +and a man of standing, than your love turned +into enmity, and you forgot your duty as a husband +and pushed me into the river. Fortunately, I found +my dear adopted parents thereby. They fished me +out, and made me their own child, otherwise I would +have found a grave in the bellies of the fishes. How +can I honorably live again with such a man as you?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[264]</a></span> +With these words she began to lament loudly, and +she called him one hard-hearted scoundrel after another.</p> + +<p>Mosu lay before her, speechless with shame, and +begged her to forgive him.</p> + +<p>Now when Sir Hu noticed that Little Golden Daughter +had sufficiently relieved herself by her scolding, he +helped Mosu up and said to him: “My dear son-in-law, +if you repent of your misdeed, Little Golden +Daughter will gradually cease to be angry. Of course +you are an old married couple; yet as you have renewed +your vows this evening in my house, kindly do me a +favor and listen to what I have to say: You, Mosu, +are weighed with a heavy burden of guilt, and for that +reason you must not resent your wife’s being somewhat +indignant, but must have patience with her. I +will call in my wife to make peace between you.”</p> + +<p>With these words Sir Hu went out and sent in his +wife who finally, after a great deal of difficulty, succeeded +in reconciling the two, so that they agreed once +more to take up life as husband and wife.</p> + +<p>And they esteemed and loved each other twice as +much as they had before. Their life was all happiness +and joy. And later, when Sir Hu and his wife died, +they mourned for them as if in truth they had been +their own parents.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: “To marry into”: as a rule the wife enters the home of +her husband’s parents. But when there is no male heir, it is arranged +that the son-in-law continues the family of his wife’s +parents, and lives in their home. The custom is still very prevalent +in Japan, but it is not considered very honorable in China to enter +into a strange family in this way. It is characteristic that Mosu, +as a punishment for disdaining to “marry into” a family the first +time, is obliged to “marry into” a second time, the family of Sir +Hu.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[265]</a></span> +The costume here described is still the wedding-costume of China. +“Little Golden Daughter” said: “You heartless scoundrel!”; despite +her faithfulness, in accordance with Chinese custom, she is +obliged to show her anger over his faithlessness; this is necessary +before the matter can be properly adjusted, so that she may +“preserve her face.”</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="LXXI" id="LXXI"></a>LXXI<br /> +<br /> +GIAUNA THE BEAUTIFUL</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>NCE upon a time there was a descendant of Confucius. +His father had a friend, and this friend +held an official position in the South and offered the +young man a place as secretary. But when the latter +reached the town where he was to have been active, he +found that his father’s friend had already died. Then +he was much embarrassed, seeing that he did not have +the means to return home again. So he was glad to +take refuge in the Monastery of Puto, where he copied +holy books for the abbot.</p> + +<p>About a hundred paces west of the monastery stood +a deserted house. One day there had been a great +snowfall, and as young Kung accidentally passed by +the door of the house, he noticed a well dressed and +prepossessing youth standing there who bowed to him +and begged him to approach. Now young Kung was +a scholar, and could appreciate good manners. Finding +that the youth and himself had much in common, he +took a liking to him, and followed him into the house. +It was immaculately clean; silk curtains hung before +the doors, and on the walls were pictures of good old +masters. On a table lay a book entitled: “Tales +of the Coral Ring.” Coral Ring was the name +of a cavern.</p> + +<p>Once upon a time there lived a monk at Puto who +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[266]</a></span> +was exceedingly learned. An aged man had led him +into the cave in question, where he had seen a number +of volumes on the book stands. The aged man had +said: “These are the histories of the various dynasties.” +In a second room were to be found the histories +of all the peoples on earth. A third was guarded +by two dogs. The aged man explained: “In this +room are kept the secret reports of the immortals, telling +the arts by means of which they gained eternal +life. The two dogs are two dragons.” The monk +turned the pages of the books, and found that they +were all works of ancient times, such as he had never +seen before. He would gladly have remained in the +cave, but the old man said: “That would not do!” +and a boy led him out again. The name of that cave, +however, was the Coral Ring, and it was described in +the volume which lay on the table.</p> + +<p>The youth questioned Kung regarding his name and +family, and the latter told him his whole history. The +youth pitied him greatly and advised him to open a +school.</p> + +<p>Kung answered with a sigh: “I am quite unknown +in the neighborhood, and have no one to recommend +me!”</p> + +<p>Said the youth: “If you do not consider me altogether +too unworthy and stupid, I should like to be +your pupil myself.”</p> + +<p>Young Kung was overjoyed. “I should not dare to +attempt to teach you,” he replied, “but together we +might dedicate ourselves to the study of science.” He +then asked why the house had been standing empty for +so long.</p> + +<p>The youth answered: “The owner of the house has +gone to the country. We come from Shensi, and have +taken the house for a short time. We only moved in a +few days ago.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[267]</a></span> +They chatted and joked together gaily, and the young +man invited Kung to remain overnight, ordering a +small boy to light a pan of charcoal.</p> + +<p>Then he stepped rapidly into the rear room and +soon returned saying: “My father has come.”</p> + +<p>As Kung rose an aged man with a long, white beard +and eyebrows stepped into the room and said, greeting +him: “You have already declared your willingness +to instruct my son, and I am grateful for your kindness. +But you must be strict with him and not treat +him as a friend.”</p> + +<p>Then he had garments of silk, a fur cap, and shoes +and socks of fur brought in, and begged Kung to change +his clothes. Wine and food were then served. The +cushions and covers of the tables and chairs were made +of stuffs unknown to Kung, and their shimmering radiance +blinded the eye. The aged man retired after a +few beakers of wine, and then the youth showed Kung +his essays. They were all written in the style of the +old masters and not in the new-fangled eight-section +form.</p> + +<p>When he was asked about this, the youth said with +a smile: “I am quite indifferent to winning success +at the state examinations!” Then he turned to the +small boy and said: “See whether the old gentleman +has already fallen asleep. If he has, you may quietly +bring in little Hiang-Nu.”</p> + +<p>The boy went off, and the youth took a lute from an +embroidered case. At once a serving-maid entered, +dressed in red, and surpassingly beautiful. The youth +bade her sing “The Lament of the Beloved,” and her +melting tones moved the heart. The third watch of the +night had passed before they retired to sleep.</p> + +<p>On the following morning all rose early and study +began. The youth was exceptionally gifted. Whatever +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[268]</a></span> +he had seen but once was graven in his memory. +Hence he made surprising progress in the course of a +few months. The old custom was followed of writing +an essay every five days, and celebrating its completion +with a little banquet. And at each banquet Hiang-Nu +was sent for.</p> + +<p>One evening Kung could not remove his glance from +Hiang-Nu. The youth guessed his thoughts and said +to him: “You are as yet unmarried. Early and late +I keep thinking as to how I can provide you with a +charming life companion. Hiang-Nu is the serving-maid +of my father, so I cannot give her to you.”</p> + +<p>Said Kung: “I am grateful to you for your friendly +thought. But if the girl you have in mind is not +just as beautiful as Hiang-Nu, then I would rather +do without.”</p> + +<p>The youth laughed: “You are indeed inexperienced +if you think that Hiang-Nu is beautiful. Your wish is +easily fulfilled.”</p> + +<p>Thus half a year went by and the monotonous rainy +season had just began. Then a swelling the size of a +peach developed in young Kung’s breast, which increased +over night until it was as large as a tea-cup. +He lay on his couch groaning with pain, and unable to +eat or to sleep. The youth was busy day and night +nursing him, and even the old gentleman asked how +he was getting along.</p> + +<p>Then the youth said: “My little sister Giauna alone +is able to cure this illness. Please send to grandmother, +and have her brought here!”</p> + +<p>The old gentleman was willing, and he sent off his +boy.</p> + +<p>The next day the boy came back with the news that +Giauna would come, together with her aunt and her +cousin A-Sung.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[269]</a></span> +Not long after the youth led his sister into the room. +She was not more than thirteen or fourteen years of +age, enchantingly beautiful, and slender as a willow-tree. +When the sick man saw her he forgot all his +pain and his spirits rose.</p> + +<p>The youth said to his sister Giauna: “This is my +best friend, whom I love as a brother! I beg of you, +little sister, to cure him of his illness!”</p> + +<p>The maiden blushed with confusion; then she stepped +up to the sick-bed. While she was feeling his pulse, +it seemed to him as though she brought the fragrance +of orchards with her.</p> + +<p>Said the maiden with a smile: “No wonder that +this illness has befallen him. His heart beats far too +stormily. His illness is serious but not incurable. +Now the blood which has flowed has already gathered, +so we will have to cut to cure.”</p> + +<p>With that she took her golden armlet from her arm +and laid it on the aching place. She pressed it down +very gently, and the swelling rose a full inch above the +armlet so that it enclosed the entire swelling. Then +she loosed a pen-knife with a blade as thin as paper +from her silken girdle. With one hand she held the +armlet, and with the other she took the knife and lightly +passed it around the bottom of the ring. Black +blood gushed forth and ran over mattress and bed. +But young Kung was so enchanted by the presence of +the beautiful Giauna that not only did he feel no pain, +but his one fear was that the whole affair might end +too soon, and that she would disappear from his sight. +In a moment the diseased flesh had been cut away, +and Giauna had fresh water brought and cleansed the +wound. Then she took a small red pellet from her +mouth, and laid it on the wound, and when she turned +around in a circle, it seemed to Kung as though she +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[270]</a></span> +drew out all the inflammation in steam and flames. +Once more she turned in a circle, and he felt his wound +itch and quiver, and when she turned for the third time, +he was completely cured.</p> + +<p>The maiden took the pellet into her mouth again and +said: “Now all is well!” Then she hastened into +the inner room. Young Kung leaped up in order to +thank her.</p> + +<p>True, he was now cured of his illness, but his thoughts +continued to dwell on Giauna’s pretty face. He neglected +his books and sat lost in day-dreams.</p> + +<p>His friend had noticed it and said to him: “I have +at last succeeded, this very day, in finding an attractive +life companion for you.”</p> + +<p>Kung asked who she might be.</p> + +<p>“The daughter of my aunt, A-Sung. She is seventeen +years of age, and anything but homely.”</p> + +<p>“I am sure she is not as beautiful as Giauna,” +thought Kung. Then he hummed the lines of a song to +himself:</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“Who once has seen the sea close by,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">All rivers shallow streams declares;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Who o’er Wu’s hill the clouds watched fly,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Says nothing with that view compares.”<br /></span> +</div> +</div> + +<p>The youth smiled. “My little sister Giauna is still +very young,” said he. “Besides, she is my father’s +only daughter, and he would not like to see her marry +some one from afar. But my cousin A-Sung is not +homely either. If you do not believe me, wait until +they go walking in the garden, and then you may take +a look at them without their knowing it.”</p> + +<p>Kung posted himself at the open window on the look-out, +and sure enough, he saw Giauna come along leading +another girl by the hand, a girl so beautiful that +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[271]</a></span> +there was none other like her. Giauna and she seemed +to be sisters, only to be told apart by a slight difference +in age.</p> + +<p>Then young Kung was exceedingly happy and +begged his friend to act for him in arranging the marriage, +which the latter promised to do. The next day +he came to Kung, and told him amid congratulations +that everything was arranged. A special court was +put in order for the young pair, and the wedding was +celebrated. Young Kung felt as though he had married +a fairy, and the two became very fond of each +other.</p> + +<p>One day Kung’s friend came to him in a state of +great excitement and said: “The owner of this house +is coming back, and my father now wishes to return to +Shensi. The time for us to part draws near, and I +am very sad!”</p> + +<p>Kung wished to accompany them, but his friend advised +him to return to his own home.</p> + +<p>Kung mentioned the difficulties in the way, but the +youth replied: “That need not worry you, because I +will accompany you.”</p> + +<p>After a time the father came, together with A-Sung, +and made Kung a present of a hundred ounces of gold. +Then the youth took Kung and his wife by the hand, +and told them to close their eyes. As soon as they +did so off they went through the air like a storm-wind. +All Kung could notice was that the gale roared about +his ears.</p> + +<p>When some time had passed the youth cried: +“Now we have arrived!” Kung opened his eyes and +saw his old home, and then he knew that his friend +was not of human kind.</p> + +<p>Gaily they knocked at the door of his home. His +mother opened it and when she saw that he had brought +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[272]</a></span> +along so charming a wife she was greatly pleased. +Then Kung turned around to his friend, but the latter +had already disappeared.</p> + +<p>A-Sung served her mother-in-law with great devotion, +and her beauty and virtue was celebrated far +and near. Soon after young Kung gained the doctorate, +and was appointed inspector of prisons in Shensi. +He took his wife along with him, but his mother remained +at home, since Shensi was too far for her to +travel. And heaven gave A-Sung and Kung a little +son.</p> + +<p>But Kung became involved in a dispute with a traveling +censor. The latter complained about Kung and +he was dismissed from his post.</p> + +<p>So it happened that one day he was idling about +before the city, when he saw a handsome youth riding +a black mule. When he looked more closely he saw +that it was his old friend. They fell into each others’ +arms, laughing and weeping, and the youth led him +to a village. In the midst of a thick grove of trees +which threw a deep shade, stood a house whose upper +stories rose to the skies. One could see at a glance that +people of distinction lived there. Kung now inquired +after sister Giauna, and was told that she had married. +He remained over night and then went off to fetch his +wife.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Giauna arrived. She took A-Sung’s +little son in her arms and said: “Cousin, this is a +little stranger in our family!”</p> + +<p>Kung greeted her, and again thanked her for the +kindness she had shown him in curing his illness.</p> + +<p>She answered with a smile: “Since then you have +become a distinguished man, and the wound has long +since healed. Have you still not forgotten your pain?”</p> + +<p>Then Giauna’s husband arrived, and every one +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[273]</a></span> +became acquainted. And after that they parted.</p> + +<p>One day the youth came sadly to Kung and said: +“We are threatened by a great misfortune to-day. +I do not know whether you would be willing to save us!”</p> + +<p>Kung did not know what it might be; but he gladly +promised his aid. Then the youth called up the entire +family and they bowed down in the outer court.</p> + +<p>He began: “I will tell you the truth just as it is. +We are foxes. This day we are threatened by the danger +of thunder. If you care to save us, then there is a +hope that we may manage to stay alive; if not, then +take your child and go, so that you are not involved +in our danger.”</p> + +<p>But Kung vowed that he would share life and death +with them.</p> + +<p>Then the youth begged him to stand in the door with +a sword in his hand, and said: “Now when the thunder +begins to roll you must stand there and never stir.”</p> + +<p>Suddenly dark clouds rose in the sky, and the heavens +grew gloomy as if night were closing down. Kung +looked about him, but the buildings had all disappeared, +and behind him he could only see a high barrow, in +which was a large cave whose interior was lost in +darkness. In the midst of his fright he was surprised +by a thunderbolt. A heavy rain poured down in +streams, and a storm wind arose which rooted up the +tallest trees. Everything glimmered before his eyes +and his ears were deafened. But he held his sword in +his hand, and stood as firm as a rock. Suddenly +in the midst of black smoke and flashes of lightning, he +saw a monster with a pointed beak and long claws, +which was carrying off a human body. When he looked +more closely he recognized by the dress that it was +Giauna. He leaped up at the monster and struck at +him with his sword, and at once Giauna fell to the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[274]</a></span> +ground. A tremendous crash of thunder shook the +earth, and Kung fell down dead.</p> + +<p>Then the tempest cleared away, and the blue sky +appeared once more.</p> + +<p>Giauna had regained consciousness, and when she +saw Kung lying dead beside her she said amid sobs: +“He died for my sake! Why should I continue to +live?”</p> + +<p>A-Sung also came out, and together they carried +him into the cave. Giauna told A-Sung to hold his +head while her brother opened his mouth. She herself +took hold of his chin, and brought out her little red +pellet. She pressed it against his lips with her own, +and breathed into his lungs. Then the breath came +back to his throat with a rattling noise, and in a short +time he was himself once more.</p> + +<p>So there was the whole family reunited again, and +none of its members had come to harm. They gradually +recovered from their fright, and were quite happy: +when suddenly a small boy brought the news that +Giauna’s husband and his whole family had been killed +by the thunder. Giauna broke down, weeping, and +the others tried to comfort her.</p> + +<p>Finally Kung said: “It is not well to dwell too +long amid the graves of the dead. Will you not come +home with me?”</p> + +<p>Thereupon they packed up their belongings and +went with him. He assigned a deserted garden, which +he carefully walled off, to his friend and his family +as a dwelling-place. Only when Kung and A-Sung +came to visit them was the bolt drawn. Then Giauna +and her brother played chess, drank tea and chatted +with them like members of the same family.</p> + +<p>But Kung’s little son had a somewhat pointed face, +which resembled a fox’s, and when he went along the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[275]</a></span> +street, the people would turn around and say: “There +goes the fox-child!”</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: “Not in the new-fangled eight-section form”: Ba Gu +Wen Dschang, i.e., essays in eight-section form, divided according +to strict rules, were the customary theses in the governmental +examinations in China up to the time of the great educational reform. +To-day there is a general return to the style of the old masters, +the free form of composition. “The danger of thunder”: Three +times the foxes must have escaped the mortal danger of thunder.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="LXXII" id="LXXII"></a>LXXII<br /> +<br /> +THE FROG PRINCESS</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">T</span>HERE where the Yangtze-kiang has come about +half-way on its course to the sea, the Frog King +is worshiped with great devotion. He has a temple +there and frogs by the thousand are to be found in the +neighborhood, some of them of enormous size. Those +who incur the wrath of the god are apt to have strange +visitations in their homes. Frogs hop about on tables +and beds, and in extreme cases they even creep up the +smooth walls of the room without falling. There are +various kinds of omens, but all indicate that some +misfortune threatens the house in question. Then the +people living in it become terrified, slaughter a cow +and offer it as a sacrifice. Thus the god is mollified +and nothing further happens.</p> + +<p>In that part of the country there once lived a youth +named Sia Kung-Schong. He was handsome and intelligent. +When he was some six or seven years of +age, a serving-maid dressed in green entered his home. +She said that she was a messenger from the Frog King, +and declared that the Frog King wished to have his +daughter marry young Sia. Old Sia was an honest +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[276]</a></span> +man, not very bright, and since this did not suit him, +he declined the offer on the plea that his son was still +too young to marry. In spite of this, however, he did +not dare look about for another mate for him.</p> + +<p>Then a few years passed and the boy gradually +grew up. A marriage between him and a certain Mistress +Giang was decided upon.</p> + +<p>But the Frog King sent word to Mistress Giang: +“Young Sia is my son-in-law. How dare you undertake +to lay claim to what does not belong to you!” +Then Father Giang was frightened, and took back his +promise.</p> + +<p>This made Old Sia very sad. He prepared a sacrifice +and went to his temple to pray. He explained that +he felt unworthy of becoming the relation of a god. +When he had finished praying a multitude of enormous +maggots made their appearance in the sacrificial meat +and wine, and crawled around. He poured them out, +begged forgiveness, and returned home filled with evil +forebodings. He did not know what more he could do, +and had to let things take their course.</p> + +<p>One day young Sia went out into the street. A +messenger stepped up to him and told him, on the part +of the Frog King that the latter urgently requested +Sia to come to him. There was no help for it; he +had to follow the messenger. He led him through a +red gateway into some magnificent, high-ceilinged +rooms. In the great hall sat an ancient man who might +have been some eighty years of age. Sia cast himself +down on the ground before him in homage. The +old man bade him rise, and assigned him a place at the +table. Soon a number of girls and women came crowding +in to look at him. Then the old man turned to them +and said: “Go to the room of the bride and tell her +that the bridegroom has arrived!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[277]</a></span> +Quickly a couple of maids ran away, and shortly +after an old woman came from the inner apartments, +leading a maiden by the hand, who might have been +sixteen years of age, and was incomparably beautiful. +The old man pointed to her and said: “This is my +tenth little daughter. It seemed to me that you would +make a good pair. But your father has scorned us +because of our difference in race. Yet one’s marriage +is a matter that is of life-long importance. Our parents +can determine it only in part. In the end it rests +mainly with one’s self.”</p> + +<p>Sia looked steadily at the girl, and a fondness for +her grew in his heart. He sat there in silence. The +old man continued: “I knew very well that the young +gentleman would agree. Go on ahead of us, and we +will bring you your bride!”</p> + +<p>Sia said he would, and hurried to inform his father. +His father did not know what to do in his excitement. +He suggested an excuse and wanted to send Sia back +to decline his bride with thanks. But this Sia was not +willing to do. While they were arguing the matter, +the bride’s carriage was already at the door. It was +surrounded by a crowd of greencoats, and the lady +entered the house, and bowed politely to her parents-in-law. +When the latter saw her they were both pleased, +and the wedding was announced for that very evening.</p> + +<p>The new couple lived in peace and good understanding. +And after they had been married their divine +parents-in-law often came to their house. When they +appeared dressed in red, it meant that some good fortune +was to befall them; when they came dressed in +white, it signified that they were sure to make some +gain. Thus, in the course of time, the family became +wealthy.</p> + +<p>But since they had become related to the gods the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[278]</a></span> +rooms, courtyards and all other places were always +crowded with frogs. And no one ventured to harm +them. Sia Kung-Schong alone was young and showed +no consideration. When he was in good spirits he +did not bother them, but when he got out of sorts he +knew no mercy, and purposely stepped on them and +killed them.</p> + +<p>In general his young wife was modest and obedient; +yet she easily lost her temper. She could not approve +her husband’s conduct. But Sia would not do her the +favor to give up his brutal habit. So she scolded him +because of it and he grew angry.</p> + +<p>“Do you imagine,” he told her, “that because your +parents can visit human beings with misfortune, +that a real man would be afraid of a frog?”</p> + +<p>His wife carefully avoided uttering the word +“frog,” hence his speech angered her and she said: +“Since I have dwelt in your house your fields have +yielded larger crops, and you have obtained the highest +selling prices. And that is something after all. +But now, when young and old, you are comfortably +established, you wish to act like the fledgling owl, who +picks out his own mother’s eyes as soon as he is able +to fly!”</p> + +<p>Sia then grew still more angry and answered: +“These gifts have been unwelcome to me for a long +time, for I consider them unclean. I could never consent +to leave such property to sons and grandsons. +It would be better if we parted at once!”</p> + +<p>So he bade his wife leave the house, and before his +parents knew anything about it, she was gone. His +parents scolded him and told him to go at once and +bring her back. But he was filled with rage, and would +not give in to them.</p> + +<p>That same night he and his mother fell sick. They +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[279]</a></span> +felt weak and could not eat. The father, much worried, +went to the temple to beg for pardon. And he prayed +so earnestly that his wife and son recovered in three +days’ time. And the Frog Princess also returned, +and they lived together happily and contented as +before.</p> + +<p>But the young woman sat in the house all day long, +occupied solely with her ornaments and her rouge, and +did not concern herself with sewing and stitching. +So Sia Kung-Schong’s mother still had to look out +for her son’s clothes.</p> + +<p>One day his mother was angry and said: “My son +has a wife, and yet I have to do all the work! In +other homes the daughter-in-law serves her mother-in-law. +But in our house the mother-in-law must serve +the daughter-in-law.”</p> + +<p>This the princess accidentally heard. In she came, +much excited, and began: “Have I ever omitted, as +is right and proper, to visit you morning and evening? +My only fault is that I will not burden myself with all +this toil for the sake of saving a trifling sum of money!” +The mother answered not a word, but wept bitterly and +in silence because of the insult offered her.</p> + +<p>Her son came along and noticed that his mother +had been weeping. He insisted on knowing the reason, +and found out what had happened. Angrily he reproached +his wife. She raised objections and did not +wish to admit that she had been in the wrong. Finally +Sia said: “It is better to have no wife at all than one +who gives her mother-in-law no pleasure. What can +the old frog do to me after all, if I anger him, save +call misfortunes upon me and take my life!” So he +once more drove his wife out of the house.</p> + +<p>The princess left her home and went away. The +following day fire broke out in the house, and spread +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[280]</a></span> +to several other buildings. Tables, beds, everything +was burned.</p> + +<p>Sia, in a rage because of the fire, went to the temple +to complain: “To bring up a daughter in such a way +that she does not please her parents-in-law shows that +there is no discipline in a house. And now you even +encourage her in her faults. It is said the gods are +most just. Are there gods who teach men to fear +their wives? Incidentally, the whole quarrel rests on +me alone. My parents had nothing to do with it. If +I was to be punished by the ax and cord, well and +good. You could have carried out the punishment +yourself. But this you did not do. So now I will +burn your own house in order to satisfy my own sense +of justice!”</p> + +<p>With these words he began piling up brush-wood +before the temple, struck sparks and wanted to set it +ablaze. The neighbors came streaming up, and +pleaded with him. So he swallowed his rage and went +home.</p> + +<p>When his parents heard of it, they grew pale with a +great fear. But at night the god appeared to the people +of a neighboring village, and ordered them to rebuild +the house of his son-in-law. When day began to +dawn they dragged up building-wood and the workmen +all came in throngs to build for Sia. No matter what +he said he could not prevent them. All day long hundreds +of workmen were busy. And in the course of a +few days all the rooms had been rebuilt, and all the +utensils, curtains and furniture were there as before. +And when the work had been completed the princess +also returned. She climbed the stairs to the great +room, and acknowledged her fault with many tender +and loving words. Then she turned to Sia +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[281]</a></span> +Kung-Schong, and smiled at him sideways. Instead of resentment +joy now filled the whole house. And after +that time the princess was especially peaceable. Two +whole years passed without an angry word being said.</p> + +<p>But the princess had a great dislike for snakes. +Once, by way of a joke, young Sia put a small snake into +a parcel, which he gave her and told her to open. +She turned pale and reproached him. Then Sia-Kung-Schong +also took his jest seriously, and angry words +passed.</p> + +<p>At last the princess said: “This time I will not +wait for you to turn me out. Now we are finally done +with one another!” And with that she walked out of +the door.</p> + +<p>Father Sia grew very much alarmed, beat his son +himself with his staff, and begged the god to be kind +and forgive. Fortunately there were no evil consequences. +All was quiet and not a sound was heard.</p> + +<p>Thus more than a year passed. Sia-Kung-Schong +longed for the princess and took himself seriously to +task. He would creep in secret to the temple of the +god, and lament because he had lost the princess. But +no voice answered him. And soon afterward he even +heard that the god had betrothed his daughter to another +man. Then he grew hopeless at heart, and +thought of finding another wife for himself. Yet no +matter how he searched he could find none who equalled +the princess. This only increased his longing for her, +and he went to the home of the Yuans, to a member of +which family it was said she had been promised. +There they had already painted the walls, and swept +the courtyard, and all was in readiness to receive the +bridal carriage. Sia was overcome with remorse and +discontent. He no longer ate, and fell ill. His +parents were quite stunned by the anxiety they felt on +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[282]</a></span> +his account, and were incapable of helpful thought.</p> + +<p>Suddenly while he was lying there only half-conscious, +he felt some one stroke him, and heard a voice +say: “And how goes it with our real husband, who +insisted on turning out his wife?”</p> + +<p>He opened his eyes and it was the princess.</p> + +<p>Full of joy he leaped up and said: “How is it you +have come back to me?” The princess answered: +“To tell the truth, according to your own habit of +treating people badly, I should have followed my +father’s advice and taken another husband. And, as +a matter of fact, the wedding gifts of the Yuan family +have been lying in my home for a long time. But I +thought and thought and could not bring myself to do +so. The wedding was to have been this evening and +my father thought it shameful to have the wedding +gifts carried back. So I took the things myself and +placed them before the Yuan’s door. When I went +out my father ran out beside me: ‘You insane girl,’ he +said, ‘so you will not listen to what I say! If you are +ill-treated by Sia in the future I wash my hands of it. +Even if they kill you you shall not come home to me +again!’”</p> + +<p>Moved by her faithfulness the tears rolled from +Sia’s eyes. The servants, full of joy, hurried to the +parents to acquaint them with the good news. And +when they heard it they did not wait for the young +people to come to them, but hastened themselves to +their son’s rooms, took the princess by the hand and +wept. Young Sia, too, had become more settled by +this time, and was no longer so mischievous. So he +and his wife grew to love each other more sincerely +day by day.</p> + +<p>Once the princess said to him: “Formerly, when +you always treated me so badly, I feared that we would +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[283]</a></span> +not keep company into our old age. So I never asked +heaven to send us a child. But now that all has +changed, and I will beg the gods for a son.”</p> + +<p>And, sure enough, before long Sia’s parents-in-law +appeared in the house clad in red garments, and shortly +after heaven sent the happy pair two sons instead of +one.</p> + +<p>From that time on their intercourse with the Frog-King +was never interrupted. When some one among +the people had angered the god, he first tried to induce +young Sia to speak for him, and sent his wife and +daughter to the Frog Princess to implore her aid. And +if the princess laughed, then all would be well.</p> + +<p>The Sia family has many descendants, whom the +people call “the little frog men.” Those who are +near them do not venture to call them by this name, but +those standing further off do so.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: “Little frog men,” Wa Dsi, is the derogatory name +which the North Chinese give the Chinese of the South on occasion.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[284]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="LXXIII" id="LXXIII"></a>LXXIII<br /> +<br /> +ROSE OF EVENING</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>N the fifth day of the fifth month the festival of +the Dragon Junk is held along the Yangtze-kiang. +A dragon is hollowed out of wood, painted with +an armor of scales, and adorned with gold and bright +colors. A carved red railing surrounds this ship, +and its sails and flags are made of silks and brocade. +The after part of the vessel is called the dragon’s +tail. It rises ten feet above the water, and a board +which floats in the water is tied to it by means of a +cloth. Upon this board sit boys who turn somersaults, +stand on their heads, and perform all sorts of +tricks. Yet, being so close to the water their danger +is very great. It is the custom, therefore, when a boy +is hired for this purpose, to give his parents money +before he is trained. Then, if he falls into the water +and is drowned, no one has him on their conscience. +Farther South the custom differs in so much that instead +of boys, beautiful girls are chosen for this purpose.</p> + +<p>In Dschen-Giang there once lived a widow named +Dsiang, who had a son called Aduan. When he was +no more than seven years of age he was extraordinarily +skilful, and no other boy could equal him. And +his reputation increasing as he grew, he earned more +and more money. So it happened that he was still +called upon at the Dragon Junk Festival when he was +already sixteen.</p> + +<p>But one day he fell into the water below the Gold +Island and was drowned. He was the only son of his +mother, and she sorrowed over him, and that was the +end of it.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[285]</a></span> +Yet Aduan did not know that he had been drowned. +He met two men who took him along with them, and he +saw a new world in the midst of the waters of the Yellow +River. When he looked around, the waves of the +river towered steeply about him like walls, and a palace +was visible, in which sat a man wearing armor and a +helmet. His two companions said to him: “That is +the Prince of the Dragon’s Cave!” and bade him +kneel.</p> + +<p>The Prince of the Dragon’s Cave seemed to be of a +mild and kindly disposition and said: “We can make +use of such a skilful lad. He may take part in the +dance of the willow branches!”</p> + +<p>So he was brought to a spot surrounded by extensive +buildings. He entered, and was greeted by a crowd +of boys who were all about fourteen years of age.</p> + +<p>An old woman came in and they all called out: +“This is Mother Hia!” And she sat down and had +Aduan show his tricks. Then she taught him the dance +of the flying thunders of Tsian-Tang River, and the +music that calms the winds on the sea of Dung-Ting. +When the cymbals and kettledrums reechoed through +all the courts, they deafened the ear. Then, again, +all the courts would fall silent. Mother Hia thought +that Aduan would not be able to grasp everything +the very first time; so she taught him with great patience. +But Aduan had understood everything from +the first, and that pleased old Mother Hia. “This +boy,” said she, “equals our own Rose of Evening!”</p> + +<p>The following day the Prince of the Dragon’s Cave +held a review of his dancers. When all the dancers +had assembled, the dance of the Ogres was danced +first. Those who performed it all wore devil-masks +and garments of scales. They beat upon enormous +cymbals, and their kettledrums were so large that +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[286]</a></span> +four men could just about span them. Their sound was +like the sound of a mighty thunder, and the noise was +so great that nothing else could be heard. When the +dance began, tremendous waves spouted up to the very +skies, and then fell down again like star-glimmer which +scatters in the air.</p> + +<p>The Prince of the Dragon Cave hastily bade the +dance cease, and had the dancers of the nightingale +round step forth. These were all lovely young girls +of sixteen. They made a delicate music with flutes, so +that the breeze blew and the roaring of the waves was +stilled in a moment. The water gradually became as +quiet as a crystal world, transparent to its lowest +depths. When the nightingale dancers had finished, +they withdrew and posted themselves in the western +courtyard.</p> + +<p>Then came the turn of the swallow dancers. These +were all little girls. One among them, who was about +fifteen years of age, danced the dance of the giving of +flowers with flying sleeves and waving locks. And +as their garments fluttered, many-colored flowers +dropped from their folds, and were caught up by the +wind and whirled about the whole courtyard. When +the dance had ended, this dancer also went off with the +rest of the girls to the western courtyard. Aduan +looked at her from out the corner of his eye, and fell +deeply in love with her. He asked his comrades who +she might be and they told him she was named “Rose +of Evening.”</p> + +<p>But the willow-spray dancers were now called out. +The Prince of the Dragon Cave was especially desirous +of testing Aduan. So Aduan danced alone, and he +danced with joy or defiance according to the music. +When he looked up and when he looked down his glances +held the beat of the measure. The Dragon Prince, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[287]</a></span> +enchanted with his skill, presented him with a garment +of five colors, and gave him a carbuncle set in golden +threads of fish-beard for a hair-jewel. Aduan bowed +his thanks for the gift, and then also hastened to the +western courtyard. There all the dancers stood in +rank and file. Aduan could only look at Rose of Evening +from a distance, but still Rose of Evening returned +his glances.</p> + +<p>After a time Aduan gradually slipped to the end of +his file and Rose of Evening also drew near to him, +so that they stood only a few feet away from each +other. But the strict rules allowed no confusion in +the ranks, so they could only gaze and let their souls +go out to each other.</p> + +<p>Now the butterfly dance followed the others. This +was danced by the boys and girls together, and the +pairs were equal in size, age and the color of their +garments. When all the dances had ended, the +dancers marched out with the goose-step. The willow-spray +dancers followed the swallow dancers, and +Aduan hastened in advance of his company, while +Rose of Evening lingered along after hers. She +turned her head, and when she spied Aduan she purposely +let a coral pin fall from her hair. Aduan +hastily hid it in his sleeve.</p> + +<p>When he had returned, he was sick with longing, +and could neither eat nor sleep. Mother Hia brought +him all sorts of dainties, looked after him three or +four times a day, and stroked his forehead with loving +care. But his illness did not yield in the least. Mother +Hia was unhappy, and yet helpless.</p> + +<p>“The birthday of the King of the Wu River is at +hand,” said she. “What is to be done?”</p> + +<p>In the twilight there came a boy, who sat down on +the edge of Aduan’s bed and chatted with him. He +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[288]</a></span> +belonged to the butterfly dancers, said he, and asked +casually: “Are you sick because of Rose of Evening?” +Aduan, frightened, asked him how he came to +guess it. The other boy said, with a smile: “Well, +because Rose of Evening is in the same case as yourself.”</p> + +<p>Disconcerted, Aduan sat up and begged the boy to +advise him. “Are you able to walk?” asked the latter. +“If I exert myself,” said Aduan, “I think I could +manage it.”</p> + +<p>So the boy led him to the South. There he opened a +gate and they turned the corner, to the West. Once +more the doors of the gate flew open, and now Aduan +saw a lotus field about twenty acres in size. The lotus +flowers were all growing on level earth, and their leaves +were as large as mats and their flowers like umbrellas. +The fallen blossoms covered the ground beneath the +stalks to the depth of a foot or more. The boy led +Aduan in and said, “Now first of all sit down for a +little while!” Then he went away.</p> + +<p>After a time a beautiful girl thrust aside the lotus +flowers and came into the open. It was Rose of Evening. +They looked at each other with happy timidity, +and each told how each had longed for the other. +And they also told each other of their former life. +Then they weighted the lotus-leaves with stones so that +they made a cozy retreat, in which they could be together, +and promised to meet each other there every +evening. And then they parted.</p> + +<p>Aduan came back and his illness left him. From +that time on he met Rose of Evening every day in +the lotus field.</p> + +<p>After a few days had passed they had to accompany +the Prince of the Dragon Cave to the birthday festival +of the King of the Wu River. The festival came to an +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[289]</a></span> +end, and all the dancers returned home. Only, the +King had kept back Rose of Evening and one of the +nightingale dancers to teach the girls in his castle.</p> + +<p>Months passed and no news came from Rose of Evening, +so that Aduan went about full of longing and despair. +Now Mother Hia went every day to the castle +of the god of the Wu River. So Aduan told her that +Rose of Evening was his cousin, and entreated her to +take him along with her so that he could at least see +her a single time. So she took him along, and let him +stay at the lodge-house of the river-god for a few days. +But the indwellers of the castle were so strictly watched +that he could not see Rose of Evening even a single +time. Sadly Aduan went back again.</p> + +<p>Another month passed and Aduan, filled with gloomy +thoughts, wished that death might be his portion.</p> + +<p>One day Mother Hia came to him full of pity, and +began to sympathize with him. “What a shame,” +said she, “that Rose of Evening has cast herself into +the river!”</p> + +<p>Aduan was extremely frightened, and his tears flowed +resistlessly. He tore his beautiful garments, took +his gold and his pearls, and went out with the sole idea +of following his beloved in death. Yet the waters of +the river stood up before him like walls, and no matter +how often he ran against them, head down, they always +flung him back.</p> + +<p>He did not dare return, since he feared he might be +questioned about his festival garments, and severely +punished because he had ruined them. So he stood +there and knew not what to do, while the perspiration +ran down to his ankles. Suddenly, at the foot of the +water-wall he saw a tall tree. Like a monkey he +climbed up to its very top, and then, with all his +might, he shot into the waves.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[290]</a></span> +And then, without being wet, he found himself suddenly +swimming on the surface of the river. Unexpectedly +the world of men rose up once more before +his dazzled eyes. He swam to the shore, and as he +walked along the river-bank, his thoughts went back +to his old mother. He took a ship and traveled home.</p> + +<p>When he reached the village, it seemed to him as +though all the houses in it belonged to another world. +The following morning he entered his mother’s house, +and as he did so, heard a girl’s voice beneath the window +saying: “Your son has come back again!” The +voice sounded like the voice of Rose of Evening, and +when she came to greet him at his mother’s side, sure +enough, it was Rose of Evening herself.</p> + +<p>And in that hour the joy of these two who were so +fond of each other overcame all their sorrow. But in +the mother’s mind sorrow and doubt, terror and joy +mingled in constant succession in a thousand different +ways.</p> + +<p>When Rose of Evening had been in the palace of the +river-king, and had come to realize that she would never +see Aduan again, she determined to die, and flung herself +into the waters of the stream. But she was carried +to the surface, and the waves carried and cradled her +till a ship came by and took her aboard. They asked +whence she came. Now Rose of Evening had originally +been a celebrated singing girl of Wu, who had +fallen into the river and whose body had never been +found. So she thought to herself that, after all, she +could not return to her old life again. So she answered: +“Madame Dsiang, in Dschen-Giang is my +mother-in-law.” Then the travelers took passage +for her in a ship which brought her to the place she +had mentioned. The widow Dsiang first said she must +be mistaken, but the girl insisted that there was no +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[291]</a></span> +mistake, and told Aduan’s mother her whole story. +Yet, though the latter was charmed by her surpassing +loveliness, she feared that Rose of Evening was too +young to live a widow’s life. But the girl was respectful +and industrious, and when she saw that poverty +ruled in her new home, she took her pearls and sold +them for a high price. Aduan’s old mother was +greatly pleased to see how seriously the girl took her +duties.</p> + +<p>Now that Aduan had returned again Rose of Evening +could not control her joy. And even Aduan’s old +mother cherished the hope that, after all, perhaps her +son had not died. She secretly dug up her son’s +grave, yet all his bones were still lying in it. So she +questioned Aduan. And then, for the first time, the +latter realized that he was a departed spirit. Then +he feared that Rose of Evening might regard him with +disgust because he was no longer a human being. So +he ordered his mother on no account to speak of it, +and this his mother promised. Then she spread the +report in the village that the body which had been +found in the river had not been that of her son at all. +Yet she could not rid herself of the fear that, since +Aduan was a departed spirit, heaven might refuse to +send him a child.</p> + +<p>In spite of her fear, however, she was able to hold a +grandson in her arms in course of time. When she +looked at him, he was no different from other children, +and then her cup of joy was filled to overflowing.</p> + +<p>Rose of Evening gradually became aware of the fact +that Aduan was not really a human being. “Why did +you not tell me at once?” said she. “Departed spirits +who wear the garments of the dragon castle, surround +themselves with a soul-casing so heavy in texture that +they can no longer be distinguished from the living. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[292]</a></span> +And if one can obtain the lime made of dragon-horn +which is in the castle, then the bones may be glued +together in such wise that flesh and blood will grow +over them again. What a pity that we could not obtain +the lime while we were there!”</p> + +<p>Aduan sold his pearl, for which a merchant from +foreign parts gave him an enormous sum. Thus his +family grew very wealthy. Once, on his mother’s +birthday, he danced with his wife and sang, in order to +please her. The news reached the castle of the Dragon +Prince and he thought to carry off Rose of Evening +by force. But Aduan, alarmed, went to the Prince, +and declared that both he and his wife were departed +spirits. They examined him and since he cast no +shadow, his word was taken, and he was not robbed of +Rose of Evening.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: “Rose of Evening” is one of the most idyllic of Chinese +art fairy-tales. The idea that the departed spirit throws no +shadow has analogies in Norse and other European fairy-tales.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3><a name="LXXIV" id="LXXIV"></a>LXXIV<br /> +<br /> +THE APE SUN WU KUNG</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">F</span>AR, far away to the East, in the midst of the Great +Sea there is an island called the Mountain of +Flowers and Fruits. And on this mountain there is a +high rock. Now this rock, from the very beginning of +the world, had absorbed all the hidden seed power of +heaven and earth and sun and moon, which endowed +it with supernatural creative gifts. One day the rock +burst, and out came an egg of stone. And out of this +stone egg a stone ape was hatched by magic power. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[293]</a></span> +When he broke the shell he bowed to all sides. Then +he gradually learned to walk and to leap, and two +streams of golden radiance broke from his eyes which +shot up to the highest of the castles of heaven, so that +the Lord of the Heavens was frightened. So he sent +out the two gods, Thousandmile-Eye and Fine-Ear, +to find out what had happened. The two gods came +back and reported: “The rays shine from the eyes of +the stone ape who was hatched out of the egg which +came from the magic rock. There is no reason for +uneasiness.”</p> + +<p>Little by little the ape grew up, ran and leaped about, +drank from the springs in the valleys, ate the flowers +and fruits, and time went by in unconstrained play.</p> + +<p>One day, during the summer, when he was seeking +coolness, together with the other apes on the island, +they went to the valley to bathe. There they saw a +waterfall which plunged down a high cliff. Said the +apes to each other: “Whoever can force his way +through the waterfall, without suffering injury, shall be +our king.” The stone ape at once leaped into the air +with joy and cried: “I will pass through!” Then he +closed his eyes, bent down low and leaped through the +roar and foam of the waters. When he opened his eyes +once more he saw an iron bridge, which was shut off +from the outer world by the waterfall as though by a +curtain.</p> + +<p>At its entrance stood a tablet of stone on which were +graven the words: “This is the heavenly cave behind +the water-curtain on the Blessed Island of Flowers and +Fruits.” Filled with joy, the stone ape leaped out +again through the waterfall and told the other apes +what he had found. They received the news with great +content, and begged the stone ape to take them there. +So the tribe of apes leaped through the water on the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[294]</a></span> +iron bridge, and then crowded into the cave castle +where they found a hearth with a profusion of pots, +cups and platters. But all were made of stone. Then +the apes paid homage to the stone ape as their king, and +he was given the name of Handsome King of the Apes. +He appointed long-tailed, ring-tailed and other monkeys +to be his officials and counselors, servants and +retainers, and they led a blissful life on the Mountain, +sleeping by night in their cave castle, keeping away +from birds and beasts, and their king enjoyed untroubled +happiness. In this way some three hundred +years went by.</p> + +<p>One day, when the King of the Apes sat with his +subjects at a merry meal, he suddenly began to weep. +Frightened, the apes asked him why he so suddenly +grew sad amid all his bliss. Said the King: “It is +true that we are not subject to the law and rule of man, +that birds and beasts do not dare attack us, yet little +by little we grow old and weak, and some day the hour +will strike when Death, the Ancient, will drag us off! +Then we are gone in a moment, and can no longer dwell +upon earth!” When the apes heard these words, they +hid their faces and sobbed. But an old ape, whose +arms were connected in such a way that he could add +the length of one to that of the other, stepped forth +from the ranks. In a loud tone of voice he said: “That +you have hit upon this thought, O King, shows the desire +to search for truth has awakened you! Among all +living creatures, there are but three kinds who are +exempt from Death’s power: the Buddhas, the blessed +spirits and the gods. Whoever attains one of these +three grades escapes the rod of re-birth, and lives as +long as the Heavens themselves.”</p> + +<p>The King of the Apes said: “Where do these three +kinds of beings live?” And the old ape replied: +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[295]</a></span> +“They live in caves and on holy mountains in the great +world of mortals.” The King was pleased when he +heard this, and told his apes that he was going to seek +out gods and sainted spirits in order to learn the road +to immortality from them. The apes dragged up +peaches and other fruits and sweet wine to celebrate +the parting banquet, and all made merry together.</p> + +<p>On the following morning the Handsome King of the +Apes rose very early, built him a raft of old pine trees +and took a bamboo staff for a pole. Then he climbed +on the raft, quite alone, and poled his way through +the Great Sea. Wind and waves were favorable and +he reached Asia. There he went ashore. On the +strand he met a fisherman. He at once stepped up to +him, knocked him down, tore off his clothes and put +them on himself. Then he wandered around and visited +all famous spots, went into the market-places, the +densely populated cities, learned how to conduct himself +properly, and how to speak and act like a well-bred +human being. Yet his heart was set on learning +the teaching of the Buddhas, the blessed spirits and +the holy gods. But the people of the country in which +he was were only concerned with honors and wealth. +Not one of them seemed to care for life. Thus he +went about until nine years had passed by unnoticed. +Then he came to the strand of the Western Sea and it +occurred to him: “No doubt there are gods and saints +on the other side of the sea!” So he built another +raft, floated it over the Western Sea and reached the +land of the West. There he let his raft drift, and went +ashore. After he had searched for many days, he suddenly +saw a high mountain with deep, quiet valleys. +As the Ape King went toward it, he heard a man singing +in the woods, and the song sounded like one the +blessed spirits might sing. So he hastily entered the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[296]</a></span> +wood to see who might be singing. There he met a +wood-chopper at work. The Ape King bowed to him +and said: “Venerable, divine master, I fall down and +worship at your feet!” Said the wood-chopper: “I +am only a workman; why do you call me divine master?” +“Then, if you are no blessed god, how comes it +you sing that divine song?” The wood-chopper +laughed and said: “You are at home in music. The +song I was singing was really taught me by a saint.” +“If you are acquainted with a saint,” said the Ape +King, “he surely cannot live far from here. I beg of +you to show me the way to his dwelling.” The wood-chopper +replied: “It is not far from here. This +mountain is known as the Mountain of the Heart. In +it is a cave where dwells a saint who is called ‘The +Discerner.’ The number of his disciples who have +attained blessedness is countless. He still has some +thirty to forty disciples gathered about him. You +need only follow this path which leads to the South, +and you cannot miss his dwelling.” The Ape King +thanked the wood-chopper and, sure enough, he came +to the cave which the latter had described to him. The +gate was locked and he did not venture to knock. So +he leaped up into a pine tree, picked pine-cones and +devoured the seed. Before long one of the saint’s +disciples came and opened the door and said: “What +sort of a beast is it that is making such a noise?” The +Ape King leaped down from his tree, bowed, and said: +“I have come in search of truth. I did not venture to +knock.” Then the disciple had to laugh and said: +“Our master was seated lost in meditation, when he +told me to lead in the seeker after truth who stood +without the gate, and here you really are. Well, you +may come along with me!” The Ape King smoothed +his clothes, put his hat on straight, and stepped in. A +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[297]</a></span> +long passage led past magnificent buildings and quiet +hidden huts to the place where the master was sitting +upright on a seat of white marble. At his right and +left stood his disciples, ready to serve him. The Ape +King flung himself down on the ground and greeted the +master humbly. In answer to his questions he told him +how he had found his way to him. And when he was +asked his name, he said: “I have no name. I am the +ape who came out of the stone.” So the master said: +“Then I will give you a name. I name you Sun Wu +Kung.” The Ape King thanked him, full of joy, and +thereafter he was called Sun Wu Kung. The master +ordered his oldest disciple to instruct Sun Wu Kung in +sweeping and cleaning, in going in and out, in good +manners, how to labor in the field and how to water +the gardens. In the course of time he learned to write, +to burn incense and read the sutras. And in this way +some six or seven years went by.</p> + +<p>One day the master ascended the seat from which he +taught, and began to speak regarding the great truth. +Sun Wu Kung understood the hidden meaning of his +words, and commenced to jerk about and dance in his +joy. The master reproved him: “Sun Wu Kung, +you have still not laid aside your wild nature! What +do you mean by carrying on in such an unfitting manner?” +Sun Wu Kung bowed and answered: “I was +listening attentively to you when the meaning of your +words was disclosed to my heart, and without thinking +I began to dance for joy. I was not giving way to my +wild nature.” Said the master: “If your spirit has +really awakened, then I will announce the great truth +to you. But there are three hundred and sixty ways +by means of which one may reach this truth. Which +way shall I teach you?” Said Sun Wu Kung: +“Whichever you will, O Master!” Then the Master +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[298]</a></span> +asked: “Shall I teach you the way of magic?” +Said Sun Wu Kung: “What does magic teach one?” +The Master replied: “It teaches one to raise up spirits, +to question oracles, and to foretell fortune and +misfortune.” “Can one secure eternal life by means +of it?” inquired Sun Wu Kung. “No,” was the answer. +“Then I will not learn it.” “Shall I teach you +the sciences?” “What are the sciences?” “They +are the nine schools of the three faiths. You learn +how to read the holy books, pronounce incantations, +commune with the gods, and call the saints to you.” +“Can one gain eternal life by means of them?” +“No.” “Then I will not learn them.” “The way of +repose is a very good way.” “What is the way of +repose?” “It teaches how to live without nourishment, +how to remain quiescent in silent purity, and sit +lost in meditation.” “Can one gain eternal life in +this way?” “No.” “Then I will not learn it.” +“The way of deeds is also a good way.” “What does +that teach?” “It teaches one to equalize the vital +powers, to practise bodily exercise, to prepare the +elixir of life and to hold one’s breath.” “Will it give +one eternal life?” “Not so.” “Then I will not +learn it! I will not learn it!” Thereupon the Master +pretended to be angry, leaped down from his stand, +took his cane and scolded: “What an ape! This he +will not learn, and that he will not learn! What are +you waiting to learn, then?” With that he gave him +three blows across the head, retired to his inner chamber, +and closed the great door after him.</p> + +<p>The disciples were greatly excited, and overwhelmed +Sun Wu Kung with reproaches. Yet the latter paid +no attention to them, but smiled quietly to himself, for +he had understood the riddle which the Master had +given him to solve. And in his heart he thought: +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[299]</a></span> +“His striking me over the head three times meant that +I was to be ready at the third watch of the night. His +withdrawing to his inner chamber and closing the great +door after him, meant that I was to go in to him by the +back door, and that he would make clear the great +truth to me in secret.” Accordingly he waited until +evening, and made a pretense of lying down to sleep +with the other disciples. But when the third watch of +the night had come he rose softly and crept to the back +door. Sure enough it stood ajar. He slipped in and +stepped before the Master’s bed. The Master was +sleeping with his face turned toward the wall, and the +ape did not venture to wake him, but knelt down in +front of the bed. After a time the Master turned around +and hummed a stanza to himself:</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“A hard, hard grind,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Truth’s lesson to expound.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">One talks oneself deaf, dumb and blind,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Unless the right man’s found.”<br /></span> +</div> +</div> + +<p>Then Sun Wu Kung replied: “I am waiting here +reverentially!”</p> + +<p>The Master flung on his clothes, sat up in bed and +said harshly: “Accursed ape! Why are you not +asleep? What are you doing here?”</p> + +<p>Sun Wu Kung answered: “Yet you pointed out to +me yesterday that I was to come to you at the third +watch of the night, by the back door, in order to be instructed +in the truth. Therefore I have ventured to +come. If you will teach me in the fulness of your +grace, I will be eternally grateful to you.”</p> + +<p>Thought the Master to himself: “There is real intelligence +in this ape’s head, to have made him understand +me so well.” Then he replied: “Sun Wu +Kung, it shall be granted you! I will speak freely +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[300]</a></span> +with you. Come quite close to me, and then I will show +you the way to eternal life.”</p> + +<p>With that he murmured into his ear a divine, magical +incantation to further the concentration of his +vital powers, and explained the hidden knowledge word +for word. Sun Wu Kung listened to him eagerly, and +in a short time had learned it by heart. Then he +thanked his teacher, went out again and lay down to +sleep. From that time forward he practised the right +mode of breathing, kept guard over his soul and spirit, +and tamed the natural instincts of his heart. And +while he did so three more years passed by. Then the +task was completed.</p> + +<p>One day the Master said to him: “Three great +dangers still threaten you. Every one who wishes to +accomplish something out of the ordinary is exposed to +them, for he is pursued by the envy of demons and +spirits. And only those who can overcome these three +great dangers live as long as the heavens.”</p> + +<p>Then Sun Wu Kung was frightened and asked: “Is +there any means of protection against these dangers?”</p> + +<p>Then the Master again murmured a secret incantation +into his ear, by means of which he gained the +power to transform himself seventy-two times.</p> + +<p>And when no more than a few days had passed Sun +Wu Kung had learned the art.</p> + +<p>One day the Master was walking before the cave in +the company of his disciples. He called Sun Wu +Kung up to him and asked: “What progress have +you made with your art? Can you fly already?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, indeed,” said the ape.</p> + +<p>“Then let me see you do so.”</p> + +<p>The ape leaped into the air to a distance of five or +six feet from the ground. Clouds formed beneath his +feet, and he was able to walk on them for several +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[301]</a></span> +hundred yards. Then he was forced to drop down to earth +again.</p> + +<p>The Master said with a smile: “I call that crawling +around on the clouds, not floating on them, as do +the gods and saints who fly over the whole world in a +single day. I will teach you the magic incantation for +turning somersaults on the clouds. If you turn one of +those somersaults you advance eighteen thousand miles +at a clip.”</p> + +<p>Sun Wu Kung thanked him, full of joy, and from that +time on he was able to move without limitation of space +in any direction.</p> + +<p>One day Sun Wu Kung was sitting together with the +other disciples under the pine-tree by the gate, discussing +the secrets of their teachings. Finally they asked +him to show them some of his transforming arts. Sun +Wu Kung could not keep his secret to himself, and +agreed to do so.</p> + +<p>With a smile he said: “Just set me a task! What +do you wish me to change myself into?”</p> + +<p>They said: “Turn yourself into a pine-tree.”</p> + +<p>So Sun Wu Kung murmured a magic incantation, +turned around—and there stood a pine-tree before +their very eyes. At this they all broke out into a +horse-laugh. The Master heard the noise and came +out of the gate, dragging his cane behind him.</p> + +<p>“Why are you making such a noise?” he called out +to them harshly.</p> + +<p>Said they: “Sun Wu Kung has turned himself into +a pine-tree, and this made us laugh.”</p> + +<p>“Sun Wu Kung, come here!” said the Master. +“Now just tell me what tricks you are up to? Why +do you have to turn yourself into a pine-tree? All the +work you have done means nothing more to you than a +chance to make magic for your companions to wonder +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[302]</a></span> +at. That shows that your heart is not yet under control.”</p> + +<p>Humbly Sun Wu Kung begged his forgiveness.</p> + +<p>But the Master said: “I bear you no ill will, but +you must go away.”</p> + +<p>With tears in his eyes Sun Wu Kung asked him: +“But where shall I go?”</p> + +<p>“You must go back again whence you came,” said +the Master. And when Sun Wu Kung sadly bade him +farewell, he threatened him: “Your savage nature +is sure to bring down evil upon you some time. You +must tell no one that you are my pupil. If you so +much as breathe a word about it, I will fetch your soul +and lock it up in the nethermost hell, so that you cannot +escape for a thousand eternities.”</p> + +<p>Sun Wu Kung replied: “I will not say a word! I +will not say a word!”</p> + +<p>Then he once more thanked him for all the kindness +shown him, turned a somersault and climbed up to the +clouds.</p> + +<p>Within the hour he had passed the seas, and saw the +Mountain of Flowers and Fruits lying before him. +Then he felt happy and at home again, let his cloud +sink down to earth and cried: “Here I am back again, +children!” And at once, from the valley, from behind +the rocks, out of the grass and from amid the trees +came his apes. They came running up by thousands, +surrounded and greeted him, and inquired as to his +adventures. Sun Wu Kung said: “I have now found +the way to eternal life, and need fear Death the +Ancient no longer.” Then all the apes were overjoyed, +and competed with each other in bringing +flowers and fruits, peaches and wine, to welcome him. +And again they honored Sun Wu Kung as the Handsome +Ape King.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[303]</a></span> +Sun Wu Kung now gathered the apes about him and +questioned them as to how they had fared during his +absence.</p> + +<p>Said they: “It is well that you have come back +again, great king! Not long ago a devil came here +who wanted to take possession of our cave by force. +We fought with him, but he dragged away many of +your children and will probably soon return.”</p> + +<p>Sun Wu Kung grew very angry and said: “What +sort of a devil is this who dares be so impudent?”</p> + +<p>The apes answered: “He is the Devil-King of +Chaos. He lives in the North, who knows how many +miles away. We only saw him come and go amid +clouds and mist.”</p> + +<p>Sun Wu Kung said: “Wait, and I will see to him!” +With that he turned a somersault and disappeared +without a trace.</p> + +<p>In the furthest North rises a high mountain, upon +whose slope is a cave above which is the inscription: +“The Cave of the Kidneys.” Before the door little +devils were dancing. Sun Wu Kung called harshly +to them: “Tell your Devil-King quickly that he had +better give me my children back again!” The little +devils were frightened, and delivered the message in +the cave. Then the Devil-King reached for his sword +and came out. But he was so large and broad that he +could not even see Sun Wu Kung. He was clad from +head to foot in black armor, and his face was as black +as the bottom of a kettle. Sun Wu Kung shouted at +him: “Accursed devil, where are your eyes, that you +cannot see the venerable Sun?” Then the devil looked +to the ground and saw a stone ape standing before him, +bare-headed, dressed in red, with a yellow girdle and +black boots. So the Devil-King laughed and said: +“You are not even four feet high, less than thirty years +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[304]</a></span> +of age, and weaponless, and yet you venture to make +such a commotion.” Said Sun Wu Kung: “I am not +too small for you; and I can make myself large at will. +You scorn me because I am without a weapon, but my +two fists can thresh to the very skies.” With that he +stooped, clenched his fists and began to give the devil +a beating. The devil was large and clumsy, but Sun +Wu Kung leaped about nimbly. He struck him between +the ribs and between the wind and his blows fell +ever more fast and furious. In his despair the devil +raised his great knife and aimed a blow at Sun Wu +Kung’s head. But the latter avoided the blow, and +fell back on his magic powers of transformation. He +pulled out a hair, put it in his mouth, chewed it, spat +it out into the air and said: “Transform yourself!” +And at once it turned into many hundreds of little apes +who began to attack the devil. Sun Wu Kung, be it +said, had eighty-four thousand hairs on his body, every +single one of which he could transform. The little +apes with their sharp eyes, leaped around with the +greatest rapidity. They surrounded the Devil-King +on all sides, tore at his clothes, and pulled at his legs, +until he finally measured his length on the ground. +Then Sun Wu Kung stepped up, tore his knife from +his hand, and put an end to him. After that he entered +the cave and released his captive children, the +apes. The transformed hairs he drew to him again, +and making a fire, he burned the evil cave to the +ground. Then he gathered up those he had released, +and flew back with them like a storm-wind to his cavern +on the Mountain of Flowers and Fruits, joyfully +greeted by all the apes.</p> + +<p>After Sun Wu Kung had obtained possession of the +Devil-King’s great knife, he exercised his apes every +day. They had wooden swords and lances of bamboo, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[305]</a></span> +and played their martial music on reed pipes. He had +them build a camp so that they would be prepared for +all dangers. Suddenly the thought came to Sun Wu +Kung: “If we go on this way, perhaps we may incite +some human or animal king to fight with us, and then +we would not be able to withstand him with our wooden +swords and bamboo lances!” And to his apes he +said: “What should be done?” Four baboons +stepped forward and said: “In the capital city of the +Aulai empire there are warriors without number. And +there coppersmiths and steelsmiths are also to be +found. How would it be if we were to buy steel and +iron and have those smiths weld weapons for us?”</p> + +<p>A somersault and Sun Wu Kung was standing before +the city moat. Said he to himself: “To first +buy the weapons would take a great deal of time. I +would rather make magic and take some.” So he blew +on the ground. Then a tremendous storm-wind arose +which drove sand and stones before it, and caused all +the soldiers in the city to run away in terror. Then +Sun Wu Kung went to the armory, pulled out one of +his hairs, turned it into thousands of little apes, +cleared out the whole supply of weapons, and flew back +home on a cloud.</p> + +<p>Then he gathered his people about him and counted +them. In all they numbered seventy-seven thousand. +They held the whole Mountain in terror, and all the +magic beasts and spirit princes who dwelt on it. And +these came forth from seventy-two caves and honored +Sun Wu Kung as their head.</p> + +<p>One day the Ape King said: “Now you all have +weapons; but this knife which I took from the Devil-King +is too light, and no longer suits me. What should +be done?”</p> + +<p>Then the four baboons stepped forward and said: +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[306]</a></span> +“In view of your spirit powers, O king, you will find +no weapon fit for your use on all the earth! Is it possible +for you to walk through the water?”</p> + +<p>The Ape King answered: “All the elements are +subject to me and there is no place where I cannot go.”</p> + +<p>Then the baboons said: “The water at our cave +here flows into the Great Sea, to the castle of the Dragon-King +of the Eastern Sea. If your magic power +makes it possible, you could go to the Dragon-King and +let him give you a weapon.”</p> + +<p>This suited the Ape King. He leaped on the iron +bridge and murmured an incantation. Then he flung +himself into the waves, which parted before him and +ran on till he came to the palace of water-crystal. +There he met a Triton who asked who he was. He mentioned +his name and said: “I am the Dragon-King’s +nearest neighbor, and have come to visit him.” The +Triton took the message to the castle, and the Dragon-King +of the Eastern Sea came out hastily to receive +him. He bade him be seated and served him with tea.</p> + +<p>Sun Wu Kung said: “I have learned the hidden +knowledge and gained the powers of immortality. I +have drilled my apes in the art of warfare in order +to protect our mountain; but I have no weapon I can +use, and have therefore come to you to borrow one.”</p> + +<p>The Dragon-King now had General Flounder bring +him a great spear. But Sun Wu Kung was not satisfied +with it. Then he ordered Field-Marshal Eel to +fetch in a nine-tined fork, which weighed three thousand +six hundred pounds. But Sun Wu Kung balanced +it in his hand and said: “Too light! Too light! +Too light!”</p> + +<p>Then the Dragon-King was frightened, and had the +heaviest weapon in his armory brought in. It weighed +seven thousand two hundred pounds. But this was +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[307]</a></span> +still too light for Sun Wu Kung. The Dragon-King +assured him that he had nothing heavier, but Sun Wu +Kung would not give in and said: “Just look around!”</p> + +<p>Finally the Dragon-Queen and her daughter came +out, and said to the Dragon-King: “This saint is an +unpleasant customer with whom to deal. The great +iron bar is still lying here in our sea; and not so long +ago it shone with a red glow, which is probably a sign +it is time for it to be taken away.”</p> + +<p>Said the Dragon-King: “But that is the rod which +the Great Yu used when he ordered the waters, and +determined the depth of the seas and rivers. It cannot +be taken away.”</p> + +<p>The Dragon-Queen replied: “Just let him see it! +What he then does with it is no concern of ours.”</p> + +<p>So the Dragon-King led Sun Wu Kung to the measuring +rod. The golden radiance that came from it +could be seen some distance off. It was an enormous +iron bar, with golden clamps on either side.</p> + +<p>Sun Wu Kung raised it with the exertion of all his +strength, and then said: “It is too heavy, and ought +to be somewhat shorter and thinner!”</p> + +<p>No sooner had he said this than the iron rod grew +less. He tried it again, and then he noticed that it +grew larger or smaller at command. It could be made +to shrink to the size of a pin. Sun Wu Kung was overjoyed +and beat about in the sea with the rod, which he +had let grow large again, till the waves spurted mountain-high +and the dragon-castle rocked on its foundations. +The Dragon-King trembled with fright, and +all his tortoises, fishes and crabs drew in their heads.</p> + +<p>Sun Wu Kung laughed, and said: “Many thanks +for the handsome present!” Then he continued: +“Now I have a weapon, it is true, but as yet I have no +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[308]</a></span> +armor. Rather than hunt up two or three other households, +I think you will be willing to provide me with +a suit of mail.”</p> + +<p>The Dragon-King told him that he had no armor +to give him.</p> + +<p>Then the ape said: “I will not leave until you +have obtained one for me.” And once more he began +to swing his rod.</p> + +<p>“Do not harm me!” said the terrified Dragon-King, +“I will ask my brothers.”</p> + +<p>And he had them beat the iron drum and strike the +golden gong, and in a moment’s time all the Dragon-King’s +brothers came from all the other seas. The +Dragon-King talked to them in private and said: +“This is a terrible fellow, and we must not rouse his anger! +First he took the rod with the golden clamps from +me, and now he also insists on having a suit of armor. +The best thing to do would be to satisfy him at once, and +complain of him to the Lord of the Heavens later.”</p> + +<p>So the brothers brought a magic suit of golden mail, +magic boots and a magic helmet.</p> + +<p>Then Sun Wu Kung thanked them and returned to +his cave. Radiantly he greeted his children, who had +come to meet him, and showed them the rod with the +golden clamps. They all crowded up and wished to +pick it up from the ground, if only a single time; but +it was just as though a dragon-fly had attempted to +overthrow a stone column, or an ant were trying to +carry a great mountain. It would not move a hair’s +breadth. Then the apes opened their mouths and +stuck out their tongues, and said: “Father, how is +it possible for you to carry that heavy thing?” So he +told them the secret of the rod and showed them its +effects. Then he set his empire in order, and appointed +the four baboons field-marshals; and the seven +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[309]</a></span> +beast-spirits, the ox-spirit, the dragon-spirit, the bird-spirit, +the lion-spirit and the rest also joined him.</p> + +<p>One day he took a nap after dinner. Before he did +so he had let the bar shrink, and had stuck it in his ear. +While he was sleeping he saw two men come along in +his dream, who had a card on which was written “Sun +Wu Kung.” They would not allow him to resist, but +fettered him and led his spirit away. And when they +reached a great city the Ape King gradually came to +himself. Over the city gate he saw a tablet of iron on +which was engraved in large letters: “The Nether +World.”</p> + +<p>Then all was suddenly clear to him and he said: +“Why, this must be the dwelling-place of Death! But +I have long since escaped from his power, and how dare +he have me dragged here!” The more he reflected +the wilder he grew. He drew out the golden rod from +his ear, swung it and let it grow large. Then he +crushed the two constables to mush, burst his fetters, +and rolled his bar before him into the city. The ten +Princes of the Dead were frightened, bowed before him +and asked: “Who are you?”</p> + +<p>Sun Wu Kung answered: “If you do not know me +then why did you send for me and have me dragged to +this place? I am the heaven-born saint Sun Wu Kung +of the Mountain of Flowers and Fruits. And now, +who are you? Tell me your names quickly or I will +strike you!”</p> + +<p>The ten Princes of the Dead humbly gave him their +names.</p> + +<p>Sun Wu Kung said: “I, the Venerable Sun, have +gained the power of eternal life! You have nothing +to say to me! Quick, let me have the Book of Life!”</p> + +<p>They did not dare defy him, and had the scribe +bring in the Book. Sun Wu Kung opened it. Under +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[310]</a></span> +the head of “Apes,” No. 1350, he read: “Sun Wu +Kung, the heaven-born stone ape. His years shall be +three hundred and twenty-four. Then he shall die +without illness.”</p> + +<p>Sun Wu Kung took the brush from the table and +struck out the whole ape family from the Book of Life, +threw the Book down and said: “Now we are even! +From this day on I will suffer no impertinences from +you!”</p> + +<p>With that he cleared a way for himself out of the +Nether World by means of his rod, and the ten Princes +of the Dead did not venture to stay him, but only complained +of him afterward to the Lord of the Heavens.</p> + +<p>When Sun Wu Kung had left the city he slipped and +fell to the ground. This caused him to wake, and he +noticed he had been dreaming. He called his four +baboons to him and said: “Splendid, splendid! I +was dragged to Death’s castle and I caused considerable +uproar there. I had them give me the Book of +Life, and I struck out the mortal hour of all the apes!” +And after that time the apes on the Mountain no longer +died, because their names had been stricken out in +the Nether World.</p> + +<p>But the Lord of the Heavens sat in his castle, and +had all his servants assembled about him. And a +saint stepped forward and presented the complaint of +the Dragon-King of the Eastern Sea. And another +stepped forward and presented the complaint of the ten +Princes of the Dead. The Lord of the Heavens glanced +through the two memorials. Both told of the wild, +unmannerly conduct of Sun Wu Kung. So the Lord of +the Heavens ordered a god to descend to earth and take +him prisoner. The Evening Star came forward, however, +and said: “This ape was born of the purest +powers of heaven and earth and sun and moon. He +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[311]</a></span> +has gained the hidden knowledge and has become an immortal. +Recall, O Lord, your great love for all that +which has life, and forgive him his sin! Issue an order +that he be called up to the heavens, and be given a +charge here, so that he may come to his senses. Then, +if he again oversteps your commands, let him be punished +without mercy.” The Lord of the Heavens was +agreeable, had the order issued, and told the Evening +Star to take it to Sun Wu Kung. The Evening Star +mounted a colored cloud and descended on the Mountain +of Flowers and Fruits.</p> + +<p>He greeted Sun Wu Kung and said to him: “The +Lord had heard of your actions and meant to punish +you. I am the Evening Star of the Western Skies, +and I spoke for you. Therefore he has commissioned +me to take you to the skies, so that you may be given a +charge there.”</p> + +<p>Sun Wu Kung was overjoyed and answered: “I +had just been thinking I ought to pay Heaven a visit +some time, and sure enough, Old Star, here you have +come to fetch me!”</p> + +<p>Then he had his four baboons come and said to them +impressively: “See that you take good care of our +Mountain! I am going up to the heavens to look +around there a little!”</p> + +<p>Then he mounted a cloud together with the Evening +Star and floated up. But he kept turning his somersaults, +and advanced so quickly that the Evening Star +on his cloud was left behind. Before he knew it he had +reached the Southern Gate of Heaven and was about +to step carelessly through. The gate-keeper did not +wish to let him enter, but he did not let this stop him. +In the midst of their dispute the Evening Star came up +and explained matters, and then he was allowed to enter +the heavenly gate. When he came to the castle of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[312]</a></span> +the Lord of the Heavens, he stood upright before it, +without bowing his head.</p> + +<p>The Lord of the Heavens asked: “Then this hairy +face with the pointed lips is Sun Wu Kung?”</p> + +<p>He replied: “Yes, I am the Venerable Sun!”</p> + +<p>All the servants of the Lord of the Heavens were +shocked and said: “This wild ape does not even bow, +and goes so far as to call himself the Venerable Sun. +His crime deserves a thousand deaths!”</p> + +<p>But the Lord said: “He has come up from the earth +below, and is not as yet used to our rules. We will +forgive him.”</p> + +<p>Then he gave orders that a charge be found for him. +The marshal of the heavenly court reported: “There +is no charge vacant anywhere, but an official is needed +in the heavenly stables.” Thereupon the Lord made +him stablemaster of the heavenly steeds. Then the +servants of the Lord of the Heavens told him he should +give thanks for the grace bestowed on him. Sun Wu +Kung called out aloud: “Thanks to command!” took +possession of his certificate of appointment, and went +to the stables in order to enter upon his new office.</p> + +<p>Sun Wu Kung attended to his duties with great zeal. +The heavenly steeds grew sleek and fat, and the stables +were filled with young foals. Before he knew it half +a month had gone by. Then his heavenly friends prepared +a banquet for him.</p> + +<p>While they were at table Sun Wu Kung asked accidentally: +“Stablemaster? What sort of a title is +that?”</p> + +<p>“Why, that is an official title,” was the reply.</p> + +<p>“What rank has this office?”</p> + +<p>“It has no rank at all,” was the answer.</p> + +<p>“Ah,” said the ape, “is it so high that it outranks +all other dignities?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[313]</a></span> +“No, it is not high, it is not high at all,” answered +his friends. “It is not even set down in the official +roster, but is quite a subordinate position. All you +have to do is to attend to the steeds. If you see to it +that they grow fat, you get a good mark; but if they +grow thin or ill, or fall down, your punishment will be +right at hand.”</p> + +<p>Then the Ape King grew angry: “What, they treat +me, the Venerable Sun, in such a shameful way!” and +he started up. “On my Mountain I was a king, I was +a father! What need was there for him to lure me into +his heaven to feed horses? I’ll do it no longer! I’ll +do it no longer!”</p> + +<p>Hola, and he had already overturned the table, drawn +the rod with the golden clamps from his ear, let it +grow large and beat a way out for himself to the +Southern gate of Heaven. And no one dared stop +him.</p> + +<p>Already he was back in his island Mountain and his +people surrounded him and said: “You have been +gone for more than ten years, great king! How is it +you do not return to us until now?”</p> + +<p>The Ape King said: “I did not spend more than +about ten days in Heaven. This Lord of the Heavens +does not know how to treat his people. He made me +his stablemaster, and I had to feed his horses. I am +so ashamed that I am ready to die. But I did not put +up with it, and now I am here once more!”</p> + +<p>His apes eagerly prepared a banquet to comfort him. +While they sat at table two horned devil-kings came +and brought him a yellow imperial robe as a present. +Filled with joy he slipped into it, and appointed the +two devil-kings leaders of the vanguard. They +thanked him and began to flatter him: “With your +power and wisdom, great king, why should you have to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[314]</a></span> +serve the Lord of the Heavens? To call you the +Great Saint who is Heaven’s Equal would be quite in +order.”</p> + +<p>The ape was pleased with this speech and said: +“Good, good!” Then he ordered his four baboons +to have a flag made quickly, on which was to be inscribed: +“The Great Saint Who Is Heaven’s Equal.” +And from that time on he had himself called by that +title.</p> + +<p>When the Lord of the Heavens learned of the flight +of the ape, he ordered Li Dsing, the pagoda-bearing +god, and his third son, Notscha, to take the Ape King +prisoner. They sallied forth at the head of a heavenly +warrior host, laid out a camp before his cave, and sent +a brave warrior to challenge him to single combat. +But he was easily beaten by Sun Wu Kung and obliged +to flee, and Sun Wu Kung even shouted after him, +laughing: “What a bag of wind! And he calls himself +a heavenly warrior! I’ll not slay you. Run +along quickly and send me a better man!”</p> + +<p>When Notscha saw this he himself hurried up to do +battle.</p> + +<p>Said Sun Wu Kung to him: “To whom do you belong, +little one? You must not play around here, for +something might happen to you!”</p> + +<p>But Notscha cried out in a loud voice: “Accursed +ape! I am Prince Notscha, and have been ordered to +take you prisoner!” And with that he swung his +sword in the direction of Sun Wu Kung.</p> + +<p>“Very well,” said the latter, “I will stand here and +never move.”</p> + +<p>Then Notscha grew very angry, and turned into a +three-headed god with six arms, in which he held six +different weapons. Thus he rushed on to the attack.</p> + +<p>Sun Wu Kung laughed. “The little fellow knows +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[315]</a></span> +the trick of it! But easy, wait a bit! I will change +shape, too!”</p> + +<p>And he also turned himself into a figure with three +heads and with six arms, and swung three gold-clamp +rods. And thus they began to fight. Their blows +rained down with such rapidity that it seemed as +though thousands of weapons were flying through the +air. After thirty rounds the combat had not yet been +decided. Then Sun Wu Kung hit upon an idea. He +secretly pulled out one of his hairs, turned it into +his own shape, and let it continue the fight with Notscha. +He himself, however, slipped behind Notscha, +and gave him such a blow on the left arm with his rod +that his knees gave way beneath him with pain, and he +had to withdraw in defeat.</p> + +<p>So Notscha told his father Li Dsing: “This devil-ape +is altogether too powerful! I cannot get the better +of him!” There was nothing left to do but to return +to the Heavens and admit their overthrow. The +Lord of the Heavens bowed his head, and tried to think +of some other hero whom he might send out.</p> + +<p>Then the Evening Star once more came forward and +said: “This ape is so strong and so courageous, that +probably not one of us here is a match for him. He +revolted because the office of stablemaster appeared +too lowly for him. The best thing would be to temper +justice with mercy, let him have his way, and appoint +him Great Saint Who Is Heaven’s Equal. It will only +be necessary to give him the empty title, without combining +a charge with it, and then the matter would be +settled.” The Lord of the Heavens was satisfied with +this suggestion, and once more sent the Evening Star +to summon the new saint. When Sun Wu Kung heard +that he had arrived, he said: “The old Evening Star +is a good fellow!” and he had his army draw up in line +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[316]</a></span> +to give him a festive reception. He himself donned +his robes of ceremony and politely went out to meet +him.</p> + +<p>Then the Evening Star told him what had taken place +in the Heavens, and that he had his appointment as +Great Saint Who Is Heaven’s Equal with him.</p> + +<p>Thereupon the Great Saint laughed and said: “You +also spoke in my behalf before, Old Star! And now +you have again taken my part. Many thanks! Many +thanks!”</p> + +<p>Then when they appeared together in the presence +of the Lord of the Heavens the latter said: “The rank +of Great Saint Who Is Heaven’s Equal is very high. +But now you must not cut any further capers.”</p> + +<p>The Great Saint expressed his thanks, and the Lord +of the Heavens ordered two skilled architects to build +a castle for him East of the peach-garden of the Queen-Mother +of the West. And he was led into it with all +possible honors.</p> + +<p>Now the Saint was in his element. He had all that +heart could wish for, and was untroubled by any work. +He took his ease, walked about in the Heavens as he +chose, and paid visits to the gods. The Three Pure +Ones and the Four Rulers he treated with some little +respect; but the planetary gods and the lords of the +twenty-eight houses of the moon, and of the twelve +zodiac signs, and the other stars he addressed familiarly +with a “Hey, you!” Thus he idled day by day, +without occupation among the clouds of the Heavens. +On one occasion one of the wise said to the Lord of the +Heavens: “The holy Sun is idle while day follows day. +It is to be feared that some mischievous thoughts may +occur to him, and it might be better to give him some +charge.”</p> + +<p>So the Lord of the Heavens summoned the Great +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[317]</a></span> +Saint and said to him: “The life-giving peaches in +the garden of the Queen-Mother will soon be ripe. I +give you the charge of watching over them. Do your +duty conscientiously!”</p> + +<p>This pleased the Saint and he expressed his thanks. +Then he went to the garden, where the caretakers and +gardeners received him on their knees.</p> + +<p>He asked them: “How many trees in all are there +in the garden?”</p> + +<p>“Three thousand six hundred,” replied the gardener. +“There are twelve-hundred trees in the foremost row. +They have red blossoms and bear small fruit, which +ripens every three thousand years. Whoever eats it +grows bright and healthy. The twelve hundred trees +in the middle row have double blossoms and bear sweet +fruit, which ripens every six thousand years. Whoever +eats of it is able to float in the rose-dawn without +aging. The twelve hundred trees in the last row bear +red-striped fruit with small pits. They ripen every +nine thousand years. Whoever eats their fruit lives +eternally, as long as the Heavens themselves, and +remains untouched for thousands of eons.”</p> + +<p>The Saint heard all this with pleasure. He checked +up the lists and from that time on appeared every day +or so to see to things. The greater part of the peaches +in the last row were already ripe. When he came to +the garden, he would on each occasion send away the +caretakers and gardeners under some pretext, leap up +into the trees, and gorge himself to his heart’s content +with the peaches.</p> + +<p>At that time the Queen-Mother of the West was preparing +the great peach banquet to which she was accustomed +to invite all the gods of the Heavens. She sent +out the fairies in their garments of seven colors with +baskets, that they might pick the peaches. The +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[318]</a></span> +caretaker said to them: “The garden has now been entrusted +to the guardianship of the Great Saint Who is +Heaven’s Equal, so you will first have to announce +yourselves to him.” With that he led the seven fairies +into the garden. There they looked everywhere for the +Great Saint, but could not find him. So the fairies +said: “We have our orders and must not be late. +We will begin picking the peaches in the meantime!” +So they picked several baskets full from the foremost +row. In the second row the peaches were already +scarcer. And in the last row there hung only a single +half-ripe peach. They bent down the bough and +picked it, and then allowed it to fly up again.</p> + +<p>Now it happened that the Great Saint, who had +turned himself into a peach-worm, had just been taking +his noon-day nap on this bough. When he was so +rudely awakened, he appeared in his true form, seized +his rod and was about to strike the fairies.</p> + +<p>But the fairies said: “We have been sent here by +the Queen-Mother. Do not be angry, Great Saint!”</p> + +<p>Said the Great Saint: “And who are all those +whom the Queen-Mother has invited?”</p> + +<p>They answered: “All the gods and saints in the +Heavens, on the earth and under the earth.”</p> + +<p>“Has she also invited me?” said the Saint.</p> + +<p>“Not that we know of,” said the fairies.</p> + +<p>Then the Saint grew angry, murmured a magic incantation +and said: “Stay! Stay! Stay!”</p> + +<p>With that the seven fairies were banned to the spot. +The Saint then took a cloud and sailed away on it to +the palace of the Queen-Mother.</p> + +<p>On the way he met the Bare-Foot God and asked +him: “Where are you going?”</p> + +<p>“To the peach banquet,” was the answer.</p> + +<p>Then the Saint lied to him, saying: “I have been +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[319]</a></span> +commanded by the Lord of the Heavens to tell all the +gods and saints that they are first to come to the Hall +of Purity, in order to practise the rites, and then go together +to the Queen-Mother.”</p> + +<p>Then the Great Saint changed himself into the semblance +of the Bare-Foot God and sailed to the palace of +the Queen-Mother. There he let his cloud sink down +and entered quite unconcerned. The meal was ready, +yet none of the gods had as yet appeared. Suddenly +the Great Saint caught the aroma of wine, and saw +well-nigh a hundred barrels of the precious nectar +standing in a room to one side. His mouth watered. +He tore a few hairs out and turned them into sleep-worms. +These worms crept into the nostrils of the +cup-bearers so that they all fell asleep. Thereupon he +enjoyed the delicious viands to the full, opened the +barrels and drank until he was nearly stupefied. Then +he said to himself: “This whole affair is beginning to +make me feel creepy. I had better go home first of all +and sleep a bit.” And he stumbled out of the garden +with uncertain steps. Sure enough, he missed his way, +and came to the dwelling of Laotzse. There he regained +consciousness. He arranged his clothing and +went in. There was no one to be seen in the place, for +at the moment Laotzse was at the God of Light’s +abode, talking to him, and with him were all his servants, +listening. Since he found no one at home the +Great Saint went as far as the inner chamber, where +Laotzse was in the habit of brewing the elixir of life. +Beside the stove stood five gourd containers full of the +pills of life which had already been rolled. Said the +Great Saint: “I had long since intended to prepare a +couple of these pills. So it suits me very well to find +them here.” He poured out the contents of the +gourds, and ate up all the pills of life. Since he had +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[320]</a></span> +now had enough to eat and drink he thought to himself: +“Bad, bad! The mischief I have done cannot well be +repaired. If they catch me my life will be in danger. +I think I had better go down to earth again and remain +a king!” With that he made himself invisible, went +out at the Western Gate of Heaven, and returned to the +Mountain of Flowers and Fruits, where he told his people +who received him the story of his adventures.</p> + +<p>When he spoke of the wine-nectar of the peach garden, +his apes said: “Can’t you go back once more +and steal a few bottles of the wine, so that we too may +taste of it and gain eternal life?”</p> + +<p>The Ape King was willing, turned a somersault, +crept into the garden unobserved, and picked up four +more barrels. Two of them he took under his arms +and two he held in his hands. Then he disappeared +with them without leaving a trace and brought them +to his cave, where he enjoyed them together with his +apes.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the seven fairies, whom the Great +Saint had banned to the spot, had regained their freedom +after a night and a day. They picked up their +baskets and told the Queen-Mother what had happened +to them. And the cup-bearers, too, came hurrying up +and reported the destruction which some one unknown +had caused among the eatables and drinkables. The +Queen-Mother went to the Lord of the Heavens to complain. +Shortly afterward Laotzse also came to him to +tell about the theft of the pills of life. And the Bare-Foot +God came along and reported that he had been +deceived by the Great Saint Who Is Heaven’s Equal; +and from the Great Saint’s palace the servants came +running and said that the Saint had disappeared and +was nowhere to be found. Then the Lord of the Heavens +was frightened, and said: “This whole mess is +undoubtedly the work of that devilish ape!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[321]</a></span> +Now the whole host of Heaven, together with all the +star-gods, the time-gods and the mountain-gods was +called out in order to catch the ape. Li Dsing once +more was its commander-in-chief. He invested the +entire Mountain, and spread out the sky-net and the +earth-net, so that no one could escape. Then he sent +his bravest heroes into battle. Courageously the ape +withstood all attacks from early morn till sundown. +But by that time his most faithful followers had been +captured. That was too much for him. He pulled out +a hair and turned it into thousands of Ape-Kings, +who all hewed about them with golden-clamped iron +rods. The heavenly host was vanquished, and the ape +withdrew to his cave to rest.</p> + +<p>Now it happened that Guan Yin had also gone to the +peach banquet in the garden, and had found out what +Sun Wu Kung had done. When she went to visit the +Lord of the Heavens, Li Dsing was just coming in, to +report the great defeat which he had suffered on the +Mountain of Flowers and Fruits. Then Guan Yin +said to the Lord of the Heavens: “I can recommend +a hero to you who will surely get the better of the ape. +It is your grandson Yang Oerlang. He has conquered +all the beast and bird spirits, and overthrown the elves +in the grass and the brush. He knows what has to be +done to get the better of such devils.”</p> + +<p>So Yang Oerlang was brought in, and Li Dsing led +him to his camp. Li Dsing asked Yang Oerlang how +he would go about getting the better of the ape.</p> + +<p>Yang Oerlang laughed and said: “I think I will +have to go him one better when it comes to changing +shapes. It would be best for you to take away the +sky-net so that our combat is not disturbed.” Then he +requested Li Dsing to post himself in the upper air +with the magic spirit mirror in his hand, so that when +the ape made himself invisible, he might be found again +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[322]</a></span> +by means of the mirror. When all this had been arranged, +Yang Oerlang went out in front of the cave +with his spirits to give battle.</p> + +<p>The ape leaped out, and when he saw the powerful +hero with the three-tined sword standing before him +he asked: “And who may you be?”</p> + +<p>The other said: “I am Yang Oerlang, the grandson +of the Lord of the Heavens!”</p> + +<p>Then the ape laughed and said: “Oh yes, I remember! +His daughter ran away with a certain Sir Yang, +to whom heaven gave a son. You must be that son!”</p> + +<p>Yang Oerlang grew furious, and advanced upon him +with his spear. Then a hot battle began. For three +hundred rounds they fought without decisive results. +Then Yang Oerlang turned himself into a giant with a +black face and red hair.</p> + +<p>“Not bad,” said the ape, “but I can do that too!”</p> + +<p>So they continued to fight in that form. But the +ape’s baboons were much frightened. The beast and +planet spirits of Yang Oerlang pressed the apes hard. +They slew most of them and the others hid away. +When the ape saw this his heart grew uneasy. He +drew the magic giant-likeness in again, took his rod +and fled. But Yang Oerlang followed hard on his +heels. In his urgent need the ape thrust the rod, which +he had turned into a needle, into his ear, turned into a +sparrow, and flew up into the crest of a tree. Yang +Oerlang who was following in his tracks, suddenly lost +sight of him. But his keen eyes soon recognized that +he had turned himself into a sparrow. So he flung +away spear and crossbow, turned himself into a sparrow-hawk, +and darted down on the sparrow. But the +latter soared high into the air as a cormorant. Yang +Oerlang shook his plumage, turned into a great sea-crane, +and shot up into the clouds to seize the cormorant. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[323]</a></span> +The latter dropped, flew into a valley and dove +beneath the waters of a brook in the guise of a fish. +When Yang Oerlang reached the edge of the valley, and +had lost his trail he said to himself: “This ape has +surely turned himself into a fish or a crab! I will +change my form as well in order to catch him.” So he +turned into a fish-hawk and floated above the surface +of the water. When the ape in the water caught sight +of the fish-hawk, he saw that he was Yang Oerlang. +He swiftly swung around and fled, Yang Oerlang in +pursuit. When the latter was no further away than +the length of a beak, the ape turned, crept ashore as a +water-snake and hid in the grass. Yang Oerlang, when +he saw the water-snake creep from the water, turned +into an eagle and spread his claws to seize the snake. +But the water-snake sprang up and turned into the lowest +of all birds, a speckled buzzard, and perched on the +steep edge of a cliff. When Yang Oerlang saw that the +ape had turned himself into so contemptible a creature +as a buzzard, he would no longer play the game of +changing form with him. He reappeared in his original +form, took up his crossbow and shot at the bird. +The buzzard slipped and fell down the side of the cliff. +At its foot the ape turned himself into the chapel of a +field-god. He opened his mouth for a gate, his teeth +became the two wings of the door, his tongue the image +of the god, and his eyes the windows. His tail was +the only thing he did not know what to do with. So he +let it stand up stiffly behind him in the shape of a flagpole. +When Yang Oerlang reached the foot of the hill +he saw the chapel, whose flagpole stood in the rear. +Then he laughed and said: “That ape is really a +devil of an ape! He wants to lure me into the chapel in +order to bite me. But I will not go in. First I will +break his windows for him, and then I will stamp down +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[324]</a></span> +the wings of his door!” When the ape heard this he +was much frightened. He made a bound like a tiger, +and disappeared without a trace in the air. With a +single somersault he reached Yang Oerlang’s own temple. +There he assumed Yang Oerlang’s own form and +stepped in. The spirits who were on guard were unable +to recognize him. They received him on their +knees. So the ape then seated himself on the god’s +throne, and had the prayers which had come in submitted +to him.</p> + +<p>When Yang Oerlang no longer saw the ape, he rose +in the air to Li Dsing and said: “I was vying with the +ape in changing shape. Suddenly I could no longer +find him. Take a look in the mirror!” Li Dsing took +a look in the magic spirit mirror and then he laughed +and said: “The ape has turned himself into your likeness, +is sitting in your temple quite at home there, and +making mischief.” When Yang Oerlang heard this he +took his three-tined spear, and hastened to his temple. +The door-spirits were frightened and said: “But +father came in only this very minute! How is it that +another one comes now?” Yang Oerlang, without +paying attention to them, entered the temple and aimed +his spear at Sun Wu Kung. The latter resumed his +own shape, laughed and said: “Young sir, you must +not be angry! The god of this place is now Sun Wu +Kung.” Without uttering a word Yang Oerlang +assailed him. Sun Wu Kung took up his rod and returned +the blows. Thus they crowded out of the temple +together, fighting, and wrapped in mists and clouds +once more gained the Mountain of Flowers and Fruits.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Guan Yin was sitting with Laotzse, +the Lord of the Heavens and the Queen-Mother in the +great hall of Heaven, waiting for news. When none +came she said: “I will go with Laotzse to the Southern +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[325]</a></span> +Gate of Heaven and see how matters stand.” And +when they saw that the struggle had still not come to +an end she said to Laotzse: “How would it be if we +helped Yang Oerlang a little? I will shut up Sun Wu +Kung in my vase.”</p> + +<p>But Laotzse said: “Your vase is made of porcelain. +Sun Wu Kung could smash it with his iron rod. But +I have a circlet of diamonds which can enclose all living +creatures. That we can use!” So he flung his circlet +through the air from the heavenly gate, and struck Sun +Wu Kung on the head with it. Since he had his hands +full fighting, the latter could not guard himself against +it, and the blow on the forehead caused him to slip. +Yet he rose again and tried to escape. But the heavenly +hound of Yang Oerlang bit his leg until he fell to +the ground. Then Yang Oerlang and his followers +came up and tied him with thongs, and thrust a hook +through his collar-bone so that he could no longer transform +himself. And Laotzse took possession of his +diamond circlet again, and returned with Guan Yin to +the hall of Heaven. Sun Wu Kung was now brought +in in triumph, and was condemned to be beheaded. He +was then taken to the place of execution and bound to a +post. But all efforts to kill him by means of ax and +sword, thunder and lightning were vain. Nothing so +much as hurt a hair on his head.</p> + +<p>Said Laotzse: “It is not surprising. This ape has +eaten the peaches, has drunk the nectar and also swallowed +the pills of life. Nothing can harm him. The +best thing would be for me to take him along and thrust +him into my stove in order to melt the elixir of life out +of him again. Then he will fall into dust and ashes.”</p> + +<p>So Sun Wu Kung’s fetters were loosed, and Laotzse +took him with him, thrust him into his oven, and ordered +the boy to keep up a hot fire.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[326]</a></span> +But along the edge of the oven were graven the signs +of the eight elemental forces. And when the ape was +thrust into the oven he took refuge beneath the sign of +the wind, so that the fire could not injure him; and the +smoke only made his eyes smart. He remained in the +oven seven times seven days. Then Laotzse had it +opened to take a look. As soon as Sun Wu Kung saw +the light shine in, he could no longer bear to be shut up, +but leaped out and upset the magic oven. The guards +and attendants he threw to the ground and Laotzse +himself, who tried to seize him, received such a push +that he stuck his legs up in the air like an onion turned +upside down. Then Sun Wu Kung took his rod out of +his ear, and without looking where he struck, hewed +everything to bits, so that the star-gods closed their +doors and the guardians of the Heavens ran away. +He came to the castle of the Lord of the Heavens, and +the guardian of the gate with his steel whip was only +just in time to hold him back. Then the thirty-six +thunder gods were set at him, and surrounded him, +though they could not seize him.</p> + +<p>The Lord of the Heavens said: “Buddha will know +what is to be done. Send for him quickly!”</p> + +<p>So Buddha came up out of the West with Ananada +and Kashiapa, his disciples. When he saw the turmoil +he said: “First of all, let weapons be laid aside and +lead out the Saint. I wish to speak with him!” The +gods withdrew. Sun Wu Kung snorted and said: +“Who are you, who dare to speak to me?” Buddha +smiled and replied: “I have come out of the blessed +West, Shakiamuni Amitofu. I have heard of the revolt +you have raised, and am come to tame you!”</p> + +<p>Said Sun Wu Kung: “I am the stone ape who has +gained the hidden knowledge. I am master of +seventy-two transformations, and will live as long as +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[327]</a></span> +Heaven itself. What has the Lord of the Heavens +accomplished that entitles him to remain eternally on +his throne? Let him make way for me, and I will be +satisfied!”</p> + +<p>Buddha replied with a smile: “You are a beast +which has gained magic powers. How can you expect +to rule here as Lord of the Heavens? Be it known to +you that the Lord of the Heavens has toiled for eons in +perfecting his virtues. How many years would you +have to pass before you could attain the dignity he has +gained? And then I must ask you whether there is +anything else you can do, aside from playing your +tricks of transformation?”</p> + +<p>Said Sun Wu Kung: “I can turn cloud somersaults. +Each one carries me eighteen thousand miles ahead. +Surely that is enough to entitle me to be the Lord of the +Heavens?”</p> + +<p>Buddha answered with a smile: “Let us make a +wager. If you can so much as leave my hand with one +of your somersaults, then I will beg the Lord of the +Heavens to make way for you. But if you are not able +to leave my hand, then you must yield yourself to my +fetters.”</p> + +<p>Sun Wu Kung suppressed his laughter, for he +thought: “This Buddha is a crazy fellow! His hand +is not a foot long; how could I help but leap out of it?” +So he opened his mouth wide and said: “Agreed!”</p> + +<p>Buddha then stretched out his right hand. It resembled +a small lotus-leaf. Sun Wu Kung leaped up into +it with one bound. Then he said: “Go!” And with +that he turned one somersault after another, so that he +flew along like a whirlwind. And while he was flying +along he saw five tall, reddish columns towering to the +skies. Then he thought: “That is the end of the +world! Now I will turn back and become Lord of the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[328]</a></span> +Heavens. But first I will write down my name to prove +that I was there.” He pulled out a hair, turned it into +a brush, and wrote with great letters on the middle +column: “The Great Saint Who Is Heaven’s Equal.” +Then he turned his somersaults again until he had +reached the place whence he had come. He leaped +down from the Buddha’s hand laughing and cried: +“Now hurry, and see to it that the Lord of the Heavens +clears his heavenly castle for me! I have been at the +end of the world and have left a sign there!”</p> + +<p>Buddha scolded: “Infamous ape! How dare you +claim that you have left my hand? Take a look and see +whether or not ‘The Great Saint Who Is Heaven’s +Equal,’ is written on my middle finger!”</p> + +<p>Sun Wu Kung was terribly frightened, for at +the first glance he saw that this was the truth. Yet +outwardly he pretended that he was not convinced, +said he would take another look, and tried to make use +of the opportunity to escape. But Buddha covered +him with his hand, shoved him out of the gate of +Heaven, and formed a mountain of water, fire, wood, +earth and metal, which he softly set down on him to +hold him fast. A magic incantation pasted on the +mountain prevented his escape.</p> + +<p>Here he was obliged to lie for hundreds of years, +until he finally reformed and was released, in order to +help the Monk of the Yangtze-kiang fetch the holy +writings from out of the West. He honored the Monk +as his master, and thenceforward was known as the +Wanderer. Guan Yin, who had released him, gave the +Monk a golden circlet. Sun Wu Kung was induced to +put it on, and it at once grew into his flesh so that he +could not remove it. And Guan Yin gave the Monk a +magic formula by means of which the ring could be +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[329]</a></span> +tightened, should the ape grow disobedient. But from +that time on he was always polite and well-mannered.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p>Note: This tale, like “The Pilgrim’s Progress,” is an allegory, the +ape symbolizing the human heart. Yet despite its allegorical +character, a number of mythological and fairy-tale motives are incorporated +in it. The ape himself suggests Hanumant, the companion +of Rama. Yo Huang is the Lord of the Heavens. The stone ape +is the stone heart of natural man. The Buddhas, blessed spirits and +gods, represent the ideals of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. +Sun Wu Kung: In Chinese apes are called Hu Sun, but the word +Hu having an unlucky meaning, the Master chooses Sun as a family +name, while at the same time the letter-sign is freed from the radical +indicating an animal. Wu Kung—“the magic awaking to nothingness” +(Nirwana). The different ways: magic, the way of raising +spirits; the sciences: The three faiths are: Confucianism, Buddhism +and Taoism; to these are added six “schools”: the Yin-Yang School, +the Mo-Di School, Medicine, War, Law, Miscellaneous, so that nine +directions in all are represented. Quiescence is the Taoism for non-activity, +while Action is the Taoism for care of the body, as inaugurated +by We Be Yang. The Devil-King of Chaos, i.e., sensuality, +whose seat is supposed to be in Kidneys. “Red garments,” +colors, here all have an allegorical meaning. Death, i.e., Yama. +The Evening Star is the star of metal; Sun Wu Kung also personifies +a metal, hence the Evening Star appears as his apologist. As +regards Li Dsing and Notscha see No. <a href="#XVIII">18</a>. As regards the Queen +Mother of the West, see No. <a href="#XV">15</a>. As regards Yang Oerlang, see No. +<a href="#XVII">17</a>. Guan Yin is generally worshipped throughout China as the Feminine +goddess. The motive of the magic flight is found frequently in +fairy-tales the world over. Guan Yin is often represented holding a +vase, Bau Ping. Laotzse’s circlet or ring is the Tao. The eight elemental +powers, i.e., Ba Gua. Buddha: while Sun Wu Kung is equipped +to struggle against all external powers, he is conquered by Buddha, +who does not combat him, but subdues him by his omnipresence. +The Monk of the Yangtze-kiang is Huan Dschuang, see No. <a href="#LXIX">69</a>. The +circlet or ring which can be made tighter when the ape does not obey, +reappears in Hauff’s fairy-tale of “The Young Englishman,” as a +cravat.</p> +</div> + + +<p class="center smlpadt padbase">THE END</p> + + + +<div class="bbox"> +<p><b>Transcriber's Note</b></p> + +<p>Archaic spelling, e.g. rimes, phenix, is preserved as printed. Variable +spelling has been made consistent where there was a prevalence of one +form; otherwise it is preserved as printed, e.g. Kaiutschou & Kiautschou, +Laotzse & Laotsze.</p> + +<p>Punctuation errors have been repaired. Hyphenation, and capitalisation +of proper nouns, has been made consistent. Typographic errors, e.g. +omitted or transposed letters, have been repaired.</p> + +<p>The following amendments have been made:</p> + +<div class="amends"> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_24">24</a>—repeated 'the' deleted—"... “The Wolf and the +Seven Kids,” ..."</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_76">76</a>—(I) added to end of title for consistency with +the table of contents—"THE EIGHT IMMORTALS (I)"</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_82">82</a>—omitted word Lan added—"Lan Tsai Ho, who is also +pictured as a woman, ..."</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_82">82</a>—(II) added to end of title for consistency with +the table of contents—"THE EIGHT IMMORTALS (II)"</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_85">85</a>—omitted word Yuan added—"“We are Liu Tschen and +Yuan Dshau. Only a few days ago ...”"</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_289">289</a>—superfluous 'the' deleted before 'Evening'—"Only, +the King had kept back Rose of Evening ..."</p> +</div> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_186">186</a>—mentions the "Su Tsi Hia"—other similar references in +the text are to the "Sin Tsi Hia" but, as the transcriber has been unable +to confirm whether this is from the same source, it has been preserved +as printed.</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_224">224</a>—refers to a serving-maid holding a +"red flabrum in her hand." Flabrum is a Latin word for breeze. This may be a +typo for flagrum, a kind of scourge, but as it is impossible to be certain, +it has been preserved as printed.</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_227">227</a>—mentions a man who "descended to the upper story"—this +should probably read "ascended to the upper story" but has been +preserved as printed.</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_278">278</a>—mentions a man "now, when young and old"—this may be an +error for "young and bold" but has been preserved as printed.</p> + +<p>A number of the notes to the stories refer to other stories. On page +<a href="#Page_17">17</a>, there is a reference to No. 81. There is no story with this +number, and, as the transcriber was unable to determine which story +the author was referring to, it has been preserved as printed.</p> + +<p>The following amendments to references have also been made:</p> + +<div class="amends"> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_17">17</a>—67 amended to 68, and Fee amended to +Fe—"... (see No. <a href="#LXVIII">68</a>, “Yang Gui Fe”)."</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_24">24</a>—48 amended to 49—"... the same +beast as “the talking silver fox” in No. <a href="#XLIX">49</a>, ..."</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_41">41</a>—37 amended to 34—"... (comp. +“Sky O’Dawn,” No. <a href="#XXXIV">34</a>); ..."</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_52">52</a>—73 amended to 74—"... occurs in +the tale of Sun Wu Kung (No. <a href="#LXXIV">74</a>)."</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_64">64</a>—68 amended to 69—"As regards the +Monk of the Yangtze-kiang, comp. with No. <a href="#LXIX">69</a>."</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_75">75</a>—31 amended to 30—"... frequently +used in the preparation of the elixir of life (comp. No. <a href="#XXX">30</a>)."</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_83">83</a>—63 amended to 51—"As regards the +field-god, see No. <a href="#LI">51</a>."</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_137">137</a>—62 amended to 63—"... the old +river-god Ho Be (Count of the Stream), also mentioned in No. <a href="#LXIII">63</a>, ..."</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_142">142</a>—75 amended to 74—"As regards +the Dragon-King of the Eastern Sea, see Nos. <a href="#XVIII">18</a> and +<a href="#LXXIV">74</a>."</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_142">142</a>—45 amended to 46—"With regard +to So Pi-Lo and Lo-Dsi-Tschun, see No. <a href="#XLVI">46</a>."</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_251">251</a>—64 amended to 65—"... the Prince +of Tang mentioned in No. <a href="#LXV">65</a>."</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_251">251</a>—49 amended to 50—"... and the +ten princes of the Nether World, comp. Nos. <a href="#XXXVIII">38</a> and +<a href="#L">50</a>."</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_251">251</a>—73 amended to 74—"As regards +one of the legendary companions of Huan Dschuang on his journey, see No. +<a href="#LXXIV">74</a>."</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_329">329</a>—68 amended to 69—"The Monk of +the Yangtze-kiang is Huan Dschuang, see No. <a href="#LXIX">69</a>."</p> +</div> + +<p>Illustrations have been moved where necessary so that they are not in +the middle of a paragraph. The frontispiece illustration and advertising +material has been moved to follow the title page.</p> +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Chinese Fairy Book, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHINESE FAIRY BOOK *** + +***** This file should be named 29939-h.htm or 29939-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/9/9/3/29939/ + +Produced by David Edwards, Sam W. and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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