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diff --git a/43628-0.txt b/43628-0.txt index 2ed3906..a53ad67 100644 --- a/43628-0.txt +++ b/43628-0.txt @@ -1,41 +1,4 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio vol. -II (of 2), by Songling Pu - -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/license - - -Title: Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio vol. II (of 2) - -Author: Songling Pu - -Translator: Herbert A. Giles - -Release Date: September 3, 2013 [EBook #43628] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STRANGE STORIES 2/2 *** - - - - -Produced by obstobst, Henry Flower and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) - - - - - - - - +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43628 *** STRANGE STORIES @@ -11133,366 +11096,4 @@ hit her across the neck’. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio vol. 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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/license - - -Title: Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio vol. II (of 2) - -Author: Songling Pu - -Translator: Herbert A. Giles - -Release Date: September 3, 2013 [EBook #43628] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STRANGE STORIES 2/2 *** - - - - -Produced by obstobst, Henry Flower and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) - - - - - - - - - -STRANGE STORIES - -FROM A - -CHINESE STUDIO. - - - - - STRANGE STORIES - FROM A - CHINESE STUDIO. - - TRANSLATED AND ANNOTATED - BY - HERBERT A. GILES, - _Of H.M.'s Consular Service_. - - IN TWO VOLUMES. - - VOL. II. - - LONDON: - THOS. DE LA RUE & CO. - 110, BUNHILL ROW. - - 1880. - - - - - PRINTED BY - THOMAS DE LA RUE AND CO., BUNHILL ROW, - LONDON. - - - - -CONTENTS. - - - INTRODUCTION Vol. I., pp. xiii-xxxii. - - - STORIES. - - VOL. I. VOL. II. - - PAGE PAGE - - Adulteration Punished -- 332 - - Alchemist, The -- 313 - - Boat-girl Bride, The -- 149 - - Boatmen of Lao-lung, The -- 348 - - Boon Companion, The 165 -- - - Bribery and Corruption -- 170 - - Buddhist Priest of Ch'ang-ch'ing, The 22 -- - - Buddhist Priests, Arrival of -- 231 - - Butterfly's Revenge, The -- 289 - - Carrying a Corpse -- 181 - - Cattle Plague, The -- 253 - - Censor in Purgatory, The -- 238 - - Chang Pu-liang -- 177 - - Chang's Transformation 237 -- - - Chou K'o-ch'ang and his Ghost -- 106 - - Clay Image, The -- 276 - - Cloth Merchant, The -- 127 - - Collecting Subscriptions -- 220 - - Considerate Husband, The 158 -- - - Country of the Cave Men, The 397 -- - - Courage Tested -- 116 - - Cruelty Avenged -- 267 - - Dead Priest, The -- 247 - - Death by Laughing 352 -- - - Disembodied Friend, The -- 119 - - Dishonesty Punished -- 279 - - Doctor, The -- 290 - - Donkey's Revenge, The -- 64 - - Dr. Tsêng's Dream 387 -- - - Dreaming Honours -- 327 - - Dutch Carpet, The -- 179 - - Dwarf, A 224 -- - - Earthquake, An -- 263 - - Elephants and the Lion, The -- 343 - - Engaged to a Nun 262 -- - - Examination for the Post of Guardian Angel 1 -- - - Faithful Dog, The -- 261 - - Faithful Gander, The -- 342 - - Faithless Widow, The -- 39 - - Feasting the Ruler of Purgatory -- 284 - - Fêng-shui -- 322 - - Fight with the Foxes, The 251 -- - - Fighting Cricket, The -- 17 - - Fighting Quails, The 66 -- - - Fisherman and his Friend, The -- 197 - - Flood, A 350 -- - - Flower-nymphs, The 285 -- - - Flying Cow, The -- 249 - - Foot-ball on the Tung-t'ing Lake 408 -- - - Foreign Priests 343 -- - - Fortune-hunter Punished, The -- 272 - - Forty Strings of Cash, The -- 211 - - Friendship with Foxes -- 300 - - Gambler's Talisman, The 419 -- - - Grateful Dog, The -- 308 - - Great Rat, The -- 303 - - Great Test, The -- 310 - - Hidden Treasure, The -- 345 - - His Father's Ghost -- 142 - - Hsiang-ju's Misfortunes 225 -- - - Husband Punished, The 422 -- - - Incorrupt Official, The -- 358 - - Infernal Regions, In the -- 95 - - Ingratitude Punished -- 138 - - Injustice of Heaven, The -- 111 - - Invisible Priest, The -- 235 - - Jen Hsiu, The Gambler 196 -- - - Joining the Immortals 53 -- - - Jonah, A Chinese -- 176 - - Judge Lu 92 -- - - Justice for Rebels -- 184 - - Killing a Serpent -- 190 - - King, The 257 -- - - Life Prolonged -- 273 - - Lingering Death, The -- 325 - - Little Chu 143 -- - - Lo-ch'a Country and the Sea Market, The -- 1 - - Lost Brother, The 203 -- - - Mad Priest, The -- 282 - - Magic Mirror, The -- 114 - - Magic Path, The -- 36 - - Magic Sword, The 124 -- - - Magical Arts 47 -- - - Magnanimous Girl, The 160 -- - - Making Animals -- 265 - - Man who was changed into a Crow, The 278 -- - - Man who was thrown down a Well, The 365 -- - - Marriage Lottery, The 428 -- - - Marriage of the Fox's Daughter, The 26 -- - - Marriage of the Virgin Goddess, The -- 257 - - Master-thief, The 347 -- - - Metempsychosis -- 207 - - "Mirror and Listen" Trick, The -- 251 - - Miss Chiao-no 33 -- - - Miss Lien-hsiang, The Fox-girl 168 -- - - Miss Quarta Hu 152 -- - - Miss Ying-ning; or, the Laughing Girl 106 -- - - Mr. Tung; or, Virtue Rewarded -- 244 - - Mr. Willow and the Locusts -- 242 - - Mysterious Head, The -- 135 - - Painted Skin, The 76 -- - - Painted Wall, The 9 -- - - Performing Mice, The 218 -- - - Perseverance Rewarded 186 -- - - Picture Horse, The -- 286 - - Pious Surgeon, The -- 351 - - Planchette -- 295 - - Planting a Pear-tree 14 -- - - Playing at Hanging 354 -- - - Priest's Warning, The -- 205 - - Princess Lily, The -- 56 - - Princess of the Tung-t'ing Lake -- 43 - - Quarrelsome Brothers, The 313 -- - - Raising the Dead -- 318 - - Rat Wife, The 355 -- - - Resuscitated Corpse, The -- 193 - - Rip van Winkle, A Chinese -- 85 - - Roc, The -- 340 - - Salt Smuggler, The -- 215 - - Saving Life -- 213 - - Sea-serpent, The -- 113 - - Self-punished Murderer, The 345 -- - - She-wolf and the Herd-boys, The -- 330 - - Shui-mang Plant, The 136 -- - - Singing Frogs, The 217 -- - - Singular case of Ophthalmia -- 102 - - Singular Verdict -- 307 - - Sisters, The 336 -- - - Smelling Essays -- 139 - - Snow in Summer -- 294 - - Solomon, A Chinese -- 335 - - Solomon, Another -- 355 - - Spirit of the Hills, The -- 137 - - Spirits of the Po-yang Lake, The -- 109 - - Spiritualistic Séances -- 131 - - Stolen Eyes, The -- 233 - - Strange Companion, A -- 130 - - Stream of Cash, The -- 110 - - Supernatural Wife, A -- 166 - - Taking Revenge -- 25 - - Talking Pupils, The 5 -- - - Ta-nan in Search of his Father 296 -- - - Taoist Devotee, A -- 183 - - Taoist Miracles -- 226 - - Taoist Priest, A 246 -- - - Taoist Priest of Lao-shan, The 17 -- - - Theft of the Peach -- 186 - - Three Genii, The 214 -- - - Three States of Existence, The -- 90 - - Thunder God, The 413 -- - - Tiger Guest, The 330 -- - - Tiger of Chao-ch'êng, The 219 -- - - Tipsy Turtle, The -- 28 - - Trader's Son, The 85 -- - - Two Brides, The -- 158 - - Unjust Sentence, The -- 80 - - Virtuous Daughter-in-law, The 374 -- - - Wei-ch'i Devil, The -- 268 - - Wine Insect, The -- 259 - - Wolf Dream, The -- 73 - - Wolves -- 305 - - Wonderful Stone, The 306 -- - - Young Gentleman who couldn't spell, The 326 -- - - Young Lady of the Tung-t'ing Lake, The 271 -- - - - APPENDIX A -- 361 - - " B -- 389 - - - - -STRANGE STORIES - -FROM A - -CHINESE STUDIO. - - - - -LXIII. - -THE LO-CH'A COUNTRY AND THE SEA-MARKET.[1] - - -Once upon a time there was a young man, named Ma Chün, who was also -known as Lung-mei. He was the son of a trader, and a youth of -surpassing beauty. His manners were courteous, and he loved nothing -better than singing and playing. He used to associate with actors, and -with an embroidered handkerchief round his head the effect was that of -a beautiful woman. Hence he acquired the sobriquet of the Beauty. At -fourteen years of age he graduated and began to make a name for -himself; but his father, who was growing old and wished to retire from -business, said to him, "My boy, book-learning will never fill your -belly or put a coat on your back; you had much better stick to the old -thing." Accordingly, Ma from that time occupied himself with scales -and weights, with principle and interest, and such matters. - -He made a voyage across the sea, and was carried away by a typhoon. -After being tossed about for many days and nights he arrived at a -country where the people were hideously ugly. When these people saw Ma -they thought he was a devil and all ran screeching away. Ma was -somewhat alarmed at this, but finding that it was they who were -frightened at him, he quickly turned their fear to his own advantage. -If he came across people eating and drinking he would rush upon them, -and when they fled away for fear, he would regale himself upon what -they had left. By-and-by he went to a village among the hills, and -there the people had at any rate some facial resemblance to ordinary -men. But they were all in rags and tatters like beggars. So Ma sat -down to rest under a tree, and the villagers, not daring to come near -him, contented themselves with looking at him from a distance. They -soon found, however, that he did not want to eat them, and by degrees -approached a little closer to him. Ma, smiling, began to talk; and -although their language was different, yet he was able to make himself -tolerably intelligible, and told them whence he had come. The -villagers were much pleased, and spread the news that the stranger was -not a man-eater. Nevertheless, the very ugliest of all would only take -a look and be off again; they would not come near him. Those who did -go up to him were not very much unlike his own countrymen, the -Chinese. They brought him plenty of food and wine. Ma asked them what -they were afraid of. They replied, "We had heard from our forefathers -that 26,000 _li_ to the west there is a country called China. We had -heard that the people of that land were the most extraordinary in -appearance you can possibly imagine. Hitherto it has been hearsay; we -can now believe it." He then asked them how it was they were so poor. -They answered, "You see, in our country everything depends, not on -literary talent, but on beauty. The most beautiful are made ministers -of state; the next handsomest are made judges and magistrates; and the -third class in looks are employed in the palace of the king. Thus -these are enabled out of their pay to provide for their wives and -families. But we, from our very birth, are regarded by our parents as -inauspicious, and are left to perish, some of us being occasionally -preserved by more humane parents to prevent the extinction of the -family." Ma asked the name of their country, and they told him it was -Lo-ch'a. Also that the capital city was some 30 _li_ to the north. He -begged them to take him there, and next day at cock-crow he started -thitherwards in their company, arriving just about dawn. The walls of -the city were made of black stone, as black as ink, and the city -gate-houses were about 100 feet high. Red stones were used for tiles, -and picking up a broken piece Ma found that it marked his finger-nail -like vermilion. They arrived just when the Court was rising, and saw -all the equipages of the officials. The village people pointed out -one who they said was Prime Minister. His ears drooped forward in -flaps; he had three nostrils, and his eye-lashes were just like bamboo -screens hanging in front of his eyes. Then several came out on -horseback, and they said these were the privy councillors. So they -went on, telling him the rank of all the ugly uncouth fellows he saw. -The lower they got down in the official scale the less hideous the -officials were. By-and-by Ma went back, the people in the streets -marvelling very much to see him, and tumbling helter-skelter one over -another as if they had met a goblin. The villagers shouted out to -re-assure them, and then they stood at a distance to look at him. When -he got back, there was not a man, woman, or child in the whole nation -but knew that there was a strange man at the village; and the gentry -and officials became very desirous to see him. However, if he went to -any of their houses the porter always slammed the door in his face, -and the master, mistress, and family, in general, would only peep at, -and speak to him through the cracks. Not a single one dared receive -him face to face; but, finally, the village people, at a loss what to -do, bethought themselves of a man who had been sent by a former king -on official business among strange nations. "He," said they, "having -seen many kinds of men, will not be afraid of you." So they went to -his house, where they were received in a very friendly way. He seemed -to be about eighty or ninety years of age; his eye-balls protruded, -and his beard curled up like a hedge-hog. He said, "In my youth I was -sent by the king among many nations, but I never went to China. I am -now one hundred and twenty years of age, and that I should be -permitted to see a native of your country is a fact which it will be -my duty to report to the Throne. For ten years and more I have not -been to Court, but have remained here in seclusion; yet I will now -make an effort on your behalf." Then followed a banquet, and when the -wine had already circulated pretty freely, some dozen singing girls -came in and sang and danced before them. The girls all wore white -embroidered turbans, and long scarlet robes which trailed on the -ground. The words they uttered were unintelligible, and the tunes they -played perfectly hideous. The host, however, seemed to enjoy it very -much, and said to Ma, "Have you music in China?" He replied that they -had, and the old man asked for a specimen. Ma hummed him a tune, -beating time on the table, with which he was very much pleased, -declaring that his guest had the voice of a phoenix and the notes of a -dragon, such as he had never heard before. The next day he presented a -memorial to the Throne, and the king at once commanded Ma to appear -before him. Several of the ministers, however, represented that his -appearance was so hideous it might frighten His Majesty, and the king -accordingly desisted from his intention. The old man returned and told -Ma, being quite upset about it. They remained together some time until -they had drunk themselves tipsy. Then Ma, seizing a sword, began to -attitudinize, smearing his face all over with coal-dust. He acted the -part of Chang Fei,[2] at which his host was so delighted that he -begged him to appear before the Prime Minister in the character of -Chang Fei. Ma replied, "I don't mind a little amateur acting, but how -can I play the hypocrite[3] for my own personal advantage?" On being -pressed he consented, and the old man prepared a great feast, and -asked some of the high officials to be present, telling Ma to paint -himself as before. When the guests had arrived, Ma was brought out to -see them; whereupon they all exclaimed, "Ai-yah! how is it he was so -ugly before and is now so beautiful?" By-and-by, when they were all -taking wine together, Ma began to sing them a most bewitching song, -and they got so excited over it that next day they recommended him to -the king. The king sent a special summons for him to appear, and asked -him many questions about the government of China, to all of which Ma -replied in detail, eliciting sighs of admiration from His Majesty. He -was honoured with a banquet in the royal guest-pavilion, and when the -king had made himself tipsy he said to him, "I hear you are a very -skilful musician. Will you be good enough to let me hear you?" Ma then -got up and began to attitudinize, singing a plaintive air like the -girls with the turbans. The king was charmed, and at once made him a -privy councillor, giving him a private banquet, and bestowing other -marks of royal favour. As time went on his fellow-officials found out -the secret of his painted face,[4] and whenever he was among them they -were always whispering together, besides which they avoided being near -him as much as possible. Thus Ma was left to himself, and found his -position anything but pleasant in consequence. So he memorialized the -Throne, asking to be allowed to retire from office, but his request -was refused. He then said his health was bad, and got three months' -sick leave, during which he packed up his valuables and went back to -the village. The villagers on his arrival went down on their knees to -him, and he distributed gold and jewels amongst his old friends. They -were very glad to see him, and said, "Your kindness shall be repaid -when we go to the sea-market; we will bring you some pearls and -things." Ma asked them where that was. They said it was at the bottom -of the sea, where the mermaids[5] kept their treasures, and that as -many as twelve nations were accustomed to go thither to trade. Also -that it was frequented by spirits, and that to get there it was -necessary to pass through red vapours and great waves. "Dear Sir," -they said, "do not yourself risk this great danger, but let us take -your money and purchase these rare pearls for you. The season is now -at hand." Ma asked them how they knew this. They said, "Whenever we -see red birds flying backwards and forwards over the sea, we know that -within seven days the market will open." He asked when they were -going to start, that he might accompany them; but they begged him not -to think of doing so. He replied, "I am a sailor: how can I be afraid -of wind and waves?" Very soon after this people came with merchandise -to forward, and so Ma packed up and went on board the vessel that was -going. - -This vessel held some tens of people, was flat-bottomed with a railing -all round, and, rowed by ten men, it cut through the water like an -arrow. After a voyage of three days they saw afar off faint outlines -of towers and minarets, and crowds of trading vessels. They soon -arrived at the city, the walls of which were made of bricks as long as -a man's body, the tops of its buildings being lost in the Milky -Way.[6] Having made fast their boat they went in, and saw laid out in -the market rare pearls and wondrous precious stones of dazzling -beauty, such as are quite unknown amongst men. Then they saw a young -man come forth riding upon a beautiful steed. The people of the market -stood back to let him pass, saying he was the third son of the king; -but when the Prince saw Ma, he exclaimed, "This is no foreigner," and -immediately an attendant drew near and asked his name and country. Ma -made a bow, and standing at one side told his name and family. The -prince smiled, and said, "For you to have honoured our country thus is -no small piece of good luck." He then gave him a horse and begged him -to follow. They went out of the city gate and down to the sea-shore, -whereupon their horses plunged into the water. Ma was terribly -frightened and screamed out; but the sea opened dry before them and -formed a wall of water on either side. In a little time they reached -the king's palace, the beams of which were made of tortoise-shell and -the tiles of fishes' scales. The four walls were of crystal, and -dazzled the eye like mirrors. They got down off their horses and went -in, and Ma was introduced to the king. The young prince said, "Sire, I -have been to the market, and have got a gentleman from China." -Whereupon Ma made obeisance before the king, who addressed him as -follows:--"Sir, from a talented scholar like yourself I venture to ask -for a few stanzas upon our sea-market. Pray do not refuse." Ma -thereupon made a _kot'ow_ and undertook the king's command. Using an -ink-slab of crystal, a brush of dragon's beard, paper as white as -snow, and ink scented like the larkspur,[7] Ma immediately threw off -some thousand odd verses, which he laid at the feet of the king. When -His Majesty saw them, he said, "Sir, your genius does honour to these -marine nations of ours." Then, summoning the members of the royal -family, the king gave a great feast in the Coloured Cloud pavilion; -and, when the wine had circulated freely, seizing a great goblet in -his hand, the king rose and said before all the guests, "It is a -thousand pities, Sir, that you are not married. What say you to -entering the bonds of wedlock?" Ma rose blushing, and stammered out -his thanks; upon which the king looking round spoke a few words to the -attendants, and in a few moments in came a bevy of court ladies -supporting the king's daughter, whose ornaments went tinkle, tinkle, -as she walked along. Immediately the nuptial drums and trumpets began -to sound forth, and bride and bridegroom worshipped Heaven and Earth -together.[8] Stealing a glance Ma saw that the princess was endowed -with a fairy-like loveliness. When the ceremony was over she retired, -and by-and-by the wine-party broke up. Then came several -beautifully-dressed waiting-maids, who with painted candles escorted -Ma within. The bridal couch was made of coral adorned with eight kinds -of precious stones, and the curtains were thickly hung with pearls as -big as acorns. Next day at dawn a crowd of young slave-girls trooped -into the room to offer their services; whereupon Ma got up and went -off to Court to pay his respects to the king. He was then duly -received as royal son-in-law and made an officer of state. The fame of -his poetical talents spread far and wide, and the kings of the various -seas sent officers to congratulate him, vying with each other in their -invitations to him. Ma dressed himself in gorgeous clothes, and went -forth riding on a superb steed, with a mounted body-guard all -splendidly armed. There were musicians on horseback and musicians in -chariots, and in three days he had visited every one of the marine -kingdoms, making his name known in all directions. In the palace there -was a jade tree, about as big round as a man could clasp. Its roots -were as clear as glass, and up the middle ran, as it were, a stick of -pale yellow. The branches were the size of one's arm; the leaves like -white jade, as thick as a copper cash. The foliage was dense, and -beneath its shade the ladies of the palace were wont to sit and sing. -The flowers which covered the tree resembled grapes, and if a single -petal fell to the earth it made a ringing sound. Taking one up, it -would be found to be exactly like carved cornelian, very bright and -pretty to look at. From time to time a wonderful bird came and sang -there. Its feathers were of a golden hue, and its tail as long as its -body. Its notes were like the tinkling of jade, very plaintive and -touching to listen to. When Ma heard this bird sing, it called up in -him recollections of his old home, and accordingly he said to the -princess, "I have now been away from my own country for three years, -separated from my father and mother. Thinking of them my tears flow -and the perspiration runs down my back. Can you return with me?" His -wife replied, "The way of immortals is not that of men. I am unable to -do what you ask, but I cannot allow the feelings of husband and wife -to break the tie of parent and child. Let us devise some plan." When -Ma heard this he wept bitterly, and the princess sighed and said, "We -cannot both stay or both go." The next day the king said to him, "I -hear that you are pining after your old home. Will to-morrow suit you -for taking leave?" Ma thanked the king for his great kindness, which -he declared he could never forget, and promised to return very -shortly. That evening the princess and Ma talked over their wine of -their approaching separation. Ma said they would soon meet again; but -his wife averred that their married life was at an end. Then he wept -afresh, but the princess said, "Like a filial son you are going home -to your parents. In the meetings and separations of this life, a -hundred years seem but a single day; why, then, should we give way to -tears like children? I will be true to you; do you be faithful to me; -and then, though separated, we shall be united in spirit, a happy -pair. Is it necessary to live side by side in order to grow old -together? If you break our contract your next marriage will not be a -propitious one; but if loneliness[9] overtakes you then choose a -concubine. There is one point more of which I would speak, with -reference to our married life. I am about to become a mother, and I -pray you give me a name for your child." To this Ma replied, "If a -girl I would have her called Lung-kung; if a boy, then name him -Fu-hai."[10] The princess asked for some token of remembrance, and Ma -gave her a pair of jade lilies that he had got during his stay in the -marine kingdom. She added, "On the 8th of the 4th moon, three years -hence, when you once more steer your course for this country, I will -give you up your child." She next packed a leather bag full of jewels -and handed it to Ma, saying, "Take care of this; it will be a -provision for many generations." When the day began to break a -splendid farewell feast was given him by the king, and Ma bade them -all adieu. The princess, in a car drawn by snow-white sheep, escorted -him to the boundary of the marine kingdom, where he dismounted and -stepped ashore. "Farewell!" cried the princess, as her returning car -bore her rapidly away, and the sea, closing over her, snatched her -from her husband's sight. Ma returned to his home across the ocean. -Some had thought him long since dead and gone; all marvelled at his -story. Happily his father and mother were yet alive, though his former -wife had married another man; and so he understood why the princess -had pledged him to constancy, for she already knew that this had taken -place. His father wished him to take another wife, but he would not. -He only took a concubine. Then, after the three years had passed away, -he started across the sea on his return journey, when lo! he beheld, -riding on the wave-crests and splashing about the water in playing, -two young children. On going near, one of them seized hold of him and -sprung into his arms; upon which the elder cried until he, too, was -taken up. They were a boy and girl, both very lovely, and wearing -embroidered caps adorned with jade lilies. On the back of one of them -was a worked case, in which Ma found the following letter:-- - -"I presume my father and mother-in-law are well. Three years have -passed away and destiny still keeps us apart. Across the great ocean, -the letter-bird would find no path.[11] I have been with you in my -dreams until I am quite worn out. Does the blue sky look down upon any -grief like mine? Yet Ch'ang-ngo[12] lives solitary in the moon, and -Chih Nü[13] laments that she cannot cross the Silver River. Who am I -that I should expect happiness to be mine? Truly this thought turns my -tears into joy. Two months after your departure I had twins, who can -already prattle away in the language of childhood, at one moment -snatching a date, at another a pear. Had they no mother they would -still live. These I now send to you, with the jade lilies you gave me -in their hats, in token of the sender. When you take them upon your -knee, think that I am standing by your side. I know that you have kept -your promise to me, and I am happy. I shall take no second husband, -even unto death. All thoughts of dress and finery are gone from me; my -looking-glass sees no new fashions; my face has long been unpowdered, -my eyebrows unblacked. You are my Ulysses, I am your Penelope;[14] -though not actually leading a married life, how can it be said that -we are not husband and wife. Your father and mother will take their -grandchildren upon their knees, though they have never set eyes upon -the bride. Alas! there is something wrong in this. Next year your -mother will enter upon the long night. I shall be there by the side of -the grave as is becoming in her daughter-in-law. From this time forth -our daughter will be well; later on she will be able to grasp her -mother's hand. Our boy, when he grows up, may possibly be able to come -to and fro. Adieu, dear husband, adieu, though I am leaving much -unsaid." Ma read the letter over and over again, his tears flowing all -the time. His two children clung round his neck, and begged him to -take them home. "Ah, my children," said he, "where is your home?" Then -they all wept bitterly, and Ma, looking at the great ocean stretching -away to meet the sky, lovely and pathless, embraced his children, and -proceeded sorrowfully to return. Knowing, too, that his mother could -not last long, he prepared everything necessary for the ceremony of -interment, and planted a hundred young pine-trees at her grave.[15] -The following year the old lady did die, and her coffin was borne to -its last resting-place, when lo! there was the princess standing by -the side of the grave. The lookers-on were much alarmed, but in a -moment there was a flash of lightning, followed by a clap of thunder -and a squall of rain, and she was gone. It was then noticed that many -of the young pine-trees which had died were one and all brought to -life. Subsequently, Fu-hai went in search of the mother for whom he -pined so much, and after some days' absence returned. Lung-kung, being -a girl, could not accompany him, but she mourned much in secret. One -dark day her mother entered and bid her dry her eyes, saying, "My -child, you must get married. Why these tears?" She then gave her a -tree of coral eight feet in height, some Baroos camphor,[16] one -hundred valuable pearls, and two boxes inlaid with gold and precious -stones, as her dowry. Ma having found out she was there, rushed in and -seizing her hand began to weep for joy, when suddenly a violent peal -of thunder rent the building, and the princess had vanished. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[1] The term "sea-market" is generally understood in the sense of -_mirage_, or some similar phenomenon. - -[2] A famous General who played a leading part in the wars of the -Three Kingdoms. See No. XCIII., note 127. - -[3] A hit at the hypocrisy of the age. - -[4] Shewing that hypocrisy is bad policy in the long run. - -[5] The tears of Chinese mermaids are said to be pearls. - -[6] See No. XIX., note 135. - -[7] Good ink of the kind miscalled "Indian," is usually very highly -scented; and from a habit the Chinese have of sucking their -writing-brushes to a fine point, the phrase "to eat ink" has become a -synonym of "to study." - -[8] This all-important point in a Chinese marriage ceremony is the -equivalent of our own "signing in the vestry." - -[9] Literally, "if you have no one to cook your food." - -[10] "Dragon Palace" and "Happy Sea," respectively. - -[11] Alluding to an old legend of a letter conveyed by a bird. - -[12] See No. V., note 49. - -[13] The "Spinning Damsel," or name of a star in Lyra, connected with -which there is a celebrated legend of its annual transit across the -Milky Way. - -[14] These are of course only the equivalents of the Chinese names in -the text. - -[15] To keep off the much-dreaded wind, which disturbs the rest of the -departed. - -[16] For which a very high price is obtained in China. - - - - -LXIV. - -THE FIGHTING CRICKET. - - -During the reign of Hsüan Tê,[17] cricket fighting was very much in -vogue at court, levies of crickets being exacted from the people as a -tax. On one occasion the magistrate of Hua-yin, wishing to make -friends with the Governor, presented him with a cricket which, on -being set to fight, displayed very remarkable powers; so much so that -the Governor commanded the magistrate to supply him regularly with -these insects. The latter, in his turn, ordered the beadles of his -district to provide him with crickets; and then it became a practice -for people who had nothing else to do to catch and rear them for this -purpose. Thus the price of crickets rose very high; and when the -beadle's[18] runners came to exact even a single one, it was enough -to ruin several families. - -Now in the village of which we are speaking there lived a man named -Ch'êng, a student who had often failed for his bachelor's degree; and, -being a stupid sort of fellow, his name was sent in for the post of -beadle. He did all he could to get out of it, but without success; and -by the end of the year his small patrimony was gone. Just then came a -call for crickets, and Ch'êng, not daring to make a like call upon his -neighbours, was at his wits' end, and in his distress determined to -commit suicide. "What's the use of that?" cried his wife. "You'd do -better to go out and try to find some." So off went Ch'êng in the -early morning, with a bamboo tube and a silk net, not returning till -late at night; and he searched about in tumble-down walls, in bushes, -under stones, and in holes, but without catching more than two or -three, do what he would. Even those he did catch were weak creatures, -and of no use at all, which made the magistrate fix a limit of time, -the result of which was that in a few days Ch'êng got one hundred -blows with the bamboo. This made him so sore that he was quite unable -to go after the crickets any more, and, as he lay tossing and turning -on the bed, he determined once again to put an end to his life. - -About that time a hump-backed fortune-teller of great skill arrived at -the village, and Ch'êng's wife, putting together a trifle of money, -went off to seek his assistance. The door was literally blocked -up--fair young girls and white-headed dames crowding in from all -quarters. A room was darkened, and a bamboo screen hung at the door, -an altar being arranged outside at which the fortune-seekers burnt -incense in a brazier, and prostrated themselves twice, while the -soothsayer stood by the side, and, looking up into vacancy, prayed for -a response. His lips opened and shut, but nobody heard what he said, -all standing there in awe waiting for the answer. In a few moments a -piece of paper was thrown from behind the screen, and the soothsayer -said that the petitioner's desire would be accomplished in the way he -wished. Ch'êng's wife now advanced, and, placing some money on the -altar, burnt her incense and prostrated herself in a similar manner. -In a few moments the screen began to move, and a piece of paper was -thrown down, on which there were no words, but only a picture. In the -middle was a building like a temple, and behind this a small hill, at -the foot of which were a number of curious stones, with the long, -spiky feelers of innumerable crickets appearing from behind. Hard by -was a frog, which seemed to be engaged in putting itself into various -kinds of attitudes. The good woman had no idea what it all meant; but -she noticed the crickets, and accordingly went off home to tell her -husband. "Ah," said he, "this is to shew me where to hunt for -crickets;" and, on looking closely at the picture, he saw that the -building very much resembled a temple to the east of their village. So -he forced himself to get up, and, leaning on a stick, went out to seek -crickets behind the temple. Rounding an old grave, he came upon a -place where stones were lying scattered about as in the picture, and -then he set himself to watch attentively. He might as well have been -looking for a needle or a grain of mustard-seed; and by degrees he -became quite exhausted, without finding anything, when suddenly an old -frog jumped out. Ch'êng was a little startled, but immediately pursued -the frog, which retreated into the bushes. He then saw one of the -insects he wanted sitting at the root of a bramble; but on making a -grab at it, the cricket ran into a hole, from which he was unable to -move it until he poured in some water, when out the little creature -came. It was a magnificent specimen, strong and handsome, with a fine -tail, green neck, and golden wings; and, putting it in his basket, he -returned home in high glee to receive the congratulations of his -family. He would not have taken anything for this cricket, and -proceeded to feed it up carefully in a bowl. Its belly was the colour -of a crab's, its back that of a sweet chestnut; and Ch'êng tended it -most lovingly, waiting for the time when the magistrate should call -upon him for a cricket. - -Meanwhile, a son of Ch'êng's, aged nine, one day took the opportunity -of his father being out to open the bowl. Instantaneously the cricket -made a spring forward and was gone; and all efforts to catch it again -were unavailing. At length the boy made a grab at it with his hand, -but only succeeded in seizing one of its legs, which thereupon broke, -and the little creature soon afterwards died. Ch'êng's wife turned -deadly pale when her son, with tears in his eyes, told her what had -happened. "Oh! won't you catch it when your father comes home," said -she; at which the boy ran away, crying bitterly. Soon after Ch'êng -arrived, and when he heard his wife's story he felt as if he had been -turned to ice, and went in search of his son, who, however, was -nowhere to be found, until at length they discovered his body lying at -the bottom of a well. Their anger was thus turned to grief, and death -seemed as though it would be a pleasant relief to them as they sat -facing each other in silence in their thatched and smokeless[19] hut. -At evening they prepared to bury the boy; but, on touching the body, -lo! he was still breathing. Overjoyed, they placed him upon the bed, -and towards the middle of the night he came round; but a drop of -bitterness was mingled in his parents' cup when they found that his -reason had fled. His father, however, caught sight of the empty bowl -in which he had kept the cricket, and ceased to think any more about -his son, never once closing his eyes all night; and as day gradually -broke, there he lay stiff and stark, until suddenly he heard the -chirping of a cricket outside the house door. Jumping up in a great -hurry to see, there was his lost insect; but, on trying to catch it, -away it hopped directly. At last he got it under his hand, though, -when he came to close his fingers on it, there was nothing in them. So -he went on, chasing it up and down, until finally it hopped into a -corner of the wall; and then, looking carefully about, he espied it -once more, no longer the same in appearance, but small, and of a dark -red colour. Ch'êng stood looking at it, without trying to catch such a -worthless specimen, when all of a sudden the little creature hopped -into his sleeve; and, on examining it more nearly, he saw that it -really was a handsome insect, with well-formed head and neck, and -forthwith took it indoors. He was now anxious to try its prowess; and -it so happened that a young fellow of the village, who had a fine -cricket which used to win every bout it fought, and was so valuable to -him that he wanted a high price for it, called on Ch'êng that very -day. He laughed heartily at Ch'êng's champion, and, producing his own, -placed it side by side, to the great disadvantage of the former. -Ch'êng's countenance fell, and he no longer wished to back his -cricket; however, the young fellow urged him, and he thought that -there was no use in rearing a feeble insect, and that he had better -sacrifice it for a laugh; so they put them together in a bowl. The -little cricket lay quite still like a piece of wood, at which the -young fellow roared again, and louder than ever when it did not move -even though tickled with a pig's bristle. By dint of tickling it was -roused at last, and then it fell upon its adversary with such fury, -that in a moment the young fellow's cricket would have been killed -outright had not its master interfered and stopped the fight. The -little cricket then stood up and chirped to Ch'êng as a sign of -victory; and Ch'êng, overjoyed, was just talking over the battle with -the young fellow, when a cock caught sight of the insect, and ran up -to eat it. Ch'êng was in a great state of alarm; but the cock luckily -missed its aim, and the cricket hopped away, its enemy pursuing at -full speed. In another moment it would have been snapped up, when, lo! -to his great astonishment, Ch'êng saw his cricket seated on the cock's -head, holding firmly on to its comb. He then put it into a cage, and -by-and-by sent it to the magistrate, who, seeing what a small one he -had provided, was very angry indeed. Ch'êng told the story of the -cock, which the magistrate refused to believe, and set it to fight -with other crickets, all of which it vanquished without exception. He -then tried it with a cock, and as all turned out as Ch'êng had said, -he gave him a present, and sent the cricket in to the Governor. The -Governor put it into a golden cage, and forwarded it to the palace, -accompanied by some remarks on its performances; and when there, it -was found that of all the splendid collection of His Imperial Majesty, -not one was worthy to be placed alongside of this one. It would dance -in time to music, and thus became a great favourite, the Emperor in -return bestowing magnificent gifts of horses and silks upon the -Governor. The Governor did not forget whence he had obtained the -cricket, and the magistrate also well rewarded Ch'êng by excusing him -from the duties of beadle, and by instructing the Literary Chancellor -to pass him for the first degree. A few months afterwards Ch'êng's son -recovered his intellect, and said that he had been a cricket, and had -proved himself a very skilful fighter.[20] The Governor, too, rewarded -Ch'êng handsomely, and in a few years he was a rich man, with flocks, -and herds, and houses, and acres, quite one of the wealthiest of -mankind. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[17] Of the Ming dynasty; reigned A.D. 1426-1436. - -[18] These beadles are chosen by the officials from among the -respectable and substantial of the people to preside over a small area -and be responsible for the general good behaviour of its inhabitants. -The post is one of honour and occasional emolument, since all -petitions presented to the authorities, all mortgages, transfers of -land, &c., should bear the beadle's seal or signature in evidence of -their _bonâ fide_ character. On the other hand, the beadle is punished -by fine, and sometimes bambooed, if robberies are too frequent within -his jurisdiction, or if he fails to secure the person of any -malefactor particularly wanted by his superior officers. And other -causes may combine to make the post a dangerous one; but no one is -allowed to refuse acceptance of it point-blank. - -[19] A favourite Chinese expression, signifying the absence of food. - -[20] That is to say, his spirit had entered, during his period of -temporary insanity, into the cricket which had allowed itself to be -caught by his father, and had animated it to fight with such -extraordinary vigour in order to make good the loss occasioned by his -carelessness in letting the other escape. - - - - -LXV. - -TAKING REVENGE. - - -Hsiang Kao, otherwise called Ch'u-tan, was a T'ai-yüan man, and deeply -attached to his half-brother Shêng. Shêng himself was desperately -enamoured of a young lady named Po-ss[)u],[21] who was also very fond of -him: but the mother wanted too much money for her daughter. Now a rich -young fellow named Chuang thought he should like to get Po-ss[)u] for -himself, and proposed to buy her as a concubine. "No, no," said Po-ss[)u] -to her mother, "I prefer being Shêng's wife to becoming Chuang's -concubine." So her mother consented, and informed Shêng, who had only -recently buried his first wife; at which he was delighted and made -preparations to take her over to his own house. When Chuang heard this -he was infuriated against Shêng for thus depriving him of Po-ss[)u]; and -chancing to meet him out one day, set to and abused him roundly. -Shêng answered him back, and then Chuang ordered his attendants to -fall upon Shêng and beat him well, which they did, leaving him -lifeless on the ground. When Hsiang heard what had taken place he ran -out and found his brother lying dead upon the ground. Overcome with -grief, he proceeded to the magistrate's, and accused Chuang of murder; -but the latter bribed so heavily that nothing came of the accusation. -This worked Hsiang to frenzy, and he determined to assassinate Chuang -on the high road; with which intent he daily concealed himself, with a -sharp knife about him, among the bushes on the hill-side, waiting for -Chuang to pass. By degrees, this plan of his became known far and -wide, and accordingly Chuang never went out except with a strong -body-guard, besides which he engaged at a high price the services of a -very skilful archer, named Chiao T'ung, so that Hsiang had no means of -carrying out his intention. However, he continued to lie in wait day -after day, and on one occasion it began to rain heavily, and in a -short time Hsiang was wet through to the skin. Then the wind got up, -and a hailstorm followed, and by-and-by Hsiang was quite numbed with -the cold. On the top of the hill there was a small temple wherein -lived a Taoist priest, whom Hsiang knew from the latter having -occasionally begged alms in the village, and to whom he had often -given a meal. This priest, seeing how wet he was, gave him some other -clothes, and told him to put them on; but no sooner had he done so -than he crouched down like a dog, and found that he had been changed -into a tiger, and that the priest had vanished. It now occurred to him -to seize this opportunity of revenging himself upon his enemy; and -away he went to his old ambush, where lo and behold! he found his own -body lying stiff and stark. Fearing lest it should become food for -birds of prey, he guarded it carefully, until at length one day Chuang -passed by. Out rushed the tiger and sprung upon Chuang, biting his -head off, and swallowing it upon the spot; at which Chiao T'ung, the -archer, turned round and shot the animal through the heart. Just at -that moment Hsiang awaked as though from a dream, but it was some time -before he could crawl home, where he arrived to the great delight of -his family, who didn't know what had become of him. Hsiang said not a -word, lying quietly on the bed until some of his people came in to -congratulate him on the death of his great enemy Chuang. Hsiang then -cried out, "I was that tiger," and proceeded to relate the whole -story, which thus got about until it reached the ears of Chuang's son, -who immediately set to work to bring his father's murderer to justice. -The magistrate, however, did not consider this wild story as -sufficient evidence against him, and thereupon dismissed the case. - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[21] This is the term used by the Chinese for "Persia," often put by -metonymy for things which come from that country, _sc._ "valuables." -Thus, "to be poor in Persia" is to have but few jewels, gold and -silver ornaments, and even clothes. - - - - -LXVI. - -THE TIPSY TURTLE. - - -At Lin-t'iao there lived a Mr. Fêng, whose other name the person who -told me this story could not remember; he belonged to a good family, -though now somewhat falling into decay. Now a certain man, who caught -turtles, owed him some money which he could not pay, but whenever he -captured any turtles he used to send one to Mr. Fêng. One day he took -him an enormous creature, with a white spot on its forehead; but Fêng -was so struck with something in its appearance, that he let it go -again. A little while afterwards he was returning home from his -son-in-law's, and had reached the banks of the river,[22] when in the -dusk of the evening he saw a drunken man come rolling along, attended -by two or three servants. No sooner did he perceive Fêng than he -called out, "Who are you?" to which Fêng replied that he was a -traveller. "And haven't you got a name?" shouted out the drunken man -in a rage, "that you must call yourself a traveller?" To this Fêng -made no reply, but tried to pass by; whereupon he found himself seized -by the sleeve and unable to move. His adversary smelt horribly of -wine, and at length Fêng asked him, saying, "And pray who are you?" -"Oh, I am the late magistrate at Nan-tu," answered he; "what do you -want to know for?" "A nice disgrace to society you are, too," cried -Fêng; "however, I am glad to hear you are only _late_ magistrate, for -if you had been present magistrate there would be bad times in store -for travellers." This made the drunken man furious, and he was -proceeding to use violence, when Fêng cried out, "My name is -So-and-so, and I'm not the man to stand this sort of thing from -anybody." No sooner had he uttered these words than the drunken man's -rage was turned into joy, and, falling on his knees before Fêng, he -said, "My benefactor! pray excuse my rudeness." Then getting up, he -told his servants to go on ahead and get something ready; Fêng at -first declining to go with him, but yielding on being pressed. Taking -his hand, the drunken man led him along a short distance until they -reached a village, where there was a very nice house and grounds, -quite like the establishment of a person of position. As his friend -was now getting sober, Fêng inquired what might be his name. "Don't be -frightened when I tell you," said the other; "I am the Eighth Prince -of the T'iao river. I have just been out to take wine with a friend, -and somehow I got tipsy; hence my bad behaviour to you, which please -forgive." Fêng now knew that he was not of mortal flesh and blood; -but, seeing how kindly he himself was treated, he was not a bit -afraid. A banquet followed, with plenty of wine, of which the Eighth -Prince drank so freely that Fêng thought he would soon be worse than -ever, and accordingly said he felt tipsy himself, and asked to be -allowed to go to bed. "Never fear," answered the Prince, who perceived -Fêng's thoughts; "many drunkards will tell you that they cannot -remember in the morning the extravagances of the previous night, but I -tell you this is all nonsense, and that in nine cases out of ten those -extravagances are committed wittingly and with malice prepense.[23] -Now, though I am not the same order of being as yourself, I should -never venture to behave badly in your good presence; so pray do not -leave me thus." Fêng then sat down again and said to the Prince, -"Since you are aware of this, why not change your ways?" "Ah," replied -the Prince, "when I was a magistrate I drank much more than I do now; -but I got into disgrace with the Emperor and was banished here, since -which time, ten years and more, I have tried to reform. Now, however, -I am drawing near the wood,[24] and being unable to move about much, -the old vice has come upon me again; I have found it impossible to -stop myself, but perhaps what you say may do me some good." While they -were thus talking, the sound of a distant bell broke upon their ears; -and the Prince, getting up and seizing Fêng's hand, said, "We cannot -remain together any longer; but I will give you something by which I -may in part requite your kindness to me. It must not be kept for any -great length of time; when you have attained your wishes, then I will -receive it back again." Thereupon he spit out of his mouth a tiny man, -no more than an inch high, and scratching Fêng's arm with his nails -until Fêng felt as if the skin was gone, he quickly laid the little -man upon the spot. When he let go, the latter had already sunk into -the skin, and nothing was to be seen but a cicatrix well healed over. -Fêng now asked what it all meant, but the Prince only laughed, and -said, "It's time for you to go," and forthwith escorted him to the -door. The prince here bade him adieu, and when he looked round, -Prince, village, and house had all disappeared together, leaving -behind a great turtle which waddled down into the water, and -disappeared likewise. He could now easily account for the Prince's -present to him; and from this moment his sight became intensely keen. -He could see precious stones lying in the bowels of the earth, and was -able to look down as far as Hell itself; besides which he suddenly -found that he knew the names of many things of which he had never -heard before. From below his own bedroom he dug up many hundred ounces -of pure silver, upon which he lived very comfortably; and once when a -house was for sale, he perceived that in it lay concealed a vast -quantity of gold, so he immediately bought it, and so became immensely -rich in all kinds of valuables. He secured a mirror, on the back of -which was a phoenix, surrounded by water and clouds, and portraits of -the celebrated wives of the Emperor Shun,[25] so beautifully executed -that each hair of the head and eyebrows could easily be counted. If -any woman's face came upon the mirror, there it remained indelibly -fixed and not to be rubbed out; but if the same woman looked into the -mirror again, dressed in a different dress, or if some other woman -chanced to look in, then the former face would gradually fade away. - -Now the third princess in Prince Su's family was very beautiful; and -Fêng, who had long heard of her fame, concealed himself on the -K'ung-tung hill, when he knew the Princess was going there. He waited -until she alighted from her chair, and then getting the mirror full -upon her, he walked off home. Laying it on the table, he saw therein a -lovely girl in the act of raising her handkerchief, and with a sweet -smile playing over her face; her lips seemed about to move, and a -twinkle was discernible in her eyes.[26] Delighted with this picture, -he put the mirror very carefully away; but in about a year his wife -had let the story leak out, and the Prince, hearing of it, threw Fêng -into prison, and took possession of the mirror. Fêng was to be -beheaded; however, he bribed one of the Prince's ladies to tell His -Highness that if he would pardon him all the treasures of the earth -might easily become his; whereas, on the other hand, his death could -not possibly be of any advantage to the Prince. The Prince now thought -of confiscating all his goods and banishing him; but the third -princess observed, that as he had already seen her, were he to die ten -times over it would not give her back her lost face, and that she had -much better marry him. The Prince would not hear of this, whereupon -his daughter shut herself up and refused all nourishment, at which the -ladies of the palace were dreadfully alarmed, and reported it at once -to the Prince. Fêng was accordingly liberated, and was informed of the -determination of the Princess, which, however, he declined to fall in -with, saying that he was not going thus to sacrifice the wife of his -days of poverty,[27] and would rather die than carry out such an -order. He added that if His Highness would consent, he would purchase -his liberty at the price of everything he had. The Prince was -exceedingly angry at this, and seized Fêng again; and meanwhile one of -the concubines got Fêng's wife into the palace, intending to poison -her. Fêng's wife, however, brought her a beautiful present of a coral -stand for a looking-glass, and was so agreeable in her conversation, -that the concubine took a great fancy to her, and presented her to the -Princess, who was equally pleased, and forthwith determined that they -would both be Fêng's wives.[28] When Fêng heard of this plan, he said -to his wife, "With a Prince's daughter there can be no distinctions of -first and second wife;" but Mrs. Fêng paid no heed to him, and -immediately sent off to the Prince such an enormous quantity of -valuables that it took a thousand men to carry them, and the Prince -himself had never before heard of such treasures in his life. Fêng was -now liberated once more, and solemnized his marriage with the -Princess. - -One night after this he dreamt that the Eighth Prince came to him and -asked him to return his former present, saying that to keep it too -long would be injurious to his chances of life. Fêng asked him to -take a drink, but the Eighth Prince said that he had forsworn wine, -acting under Fêng's advice, for three years. He then bit Fêng's arm, -and the latter waked up with the pain to find that the cicatrix on his -arm was no longer there. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[22] The name here used is the _Hêng_ or "ceaseless" river, which is -applied by the Chinese to the Ganges. A certain number, extending to -fifty-three places of figures, is called "Ganges sand," in allusion to -a famous remark that "Buddha and the Bôdhisatvas knew of the creation -and destruction of every grain of dust in Jambudwipa (the universe); -how much more the number of the sand-particles in the river Ganges?" - -[23] Drunkenness is not recognised in China as an extenuating -circumstance; neither, indeed, is insanity,--a lunatic who takes -another man's life being equally liable with ordinary persons to the -forfeiture of his own. - -[24] A favourite Chinese figure expressive of old age. It dates back -to the celebrated commentary by Tso Ch'iu Ming on Confucius' _Spring -and Autumn_ (See No. XLI., note 237):--"Hsi is twenty-three and I am -twenty-five; and marrying thus we shall approach the wood together;" -the "wood" being, of course, that of the coffin. - -[25] See No. VIII., note 63. - -[26] - - "... Move these eyes? - ... Here are severed lips." - - --_Merchant of Venice_, Act iii., sc. 2. - -[27] See No. LIII., note 288. - -[28] This method of arranging a matrimonial difficulty is a common one -in Chinese fiction, but I should say quite unknown in real life. - - - - -LXVII. - -THE MAGIC PATH. - - -In the province of Kuangtung there lived a scholar named Kuo, who was -one evening on his way home from a friend's, when he lost his way -among the hills. He got into a thick jungle, where, after about an -hour's wandering, he suddenly heard the sound of laughing and talking -on the top of the hill. Hurrying up in the direction of the sound, he -beheld some ten or a dozen persons sitting on the ground engaged in -drinking. No sooner had they caught sight of Kuo than they all cried -out, "Come along! just room for one more; you're in the nick of time." -So Kuo sat down with the company, most of whom, he noticed, belonged -to the literati,[29] and began by asking them to direct him on his way -home; but one of them cried out, "A nice sort of fellow you are, to -be bothering about your way home, and paying no attention to the fine -moon we have got to-night." The speaker then presented him with a -goblet of wine of exquisite bouquet, which Kuo drank off at a draught, -and another gentleman filled up again for him at once. Now, Kuo was -pretty good in that line, and being very thirsty withal from his long -walk, tossed off bumper after bumper, to the great delight of his -hosts, who were unanimous in voting him a jolly good fellow. He was, -moreover, full of fun, and could imitate exactly the note of any kind -of bird; so all of a sudden he began on the sly to twitter like a -swallow, to the great astonishment of the others, who wondered how it -was a swallow could be out so late. He then changed his note to that -of a cuckoo, sitting there laughing and saying nothing, while his -hosts were discussing the extraordinary sounds they had just heard. -After a while he imitated a parrot, and cried, "Mr. Kuo is very drunk: -you'd better see him home;" and then the sounds ceased, beginning -again by-and-by, when at last the others found out who it was, and all -burst out laughing. They screwed up their mouths and tried to whistle -like Kuo, but none of them could do so; and soon one of them observed, -"What a pity Madam Ch'ing isn't with us: we must rendezvous here again -at mid-autumn, and you, Mr. Kuo, must be sure and come." Kuo said he -would, whereupon another of his hosts got up and remarked that, as he -had given them such an amusing entertainment, they would try to shew -him a few acrobatic feats. They all arose, and one of them planting -his feet firmly, a second jumped up on to his shoulders, a third on to -the second's shoulders, and a fourth on to his, until it was too high -for the rest to jump up, and accordingly they began to climb as though -it had been a ladder. When they were all up, and the topmost head -seemed to touch the clouds, the whole column bent gradually down until -it lay along the ground transformed into a path. Kuo remained for some -time in a state of considerable alarm, and then, setting out along -this path, ultimately reached his own home. Some days afterwards he -revisited the spot, and saw the remains of a feast lying about on the -ground, with dense bushes on all sides, but no sign of a path. At -mid-autumn he thought of keeping his engagement; however, his friends -persuaded him not to go. - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[29] This term, while really including all literary men, of no matter -what rank or standing, is more usually confined to that large section -of unemployed scholarship made up of (1) those who are waiting to get -started in an official career, (2) those who have taken one or more -degrees and are preparing for the next, (3) those who have failed to -distinguish themselves at the public examinations, and eke out a small -patrimony by taking pupils, and (4) scholars of sufficiently high -qualifications who have no taste for official life. - - - - -LXVIII. - -THE FAITHLESS WIDOW.[30] - - -Mr. Niu was a Kiangsi man who traded in piece goods. He married a wife -from the Chêng family, by whom he had two children, a boy and a girl. -When thirty-three years of age he fell ill and died, his son Chung -being then only twelve and his little girl eight or nine. His wife did -not remain faithful to his memory, but, selling off all the property, -pocketed the proceeds and married another man, leaving her two -children almost in a state of destitution with their aunt, Niu's -sister-in-law, an old lady of sixty, who had lived with them -previously, and had now nowhere to seek a shelter. A few years later -this aunt died, and the family fortunes began to sink even lower than -before; Chung, however, was now grown up, and determined to carry on -his father's trade, only he had no capital to start with. His sister -marrying a rich trader named Mao, she begged her husband to lend Chung -ten ounces of silver, which he did, and Chung immediately started for -Nanking. On the road he fell in with some bandits, who robbed him of -all he had, and consequently he was unable to return; but one day when -he was at a pawnshop he noticed that the master of the shop was -wonderfully like his late father, and on going out and making -inquiries he found that this pawnbroker bore precisely the same names. -In great astonishment, he forthwith proceeded to frequent the place -with no other object than to watch this man, who, on the other hand, -took no notice of Chung; and by the end of three days, having -satisfied himself that he really saw his own father, and yet not -daring to disclose his own identity, he made application through one -of the assistants, on the score of being himself a Kiangsi man, to be -employed in the shop. Accordingly, an indenture was drawn up; and when -the master noticed Chung's name and place of residence he started, and -asked him whence he came. With tears in his eyes Chung addressed him -by his father's name, and then the pawnbroker became lost in a deep -reverie, by-and-by asking Chung how his mother was. Now Chung did not -like to allude to his father's death, and turned the question by -saying, "My father went away on business six years ago, and never came -back; my mother married again and left us, and had it not been for my -aunt our corpses would long ago have been cast out in the kennel." -Then the pawnbroker was much moved, and cried out, "I am your father!" -seizing his son's hand and leading him within to see his step-mother. -This lady was about twenty-two, and, having no children of her own, -was delighted with Chung, and prepared a banquet for him in the inner -apartments. Mr. Niu himself was, however, somewhat melancholy, and -wished to return to his old home; but his wife, fearing that there -would be no one to manage the business, persuaded him to remain; so he -taught his son the trade, and in three months was able to leave it all -to him. He then prepared for his journey, whereupon Chung informed his -step-mother that his father was really dead, to which she replied in -great consternation that she knew him only as a trader to the place, -and that six years previously he had married her, which proved -conclusively that he couldn't be dead. He then recounted the whole -story, which was a perfect mystery to both of them; and twenty-four -hours afterwards in walked his father, leading a woman whose hair was -all dishevelled. Chung looked at her and saw that she was his own -mother; and Niu took her by the ear and began to revile her, saying, -"Why did you desert my children?" to which the wretched woman made no -reply. He then bit her across the neck, at which she screamed to Chung -for assistance, and he, not being able to bear the sight, stepped in -between them. His father was more than ever enraged at this, when, lo! -Chung's mother had disappeared. While they were still lost in -astonishment at this strange scene, Mr. Niu's colour changed; in -another moment his empty clothes had dropped upon the ground, and he -himself became a black vapour and also vanished from their sight. The -step-mother and son were much overcome; they took Niu's clothes and -buried them, and after that Chung continued his father's business and -soon amassed great wealth. On returning to his native place he found -that his mother had actually died on the very day of the above -occurrence, and that his father had been seen by the whole family. - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[30] Unless under exceptional circumstances it is not considered -creditable in China for widows to marry again. It may here be -mentioned that the honorary tablets conferred from time to time by His -Imperial Majesty upon virtuous widows are only given to women who, -widowed before the age of thirty, have remained in that state for a -period of thirty years. The meaning of this is obvious: temptations -are supposed to be fewer and less dangerous after thirty, which is the -equivalent of forty with us; and it is wholly improbable that thirty -years of virtuous life, at which period the widow would be at least -fifty, would be followed by any act that might cast a stain upon the -tablet thus bestowed. - - - - -LXIX. - -THE PRINCESS OF THE TUNG-T'ING LAKE. - - -Ch'ên Pi-chiao was a Pekingese; and being a poor man he attached -himself as secretary to the suite of a high military official named -Chia. On one occasion, while anchored on the Tung-t'ing lake, they saw -a dolphin[31] floating on the surface of the water; and General Chia -took his bow and shot at it, wounding the creature in the back. A fish -was hanging on to its tail, and would not let go; so both were pulled -out of the water together, and attached to the mast. There they lay -gasping, the dolphin opening its mouth as if pleading for life, until -at length young Ch'ên begged the General to let them go again; and -then he himself half jokingly put a piece of plaster upon the -dolphin's wound, and had the two thrown back into the water, where -they were seen for some time afterwards diving and rising again to the -surface. About a year afterwards, Ch'ên was once more crossing the -Tung-t'ing lake on his way home, when the boat was upset in a squall, -and he himself only saved by clinging to a bamboo crate, which -finally, after floating about all night, caught in the overhanging -branch of a tree, and thus enabled him to scramble on shore. -By-and-by, another body floated in, and this turned out to be his -servant; but on dragging him out, he found life was already extinct. -In great distress, he sat himself down to rest, and saw beautiful -green hills and waving willows, but not a single human being of whom -he could ask the way. From early dawn till the morning was far -advanced he remained in that state; and then, thinking he saw his -servant's body move, he stretched out his hand to feel it, and before -long the man threw up several quarts of water and recovered his -consciousness. They now dried their clothes in the sun, and by noon -these were fit to put on; at which period the pangs of hunger began to -assail them, and accordingly they started over the hills in the hope -of coming upon some habitation of man. As they were walking along, an -arrow whizzed past, and the next moment two young ladies dashed by on -handsome palfreys. Each had a scarlet band round her head, with a -bunch of pheasant's feathers stuck in her hair, and wore a purple -riding-jacket with small sleeves, confined by a green embroidered -girdle round the waist. One of them carried a cross-bow for shooting -bullets, and the other had on her arm a dark-coloured bow-and-arrow -case. Reaching the brow of the hill, Ch'ên beheld a number of riders -engaged in beating the surrounding cover, all of whom were beautiful -girls and dressed exactly alike. Afraid to advance any further, he -inquired of a youth who appeared to be in attendance, and the latter -told him that it was a hunting party from the palace; and then, having -supplied him with food from his wallet, he bade him retire quickly, -adding that if he fell in with them he would assuredly be put to -death. Thereupon Ch'ên hurried away; and descending the hill, turned -into a copse where there was a building which he thought would in all -probability be a monastery. On getting nearer, he saw that the place -was surrounded by a wall, and between him and a half-open red-door was -a brook spanned by a stone bridge leading up to it. Pulling back the -door, he beheld within a number of ornamental buildings circling in -the air like so many clouds, and for all the world resembling the -Imperial pleasure-grounds; and thinking it must be the park of some -official personage, he walked quietly in, enjoying the delicious -fragrance of the flowers as he pushed aside the thick vegetation which -obstructed his way. After traversing a winding path fenced in by -balustrades, Ch'ên reached a second enclosure, wherein were a quantity -of tall willow-trees which swept the red eaves of the buildings with -their branches. The note of some bird would set the petals of the -flowers fluttering in the air, and the least wind would bring the -seed-vessels down from the elm-trees above; and the effect upon the -eye and heart of the beholder was something quite unknown in the world -of mortals. Passing through a small kiosque, Ch'ên and his servant -came upon a swing which seemed as though suspended from the clouds, -while the ropes hung idly down in the utter stillness that -prevailed.[32] Thinking by this that they were approaching the ladies' -apartments,[33] Ch'ên would have turned back, but at that moment he -heard sounds of horses' feet at the door, and what seemed to be the -laughter of a bevy of girls. So he and his servant hid themselves in a -bush; and by-and-by, as the sounds came nearer, he heard one of the -young ladies say, "We've had but poor sport to-day;" whereupon another -cried out, "If the princess hadn't shot that wild goose, we should -have taken all this trouble for nothing." Shortly after this, a number -of girls dressed in red came in escorting a young lady, who went and -sat down under the kiosque. She wore a hunting costume with tight[34] -sleeves, and was about fourteen or fifteen years old. Her hair looked -like a cloud of mist at the back of her head, and her waist seemed as -though a breath of wind might snap it[35]--incomparable for beauty, -even among the celebrities of old. Just then the attendants handed her -some exquisitely fragrant tea, and stood glittering round her like a -bank of beautiful embroidery. In a few moments the young lady arose -and descended the kiosque; at which one of her attendants cried out, -"Is your Highness too fatigued by riding to take a turn in the swing?" -The princess replied that she was not; and immediately some supported -her under the shoulders, while others seized her arms, and others -again arranged her petticoats, and brought her the proper shoes.[36] -Thus they helped her into the swing, she herself stretching out her -shining arms, and putting her feet into a suitable pair of slippers; -and then--away she went, light as a flying-swallow, far up into the -fleecy clouds. As soon as she had had enough, the attendants helped -her out, and one of them exclaimed, "Truly, your Highness is a -perfect angel!" At this the young lady laughed, and walked away, Ch'ên -gazing after her in a state of semi-consciousness, until, at length, -the voices died away, and he and his servant crept forth. Walking up -and down near the swing, he suddenly espied a red handkerchief near -the paling, which he knew had been dropped by one of the young ladies; -and, thrusting it joyfully into his sleeve, he walked up and entered -the kiosque. There, upon a table, lay writing materials, and taking -out the handkerchief he indited upon it the following lines:-- - - "What form divine was just now sporting nigh?-- - 'Twas she, I trow of 'golden lily' fame; - Her charms the moon's fair denizens might shame, - Her fairy footsteps bear her to the sky." - -Humming this stanza to himself, Ch'ên walked along seeking for the -path by which he had entered; but every door was securely barred, and -he knew not what to do. So he went back to the kiosque, when suddenly -one of the young ladies appeared, and asked him in astonishment what -he did there. "I have lost my way," replied Ch'ên; "I pray you lend me -your assistance." "Do you happen to have found a red handkerchief?" -said the girl. "I have, indeed," answered Ch'ên, "but I fear I have -made it somewhat dirty;" and, suiting the action to the word, he drew -it forth, and handed it to her. "Wretched man!" cried the young lady, -"you are undone. This is a handkerchief the princess is constantly -using, and you have gone and scribbled all over it; what will become -of you now?" Ch'ên was in a great fright, and begged the young lady -to intercede for him; to which she replied, "It was bad enough that -you should come here and spy about; however, being a scholar, and a -man of refinement, I would have done my best for you; but after this, -how am I to help you?" Off she then ran with the handkerchief, while -Ch'ên remained behind in an agony of suspense, and longing for the -wings of a bird to bear him away from his fate. By-and-by, the young -lady returned and congratulated him, saying, "There is some hope for -you. The Princess read your verses several times over, and was not at -all angry. You will probably be released; but, meanwhile, wait here, -and don't climb the trees, or try to get through the walls, or you may -not escape after all." Evening was now drawing on, and Ch'ên knew not, -for certain, what was about to happen; at the same time he was very -empty, and, what with hunger and anxiety, death would have been almost -a happy release. Before long, the young lady returned with a lamp in -her hand, and followed by a slave-girl bearing wine and food, which -she forthwith presented to Ch'ên. The latter asked if there was any -news about himself; to which the young lady replied that she had just -mentioned his case to the Princess who, not knowing what to do with -him at that hour of the night, had given orders that he should at once -be provided with food, "which, at any rate," added she, "is not bad -news." The whole night long Ch'ên walked up and down unable to take -rest; and it was not till late in the morning that the young lady -appeared with more food for him. Imploring her once more to intercede -on his behalf, she told him that the Princess had not instructed them -either to kill or to release him, and that it would not be fitting for -such as herself to be bothering the Princess with suggestions. So -there Ch'ên still remained until another day had almost gone, hoping -for the welcome moment; and then the young lady rushed hurriedly in, -saying, "You are lost! Some one has told the Queen, and she, in a fit -of anger, threw the handkerchief on the ground, and made use of very -violent language. Oh dear! oh dear! I'm sure something dreadful will -happen." Ch'ên threw himself on his knees, his face as pale as ashes, -and begged to know what he should do; but at that moment sounds were -heard outside, and the young lady waved her hand to him, and ran away. -Immediately a crowd came pouring in through the door, with ropes ready -to secure the object of their search; and among them was a slave-girl, -who looked fixedly at our hero, and cried out, "Why, surely you are -Mr. Ch'ên, aren't you?" at the same time stopping the others from -binding him until she should have reported to the Queen. In a few -minutes she came back, and said the Queen requested him to walk in; -and in he went, through a number of doors, trembling all the time with -fear, until he reached a hall, the screen before which was ornamented -with green jade and silver. A beautiful girl drew aside the bamboo -curtain at the door, and announced, "Mr. Ch'ên;" and he himself -advanced, and fell down before a lady, who was sitting upon a dais at -the other end, knocking his head upon the ground, and crying out, -"Thy servant is from a far-off country; spare, oh! spare his life." -"Sir!" replied the Queen, rising hastily from her seat, and extending -a hand to Ch'ên, "but for you, I should not be here to-day. Pray -excuse the rudeness of my maids." Thereupon a splendid repast was -served, and wine was poured out in chased goblets, to the no small -astonishment of Ch'ên, who could not understand why he was treated -thus. "Your kindness," observed the Queen, "in restoring me to life, I -am quite unable to repay; however, as you have made my daughter the -subject of your verse, the match is clearly ordained by fate, and I -shall send her along to be your handmaid." Ch'ên hardly knew what to -make of this extraordinary accomplishment of his wishes, but the -marriage was solemnized there and then; bands of music struck up -wedding-airs, beautiful mats were laid down for them to walk upon, and -the whole place was brilliantly lighted with a profusion of coloured -lamps. Then Ch'ên said to the Princess, "That a stray and unknown -traveller like myself, guilty of spoiling your Highness's -handkerchief, should have escaped the fate he deserved, was already -more than could be expected; but now to receive you in marriage--this, -indeed, far surpasses my wildest expectations." "My mother," replied -the Princess, "is married to the King of this lake, and is herself a -daughter of the River Prince. Last year, when on her way to visit her -parents, she happened to cross the lake, and was wounded by an arrow; -but you saved her life, and gave her plaster for the wound. Our -family, therefore, is grateful to you, and can never forget your good -act. And do not regard me as of another species than yourself; the -Dragon King has bestowed upon me the elixir of immortality, and this I -will gladly share with you." Then Ch'ên knew that his wife was a -spirit, and by-and-by he asked her how the slave-girl had recognised -him; to which she replied, that the girl was the small fish which had -been found hanging to the dolphin's tail. He then inquired why, as -they didn't intend to kill him, he had been kept so long a prisoner. -"I was charmed with your literary talent," answered the Princess, "but -I did not venture to take the responsibility upon myself; and no one -saw how I tossed and turned the livelong night." "Dear friend," said -Ch'ên; "but, come, tell me who was it that brought my food." "A trusty -waiting-maid of mine," replied the Princess; "her name is A-nien." -Ch'ên then asked how he could ever repay her, and the Princess told -him there would be plenty of time to think of that; and when he -inquired where the king, her father, was, she said he had gone off -with the God of War to fight against Ch'ih-yu,[37] and had not -returned. A few days passed, and Ch'ên began to think his people at -home would be anxious about him; so he sent off his servant with a -letter to tell them he was safe and sound, at which they were all -overjoyed, believing him to have been lost in the wreck of the boat, -of which event news had already reached them. However, they were -unable to send him any reply, and were considerably distressed as to -how he would find his way home again. Six months afterwards Ch'ên -himself appeared, dressed in fine clothes, and riding on a splendid -horse, with plenty of money, and valuable jewels in his -pocket--evidently a man of wealth. From that time forth he kept up a -magnificent establishment; and in seven or eight years had become the -father of five children. Every day he kept open house, and if any one -asked him about his adventures, he would readily tell them without -reservation. Now a friend of his, named Liang, whom he had known since -they were boys together, and who, after holding an appointment for -some years in Nan-fu, was crossing the Tung-t'ing Lake, on his way -home, suddenly beheld an ornamental barge, with carved wood-work and -red windows, passing over the foamy waves to the sound of music and -singing from within. Just then a beautiful young lady leant out of one -of the windows, which she had pushed open, and by her side Liang saw a -young man sitting, in a _négligé_ attitude, while two nice-looking -girls stood by and shampooed[38] him. Liang, at first, thought it -must be the party of some high official, and wondered at the scarcity -of attendants;[39] but, on looking more closely at the young man, he -saw it was no other than his old friend Ch'ên. Thereupon he began -almost involuntarily to shout out to him; and when Ch'ên heard his own -name, he stopped the rowers, and walked out towards the -figure-head,[40] beckoning Liang to cross over into his boat, where -the remains of their feast was quickly cleared away, and fresh -supplies of wine, and tea, and all kinds of costly foods spread out by -handsome slave-girls. "It's ten years since we met," said Liang, "and -what a rich man you have become in the meantime." "Well," replied -Ch'ên, "do you think that so very extraordinary for a poor fellow like -me?" Liang then asked him who was the lady with whom he was taking -wine, and Ch'ên said she was his wife, which very much astonished -Liang, who further inquired whither they were going. "Westwards," -answered Ch'ên, and prevented any further questions by giving a signal -for the music, which effectually put a stop to all further -conversation.[41] By-and-by, Liang found the wine getting into his -head, and seized the opportunity to ask Ch'ên to make him a present -of one of his beautiful slave-girls. "You are drunk,[42] my friend," -replied Ch'ên; "however, I will give you the price of one as a pledge -of our old friendship." And, turning to a servant, he bade him present -Liang with a splendid pearl, saying, "Now you can buy a Green -Pearl;[43] you see I am not stingy;" adding forthwith, "but I am -pressed for time, and can stay no longer with my old friend." So he -escorted Liang back to his boat, and, having let go the rope, -proceeded on his way. Now, when Liang reached home, and called at -Ch'ên's house, whom should he see but Ch'ên himself drinking with a -party of friends. "Why, I saw you only yesterday," cried Liang, "upon -the Tung-t'ing. How quickly you have got back!" Ch'ên denied this, and -then Liang repeated the whole story, at the conclusion of which, Ch'ên -laughed, and said, "You must be mistaken. Do you imagine I can be in -two places at once?" The company were all much astonished, and knew -not what to make of it; and subsequently when Ch'ên, who died at the -age of eighty, was being carried to his grave, the bearers thought the -coffin seemed remarkably light, and on opening it to see, found that -the body had disappeared. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[31] Literally, a "pig old-woman dragon." Porpoise (Fr. -_porc-poisson_) suggests itself at once; but I think fresh-water -dolphin is the best term, especially as the Tung-t'ing lake is many -hundred miles inland. The commentator explains it by _t'o_, which -would be "alligator" or "cayman," and is of course out of the -question. My friend, Mr. L. C. Hopkins, has taken the trouble to make -some investigations for me on this subject. He tells me that this -fish, also called the "river pig," has first to be surrounded and -secured by a strong net. Being too large to be hauled on board a boat, -it is then driven ashore, where oil is extracted from the carcase and -used for giving a gloss to silk thread, &c. - -[32] Literally, in the utter absence of anybody. - -[33] In passing near to the women's quarters in a friend's house, it -is etiquette to cough slightly, that inmates may be warned and -withdraw from the doors or windows in time to escape observation. Over -and over again at interviews with mandarins of all grades I have heard -the rustling of the ladies' dresses from some coigne of vantage, -whence every movement of mine was being watched by an inquisitive -crowd; and on one occasion I actually saw an eye peering through a -small hole in the partition behind me. - -[34] Literally, "bald"--_i.e._, without the usual width and -ornamentation of a Chinese lady's sleeve. - -[35] Small waists are much admired in China, but any such artificial -aids as stays and tight lacing are quite unknown. A certain Prince Wei -admitted none but the possessors of small waists into his harem; hence -his establishment came to be called the _Palace of Small Waists_. - -[36] Probably of felt or some such material, to prevent the young lady -from slipping as she stood, not sat, in the swing. - -[37] A rebel chieftain of the legendary period of China's history, who -took up arms against the Emperor Huang Ti (B.C. 2697-2597), but was -subsequently defeated in what was perhaps the first decisive battle of -the world. - -[38] This favourite process consists in gently thumping the person -operated upon all over the back with the soft part of the closed -fists. Compare Lane, _Arabian Nights_, Vol. I., p. 551:--"She then -pressed me to her bosom, and laid me on the bed, and continued gently -kneading my limbs until slumber overcame me." - -[39] See No. LVI., note 315. A considerable number of the attendants -there mentioned would accompany any high official, some in the same, -the rest in another barge. - -[40] Generally known as the "cut-wave God." - -[41] At all great banquets in China a theatrical troupe is engaged to -perform while the dinner, which may last from four to six hours, drags -its slow length along. - -[42] See No. LIV., note 292. - -[43] The name of a celebrated beauty. - - - - -LXX. - -THE PRINCESS LILY. - - -At Chiao-chou there lived a man named Tou Hsün, otherwise known as -Hsiao-hui. One day he had just dropped off to sleep when he beheld a -man in serge clothes standing by the bedside, and apparently anxious -to communicate something to him. Tou inquired his errand; to which the -man replied that he was the bearer of an invitation from his master. -"And who is your master?" asked Tou. "Oh, he doesn't live far off," -replied the other; so away they went together, and after some time -came to a place where there were innumerable white houses rising one -above the other, and shaded by dense groves of lemon-trees. They -threaded their way past countless doors, not at all similar to those -usually used, and saw a great many official-looking men and women -passing and repassing, each of whom called out to the man in serge, -"Has Mr. Tou come?" to which he always replied in the affirmative. -Here a mandarin met them and escorted Tou into a palace, upon which -the latter remarked, "This is really very kind of you; but I haven't -the honour of knowing you, and I feel somewhat diffident about going -in." "Our Prince," answered his guide, "has long heard of you as a -man of good family and excellent principles, and is very anxious to -make your acquaintance." "Who is your Prince?" inquired Tou. "You'll -see for yourself in a moment," said the other; and just then out came -two girls with banners, and guided Tou through a great number of doors -until they came to a throne, upon which sat the Prince. His Highness -immediately descended to meet him, and made him take the seat of -honour; after which ceremony exquisite viands of all kinds were spread -out before them. Looking up, Tou noticed a scroll, on which was -inscribed, _The Cassia Court_, and he was just beginning to feel -puzzled as to what he should say next, when the Prince addressed him -as follows:--"The honour of having you for a neighbour is, as it were, -a bond of affinity between us. Let us, then, give ourselves up to -enjoyment, and put away suspicion and fear." Tou murmured his -acquiescence; and when the wine had gone round several times there -arose from a distance the sound of pipes and singing, unaccompanied, -however, by the usual drum, and very much subdued in volume. Thereupon -the Prince looked about him and cried out, "We are about to set a -verse for any of you gentlemen to cap; here you are:--'_Genius seeks -the Cassia Court_.'" While the courtiers were all engaged in thinking -of some fit antithesis,[44] Tou added, "_Refinement loves the Lily -flower_;" upon which the Prince exclaimed, "How strange! Lily is my -daughter's name; and, after such a coincidence, she must come in for -you to see her." In a few moments the tinkling of her ornaments and a -delicious fragrance of musk announced the arrival of the Princess, who -was between sixteen and seventeen and endowed with surpassing beauty. -The Prince bade her make an obeisance to Tou, at the same time -introducing her as his daughter Lily; and as soon as the ceremony was -over the young lady moved away. Tou remained in a state of -stupefaction, and, when the Prince proposed that they should pledge -each other in another bumper, paid not the slightest attention to what -he said. Then the Prince, perceiving what had distracted his guest's -attention, remarked that he was anxious to find a consort for his -daughter, but that unfortunately there was the difficulty of -_species_, and he didn't know what to do; but again Tou took no notice -of what the Prince was saying, until at length one of the bystanders -plucked his sleeve, and asked him if he hadn't seen that the Prince -wished to drink with him, and had just been addressing some remarks to -him. Thereupon Tou started, and, recovering himself at once, rose from -the table and apologized to the Prince for his rudeness, declaring -that he had taken so much wine he didn't know what he was doing. -"Besides," said he, "your Highness has doubtless business to transact; -I will therefore take my leave." "I am extremely pleased to have seen -you," replied the Prince, "and only regret that you are in such a -hurry to be gone. However, I won't detain you now; but, if you don't -forget all about us, I shall be very glad to invite you here again." -He then gave orders that Tou should be escorted home; and on the way -one of the courtiers asked the latter why he had said nothing when the -Prince had spoken of a consort for his daughter, as his Highness had -evidently made the remark with an eye to securing Tou as his -son-in-law. The latter was now sorry that he had missed his -opportunity; meanwhile they reached his house, and he himself awoke. -The sun had already set, and there he sat in the gloom thinking of -what had happened. In the evening he put out his candle, hoping to -continue his dream; but, alas! the thread was broken, and all he could -do was to pour forth his repentance in sighs. One night he was -sleeping at a friend's house when suddenly an officer of the court -walked in and summoned him to appear before the Prince; so up he -jumped, and hurried off at once to the palace, where he prostrated -himself before the throne. The Prince raised him and made him sit -down, saying that since they had last met he had become aware that Tou -would be willing to marry his daughter, and hoped that he might be -allowed to offer her as a handmaid. Tou rose and thanked the Prince, -who thereupon gave orders for a banquet to be prepared; and when they -had finished their wine it was announced that the Princess had -completed her toilet. Immediately a bevy of young ladies came in with -the Princess in their midst, a red veil covering her head, and her -tiny footsteps sounding like rippling water as they led her up to be -introduced to Tou. When the ceremonies were concluded, Tou said to -the Princess, "In your presence, Madam, it would be easy to forget -even death itself; but, tell me, is not this all a dream?" "And how -can it be a dream," asked the Princess, "when you and I are here -together?" - -Next morning Tou amused himself by helping the Princess to paint her -face,[45] and then, seizing a girdle, began to measure the size of her -waist[46] and the length of her fingers and feet. "Are you crazy?" -cried she, laughing; to which Tou replied, "I have been deceived so -often by dreams, that I am now making a careful record. If such it -turns out to be, I shall still have something as a souvenir of you." -While they were thus chatting a maid rushed into the room, shrieking -out, "Alas, alas! a great monster has got into the palace: the Prince -has fled into a side chamber: destruction is surely come upon us." Tou -was in a great fright when he heard this, and rushed off to see the -Prince, who grasped his hand and, with tears in his eyes, begged him -not to desert them. "Our relationship," cried he, "was cemented when -Heaven sent this calamity upon us; and now my kingdom will be -overthrown. What shall I do?" Tou begged to know what was the matter; -and then the Prince laid a despatch upon the table, telling Tou to -open it and make himself acquainted with its contents. This despatch -ran as follows:--"The Grand Secretary of State, Black Wings, to His -Royal Highness, announcing the arrival of an extraordinary monster, -and advising the immediate removal of the Court in order to preserve -the vitality of the empire. A report has just been received from the -officer in charge of the Yellow Gate stating that, ever since the 6th -of the 5th moon, a huge monster, 10,000 feet in length, has been lying -coiled up outside the entrance to the palace, and that it has already -devoured 13,800 and odd of your Highness's subjects, and is spreading -desolation far and wide. On receipt of this information your servant -proceeded to make a reconnaissance, and there beheld a venomous -reptile with a head as big as a mountain and eyes like vast sheets of -water. Every time it raised its head, whole buildings disappeared down -its throat; and, on stretching itself out, walls and houses were alike -laid in ruins. In all antiquity there is no record of such a scourge. -The fate of our temples and ancestral halls is now a mere question of -hours; we therefore pray your Royal Highness to depart at once with -the Royal Family and seek somewhere else a happier abode."[47] When -Tou had read this document his face turned ashy pale; and just then a -messenger rushed in, shrieking out, "Here is the monster!" at which -the whole Court burst into lamentations as if their last hour was at -hand. The Prince was beside himself with fear; all he could do was to -beg Tou to look to his own safety without regarding the wife through -whom he was involved in their misfortunes. The Princess, however, who -was standing by bitterly lamenting the fate that had fallen upon them, -begged Tou not to desert her; and, after a moment's hesitation, he -said he should be only too happy to place his own poor home at their -immediate disposal if they would only deign to honour him. "How can we -talk of _deigning_," cried the Princess, "at such a moment as this? I -pray you take us there as quickly as possible." So Tou gave her his -arm, and in no time they had arrived at Tou's house, which the -Princess at once pronounced to be a charming place of residence, and -better even than their former kingdom. "But I must now ask you," said -she to Tou, "to make some arrangement for my father and mother, that -the old order of things may be continued here." Tou at first offered -objections to this; whereupon the Princess said that a man who would -not help another in his hour of need was not much of a man, and -immediately went off into a fit of hysterics, from which Tou was -trying his best to recall her, when all of a sudden he awoke and found -that it was all a dream. However, he still heard a buzzing in his ears -which he knew was not made by any human being, and, on looking -carefully about he discovered two or three bees which had settled on -his pillow. He was very much astonished at this, and consulted with -his friend, who was also greatly amazed at his strange story; and then -the latter pointed out a number of other bees on various parts of his -dress, none of which would go away even when brushed off. His friend -now advised him to get a hive for them, which he did without delay; -and immediately it was filled by a whole swarm of bees, which came -flying from over the wall in great numbers. On tracing whence they had -come, it was found that they belonged to an old gentleman who lived -near, and who had kept bees for more than thirty years previously. Tou -thereupon went and told him the story; and when the old gentleman -examined his hive he found the bees all gone. On breaking it open he -discovered a large snake inside of about ten feet in length, which he -immediately killed, recognising in it the "huge monster" of Tou's -adventure. As for the bees, they remained with Tou, and increased in -numbers every year. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[44] In this favourite pastime of the literati in China the important -point is that each word in the second line should be a due and proper -antithesis of the word in the first line to which it corresponds. - -[45] See No. LXII., note 349. - -[46] See No. LXIX., note 35. - -[47] The language in which this fanciful document is couched is -precisely such as would be used by an officer of the Government in -announcing some national calamity; hence the value of these -tales,--models as they are of the purest possible style. - - - - -LXXI. - -THE DONKEY'S REVENGE. - - -Chung Ch'ing-yü was a scholar of some reputation, who lived in -Manchuria. When he went up for his master's degree, he heard that -there was a Taoist priest at the capital who would tell people's -fortunes, and was very anxious to see him; and at the conclusion of -the second part of the examination,[48] he accidentally met him at -Pao-t'u-ch'üan.[49] The priest was over sixty years of age, and had -the usual white beard, flowing down over his breast. Around him stood -a perfect wall of people inquiring their future fortunes, and to each -the old man made a brief reply: but when he saw Chung among the crowd, -he was overjoyed, and, seizing him by the hand, said, "Sir, your -virtuous intentions command my esteem." He then led him up behind a -screen, and asked if he did not wish to know what was to come; and -when Chung replied in the affirmative, the priest informed him that -his prospects were bad. "You may succeed in passing this examination," -continued he, "but on returning covered with honour to your home, I -fear that your mother will be no longer there." Now Chung was a very -filial son; and as soon as he heard these words, his tears began to -flow, and he declared that he would go back without competing any -further. The priest observed that if he let this chance slip, he could -never hope for success; to which Chung replied that, on the other -hand, if his mother were to die he could never hope to have her back -again, and that even the rank of Viceroy would not repay him for her -loss. "Well," said the priest, "you and I were connected in a former -existence, and I must do my best to help you now." So he took out a -pill which he gave to Chung, and told him that if he sent it -post-haste by some one to his mother, it would prolong her life for -seven days, and thus he would be able to see her once again after the -examination was over. Chung took the pill, and went off in very low -spirits; but he soon reflected that the span of human life is a matter -of destiny, and that every day he could spend at home would be one -more day devoted to the service of his mother. Accordingly, he got -ready to start at once, and, hiring a donkey, actually set out on his -way back. When he had gone about half-a-mile, the donkey turned round -and ran home; and when he used his whip, the animal threw itself down -on the ground. Chung got into a great perspiration, and his servant -recommended him to remain where he was; but this he would not hear -of, and hired another donkey, which served him exactly the same trick -as the other one. The sun was now sinking behind the hills, and his -servant advised his master to stay and finish his examination while he -himself went back home before him. Chung had no alternative but to -assent, and the next day he hurried through with his papers, starting -immediately afterwards, and not stopping at all on the way either to -eat or to sleep. All night long he went on, and arrived to find his -mother in a very critical state; however, when he gave her the pill -she so far recovered that he was able to go in and see her. Grasping -his hand, she begged him not to weep, telling him that she had just -dreamt she had been down to the Infernal Regions, where the King of -Hell had informed her with a gracious smile that her record was fairly -clean, and that in view of the filial piety of her son she was to have -twelve years more of life. Chung was rejoiced at this, and his mother -was soon restored to her former health. - -Before long the news arrived that Chung had passed his examination; -upon which he bade adieu to his mother, and went off to the capital, -where he bribed the eunuchs of the palace to communicate with his -friend the Taoist priest. The latter was very much pleased, and came -out to see him, whereupon Chung prostrated himself at his feet. "Ah," -said the priest, "this success of yours, and the prolongation of your -good mother's life, is all a reward for your virtuous conduct. What -have I done in the matter?" Chung was very much astonished that the -priest should already know what had happened; however, he now -inquired as to his own future. "You will never rise to high rank," -replied the priest, "but you will attain the years of an octogenarian. -In a former state of existence you and I were once travelling -together, when you threw a stone at a dog, and accidentally killed a -frog. Now that frog has re-appeared in life as a donkey, and according -to all principles of destiny you ought to suffer for what you did; but -your filial piety has touched the Gods, a protecting star-influence -has passed into your nativity sheet, and you will come to no harm. On -the other hand, there is your wife; in her former state she was not as -virtuous as she might have been, and her punishment in this life was -to be widowed quite young; you, however, have secured the prolongation -of your own term of years, and therefore I fear that before long your -wife will pay the penalty of death." Chung was much grieved at hearing -this; but after a while he asked the priest where his second wife to -be was living. "At Chung-chou," replied the latter; "she is now -fourteen years old." The priest then bade him adieu, telling him that -if any mischance should befall him he was to hurry off towards the -south-east. About a year after this, Chung's wife did die; and his -mother then desiring him to go and visit his uncle, who was a -magistrate in Kiangsi, on which journey he would have to pass through -Chung-chou, it seemed like a fulfilment of the old priest's prophecy. -As he went along, he came to a village on the banks of a river, where -a large crowd of people was gathered together round a theatrical -performance which was going on there. Chung would have passed quietly -by, had not a stray donkey followed so close behind him that he turned -round and hit it over the ears. This startled the donkey so much that -it ran off full gallop, and knocked a rich gentleman's child, who was -sitting with its nurse on the bank, right into the water, before any -one of the servants could lend a hand to save it. Immediately there -was a great outcry against Chung, who gave his mule the rein and -dashed away, mindful of the priest's warning, towards the south-east. -After riding about seven miles, he reached a mountain village, where -he saw an old man standing at the door of a house, and, jumping off -his mule, made him a low bow. The old man asked him in, and inquired -his name and whence he came; to which Chung replied by telling him the -whole adventure. "Never fear," said the old man; "you can stay here, -while I send out to learn the position of affairs." By the evening his -messenger had returned, and then they knew for the first time that the -child belonged to a wealthy family. The old man looked grave and said, -"Had it been anybody else's child, I might have helped you; as it is I -can do nothing." Chung was greatly alarmed at this; however, the old -man told him to remain quietly there for the night, and see what turn -matters might take. Chung was overwhelmed with anxiety, and did not -sleep a wink; and next morning he heard that the constables were after -him, and that it was death to any one who should conceal him. The old -man changed countenance at this, and went inside, leaving Chung to -his own reflections; but towards the middle of the night he came and -knocked at Chung's door, and, sitting down, began to ask how old his -wife was. Chung replied that he was a widower; at which the old man -seemed rather pleased, and declared that in such case help would be -forthcoming; "for," said he, "my sister's husband has taken the vows -and become a priest,[50] and my sister herself has died, leaving an -orphan girl who has now no home; and if you would only marry her...." -Chung was delighted, more especially as this would be both the -fulfilment of the Taoist priest's prophecy, and a means of extricating -himself from his present difficulty; at the same time, he declared he -should be sorry to implicate his future father-in-law. "Never fear -about that," replied the old man; "my sister's husband is pretty -skilful in the black art. He has not mixed much with the world of -late; but when you are married, you can discuss the matter with my -niece." So Chung married the young lady, who was sixteen years of age, -and very beautiful; but whenever he looked at her he took occasion to -sigh. At last she said, "I may be ugly; but you needn't be in such a -hurry to let me know it;" whereupon Chung begged her pardon, and said -he felt himself only too lucky to have met with such a divine -creature; adding that he sighed because he feared some misfortune was -coming on them which would separate them for ever. He then told her -his story, and the young lady was very angry that she should have been -drawn into such a difficulty without a word of warning. Chung fell on -his knees, and said he had already consulted with her uncle, who was -unable himself to do anything, much as he wished it. He continued that -he was aware of her power; and then, pointing out that his alliance -was not altogether beneath her, made all kinds of promises if she -would only help him out of this trouble. The young lady was no longer -able to refuse, but informed him that to apply to her father would -entail certain disagreeable consequences, as he had retired from the -world, and did not any more recognise her as his daughter. That night -they did not attempt to sleep, spending the interval in padding their -knees with thick felt concealed beneath their clothes; and then they -got into chairs and were carried off to the hills. After journeying -some distance, they were compelled by the nature of the road to alight -and walk; and it was only by a great effort that Chung succeeded at -last in getting his wife to the top. At the door of the temple they -sat down to rest, the powder and paint on the young lady's face having -all mixed with the perspiration trickling down; but when Chung began -to apologize for bringing her to this pass, she replied that it was a -mere trifle compared with what was to come. By-and-by, they went -inside; and threading their way to the wall beyond, found the young -lady's father sitting in contemplation,[51] his eyes closed, and a -servant-boy standing by with a chowry.[52] Everything was beautifully -clean and nice, but before the dais were sharp stones scattered about -as thick as the stars in the sky. The young lady did not venture to -select a favourable spot; she fell on her knees at once, and Chung did -likewise behind her. Then her father opened his eyes, shutting them -again almost instantaneously; whereupon the young lady said, "For a -long time I have not paid my respects to you. I am now married, and I -have brought my husband to see you." A long time passed away, and then -her father opened his eyes and said, "You're giving a great deal of -trouble," immediately relapsing into silence again. There the husband -and wife remained until the stones seemed to pierce into their very -bones; but after a while the father cried out, "Have you brought the -donkey?" His daughter replied that they had not; whereupon they were -told to go and fetch it at once, which they did, not knowing what the -meaning of this order was. After a few more days' kneeling, they -suddenly heard that the murderer of the child had been caught and -beheaded, and were just congratulating each other on the success of -their scheme, when a servant came in with a stick in his hand, the top -of which had been chopped off. "This stick," said the servant, "died -instead of you. Bury it reverently, that the wrong done to the tree -may be somewhat atoned for."[53] Then Chung saw that at the place -where the top of the stick had been chopped off there were traces of -blood; he therefore buried it with the usual ceremony, and immediately -set off with his wife, and returned to his own home. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[48] The examination consists of three bouts of three days each, -during which periods the candidates remain shut up in their -examination cells day and night. - -[49] The name of a place. - -[50] This interesting ceremony is performed by placing little conical -pastilles on a certain number of spots, varying from three to twelve, -on the candidate's head. These are then lighted and allowed to burn -down into the flesh, while the surrounding parts are vigorously rubbed -by attendant priests in order to lessen the pain. The whole thing -lasts about twenty minutes, and is always performed on the eve of -Shâkyamuni Buddha's birthday. The above was well described by Mr. S. -L. Baldwin in the _Foochow Herald_. - -[51] There is a room in most Buddhist temples specially devoted to -this purpose. - -[52] The Buddhist emblem of cleanliness; generally a yak's tail, and -commonly used as a fly-brush. - -[53] Tree-worship can hardly be said to exist in China at the present -day; though at a comparatively recent epoch this phase of religious -sentiment must have been widely spread. See _The Flower Nymphs_ and -_Mr. Willow_. - - - - -LXXII. - -THE WOLF DREAM. - - -Mr. Pai was a native of Chi-li, and his eldest son was called Chia. -The latter had been some two years holding an appointment[54] as -magistrate in the south; but because of the great distance between -them, his family had heard nothing of him. One day a distant -connection, named Ting, called at the house; and Mr. Pai, not having -seen this gentleman for a long time, treated him with much cordiality. -Now Ting was one of those persons who are occasionally employed by the -Judge of the Infernal Regions to make arrests on earth;[55] and, as -they were chatting together, Mr. Pai questioned him about the realms -below. Ting told him all kinds of strange things, but Pai did not -believe them, answering only by a smile. Some days afterwards, he had -just lain down to sleep when Ting walked in and asked him to go for a -stroll; so they went off together, and by-and-by reached the city. -"There," said Ting, pointing to a door, "lives your nephew," alluding -to a son of Mr. Pai's elder sister, who was a magistrate in Honan; and -when Pai expressed his doubts as to the accuracy of this statement, -Ting led him in, when, lo and behold! there was his nephew, sitting in -his court dressed in his official robes. Around him stood the guard, -and it was impossible to get near him; but Ting remarked that his -son's residence was not far off, and asked Pai if he would not like to -see him too. The latter assenting, they walked along till they came to -a large building, which Ting said was the place. However, there was a -fierce wolf at the entrance,[56] and Mr. Pai was afraid to go in. Ting -bade him enter, and accordingly they walked in, when they found that -all the employés of the place, some of whom were standing about and -others lying down to sleep, were all wolves. The central pathway was -piled up with whitening bones, and Mr. Pai began to feel horribly -alarmed but Ting kept close to him all the time, and at length they -got safely in. Pai's son, Chia, was just coming out; and when he saw -his father accompanied by Ting, he was overjoyed, and, asking them to -sit down, bade the attendants serve some refreshment. Thereupon a -great big wolf brought in in his mouth the carcase of a dead man, and -set it before them, at which Mr. Pai rose up in consternation, and -asked his son what this meant. "It's only a little refreshment for -you, father," replied Chia; but this did not calm Mr. Pai's agitation, -who would have retired precipitately, had it not been for the crowd of -wolves which barred the path. Just as he was at a loss what to do, -there was a general stampede among the animals which scurried away, -some under the couches and some under the tables and chairs; and while -he was wondering what the cause of this could be, in marched two -knights in golden armour, who looked sternly at Chia, and, producing a -black rope, proceeded to bind him hand and foot. Chia fell down before -them, and was changed into a tiger with horrid fangs; and then one of -the knights drew a glittering sword and would have cut off its head, -had not the other cried out, "Not yet! not yet! that is for the fourth -month next year. Let us now only take out its teeth." Immediately that -knight produced a huge mallet, and, with a few blows, scattered the -tiger's teeth all over the floor, the tiger roaring so loudly with -pain as to shake the very hills, and frightening all the wits out of -Mr. Pai--who woke up with a start. He found he had been dreaming, and -at once sent off to invite Ting to come and see him; but Ting sent -back to say he must beg to be excused. Then Mr. Pai, pondering on what -he had seen in his dream, despatched his second son with a letter to -Chia, full of warnings and good advice; and lo! when his son arrived, -he found that his elder brother had lost all his front teeth, these -having been knocked out, as he averred, by a fall he had had from his -horse when tipsy; and, on comparing dates, the day of that fall was -found to coincide with the day of his father's dream. The younger -brother was greatly amazed at this, and took out their father's -letter, which he gave to Chia to read. The latter changed colour, but -immediately asked his brother what there was to be astonished at in -the coincidence of a dream. And just at that time he was busily -engaged in bribing his superiors to put him first on the list for -promotion, so that he soon forgot all about the circumstance; while -the younger, observing what harpies Chia's subordinates were, taking -presents from one man and using their influence for another, in one -unbroken stream of corruption, sought out his elder brother, and, with -tears in his eyes, implored him to put some check upon their rapacity. -"My brother," replied Chia, "your life has been passed in an obscure -village; you know nothing of our official routine. We are promoted or -degraded at the will of our superiors, and not by the voice of the -people. He, therefore, who gratifies his superiors is marked out for -success;[57] whereas he who consults the wishes of the people is -unable to gratify his superiors as well." Chia's brother saw that his -advice was thrown away; he accordingly returned home and told his -father all that had taken place. The old man was much affected, but -there was nothing that he could do in the matter, so he devoted -himself to assisting the poor, and such acts of charity, daily praying -the Gods that the wicked son alone might suffer for his crimes, and -not entail misery on his innocent wife and children. The next year it -was reported that Chia had been recommended for a post in the Board of -Civil Office,[58] and friends crowded the father's door, offering -their congratulations upon the happy event. But the old man sighed and -took to his bed, pretending he was too unwell to receive visitors. -Before long another message came, informing them that Chia had fallen -in with bandits while on his way home, and that he and all his retinue -had been killed. Then his father arose and said, "Verily the Gods are -good unto me, for they have visited his sins upon himself alone;" and -he immediately proceeded to burn incense and return thanks. Some of -his friends would have persuaded him that the report was probably -untrue; but the old man had no doubts as to its correctness, and made -haste to get ready his son's grave. But Chia was not yet dead. In the -fatal fourth moon he had started on his journey and had fallen in with -bandits, to whom he had offered all his money and valuables; upon -which the latter cried out, "We have come to avenge the cruel wrongs -of many hundreds of victims; do you imagine we want only _that_?" They -then cut off his head, and the head of his wicked secretary, and the -heads of several of his servants who had been foremost in carrying -out his shameful orders, and were now accompanying him to the capital. -They then divided the booty between them, and made off with all speed. -Chia's soul remained near his body for some time, until at length a -high mandarin passing by asked who it was that was lying there dead. -One of his servants replied that he had been a magistrate at such and -such a place, and that his name was Pai. "What!" said the mandarin, -"the son of old Mr. Pai? It is hard that his father should live to see -such sorrow as this. Put his head on again."[59] Then a man stepped -forward and placed Chia's head upon his shoulders again, when the -mandarin interrupted him, saying, "A crooked-minded man should not -have a straight body: put his head on sideways." By-and-by Chia's soul -returned to its tenement; and when his wife and children arrived to -take away the corpse, they found that he was still breathing. Carrying -him home, they poured some nourishment down his throat, which he was -able to swallow; but there he was at an out-of-the-way place, without -the means of continuing his journey. It was some six months before his -father heard the real state of the case, and then he sent off the -second son to bring his brother home. Chia had indeed come to life -again, but he was able to see down his own back, and was regarded ever -afterwards more as a monstrosity than as a man. Subsequently the -nephew, whom old Mr. Pai had seen sitting in state surrounded by -officials, actually became an Imperial Censor, so that every detail of -the dream was thus strangely realised.[60] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[54] Literally, "had been allotted the post of Nan-fu magistrate," -such appointments being always determined by drawing lots. - -[55] Such is one common explanation of catalepsy (see No. I., note -40), it being further averred that the proper lictors of the Infernal -regions are unable to remain long in the _light_ of the upper world. - -[56] Upon a wall at the entrance to every official residence is -painted a huge fabulous animal, called _Greed_, in such a position -that the resident mandarin must see it every time he goes out of his -front gates. It is to warn him against greed and the crimes that are -sure to flow from it. - -[57] Such, indeed, is the case at the present day in China, and -elsewhere. - -[58] See No. VII., note 54. - -[59] The great sorrow of decapitation as opposed to strangulation is -that the body will appear in the realms below without a head. The -family of any condemned man who may have sufficient means always bribe -the executioner to sew it on again. - -[60] This story is an admirable _exposé_ of Chinese official -corruption, as rampant at the present day as ever in the long history -of China. - - - - -LXXIII. - -THE UNJUST SENTENCE. - - -Mr. Chu was a native of Yang-ku, and, as a young man, was much given -to playing tricks and talking in a loose kind of way. Having lost his -wife, he went off to ask a certain old woman to arrange another match -for him; and on the way, he chanced to fall in with a neighbour's wife -who took his fancy very much. So he said in joke to the old woman, -"Get me that stylish-looking, handsome lady, and I shall be quite -satisfied." "I'll see what I can do," replied the old woman, also -joking, "if you will manage to kill her present husband;" upon which -Chu laughed and said he certainly would do so. Now about a month -afterwards, the said husband, who had gone out to collect some money -due to him, was actually killed in a lonely spot; and the magistrate -of the district immediately summoned the neighbours and beadle[61] and -held the usual inquest, but was unable to find any clue to the -murderer. However, the old woman told the story of her conversation -with Chu, and suspicion at once fell upon him. The constables came -and arrested him; but he stoutly denied the charge; and the magistrate -now began to suspect the wife of the murdered man. Accordingly, she -was severely beaten and tortured in several ways until her strength -failed her, and she falsely acknowledged her guilt.[62] Chu was then -examined, and he said, "This delicate woman could not bear the agony -of your tortures; what she has stated is untrue; and, even should her -wrong escape the notice of the Gods, for her to die in this way with a -stain upon her name is more than I can endure. I will tell the whole -truth. I killed the husband that I might secure the wife: she knew -nothing at all about it." And when the magistrate asked for some -proof, Chu said his bloody clothes would be evidence enough; but when -they sent to search his house, no bloody clothes were forthcoming. He -was then beaten till he fainted; yet when he came round he still stuck -to what he had said. "It is my mother," cried he, "who will not sign -the death-warrant of her son. Let me go myself and I will get the -clothes." So he was escorted by a guard to his home, and there he -explained to his mother that whether she gave up or withheld the -clothes, it was all the same; that in either case he would have to -die, and it was better to die early than late. Thereupon his mother -wept bitterly, and going into the bedroom, brought out, after a short -delay, the required clothes, which were taken at once to the -magistrate's. There was now no doubt as to the truth of Chu's story; -and as nothing occurred to change the magistrate's opinion, Chu was -thrown into prison to await the day for his execution. Meanwhile, as -the magistrate was one day inspecting his gaol, suddenly a man -appeared in the hall, who glared at him fiercely and roared out, -"Dull-headed fool! unfit to be the guardian of the people's -interests!"--whereupon the crowd of servants standing round rushed -forward to seize him, but with one sweep of his arms he laid them all -flat on the ground. The magistrate was frightened out of his wits, and -tried to escape, but the man cried out to him, "I am one of Kuan -Ti's[63] lieutenants. If you move an inch you are lost." So the -magistrate stood there, shaking from head to foot with fear, while his -visitor continued, "The murderer is Kung Piao: Chu had nothing to do -with it." - -The lieutenant then fell down on the ground, and was to all appearance -lifeless; however, after a while he recovered, his face having quite -changed, and when they asked him his name, lo! it was Kung Piao. Under -the application of the bamboo he confessed his guilt. Always an -unprincipled man, he had heard that the murdered man was going out to -collect money, and thinking he would be sure to bring it back with -him, he had killed him, but had found nothing. Then when he learnt -that Chu had acknowledged the crime as his own doing, he had rejoiced -in secret at such a stroke of luck. How he had got into the -magistrate's hall he was quite unable to say. The magistrate now -called for some explanation of Chu's bloody clothes, which Chu himself -was unable to give; but his mother, who was at once sent for, stated -that she had cut her own arm to stain them, and when they examined her -they found on her left arm the scar of a recent wound. The magistrate -was lost in amazement at all this; unfortunately for him the reversal -of his sentence cost him his appointment, and he died in poverty, -unable to find his way home. As for Chu, the widow of the murdered man -married him[64] in the following year, out of gratitude for his noble -behaviour. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[61] See No. LXIV., note 18. - -[62] Such has, doubtless, been the occasional result of torture in -China; but the singular keenness of the mandarins, as a body, in -recognising the innocent and detecting the guilty,--that is, when -their own avaricious interests are not involved,--makes this -contingency so rare as to be almost unknown. A good instance came -under my own notice at Swatow in 1876. For years a Chinese servant had -been employed at the foreign Custom House to carry a certain sum of -money every week to the bank, and at length his honesty was above -suspicion. On the occasion to which I allude he had been sent as usual -with the bag of dollars, but after a short absence he rushed back with -a frightful gash on his right arm, evidently inflicted by a heavy -chopper, and laying the bone bare. The money was gone. He said he had -been invited into a tea-house by a couple of soldiers whom he could -point out; that they had tried to wrest the bag from him, and that at -length one of them seized a chopper and inflicted so severe a wound on -his arm, that in his agony he dropped the money, and the soldiers made -off with it. The latter were promptly arrested and confronted with -their accuser; but, with almost indecent haste, the police magistrate -dismissed the case against them, and declared that he believed the man -had made away with the money and inflicted the wound on himself. And -so it turned out to be, under overwhelming evidence. This servant of -proved fidelity had given way to a rash hope of making a little money -at the gaming-table; had hurried into one of these hells and lost -everything in three stakes; had wounded himself on the right arm (he -was a left-handed man), and had concocted the story of the soldiers, -all within the space of about twenty-five minutes. When he saw that he -was detected, he confessed everything, without having received a -single blow of the bamboo; but up to the moment of his confession the -foreign feeling against that police-magistrate was undeniably strong. - -[63] See No. I., note 39. - -[64] See No. LXVIII., note 30. The circumstances which led to this -marriage would certainly be considered "exceptional." - - - - -LXXIV. - -A RIP VAN WINKLE.[65] - - -[The story runs that a Mr. Chia, after obtaining, with the assistance -of a mysterious friend, his master's degree, became alive to the -vanity of mere earthly honours, and determined to devote himself to -the practice of Taoism, in the hope of obtaining the elixir of -immortality.[66]] - -So early one morning Chia and his friend, whose name was Lang, stole -away together, without letting Chia's family know anything about it; -and by-and-by they found themselves among the hills, in a vast cave -where there was another world and another sky. An old man was sitting -there in great state, and Lang presented Chia to him as his future -master. "Why have you come so soon?" asked the old man; to which Lang -replied, "My friend's determination is firmly fixed: I pray you -receive him amongst you." "Since you have come," said the old man, -turning to Chia, "you must begin by putting away from you your -earthly body." Chia murmured his assent, and was then escorted by Lang -to sleeping-chamber where he was provided with food, after which Lang -went away. The room was beautifully clean:[67] the doors had no panels -and the windows no lattices; and all the furniture was one table and -one couch. Chia took off his shoes and lay down, with the moon shining -brightly into the room; and beginning soon to feel hungry, he tried -one of the cakes on the table, which he found sweet and very -satisfying. He thought Lang would be sure to come back, but there he -remained hour after hour by himself, never hearing a sound. He -noticed, however, that the room was fragrant with a delicious perfume; -his viscera seemed to be removed from his body, by which his -intellectual faculties were much increased; and every one of his veins -and arteries could be easily counted. Then suddenly he heard a sound -like that of a cat scratching itself; and, looking out of the window, -he beheld a tiger sitting under the verandah. He was horribly -frightened for the moment, but immediately recalling the admonition of -the old man, he collected himself and sat quietly down again. The -tiger seemed to know that there was a man inside, for it entered the -room directly afterwards, and walking straight up to the couch sniffed -at Chia's feet. Whereupon there was a noise outside, as if a fowl were -having its legs tied, and the tiger ran away. Shortly afterwards a -beautiful young girl came in, suffusing an exquisite fragrance around; -and going up to the couch where Chia was, she bent over him and -whispered, "Here I am." Her breath was like the sweet odour of -perfumes; but as Chia did not move, she whispered again, "Are you -sleeping?" The voice sounded to Chia remarkably like that of his wife; -however, he reflected that these were all probably nothing more than -tests of his determination, so he closed his eyes firmly for a while. -But by-and-by the young lady called him by his pet name, and then he -opened his eyes wide to discover that she was no other than his own -wife. On asking her how she had come there, she replied that Mr. Lang -was afraid her husband would be lonely, and had sent an old woman to -guide her to him. Just then they heard the old man outside in a -towering rage, and Chia's wife, not knowing where to conceal herself, -jumped over a low wall near by and disappeared. In came the old man, -and gave Lang a severe beating before Chia's face, bidding him at once -to get rid of his visitor; so Lang led Chia away over the low wall, -saying, "I knew how anxious you were to consummate your immortality, -and accordingly I tried to hurry things on a bit; but now I see that -your time has not yet come: hence this beating I have had. Good-by: we -shall meet again some day." He then shewed Chia the way to his home, -and waving his hand bade him farewell. Chia looked down--for he was in -the moon--and beheld the old familiar village and recollecting that -his wife was not a good walker and would not have got very far, -hurried on to overtake her. Before long he was at his own door, but he -noticed that the place was all tumble-down and in ruins, and not as it -was when he went away. As for the people he saw, old and young alike, -he did not recognise one of them; and recollecting the story of how -Liu and Yüan came back from heaven,[68] he was afraid to go in at the -door. So he sat down and rested outside; and after a while an old man -leaning on a staff came out, whereupon Chia asked him which was the -house of Mr. Chia. "This is it," replied the old man; "you probably -wish to hear the extraordinary story connected with the family? I know -all about it. They say that Mr. Chia ran away just after he had taken -his master's degree, when his son was only seven or eight years old; -and that about seven years afterwards the child's mother went into a -deep sleep from which she did not awake. As long as her son was alive -he changed his mother's clothes for her according to the seasons, but -when he died, her grandsons fell into poverty, and had nothing but an -old shanty to put the sleeping lady into. Last month she awaked, -having been asleep for over a hundred years. People from far and near -have been coming in great numbers to hear the strange story; of late, -however, there have been rather fewer." Chia was amazed when he heard -all this, and, turning to the old man, said, "I am Chia Fêng-chih." -This astonished the old man very much, and off he went to make the -announcement to Chia's family. The eldest grandson was dead; and the -second, a man of about fifty, refused to believe that such a -young-looking man was really his grandfather; but in a few moments out -came Chia's wife, and she recognised her husband at once. They then -fell upon each other's necks and mingled their tears together. - -[After which the story is drawn out to a considerable length, but is -quite devoid of interest.][69] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[65] This being a long and tedious story, I have given only such part -of it as is remarkable for its similarity to Washington Irving's -famous narrative. - -[66] See No. IV., note 46. - -[67] Borrowed from Buddhism. - -[68] Alluding to a similar story, related in the _Record of the -Immortals_, of how these two friends lost their way while gathering -simples on the hills, and were met and entertained by two lovely young -damsels for the space of half-a-year. When, however, they subsequently -returned home, they found that ten generations had passed away. - -[69] Besides the above, there is the story of a man named Wang, who, -wandering one day in the mountains, came upon some old men playing a -game of _wei-ch'i_ (see _Appendix_); and after watching them for some -time, he found that the handle of an axe he had with him had mouldered -away into dust. Seven generations of men had passed away in the -interval. Also, a similar legend of a horseman, who, when riding over -the hills, saw several old men playing a game with rushes, and tied -his horse to a tree while he himself approached to observe them. A few -minutes afterwards he turned to depart, but found only the skeleton of -his horse and the rotten remnants of the saddle and bridle. He then -sought his home, but that was gone too; and so he laid himself down -upon the ground and died of a broken heart. - - - - -LXXV. - -THE THREE STATES OF EXISTENCE. - - -A certain man of the province of Hunan could recall what had happened -to him in three previous lives. In the first, he was a magistrate; -and, on one occasion, when he had been nominated Assistant-Examiner,[70] -a candidate, named Hsing, was unsuccessful. Hsing went home dreadfully -mortified, and soon after died; but his spirit appeared before the -King of Purgatory, and read aloud the rejected essay, whereupon -thousands of other shades, all of whom had suffered in a similar way, -thronged around, and unanimously elected Hsing as their chief. The -Examiner was immediately summoned to take his trial, and when he -arrived the King asked him, saying, "As you are appointed to examine -the various essays, how is it that you throw out the able and admit -the worthless?" "Sire," replied he, "the ultimate decision rests with -the Grand Examiner; I only pass them on to him." The King then issued -a warrant for the apprehension of the Grand Examiner, and, as soon as -he appeared, he was told what had just now been said against him; to -which he answered, "I am only able to make a general estimate of the -merits of the candidates. Valuable essays may be kept back from me by -my Associate-Examiners, in which case I am powerless."[71] But the -King cried out, "It's all very well for you two thus to throw the -blame on each other; you are both guilty, and both of you must be -bambooed according to law." This sentence was about to be carried into -effect, when Hsing, who was not at all satisfied with its lack of -severity, set up such a fearful screeching and howling, in which he -was well supported by all the other hundreds and thousands of shades, -that the King stopped short, and inquired what was the matter. -Thereupon Hsing informed His Majesty that the sentence was too light, -and that the Examiners should both have their eyes gouged out, so as -not to be able to read essays any more. The King would not consent to -this, explaining to the noisy rabble that the Examiners did not -purposely reject good essays, but only because they themselves were -naturally wanting in capacity. The shades then begged that, at any -rate, their hearts might be cut out, and to this the King was obliged -to yield; so the Examiners were seized by the attendants, their -garments stripped off, and their bodies ripped open with sharp knives. -The blood poured out on the ground, and the victims screamed with -pain; at which all the shades rejoiced exceedingly, and said, "Here we -have been pent up, with no one to redress our wrongs; but now Mr. -Hsing has come, our injuries are washed away." They then dispersed -with great noise and hubbub. As for our Associate-Examiner, after his -heart had been cut out, he came to life again as the son of a poor man -in Shensi; and when he was twenty years old he fell into the hands of -the rebels, who were at that time giving great trouble to the country. -By-and-by, a certain official was sent at the head of some soldiers to -put down the insurrection, and he succeeded in capturing a large -number of the rebels, among whom was our hero. The latter reflected -that he himself was no rebel, and he was hoping that he would be able -to obtain his release in consequence, when he noticed that the officer -in charge was also a man of his own age, and, on looking more closely, -he saw that it was his old enemy, Hsing. "Alas!" cried he, "such is -destiny;" and so indeed it turned out, for all the other prisoners -were forthwith released, and he alone was beheaded. Once more his -spirit stood before the King of Purgatory, this time with an -accusation against Hsing. The King, however, would not summon Hsing at -once, but said he should be allowed to complete his term of official -life on earth; and it was not till thirty years afterwards that Hsing -appeared to answer to the charge. Then, because he had made light of -the lives of his people, he was condemned to be born again as a -brute-beast; and our hero, too, inasmuch as he had been known to beat -his father and mother, was sentenced to a similar fate. The latter, -fearing the future vengeance of Hsing, persuaded the King to give him -the advantage of size; and, accordingly, orders were issued that he -was to be born again as a big, and Hsing as a little, dog. The big dog -came to life in a shop in Shun-t'ien Fu, and was one day lying down in -the street, when a trader from the south arrived, bringing with him a -little golden-haired dog, about the size of a wild cat, which, lo and -behold! turned out to be Hsing. The other, thinking Hsing's size would -render him an easy prey, seized him at once; but the little one caught -him from underneath by the throat, and hung there firmly, like a bell. -The big dog tried hard to shake him off, and the people of the shop -did their best to separate them, but all was of no avail, and in a few -moments both dogs were dead. Upon their spirits presenting themselves, -as usual, before the King, each with its grievance against the other, -the King cried out, "When will ye have done with your wrongs and your -animosities? I will now settle the matter finally for you;" and -immediately commanded that Hsing should become the other's son-in-law -in the next world. The latter was then born at Ch'ing-yün, and when he -was twenty-eight years of age took his master's degree. He had one -daughter, a very pretty girl, whom many of his wealthy neighbours -would have been glad to get for their sons; but he would not accept -any of their offers. On one occasion, he happened to pass through the -prefectural city just as the examination for bachelor's degree was -over; and the candidate who had come out at the top of the list, -though named Li, was no other than Mr. Hsing. So he led this man away, -and took him to an inn, where he treated him with the utmost -cordiality, finally arranging that, as Mr. Li was still unmarried, he -should marry his pretty daughter. Everyone, of course, thought that -this was done in admiration of Li's talents, ignorant that destiny had -already decreed the union of the young couple. No sooner were they -married than Li, proud of his own literary achievements, began to -slight his father-in-law, and often passed many months without going -near him; all of which the father-in-law bore very patiently, and -when, at length, Li had repeatedly failed to get on any farther in his -career, he even went so far as to set to work, by all manner of means, -to secure his success; after which they lived happily together as -father and son. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[70] See _Appendix_ A. - -[71] If there is one institution in the Chinese empire which is -jealously guarded and honestly administered, it is the great system of -competitive examinations which has obtained in China now for many -centuries. And yet frauds do take place, in spite of the exceptionally -heavy penalties incurred upon detection. Friends are occasionally -smuggled through by the aid of marked essays; and dishonest candidates -avail themselves of "sleeve editions," as they are called, of the -books in which they are to be examined. On the whole, the result is a -successful one. As a rule the best candidates pull through; while, in -exceptional cases, unquestionably good men are rejected. Of the latter -class, the author of this work is a most striking instance. Excelling -in literary attainments of the highest order, he failed more than once -to obtain his master's degree, and finally threw up in disgust. -Thenceforward he became the enemy of the mandarinate; and how he has -lashed the corruption of his age may be read in such stories as _The -Wolf Dream_, and many others, while the policy that he himself would -have adopted, had he been fortunate enough to succeed, must remain for -ever a matter of doubt and speculation. - - - - -LXXVI. - -IN THE INFERNAL REGIONS. - - -Hsi Fang-p'ing was a native of Tung-an. His father's name was Hsi -Lien--a hasty-tempered man, who had quarrelled with a neighbour named -Yang. By-and-by Yang died: and some years afterwards when Lien was on -his death-bed, he cried out that Yang was bribing the devils in hell -to torture him. His body then swelled up and turned red, and in a few -moments he had breathed his last. His son wept bitterly, and refused -all food, saying, "Alas! my poor father is now being maltreated by -cruel devils; I must go down and help to redress his wrongs." -Thereupon he ceased speaking, and sat for a long time like one dazed, -his soul having already quitted its tenement of clay. To himself he -appeared to be outside the house, not knowing in what direction to go, -so he inquired from one of the passers-by which was the way to the -district city.[72] Before long he found himself there, and, directing -his steps towards the prison, found his father lying outside[73] in a -very shocking state. When the latter beheld his son, he burst into -tears, and declared that the gaolers had been bribed to beat him, -which they did both day and night, until they had reduced him to his -present sorry plight. Then Fang-p'ing turned round in a great rage, -and began to curse the gaolers. "Out upon you!" cried he; "if my -father is guilty he should be punished according to law, and not at -the will of a set of scoundrels like you." Thereupon he hurried away, -and prepared a petition, which he took with him to present at the -morning session of the City God; but his enemy, Yang, had meanwhile -set to work, and bribed so effectually, that the City God dismissed -his petition for want of corroborative evidence.[74] Fang-p'ing was -furious, but could do nothing; so he started at once for the -prefectural city, where he managed to get his plaint received, though -it was nearly a month before it came on for hearing, and then all he -got was a reference back to the district city, where he was severely -tortured, and escorted back to the door of his own home, for fear he -should give further trouble. However, he did not go in, but stole -away and proceeded to lay his complaint before one of the ten Judges -of Purgatory; whereupon the two mandarins who had previously ill-used -him, came forward and secretly offered him a thousand ounces of silver -if he would withdraw the charge. This he positively refused to do; and -some days subsequently the landlord of the inn, where he was staying, -told him he had been a fool for his pains, and that he would now get -neither money nor justice, the Judge himself having already been -tampered with. Fang-p'ing thought this was mere gossip, and would not -believe it; but, when his case was called, the Judge utterly refused -to hear the charge, and ordered him twenty blows with the bamboo, -which were administered in spite of all his protestations. He then -cried out, "Ah! it's all because I have no money to give you;" which -so incensed the Judge, that he told the lictors to throw Fang-p'ing on -the fire-bed. This was a great iron couch, with a roaring fire -underneath, which made it red-hot; and upon that the devils cast -Fang-p'ing, having first stripped off his clothes, pressing him down -on it, until the fire ate into his very bones, though in spite of that -he could not die. After a while the devils said he had had enough, and -made him get off the iron bed, and put his clothes on again. He was -just able to walk, and when he went back into court, the Judge asked -him if he wanted to make any further complaints. "Alas!" cried he, "my -wrongs are still unredressed, and I should only be lying were I to say -I would complain no more." The Judge then inquired what he had to -complain of; to which Fang-p'ing replied that it was of the injustice -of his recent punishment. This enraged the Judge so much that he -ordered his attendants to saw Fang-p'ing in two. He was then led away -by devils, to a place where he was thrust in between a couple of -wooden boards, the ground on all sides being wet and sticky with -blood. Just at that moment he was summoned to return before the Judge, -who asked him if he was still of the same mind; and, on his replying -in the affirmative, he was taken back again, and bound between the two -boards. The saw was then applied, and as it went through his brain he -experienced the most cruel agonies, which, however, he managed to -endure without uttering a cry. "He's a tough customer," said one of -the devils, as the saw made its way gradually through his chest; to -which the other replied, "Truly, this is filial piety; and, as the -poor fellow has done nothing, let us turn the saw a little out of the -direct line, so as to avoid injuring his heart." Fang-p'ing then felt -the saw make a curve inside him, which caused him even more pain than -before; and, in a few moments, he was cut through right down to the -ground, and the two halves of his body fell apart, along with the -boards to which they were tied, one on either side. The devils went -back to report progress, and were then ordered to join Fang-p'ing -together again, and bring him in. This they accordingly did,--the cut -all down Fang-p'ing's body hurting him dreadfully, and feeling as if -it would re-open every minute. But, as Fang-p'ing was unable to walk, -one of the devils took out a cord and tied it round his waist, as a -reward, he said, for his filial piety. The pain immediately ceased, -and Fang-p'ing appeared once more before the Judge, this time -promising that he would make no more complaints. The Judge now gave -orders that he should be sent up to earth, and the devils, escorting -him out of the north gate of the city, shewed him his way home, and -went away. Fang-p'ing now saw that there was even less chance of -securing justice in the Infernal Regions than upon the earth above; -and, having no means of getting at the Great King to plead his case, -he bethought himself of a certain upright and benevolent God, called -Erh Lang, who was a relative of the Great King's, and him he -determined to seek. So he turned about and took his way southwards, -but was immediately seized by some devils, sent out by the Judge to -watch that he really went back to his home. These devils hurried him -again into the Judge's presence, where he was received, contrary to -his expectation, with great affability; the Judge himself praising his -filial piety, but declaring that he need trouble no further in the -matter, as his father had already been born again in a wealthy and -illustrious family. "And upon you," added the Judge, "I now bestow a -present of one thousand ounces of silver to take home with you, as -well as the old age of a centenarian, with which I hope you will be -satisfied." He then shewed Fang-p'ing the stamped record of this, and -sent him away in charge of the devils. The latter now began to abuse -him for giving them so much trouble, but Fang-p'ing turned sharply -upon them, and threatened to take them back before the Judge. They -were then silent, and marched along for about half-a-day, until at -length they reached a village, where the devils invited Fang-p'ing -into a house, the door of which was standing half-open. Fang-p'ing was -just going in, when suddenly the devils gave him a shove from behind, -and ... there he was, born again on earth as a little girl. For three -days he pined and cried, without taking any food, and then he died. -But his spirit did not forget Erh Lang, and set out at once in search -of that God. He had not gone far when he fell in with the retinue of -some high personage, and one of the attendants seized him for getting -in the way, and hurried him before his master. He was taken to a -chariot, where he saw a handsome young man, sitting in great state; -and thinking that now was his chance, he told the young man, who he -imagined to be a high mandarin, all his sad story from beginning to -end. His bonds were then loosed, and he went along with the young man -until they reached a place where several officials came out to receive -them; and to one of these he confided Fang-p'ing, who now learnt that -the young man was no other than God himself, the officials being the -nine princes of heaven, and the one to whose care he was entrusted no -other than Erh Lang. This last was very tall, and had a long white -beard, not at all like the popular representation of a God; and when -the other princes had gone, he took Fang-p'ing into a court-room, -where he saw his father and their old enemy, Yang, besides all the -lictors and others who had been mixed up in the case. By-and-by, some -criminals were brought in in cages, and these turned out to be the -Judge, Prefect, and Magistrate. The trial was then commenced, the -three wicked officers trembling and shaking in their shoes; and when -he had heard the evidence, Erh Lang proceeded to pass sentence upon -the prisoners, each of whom he sentenced, after enlarging upon the -enormity of their several crimes, to be roasted, boiled, and otherwise -put to most excruciating tortures. As for Fang-p'ing, he accorded him -three extra decades of life, as a reward for his filial piety, and a -copy of the sentence was put in his pocket. Father and son journeyed -along together, and at length reached their home; that is to say, -Fang-p'ing was the first to recover consciousness, and then bade the -servants open his father's coffin, which they immediately did, and the -old man at once came back to life. But when Fang-p'ing looked for his -copy of the sentence, lo! it had disappeared. As for the Yang family, -poverty soon overtook them, and all their lands passed into -Fang-p'ing's hands; for as sure as any one else bought them, they -became sterile forthwith, and would produce nothing; but Fang-p'ing -and his father lived on happily, both reaching the age of ninety and -odd years.[75] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[72] The Infernal Regions are supposed to be pretty much a counterpart -of the world above, except in the matter of light. - -[73] The visitor to Canton cannot fail to observe batches of prisoners -with chains on them sitting in the street outside the prisons, many of -them engaged in plying their particular trades. - -[74] The judge in a Chinese court is necessarily very much dependent -on his secretaries; and, except in special cases, he takes his cue -almost entirely from them. They take theirs from whichever party to -the case knows best how to "cross the palm." - -[75] The whole story is of course simply a satire upon the venality -and injustice of the ruling classes in China. - - - - -LXXVII. - -SINGULAR CASE OF OPHTHALMIA. - - -A Mr. Ku, of Chiang-nan, was stopping in an inn at Chi-hsia, when he -was attacked by a very severe inflammation of the eyes. Day and night -he lay on his bed groaning, no medicines being of any avail; and when -he did get a little better, his recovery was accompanied by a singular -phenomenon. Every time he closed his eyes, he beheld in front of him a -number of large buildings, with all their doors wide open, and people -passing and repassing in the background, none of whom he recognised by -sight. One day he had just sat down to have a good look, when, all of -a sudden, he felt himself passing through the open doors. He went on -through three court-yards without meeting any one; but, on looking -into some rooms on either side, he saw a great number of young girls -sitting, lying, and kneeling about on a red carpet, which was spread -on the ground. Just then a man came out from behind the building, and, -seeing Ku, said to him, "Ah, the Prince said there was a stranger at -the door; I suppose you are the person he meant." He then asked Ku to -walk in, which the latter was at first unwilling to do; however, he -yielded to the man's instances, and accompanied him in, asking whose -palace it was. His guide told him it belonged to the son of the Ninth -Prince, and that he had arrived at the nick of time, for a number of -friends and relatives had chosen this very day to come and -congratulate the young gentleman on his recent recovery from a severe -illness. Meanwhile another person had come out to hurry them on, and -they soon reached a spot where there was a pavilion facing the north, -with an ornamental terrace and red balustrades, supported by nine -pillars. Ascending the steps, they found the place full of visitors, -and then espied a young man seated with his face to the north,[76] -whom they at once knew to be the Prince's son, and thereupon they -prostrated themselves before him, the whole company rising as they did -so. The young Prince made Ku sit down to the east of him, and caused -wine to be served; after which some singing-girls came in and -performed the Hua-fêng-chu.[77] They had got to about the third scene, -when, all of a sudden, Ku heard the landlord of the inn and his -servant shouting out to him that dinner was ready, and was dreadfully -afraid that the young Prince, too, had heard. No one, however, seemed -to have noticed anything, so Ku begged to be excused a moment, as he -wished to change his clothes, and immediately ran out. He then looked -up, and saw the sun low in the west, and his servant standing by his -bedside, whereupon he knew that he had never left the inn. He was much -chagrined at this, and wished to go back as fast as he could; he, -therefore, dismissed his servant, and on shutting his eyes once more, -he found everything just as he had left it, except that where, on the -first occasion, he had observed the young girls, there were none now -to be seen, but only some dishevelled hump-backed creatures, who cried -out at him, and asked him what he meant by spying about there. Ku -didn't dare reply, but hurried past them as quickly as he could, and -on to the pavilion of the young Prince. There he found him still -sitting, but with a black beard over a foot in length; and the Prince -was anxious to know where he had been, saying that seven scenes of the -play were already over. He then seized a big goblet of wine, and made -Ku drink it as a penalty, by which time the play was finished, and the -list was handed up for a further selection. The "Marriage of P'êng -Tsu" was selected, and then the singing-girls began to hand round the -wine in cocoa-nuts big enough to hold about five quarts, which Ku -declined, on the ground that he was suffering from weak eyes, and was -consequently afraid to drink too much. "If your eyes are bad," cried -the young Prince, "the Court physician is at hand, and can attend to -you." Thereupon, one of the guests sitting to the east came forward, -and opening Ku's eyes with his fingers, touched them with some white -ointment, which he applied from the end of a jade pin. He then bade Ku -close his eyes, and take a short nap; so the Prince had him conducted -into a sleeping-room, where he found the bed so soft, and surrounded -by such delicious perfume, that he soon fell into a deep slumber. -By-and-by he was awaked by what appeared to be the clashing of -cymbals, and fancied that the play was still going on; but on opening -his eyes, he saw that it was only the inn-dog, which was licking an -oilman's gong.[78] His ophthalmia, however, was quite cured; and when -he shut his eyes again he could see nothing. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[76] In Book V. of Mencius' works we read that Shun, the perfect man, -stood with his face to the south, while the Emperor Yao (see No. -VIII., note 63) and his nobles faced the north. This arrangement is -said to have been adopted in deference to Shun's virtue; for in modern -times the Emperor always sits facing the south. - -[77] Name of a celebrated play. - -[78] These are about as big as a cheese-plate and attached to a short -stick, from which hangs suspended a small button of metal in such a -manner as to clash against the face of the gong at every turn of the -hand. The names and descriptions of various instruments employed by -costermongers in China would fill a good-sized volume. - - - - -LXXVIII. - -CHOU K'O-CH'ANG AND HIS GHOST. - - -At Huai-shang there lived a graduate named Chou T'ien-i, who, though -fifty years of age, had but one son, called K'o-ch'ang, whom he loved -very dearly. This boy, when about thirteen or fourteen, was a -handsome, well-favoured fellow, strangely averse to study, and often -playing truant from school, sometimes for the whole day, without any -remonstrance on the part of his father. One day he went away and did -not come back in the evening; neither, after a diligent search, could -any traces of him be discovered. His father and mother were in -despair, and hardly cared to live; but after a year and more had -passed away, lo and behold! K'o-ch'ang returned, saying that he had -been beguiled away by a Taoist priest, who, however, had not done him -any harm, and that he had seized a moment while the priest was absent -to escape and find his way home again. His father was delighted, and -asked him no more questions, but set to work to give him an education; -and K'o-ch'ang was so much cleverer and more intelligent than he had -been before, that by the following year he had taken his bachelor's -degree and had made quite a name for himself. Immediately all the good -families of the neighbourhood wanted to secure him as a son-in-law. -Among others proposed there was an extremely nice girl, the daughter -of a gentleman named Chao, who had taken his doctor's degree, and -K'o-ch'ang's father was very anxious that he should marry the young -lady. The youth himself would not hear of it, but stuck to his books -and took his master's degree, quite refusing to entertain any thought -of marriage; and this so exasperated his mother that one day the good -lady began to rate him soundly. K'o-ch'ang got up in a great rage and -cried out, "I have long been wanting to get away, and have only -remained for your sakes. I shall now say farewell, and leave Miss Chao -for any one that likes to marry her." At this his mother tried to -detain him, but in a moment he had fallen forwards on the ground, and -there was nothing left of him but his hat and clothes. They were all -dreadfully frightened, thinking that it must have been K'o-ch'ang's -ghost who had been with them, and gave themselves up to weeping and -lamentation; however, the very next day K'o-ch'ang arrived, -accompanied by a retinue of horses and servants, his story being that -he had formerly been kidnapped[79] and sold to a wealthy trader, who, -being then childless, had adopted him, but who, when he subsequently -had a son born to him by his own wife, sent K'o-ch'ang back to his old -home. And as soon as his father began to question him as to his -studies, his utter dulness and want of knowledge soon made it clear -that he was the real K'o-ch'ang of old; but he was already known as a -man who had got his master's degree, (that is, the ghost of him had -got it,) so it was determined in the family to keep the whole affair -secret. This K'o-ch'ang was only too ready to espouse Miss Chao; and -before a year had passed over their heads his wife had presented the -old people with the much longed-for grandson. - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[79] See No. XXIII., note 154. - - - - -LXXIX. - -THE SPIRITS OF THE PO-YANG LAKE. - - -An official, named Chai, was appointed to a post at Jao-chou, and on -his way thither crossed the Po-yang lake. Happening to visit the -shrine of the local spirits, he noticed a carved image of the -patriotic Ting P'u-lang,[80] and another of a namesake of his own, the -latter occupying a very inferior position. "Come! come!" said Chai, -"my patron saint shan't be put in the background like that;" so he -moved the image into a more honourable place, and then went back on -board his boat again. Soon after, a great wind struck the vessel, and -carried away the mast and sails; at which the sailors, in great alarm, -set to work to howl and cry. However, in a few moments they saw a -small skiff come cutting through the waves, and before long they were -all safely on board. The man who rowed it was strangely like the image -in the shrine, the position of which Chai had changed; but they were -hardly out of danger when the squall had passed over, and skiff and -man had both vanished. - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[80] A famous official who lived in the reign of Hung Wu, first -Emperor of the Ming dynasty (A.D. 1368-1399). I have not been able to -discover what was the particular act for which he has been celebrated -as "loyal to the death." - - - - -LXXX. - -THE STREAM OF CASH. - - -A certain gentleman's servant was one day in his master's garden, when -he beheld a stream of cash[81] flowing by, two or three feet in -breadth and of about the same depth. He immediately seized two large -handfuls, and then threw himself down on the top of the stream in -order to try and secure the rest. However, when he got up he found -that it had all flowed away from under him, none being left except -what he had got in his two hands. - -["Ah!" says the commentator, "money is properly a circulating medium, -and is not intended for a man to lie upon and keep all to -himself."][82] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[81] See No. II., note 42. - -[82] The Chinese, fond as they are of introducing water, under the -form of miniature lakes, into their gardens and pleasure-grounds, do -not approve of a running stream near the dwelling-house. I myself knew -a case of a man, provided with a pretty little house, rent free, -alongside of which ran a mountain-rill, who left the place and paid -for lodgings out of his own pocket rather than live so close to a -stream which he averred _carried all his good luck away_. Yet this man -was a fair scholar and a graduate to boot. - - - - -LXXXI. - -THE INJUSTICE OF HEAVEN. - - -Mr. Hsü was a magistrate at Shantung. A certain upper chamber of his -house was used as a store-room; but some creature managed so -frequently to get in and make havoc among the stores, for which the -servants were always being scolded, that at length some of the latter -determined to keep watch. By-and-by they saw a huge spider as big as a -peck measure, and hurried off to tell their master, who thought it so -strange that he gave orders to the servants to feed the insect with -cakes. It thus became very tame, and would always come forth when -hungry, returning as soon as it had taken enough to eat.[83] Years -passed away, and one day Mr. Hsü was consulting his archives, when -suddenly the spider appeared and ran under the table. Thinking it was -hungry, he bade his servants give it a cake; but the next moment he -noticed two snakes, of about the thickness of a chop-stick, lying one -on each side. The spider drew in its legs as if in mortal fear, and -the snakes began to swell out until they were as big round as an egg; -at which Mr. Hsü was greatly alarmed, and would have hurried away, -when crash! went a peal of thunder, killing every person in the house. -Mr. Hsü himself recovered consciousness after a little while, but only -to see his wife and servants, seven persons in all, lying dead; and -after a month's illness he, too, departed this life. Now Mr. Hsü was -an upright, honourable man, who really had the interests of the people -at heart. A subscription was accordingly raised to pay his funeral -expenses, and on the day of his burial the air was rent for miles -round with cries of weeping and lamentation. - -[Hereon the commentator, I Shih-shih, makes the following -remark:--"That dragons play with pearls[84] I have always regarded as -an old woman's tale. Is it possible, then, that the story is a fact? I -have heard, too, that the thunder strikes only the guilty man;[85] -and, if so, how could a virtuous official be visited with this dire -calamity?"] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[83] That Chinaman thinks his a hard lot who cannot "eat till he is -full." It may be noticed here that the Chinese seem not so much to -enjoy the process of eating as the subsequent state of repletion. As a -rule, they bolt their food, and get their enjoyment out of it -afterwards. - -[84] The full explanation and origin of this saying I have failed to -elucidate. Dragons are often represented with pearls before their -mouths; and these they are supposed to spit out or swallow as fancy -may take them. The pearl, too, is said to be the essence of the -dragon's nature, without which it would be powerless; but this is all -I know about the subject. - -[85] Such is the common belief in China at the present day. There is a -God of Thunder who punishes wicked people; the lightning is merely a -mirror, by the aid of which he singles out his victims. - - - - -LXXXII. - -THE SEA-SERPENT. - - -A trader named Chia was voyaging on the south seas, when one night it -suddenly became as light as day on board his ship. Jumping up to see -what was the matter, he beheld a huge creature with its body half out -of the water, towering up like a hill. Its eyes resembled two suns, -and threw a light far and wide; and when the trader asked the boatmen -what it was, there was not one who could say. They all crouched down -and watched it; and by-and-by the monster gradually disappeared in the -water again, leaving everything in darkness as before. And when they -reached port, they found all the people talking about a strange -phenomenon of a great light that had appeared in the night, the time -of which coincided exactly with the strange scene they themselves had -witnessed.[86] - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[86] The "sea-serpent" in this case was probably nothing more or less -than some meteoric phenomenon. - - - - -LXXXIII. - -THE MAGIC MIRROR.[87] - - -"... But if you would really like to have something that has belonged -to me," said she, "you shall." Whereupon she took out a mirror and -gave it to him, saying, "Whenever you want to see me, you must look -for me in your books; otherwise I shall not be visible;"--and in a -moment she had vanished. Liu went home very melancholy at heart; but -when he looked in the mirror, there was Fêng-hsien, standing with her -back to him, gazing, as it were, at some one who was going away, and -about a hundred paces from her. He then bethought himself of her -injunctions, and settled down to his studies, refusing to receive any -visitors; and a few days subsequently, when he happened to look in the -mirror, there was Fêng-hsien, with her face turned towards him, and -smiling in every feature. After this, he was always taking out the -mirror to look at her; however, in about a month his good resolutions -began to disappear, and he once more went out to enjoy himself and -waste his time as before. When he returned home and looked in the -mirror, Fêng-hsien seemed to be crying bitterly; and the day after, -when he looked at her again, she had her back turned towards him as on -the day he received the mirror. He now knew that it was because he had -neglected his studies, and forthwith set to work again with all -diligence, until in a month's time she had turned round once again. -Henceforward, whenever anything interrupted his progress, Fêng-hsien's -countenance became sad; but whenever he was getting on well, her -sadness was changed to smiles. Night and morning Liu would look at the -mirror, regarding it quite in the light of a revered preceptor; and in -three years' time he took his degree in triumph. "Now," cried he, "I -shall be able to look Fêng-hsien in the face." And there, sure enough, -she was, with her delicately-pencilled arched eye-brows, and her teeth -just showing between her lips, as happy-looking as she could be, when, -all of a sudden, she seemed to speak, and Liu heard her say, "A pretty -pair we make, I must allow"--and the next moment Fêng-hsien stood by -his side. - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[87] The following is merely a single episode taken from a long and -otherwise uninteresting story. Miss Fêng-hsien was a fox; hence her -power to bestow such a singular present as the mirror here described, -the object of which was to incite her lover to success--the condition -of their future union. - - - - -LXXXIV. - -COURAGE TESTED. - - -Mr. Tung was a Hsü-chou man, very fond of playing broad-sword, and a -light-hearted, devil-may-care fellow, who was often involving himself -in trouble. One day he fell in with a traveller who was riding on a -mule and going the same way as himself; whereupon they entered into -conversation, and began to talk to each other about feats of strength -and so on. The traveller said his name was T'ung,[88] and that he -belonged to Liao-yang; that he had been twenty years away from home, -and had just returned from beyond the sea. "And I venture to say," -cried Tung, "that in your wanderings on the Four Seas[89] you have -seen a great many people; but have you seen any supernaturally clever -ones?" T'ung asked him to what he alluded; and then Tung explained -what his own particular hobby was, adding how much he would like to -learn from them any tricks in the art of broad-sword. "Supernatural," -replied the traveller, "are to be found everywhere. It needs but that -a man should be a loyal subject and a filial son for him to know all -that the supernaturals know." "Right you are, indeed!" cried Tung, as -he drew a short sword from his belt, and, tapping the blade with his -fingers, began to accompany it with a song. He then cut down a tree -that was by the wayside, to shew T'ung how sharp it was; at which -T'ung smoothed his beard and smiled, begging to be allowed to have a -look at the weapon. Tung handed it to him, and, when he had turned it -over two or three times, he said, "This is a very inferior piece of -steel; now, though I know nothing about broad-sword myself, I have a -weapon which is really of some use." He then drew from beneath his -coat a sword of a foot or so in length, and with it he began to pare -pieces off Tung's sword, which seemed as soft as a melon, and which he -cut quite away like a horse's hoof. Tung was greatly astonished, and -borrowed the other's sword to examine it, returning it after carefully -wiping the blade. He then invited T'ung to his house, and made him -stay the night; and, after begging him to explain the mystery of his -sword, began to nurse his leg and sit listening respectfully without -saying a word. It was already pretty late, when suddenly there was a -sound of scuffling next door, where Tung's father lived; and, on -putting his ear to the wall, he heard an angry voice saying, "Tell -your son to come here at once, and then I will spare you." This was -followed by other sounds of beating and a continued groaning, in a -voice which Tung knew to be his father's. He therefore seized a spear, -and was about to rush forth, but T'ung held him back, saying, "You'll -be killed for a certainty if you go. Let us think of some other plan." -Tung asked what plan he could suggest; to which the other replied, -"The robbers are killing your father: there is no help for you; but as -you have no brothers, just go and tell your wife and children what -your last wishes are, while I try and rouse the servants." Tung agreed -to this, and ran in to tell his wife, who clung to him and implored -him not to go, until at length all his courage had ebbed away, and he -went upstairs with her to get his bow and arrows ready to resist the -robbers' attack. At that juncture he heard the voice of his friend -T'ung, outside on the eaves of the house, saying, with a laugh, "All -right; the robbers have gone;" but on lighting a candle, he could see -nothing of him. He then stole out to the front door, where he met his -father with a lantern in his hand, coming in from a party at a -neighbour's house; and the whole court-yard was covered with the ashes -of burnt grass, whereby he knew that T'ung the traveller was himself a -supernatural.[90] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[88] Besides the all-important aspirate, this name is pronounced in a -different _tone_ from the first-mentioned "Tung;" and is moreover -expressed in writing by a totally different character. To a Chinese -ear, the two words are as unlikely to be confounded as Brown and -Jones. - -[89] The Four Seas are supposed by the Chinese to bound the habitable -portions of the earth, which, by the way, they further believe to be -square. In the centre of all is China, extending far and wide in every -direction, the eye of the universe, the Middle Kingdom. Away at a -distance from her shores lie a number of small islands, wherein dwell -such barbarous nations as the English, French, Dutch, etc. - -[90] The commentator, I Shih-shih, adds a note to this story which -might be summed up in our own-- - - "The [wo]man that deliberates is lost." - - - - -LXXXV. - -THE DISEMBODIED FRIEND. - - -Mr. Ch'ên, M.A., of Shun-t'ien Fu, when a boy of sixteen, went to -school at a Buddhist temple.[91] There were a great many scholars -besides himself, and, among others, one named Ch'u, who said he came -from Shantung. This Ch'u was a very hard-working fellow; he never -seemed to be idle, and actually slept in the school-room, not going -home at all. Ch'ên became much attached to him, and one day asked him -why he never went away. "Well, you see," replied Ch'u, "my people are -very poor, and can hardly afford to pay for my schooling; but, by dint -of working half the night, two of my days are equal to three of -anybody else's." Thereupon Ch'ên said he would bring his own bed to -the school, and that they would sleep there together; to which Ch'u -replied that the teaching they got wasn't worth much, and that they -would do better by putting themselves under a certain old scholar -named Lü. This they were easily able to do, as the arrangement at the -temple was monthly, and at the end of each month anyone was free to go -or to come. So off they went to this Mr. Lü, a man of considerable -literary attainments, who had found himself in Shun-t'ien Fu without a -cash in his pocket, and was accordingly obliged to take pupils. He was -delighted at getting two additions to his number and, Ch'u showing -himself an apt scholar, the two soon became very great friends, -sleeping in the same room and eating at the same table. At the end of -the month Ch'u asked for leave of absence, and, to the astonishment of -all, ten days elapsed without anything being heard of him. It then -chanced that Ch'ên went to the T'ien-ning temple, and there he saw -Ch'u under one of the verandahs, occupied in cutting wood for -lucifer-matches.[92] The latter was much disconcerted by the arrival -of Ch'ên, who asked him why he had given up his studies; so the latter -took him aside, and explained that he was so poor as to be obliged to -work half a month to scrape together funds enough for his next month's -schooling. "You come along back with me," cried Ch'ên, on hearing -this, "I will arrange for the payment," which Ch'u immediately -consented to do on condition that Ch'ên would keep the whole thing a -profound secret. Now Ch'ên's father was a wealthy tradesman, and from -his till Ch'ên abstracted money wherewith to pay for Ch'u; and -by-and-by, when his father found him out, he confessed why he had done -so. Thereupon Ch'ên's father called him a fool, and would not let him -resume his studies; at which Ch'u was much hurt, and would have left -the school too, but that old Mr. Lü discovered what had taken place, -and gave him the money to return to Ch'ên's father, keeping him still -at the school, and treating him quite like his own son. So Ch'ên -studied no more, but whenever he met Ch'u he always asked him to join -in some refreshment at a restaurant, Ch'u invariably refusing, but -yielding at length to his entreaties, being himself loth to break off -their old acquaintanceship. - -Thus two years passed away, when Ch'ên's father died, and Ch'ên went -back to his books under the guidance of old Mr. Lü, who was very glad -to see such determination. Of course Ch'ên was now far behind Ch'u; -and in about six months Lü's son arrived, having begged his way in -search of his father, so Mr. Lü gave up his school and returned home -with a purse which his pupils had made up for him, Ch'u adding nothing -thereto but his tears. At parting, Mr. Lü advised Ch'ên to take Ch'u -as his tutor, and this he did, establishing him comfortably in the -house with him. The examination was very shortly to commence, and -Ch'ên felt convinced that he should not get through; but Ch'u said he -thought he should be able to manage the matter for him. On the -appointed day he introduced Ch'ên to a gentleman who he said was a -cousin of his, named Liu, and asked Ch'ên to accompany this cousin, -which Ch'ên was just proceeding to do when Ch'u pulled him back from -behind,[93] and he would have fallen down but that the cousin pulled -him up again, and then, after having scrutinized his appearance, -carried him off to his own house. There being no ladies there, Ch'ên -was put into the inner apartments; and a few days afterwards Liu said -to him, "A great many people will be at the gardens to-day; let us go -and amuse ourselves awhile, and afterwards I will send you home -again." He then gave orders that a servant should proceed on ahead -with tea and wine, and by-and-by they themselves went, and were soon -in the thick of the fête. Crossing over a bridge, they saw beneath an -old willow tree a little painted skiff, and were soon on board, -engaged in freely passing round the wine. However, finding this a -little dull, Liu bade his servant go and see if Miss Li, the famous -singing-girl, was at home; and in a few minutes the servant returned -bringing Miss Li with him. Ch'ên had met her before, and so they at -once exchanged greetings, while Liu begged her to be good enough to -favour them with a song. Miss Li, who seemed labouring under a fit of -melancholy, forthwith began a funeral dirge; at which Ch'ên was not -much pleased, and observed that such a theme was hardly suitable to -the occasion. With a forced smile, Miss Li changed her key, and gave -them a love-song; whereupon Ch'ên seized her hand, and said, "There's -that song of the Huan-sha river,[94] which you sang once before; I -have read it over several times, but have quite forgotten the words." -Then Miss Li began-- - - "Eyes overflowing with tears, she sits gazing into her glass, - Lifting the bamboo screen, one of her comrades approaches; - She bends her head and seems intent on her bow-like slippers, - And forces her eyebrows to arch themselves into a smile. - With her scarlet sleeve she wipes the tears from her perfumed cheek, - In fear and trembling lest they should guess the thoughts that - o'erwhelm her."[95] - -Ch'ên repeated this over several times, until at length the skiff -stopped, and they passed through a long verandah, where a great many -verses had been inscribed on the walls,[96] to which Ch'ên at once -proceeded to add a stanza of his own. Evening was now coming on, and -Liu remarked that the candidates would be just about leaving the -examination-hall;[97] so he escorted him back to his own home, and -there left him. The room was dark, and there was no one with him; but -by-and-by the servants ushered in some one whom at first he took to be -Ch'u. However, he soon saw that it was not Ch'u, and in another moment -the stranger had fallen against him and knocked him down. "Master's -fainted!" cried the servants, as they ran to pick him up; and then -Ch'ên discovered that the one who had fallen down was really no other -than himself.[98] On getting up, he saw Ch'u standing by his side; and -when they had sent away the servants the latter said, "Don't be -alarmed: I am nothing more than a disembodied spirit. My time for -re-appearing on earth[99] is long overdue, but I could not forget your -great kindness to me, and accordingly I have remained under this form -in order to assist in the accomplishment of your wishes. The three -bouts[100] are over, and your ambition will be gratified." Ch'ên then -inquired if Ch'u could assist him in like manner for his doctor's -degree; to which the latter replied, "Alas! the luck descending to you -from your ancestors is not equal to that.[101] They were a niggardly -lot, and unfit for the posthumous honours you would thus confer on -them." Ch'ên next asked him whither he was going; and Ch'u replied -that he hoped, through the agency of his cousin, who was a clerk in -Purgatory, to be born again in old Mr. Lü's family. They then bade -each other adieu; and, when morning came, Ch'ên set off to call on -Miss Li, the singing-girl; but on reaching her house he found that she -had been dead some days.[102] He walked on to the gardens, and there -he saw traces of verses that had been written on the walls, and -evidently rubbed out, so as to be hardly decipherable. In a moment it -flashed across him that the verses and their composers belonged to the -other world. Towards evening Ch'u re-appeared in high spirits, saying -that he had succeeded in his design, and had come to wish Ch'ên a long -farewell. Holding out his open palms, he requested Ch'ên to write the -word _Ch'u_ on each; and then, after refusing to take a parting cup, -he went away, telling Ch'ên that the examination-list would soon be -out, and that they would meet again before long. Ch'ên brushed away -his tears and escorted him to the door, where a man, who had been -waiting for him, laid his hand on Ch'u's head and pressed it downwards -until Ch'u was perfectly flat. The man then put him in a sack and -carried him off on his back. A few days afterwards the list came out, -and, to his great joy, Ch'ên found his name among the successful -candidates; whereupon he immediately started off to visit his old -tutor, Mr. Lü.[103] Now Mr. Lü's wife had had no children for ten -years, being about fifty years of age, when suddenly she gave birth to -a son, who was born with both fists doubled up so that no one could -open them. On his arrival Ch'ên begged to see the child, and declared -that inside its hands would be found written the word Ch'u. Old Mr. Lü -laughed at this; but no sooner had the child set eyes on Ch'ên than -both its fists opened spontaneously, and there was the word as Ch'ên -had said. The story was soon told, and Ch'ên went home, after making a -handsome present to the family; and later on, when Mr. Lü went up for -his doctor's degree[104] and stayed at Ch'ên's house, his son was -thirteen years old, and had already matriculated as a candidate for -literary honours. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[91] Buddhist priests not unusually increase the revenue of their -monastery by taking pupils; and it is only fair to them to add that -the curriculum is strictly secular, the boys learning precisely what -they would at an ordinary school and nothing else. - -[92] These consist simply of thin slips of wood dipped in brimstone, -and resemble those used in England as late as the first quarter of the -present century. They are said to have been invented by the people of -Hang-chou, the capital of Chekiang; but it is quite possible that the -hint may have first reached China from the west. They were called _yin -kuang_ "bring light," (_cf._ _lucifer_), _fa chu_ "give forth -illumination," and other names. Lucifer matches are now generally -spoken of as _tz[)u] lai huo_ "self-come fire," and are almost -universally employed, except in remote parts where the flint and steel -still hold sway. - -[93] The whole point of the story hinges on this. - -[94] Beside which lived Hsi Shih, the famous beauty of the fifth -century after Christ. - -[95] I fear that the translation of this "Singing-girl's Lament" falls -so considerably below the pathetic original as to give but a poor idea -of the real merit of the latter as a lyric gem. - -[96] The Chinese have precisely the same mania as our Browns, Joneses, -and Robinsons, for scribbling and carving their names and compositions -all over the available parts of any place of public resort. The -literature of inn walls alone would fill many ponderous tomes. - -[97] The examination, which lasts nine days, has been going on all -this time. - -[98] That is, his own body, into which Ch'u's spirit had temporarily -passed, his own occupying, meanwhile, the body of his friend. - -[99] That is, for being born again, the sole hope and ambition of a -disembodied shade. - -[100] See No. LXXI., note 48. - -[101] See No. LXI., note 346. - -[102] His own spirit in Ch'u's body had met her in a disembodied -state. - -[103] Such is the invariable custom. Large presents are usually made -by those who can afford the outlay, and the tutor's name has ever -afterwards an honourable place in the family records. - -[104] See No. XLVIII., note 274. - - - - -LXXXVI. - -THE CLOTH MERCHANT. - - -A certain cloth merchant went to Ch'ing-chou, where he happened to -stroll into an old temple, all tumble-down and in ruins. He was -lamenting over this sad state of things, when a priest who stood by -observed that a devout believer like himself could hardly do better -than put the place into repair, and thus obtain favour in the eyes of -Buddha. This the merchant consented to do; whereupon the priest -invited him to walk into the private quarters of the temple, and -treated him with much courtesy; but he went on to propose that our -friend the merchant should also undertake the general ornamentation of -the place both inside and out.[105] The latter declared he could not -afford the expense, and the priest began to get very angry, and urged -him so strongly that at last the merchant, in terror, promised to give -all the money he had. After this he was preparing to go away, but the -priest detained him, saying, "You haven't given the money of your own -free will, and consequently you'll be owing me a grudge: I can't do -better than make an end of you at once." Thereupon he seized a knife, -and refused to listen to all the cloth merchant's entreaties, until at -length the latter asked to be allowed to hang himself, to which the -priest consented; and, showing him into a dark room, told him to make -haste about it. - -At this juncture, a Tartar-General[106] happened to pass by the -temple; and from a distance, through a breach in the old wall, he saw -a damsel in a red dress pass into the priest's quarters. This roused -his suspicions,[107] and dismounting from his horse, he entered the -temple and searched high and low, but without discovering anything. -The dark room above-mentioned was locked and double-barred, and the -priest refused to open it, saying the place was haunted. The General -in a rage burst open the door, and there beheld the cloth merchant -hanging from a beam. He cut him down at once, and in a short time he -was brought round and told the General the whole story. They then -searched for the damsel, but she was nowhere to be found, having been -nothing more than a divine manifestation. The General cut off the -priest's head and restored the cloth merchant's property to him, after -which the latter put the temple in thorough repair and kept it well -supplied with lights and incense ever afterwards. - -Mr. Chao, M.A., told me this story with all its details.[108] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[105] The elaborate gilding and wood-work of an ordinary Chinese -temple form a very serious item in the expense of restoration. Public -subscriptions are usually the means employed for raising sufficient -funds, the names of subscribers and amount given by each being -published in some conspicuous position. Occasionally devout -priests--black swans, indeed, in China--shut themselves up in boxes -studded with nails, one of which they pull out every time a certain -donation is given, and there they remain until every nail is -withdrawn. But after all it is difficult to say whether they endure -these trials so much for the faith's sake as for the funds from which -they derive more of the luxuries of life, and the temporary notoriety -gained by thus coming before the public. A Chinese proverb says, "The -image-maker doesn't worship Buddha. He knows too much about the idol;" -and the application of this saying may safely be extended to the -majority of Buddhist priests in China. - -[106] This is the title generally applied to the Manchu commanders of -Manchu garrisons, who are stationed at certain of the most important -points of the Chinese Empire, and whose presence is intended as a -check upon the action of the civil authorities. - -[107] See No. VI., note 52. - -[108] The moral being, of course, that Buddha protects those who look -after his interests on earth. - - - - -LXXXVII. - -A STRANGE COMPANION. - - -Han Kung-fu, of Yü-ch'êng, told me that he was one day travelling -along a road with a man of his village, named P'êng, when all of a -sudden the latter disappeared, leaving his mule to jog along with an -empty saddle. At the same moment, Mr. Han heard his voice calling for -assistance, and apparently proceeding from inside one of the panniers -strapped across the mule's back; and on looking closely, there indeed -he was in one of the panniers, which, however, did not seem to be at -all displaced by his weight. On trying to get him out the mouth of the -pannier closed itself tightly; and it was only when he cut it open -with a knife that he saw P'êng curled up in it like a dog. He then -helped him out, and asked him how he managed to get in; but this he -was unable to say. It further appeared that his family was under fox -influence, many strange things of this kind having happened before. - - - - -LXXXVIII. - -SPIRITUALISTIC SÉANCES. - - -It is customary in Shantung, when any one is sick, for the womenfolk -to engage an old sorceress or medium, who strums on a tambourine and -performs certain mysterious antics. This custom obtains even more in -the capital, where young ladies of the best families frequently -organize such _séances_ among themselves. On a table in the hall they -spread out a profusion of wine and meat, and burn huge candles which -make the place as light as day. Then the sorceress, shortening her -skirts, stands on one leg and performs the _shang-yang_,[109] while -two of the others support her, one on each side. All this time she is -chattering unintelligible sentences,[110] something between a song -and a prayer, the words being confused but uttered in a sort of tune; -while the hall resounds with the thunder of drums, enough to stun a -person, with which her vaticinations are mixed up and lost. By-and-by -her head begins to droop, and her eyes to look aslant; and but for her -two supporters she would inevitably fall to the ground. Suddenly she -stretches forth her neck and bounds several feet into the air, upon -which the other women regard her in terror, saying, "The spirits have -come to eat;" and immediately all the candles are blown out and -everything is in total darkness. Thus they remain for about a quarter -of an hour, afraid to speak a word, which in any case would not be -heard through the din, until at length the sorceress calls out the -personal name of the head of the family[111] and some others; -whereupon they immediately relight the candles and hurry up to ask if -the reply of the spirits is favourable or otherwise. They then see -that every scrap of the food and every drop of the wine has -disappeared. Meanwhile, they watch the old woman's expression, whereby -they can tell if the spirits are well disposed; and each one asks her -some question, to which she as promptly replies. Should there be any -unbelievers among the party, the spirits are at once aware of their -presence; and the old sorceress, pointing her finger at such a one, -cries out, "Disrespectful mocker! where are your trousers?" upon which -the mocker alluded to looks down, and lo! her trousers are gone--gone -to the top of a tree in the court-yard, where they will subsequently -be found.[112] - -Manchu women and girls, especially, are firm believers in -spiritualism. On the slightest provocation they consult their medium, -who comes into the room gorgeously dressed, and riding on an imitation -horse or tiger.[113] In her hand she holds a long spear, with which -she mounts the couch[114] and postures in an extraordinary manner, the -animal she rides snorting or roaring fiercely all the time. Some call -her Kuan Ti,[115] others Chang Fei, and others again Chou Kung, from -her terribly martial aspect, which strikes fear into all beholders. -And should any daring fellow try to peep in while the _séance_ is -going on, out of the window darts the spear, transfixes his hat, and -draws it off his head into the room, while women and girls, young and -old, hop round one after the other like geese, on one leg, without -seeming to get the least fatigued. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[109] It is related in the _Family Sayings_, an apocryphal work which -professes to give conversations of Confucius, that a number of -one-legged birds having suddenly appeared in Ch'i, the Duke of Ch'i -sent off to ask the Sage what was the meaning of this strange -phenomenon. Confucius replied, "The bird is the _shang-yang_, and -portends beneficial rain." And formerly the boys and girls in Shantung -would hop about on one leg, crying, "The _shang-yang_ has come;" after -which rain would be sure to follow. - -[110] Speaking in the unknown tongue, like the Irvingites and others. - -[111] This is a clever hit. The "personal" name of a man may not be -uttered except by his father or mother, grandfather, grandmother, -uncles, etc. Thus, the mere use of the personal name of the _head of a -family_ proves conclusively that the spirit of someone of his -ancestors must be present. - -[112] I consider the whole of the above a curious story to be found in -a Chinese work exactly 200 years old, but no part of it more so than -the forcible removal of some part of the clothing, which has been so -prominent a feature in the _séances_ of our own day. It may be added -that in many a court-yard in Peking will be found one or more trees, -which cause the view from the city wall to be very pleasing to the -eye, in spite of the filth and ruins which a closer inspection -reveals. - -[113] The arrangement being that of the hobby-horse of by-gone days. - -[114] The couches of the north of China are brick beds, heated by a -stove underneath, and covered with a mat. Upon one of these is -generally a dwarf table and a couple of pillows; and here it is that -the Chinaman loves to recline, his wine-kettle, opium-pipe, or teapot -within reach, and a friend at his side, with whom he may converse far -into the night. - -[115] See No. LXXIII., note 63. Chang Fei was the bosom-friend of the -last, and was his associate-commander in the wars of the Three -Kingdoms. Chou Kung was the first Emperor of the Chou dynasty, and a -pattern of wisdom and virtue. He is said by the Chinese to have -invented the mariner's compass; but the legend will not bear -investigation. - - - - -LXXXIX. - -THE MYSTERIOUS HEAD. - - -Several traders who were lodging at an inn in Peking, occupied a room -which was divided from the adjoining apartment by a partition of -boards from which a piece was missing, leaving an aperture about as -big as a basin. Suddenly a girl's head appeared through the opening, -with very pretty features and nicely dressed hair; and the next moment -an arm, as white as polished jade. The traders were much alarmed, and, -thinking it was the work of devils, tried to seize the head, which, -however, was quickly drawn in again out of their reach. This happened -a second time, and then, as they could see no body belonging to the -head, one of them took a knife in his hand and crept up against the -partition underneath the hole. In a little while the head re-appeared, -when he made a chop at it and cut it off, the blood spurting out all -over the floor and wall. The traders hurried off to tell the landlord, -who immediately reported the matter to the authorities, taking the -head with him, and the traders were forthwith arrested and examined; -but the magistrate could make nothing of the case, and, as no one -appeared for the prosecution, the accused, after about six months' -incarceration, were accordingly released, and orders were given for -the girl's head to be buried. - - - - -XC. - -THE SPIRIT OF THE HILLS. - - -A man named Li, of I-tu, was once crossing the hills when he came upon -a number of persons sitting on the ground engaged in drinking. As soon -as they saw Li they begged him to join them, and vied with each other -in filling his cup. Meanwhile, he looked about him and noticed that -the various trays and dishes contained all kinds of costly food; the -wine only seemed to him a little rough on the palate. In the middle of -their fun up came a stranger with a face about three feet long and a -very tall hat; whereupon the others were very much alarmed, and cried -out, "The hill spirit! the hill spirit!" running away in all -directions as fast as they could go. Li hid himself in a hole in the -ground; and when by-and-by he peeped out to see what had happened, the -wine and food had disappeared, and there was nothing there but a few -dirty potsherds and some pieces of broken tiles with efts and lizards -crawling over them.[116] - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[116] Mr. Li had, doubtless, taken a "drop too much" before he started -on his mountain walk. - - - - -XCI. - -INGRATITUDE PUNISHED. - - -K'u Ta-yu was a native of the Yang district, and managed to get a -military appointment under the command of Tsu Shu-shun.[117] The -latter treated him most kindly, and finally sent him as Major-General -of some troops by which he was then trying to establish the dynasty of -the usurping Chows. K'u soon perceived that the game was lost, and -immediately turned his forces upon Tsu Shu-shun, whom he succeeded in -capturing, after Tsu had been wounded in the hand, and whom he at once -forwarded as a prisoner to headquarters. That night he dreamed that -the Judge of Purgatory appeared to him, and, reproaching him with his -base ingratitude, bade the devil-lictors seize him and scald his feet -in a cauldron of boiling oil. K'u then woke up with a start, and found -that his feet were very sore and painful; and in a short time they -swelled up, and his toes dropped off. Fever set in, and in his agony -he shrieked out, "Ungrateful wretch that I was indeed," and fell back -and expired. - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[117] Of whom I can learn nothing. - - - - -XCII. - -SMELLING ESSAYS.[118] - - -Now as they wandered about the temple they came upon an old blind -priest sitting under the verandah, engaged in selling medicines and -prescribing for patients. "Ah!" cried Sung, "there is an extraordinary -man who is well versed in the arts of composition;" and immediately he -sent back to get the essay they had just been reading, in order to -obtain the old priest's opinion as to its merits. At the same moment -up came their friend from Yü-hang, and all three went along together. -Wang began by addressing him as "Professor;" whereupon the priest, who -thought the stranger had come to consult him as a doctor, inquired -what might be the disease from which he was suffering. Wang then -explained what his mission was; upon which the priest smiled and said, -"Who's been telling you this nonsense? How can a man with no eyes -discuss with you the merits of your compositions?" Wang replied by -asking him to let his ears do duty for his eyes; but the priest -answered that he would hardly have patience to sit out Wang's three -sections, amounting perhaps to some two thousand and more words. -"However," added he, "if you like to burn it, I'll try what I can do -with my nose." Wang complied, and burnt the first section there and -then; and the old priest, snuffing up the smoke, declared that it -wasn't such a bad effort, and finally gave it as his opinion that Wang -would probably succeed at the examination. The young scholar from -Yü-hang didn't believe that the old priest could really tell anything -by these means, and forthwith proceeded to burn an essay by one of the -old masters; but the priest no sooner smelt the smoke than he cried -out, "Beautiful indeed! beautiful indeed! I do enjoy this. The light -of genius and truth is evident here." The Yü-hang scholar was greatly -astonished at this, and began to burn an essay of his own; whereupon -the priest said, "I had had but a taste of that one; why change so -soon to another?" "The first paragraph," replied the young man, "was -by a friend; the rest is my own composition." No sooner had he uttered -these words than the old priest began to retch violently, and begged -that he might have no more, as he was sure it would make him sick. The -Yü-hang scholar was much abashed at this, and went away; but in a few -days the list came out and his name was among the successful ones, -while Wang's was not. He at once hurried off to tell the old priest, -who, when he heard the news, sighed and said, "I may be blind with my -eyes but I am not so with my nose, which I fear is the case with the -examiners. Besides," added he, "I was talking to you about -composition: I said nothing about _destiny_."[119] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[118] The following extract from a long and otherwise tedious story -tells its own tale. Wang is the modest man, and the young man from -Yü-hang the braggart. Sung is merely a friend of Wang's. - -[119] This is one of our author's favourite shafts--a sneer at -examiners in general, and those who rejected him in particular. - - - - -XCIII. - -HIS FATHER'S GHOST. - - -A man named T'ien Tz[)u]-ch'êng, of Chiang-ning, was crossing the -Tung-t'ing lake, when the boat was capsized, and he was drowned. His -son, Liang-ss[)u], who, towards the close of the Ming dynasty, took the -highest degree, was then a baby in arms; and his wife, hearing the bad -news, swallowed poison forthwith,[120] and left the child to the care -of his grandmother. When Liang-ss[)u] grew up, he was appointed -magistrate in Hu-pei, where he remained about a year. He was then -transferred to Hu-nan, on military service; but, on reaching the -Tung-t'ing lake, his feelings overpowered him, and he returned to -plead inability as an excuse for not taking up his post. Accordingly, -he was degraded to the rank of Assistant-Magistrate, which he at first -declined, but was finally compelled to accept; and thenceforward gave -himself up to roaming about on the lakes and streams of the -surrounding country, without paying much attention to his official -duties. - -One night he had anchored his boat alongside the bank of a river, when -suddenly the cadence of a sweetly-played flageolet broke upon his ear; -so he strolled along by the light of the moon in the direction of the -music, until, after a few minutes' walking, he reached a cottage -standing by itself, with a few citron-trees round it, and -brilliantly-lighted inside. Approaching a window, he peeped in, and -saw three persons sitting at a table, engaged in drinking. In the -place of honour was a graduate of about thirty years of age; an old -man played the host, and at the side sat a much younger man playing on -the flageolet. When he had finished, the old man clapped his hands in -admiration; but the graduate turned away with a sigh, as if he had not -heard a note. "Come now, Mr. Lu," cried the old man, addressing the -latter, "kindly favour us with one of your songs, which, I know, must -be worth hearing." The graduate then began to sing as follows:-- - - "Over the river the wind blows cold on lonely me: - Each flow'ret trampled under foot, all verdure gone. - At home a thousand _li_ away, I cannot be; - So towards the Bridge my spirit nightly wanders on." - -The above was given in such melancholy tones that the old man smiled -and said, "Mr. Lu, these must be experiences of your own," and, -immediately filling a goblet, added, "I can do nothing like that; but -if you will let me, I will give you a song to help us on with our -wine." He then sung a verse from "Li T'ai-poh,"[121] and put them all -in a lively humour again; after which the young man said he would just -go outside and see how high the moon was, which he did, and observing -Liang-ss[)u] outside, clapped his hands, and cried out to his companions, -"There is a man at the window, who has seen all we have been doing." -He then led Liang-ss[)u] in; whereupon the other two rose, and begged him -to be seated, and to join them in their wine. The wine, however, was -cold,[122] and he therefore declined; but the young man at once -perceived his reason, and proceeded to warm some for him. Liang-ss[)u] -now ordered his servant to go and buy some more, but this his host -would not permit him to do. They next inquired Liang-ss[)u]'s name, and -whence he came, and then the old man said, "Why, then, you are the -father and mother[123] of the district in which I live. My name is -River: I am an old resident here. This young man is a Mr. Tu, of -Kiang-si; and this gentleman," added he, pointing to the graduate, "is -Mr. Rushten,[124] a fellow-provincial of yours." Mr. Rushten looked -at Liang-ss[)u] in rather a contemptuous way, and without taking much -notice of him; whereupon Liang-ss[)u] asked him whereabouts he lived in -Chiang-ning, observing that it was strange he himself should never -have heard of such an accomplished gentleman. "Alas!" replied Rushten, -"it is many a long day since I left my home, and I know nothing even -of my own family. Alas, indeed!" These words were uttered in so -mournful a tone of voice that the old man broke in with, "Come, come, -now! talking like this, instead of drinking when we're all so jolly -together; this will never do." He then drained a bumper himself, and -said, "I propose a game of forfeits. We'll throw with three dice; and -whoever throws so that the spots on one die[125] equal those on the -other two shall give us a verse with a corresponding classical -allusion in it." He then threw himself, and turned up an ace, a two, -and a three; whereupon he sang the following lines:-- - - "An ace and a deuce on one side, just equal a three on the other: - For Fan a chicken was boiled, though three years had passed, by - Chang's mother.[126] - Thus friends love to meet!" - -Then the young musician threw, and turned up two twos and a four; -whereupon he exclaimed, "Don't laugh at the feeble allusion of an -unlearned fellow like me:-- - - 'Two deuces are equal to a four: - Four men united their valour in the old city.[127] - Thus brothers love to meet!'" - -Mr. Rushten followed with two aces and a two, and recited these -lines:-- - - "Two aces are equal to a two: - Lu-hsiang stretched out his two arms and embraced his father.[128] - Thus father and son love to meet!" - -Liang then threw, and turned up the same as Mr. Rushten; whereupon he -said:-- - - "Two aces are equal to a two: - Mao-jung regaled Lin-tsung with two baskets.[129] - Thus host and guest love to meet!" - -When the _partie_ was over Liang-ss[)u] rose to go, but Mr. Rushten -said, "Dear me! why are you in such a hurry; we haven't had a moment -to speak of the old place. Please stay: I was just going to ask you a -few questions." So Liang-ss[)u] sat down again, and Mr. Rushten -proceeded. "I had an old friend," said he, "who was drowned in the -Tung-t'ing lake. He bore the same name as yourself; was he a -relative?" "He was my father," replied Liang-ss[)u]; "how did you know -him?" "We were friends as boys together; and when he was drowned, I -recovered and buried his body by the river-side."[130] Liang-ss[)u] here -burst into tears, and thanked Mr. Rushten very warmly, begging him to -point out his father's grave. "Come again to-morrow," said Mr. -Rushten, "and I will shew it to you. You could easily find it -yourself. It is close by here, and has ten stalks of water-rush -growing on it." Liang-ss[)u] now took his leave, and went back to his -boat, but he could not sleep for thinking of what Mr. Rushten had told -him; and at length, without waiting for the dawn, he set out to look -for the grave. To his great astonishment, the house where he had spent -the previous evening had disappeared; but hunting about in the -direction indicated by Mr. Rushten, he found a grave with ten -water-rushes growing on it, precisely as Mr. Rushten had described. It -then flashed across him that Mr. Rushten's name had a special meaning, -and that he had been holding converse with none other than the -disembodied spirit of his own father. And, on inquiring of the people -of the place, he learnt that twenty years before a benevolent old -gentleman, named Kao, had been in the habit of collecting the bodies -of persons found drowned, and burying them in that spot. Liang then -opened the grave, and carried off his father's remains to his own -home, where his grandmother, to whom he described Mr. Rushten's -appearance, confirmed the suspicion he himself had formed. It also -turned out that the young musician was a cousin of his, who had been -drowned when nineteen years of age; and then he recollected that the -boy's father had subsequently gone to Kiang-si, and that his mother -had died there, and had been buried at the Bamboo Bridge, to which Mr. -Rushten had alluded in his song. But he did not know who the old man -was.[131] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[120] This would be regarded as a very meritorious act by the Chinese. - -[121] The Byron of China. - -[122] Chinese wine--or, more correctly, _spirits_--is always taken -hot; hence the term wine-kettle, which frequently occurs in these -pages. - -[123] The Magistrate; who is supposed to be towards the people what a -father is to his children. - -[124] This singularly un-Chinese surname is employed to keep up a -certain play upon words which exists in the original, and which is -important to the _dénouement_ of the story. "River" is the simple -translation of a name actually in use. - -[125] Chinese dice are the exact counterpart of our own, except that -the ace and the four are coloured red: the ace because the combination -of black and white would be unlucky, and the four because this number -once turned up in response to the call of an Emperor of the T'ang -dynasty, who particularly wanted a four to win him the _partie_. All -letters, despatches, and such documents, have invariably something -_red_ about them, this being the lucky colour, and to the Chinese, -emblematic of prosperity and joy. - -[126] Alluding to an ancient story of a promise by a Mr. Fan that he -would be at his friend Chang's house that day three years. When the -time drew near, Chang's mother ridiculed the notion of a man keeping a -three years' appointment; but, acceding to her son's instances, -prepared a boiled chicken, which was barely ready when Fan arrived to -eat of it. - -[127] Alluding to the celebrated oath of confederation sworn in the -peach garden between Kuan Yü, or Kuan Ti (see No. I., note 39), Chang -Fei (see No. LXIII., note 2), Liu Pei, who subsequently proclaimed -himself Emperor, A.D. 221, and Chu-ko Liang, his celebrated minister, -to whose sage counsels most of the success of the undertaking was due. -The whole story is one of the best known of Chinese historical -romances, bringing about, as it did, the downfall of the famous Han -dynasty, which had endured for over 400 years. - -[128] Alluding to the story of a young man who went in search of his -missing father. - -[129] Lin-tsung saw his host kill a chicken which he thought was -destined for himself. However, Mao-jung served up the dainty morsel to -his mother, while he and his guest regaled themselves with two baskets -of common vegetables. At this instance of filial piety, Lin-tsung had -the good sense to be charmed. - -[130] The Chinese recognise no act more worthy a virtuous man than -that of burying stray bones, covering up exposed coffins, and so -forth. By such means the favour of the Gods is most surely obtained, -to say nothing of the golden opinions of the living. - -[131] This is merely our author's way of putting the question of the -old man's identity. He was the Spirit of the Waters--his name, it will -be recollected, was River--just, in fact, as we say Old Father Thames. - - - - -XCIV. - -THE BOAT-GIRL BRIDE. - - -Wang Kuli-ngan was a young man of good family. It happened once when -he was travelling southwards, and had moored his boat to the bank, -that he saw in another boat close by a young boat-girl embroidering -shoes. He was much struck by her beauty, and continued gazing at her -for some time, though she took not the slightest notice of him. -By-and-by he began singing-- - - "The Lo-yang lady lives over the way: - [Fifteen years is her age I should say]."[132] - -to attract her attention, and then she seemed to perceive that he was -addressing himself to her; but, after just raising her head and -glancing at him, she resumed her embroidery as before. Wang then threw -a piece of silver towards her, which fell on her skirt; however she -merely picked it up, and flung it on to the bank, as if she had not -seen what it was, so Wang put it back in his pocket again. He -followed up by throwing her a gold bracelet, to which she paid no -attention whatever, never taking her eyes off her work. A few minutes -after her father appeared, much to the dismay of Wang, who was afraid -he would see the bracelet; but the young girl quietly placed her feet -over it, and concealed it from his sight. The boatman let go the -painter, and away they went down stream, leaving Wang sitting there, -not knowing what to do next. And, having recently lost his wife, he -regretted that he had not seized this opportunity to make another -match; the more so, as when he came to ask the other boat-people of -the place, no one knew anything about them. So Wang got into his own -boat, and started off in pursuit; but evening came on, and, as he -could see nothing of them, he was obliged to turn back and proceed in -the direction where business was taking him. When he had finished -that, he returned, making inquiries all the way along, but without -hearing anything about the object of his search. On arriving at home, -he was unable either to eat or to sleep, so much did this affair -occupy his mind; and about a year afterwards he went south again, -bought a boat, and lived in it as his home, watching carefully every -single vessel that passed either up or down, until at last there was -hardly one he didn't know by sight. But all this time the boat he was -looking for never reappeared. - -Some six months passed away thus, and then, having exhausted all his -funds, he was obliged to go home, where he remained in a state of -general inaptitude for anything. One night he dreamed that he entered -a village on the river-bank, and that, after passing several houses, -he saw one with a door towards the south, and a palisade of bamboos -inside. Thinking it was a garden, he walked in and beheld a beautiful -magnolia, covered with blossoms, which reminded him of the line-- - - "And Judas-tree in flower before her door."[133] - -A few steps farther on was a neat bamboo hedge, on the other side of -which, towards the north, he found a small house, with three columns, -the door of which was locked; and another, towards the south, with its -window shaded by the broad leaves of a plaintain-tree. The door was -barred by a clothes-horse,[134] on which was hanging an embroidered -petticoat; and, on seeing this, Wang stepped back, knowing that he had -got to the ladies' quarters; but his presence had already been noticed -inside, and, in another moment, out came his heroine of the boat. -Overjoyed at seeing her, he was on the point of grasping her hand, -when suddenly the girl's father arrived, and, in his consternation, -Wang waked up, and found that it was all a dream. Every incident of -it, however, remained clear and distinct in his mind, and he took care -to say nothing about it to anybody, for fear of destroying its -reality. - -Another year passed away, and he went again to Chinkiang, where lived -an official, named Hsü, who was an old friend of the family, and who -invited Wang to come and take a cup of wine with him. On his way -thither, Wang lost his way, but at length reached a village which -seemed familiar to him, and which he soon found, by the door with the -magnolia inside, to be identical, in every particular, with the -village of his dream. He went in through the doorway, and there was -everything as he had seen it in his dream, even to the boat-girl -herself. She jumped up on his arrival, and, shutting the door in his -face, asked what his business was there. Wang inquired if she had -forgotten about the bracelet, and went on to tell her how long he had -been searching for her, and how, at last, she had been revealed to him -in a dream. The girl then begged to know his name and family; and when -she heard who he was, she asked what a gentleman like himself could -want with a poor boat-girl like her, as he must have a wife of his -own. "But for you," replied Wang, "I should, indeed, have been married -long ago." Upon which the girl told him if that was really the case, -he had better apply to her parents, "although," added she, "they have -already refused a great many offers for me. The bracelet you gave me -is here, but my father and mother are just now away from home; they -will be back shortly. You go away now and engage a match-maker, when I -dare say it will be all right if the proper formalities are observed." -Wang then retired, the girl calling after him to remember that her -name was Mêng Yün, and her father's Mêng Chiang-li. He proceeded at -once on his way to Mr. Hsü's, and after that sought out his intended -father-in-law, telling him who he was, and offering him at the same -time one hundred ounces of silver, as betrothal-money for his -daughter. "She is already promised," replied the old man; upon which -Wang declared he had been making careful inquiries, and had heard, on -all sides, that the young lady was not engaged, winding up by begging -to know what objection there was to his suit. "I have just promised -her," answered her father, "and I cannot possibly break my word;" so -Wang went away, deeply mortified, not knowing whether to believe it or -not. That night he tossed about a good deal; and next morning, braving -the ridicule with which he imagined his friend would view his -wished-for alliance with a boat-girl, he went off to Mr. Hsü, and told -him all about it. "Why didn't you consult me before?" cried Mr. Hsü; -"her father is a connection of mine." Wang then went on to give -fuller particulars, which his friend interrupted by saying, "Chang-li -is indeed poor, but he has never been a boatman. Are you sure you are -not making a mistake?" He then sent off his elder son to make -inquiries; and to him the girl's father said, "Poor I am, but I don't -_sell_ my daughter.[135] Your friend imagined that I should be tempted -by the sight of his money to forego the usual ceremonies, and so I -won't have anything to do with him. But if your father desires this -match, and everything is in proper order, I will just go in and -consult with my daughter, and see if she is willing." He then retired -for a few minutes, and when he came back he raised his hands in -congratulation, saying, "Everything is as you wish;" whereupon a day -was fixed, and the young man went home to report to his father. Wang -now sent off betrothal presents, with the usual formalities, and took -up his abode with his friend, Mr. Hsü, until the marriage was -solemnized, three days after which he bade adieu to his father-in-law, -and started on his way northwards. In the evening, as they were -sitting on the boat together, Wang said to his wife, "When I first met -you near this spot, I fancied you were not of the ordinary -boating-class. Where were you then going?" "I was going to visit my -uncle," she replied. "We are not a wealthy family, you know, but we -don't want anything through an improper channel; and I couldn't help -smiling at the great eyes you were making at me, all the time trying -to tempt me with money. But when I heard you speak, I knew at once you -were a man of refinement, though I guessed you were a bit of a rake; -and so I hid your bracelet, and saved you from the wrath of my -father." "And yet," replied Wang, "you have fallen into my snare after -all;" adding, after a little pressure, "for I can't conceal from you -much longer the fact that I have already a wife, belonging to a high -official family." This she did not believe, until he began to affirm -it seriously; and then she jumped up and ran out of the cabin. Wang -followed at once, but, before he could reach her, she was already in -the river; whereupon he shouted out to boats to come to their -assistance, causing quite a commotion all round about; but nothing was -to be seen in the river, save only the reflection of the stars shining -brightly on the water. All night long Wang went sorrowfully up and -down, and offered a high reward for the body, which, however, was not -forthcoming. So he went home in despair, and then, fearing lest his -father-in-law should come to visit his daughter, he started on a visit -to a connection of his, who had an appointment in Honan. In the course -of a year or two, when on his homeward journey, he chanced to be -detained by bad weather at a roadside inn of rather cleaner appearance -than usual. Within he saw an old woman playing with a child, which, as -soon as he entered, held out its arms to him to be taken. Wang took -the child on his knee, and there it remained, refusing to go back to -its nurse; and, when the rain had stopped, and Wang was getting ready -to go, the child cried out, "Pa-pa gone!" The nurse told it to hold -its tongue, and, at the same moment, out from behind the screen came -Wang's long-lost wife. "You bad fellow," said she, "what am I to do -with this?" pointing to the child; and then Wang knew that the boy was -his own son. He was much affected, and swore by the sun[136] that the -words he had uttered had been uttered in jest, and by-and-by his -wife's anger was soothed. She then explained how she had been picked -up by a passing boat, the occupant of which was the owner of the house -they were in, a man of sixty years of age, who had no children of his -own, and who kindly adopted her.[137] She also told him how she had -had several offers of marriage, all of which she had refused, and how -her child was born, and that she had called him Chi-shêng, and that he -was then a year old. Wang now unpacked his baggage again, and went in -to see the old gentleman and his wife, whom he treated as if they had -actually been his wife's parents. A few days afterwards they set off -together towards Wang's home, where they found his wife's real father -awaiting them. He had been there more than two months, and had been -considerably disconcerted by the mysterious remarks of Wang's -servants; but the arrival of his daughter and her husband made things -all smooth again, and when they told him what had happened, he -understood the demeanour of the servants which had seemed so strange -to him at first. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[132] From a poem by Wang Wei, a noted poet of the T'ang dynasty. The -second line is not given in the text. - -[133] From a poem by P'an T'ang-shên, which runs:-- - - "Her rustic home stands by the Tung-t'ing lake. - Ye who would there a pure libation pour, - Look for mud walls--a roof of rushy make-- - And Judas-tree in flower before the door." - -The Chinese believe that the Judas-tree will only bloom where -fraternal love prevails. - -[134] I have already observed that men and women should not let their -hands touch when passing things to each other (see No. XL., note 233); -neither is it considered proper for persons of different sexes to hang -their clothes on the same clothes-horse. (See _Appendix_, note 381.) - -With regard to shaking hands, I have omitted to mention how hateful -this custom is in the eyes of the Chinese, as in vogue among -foreigners, without reference to sex. They believe that a bad man -might easily secrete some noxious drug in the palm of his hand, and so -convey it into the system of any woman, who would then be at his -mercy. - -[135] Alluding to Wang's breach of etiquette in visiting the father -himself, instead of sending a go-between, who would have offered the -same sum in due form as the usual dowry or present to the bride's -family. - -[136] Witnesses in a Chinese court of justice take no oath, in our -sense of the term. Their written depositions, however, are always -ended with the words "the above evidence is the truth!" In ordinary -life people call heaven and earth to witness, or, as in this case, the -sun; or they declare themselves willing to forfeit their lives; and so -on, if their statements are not true. "Saucer-breaking" is one of -those pleasant inductions from probably a single instance, which may -have been the fancy of a moment; at any rate, it is quite unknown in -China as a national custom. "Cock-killing" usually has reference to -the ceremonies of initiation performed by the members of the numerous -secret societies which exist over the length and breadth of the -Empire, in spite of Government prohibitions, and the penalty of death -incurred upon detection. - -[137] Adoption is common all over China, and is regulated by law. For -instance, an adopted son excludes all the daughters of the family. A -man is not allowed to marry a girl whom he has adopted until he shall -have given her away to be adopted in a family of a _different surname -from his own_; after which fictitious ceremony, his marriage with her -becomes legal (see No. XV., note 109); for the child adopted takes the -same surname as that of the family into which he is adopted, and is so -far cut off from his own relations, that he would not venture even to -put on mourning for his real parents without first obtaining the -consent of those who had adopted him. A son or daughter may be sold, -but an adopted child may not; neither may the adopted child be given -away in adoption to any one else without the specific consent of his -real parents. The general object in adopting children is to leave some -one behind at death to look after the duties of ancestral worship. For -this boys are preferred; but the _Fortunate Union_ gives an instance -in which these rites were very creditably performed by the heroine of -the tale. - - - - -XCV. - -THE TWO BRIDES.[138] - - -Now Chi-shêng, or Wang Sun, was one of the cleverest young fellows in -the district; and his father and mother, who had foreseen his ability -from the time when, as a baby in long clothes, he distinguished them -from other people, loved him very dearly. He grew up into a handsome -lad; at eight or nine he could compose elegantly, and by fourteen he -had already entered his name as a candidate for the first degree, -after which his marriage became a question for consideration. Now his -father's younger sister, Erh-niang, had married a gentleman named -Chêng Tz[)u]-ch'iao, and they had a daughter called Kuei-hsiu, who was -extremely pretty, and with whom Chi-shêng fell deeply in love, being -soon unable either to eat or to sleep. His parents became extremely -uneasy about him, and inquired what it was that ailed him; and when he -told them, they at once sent off a match-maker to Mr. Chêng. The -latter, however, was rather a stickler for the proprieties, and -replied that the near relationship precluded him from accepting the -offer.[139] Thereupon Chi-shêng became dangerously ill, and his -mother, not knowing what to do, secretly tried to persuade Erh-niang -to let her daughter come over to their house; but Mr. Chêng heard of -it, and was so angry that Chi-shêng's father and mother gave up all -hope of arranging the match. - -At that time there was a gentleman named Chang living near by, who had -five daughters, all very pretty, but the youngest, called Wu-k'o, was -singularly beautiful, far surpassing her four sisters. She was not -betrothed to any one, when one day, as she was on her way to worship -at the family tombs, she chanced to see Chi-shêng, and at her return -home spoke about him to her mother. Her mother guessed what her -meaning was, and arranged with a match-maker, named Mrs. Yü, to call -upon Chi-shêng's parents. This she did precisely at the time when -Chi-shêng was so ill, and forthwith told his mother that her son's -complaint was one she, Mrs. Yü, was quite competent to cure; going on -to tell her about Miss Wu-k'o and the proposed marriage, at which the -good lady was delighted, and sent her in to talk about it to Chi-shêng -himself. "Alas!" cried he, when he had heard Mrs. Yü's story, "you are -bringing me the wrong medicine for my complaint." "All depends upon -the efficacy of the medicine," replied Mrs. Yü; "if the medicine is -good, it matters not what is the name of the doctor who administers -the draught; while to set your heart on a particular person, and to -lie there and die because that person doesn't come, is surely foolish -in the extreme." "Ah," rejoined Chi-shêng, "there's no medicine under -heaven that will do me any good." Mrs. Yü told him his experience was -limited, and proceeded to expatiate by speaking and gesticulating on -the beauty and liveliness of Wu-k'o. But all Chi-shêng said was that -she was not what he wanted, and, turning round his face to the wall, -would listen to no more about her. So Mrs. Yü was obliged to go away, -and Chi-shêng became worse and worse every day, until suddenly one of -the maids came in and informed him that the young lady herself was at -the door. Immediately he jumped up and ran out, and lo! there before -him stood a beautiful girl, whom, however he soon discovered not to be -Kuei-hsiu. She wore a light yellow robe with a fine silk jacket and an -embroidered petticoat, from beneath which her two little feet peeped -out; and altogether she more resembled a fairy than anything else. -Chi-shêng inquired her name; to which she replied that it was Wu-k'o, -adding that she couldn't understand his devoted attachment to -Kuei-hsiu, as if there was nobody else in the world. Chi-shêng -apologized, saying that he had never before seen any one so beautiful -as Kuei-hsiu, but that he was now aware of his mistake. He then swore -everlasting fidelity to her, and was just grasping her hand, when he -awoke and found his mother rubbing him. It was a dream, but so -accurately defined in all its details that he began to think if Wu-k'o -was really such as he had seen her, there would be no further need to -try for his impracticable cousin. So he communicated his dream to his -mother; and she, only too delighted to notice this change of feeling, -offered to go to Wu-k'o's house herself; but Chi-shêng would not hear -of this, and arranged with an old woman who knew the family to find -some pretext for going there, and to report to him what Wu-k'o was -like. When she arrived Wu-k'o was ill in bed, and lay with her head -propped up by pillows, looking very pretty indeed. The old woman -approached the couch and asked what was the matter; to which Wu-k'o -made no reply, her fingers fidgetting all the time with her waistband. -"She's been behaving badly to her father and mother," cried the -latter, who was in the room; "there's many a one has offered to marry -her, but she says she'll have none but Chi-shêng: and then when I -scold her a bit, she takes on and won't touch her food for days." -"Madam," said the old woman, "if you could get that young man for your -daughter they would make a truly pretty pair; and as for him, if he -could only see Miss Wu-k'o, I'm afraid it would be too much for him. -What do you think of my going there and getting them to make -proposals?" "No, thank you," replied Wu-k'o; "I would rather not risk -his refusal;" upon which the old woman declared she would succeed, and -hurried off to tell Chi-shêng, who was delighted to find from her -report that Wu-k'o was exactly as he had seen her in his dream, though -he didn't trust implicitly in all the old woman said. By-and-by, when -he began to get a little better, he consulted with the old woman as to -how he could see Wu-k'o with his own eyes; and, after some little -difficulty, it was arranged that Chi-shêng should hide himself in a -room from which he would be able to see her as she crossed the yard -supported by a maid, which she did every day at a certain hour. This -Chi-shêng proceeded to do, and in a little while out she came, -accompanied by the old woman as well, who instantly drew her attention -either to the clouds or the trees, in order that she should walk more -leisurely. Thus Chi-shêng had a good look at her, and saw that she was -truly the young lady of his dream. He could hardly contain himself for -joy; and when the old woman arrived and asked if she would do instead -of Kuei-hsiu, he thanked her very warmly and returned to his own home. -There he told his father and mother, who sent off a match-maker to -arrange the preliminaries; but the latter came back and told them that -Wu-k'o was already betrothed. This was a terrible blow for Chi-shêng, -who was soon as ill as ever, and offered no reply to his father and -mother when they charged him with having made a mistake. For several -months he ate nothing but a bowl of rice-gruel a-day, and he became as -emaciated as a fowl, when all of a sudden the old woman walked in and -asked him what was the matter. "Foolish boy," said she, when he had -told her all; "before you wouldn't have her, and do you imagine she is -bound to have you now? But I'll see if I can't help you; for were she -the Emperor's own daughter, I should still find some way of getting -her." Chi-shêng asked what he should do, and she then told him to send -a servant with a letter next day to Wu-k'o's house, to which his -father at first objected for fear of another repulse; but the old -woman assured him that Wu-k'o's parents had since repented, besides -which no written contract had as yet been made; "and you know the -proverb," added she, "that those who are first at the fire will get -their dinner first." So Chi-shêng's father agreed, and two servants -were accordingly sent, their mission proving a complete success. -Chi-shêng now rapidly recovered his health, and thought no more of -Kuei-hsiu, who, when she heard of the intended match, became in her -turn very seriously ill, to the great anger of her father, who said -she might die for all he cared, but to the great sorrow of her mother, -who was extremely fond of her daughter. The latter even went so far as -to propose to Mr. Chang that Kuei-hsiu should go as second wife, at -which he was so enraged that he declared he would wash his hands of -the girl altogether. The mother then found out when Chi-shêng's -wedding was to take place; and, borrowing a chair and attendants from -her brother under pretence of going to visit him, put Kuei-hsiu inside -and sent her off to her uncle's house. As she arrived at the door, the -servants spread a carpet for her to walk on, and the band struck up -the wedding march. Chi-shêng went out to see what it was all about, -and there met a young lady in a bridal veil, from whom he would have -escaped had not her servants surrounded them, and, before he knew what -he was doing, he was making her the usual salutation of a bridegroom. -They then went in together, and, to his further astonishment, he found -that the young lady was Kuei-hsiu; and, being now unable to go and -meet Wu-k'o, a message was sent to her father, telling him what had -occurred. He, too, got into a great rage, and vowed he would break off -the match; but Wu-k'o herself said she would go all the same, her -rival having only got the start of her in point of time. And go she -did; and the two wives, instead of quarrelling, as was expected, lived -very happily together like sisters, and wore each other's clothes and -shoes without distinction, Kuei-hsiu taking the place of an elder -sister as being somewhat older than Wu-k'o.[140] One day, after these -events, Chi-shêng asked Wu-k'o why she had refused his offer; to which -she replied that it was merely to pay him out for having previously -refused her father's proposal. "Before you had seen me, your head was -full of Kuei-hsiu; but after you had seen me, your thoughts were -somewhat divided; and I wanted to know how I compared with her, and -whether you would fall ill on my account as you had on hers, that we -mightn't quarrel about our looks." "It was a cruel revenge," said -Chi-shêng; "but how should I ever have got a sight of you had it not -been for the old woman?" "What had she to do with it?" replied Wu-k'o; -"I knew you were behind the door all the time. When I was ill I dreamt -that I went to your house and saw you, but I looked upon it only as a -dream until I heard that you had dreamt that I had actually been -there, and then I knew that my spirit must have been with you." -Chi-shêng now related to her the particulars of his vision, which -coincided exactly with her own; and thus, strangely enough, had the -matrimonial alliances of both father and son been brought about by -dreams. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[138] This story is a sequel to the last. - -[139] The surnames would in this case be different, and no obstacle -could be offered on that score. See No. XV., note 109. - -[140] The _dénouement_ of the _Yü-chiao-li_, a small novel which was -translated into French by Rémusat, and again by Julien under the title -of _Les Deux Cousines_, is effected by the hero of the tale marrying -both the heroines. - - - - -XCVI. - -A SUPERNATURAL WIFE. - - -A certain Mr. Chao, of Ch'ang-shan, lodged in a family of the name of -T'ai. He was very badly off, and, falling sick, was brought almost to -death's door. One day they moved him into the verandah, that it might -be cooler for him; and, when he awoke from a nap, lo! a beautiful girl -was standing by his side. "I am come to be your wife," said the girl, -in answer to his question as to who she was; to which he replied that -a poor fellow like himself did not look for such luck as that; adding -that, being then on his death-bed, he would not have much occasion for -the services of a wife. The girl said she could cure him; but he told -her he very much doubted that; "And even," continued he, "should you -have any good prescription, I have not the means of getting it made -up." "I don't want medicine to cure you with," rejoined the girl, -proceeding at once to rub his back and sides with her hand, which -seemed to him like a ball of fire. He soon began to feel much better, -and asked the young lady what her name was, in order, as he said, that -he might remember her in his prayers. "I am a spirit," replied she; -"and you, when alive under the Han dynasty as Ch'u Sui-liang, were a -benefactor of my family. Your kindness being engraven on my heart, I -have at length succeeded in my search for you, and am able in some -measure to requite you." Chao was dreadfully ashamed of his -poverty-stricken state, and afraid that his dirty room would spoil the -young lady's dress; but she made him show her in, and accordingly he -took her into his apartment, where there were neither chairs to sit -upon, nor signs of anything to eat, saying, "You might, indeed, be -able to put up with all this; but you see my larder is empty, and I -have absolutely no means of supporting a wife." "Don't be alarmed -about that," cried she; and in another moment he saw a couch covered -with costly robes, the walls papered with a silver-flecked paper, and -chairs and tables appear, the latter laden with all kinds of wine and -exquisite viands. They then began to enjoy themselves, and lived -together as husband and wife, many people coming to witness these -strange things, and being all cordially received by the young lady, -who in her turn always accompanied Mr. Chao when he went out to dinner -anywhere.[141] One day there was an unprincipled young graduate among -the company, which she seemed immediately to become aware of; and, -after calling him several bad names, she struck him on the side of the -head, causing his head to fly out of the window while his body -remained inside; and there he was, stuck fast, unable to move either -way, until the others interceded for him and he was released. After -some time visitors became too numerous, and if she refused to see them -they turned their anger against her husband. At length, as they were -sitting together drinking with some friends at the Tuan-yang -festival,[142] a white rabbit ran in, whereupon the girl jumped up and -said, "The doctor[143] has come for me;" then, turning to the rabbit, -she added, "You go on: I'll follow you." So the rabbit went away, and -then she ordered them to get a ladder and place it against a high tree -in the back yard, the top of the ladder overtopping the tree. The -young lady went up first and Chao close behind her; after which she -called out to anybody who wished to join them to make haste up. None -ventured to do so with the exception of a serving-boy belonging to the -house, who followed after Chao; and thus they went up, up, up, up, -until they disappeared in the clouds and were seen no more. However, -when the bystanders came to look at the ladder, they found it was only -an old door-frame with the panels knocked out; and when they went into -Mr. Chao's room, it was the same old, dirty, unfurnished room as -before. So they determined to find out all about it from the -serving-boy when he came back; but this he never did. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[141] The sexes do not dine together. On the occasion of a -dinner-party, private or official, the ladies give a separate -entertainment to the wives of the various guests in the "inner" or -women's apartments, as an adjunct to which a theatrical troupe is -often engaged, precisely as in the case of the opposite sex. -Singing-girls are, however, present at and share in the banquets of -the _roués_ of China. - -[142] This occurs on the 5th of the 5th moon, and is commonly known as -the Dragon-Boat Festival, from a practice of racing on that day in -long, narrow boats. It is said to have been instituted in memory of a -patriotic statesman, whose identity, however, is not settled, some -writers giving Wu Yun (see _The Middle Kingdom_, Vol. II., p. 82), -others Ch'ü Yüan (see _The Chinese Reader's Manual_, p. 107), as the -hero of the day. - -[143] A hare or rabbit is believed to sit at the foot of the -cassia-tree in the moon, pounding the drugs out of which is concocted -the elixir of immortality. An allusion to this occurs in the poems of -Tu Fu, one of the celebrated bards of the T'ang dynasty:-- - - "The frog is not drowned in the river; - The medicine hare lives for ever." - - - - -XCVII. - -BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION. - - -At Pao-ting Fu there lived a young man, who having purchased the -lowest[144] degree was about to proceed to Peking, in the hope of -obtaining, by the aid of a little bribery, an appointment as District -Magistrate. His boxes were all ready packed, when he was taken -suddenly ill and was confined to his bed for more than a month. One -day the servant entered and announced a visitor; whereupon our sick -man jumped up and ran to the door as if there was nothing the matter -with him. The visitor was elegantly dressed like a man of some -position in society; and, after bowing thrice, he walked into the -house, explaining that he was Kung-sun Hsia,[145] tutor to the -Eleventh Prince, and that he had heard our Mr. So-and-so wished to -arrange for the purchase of a magistracy. "If that is really so," -added he, "would you not do better to buy a prefecture?" So-and-so -thanked him warmly, but said his funds would not be sufficient; upon -which Mr. Kung-sun declared he should be delighted to assist him with -half the purchase-money, which he could repay after taking up the -post.[146] He went on to say that being on intimate terms with the -various provincial Governors the thing could be easily managed for -about five thousand taels; and also that at that very moment Chên-ting -Fu being vacant, it would be as well to make an early effort to get -the appointment. So-and-so pointed out that this place was in his -native province;[147] but Kung-sun only laughed at his objection, and -reminded him that money[148] could obliterate all distinctions of that -kind. This did not seem quite satisfactory; however, Kung-sun told him -not to be alarmed, as the post of which he was speaking was below in -the infernal regions. "The fact is," said he, "that your term of life -has expired, and that your name is already on the death list; by these -means you will take your place in the world below as a man of official -position. Farewell! in three days we shall meet again." He then went -to the door and mounted his horse and rode away. So-and-so now opened -his eyes and spoke a few parting words to his wife and children, -bidding them take money from his strong-room[149] and go buy large -quantities of paper ingots,[150] which they immediately did, quite -exhausting all the shops. This was piled in the court-yard with paper -images of men, devils, horses, &c., and burning went on day and night -until the ashes formed quite a hill. In three days Kung-sun returned, -bringing with him the money; upon which So-and-so hurried off to the -Board of Civil Office,[151] where he had an interview with the high -officials, who, after asking his name, warned him to be a pure and -upright officer, and then calling him up to the table handed him his -letter of appointment. So-and-so bowed and took his leave; but -recollecting at once that his purchased degree would not carry much -weight with it in the eyes of his subordinates,[152] he sent off to -buy elaborate chairs and a number of horses for his retinue, at the -same time despatching several devil lictors to fetch his favourite -wife in a beautifully adorned sedan-chair. All arrangements were just -completed when some of the Chên-ting staff came to meet the new -Prefect,[153] others awaiting him all along the line of road, about -half a mile in length. He was immensely gratified at this reception, -when all of a sudden the gongs before him ceased to sound and the -banners were lowered to the ground. He had hardly time to ask what was -the matter before he saw those of his servants who were on horseback -jump hastily to the ground and dwindle down to about a foot in height, -while their horses shrunk to the size of foxes or racoons. One of the -attendants near his chariot cried out in alarm, "Here's Kuan Ti!"[154] -and then he, too, jumped out in a fright, and saw in the distance Kuan -Ti himself slowly approaching them, followed by four or five retainers -on horseback. His great beard covered the lower half of his face, -quite unlike ordinary mortals; his aspect was terrible to behold, and -his eyes reached nearly to his ears. "Who is this?" roared he to his -servants; and they immediately informed him that it was the new -Prefect of Chên-ting. "What!" cried he; "a petty fellow like that to -have a retinue like this?"[155] Whereupon So-and-so's flesh began to -creep with fear, and in a few moments he found that he too had shrunk -to the size of a little boy of six or seven. Kuan Ti bade his -attendants bring the new Prefect with them, and went into a building -at the roadside, where he took up his seat facing the south[156] and -calling for writing materials told So-and-so to write down his name -and address. When this was handed to him he flew into a towering -passion, and said, "The scribbly scrawl of a placeman, indeed![157] -Can such a one be entrusted with the welfare of the people? Look me up -the record of his good works." A man then advanced, and whispered -something in a low tone; upon which Kuan Ti exclaimed in a loud voice, -"The crime of the briber is comparatively trifling; the heavy guilt -lies with those who sell official posts for money." So-and-so was now -seized by angels in golden armour, and two of them tore off his cap -and robes, and administered to him fifty blows with the bamboo until -hardly any flesh remained on his bones. He was then thrust outside the -door, and lo! his carriages and horses had disappeared, and he himself -was lying, unable to walk for pain, at no great distance from his own -house. However, his body seemed as light as a leaf, and in a day and -a night he managed to crawl home. When he arrived, he awoke as it were -from a dream, and found himself groaning upon the bed; and to the -inquiries of his family he only replied that he felt dreadfully sore. -Now he really had been dead for seven days; and when he came round -thus, he immediately asked for A-lien, which was the name of his -favourite wife. But the very day before, while chatting with the other -members of the family, A-lien had suddenly cried out that her husband -was made Prefect of Chên-ting, and that his lictors had come to escort -her thither. Accordingly she retired to dress herself in her best -clothes, and, when ready to start, she fell back and expired. Hearing -this sad story, So-and-so began to mourn and beat his breast, and he -would not allow her to be buried at once, in the hope that she might -yet come round; but this she never did. Meanwhile So-and-so got slowly -better, and by the end of six months was able to walk again. He would -often exclaim, "The ruin of my career and the punishment I -received--all this I could have endured; but the loss of my dear -A-lien is more than I can bear."[158] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[144] By which he would become eligible for Government employ. The -sale of degrees has been extensively carried on under the present -dynasty, as a means of replenishing an empty Treasury. - -[145] Kung-sun is an example of a Chinese double surname. - -[146] Such is the common system of repaying the loan, by means of -which an indigent nominee is enabled to defray the expenses of his -journey to the post to which he has been appointed, and other calls -upon his purse. These loans are generally provided by some "western" -merchant, which term is an ellipsis for a "Shansi" banker, Shansi -being literally "west of the mountains." Some one accompanies the -newly-made official to his post, and holds his commission in pawn -until the amount is repaid; which settlement is easily effected by the -issue of some well-understood proclamation, calling, for instance, -upon the people to close all gambling-houses within a given period. -Immediately the owners of these hells forward presents of money to the -incoming official, the Shansi banker gets his principal with interest, -perhaps at the rate of 2 per cent. _per month_, the gambling-houses -carry on as usual, and everybody is perfectly satisfied. - -[147] Which fact would disqualify him from taking the post. - -[148] Literally, "Square hole." A common name for the Chinese cash. -See No. II., note 42. - -[149] In the case of wealthy families these strong rooms often -contain, in addition to bullion, jewels to a very great amount -belonging to the ladies of the house; and, as a rule, the door may not -be opened unless in the presence of a certain number of the male -representatives of the house. - -[150] Pieces of silver and gold paper made up to represent the -ordinary Chinese "shoes" of bullion (See No. XVIII., note 133), and -burnt for the use of the dead. Generally known to foreigners in China -as "joss-paper." - -[151] See No. VII., note 54. In this case the reference is to a -similar Board in the Infernal Regions. - -[152] These would be sure to sneer at him behind his back. - -[153] A compliment usually paid to an in-coming official. - -[154] See No. I., note 39. - -[155] The retinue of a Mandarin should be in accordance with his rank. -I have given elsewhere (See No. LVI., note 315) what would be that of -an official of the highest rank. - -[156] See No. LXXVII., note 76. - -[157] Good writing holds a much higher place in the estimation of the -Chinese than among western nations. The very nature of their -characters raises calligraphy almost to the rank of an art. - -[158] The commentator here adds a somewhat similar case, which -actually occurred in the reign of K'ang Hsi, of a Viceroy modestly -attended falling in with the gorgeous retinue of a Magistrate, and -being somewhat rudely treated by the servants of the latter. On -arriving at his destination, the Viceroy sent for that Magistrate, and -sternly bade him retire from office, remarking that no simple -magistrate could afford to keep such a retinue of attendants unless by -illegal exactions from the suffering people committed to his charge. - - - - -XCVIII. - -A CHINESE JONAH. - - -A man named Sun Pi-chên was crossing the river[159] when a great -thunder-squall broke upon the vessel and caused her to toss about -fearfully, to the great terror of all the passengers. Just then, an -angel in golden armour appeared standing upon the clouds above them, -holding in his hand a scroll inscribed with certain characters, also -written in gold, which the people on the vessel easily made out to be -three in number, namely _Sun Pi-chên_. So, turning at once to their -fellow-traveller, they said to him, "You have evidently incurred the -displeasure of Heaven; get into a boat by yourself, and do not involve -us in your punishment." And without giving him time to reply whether -he would do so or not, they hurried him over the side into a small -boat and set him adrift; but when Sun Pi-chên looked back, lo! the -vessel itself had capsized.[160] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[159] The Yang-tsze: sometimes spoken of as the Long River. - -[160] The full point of this story can hardly be conveyed in -translation. The man's surname was Sun, and his prænomen, Pi-chên, -(which in Chinese _follows_ the nomen) might be rendered -"Must-be-saved." However, there is another word meaning "struck," -precisely similar in sound and tone, though written differently, to -the above _chên_; and, as far as the ear alone is concerned, our -hero's name might have been either _Sun Must-be-saved_ or _Sun -Must-be-struck_. That the merchants mistook the character _chên_, -"saved," for _chên_, "struck," is evident from the catastrophe which -overtook their vessel, while Mr. Sun's little boat rode safely through -the storm. - - - - -XCIX. - -CHANG PU-LIANG. - - -A certain trader who was travelling in the province of Chih-li, being -overtaken by a storm of rain and hail, took shelter among some -standing crops by the way-side. There he heard a voice from heaven, -saying, "These are Chang Pu-liang's fields; do not injure his crops." -The trader began to wonder who this Chang Pu-liang could be, and how, -if he was _pu liang_ (not virtuous), he came to be under divine -protection; so when the storm was over and he had reached the -neighbouring village, he made enquiries on the subject, and told the -people there what he had heard. The villagers then informed him that -Chang Pu-liang was a very wealthy farmer, who was accustomed every -spring to make loans of grain to the poor of the district, and who was -not too particular about getting back the exact amount he had -lent,--taking, in fact, whatever they brought him without discussion; -hence the sobriquet of _pu liang_ "no measure" (_i.e._, the man who -doesn't measure the repayments of his loans).[161] After that, they -all proceeded in a body to the fields, where it was discovered that -vast damage had been done to the crops generally, with the exception -of Chang Pu-liang's, which had escaped uninjured. - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[161] Here again we have a play upon words similar to that in the last -story. - - - - -C. - -THE DUTCH CARPET. - - -Formerly, when the Dutch[162] were permitted to trade with China, the -officer in command of the coast defences would not allow them, on -account of their great numbers, to come ashore. The Dutch begged very -hard for the grant of a piece of land such as a carpet would cover; -and the officer above-mentioned, thinking that this could not be very -large, acceded to their request. A carpet was accordingly laid down, -big enough for about two people to stand on; but by dint of -stretching, it was soon enough for four or five; and so they went on, -stretching and stretching, until at last it covered about an acre, -and by-and-by, with the help of their knives, they had filched a piece -of ground several miles in extent.[163] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[162] We read in the _History of Amoy_:--"In the year 1622 the -red-haired barbarians seized the Pescadores and attacked Amoy." From -the Pescadores they finally retired, on a promise that trade would be -permitted, to Formosa, whence they were expelled by the famous Koxinga -in 1662. "Red-haired barbarians," a term now commonly applied to all -foreigners, was first used in the records of the Ming dynasty to -designate the Dutch. - -[163] Our author would here seem to have heard of the famous bull's -hide which is mentioned in the first book of the _Æneid_. In any case, -the substitution of "stretching" is no improvement on the celebrated -device by which the bull's hide was made to enclose so large a space. - - - - -CI. - -CARRYING A CORPSE. - - -A woodsman who had been to market was returning home with his pole -across his shoulder,[164] when suddenly he felt it become very heavy -at the end behind him, and looking round he saw attached to it the -headless trunk of a man. In great alarm, he got his pole quit of the -burden and struck about him right and left, whereupon the body -disappeared. He then hurried on to the next village, and when he -arrived there in the dusk of the evening, he found several men holding -lights to the ground as if looking for something. On asking what was -the matter, they told him that while sitting together a man's head had -fallen from the sky into their midst; that they had noticed the hair -and beard were all draggled, but in a moment the head had vanished. -The woodsman then related what had happened to himself; and thus one -whole man was accounted for, though no one could tell whence he came. -Subsequently, another man was carrying a basket when some one saw a -man's head in it, and called out to him; whereupon he dropped the -basket in a fright, and the head rolled away and disappeared. - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[164] The common method of porterage in China is by a bamboo pole over -the shoulder with well-balanced burdens hanging from each end. I have -often seen children carried thus, sitting in wicker baskets; sometimes -for long journeys. - - - - -CII. - -A TAOIST DEVOTEE. - - -Chü Yao-ju was a Ch'ing-chou man, who, when his wife died, left his -home and became a priest.[165] Some years afterwards he returned, -dressed in the Taoist garb, and carrying his praying-mat[166] over his -shoulder; and after staying one night he wanted to go away again. His -friends, however, would not give him back his cassock and staff; so at -length he pretended to take a stroll outside the village, and when -there, his clothes and other belongings came flying out of the house -after him, and he got safely away. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[165] It would be more usual to "renew the guitar string," as the -Chinese idiom runs. In the paraphrase of the first maxim of the -_Sacred Edict_ we are told that "The closest of all ties is that of -husband and wife; but suppose your wife dies, why, you can marry -another. But if your brother were to die," &c., &c. - -[166] This, as well as the staff mentioned below, belongs to Buddhism. -See No. IV., note 46. - - - - -CIII. - -JUSTICE FOR REBELS. - - -During the reign of Shun Chih,[167] of the people of T'êng-i, seven in -ten were opposed to the Manchu dynasty. The officials dared not touch -them; and subsequently, when the country became more settled, the -magistrates used to distinguish them from the others by always -deciding any cases in their favour: for they feared lest these men -should revert to their old opposition. And thus it came about that one -litigant would begin by declaring himself to have been a "rebel," -while his adversary would follow up by shewing such statement to be -false; so that before any case could be heard on its actual merits, it -was necessary to determine the status both of plaintiff and defendant, -whereby infinite labour was entailed upon the Registrars. - -Now it chanced that the yamên of one of the officials was haunted by a -fox, and the official's daughter was bewitched by it. Her father, -therefore, engaged the services of a magician, who succeeded in -capturing the animal and putting it into a bottle; but just as he was -going to commit it to the flames, the fox cried out from inside the -bottle, "I'm a rebel!" at which the bystanders were unable to suppress -their laughter. - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[167] The first Manchu ruler of the empire of China. He came to the -throne in A.D. 1644. - - - - -CIV. - -THEFT OF THE PEACH. - - -When I was a little boy I went one day to the prefectural city.[168] -It was the time of the Spring festival,[169] and the custom was that -on the day before, all the merchants of the place should proceed with -banners and drums to the judge's yamên: this was called "bringing in -the Spring." I went with a friend to see the fun; the crowd was -immense, and there sat the officials in crimson robes arranged right -and left in the hall; but I was small and didn't know who they were, -my attention being attracted chiefly by the hum of voices and the -noise of the drums. In the middle of it all, a man leading a boy with -his hair unplaited and hanging down his back, walked up to the dais. -He carried a pole on his shoulder, and appeared to be saying something -which I couldn't hear for the noise; I only saw the officials smile, -and immediately afterwards an attendant came down, and in a loud -voice ordered the man to give a performance. "What shall it be?" asked -the man in reply; whereupon, after some consultation between the -officials on the dais, the attendant inquired what he could do best. -The man said he could invert the order of nature; and then, after -another pause, he was instructed to produce some peaches; to this he -assented; and taking off his coat, laid it on his box, at the same -time observing that they had set him a hard task, the winter frost not -having broken up, and adding that he was afraid the gentlemen would be -angry with him, &c., &c. His son here reminded him that he had agreed -to the task and couldn't well get out of it; so, after fretting and -grumbling awhile, he cried out, "I have it! with snow on the ground we -shall never get peaches here; but I guess there are some up in heaven -in the Royal Mother's garden,[170] and there we must try." "How are we -to get up, father?" asked the boy; whereupon the man said, "I have the -means," and immediately proceeded to take from his box a cord some -tens of feet in length. This he carefully arranged, and then threw one -end of it high up into the air where it remained as if caught by -something. He now paid out the rope which kept going up higher and -higher until the end he had thrown up disappeared in the clouds and -only a short piece was left in his hands. Calling his son, he then -explained that he himself was too heavy, and, handing him the end of -the rope, bid him go up at once. The boy, however, made some -difficulty, objecting that the rope was too thin to bear his weight up -to such a height, and that he would surely fall down and be killed; -upon which his father said that his promise had been given and that -repentance was now too late, adding that if the peaches were obtained -they would surely be rewarded with a hundred ounces of silver, which -should be set aside to get the boy a pretty wife. So his son seized -the rope and swarmed up, like a spider running up a thread of its web; -and in a few moments he was out of sight in the clouds. By-and-by down -fell a peach as large as a basin, which the delighted father handed up -to his patrons on the dais who were some time coming to a conclusion -whether it was real or imitation. But just then down came the rope -with a run, and the affrighted father shrieked out, "Alas! alas! some -one has cut the rope: what will my boy do now?" and in another minute -down fell something else, which was found on examination to be his -son's head. "Ah me!" said he, weeping bitterly and shewing the head; -"the gardener has caught him, and my boy is no more." After that, his -arms, and legs, and body, all came down in like manner; and the -father, gathering them up, put them in the box and said, "This was my -only son, who accompanied me everywhere; and now what a cruel fate is -his. I must away and bury him." He then approached the dais and said, -"Your peach, gentlemen, was obtained at the cost of my boy's life; -help me now to pay his funeral expenses, and I will be ever grateful -to you." The officials who had been watching the scene in horror and -amazement, forthwith collected a good purse for him; and when he had -received the money, he rapped on his box and said, "Pa-pa'rh! why -don't you come out and thank the gentlemen?" Thereupon, there was a -thump on the box from the inside and up came the boy himself, who -jumped out and bowed to the assembled company. I have never forgotten -this strange trick, which I subsequently heard could be done by the -White Lily sect,[171] who probably got it from this source.[172] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[168] It is worth noting that the author professes actually to have -witnessed the following extraordinary scene. - -[169] The vernal equinox, which would fall on or about the 20th of -March. - -[170] A fabulous lady, said to reside at the summit of the K'un-lun -mountain, where, on the border of the Gem Lake, grows the peach-tree -of the angels, the fruit of which confers immortality on him who eats -it. - -[171] One of the most celebrated of the numerous secret societies of -China, the origin of which dates back to about A.D. 1350. Its members -have always been credited with a knowledge of the black art. - -[172] Of Chinese jugglers, Ibn Batuta writes as follows:--"They -produced a chain fifty cubits in length, and in my presence threw one -end of it towards the sky, where it remained, as if fastened to -something in the air. A dog was then brought forward, and, being -placed at the lower end of the chain, immediately ran up, and reaching -the other end immediately disappeared in the air. In the same manner a -hog, a panther, a lion, and a tiger were alternately sent up the -chain, and all equally disappeared at the upper end of it. At last -they took down the chain, and put it into a bag, no one ever -discerning in what way the different animals were made to vanish into -the air in the mysterious manner above described. This, I may venture -to affirm, was beyond measure strange and surprising." - -_Apropos_ of which passage, Mr. Maskelyne, the prince of all -black-artists, ancient or modern, says:--"These apparent effects were, -doubtless, due to the aid of concave mirrors, the use of which was -known to the ancients, especially in the East, but they could not have -been produced in the open air." - - - - -CV. - -KILLING A SERPENT. - - -At Ku-chi island in the eastern sea, there were camellias of all -colours which bloomed throughout the year. No one, however, lived -there, and very few people ever visited the spot. One day, a young man -of Têng-chou, named Chang, who was fond of hunting and adventure, -hearing of the beauties of the place, put together some wine and food, -and rowed himself across in a small open boat. The flowers were just -then even finer than usual, and their perfume was diffused for a mile -or so around; while many of the trees he saw were several armfuls in -circumference. So he roamed about and gave himself up to enjoyment of -the scene; and by-and-by he opened a flask of wine, regretting very -much that he had no companion to share it with him, when all of a -sudden a most beautiful young girl, with extremely bright eyes and -dressed in red, stepped down from one of the camellias before -him.[173] "Dear me!" said she on seeing Mr. Chang; "I expected to be -alone here, and was not aware that the place was already occupied." -Chang was somewhat alarmed at this apparition, and asked the young -lady whence she came; to which she replied that her name was -Chiao-ch'ang, and that she had accompanied thither a Mr. Hai, who had -gone off for a stroll and had left her to await his return. Thereupon -Chang begged her to join him in a cup of wine, which she very -willingly did, and they were just beginning to enjoy themselves when a -sound of rushing wind was heard and the trees and plants bent beneath -it. "Here's Mr. Hai!" cried the young lady; and jumping quickly up, -disappeared in a moment. The horrified Chang now beheld a huge serpent -coming out of the bushes near by, and immediately ran behind a large -tree for shelter, hoping the reptile would not see him. But the -serpent advanced and enveloped both Chang and the tree in its great -folds, binding Chang's arms down to his sides so as to prevent him -from moving them; and then raising its head, darted out its tongue and -bit the poor man's nose, causing the blood to flow freely out. This -blood it was quietly sucking up, when Chang, who thought that his last -hour had come, remembered that he had in his pocket some fox poison; -and managing to insert a couple of fingers, he drew out the packet, -broke the paper, and let the powder lie in the palm of his hand. He -next leaned his hand over the serpent's coils in such a way that the -blood from his nose dripped into his hand, and when it was nearly full -the serpent actually did begin to drink it. And in a few moments the -grip was relaxed; the serpent struck the ground heavily with its -tail, and dashed away up against another tree, which was broken in -half, and then stretched itself out and died. Chang was a long time -unable to rise, but at length he got up and carried the serpent off -with him. He was very ill for more than a month afterwards, and even -suspected the young lady of being a serpent, too, in disguise. - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[173] See No. LXXI., note 53. - - - - -CVI. - -THE RESUSCITATED CORPSE. - - -A certain old man lived at Ts'ai-tien, in the Yang-hsin district. The -village was some miles from the district city, and he and his son kept -a roadside inn where travellers could pass the night. One day, as it -was getting dusk, four strangers presented themselves and asked for a -night's lodging; to which the landlord replied that every bed was -already occupied. The four men declared it was impossible for them to -go back, and urged him to take them in somehow; and at length the -landlord said he could give them a place to sleep in if they were not -too particular,--which the strangers immediately assured him they were -not. The fact was that the old man's daughter-in-law had just died, -and that her body was lying in the women's quarters, waiting for the -coffin, which his son had gone away to buy. So the landlord led them -round thither, and walking in, placed a lamp on the table. At the -further end of the room lay the corpse, decked out with paper robes, -&c., in the usual way; and in the foremost section were -sleeping-couches for four people. The travellers were tired, and, -throwing themselves on the beds, were soon snoring loudly, with the -exception of one of them, who was not quite off when suddenly he heard -a creaking of the trestles on which the dead body was laid out, and, -opening his eyes, he saw by the light of the lamp in front of the -corpse that the girl was raising the coverings from her and preparing -to get down. In another moment she was on the floor and advancing -towards the sleepers. Her face was of a light yellow hue, and she had -a silk kerchief round her head; and when she reached the beds she blew -on the other three travellers, whereupon the fourth, in a great -fright, stealthily drew up the bed-clothes over his face, and held his -breath to listen. He heard her breathe on him as she had done on the -others, and then heard her go back again and get under the paper -robes, which rustled distinctly as she did so. He now put out his head -to take a peep, and saw that she was lying down as before; whereupon, -not daring to make any noise, he stretched forth his foot and kicked -his companions, who, however, shewed no signs of moving. He now -determined to put on his clothes and make a bolt for it; but he had -hardly begun to do so before he heard the creaking sound again, which -sent him back under the bed-clothes as fast as he could go. Again the -girl came to him, and breathing several times on him, went away to lie -down as before, as he could tell by the noise of the trestles. He then -put his hand very gently out of bed, and, seizing his trousers, got -quickly into them, jumped up with a bound, and rushed out of the place -as fast as his legs would carry him. The corpse, too, jumped up; but -by this time the traveller had already drawn the bolt, and was outside -the door, running along and shrieking at the top of his voice, with -the corpse following close behind. No one seemed to hear him, and he -was afraid to knock at the door of the inn for fear they should not -let him in in time; so he made for the highway to the city, and after -awhile he saw a monastery by the roadside, and, hearing the "wooden -fish,"[174] he ran up and thumped with all his might at the gate. The -priest, however, did not know what to make of it, and would not open -to him; and as the corpse was only a few yards off, he could do -nothing but run behind a tree which stood close by, and there shelter -himself, dodging to the right as the corpse dodged to the left, and so -on. This infuriated the dead girl to madness; and at length, as tired -and panting they stood watching each other on opposite sides of the -tree, the corpse made a rush forward with one arm on each side in the -hope of thus grabbing its victim. The traveller, however, fell -backwards and escaped, while the corpse remained rigidly embracing the -tree. By-and-by the priest, who had been listening from the inside, -hearing no sounds for some time, came out and found the traveller -lying senseless on the ground; whereupon he had him carried into the -monastery, and by morning they had got him round again. After giving -him a little broth to drink, he related the whole story; and then in -the early dawn they went out to examine the tree, where they found the -girl fixed tightly to the tree. The news being sent to the magistrate, -that functionary attended at once in person,[175] and gave orders to -remove the body; but this they were at first unable to do, the girl's -fingers having penetrated into the bark so far that her nails were not -to be seen. At length they got her away, and then a messenger was -despatched to the inn, already in a state of great commotion over the -three travellers, who had been found dead in their beds. The old man -accordingly sent to fetch his daughter-in-law; and the surviving -traveller petitioned the magistrate, saying, "Four of us left home, -but only one will go back. Give me something that I may show to my -fellow-townsmen." So the magistrate gave him a certificate and sent -him home again.[176] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[174] This instrument, used by Buddhist priests in the musical -accompaniment to their liturgies, is said to be so called because a -fish never closes its eyes, and is therefore a fit model of vigilance -to him who would walk in the paths of holiness and virtue. - -[175] The duties of Coroner belong to the office of a District -Magistrate in China. - -[176] Without such certificate he would be liable to be involved in -trouble and annoyance at the will of any unfriendly neighbour. - - - - -CVII. - -THE FISHERMAN AND HIS FRIEND. - - -In the northern parts of Tz[)u]-chou there lived a man named Hsü, a -fisherman by trade. Every night when he went to fish he would carry -some wine with him, and drink and fish by turns, always taking care to -pour out a libation on the ground, accompanied by the following -invocation:--"Drink too, ye drowned spirits of the river!" Such was his -regular custom; and it was also noticeable that, even on occasions -when the other fishermen caught nothing, he always got a full basket. -One night, as he was sitting drinking by himself, a young man suddenly -appeared and began walking up and down near him. Hsü offered him a cup -of wine, which was readily accepted, and they remained chatting -together throughout the night, Hsü meanwhile not catching a single -fish. However, just as he was giving up all hope of doing anything, -the young man rose and said he would go a little way down the stream -and beat them up towards Hsü, which he accordingly did, returning in a -few minutes and warning him to be on the look-out. Hsü now heard a -noise like that of a shoal coming up the stream, and, casting his net, -made a splendid haul,--all that he caught being over a foot in length. -Greatly delighted, he now prepared to go home, first offering his -companion a share of the fish, which the latter declined, saying that -he had often received kindnesses from Mr. Hsü, and that he would be -only too happy to help him regularly in the same manner if Mr. Hsü -would accept his assistance. The latter replied that he did not -recollect ever meeting him before, and that he should be much obliged -for any aid the young man might choose to afford him; regretting, at -the same time, his inability to make him any adequate return. He then -asked the young man his name and surname; and the young man said his -surname was Wang, adding that Hsü might address him when they met as -Wang Liu-lang, he having no other name. Thereupon they parted, and the -next day Hsü sold his fish and bought some more wine, with which he -repaired as usual to the river bank. There he found his companion -already awaiting him, and they spent the night together in precisely -the same way as the preceding one, the young man beating up the fish -for him as before. This went on for some months, until at length one -evening the young man, with many expressions of his thanks and his -regrets, told Hsü that they were about to part for ever. Much alarmed -by the melancholy tone in which his friend had communicated this news, -Hsü was on the point of asking for an explanation, when the young man -stopped him, and himself proceeded as follows:--"The friendship that -has grown up between us is truly surprising; and, now that we shall -meet no more, there is no harm in telling you the whole truth. I am a -disembodied spirit--the soul of one who was drowned in this river -when tipsy. I have been here many years, and your former success in -fishing was due to the fact that I used secretly to beat up the fish -towards you, in return for the libations you were accustomed to pour -out. To-morrow my time is up: my substitute will arrive, and I shall -be born again in the world of mortals.[177] We have but this one -evening left, and I therefore take advantage of it to express my -feelings to you." On hearing these words, Hsü was at first very much -alarmed; however, he had grown so accustomed to his friend's society, -that his fears soon passed away; and, filling up a goblet, he said, -with a sigh, "Liu-lang, old fellow, drink this up, and away with -melancholy. It's hard to lose you; but I'm glad enough for your sake, -and won't think of my own sorrow." He then inquired of Liu-lang who -was to be his substitute; to which the latter replied, "Come to the -river-bank to-morrow afternoon and you'll see a woman drowned: she is -the one." Just then the village cocks began to crow, and, with tears -in their eyes, the two friends bade each other farewell. - -Next day Hsü waited on the river bank to see if anything would happen, -and lo! a woman carrying a child in her arms came along. When close to -the edge of the river, she stumbled and fell into the water, managing, -however, to throw the child safely on to the bank, where it lay -kicking and sprawling and crying at the top of its voice. The woman -herself sank and rose several times, until at last she succeeded in -clutching hold of the bank and pulled herself, dripping, out; and -then, after resting awhile, she picked up the child and went on her -way. All this time Hsü had been in a great state of excitement, and -was on the point of running to help the woman out of the water; but he -remembered that she was to be the substitute of his friend, and -accordingly restrained himself from doing so.[178] Then when he saw -the woman get out by herself, he began to suspect that Liu-lang's -words had not been fulfilled. That night he went to fish as usual, -and before long the young man arrived and said, "We meet once again: -there is no need now to speak of separation." Hsü asked him how it was -so; to which he replied, "The woman you saw had already taken my -place, but I could not bear to hear the child cry, and I saw that my -one life would be purchased at the expense of their two lives, -wherefore I let her go, and now I cannot say when I shall have another -chance.[179] The union of our destinies may not yet be worked out." -"Alas!" sighed Hsü, "this noble conduct of yours is enough to move God -Almighty." - -After this the two friends went on much as they had done before, until -one day Liu-lang again said he had come to bid Hsü farewell. Hsü -thought he had found another substitute, but Liu-lang told him that -his former behaviour had so pleased Almighty Heaven, that he had been -appointed guardian angel of Wu-chên, in the Chao-yüan district, and -that on the following morning he would start for his new post. "And if -you do not forget the days of our friendship," added he, "I pray you -come and see me, in spite of the long journey." "Truly," replied Hsü, -"you well deserved to be made a God; but the paths of Gods and men -lie in different directions, and even if the distance were nothing, -how should I manage to meet you again?" "Don't be afraid on that -score," said Liu-lang, "but come;" and then he went away, and Hsü -returned home. The latter immediately began to prepare for the -journey, which caused his wife to laugh at him and say, "Supposing you -do find such a place at the end of that long journey, you won't be -able to hold a conversation with a clay image." Hsü, however, paid no -attention to her remarks, and travelled straight to Chao-yüan, where -he learned from the inhabitants that there really was a village called -Wu-chên, whither he forthwith proceeded and took up his abode at an -inn. He then inquired of the landlord where the village temple was; to -which the latter replied by asking him somewhat hurriedly if he was -speaking to Mr. Hsü. Hsü informed him that his name was Hsü, asking in -reply how he came to know it; whereupon the landlord further inquired -if his native place was not Tz[)u]-chou. Hsü told him it was, and again -asked him how he knew all this; to which the landlord made no answer, -but rushed out of the room; and in a few moments the place was crowded -with old and young, men, women, and children, all come to visit Hsü. -They then told him that a few nights before they had seen their -guardian deity in a vision, and he had informed them that Mr. Hsü -would shortly arrive, and had bidden them to provide him with -travelling expenses, &c. Hsü was very much astonished at this, and -went off at once to the shrine, where he invoked his friend as -follows:--"Ever since we parted I have had you daily and nightly in -my thoughts; and now that I have fulfilled my promise of coming to see -you, I have to thank you for the orders you have issued to the people -of the place. As for me, I have nothing to offer you but a cup of -wine, which I pray you accept as though we were drinking together on -the river-bank." He then burnt a quantity of paper money,[180] when -lo! a wind suddenly arose, which, after whirling round and round -behind the shrine, soon dropped, and all was still. That night Hsü -dreamed that his friend came to him, dressed in his official cap and -robes, and very different in appearance from what he used to be, and -thanked him, saying, "It is truly kind of you to visit me thus: I only -regret that my position makes me unable to meet you face to face, and -that though near we are still so far. The people here will give you a -trifle, which pray accept for my sake; and when you go away, I will -see you a short way on your journey." A few days afterwards Hsü -prepared to start, in spite of the numerous invitations to stay which -poured in upon him from all sides; and then the inhabitants loaded him -with presents of all kinds, and escorted him out of the village. There -a whirlwind arose and accompanied him several miles, when he turned -round and invoked his friend thus:--"Liu-lang, take care of your valued -person. Do not trouble yourself to come any farther.[181] Your noble -heart will ensure happiness to this district, and there is no occasion -for me to give a word of advice to my old friend." By-and-by the -whirlwind ceased, and the villagers, who were much astonished, -returned to their own homes. Hsü, too, travelled homewards, and being -now a man of some means, ceased to work any more as a fisherman. And -whenever he met a Chao-yüan man he would ask him about that guardian -angel, being always informed in reply that he was a most beneficent -God. Some say the place was Shih-k'êng-chuang, in Chang-ch'in: I can't -say which it was myself. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[177] See No. XLV., note 267. - -[178] We have in this story the keynote to the notorious and -much-to-be-deprecated dislike of the Chinese people to assist in -saving the lives of drowning strangers. Some of our readers may, -perhaps, not be aware that the Government of Hong-Kong has found it -necessary to insert a clause on the junk-clearances issued in that -colony, by which the junkmen are bound to assist to the utmost in -saving life. The apparent apathy of the Chinese in this respect comes -before us, however, in quite a different light when coupled with the -superstition that disembodied spirits of persons who have met a -violent death may return to the world of mortals if only fortunate -enough to secure a substitute. For among the crowd of shades, anxious -all to revisit their "sweet sons," may perchance be some dear relative -or friend of the man who stands calmly by while another is drowning; -and it may be that to assist the drowning stranger would be to take -the longed-for chance away from one's own kith or kin. Therefore, the -superstition-ridden Chinaman turns away, often perhaps, as in the -story before us, with feelings of pity and remorse. And yet this -belief has not prevented the establishment, especially on the river -Yang-tsze, of institutions provided with life-boats, for the express -purpose of saving life in those dangerous waters; so true is it that -when the Chinese people wish to move _en masse_ in any given -direction, the fragile barrier of superstition is trampled down and -scattered to the winds. - -[179] As there are good and bad foxes, so may devils be beneficent or -malicious according to circumstances; and Chinese apologists for the -discourtesy of the term "foreign devils," as applied to Europeans and -Americans alike, have gone so far as to declare that in this -particular instance the allusion is to the more virtuous among the -denizens of the Infernal Regions. - -[180] See No. XCVII., note 150. - -[181] A phrase constantly repeated, in other terms, by a guest to a -host who is politely escorting him to the door. - - - - -CVIII. - -THE PRIEST'S WARNING. - - -A man named Chang died suddenly, and was escorted at once by -devil-lictors[182] into the presence of the King of Purgatory. His -Majesty turned to Chang's record of good and evil, and then, in great -anger, told the lictors they had brought the wrong man, and bade them -take him back again. As they left the judgment-hall, Chang persuaded -his escort to let him have a look at Purgatory; and, accordingly, the -devils conducted him through the nine sections,[183] pointing out to -him the Knife Hill,[184] the Sword Tree, and other objects of -interest. By-and-by, they reached a place where there was a Buddhist -priest, hanging suspended in the air head downwards, by a rope through -a hole in his leg. He was shrieking with pain, and longing for death; -and when Chang approached, lo! he saw that it was his own brother. In -great distress, he asked his guides the reason of this punishment; and -they informed him that the priest was suffering thus for collecting -subscriptions on behalf of his order, and then privately squandering -the proceeds in gambling and debauchery.[185] "Nor," added they, "will -he escape this torment unless he repents him of his misdeeds." When -Chang came round,[186] he thought his brother was already dead, and -hurried off to the Hsing-fu monastery, to which the latter belonged. -As he went in at the door, he heard a loud shrieking; and, on -proceeding to his brother's room, he found him laid up with a very bad -abscess in his leg, the leg itself being tied up above him to the -wall, this being, as his brother informed him, the only bearable -position in which he could lie. Chang now told him what he had seen in -Purgatory, at which the priest was so terrified, that he at once gave -up taking wine and meat,[187] and devoted himself entirely to -religious exercises. In a fortnight he was well, and was known ever -afterwards as a most exemplary priest. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[182] The spiritual lictors who are supposed to arrest the souls of -dying persons, are also believed to be armed with warrants signed and -sealed in due form as in the world above. - -[183] Literally, the "nine dark places," which will remind readers of -Dante of the nine "bolgie" of the _Inferno_. - -[184] This is a cliff over which sinners are hurled, to alight upon -the upright points of knives below. The branches of the Sword Tree are -sharp blades which cut and hack all who pass within reach. - -[185] A crime by no means unknown to the clergy of China. - -[186] That is, when the lictors had returned his soul to its tenement. - -[187] See No. VI., note 52. - - - - -CIX. - -METEMPSYCHOSIS. - - -Mr. Lin, who took his master's degree in the same year as the late Mr. -Wên Pi,[188] could remember what had happened to him in his previous -state of existence, and once told the whole story, as follows:--I was -originally of a good family, but, after leading a very dissolute life, -I died at the age of sixty-two. On being conducted into the presence -of the King of Purgatory, he received me civilly, bade me be seated, -and offered me a cup of tea. I noticed, however, that the tea in His -Majesty's cup was clear and limpid, while that in my own was muddy, -like the lees of wine. It then flashed across me that this was the -potion which was given to all disembodied spirits to render them -oblivious of the past:[189] and, accordingly, when the King was looking -the other way, I seized the opportunity of pouring it under the table, -pretending afterwards that I had drunk it all up. My record of good -and evil was now presented for inspection, and when the King saw what -it was, he flew into a great passion, and ordered the attendant devils -to drag me away, and send me back to earth as a horse. I was -immediately seized and bound, and the devils carried me off to a -house, the door-sill of which was so high I could not step over it. -While I was trying to do so, the devils behind lashed me with all -their might, causing me such pain that I made a great spring, and--lo -and behold! I was a horse in a stable. "The mare has got a nice colt," -I then heard a man call out; but, although I was perfectly aware of -all that was passing, I could say nothing myself. Hunger now came upon -me, and I was glad to be suckled by the mare; and by the end of four -or five years I had grown into a fine strong horse, dreadfully afraid -of the whip, and running away at the very sight of it. When my master -rode me, it was always with a saddle-cloth, and at a leisurely pace, -which was bearable enough; but when the servants mounted me -barebacked, and dug their heels into me, the pain struck into my -vitals; and at length I refused all food, and in three days I died. -Reappearing before the King of Purgatory, His Majesty was enraged to -find that I had thus tried to shirk working out my time; and, flaying -me forthwith, condemned me to go back again as a dog. And when I did -not move, the devils came behind me and lashed me until I ran away -from them into the open country, where, thinking I had better die -right off, I jumped over a cliff, and lay at the bottom unable to -move. I then saw that I was among a litter of puppies, and that an old -bitch was licking and suckling me by turns; whereby I knew that I was -once more among mortals. In this hateful form I continued for some -time, longing to kill myself, and yet fearing to incur the penalty of -shirking. At length, I purposely bit my master in the leg, and tore -him badly; whereupon he had me destroyed, and I was taken again into -the presence of the King, who was so displeased with my vicious -behaviour that he condemned me to become a snake, and shut me up in a -dark room, where I could see nothing. After a while I managed to climb -up the wall, bore a hole in the roof, and escape; and immediately I -found myself lying in the grass, a veritable snake. Then I registered -a vow that I would harm no living thing, and I lived for some years, -feeding upon berries and such like, ever remembering neither to take -my own life, nor by injuring any one to incite them to take it, but -longing all the while for the happy release, which did not come to me. -One day, as I was sleeping in the grass, I heard the noise of a -passing cart, and, on trying to get across the road out of its way, I -was caught by the wheel, and cut in two. The King was astonished to -see me back so soon, but I humbly told my story, and, in pity for the -innocent creature that loses its life, he pardoned me, and permitted -me to be born again at my appointed time as a human being. - -Such was Mr. Lin's story. He could speak as soon as he came into the -world; and could repeat anything he had once read. In the year 1621 he -took his master's degree, and was never tired of telling people to put -saddle-cloths on their horses, and recollect that the pain of being -gripped by the knees is even worse than the lash itself. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[188] In A.D. 1621. - -[189] According to the _Yü-li-ch'ao_, this potion is administered by -an old beldame, named Mother Mêng, who sits upon the Terrace of -Oblivion. "Whether they swallow much or little it matters not; but -sometimes there are perverse devils who altogether refuse to drink. -Then beneath their feet sharp blades start up, and a copper tube is -forced down their throats, by which means they are compelled to -swallow some." - - - - -CX. - -THE FORTY STRINGS OF CASH. - - -Mr. Justice Wang had a steward, who was possessed of considerable -means. One night the latter dreamt that a man rushed in and said to -him, "To-day you must repay me those forty strings of cash." The -steward asked who he was; to which the man made no answer, but hurried -past him into the women's apartments. When the steward awoke, he found -that his wife had been delivered of a son; and, knowing at once that -retribution was at hand, he set aside forty strings of cash to be -spent solely in food, clothes, medicines, and so on, for the baby. By -the time the child was between three and four years old, the steward -found that of the forty strings only about seven hundred cash -remained; and when the wet-nurse, who happened to be standing by, -brought the child and dandled it in her arms before him, he looked at -it and said, "The forty strings are all but repaid; it is time you -were off again." Thereupon the child changed colour; its head fell -back, and its eyes stared fixedly, and, when they tried to revive it, -lo! respiration had already ceased. The father then took the balance -of the forty strings, and with it defrayed the child's funeral -expenses--truly a warning to people to be sure and pay their debts. - -Formerly, an old childless man consulted a great many Buddhist priests -on the subject. One of them said to him, "If you owe no one anything, -and no one owes you anything, how can you expect to have children? A -good son is the repayment of a former debt; a bad son is a dunning -creditor, at whose birth there is no rejoicing, at whose death no -lamentations."[190] - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[190] And such is actually the prevalent belief in China to this day. - - - - -CXI. - -SAVING LIFE. - - -A certain gentleman of Shên-yu, who had taken the highest degree, -could remember himself in a previous state of existence. He said he -had formerly been a scholar, and had died in middle life; and that -when he appeared before the Judge of Purgatory, there stood the -cauldrons, the boiling oil, and other apparatus of torture, exactly as -we read about them on earth. In the eastern corner of the hall were a -number of frames from which hung the skins of sheep, dogs, oxen, -horses, etc.; and when anybody was condemned to re-appear in life -under any one of these forms, his skin was stripped off and a skin was -taken from the proper frame and fixed on to his body. The gentleman of -whom I am writing heard himself sentenced to become a sheep; and the -attendant devils had already clothed him in a sheep's-skin in the -manner above described, when the clerk of the record informed the -Judge that the criminal before him had once saved another man's life. -The Judge consulted his books, and forthwith cried out, "I pardon him; -for although his sins have been many, this one act has redeemed them -all."[191] The devils then tried to take off the sheep's-skin, but it -was so tightly stuck on him that they couldn't move it. However, after -great efforts, and causing the gentleman most excruciating agony, they -managed to tear it off bit by bit, though not quite so cleanly as one -might have wished. In fact, a piece as big as the palm of a man's hand -was left near his shoulder; and when he was born again into the world, -there was a great patch of hair on his back, which grew again as fast -as it was cut off. - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[191] Note 178 to No. CVII. should be read here. To save life is -indeed the bounden duty of every good Buddhist, for which he will be -proportionately rewarded in the world to come. - - - - -CXII. - -THE SALT SMUGGLER. - - -Wang Shih, of Kao-wan, a petty salt huckster, was inordinately fond of -gambling. One night he was arrested by two men, whom he took for -lictors of the Salt Gabelle; and, flinging down what salt he had with -him, he tried to make his escape.[192] He found, however, that his -legs would not move with him, and he was forthwith seized and bound. -"We are not sent by the Salt Commissioner," cried his captors, in -reply to an entreaty to set him free; "we are the devil-constables of -Purgatory." Wang was horribly frightened at this, and begged the -devils to let him bid farewell to his wife and children; but this they -refused to do, saying, "You aren't going to die; you are only wanted -for a little job there is down below." Wang asked what the job was; to -which the devils replied, "A new Judge has come into office, and, -finding the river[193] and the eighteen hells choked up with the -bodies of sinners, he has determined to employ three classes of -mortals to clean them out. These are thieves, unlicensed -founders,[194] and unlicensed dealers in salt, and, for the dirtiest -work of all, he is going to take musicians."[195] - -Wang accompanied the devils until at length they reached a city, where -he was brought before the Judge, who was sitting in his Judgment-hall. -On turning up his record in the books, one of the devils explained -that the prisoner had been arrested for unlicensed trading; whereupon -the Judge became very angry, and said, "Those who drive an illicit -trade in salt, not only defraud the State of its proper revenue, but -also prey upon the livelihood of the people. Those, however, whom the -greedy officials and corrupt traders of to-day denounce as unlicensed -traders, are among the most virtuous of mankind--needy unfortunates -who struggle to save a few cash in the purchase of their pint of -salt.[196] Are they your unlicensed traders?" The Judge then bade the -lictors buy four pecks of salt, and send it to Wang's house for him, -together with that which had been found upon him; and, at the same -time, he gave Wang an iron scourge, and told him to superintend the -works at the river. So Wang followed the devils, and found the river -swarming with people like ants in an ant-hill. The water was turbid -and red, the stench from it being almost unbearable, while those who -were employed in cleaning it out were working there naked. Sometimes -they would sink down in the horrid mass of decaying bodies: sometimes -they would get lazy, and then the iron scourge was applied to their -backs. The assistant-superintendents had small scented balls, which -they held in their mouths. Wang himself approached the bank, and saw -the licensed salt-merchant of Kao-wan[197] in the midst of it all, and -thrashed him well with his scourge, until he was afraid he would never -come up again. This went on for three days and three nights, by which -time half the workmen were dead, and the work completed; whereupon the -same two devils escorted him home again, and then he waked up. - -As a matter of fact, Wang had gone out to sell some salt, and had not -come back. Next morning, when his wife opened the house door, she -found two bags of salt in the court-yard; and, as her husband did not -return, she sent off some people to search for him, and they -discovered him lying senseless by the wayside. He was immediately -conveyed home, where, after a little time, he recovered consciousness, -and related what had taken place. Strange to say, the licensed -salt-merchant had fallen down in a fit on the previous evening, and -had only just recovered; and Wang, hearing that his body was covered -with sores--the result of the beating with the iron scourge--went off -to his house to see him; however, directly the wretched man set eyes -on Wang, he hastily covered himself up with the bed-clothes, -forgetting that they were no longer at the infernal river. He did not -recover from his injuries for a year, after which he retired from -trade.[198] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[192] Salt is a Government monopoly in China, and its sale is only -permitted to licensed dealers. It is a contraband article of commerce, -whether for import or export, to foreign nations trading with China. -In an account of a journey from Swatow to Canton in March-April, 1877, -I wrote:--"_Apropos_ of salt, we came across a good-sized bunker of it -when stowing away our things in the space below the deck. The boatmen -could not resist the temptation of doing a little smuggling on the way -up.... At a secluded point in a bamboo-shaded bend of the river, they -ran the boat alongside the bank, and were instantly met by a number of -suspicious-looking gentlemen with baskets, who soon relieved them of -the smuggled salt and separated in different directions." Thus do the -people of China seek to lighten the grievous pressure of this tax. A -curious custom exists in Canton. Certain blind old men and women are -allowed to hawk salt about the streets, and earn a scanty living from -the profits they are able to make. - -It may interest some to know that in the cities of the north of China -_ice_ and _coal_ may only be retailed by licensed dealers, who retain -such authority on the condition of supplying the yamêns of the local -mandarins with these two necessaries, free of all charge. - -[193] The Styx. - -[194] These words require some explanation. Ordinarily they would be -taken in the sense of casting _cash_ of a base description; but they -might equally well signify the casting of iron articles of any kind, -and thereby hang some curious details. Iron foundries in China may -only be opened under license from the local officials, and the -articles there made, consisting chiefly of cooking utensils, may only -be sold within a given area, each district having its own particular -foundries from which alone the supplies of the neighbourhood may be -derived. Free trade in iron is much feared by the authorities, as -thereby pirates and rebels would be enabled to supply themselves with -arms. At the framing of the Treaty of Tientsin, with its accompanying -tariff and rules, iron was not specified among other prohibited -articles of commerce. Consequently, British merchants would appear to -have a full right to purchase iron in the interior and convey it to -any of the open ports under Transit-pass. But the Chinese officials -steadily refuse to acknowledge, or permit the exercise of, this right, -putting forward their own time-honoured custom with regard to iron, -and enumerating the disadvantages to China were such an innovation to -be brought about. - -[195] The allusion is to women, of a not very respectable class. - -[196] No Chinese magistrate would be found to pass sentence upon a man -who stole food under stress of hunger. - -[197] His own village. - -[198] The whole story is meant as a satire upon the iniquity of the -Salt Gabelle. - - - - -CXIII. - -COLLECTING SUBSCRIPTIONS. - - -The Frog-God frequently employs a magician to deliver its oracles to -those who have faith. Should the magician declare that the God is -pleased, happiness is sure to follow; but if he says the God is angry, -women and children[199] sit sorrowfully about, and neglect even their -meals. Such is the customary belief, and it is probably not altogether -devoid of foundation. - -There was a certain wealthy merchant, named Chou, who was a very -stingy man. Once, when some repairs were necessary to the temple of -the God of War,[200] and rich and poor were subscribing as much as -each could afford, he alone gave nothing.[201] By-and-by the works -were stopped for want of funds, and the committee of management were -at a loss what to do next. It happened that just then there was a -festival in honour of the Frog-God, at which the magician suddenly -cried out, "General Chou[202] has given orders for a further -subscription. Bring forth the books." The people all shouting assent -to this, the magician went on to say, "Those who have already -subscribed will not be compelled to do so again; those who have not -subscribed must give according to their means." Thereupon various -persons began to put down their names, and when this was finished, -the magician examined the books. He then asked if Mr. Chou was -present; and the latter, who was skulking behind, in dread lest he -should be detected by the God, had no alternative but to come to the -front. "Put yourself down for one hundred taels," said the magician to -him; and when Chou hesitated, he cried out to him in anger, "You could -give two hundred for your own bad purposes: how much more should you -do so in a good cause?" alluding to a scandalous intrigue of Chou's, -the consequences of which he had averted by payment of the sum -mentioned. This put our friend to the blush, and he was obliged to -enter his name for one hundred taels, at which his wife was very -angry, and said the magician was a rogue, and whenever he came to -collect the money he was put off with some excuse. - -Shortly afterwards, Chou was one day going to sleep, when he heard a -noise outside his house, like the blowing of an ox, and beheld a huge -frog walking leisurely through the front door, which was just big -enough to let it pass. Once inside, the creature laid itself down to -sleep, with its head on the threshold, to the great horror of all the -inmates; upon which Chou observed that it had probably come to collect -his subscription, and burning some incense, he vowed that he would pay -down thirty taels on the spot, and send the balance later on. The -frog, however, did not move, so Chou promised fifty, and then there -was a slight decrease in the frog's size. Another twenty brought it -down to the size of a peck measure; and when Chou said the full -amount should be paid on the spot, the frog became suddenly no larger -than one's fist, and disappeared through a hole in the wall. Chou -immediately sent off fifty taels, at which all the other subscribers -were much astonished, not knowing what had taken place. A few days -afterwards the magician said Chou still owed fifty taels, and that he -had better send it in soon; so Chou forwarded ten more, hoping now to -have done with the matter. However, as he and his wife were one day -sitting down to dinner, the frog reappeared, and glaring with anger, -took up a position on the bed, which creaked under it, as though -unable to bear the weight. Putting its head on the pillow, the frog -went off to sleep, its body gradually swelling up until it was as big -as a buffalo, and nearly filled the room, causing Chou to send off the -balance of his subscription without a moment's delay. There was now no -diminution in the size of the frog's body; and by-and-by crowds of -small frogs came hopping in, boring through the walls, jumping on the -bed, catching flies on the cooking-stove, and dying in the saucepans, -until the place was quite unbearable. Three days passed thus, and then -Chou sought out the magician, and asked him what was to be done. The -latter said he could manage it, and began by vowing on behalf of Chou -twenty more taels' subscription. At this the frog raised its head, and -a further increase caused it to move one foot; and by the time a -hundred taels was reached, the frog was walking out of the door. At -the door, however, it stopped, and lay down once more, which the -magician explained by saying, that immediate payment was required; so -Chou handed over the amount at once, and the frog, shrinking down to -its usual size, mingled with its companions, and departed with them. - -The repairs to the temple were accordingly completed, but for -"lighting the eyes,"[203] and the attendant festivities, some further -subscriptions were wanted. Suddenly, the magician, pointing at the -managers, cried out, "There is money short; of fifteen men, two of you -are defaulters." At this, all declared they had given what they could -afford; but the magician went on to say, "It is not a question of what -you can afford; you have misappropriated the funds[204] that should -not have been touched, and misfortune would come upon you, but that, -in return for your exertions, I shall endeavour to avert it from you. -The magician himself is not without taint.[205] Let him set you a good -example." Thereupon, the magician rushed into his house, and brought -out all the money he had, saying, "I stole eight taels myself, which I -will now refund." He then weighed what silver he had, and finding that -it only amounted to a little over six taels, he made one of the -bystanders take a note of the difference. Then the others came forward -and paid up, each what he had misappropriated from the public fund. -All this time the magician had been in a divine ecstasy, not knowing -what he was saying; and when he came round, and was told what had -happened, his shame knew no bounds, so he pawned some of his clothes, -and paid in the balance of his own debt. As to the two defaulters who -did not pay, one of them was ill for a month and more; while the other -had a bad attack of boils. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[199] The chief supporters of superstition in China. - -[200] See No. I., note 39. - -[201] Such is one of the most common causes of hostile demonstration -against Chinese Christians. The latter, acting under the orders of the -missionaries, frequently refuse to subscribe to the various local -celebrations and processions, the great annual festivities, and -ceremonies of all kinds, on the grounds that these are idolatrous and -forbidden by the Christian faith. Hence bad feeling, high words, blows, -and sometimes bloodshed. I say "frequently," because I have discovered -several cases in which converts have quietly subscribed like other -people rather than risk an _émeute_. - -An amusing incident came under my own special notice not very long -ago. A missionary appeared before me one day to complain that a -certain convert of his had been posted in his own village, and cut off -from his civic rights for two years, merely because he had agreed to -let a room of his house to be used as a missionary _dépôt_. I took a -copy of the placard which was handed to me in proof of this statement, -and found it to run thus:--"In consequence of ---- having entered into -an agreement with a barbarian pastor, to lease to the said barbarian -pastor a room in his house to be used as a missionary chapel, we, the -elders of this village, do hereby debar ---- from the privilege of -worshipping in our ancestral hall for the space of two years." It is -needless, of course, to mention that Ancestral Worship is prohibited -by all sects of missionaries in China alike; or that, when I pointed -this out to the individual in question, who could not have understood -the import of the Chinese placard, the charge was promptly withdrawn. - -[202] An historical character who was formerly among the ranks of the -Yellow Turban rebels, but subsequently entered the service of Kuan Yü -(see No. I., note 39), and was canonized by an Emperor of the last -dynasty. - -[203] This curious ceremony is the final touch to a newly-built or -newly-restored temple, and consists in giving expression to the eyes -of the freshly-painted idols, which have been purposely left blank by -the painter. Up to that time these blocks of clay or wood are not -supposed to have been animated by the spiritual presence of the deity -in question; but no sooner are the eyes lighted than the gratified God -smiles down upon the handsome decorations thus provided by devout and -trusting suppliants. - -There is a cognate custom belonging to the ceremonies of ancestral -worship, of great importance in the eyes of the Chinese. On a certain -day after the death of a parent, the surviving head of the family -proceeds with much solemnity to dab a spot of ink upon the memorial -tablet of the deceased. This is believed to give to the departed -spirit the power of remaining near to, and watching over the fortunes -of, those left behind. - -[204] Such indeed is the fate of a per-centage of all public -subscriptions raised and handled by Chinese of no matter what class. A -year or two ago an application was made to me for a donation to a -native foundling hospital at Swatow, on the ground that I was known as -a "read (Chinese) book man," and that consequently other persons, both -Chinese and foreigners, might be induced to follow my example. On my -declining to do so, the manager of the concern informed me that if I -would only put down my name for fifty dollars, say £10, no call should -be made upon me for the money! Even in the matter of the funds -collected for the famine-stricken people of 1878, it is whispered that -peculation has been rife. - -[205] The reader must recollect that these are the words of the God, -speaking from the magician's body. - - - - -CXIV. - -TAOIST MIRACLES. - - -At Chi-nan Fu there lived a certain priest: I cannot say whence he -came, or what was his name. Winter and summer alike he wore but one -unlined robe, and a yellow girdle about his waist, with neither shirt -nor trousers. He combed his hair with a broken comb, holding the ends -in his mouth, like the strings of a hat. By day he wandered about the -market-place; at night he slept in the street, and to a distance of -several feet round where he lay, the ice and snow would melt. When he -first arrived at Chi-nan he used to perform miracles, and the people -vied with each other in making him presents. One day a disreputable -young fellow gave him a quantity of wine, and begged him in return to -divulge the secret of his power; and when the priest refused, the -young man watched him get into the river to bathe, and then ran off -with his clothes. The priest called out to him to bring them back, -promising that he would do as the young man required; but the latter, -distrusting the priest's good faith, refused to do so; whereupon the -priest's girdle was forthwith changed into a snake, several spans in -circumference, which coiled itself round its master's head, and glared -and hissed terribly. The young man now fell on his knees, and humbly -prayed the priest to save his life; at which the priest put his girdle -on again, and a snake that had appeared to be his girdle, wriggled -away and disappeared. The priest's fame was thus firmly established, -and the gentry and officials of the place were constantly inviting him -to join them in their festive parties. By-and-by the priest said he -was going to invite his entertainers to a return feast;[206] and at -the appointed time each one of them found on his table a formal -invitation to a banquet at the Water Pavilion, but no one knew who had -brought the letters. However, they all went, and were met at the door -by the priest, in his usual garb; and when they got inside, the place -was all desolate and bare, with no banquet ready. "I'm afraid I shall -be obliged to ask you gentlemen to let me use your attendants," said -the priest to his guests; "I am a poor man, and keep no servants -myself." To this all readily consented; whereupon the priest drew a -double door upon the wall, and rapped upon it with his knuckles. -Somebody answered from within, and immediately the door was thrown -open, and a splendid array of handsome chairs, and tables loaded with -exquisite viands and costly wines, burst upon the gaze of the -astonished guests. The priest bade the attendants receive all these -things from the door, and bring them outside, cautioning them on no -account to speak with the people inside; and thus a most luxurious -entertainment was provided to the great amazement of all present. - -Now this Pavilion stood upon the bank of a small lake, and every year, -at the proper season, it was literally covered with lilies; but, at -the time of this feast, the weather was cold, and the surface of the -lake was of a smoky green colour. "It's a pity," said one of the -guests, "that the lilies are not out"--a sentiment in which the others -very cordially agreed, when suddenly a servant came running in to say -that, at that moment, the lake was a perfect mass of lilies. Every one -jumped up directly, and ran to look out of the window, and, lo! it was -so; and in another minute the fragrant perfume of the flowers was -borne towards them by the breeze. Hardly knowing what to make of this -strange sight, they sent off some servants, in a boat, to gather a few -of the lilies, but they soon returned empty-handed, saying, that the -flowers seemed to shift their position as fast as they rowed towards -them; at which the priest laughed, and said, "These are but the lilies -of your imagination, and have no real existence." And later on, when -the wine was finished, the flowers began to droop and fade; and -by-and-by a breeze from the north carried off every sign of them, -leaving the lake as it had been before. - -A certain Taot'ai,[207] at Chi-nan, was much taken with this priest, -and gave him rooms at his yamên. One day, he had some friends to -dinner, and set before them some very choice old wine that he had, and -of which he only brought out a small quantity at a time, not wishing -to get through it too rapidly. The guests, however, liked it so much -that they asked for more; upon which the Taot'ai said, "he was very -sorry, but it was all finished." The priest smiled at this, and said, -"I can give the gentlemen some, if they will oblige me by accepting -it;" and immediately inserted the wine-kettle[208] in his sleeve, -bringing it out again directly, and pouring out for the guests. This -wine tasted exactly like the choice wine they had just been drinking, -and the priest gave them all as much of it as they wanted, which made -the Taot'ai suspect that something was wrong; so, after the dinner, he -went into his cellar to look at his own stock, when he found the jars -closely tied down, with unbroken seals, but one and all empty. In a -great rage, he caused the priest to be arrested for sorcery, and -proceeded to have him bambooed; but no sooner had the bamboo touched -the priest than the Taot'ai himself felt a sting of pain, which -increased at every blow; and, in a few moments, there was the priest -writhing and shrieking under every cut,[209] while the Taot'ai was -sitting in a pool of blood. Accordingly, the punishment was soon -stopped, and the priest was commanded to leave Chi-nan, which he did, -and I know not whither he went. He was subsequently seen at Nanking, -dressed precisely as of old; but on being spoken to, he only smiled -and made no reply. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[206] It is considered a serious breach of Chinese etiquette to accept -invitations without returning the compliment at an early date. - -[207] A high Chinese official, known to foreigners as Intendant of -Circuit; the circuit being a circuit of Prefectures, over which he has -full control, subject only to the approval of the highest provincial -authorities. It is with this functionary that foreign Consuls rank. - -[208] See No. XCIII., note 122. - -[209] Of course only pretending to be hurt, the pain of the blows -being transferred by his magical art to the back of the Taot'ai. - - - - -CXV. - -ARRIVAL OF BUDDHIST PRIESTS. - - -Two Buddhist priests having arrived from the West,[210] one went to -the Wu-t'ai hill, while the other hung up his staff[211] at T'ai-shan. -Their clothes, complexions, language, and features, were very -different from those of our country. They further said they had -crossed the Fiery Mountains, from the peaks of which smoke was always -issuing as from the chimney of a furnace; that they could only travel -after rain, and that excessive caution was necessary to avoid -displacing any stone and thus giving a vent to the flames. They also -stated that they had passed through the River of Sand, in the middle -of which was a crystal hill with perpendicular sides and perfectly -transparent; and that there was a defile just broad enough to admit a -single cart, its entrance guarded by two dragons with crossed horns. -Those who wished to pass prostrated themselves before these dragons, -and on receiving permission to enter, the horns opened and let them -through. The dragons were of a white colour, and their scales and -bristles seemed to be of crystal. Eighteen winters and summers these -priests had been on the road; and of twelve who started from the west -together, only two reached China.[212] These two said that in their -country four of our mountains are held in great esteem, namely, T'ai, -Hua, Wu-t'ai, and Lo-chia. The people there also think that China[213] -is paved with yellow gold, that Kuan-yin and Wên-shu[214] are still -alive, and that they have only come here to be sure of their -Buddhahood and of immortal life. Hearing these words it struck me that -this was precisely what our own people say and think about the West; -and that if travellers from each country could only meet half way and -tell each other the true state of affairs, there would be some hearty -laughter on both sides, and a saving of much unnecessary trouble. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[210] That is, missionaries from India. - -[211] See No. LVI., note 320. - -[212] Much of the above recalls Fa Hsien's narrative of his celebrated -journey from China to India in the early years of the fifth century of -our era, with which our author was evidently well acquainted. That -courageous traveller complained that of those who had set out with him -some had stopped on the way and others had died, leaving him only his -own shadow as a companion. - -[213] This may almost be said to have been the belief of the Arabs at -the date of the composition of "The Arabian Nights." - -[214] For Kuan-yin, see No. XXXIII., note 208. Wên-shu, or Manjusiri, -is the God of Wisdom, and is generally represented as riding on a -lion, in attendance, together with P'u-hsien, the God of Action, who -rides an elephant, upon Shâkyamuni Buddha. - - - - -CXVI. - -THE STOLEN EYES. - - -When His Excellency Mr. T'ang, of our village, was quite a child, a -relative of his took him to a temple to see the usual theatrical -performances.[215] He was a clever little fellow, afraid of nothing -and nobody; and when he saw one of the clay images in the vestibule -staring at him with its great glass[216] eyes, the temptation was -irresistible; and, secretly gouging them out with his finger, he -carried them off with him. When they reached home, his relative was -taken suddenly ill and remained for a long time speechless; at length, -jumping up he cried out several times in a voice of thunder, "Why did -you gouge out my eyes?" His family did not know what to make of this, -until little T'ang told them what he had done; they then immediately -began to pray to the possessed man, saying, "A mere child, -unconscious of the wickedness of his act, took away in his fun thy -sacred eyes. They shall be reverently replaced." Thereupon the voice -exclaimed, "In that case, I shall go away;" and he had hardly spoken -before T'ang's relative fell flat upon the ground and lay there in a -state of insensibility for some time. When he recovered, they asked -him concerning what he had said; but he remembered nothing of it. The -eyes were then forthwith restored to their original sockets. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[215] See No. XLVIII., note 277. - -[216] The term here used stands for a vitreous composition that has -long been prepared by the Chinese. Glass, properly so called, is said -to have been introduced into China from the west, by a eunuch, during -the Ming dynasty. - - - - -CXVII. - -THE INVISIBLE PRIEST. - - -Mr. Han was a gentleman of good family, on very intimate terms with a -skilful Taoist priest and magician named Tan, who, when sitting -amongst other guests, would suddenly become invisible. Mr. Han was -extremely anxious to learn this art, but Tan refused all his -entreaties, "Not," as he said, "because I want to keep the secret for -myself, but simply as a matter of principle. To teach the superior -man[217] would be well enough; others, however, would avail themselves -of such knowledge to plunder their neighbours. There is no fear that -you would do this, though even you might be tempted in certain ways." -Mr. Han, finding all his efforts unavailing, flew into a great -passion, and secretly arranged with his servants that they should give -the magician a sound beating; and, in order to prevent his escape -through the power of making himself invisible, he had his -threshing-floor[218] covered with a fine ash-dust, so that at any rate -his footsteps would be seen and the servants could strike just above -them.[219] He then inveigled Tan to the appointed spot, which he had -no sooner reached than Han's servants began to belabour him on all -sides with leathern thongs. Tan immediately became invisible, but his -footprints were clearly seen as he moved about hither and thither to -avoid the blows, and the servants went on striking above them until -finally he succeeded in getting away. Mr. Han then went home, and -subsequently Tan reappeared and told the servants that he could stay -there no longer, adding that before he went he intended to give them -all a feast in return for many things they had done for him. And -diving into his sleeve he brought forth a quantity of delicious meats -and wines which he spread out upon the table, begging them to sit down -and enjoy themselves. The servants did so, and one and all of them got -drunk and insensible; upon which Tan picked each of them up and stowed -them away in his sleeve. When Mr. Han heard of this, he begged Tan to -perform some other trick; so Tan drew upon the wall a city, and -knocking at the gate with his hand it was instantly thrown open. He -then put inside it his wallet and clothes, and stepping through the -gateway himself, waved his hand and bade Mr. Han farewell. The city -gates were now closed, and Tan vanished from their sight. It was said -that he appeared again in Ch'ing-chou, where he taught little boys to -paint a circle on their hands, and, by dabbing this on to another -person's face or clothes, to imprint the circle on the place thus -struck without a trace of it being left behind upon the hand. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[217] The perfect man, according to the Confucian standard. - -[218] A large, smooth, area of concrete, to be seen outside all -country houses of any size, and used for preparing the various kinds -of grain. - -[219] Compare--"The not uncommon practice of strewing ashes to show -the footprints of ghosts or demons takes for granted that they are -substantial bodies."--Tylor's _Primitive Culture_, Vol. I., p. 455. - - - - -CXVIII. - -THE CENSOR IN PURGATORY. - - -Just beyond Fêng-tu[220] there is a fathomless cave which is reputed -to be the entrance to Purgatory. All the implements of torture -employed therein are of human manufacture; old, worn-out gyves and -fetters being occasionally found at the mouth of the cave, and as -regularly replaced by new ones, which disappear the same night, and -for which the magistrate of the district makes a formal charge[221] in -his accounts. - -Under the Ming dynasty, there was a certain Censor,[222] named Hua, -whose duties brought him to this place; and hearing the story of the -cave, he said he did not believe it, but would penetrate into it and -see for himself. People tried to dissuade him from such an enterprise; -however, he paid no heed to their remonstrances, and entered the cave -with a lighted candle in his hand, followed by two attendants. They -had proceeded about half a mile, when suddenly the candle was -violently extinguished, and Mr. Hua saw before him a broad flight of -steps leading up to the Ten Courts, or Judgment-halls, in each of -which a judge was sitting with his robes and tablets all complete. On -the eastern side there was one vacant place; and when the judges saw -Mr. Hua, they hastened down the steps to meet him, and each one cried -out, "So you have come at last, have you? I hope you have been quite -well since last we met." Mr. Hua asked what the place was; to which -they replied that it was the Court of Purgatory, and then Mr. Hua in a -great fright was about to take his leave, when the judges stopped him, -saying, "No, no, Sir! that is your seat there; how can you imagine you -are to go back again?" Thereupon Mr. Hua was overwhelmed with fear, -and begged and implored the judges to forgive him; but the latter -declared they could not interfere with the decrees of fate, and taking -down the register of Life and Death they showed him that it had been -ordained that on such a day of such a month his living body would pass -into the realms of darkness. When Mr. Hua read these words he shivered -and shook as if iced water was being poured down his back, and -thinking of his old mother and his young children, his tears began to -flow. At that juncture an angel in golden armour appeared, holding in -his hand a document written on yellow silk,[223] before which the -judges all performed a respectful obeisance. They then unfolded and -read the document, which was nothing more or less than a general -pardon from the Almighty for the suffering sinners in Purgatory, by -virtue of which Mr. Hua's fate would be set aside, and he would be -enabled to return once more to the light of day. Thereupon the judges -congratulated him upon his release, and started him on his way home; -but he had not got more than a few steps of the way before he found -himself plunged in total darkness. He was just beginning to despair, -when forth from the gloom came a God with a red face and a long beard, -rays of light shooting out from his body and illuminating the darkness -around. Mr. Hua made up to him at once, and begged to know how he -could get out of the cave; to which the God curtly replied, "Repeat -the _sûtras_ of Buddha!" and vanished instantly from his sight. Now -Mr. Hua had forgotten almost all the _sûtras_ he had ever known; -however, he remembered a little of the diamond _sûtra_, and, clasping -his hands in an attitude of prayer, he began to repeat it aloud. No -sooner had he done this than a faint streak of light glimmered through -the darkness, and revealed to him the direction of the path; but the -next moment he was at a loss how to go on and the light forthwith -disappeared. He then set himself to think hard what the next verse -was, and as fast as he recollected and could go on repeating, so fast -did the light reappear to guide him on his way, until at length he -emerged once more from the mouth of the cave. As to the fate of the -two servants who accompanied him it is needless to inquire. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[220] Fêng-tu is a district city in the province of Szechuen, and near -it are said to be fire-wells (see Williams' _Syllabic Dictionary_, -s.v.), otherwise known as the entrance to Purgatory, the capital city -of which is also called Fêng-tu. - -[221] To the Imperial Treasury. From what I know of the barefacedness -of similar official impostures, I should say that this statement is -quite within the bounds of truth. For instance, at Amoy one per cent. -is collected by the local mandarins on all imports, ostensibly for the -purpose of providing the Imperial table with a delicious kind of -bird's-nest said to be found in the neighbourhood! Seven-tenths of the -sum thus collected is pocketed by the various officials of the place, -and with the remaining three-tenths a certain quantity of the ordinary -article of commerce is imported from the Straits and forwarded to -Peking. - -[222] See No. XXXII., note 197. - -[223] An Imperial mandate is always written on yellow silk, and the -ceremony of opening and perusing it is accompanied by prostrations and -other acts of reverential submission. - - - - -CXIX. - -MR. WILLOW AND THE LOCUSTS. - - -During the Ming dynasty a plague of locusts[224] visited Ch'ing-yen, -and was advancing rapidly towards the I district, when the magistrate -of that place, in great tribulation at the pending disaster, retired -one day to sleep behind the screen in his office. There he dreamt that -a young graduate, named Willow, wearing a tall hat and a green robe, -and of very commanding stature, came to see him, and declared that he -could tell the magistrate how to get rid of the locusts. "To-morrow," -said he, "on the south-west road, you will see a woman riding[225] on -a large jennet: she is the Spirit of the Locusts; ask her, and she -will help you." The magistrate thought this strange advice; however, -he got everything ready, and waited, as he had been told, at the -roadside. By-and-by, along came a woman with her hair tied up in a -knot, and a serge cape over her shoulders, riding slowly northwards on -an old mule; whereupon the magistrate burned some sticks of incense, -and, seizing the mule's bridle, humbly presented a goblet of wine. The -woman asked him what he wanted; to which he replied, "Lady, I implore -you to save my small magistracy from the dreadful ravages of your -locusts." "Oho!" said the woman, "that scoundrel, Willow, has been -letting the cat out of the bag, has he? He shall suffer for it: I -won't touch your crops." She then drank three cups of wine, and -vanished out of sight. Subsequently, when the locusts did come, they -flew high in the air, and did not settle on the crops; but they -stripped the leaves off every willow-tree far and wide; and then the -magistrate awaked to the fact that the graduate of his dream was the -Spirit of the Willows. Some said that this happy result was owing to -the magistrate's care for the welfare of his people. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[224] Innumerable pamphlets have been published in China on the best -methods of getting rid of these destructive insects, but none to my -knowledge contain much sound or practical advice. - -[225] See No. LII., note 286. The mules of the north of China are -marvels of beauty and strength; and the price of a fine animal often -goes as high as £100. - - - - -CXX. - -MR. TUNG; OR, VIRTUE REWARDED. - - -At Ch'ing-chow there lived a Mr. Tung, President of one of the Six -Boards, whose domestic regulations were so strict that the men and -women servants were not allowed to speak to each other.[226] One day -he caught a slave-girl laughing and talking with one of his -attendants, and gave them both a sound rating. That night he retired -to sleep, accompanied by his _valet-de-chambre_, in his library, the -door of which, as it was very hot weather, was left wide open. When -the night was far advanced, the valet was awaked by a noise at his -master's bed: and, opening his eyes, he saw, by the light of the moon, -the attendant above-mentioned pass out of the door with something in -his hand. Recognizing the man as one of the family, he thought nothing -of the occurrence, but turned round and went to sleep again. Soon -after, however, he was again aroused by the noise of footsteps -tramping heavily across the room, and, looking up, he beheld a huge -being with a red face and a long beard, very like the God of -War,[227] carrying a man's head. Horribly frightened, he crawled under -the bed, and then he heard sounds above him as of clothes being shaken -out, and as if some one was being shampooed.[228] In a few moments, -the boots tramped once more across the room and went away; and then he -gradually put out his head, and, seeing the dawn beginning to peep -through the window, he stretched out his hand to reach his clothes. -These he found to be soaked through and through, and, on applying his -hand to his nose, he smelt the smell of blood. He now called out -loudly to his master, who jumped up at once; and, by the light of a -candle, they saw that the bed clothes and pillows were alike steeped -in blood. Just then some constables knocked at the door, and when Mr. -Tung went out to see who it was, the constables were all astonishment; -"for," said they, "a few minutes ago a man rushed wildly up to our -yamên, and said he had killed his master; and, as he himself was -covered with blood, he was arrested, and turned out to be a servant of -yours. He also declared that he had buried your head alongside the -temple of the God of War; and when we went to look, there, indeed, was -a freshly-dug hole, but the head was gone." Mr. Tung was amazed at all -this story, and, on proceeding to the magistrate's yamên, he -discovered that the man in charge was the attendant whom he had -scolded the day before. Thereupon, the criminal was severely bambooed -and released; and then Mr. Tung, who was unwilling to make an enemy of -a man of this stamp, gave him the girl to wife. However, a few nights -afterwards the people who lived next door to the newly-married couple -heard a terrific crash in their house, and, rushing in to see what was -the matter, found that husband and wife, and the bedstead as well, had -been cut clean in two as if by a sword. The ways of the God are many, -indeed, but few more extraordinary than this.[229] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[226] See No. XL., note 233, and No. XCIV., note 134. - -[227] See No. I., note 39. - -[228] See No. LXIX., note 38. - -[229] It was the God of War who replaced Mr. Tung's head after it had -actually been cut off and buried. - - - - -CXXI. - -THE DEAD PRIEST. - - -A certain Taoist priest, overtaken in his wanderings by the shades of -evening, sought refuge in a small Buddhist monastery. The monk's -apartment was, however, locked; so he threw his mat down in the -vestibule of the shrine, and seated himself upon it. In the middle of -the night, when all was still, he heard a sound of some one opening -the door behind him; and looking round, he saw a Buddhist priest, -covered with blood from head to foot, who did not seem to notice that -anybody else was present. Accordingly, he himself pretended not to be -aware of what was going on; and then he saw the other priest enter the -shrine, mount the altar, and remain there some time embracing Buddha's -head, and laughing by turns. When morning came, he found the monk's -room still locked; and, suspecting something was wrong, he walked to a -neighbouring village, where he told the people what he had seen. -Thereupon the villagers went back with him, and broke open the door, -and there before them lay the priest weltering in his blood, having -evidently been killed by robbers, who had stripped the place bare. -Anxious now to find out what had made the disembodied spirit of the -priest laugh in the way it had been seen to do, they proceeded to -inspect the head of the Buddha on the altar; and, at the back of it, -they noticed a small mark, scraping through which they discovered a -sum of over thirty ounces of silver. This sum was forthwith used for -defraying the funeral expenses of the murdered man. - - - - -CXXII. - -THE FLYING COW. - - -A certain man, who had bought a fine cow, dreamt the same night that -wings grew out of the animal's back, and that it had flown away. -Regarding this as an omen of some pending misfortune, he led the cow -off to market again, and sold it at a ruinous loss. Wrapping up in a -cloth the silver he received, he slung it over his back, and was half -way home, when he saw a falcon eating part of a hare.[230] Approaching -the bird, he found it was quite tame, and accordingly tied it by the -leg to one of the corners of the cloth, in which his money was. The -falcon fluttered about a good deal, trying to escape; and, by-and-by, -the man's hold being for a moment relaxed, away went the bird, cloth, -money, and all. "It was destiny," said the man every time he told the -story; ignorant as he was, first, that no faith should be put in -dreams;[231] and, secondly, that people shouldn't take things they see -by the wayside.[232] Quadrupeds don't usually fly. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[230] See No. VI., note 51. - -[231] The highly educated Confucianist rises above the superstition -that darkens the lives of his less fortunate fellow countrymen. Had -such a dream as the above received an inauspicious interpretation at -the hands of some local soothsayer, the owner of the animal would in -nine cases out of ten have taken an early opportunity of getting rid -of it. - -[232] The Chinese love to refer to the "good old time" of their -forefathers, when a man who dropped anything on the highway would have -no cause to hurry back for fear of its being carried off by a -stranger. - - - - -CXXIII. - -THE "MIRROR AND LISTEN" TRICK. - - -At I-tu there lived a family of the name of Chêng. The two sons were -both distinguished scholars, but the elder was early known to fame, -and, consequently, the favourite with his parents, who also extended -their preference to his wife. The younger brother was a trifle wild, -which displeased his father and mother very much, and made them regard -his wife, too, with anything but a friendly eye. The latter reproached -her husband for being the cause of this, and asked him why he, being a -man like his brother, could not vindicate the slights that were put -upon her. This piqued him; and, setting to work in good earnest, he -soon gained a fair reputation, though still not equal to his -brother's. That year the two went up for the highest degree; and, on -New Year's Eve, the wife of the younger, very anxious for the success -of her husband, secretly tried the "mirror and listen" trick.[233] She -saw two men pushing each other in jest, and heard them say, "You go -and get cool," which remark she was quite unable to interpret for good -or for bad, so she thought no more about the matter. After the -examination, the two brothers returned home; and one day, when the -weather was extremely hot, and their two wives were hard at work in -the cook-house, preparing food for their field-labourers, a messenger -rode up in hot haste[234] to announce that the elder brother had -passed. Thereupon his mother went into the cook-house, and, calling to -her daughter-in-law, said, "Your husband has passed; _you go and get -cool_." Rage and grief now filled the breast of the second son's wife, -who, with tears in her eyes, continued her task of cooking, when -suddenly another messenger rushed in to say, that the second son had -passed, too. At this, his wife flung down her frying-pan, and cried -out, "Now I'll _go and get cool_;" and as in the heat of her -excitement she uttered these words, the recollection of her trial of -the "mirror and listen" trick flashed upon her, and she knew that the -words of that evening had been fulfilled. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[233] One method is to wrap an old mirror (formerly a polished metal -disc) in a handkerchief, and then, no one being present, to bow seven -times towards the Spirit of the Hearth: after which the first words -heard spoken by any one will give a clue to the issue under -investigation. Another method is to close the eyes and take seven -paces, opening them at the seventh and getting some hint from the -objects first seen in a mirror held in the hand, coupled with the -words first spoken within the experimenter's hearing. - -[234] In former days, these messengers of good tidings to candidates -whose homes were in distant parts used to earn handsome sums if first -to announce the news; but now, at any rate along the coast, steamers -and the telegraph have taken their occupation from them. - - - - -CXXIV. - -THE CATTLE PLAGUE. - - -Ch'ên Hua-fêng, of Mêng-shan, overpowered by the great heat, went and -lay down under a tree, when suddenly up came a man with a thick -comforter round his neck, who also sat down on a stone in the shade, -and began fanning himself as hard as he could, the perspiration all -the time running off him like a waterfall. Ch'ên rose and said to him -with a smile, "If Sir, you were to remove that comforter, you would be -cool enough without the help of a fan." "It would be easy enough," -replied the stranger, "to take off my comforter; but the difficulty -would be in getting it on again." He then went on to converse -generally upon other matters, in a manner which betokened considerable -refinement; and by-and-by he exclaimed, "What I should like now is -just a draught of iced wine to cool the twelve joints of my -oesophagus."[235] "Come along, then," cried Ch'ên, "my house is close -by, and I shall be happy to give you what you want." So off they went -together; and Ch'ên set before them some capital wine, which he -produced from a cave, cold enough to numb their teeth. The stranger -was delighted, and remained there drinking until late in the evening, -when, all at once, it began to rain. Ch'ên lighted a lamp; and he and -his guest, who now took off the comforter, sat talking together in -_dishabille_. Every now and again the former thought he saw a light -coming from the back of the stranger's head; and when at length he had -gone off into a tipsy sleep, Ch'ên took the light to examine more -closely. He found behind the ears a large cavity, partitioned by a -number of membranes, and looking like a lattice, with a thin skin -hanging down in front of each, the spaces being apparently empty. In -great astonishment Ch'ên took a hair-pin, and inserted it into one of -these places, when pff! out flew something like a tiny cow, which -broke through the window,[236] and was gone. This frightened Ch'ên, -and he determined to play no more tricks; just then, however, the -stranger waked up. "Alas!" cried he, "you have been at my head, and -have let out the Cattle Plague. What is to be done, now?" Ch'ên asked -what he meant: upon which the stranger said, "There is no object in -further concealment. I will tell you all. I am the Angel of -Pestilence for the six kinds of domestic animals. That form which you -have let out attacks oxen, and I fear that, for miles round, few will -escape alive." Now Ch'ên himself was a cattle-farmer, and when he -heard this was dreadfully alarmed, and implored the stranger to tell -him what to do. "What to do!" replied he; "why, I shall not escape -punishment myself; how can I tell you what to do. However, you will -find powdered _K'u-ts'an_[237] an efficacious remedy, that is if you -don't keep it a secret for your private use."[238] The stranger then -departed, first of all piling up a quantity of earth in a niche in the -wall, a handful of which, he told Ch'ên, given to each animal, might -prove of some avail. Before long the plague did break out; and Ch'ên, -who was desirous of making a little money by it, told the remedy to no -one, with the exception of his younger brother. The latter tried it on -his own beasts with great success; while, on the other hand, those -belonging to Ch'ên himself died off, to the number of fifty head,[239] -leaving him only four or five old cows, which shewed every sign of -soon sharing the same fate. In his distress, Ch'ên suddenly bethought -himself of the earth in the niche; and, as a last resource, gave some -to the sick animals. By the next morning they were quite well, and -then he knew that his secrecy about the remedy had caused it to have -no effect. From that moment his stock went on increasing, and in a few -years he had as many as ever. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[235] Accurate anatomical descriptions must not be looked for in -Chinese literature. "Man has three hundred and sixty-five bones, -corresponding to the number of days it takes the heavens to revolve." -From the _Hsi-yüan-lu_, or _Institutions to Coroners_, Book I., ch. -12. [See No. XIV., note 100.] - -[236] See No. X., note 79. - -[237] _Radix robiniæ amaræ._ - -[238] As the Chinese invariably do whenever they get hold of a useful -prescription or remedy. Master workmen also invariably try to withhold -something of their art from the apprentices they engage to teach. - -[239] The text has "of two hundred hoofs." - - - - -CXXV. - -THE MARRIAGE OF THE VIRGIN GODDESS. - - -At Kuei-chi there is a shrine to the Plum Virgin, who was formerly a -young lady named Ma, and lived at Tung-wan. Her betrothed husband -dying before the wedding, she swore she would never marry, and at -thirty years of age she died. Her kinsfolk built a shrine to her -memory, and gave her the title of the Plum Virgin. Some years -afterwards, a Mr. Chin, on his way to the examination, happened to -pass by the shrine; and entering in, he walked up and down thinking -very much of the young lady in whose honour it had been erected. That -night he dreamt that a servant came to summon him into the presence of -the Goddess; and that, in obedience to her command, he went and found -her waiting for him just outside the shrine. "I am deeply grateful to -you, Sir," said the Goddess, on his approach, "for giving me so large -a share of your thoughts; and I intend to repay you by becoming your -humble handmaid." Mr. Chin bowed an assent; and then the Goddess -escorted him back, saying, "When your place is ready, I will come and -fetch you." On waking in the morning, Mr. Chin was not over pleased -with his dream; however that very night every one of the villagers -dreamt that the Goddess appeared and said she was going to marry Mr. -Chin, bidding them at once prepare an image of him. This the village -elders, out of respect for their Goddess, positively refused to do; -until at length they all began to fall ill, and then they made a clay -image of Mr. Chin, and placed it on the left of the Goddess. Mr. Chin -now told his wife that the Plum Virgin had come for him; and, putting -on his official cap and robes, he straightway died. Thereupon his wife -was very angry; and, going to the shrine, she first abused the -Goddess, and then, getting on the altar, slapped her face well. The -Goddess is now called Chin's virgin wife. - - - - -CXXVI. - -THE WINE INSECT. - - -A Mr. Lin of Ch'ang-shan was extremely fat, and so fond of wine[240] -that he would often finish a pitcher by himself. However, he owned -about fifty acres of land, half of which was covered with millet, and -being well off, he did not consider that his drinking would bring him -into trouble. One day a foreign Buddhist priest saw him, and remarked -that he appeared to be suffering from some extraordinary complaint. -Mr. Lin said nothing was the matter with him; whereupon the priest -asked him if he often got drunk. Lin acknowledged that he did; and the -priest told him that he was afflicted by the wine insect. "Dear me!" -cried Lin, in great alarm, "do you think you could cure me?" The -priest declared there would be no difficulty in doing so; but when Lin -asked him what drugs he intended to use, the priest said he should not -use any at all. He then made Lin lie down in the sun; and tying his -hands and feet together, he placed a stoup of good wine about half a -foot from his head. By-and-by, Lin felt a deadly thirst coming on; and -the flavour of the wine passing through his nostrils, seemed to set -his vitals on fire. Just then he experienced a tickling sensation in -his throat, and something ran out of his mouth and jumped into the -wine. On being released from his bonds, he saw that it was an insect -about three inches in length, which wriggled about in the wine like a -tadpole, and had mouth and eyes all complete. Lin was overjoyed, and -offered money to the priest, who refused to take it, saying, all he -wanted was the insect, which he explained to Lin was the essence of -wine, and which, on being stirred up in water, would turn it into -wine. Lin tried this, and found it was so; and ever afterwards he -detested the sight of wine. He subsequently became very thin, and so -poor that he had hardly enough to eat and drink.[241] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[240] The ordinary "wine" of China is a spirit distilled from rice. -See No. XCIII., note 122. - -[241] The commentator would have us believe that Mr. Lin's fondness -for wine was to him an element of health and happiness rather than a -disease to be cured, and that the priest was wrong in meddling with -the natural bent of his constitution. - - - - -CXXVII. - -THE FAITHFUL DOG. - - -A certain man of Lu-ngan, whose father had been cast into prison, and -was brought almost to death's door,[242] scraped together one hundred -ounces of silver, and set out for the city to try and arrange for his -parent's release. Jumping on a mule, he saw that a black dog, -belonging to the family, was following him. He tried in vain to make -the dog remain at home; and when, after travelling for some miles, he -got off his mule to rest awhile, he picked up a large stone and threw -it at the dog, which then ran off. However, he was no sooner on the -road again, than up came the dog, and tried to stop the mule by -holding on to its tail. His master beat it off with the whip; -whereupon the dog ran barking loudly in front of the mule, and seemed -to be using every means in its power to cause his master to stop. The -latter thought this a very inauspicious omen, and turning upon the -animal in a rage, drove it away out of sight. He now went on to the -city; but when, in the dusk of the evening, he arrived there, he found -that about half his money was gone. In a terrible state of mind he -tossed about all night; then, all of a sudden, it flashed across him -that the strange behaviour of the dog might possibly have some -meaning; so getting up very early, he left the city as soon as the -gates were open,[243] and though, from the number of passers-by, he -never expected to find his money again, he went on until he reached -the spot where he had got off his mule the day before. There he saw -his dog lying dead upon the ground, its hair having apparently been -wetted through with perspiration;[244] and, lifting up the body by one -of its ears, he found his lost silver. Full of gratitude, he bought a -coffin and buried the dead animal; and the people now call the place -the Grave of the Faithful Dog. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[242] In an entry on torture (see No. LXXIII., note 62), which occurs -in my _Glossary of Reference_, I made the following statement:--"The -real tortures of a Chinese prison are the filthy dens in which the -unfortunate victims are confined, the stench in which they have to -draw breath, the fetters and manacles by which they are secured, the -absolute insufficiency even of the disgusting rations doled out to -them, and above all the mental agony which must ensue in a country -with no _Habeas corpus_ to protect the lives and fortunes of its -citizens." - -[243] For a small bribe, the soldiers at the gates of a Chinese city -will usually pass people in and out by means of a ladder placed -against the wall at some convenient spot. - -[244] I believe it is with us only a recently determined fact that -dogs perspire through the skin. - - - - -CXXVIII. - -AN EARTHQUAKE. - - -In 1668 there was a very severe earthquake.[245] I myself was staying -at Chi-hsia, and happened to be that night sitting over a kettle of -wine with my cousin Li Tu. All of a sudden we heard a noise like -thunder, travelling from the south-east in a north-westerly direction. -We were much astonished at this, and quite unable to account for the -noise; in another moment the table began to rock, and the wine-cups -were upset; the beams and supports of the house snapped here and there -with a crash, and we looked at each other in fear and trembling. -By-and-by we knew that it was an earthquake; and, rushing out, we saw -houses and other buildings, as it were, fall down and get up again; -and, amidst the sounds of crushing walls, we heard the shrieks of -women and children, the whole mass being like a great seething -cauldron. Men were giddy and could not stand, but rolled about on the -ground; the river overflowed its banks; cocks crowed, and dogs barked -from one end of the city to the other. In a little while the quaking -began to subside; and then might be seen men and women running half -naked about the streets, all anxious to tell their own experiences, -and forgetting that they had on little or no clothing. I subsequently -heard that a well was closed up and rendered useless by this -earthquake; that a house was turned completely round, so as to face -the opposite direction; that the Chi-hsia hill was riven open, and -that the waters of the I river flowed in and made a lake of an acre -and more. Truly such an earthquake as this is of rare occurrence. - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[245] The exact date is given,--the 17th of the 6th moon, which would -probably fall towards the end of June. - - - - -CXXIX. - -MAKING ANIMALS. - - -The tricks for bewitching people are many. Sometimes drugs are put in -their food, and when they eat they become dazed, and follow the person -who has bewitched them. This is commonly called _ta hsü pa_; in -Kiang-nan it is known as _ch'ê hsü_. Little children are most -frequently bewitched in this way. There is also what is called "making -animals," which is better known on the south side of the River.[246] - -One day a man arrived at an inn in Yang-chow, leading with him five -donkeys. Tying them up near the stable, he told the landlord he would -be back in a few minutes, and bade him give his donkeys no water. He -had not been gone long before the donkeys, which were standing out in -the glare of the sun, began to kick about, and make a noise; whereupon -the landlord untied them, and was going to put them in the shade, when -suddenly they espied water, and made a rush to get at it. So the -landlord let them drink; and no sooner had the water touched their -lips than they rolled on the ground, and changed into women. In great -astonishment, the landlord asked them whence they came; but their -tongues were tied, and they could not answer, so he hid them in his -private apartments, and at that moment their owner returned, bringing -with him five sheep. The latter immediately asked the landlord where -his donkeys were; to which the landlord replied by offering him some -wine, saying, the donkeys would be brought to him directly. He then -went out and gave the sheep some water, on drinking which they were -all changed into boys. Accordingly, he communicated with the -authorities, and the stranger was arrested and forthwith beheaded. - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[246] See No. XCVIII., note 159. - - - - -CXXX. - -CRUELTY AVENGED. - - -A certain magistrate caused a petty oil-vendor, who was brought before -him for some trifling misdemeanour, and whose statements were very -confused, to be bambooed to death. The former subsequently rose to -high rank; and having amassed considerable wealth, set about building -himself a fine house. On the day when the great beam was to be fixed -in its place,[247] among the friends and relatives who arrived to -offer their congratulations, he was horrified to see the oilman walk -in. At the same instant one of the servants came rushing up to -announce to him the birth of a son; whereupon, he mournfully remarked, -"The house not yet finished, and its destroyer already here." The -bystanders thought he was joking, for they had not seen what he had -seen.[248] However, when that boy grew up, by his frivolity and -extravagance he quite ruined his father. He was finally obliged -himself to go into service; and spent all his earnings in oil, which -he swallowed in large quantities. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[247] This corresponds to our ceremony of laying the foundation stone, -except that one commemorates the beginning, the other the completion, -of a new building. - -[248] That is, the disembodied spirit of the oilman. - - - - -CXXXI. - -THE WEI-CH'I DEVIL. - - -A certain general, who had resigned his command, and had retired to -his own home, was very fond of roaming about and amusing himself with -wine and _wei-ch'i_.[249] One day--it was the 9th of the 9th moon, -when everybody goes up high[250]--as he was playing with some friends, -a stranger walked up, and watched the game intently for some time -without going away. He was a miserable-looking creature, with a very -ragged coat, but nevertheless possessed of a refined and courteous -air. The general begged him to be seated, an offer which he accepted, -being all the time extremely deferential in his manner. "I suppose you -are pretty good at this," said the general, pointing to the board; -"try a bout with one of my friends here." The stranger made a great -many apologies in reply, but finally accepted, and played a game in -which, apparently to his great disappointment, he was beaten. He -played another with the same result; and now, refusing all offers of -wine, he seemed to think of nothing but how to get some one to play -with him. Thus he went on until the afternoon was well advanced; when -suddenly, just as he was in the middle of a most exciting game, which -depended on a single place, he rushed forward, and throwing himself at -the feet of the general, loudly implored his protection. The general -did not know what to make of this; however, he raised him up, and -said, "It's only a game: why get so excited?" To this the stranger -replied by begging the general not to let his gardener seize him; and -when the general asked what gardener he meant, he said the man's name -was Ma-ch'êng. Now this Ma-ch'êng was often employed as a lictor by -the Ruler of Purgatory, and would sometimes remain away as much as ten -days, serving the warrants of death; accordingly, the general sent off -to inquire about him, and found that he had been in a trance for two -days.[251] His master cried out that he had better not behave rudely -to his guest, but at that very moment the stranger sunk down to the -ground, and was gone. The general was lost in astonishment; however, -he now knew that the man was a disembodied spirit, and on the next -day, when Ma-ch'êng came round, he asked him for full particulars. -"The gentleman was a native of Hu-hsiang," replied the gardener, "who -was passionately addicted to _wei-ch'i_, and had lost a great deal of -money by it. His father, being much grieved at his behaviour, confined -him to the house; but he was always getting out, and indulging the -fatal passion, and at last his father died of a broken heart. In -consequence of this, the Ruler of Purgatory curtailed his term of -life, and condemned him to become a hungry devil,[252] in which state -he has already passed seven years. And now that the Phoenix Tower[253] -is completed, an order has been issued for the literati to present -themselves, and compose an inscription to be cut on stone, as a -memorial thereof, by which means they would secure their own salvation -as a reward. Many of the shades failing to arrive at the appointed -time, God was very angry with the Ruler of Purgatory, and the latter -sent off me, and others who are employed in the same way, to hunt up -the defaulters. But as you, Sir, bade me treat the gentleman with -respect, I did not venture to bind him." The general inquired what -had become of the stranger; to which the gardener replied, "He is now -a mere menial in Purgatory, and can never be born again." "Alas!" -cried his master, "thus it is that men are ruined by any inordinate -passion."[254] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[249] A most abstruse and complicated game of skill, for which the -Chinese claim an antiquity of four thousand years, and which I was the -first to introduce to a European public through an article in _Temple -Bar Magazine_ for January, 1877. _Apropos_ of which, an accomplished -American lady, Miss A. M. Fielde, of Swatow, wrote as follows:--"The -game seems to me the peer of chess.... It is a game for the slow, -persistent, astute, multitudinous Chinese; while chess, by the -picturesque appearance of the board, the variety and prominent -individuality of the men, and the erratic combination of the -attack,--is for the Anglo-Saxon." - -[250] On this day, annually dedicated to kite-flying, picnics, and -good cheer, everybody tries to get up to as great an elevation as -possible, in the hope, as some say, of thereby prolonging life. It was -this day--4th October, 1878--which was fixed for the total -extermination of foreigners in Foochow. - -[251] See No. XXVI., note 180. - -[252] One of the _prêtas_, or the fourth of the six paths (gâti) of -existence; the other five being (1) angels, (2) men, (3) demons, (5) -brute beasts, and (6) sinners in hell. The term is often used -colloquially for a self-invited guest. - -[253] An imaginary building in the Infernal Regions. - -[254] Mencius reckoned "to play _wei-ch'i_ for money" among the five -unfilial acts. - - - - -CXXXII. - -THE FORTUNE-HUNTER PUNISHED. - - -A certain man's uncle had no children, and the nephew, with an eye to -his uncle's property, volunteered to become his adopted son.[255] When -the uncle died all the property passed accordingly to his nephew, who -thereupon broke faith as to his part of the contract.[256] He did the -same with another uncle, and thus united three properties in his own -person, whereby he became the richest man of the neighbourhood. -Suddenly he fell ill, and seemed to go out of his mind; for he cried -out, "So you wish to live in wealth, do you?" and immediately seizing -a sharp knife, he began hacking away at his own body until he had -strewed the floor with pieces of flesh. He then exclaimed, "You cut -off other people's posterity and expect to have posterity yourself, do -you?" and forthwith he ripped himself open and died. Shortly -afterwards his son, too, died, and the property fell into the hands of -strangers. Is not this a retribution to be dreaded? - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[255] See No. LV., note 310; and No. XCIV., note 137. - -[256] That is, in carrying out the obligations he had entered into, -such as conducting the ceremonies of ancestral worship, repairing the -family tombs, &c. - - - - -CXXXIII. - -LIFE PROLONGED. - - -A certain cloth merchant of Ch'ang-ch'ing was stopping at T'ai-ngan, -when he heard of a magician who was said to be very skilled in casting -nativities. So he went off at once to consult him; but the magician -would not undertake the task, saying, "Your destiny is bad: you had -better hurry home." At this the merchant was dreadfully frightened, -and, packing up his wares, set off towards Ch'ang-ch'ing. On the way -he fell in with a man in short clothes,[257] like a constable; and the -two soon struck up a friendly intimacy, taking their meals together. -By-and-by the merchant asked the stranger what his business was; and -the latter told him he was going to Ch'ang-ch'ing to serve summonses, -producing at the same time a document and showing it to the merchant, -who, on looking closely, saw a list of names, at the head of which -was his own. In great astonishment he inquired what he had done that -he should be arrested thus; to which his companion replied, "I am not -a living being: I am a lictor in the employ of the infernal -authorities, and I presume your term of life has expired." The -merchant burst into tears and implored the lictor to spare him, which -the latter declared was impossible; "But," added he, "there are a -great many names down, and it will take me some time to get through -them: you go off home and settle up your affairs, and, as a slight -return for your friendship, I'll call for you last." A few minutes -afterwards they reached a stream where the bridge was in ruins, and -people could only cross with great difficulty; at which the lictor -remarked, "You are now on the road to death, and not a single cash can -you carry away with you. Repair this bridge and benefit the public; -and thus from a great outlay you may possibly yourself derive some -small advantage." The merchant said he would do so; and when he got -home, he bade his wife and children prepare for his coming -dissolution, and at the same time set men to work and made the bridge -sound and strong again. Some time elapsed, but no lictor arrived; and -his suspicions began to be aroused, when one day the latter walked in -and said, "I reported that affair of the bridge to the Municipal -God,[258] who communicated it to the Ruler of Purgatory; and for that -good act your span of life has been lengthened, and your name struck -out of the list. I have now come to announce this to you." The -merchant was profuse in his thanks; and the next time he went to -T'ai-ngan, he burnt a quantity of paper ingots,[259] and made -offerings and libations to the lictor, out of gratitude for what he -had done. Suddenly the lictor himself appeared, and cried out, "Do you -wish to ruin me? Happily my new master has only just taken up his -post, and he has not noticed this, or where should I be?"[260] The -lictor then escorted the merchant some distance; and, at parting, bade -him never return by that road, but, if he had any business at -T'ai-ngan, to go thither by a roundabout way. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[257] The long flowing robe is a sign of respectability which all but -the very poorest classes love to affect in public. At the port of -Haiphong, _shoes_ are the criterion of social standing; but, as a -rule, the well-to-do native merchants prefer to go barefoot rather -than give the authorities a chance of exacting heavier squeezes, on -the strength of such a palpable acknowledgment of wealth. - -[258] See No. I., note 36. - -[259] See No. LVI., note 317; and No. XCVII., note 150. - -[260] The lictor had no right to divulge his errand when he first met -the cloth merchant, or to remove the latter's name from the top to the -bottom of the list. - - - - -CXXXIV. - -THE CLAY IMAGE. - - -On the river I there lived a man named Ma, who married a wife from the -Wang family, with whom he was very happy in his domestic life. Ma, -however, died young; and his wife's parents were unwilling that their -daughter should remain a widow, but she resisted all their -importunities, and declared firmly she would never marry again. "It is -a noble resolve of yours, I allow," argued her mother; "but you are -still a mere girl, and you have no children. Besides, I notice that -people who start with such rigid determinations always end by doing -something discreditable, and therefore you had better get married as -soon as you can, which is no more than is done every day." The girl -swore she would rather die than consent, and accordingly her mother -had no alternative but to let her alone. She then ordered a clay image -to be made, exactly resembling her late husband;[261] and whenever she -took her own meals, she would set meat and wine before it, precisely -as if her husband had been there. One night she was on the point of -retiring to rest, when suddenly she saw the clay image stretch itself -and step down from the table, increasing all the while in height, -until it was as tall as a man, and neither more nor less than her own -husband. In great alarm she called out to her mother, but the image -stopped her, saying, "Don't do that! I am but shewing my gratitude for -your affectionate care of me, and it is chill and uncomfortable in the -realms below. Such devotion as yours casts its light back on -generations gone by; and now I, who was cut off in my prime because my -father did evil, and was condemned to be without an heir, have been -permitted, in consequence of your virtuous conduct, to visit you once -again, that our ancestral line may yet remain unbroken."[262] Every -morning at cock-crow her husband resumed his usual form and size as -the clay image; and after a time he told her that their hour of -separation had come, upon which husband and wife bade each other an -eternal farewell. By-and-by the widow, to the great astonishment of -her mother, bore a son, which caused no small amusement among the -neighbours who heard the story; and, as the girl herself had no proof -of what she stated to be the case, a certain beadle[263] of the place, -who had an old grudge against her husband, went off and informed the -magistrate of what had occurred. After some investigation, the -magistrate exclaimed, "I have heard that the children of disembodied -spirits have no shadow; and that those who have shadows are not -genuine." Thereupon they took Ma's child into the sunshine, and lo! -there was but a very faint shadow, like a thin vapour. The magistrate -then drew blood from the child, and smeared it on the clay image; upon -which the blood at once soaked in and left no stain. Another clay -image being produced and the same experiment tried, the blood remained -on the surface so that it could be wiped away.[264] The girl's story -was thus acknowledged to be true; and when the child grew up, and in -every feature was the counterpart of Ma, there was no longer any room -for suspicion. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[261] The clay image makers of Tientsin are wonderfully clever in -taking likenesses by these means. Some of the most skilful will even -manipulate the clay behind their backs, and then, adding the proper -colours, will succeed in producing an exceedingly good resemblance. -They find, however, more difficulty with foreign faces, to which they -are less accustomed in the trade. - -[262] See No. LXI., note 346. - -[263] See No. LXIV., note 18. - -[264] Such is the officially authorised method of determining a -doubtful relationship between a dead parent and a living child, -substituting a bone for the clay image here mentioned. - - - - -CXXXV. - -DISHONESTY PUNISHED. - - -At Chiao-chou there lived a man named Liu Hsi-ch'uan, who was steward -to His excellency Mr. Fa. When already over forty a son was born to -him, whom he loved very dearly, and quite spoilt by always letting him -have his own way. When the boy grew up he led a dissolute, extravagant -life, and ran through all his father's property. By-and-by he fell -sick, and then he declared that nothing would cure him but a slice off -a fat old favourite mule they had; upon which his father had another -and more worthless animal killed; but his son found out he was being -tricked, and, after abusing his father soundly, his symptoms became -more and more alarming. The mule was accordingly killed, and some of -it was served up to the sick man; however, he only just tasted it and -sent the rest away. From that time he got gradually worse and worse, -and finally died, to the great grief of his father, who would gladly -have died too. Three or four years afterwards, as some of the -villagers were worshipping on Mount Tai, they saw a man riding on a -mule, the very image of Mr. Liu's dead son; and, on approaching more -closely, they saw that it was actually he.[265] Jumping from his -mule,[266] he made them a salutation, and then they began to chat with -him on various subjects, always carefully avoiding that one of his own -death. They asked him what he was doing there; to which he replied -that he was only roaming about, and inquired of them in his turn at -what inn they were staying; "For," added he, "I have an engagement -just now, but I will visit you to-morrow." So they told him the name -of the inn, and took their leave, not expecting to see him again. -However, the next day he came, and, tying his mule to a post outside, -went in to see them. "Your father," observed one of the villagers, "is -always thinking about you. Why do you not go and pay him a visit?" The -young man asked to whom he was alluding; and, at the mention of his -father's name, he changed colour and said, "If he is anxious to see -me, kindly tell him that on the 7th of the 4th moon I will await him -here." He then went away, and the villagers returned and told Mr. Liu -all that had taken place. At the appointed time the latter was very -desirous of going to see his son; but his master dissuaded him, saying -that he thought from what he knew of his son that the interview might -possibly not turn out as he would desire; "Although," added he, "if -you are bent upon going, I should be sorry to stand in your way. Let -me, however, counsel you to conceal yourself in a cupboard, and thus, -by observing what takes place, you will know better how to act, and -avoid running into any danger." This he accordingly did, and, when his -son came, Mr. Fa received him at the inn as before. "Where's Mr. Liu?" -cried the son. "Oh, he hasn't come," replied Mr. Fa. "The old beast! -What does he mean by that?" exclaimed his son; whereupon Mr. Fa asked -him what _he_ meant by cursing his own father. "My father!" shrieked -the son; "why he's nothing more to me than a former rascally partner -in trade, who cheated me out of all my money, and for which I have -since avenged myself on him.[267] What sort of a father is that, I -should like to know?" He then went out of the door; and his father -crept out of the cupboard from which, with the perspiration streaming -down him and hardly daring to breathe, he had heard all that had -passed, and sorrowfully wended his way home again. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[265] "In various savage superstitions the minute resemblance of soul -to body is forcibly stated."--_Myths and Myth-makers_, by John Fiske, -p. 228. - -[266] An important point in Chinese etiquette. It is not considered -polite for a person in a sitting position to address an equal who is -standing. - -[267] By becoming his son and behaving badly to him. See No. CX., note -190, and the text to which it refers. - - - - -CXXXVI. - -THE MAD PRIEST. - - -A certain mad priest, whose name I do not know, lived in a temple on -the hills. He would sing and cry by turns, without any apparent -reason; and once somebody saw him boiling a stone for his dinner. At -the autumn festival of the 9th day of the 9th moon,[268] an official -of the district went up in that direction for the usual picnic, taking -with him his chair and his red umbrellas. After luncheon he was -passing by the temple, and had hardly reached the door, when out -rushed the priest, barefooted and ragged, and himself opening a yellow -umbrella, cried out as the attendants of a mandarin do when ordering -the people to stand back. He then approached the official, and made as -though he were jesting at him; at which the latter was extremely -indignant, and bade his servants drive the priest away. The priest -moved off with the servants after him, and in another moment had -thrown down his yellow umbrella, which split into a number of pieces, -each piece changing immediately into a falcon, and flying about in all -directions. The umbrella handle became a huge serpent, with red -scales and glaring eyes; and then the party would have turned and -fled, but that one of them declared it was only an optical delusion, -and that the creature couldn't do any hurt. The speaker accordingly -seized a knife and rushed at the serpent, which forthwith opened its -mouth and swallowed its assailant whole. In a terrible fright the -servants crowded round their master and hurried him away, not stopping -to draw breath until they were fully a mile off. By-and-by several of -them stealthily returned to see what was going on; and, on entering -the temple, they found that both priest and serpent had disappeared. -But from an old ash-tree hard by they heard a sound proceeding,--a -sound, as it were, of a donkey panting; and at first they were afraid -to go near, though after a while they ventured to peep through a hole -in the tree, which was an old hollow trunk; and there, jammed hard and -fast with his head downwards, was the rash assailant of the serpent. -It being quite impossible to drag him out, they began at once to cut -the tree away; but by the time they had set him free he was already -perfectly unconscious. However, he ultimately came round and was -carried home; but from this day the priest was never seen again.[269] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[268] See No. CXXXI., note 250. - -[269] The story is intended as a satire on those puffed-up dignitaries -who cannot even go to a picnic without all the retinue belonging to -their particular rank. See No. LVI., note 315. - - - - -CXXXVII. - -FEASTING THE RULER OF PURGATORY. - - -At Ching-hai there lived a young man, named Shao, whose family was -very poor. On the occasion of his mother completing her cycle,[270] he -arranged a quantity of meat-offerings and wine on a table in the -court-yard, and proceeded to invoke the Gods in the usual manner; but -when he rose from his knees, lo and behold! all the meat and wine had -disappeared. His mother thought this was a bad omen, and that she was -not destined to enjoy a long life; however, she said nothing on the -subject to her son, who was himself quite at a loss to account for -what had happened. A short time afterwards the Literary -Chancellor[271] arrived; and young Chao, scraping together what funds -he could, went off to present himself as a candidate. On the road he -met with a man who gave him such a cordial invitation to his house -that he willingly accepted; and the stranger led him to a stately -mansion, with towers and terraces rising one above the other as far -as the eye could reach. In one of the apartments was a king, sitting -upon a throne, who received Shao in a very friendly manner; and, after -regaling him with an excellent banquet, said, "I have to thank you for -the food and drink you gave my servants that day we passed your -house." Shao was greatly astonished at this remark, when the King -proceeded, "I am the Ruler of Purgatory. Don't you recollect -sacrificing on your mother's birthday?" The King then bestowed on Shao -a packet of silver, saying, "Pray accept this in return for your -kindness." Shao thanked him and retired; and in another moment the -palace and its occupants had one and all vanished from his sight, -leaving him alone in the midst of some tall trees. On opening his -packet he found it to contain five ounces of pure gold; and, after -defraying the expenses of his examination, half was still left, which -he carried home and gave to his mother. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[270] See No. XXIII., note 152. - -[271] The examiner for the bachelor's, or lowest, degree. - - - - -CXXXVIII. - -THE PICTURE HORSE. - - -A certain Mr. Ts'ui, of Lin-ch'ing, was too poor to keep his garden -walls in repair, and used often to find a strange horse lying down on -the grass inside. It was a black horse marked with white, and having a -scrubby tail, which looked as if the end had been burnt off;[272] and, -though always driven away, would still return to the same spot. Now -Mr. Ts'ui had a friend, who was holding an appointment in Shansi; and -though he had frequently felt desirous of paying him a visit, he had -no means of travelling so far. Accordingly, he one day caught the -strange horse and, putting a saddle on its back, rode away, telling -his servant that if the owner of the horse should appear, he was to -inform him where the animal was to be found. The horse started off at -a very rapid pace, and, in a short time, they were thirty or forty -miles from home; but at night it did not seem to care for its food, so -the next day Mr. Ts'ui, who thought perhaps illness might be the -cause, held the horse in, and would not let it gallop so fast. -However, the animal did not seem to approve of this, and kicked and -foamed until at length Mr. Ts'ui let it go at the same old pace; and -by mid-day he had reached his destination. As he rode into the town, -the people were astonished to hear of the marvellous journey just -accomplished, and the Prince[273] sent to say he should like to buy -the horse. Mr. Ts'ui, fearing that the real owner might come forward, -was compelled to refuse this offer; but when, after six months had -elapsed, no inquiries had been made, he agreed to accept eight hundred -ounces of silver, and handed over the horse to the Prince. He then -bought himself a good mule, and returned home. Subsequently, the -Prince had occasion to use the horse for some important business at -Lin-ch'ing; and when there it took the opportunity to run away. The -officer in charge pursued it right up to the house of a Mr. Tsêng, who -lived next door to Mr. Ts'ui, and saw it run in and disappear. -Thereupon he called upon Mr. Tsêng to restore it to him; and, on the -latter declaring he had never even seen the animal, the officer walked -into his private apartments, where he found, hanging on the wall, a -picture of a horse, by Tz[)u]-ang,[274] exactly like the one he was in -search of, and with part of the tail burnt away by a joss-stick. It -was now clear that the Prince's horse was a supernatural creature; but -the officer, being afraid to go back without it, would have -prosecuted Mr. Tsêng, had not Ts'ui, whose eight hundred ounces of -silver had since increased to something like ten thousand, stepped in -and paid back the original purchase-money. Mr. Tsêng was exceedingly -grateful to him for this act of kindness, ignorant, as he was, of the -previous sale of the horse by Ts'ui to the Prince. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[272] The Chinese never cut the tails of their horses or mules. - -[273] One of the feudal Governors of by-gone days. - -[274] A Chinese Landseer. - - - - -CXXXIX. - -THE BUTTERFLY'S REVENGE. - - -Mr. Wang, of Ch'ang-shan, was in the habit, when a District -Magistrate, of commuting the fines and penalties of the Penal Code, -inflicted on the various prisoners, for a corresponding number of -butterflies. These he would let go all at once in the court, rejoicing -to see them fluttering hither and thither, like so many tinsel -snippings borne about by the breeze. One night he dreamt that a young -lady, dressed in gay-coloured clothes, appeared to him and said, "Your -cruel practice has brought many of my sisters to an untimely end, and -now you shall pay the penalty of thus gratifying your tastes." The -young lady then changed into a butterfly and flew away. Next day, the -magistrate was sitting alone, over a cup of wine, when it was -announced to him that the censor was at the door; and out he ran at -once to receive His Excellency, with a white flower, that some of his -women had put in his official hat, still sticking there. His -Excellency was very angry at what he deemed a piece of disrespect to -himself; and, after severely censuring Mr. Wang, turned round and went -away. Thenceforward no more penalties were commuted for butterflies. - - - - -CXL. - -THE DOCTOR. - - -A certain poor man, named Chang, who lived at I, fell in one day with -a Taoist priest. The latter was highly skilled in the science of -physiognomy;[275] and, after looking at Chang's features, said to him, -"You would make your fortune as a doctor." "Alas!" replied Chang, "I -can barely read and write; how then could I follow such a calling as -that?" "And where, you simple fellow," asked the priest, "is the -necessity for a doctor to be a scholar? You just try, that's all." -Thereupon Chang returned home; and, being very poor, he simply -collected a few of the commonest prescriptions, and set up a small -stall with a handful of fishes' teeth and some dry honeycomb from a -wasp's nest,[276] hoping thus to earn, by his tongue, enough to keep -body and soul together, to which, however, no one paid any particular -attention. Now it chanced that just then the Governor of Ch'ing-chou -was suffering from a bad cough, and had given orders to his -subordinates to send to him the most skilful doctors in their -respective districts; and the magistrate of I, which was an -out-of-the-way mountainous district, being unable to lay his hands on -any one whom he could send in, gave orders to the beadle[277] to do -the best he could under the circumstances. Accordingly, Chang was -nominated by the people, and the magistrate put his name down to go in -to the Governor. When Chang heard of his appointment, he happened to -be suffering himself from a bad attack of bronchitis, which he was -quite unable to cure, and he begged, therefore, to be excused; but the -magistrate would not hear of this, and forwarded him at once in charge -of some constables. While crossing the hills, he became very thirsty, -and went into a village to ask for a drink of water; but water there -was worth its weight in jade, and no one would give him any. By-and-by -he saw an old woman washing a quantity of vegetables in a scanty -supply of water which was, consequently, very thick and muddy; and, -being unable to bear his thirst any longer, he obtained this and drank -it up. Shortly afterwards he found that his cough was quite cured, and -then it occurred to him that he had hit upon a capital remedy. When he -reached the city, he learned that a great many doctors had already -tried their hand upon the patient, but without success; so asking for -a private room in which to prepare his medicines, he obtained from the -town some bunches of bishop-wort, and proceeded to wash them as the -old woman had done. He then took the dirty water, and gave a dose of -it to the Governor, who was immediately and permanently relieved. The -patient was overjoyed; and, besides making Chang a handsome present, -gave him a certificate written in golden characters, in consequence of -which his fame spread far and wide;[278] and of the numerous cases he -subsequently undertook, in not a single instance did he fail to effect -a cure. One day, however, a patient came to him, complaining of a -violent chill; and Chang, who happened to be tipsy at the time, -treated him by mistake for remittent fever. When he got sober, he -became aware of what he had done; but he said nothing to anybody about -it, and three days afterwards the same patient waited upon him with -all kinds of presents to thank him for a rapid recovery. Such cases as -this were by no means rare with him; and soon he got so rich that he -would not attend when summoned to visit a sick person, unless the -summons was accompanied by a heavy fee and a comfortable chair to ride -in.[279] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[275] Advertisements of these professors of physiognomy are to be seen -in every Chinese city. - -[276] In order to make some show for the public eye. - -[277] See No. LXIV., note 18. - -[278] A doctor of any repute generally has large numbers of such -certificates, generally engraved on wood, hanging before and about his -front door. When I was stationed at Swatow, the writer at Her -Majesty's Consulate presented one to Dr. E. J. Scott, the resident -medical practitioner, who had cured him of opium smoking. It bore two -principal characters, "Miraculous Indeed!" accompanied by a few -remarks, in a smaller sized character, laudatory of Dr. Scott's -professional skill. Banners, with graceful inscriptions written upon -them, are frequently presented by Chinese passengers to the captains -of coasting steamers who may have brought them safely through bad -weather. - -[279] The story is intended as a satire upon Chinese doctors -generally, whose ranks are recruited from the swarms of half-educated -candidates who have been rejected at the great competitive -examinations, medical diplomas being quite unknown in China. Doctors' -fees are, by a pleasant fiction, called "horse-money;" and all -prescriptions are made up by the local apothecary, never by the -physician himself. - - - - -CXLI. - -SNOW IN SUMMER. - - -On the 6th day of the 7th moon[280] of the year Ting-Hai (1647) there -was a heavy fall of snow at Soochow. The people were in a great state -of consternation at this, and went off to the temple of the Great -Prince[281] to pray. Then the spirit moved one of them to say, "You -now address me as _Your Honour_. Make it _Your Excellency_, and, -though I am but a lesser deity, it may be well worth your while to do -so." Thereupon the people began to use the latter term, and the snow -stopped at once; from which I infer that flattery is just as pleasant -to divine as to mortal ears.[282] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[280] This would be exactly at the hottest season. - -[281] The _Jupiter Pluvius_ of the neighbourhood. - -[282] A sneer at the superstitious custom of praying for good or bad -weather, which obtains in China from the Son of Heaven himself down to -the lowest agriculturist whose interests are involved. Droughts, -floods, famines, and pestilences, are alike set down to the anger of -Heaven, to be appeased only by prayer and repentance. - - - - -CXLII. - -PLANCHETTE.[283] - - -At Ch'ang-shan there lived a man, named Wang Jui-t'ing, who understood -the art of planchette. He called himself a disciple of Lü -Tung-pin,[284] and some one said he was probably that worthy's crane. -At his _séances_ the subjects were always literary--essays, poetry, -and so on. The well-known scholar, Li Chih, thought very highly of -him, and availed himself of his aid on more than one occasion; so that -by degrees the literati generally also patronized him. His responses -to questions of doubt or difficulty were remarkable for their -reasonableness; matters of mere good or bad fortune he did not care to -enter into. In 1631, just after the examination at Chi-nan, a number -of the candidates requested Mr. Wang to tell them how they would stand -on the list; and, after having examined their essays, he proceeded to -pass his opinion on their merits.[285] Among the rest there happened -to be one who was very intimate with another candidate, not present, -whose name was Li Pien; and who, being an enthusiastic student and a -deep thinker, was confidently expected to appear among the successful -few. Accordingly, the friend submitted Mr. Li's essay for inspection; -and in a few minutes two characters appeared on the sand--namely, -"Number one." After a short interval this sentence followed:--"The -decision given just now had reference to Mr. Li's essay simply as an -essay. Mr. Li's destiny is darkly obscured, and he will suffer -accordingly. It is strange, indeed, that a man's literary powers and -his destiny should thus be out of harmony.[286] Surely the Examiner -will judge of him by his essay;--but stay: I will go and see how -matters stand." Another pause ensued, and then these words were -written down:--"I have been over to the Examiner's yamên, and have -found a pretty state of things going on; instead of reading the -candidates' papers himself, he has handed them over to his clerks, -some half-dozen illiterate fellows who purchased their own degrees, -and who, in their previous existence, had no status whatever,--'hungry -devils'[287] begging their bread in all directions; and who, after -eight hundred years passed in the murky gloom of the infernal regions, -have lost all discrimination, like men long buried in a cave and -suddenly transferred to the light of day. Among them may be one or two -who have risen above their former selves, but the odds are against an -essay falling into the hands of one of these." The young men then -begged to know if there was any method by which such an evil might be -counteracted; to which the planchette replied that there was, but, as -it was universally understood, there was no occasion for asking the -question. Thereupon they went off and told Mr. Li, who was so much -distressed at the prediction that he submitted his essay to His -Excellency Sun Tz[)u]-mei, one of the finest scholars of the day. This -gentleman examined it, and was so pleased with its literary merit that -he told Li he was quite sure to pass, and the latter thought no more -about the planchette prophecy. However, when the list came out, there -he was down in the fourth class; and this so much disconcerted His -Excellency Mr. Sun, that he went carefully through the essay again for -fear lest any blemishes might have escaped his attention. Then he -cried out, "Well, I have always thought this Examiner to be a scholar; -he can never have made such a mistake as this; it must be the fault of -some of his drunken assistants, who don't know the mere rudiments of -composition." This fulfilment of the prophecy raised Mr. Wang very -high in the estimation of the candidates, who forthwith went and -burned incense and invoked the spirit of the planchette, which at once -replied in the following terms:--"Let not Mr. Li be disheartened by -temporary failure. Let him rather strive to improve himself still -further, and next year he may be among the first on the list." Li -carried out these injunctions; and after a time the story reached the -ears of the Examiner, who gratified Li by making a public -acknowledgment that there had been some miscarriage of justice at the -examination; and the following year he was passed high up on the -list.[288] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[283] Planchette was in full swing in China at the date of the -composition of these stories, more than 200 years ago, and remains so -at the present day. The character _chi_, used here and elsewhere for -Planchette, is defined in the _Shuo Wên_, a Chinese dictionary, -published A.D. 100, "to inquire by divination on doubtful topics," no -mention being made of the particular manner in which responses are -obtained. For the purpose of writing from personal experience, I -recently attended a _séance_ at a temple in Amoy, and witnessed the -whole performance. After much delay, I was requested to write on a -slip of paper "any question I might have to put to the God;" and, -accordingly, I took a pencil and wrote down, "A humble suppliant -ventures to inquire if he will win the Manila lottery." This question -was then placed upon the altar, at the feet of the God; and shortly -afterwards two respectable-looking Chinamen, not priests, approached a -small table covered with sand, and each seized one arm of a forked -piece of wood, at the fork of which was a stumpy end, at right angles -to the plane of the arms. Immediately the attendants began burning -quantities of joss-paper, while the two performers whirled the -instrument round and round at a rapid rate, its vertical point being -all the time pressed down upon the table of sand. All of a sudden the -whirling movement stopped, and the point of the instrument rapidly -traced a character in the sand, which was at once identified by -several of the bystanders, and forthwith copied down by a clerk in -attendance. The whirling movement was then continued until a similar -pause was made and another character appeared; and so on, until I had -four lines of correctly-rhymed Chinese verse, each line consisting of -seven characters. The following is an almost word-for-word -translation:-- - - "The pulse of human nature throbs from England to Cathay, - And gambling mortals ever love to swell their gains by play; - For gold in this vile world of ours is everywhere a prize-- - A thousand taels shall meet the prayer that on this altar lies." - -As the question is not concealed from view, all that is necessary for -such a hollow deception is a quick-witted versifier who can put -together a poetical response _stans pede in uno_. But in such matters -the unlettered masses of China are easily outwitted, and are a -profitable source of income to the more astute of their -fellow-countrymen. - -[284] An official who flourished in the eighth century of our era, and -who, for his devotion to the Taoist religion, was subsequently -canonized as one of the Eight Immortals. He is generally represented -as riding on a crane. - -[285] That is, by means of the planchette-table. - -[286] Our author was here evidently thinking of his own unlucky fate. - -[287] See No. CXXXI., note 252. - -[288] See No. LXXV., note 71. - - - - -CXLIII. - -FRIENDSHIP WITH FOXES. - - -A certain man had an enormous stack of straw, as big as a hill, in -which his servants, taking what was daily required for use, had made -quite a hole. In this hole a fox fixed his abode, and would often shew -himself to the master of the house under the form of an old man. One -day the latter invited the master to walk into the cave, which he at -first declined, but accepted on being pressed by the fox; and when he -got inside, lo! he saw a long suite of handsome apartments. They then -sat down, and exquisitely perfumed tea and wine were brought; but the -place was so gloomy that there was no difference between night and -day. By-and-by, the entertainment being over, the guest took his -leave; and on looking back the beautiful rooms and their contents had -all disappeared. The old man himself was in the habit of going away in -the evening and returning with the first streaks of morning; and as no -one was able to follow him, the master of the house asked him one day -whither he went. To this he replied that a friend invited him to take -wine; and then the master begged to be allowed to accompany him, a -proposal to which the old man very reluctantly consented. However, he -seized the master by the arm, and away they went as though riding on -the wings of the wind; and, in about the time it takes to cook a pot -of millet, they reached a city, and walked into a restaurant, where -there were a number of people drinking together and making a great -noise. The old man led his companion to a gallery above, from which -they could look down on the feasters below; and he himself went down -and brought away from the tables all kinds of nice food and wine, -without appearing to be seen or noticed by any of the company. After -awhile a man dressed in red garments came forward and laid upon the -table some dishes of cumquats;[289] and the master at once requested -the old man to go down and get him some of these. "Ah," replied the -latter, "that is an upright man: I cannot approach him." Thereupon the -master said to himself, "By thus seeking the companionship of a fox, I -then am deflected from the true course. Henceforth I, too, will be an -upright man." No sooner had he formed this resolution, than he -suddenly lost all control over his body, and fell from the gallery -down among the revellers below. These gentlemen were much astonished -by his unexpected descent; and he himself, looking up, saw there was -no gallery to the house, but only a large beam upon which he had been -sitting. He now detailed the whole of the circumstances, and those -present made up a purse for him to pay his travelling expenses; for he -was at Yü-t'ai--one thousand _li_ from home. - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[289] Literally, "golden oranges." These are skilfully preserved by -the Cantonese, and form a delicious sweetmeat for dessert. - - - - -CXLIV. - -THE GREAT RAT. - - -During the reign of the Emperor Wan Li,[290] the palace was troubled -by the presence of a huge rat, quite as big as a cat, which ate up all -the cats that were set to catch it. Just then it chanced that among -the tribute offerings sent by some foreign State was a lion-cat, as -white as snow. This cat was accordingly put into the room where the -rat usually appeared; and, the door being closely shut, a secret watch -was kept. By-and-by the rat came out of its hole and rushed at the -cat, which turned and fled, finally jumping up on the table. The rat -followed, upon which the cat jumped down; and thus they went on up and -down for some time. Those who were watching said the cat was afraid -and of no use; however, in a little while the rat began to jump less -briskly, and soon after squatted down out of breath. Then the cat -rushed at it, and, seizing the rat by the back of the neck, shook and -shook while its victim squeaked and squeaked, until life was extinct. -Thus they knew the cat was not afraid, but merely waited for its -adversary to be fatigued, fleeing when pursued and itself pursuing the -fleeing rat. Truly, many a bad swordsman may be compared with that -rat! - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[290] A.D. 1573-1620, the epoch of the most celebrated "blue china." - - - - -CXLV. - -WOLVES. - - -I.--A certain village butcher, who had bought some meat at market and -was returning home in the evening, suddenly came across a wolf, which -followed him closely, its mouth watering at the sight of what he was -carrying. The butcher drew his knife and drove the animal off; and -then reflecting that his meat was the attraction, he determined to -hang it up in a tree and fetch it the next morning. This he -accordingly did, and the wolf followed him no further; but when he -went at daylight to recover his property, he saw something hanging up -in the tree resembling a human corpse. It turned out to be the wolf, -which, in its efforts to get at the meat, had been caught on the -meat-hook like a fish; and as the skin of a wolf was just then worth -ten ounces of silver, the butcher found himself possessed of quite a -little capital. Here we have a laughable instance of the result of -"climbing trees to catch fish."[291] - - -II.--A butcher, while travelling along at night, was sore pressed by a -wolf, and took refuge in an old mat shed which had been put up for -the watchman of the crops. There he lay, while the wolf sniffed at him -from outside, and at length thrust in one of its paws from underneath. -This the butcher seized hold of at once, and held it firmly, so that -the wolf couldn't stir; and then, having no other weapon at hand, he -took a small knife he had with him and slit the skin underneath the -wolf's paw. He now proceeded to blow into it, as butchers blow into -pork;[292] and after vigorously blowing for some time, he found that -the wolf had ceased to struggle; upon which he went outside and saw -the animal lying on the ground, swelled up to the size of a cow, and -unable to bend its legs or close its open mouth. Thereupon he threw it -across his shoulders and carried it off home. However, such a feat as -this could only be accomplished by a butcher. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[291] A satirical remark of Mencius (Book I.), used by the sage when -combating the visionary projects of a monarch of antiquity. - -[292] This disgusting process is too frequently performed by native -butchers at the present day, in order to give their meat a more -tempting appearance. Water is also blown in through a tube, to make it -heavier; and inexperienced housekeepers are often astonished to find -how light ducks and geese become after being cooked, not knowing that -the fraudulent poulterer had previously stuffed their throats as full -as possible of sand. - - - - -CXLVI. - -SINGULAR VERDICT. - - -A servant in the employ of a Mr. Sun was sleeping alone one night, -when all on a sudden he was arrested and carried before the tribunal -of the Ruler of Purgatory. "This is not the right man," cried his -Majesty, and immediately sent him back. However, after this the -servant was afraid to sleep on that bed again, and took up his -quarters elsewhere. But another servant, named Kuo Ngan, seeing the -vacant place, went and occupied it. A third servant, named Li Lu, who -had an old standing grudge against the first, stole up to the bed that -same night with a knife in his hand, and killed Kuo Ngan[293] in -mistake for his enemy. Kuo's father at once brought the case before -the magistrate of the place, pleading that the murdered man was his -only son on whom he depended for his living; and the magistrate -decided that Kuo was to take Li Lu in the place of his dead son, much -to the discomfiture of the old man. Truly the descent of the first -servant into Purgatory was not so marvellous as the magistrate's -decision! - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[293] This was the man whose destiny it was really to die just then, -and appear before the Ruler of Purgatory. - - - - -CXLVII. - -THE GRATEFUL DOG. - - -A certain trader who had been doing business at Wu-hu and was -returning home with the large profits he had made, saw on the river -bank a butcher tying up a dog.[294] He bought the animal for much more -than its value, and carried it along with him in his boat. Now the -boatman had formerly been a bandit; and, tempted by his passenger's -wealth, ran the boat among the rushes, and, drawing a knife, prepared -to slay him. The trader begged the man to leave him a whole skin;[295] -so the boatman wrapped him up in a carpet and threw him into the -river. The dog, on seeing what was done, whined piteously, and jumping -into the river, seized the bundle with his teeth and did its best to -keep the trader above water until at length a shallow spot was -reached. The animal then succeeded by continuous barking in attracting -the attention of some people on the bank, and they hauled the bundle -out of the river, and released the trader who was still alive. The -latter asked to be taken back to Wu-hu where he might look out for the -robber boatman; but just as he was about to start, lo! the dog was -missing. The trader was much distressed at this; and after spending -some days at Wu-hu without being able to find, among the forest of -masts collected there, the particular boat he wanted, he was on the -point of returning home with a friend, when suddenly the dog -re-appeared and seemed by its barking to invite its master to follow -in a certain direction. This the trader did, until at length the dog -jumped on a boat and seized one of the boatmen by the leg. No beating -could make the animal let go; and on looking closely at the man, the -trader saw he was the identical boatman who had robbed and tried to -murder him. He had changed his clothes and also his boat, so that at -first he was not recognisable; he was now, however, arrested, and the -whole of the money was found in his boat. To think that a dog could -show gratitude like that! Truly there are not a few persons who would -be put to shame by that faithful animal.[296] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[294] The city of Canton boasts several "cat and dog" restaurants; but -the consumption of this kind of food is much less universal than is -generally supposed. - -[295] Not in our sense of the term. It was not death, but -decapitation, or even mutilation, from which the trader begged to be -spared. See No. LXXII., note 59. - -[296] The Chinese dog is usually an ill-fed, barking cur, without one -redeeming trait in its character. Valued as a guardian of house and -property, this animal does not hold the same social position as with -us; its very name is a by-word of reproach; and the people of Tonquin -explain their filthy custom of blackening the teeth on the ground that -a dog's teeth are white. - - - - -CXLVIII. - -THE GREAT TEST. - - -Before Mr. Yang Ta-hung[297] was known to fame, he had already -acquired some reputation as a scholar in his own part of the country, -and felt convinced himself that his was to be no mean destiny. When -the list of successful candidates at the examination was brought to -where he lived, he was in the middle of dinner, and rushed out with -his mouth full to ask if his name was there or not; and on hearing -that it was not, he experienced such a revulsion of feeling that what -he then swallowed stuck fast like a lump in his chest and made him -very ill. His friends tried to appease him by advising him to try at -the further examination of the rejected, and when he urged that he had -no money, they subscribed ten ounces of silver and started him on his -way. - -That night he dreamt that a man appeared to him and said, "Ahead of -you there is one who can cure your complaint: beseech him to aid you." -The man then added-- - - "A tune on the flute 'neath the riverside willow: - Oh, show no regret when 'tis cast to the billow!" - -Next day, Mr. Yang actually met a Taoist priest sitting beneath a -willow tree; and, making him a bow, asked him to prescribe for his -malady. "You have come to the wrong person," replied the priest, -smiling; "I cannot cure diseases; but had you asked me for a tune on -the flute, I could have possibly helped you." Then Mr. Yang knew that -his dream was being fulfilled; and going down on his knees offered the -priest all the money he had. The priest took it, but immediately threw -it into the river, at which Mr. Yang, thinking how hardly he had come -by this money, was moved to express his regret. "Aha!" cried the -priest at this; "so you are not indifferent, eh? You'll find your -money all safe on the bank." There indeed Mr. Yang found it, at which -he was so much astonished that he addressed the priest as though he -had been an angel. "I am no angel," said the priest, "but here comes -one;" whereupon Mr. Yang looked behind him, and the priest seized the -opportunity to give him a slap on the back, crying out at the same -time, "You worldly-minded fellow!" This blow brought up the lump of -food that had stuck in his chest, and he felt better at once; but when -he looked round the priest had disappeared.[298] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[297] A celebrated scholar and statesman, who flourished towards the -close of the Ming dynasty, and distinguished himself by his -impeachment of the powerful eunuch, Wei Chung-hsien,--a dangerous step -to take in those eunuch-ridden times. - -[298] Mr. Yang was a man of tried virtue, and had he been able to -tolerate _oculo irretorto_, the loss of his money, the priest would -have given him, not merely a cure for the bodily ailment under which -he was suffering, but a knowledge of those means by which he might -have obtained the salvation of his soul, and have enrolled himself -among the ranks of the Taoist Immortals. "To those, however," remarks -the commentator, "who lament that Mr. Yang was too worldly-minded to -secure this great prize, I reply, 'Better one more good man on earth, -than an extra angel in heaven.'" - - - - -CXLIX. - -THE ALCHEMIST.[299] - - -At Ch'ang-ngan there lived a scholar named Chia Tz[)u]-lung, who one day -noticed a very refined-looking stranger; and, on making inquiries -about him, learnt that he was a Mr. Chên, who had taken lodgings hard -by. Accordingly, next day Chia called and sent in his card, but did -not see Chên, who happened to be out at the time. The same thing -occurred thrice; and at length Chia engaged some one to watch and let -him know when Mr. Chên was at home. However, even then the latter -would not come forth to receive his guest, and Chia had to go in and -rout him out. The two now entered into conversation, and soon became -mutually charmed with each other; and by-and-by Chia sent off a -servant to bring wine from a neighbouring wine-shop. Mr. Chên proved -himself a pleasant boon companion, and when the wine was nearly -finished, he went to a box, and took from it some wine-cups and a -large and beautiful jade tankard, into the latter of which he poured -a single cup of wine, and lo! it was filled to the brim. They then -proceeded to help themselves from the tankard; but however much they -took out, the contents never seemed to diminish. Chia was astonished -at this, and begged Mr. Chên to tell him how it was done. "Ah," -replied Mr. Chên, "I tried to avoid making your acquaintance solely -because of your one bad quality--avarice. The art I practise is a -secret known to the Immortals only: how can I divulge it to you?" "You -do me wrong," rejoined Chia, "in thus attributing avarice to me. The -avaricious, indeed, are always poor." Mr. Chên laughed, and they -separated for that day; but from that time they were constantly -together, and all ceremony was laid aside between them. Whenever Chia -wanted money, Mr. Chên would bring out a black stone, and, muttering a -charm, would rub it on a tile or a brick, which was forthwith changed -into a lump of silver. This silver he would give to Chia, and it was -always just as much as he actually required, neither more nor less; -and if ever the latter asked for more, Mr. Chên would rally him on the -subject of avarice. Finally, Chia determined to try and get possession -of this stone; and one day, when Mr. Chên was sleeping off the fumes -of a drinking-bout, he tried to extract it from his clothes. However, -Chên detected him at once, and declared that they could be friends no -more, and next day he left the place altogether. About a year -afterwards Chia was one day wandering by the river-bank, when he saw a -handsome-looking stone, marvellously like that in the possession of -Mr. Chên; and he picked it up at once and carried it home with him. A -few days passed away, and suddenly Mr. Chên presented himself at -Chia's house, and explained that the stone in question possessed the -property of changing anything into gold, and had been bestowed upon -him long before by a certain Taoist priest, whom he had followed as a -disciple. "Alas!" added he, "I got tipsy and lost it; but divination -told me where it was, and if you will now restore it to me, I shall -take care to repay your kindness." "You have divined rightly," replied -Chia; "the stone is with me; but recollect, if you please, that the -indigent Kuan Chung[300] shared the wealth of his friend Pao Shu." At -this hint Mr. Chên said he would give Chia one hundred ounces of -silver; to which the latter replied that one hundred ounces was a fair -offer, but that he would far sooner have Mr. Chên teach him the -formula to utter when rubbing the stone on anything, so as just to try -the thing once himself. Mr. Chên was afraid to do this; whereupon Chia -cried out, "You are an Immortal yourself; you must know well enough -that I would never deceive a friend." So Mr. Chên was prevailed upon -to teach him the formula, and then Chia would have tried the art upon -the immense stone washing-block[301] which was lying near at hand, had -not Mr. Chên seized his arm and begged him not to do any thing so -outrageous. Chia then picked up half a brick and laid it on the -washing-block, saying to Mr. Chên, "This little piece is not too much, -surely?" Accordingly, Mr. Chên relaxed his hold and let Chia proceed; -which he did by promptly ignoring the half brick and quickly rubbing -the stone on the washing-block. Mr. Chên turned pale when he saw him -do this, and made a dash forward to get hold of the stone; but it was -too late, the washing-block was already a solid mass of silver, and -Chia quietly handed him back the stone. "Alas! alas!" cried Mr. Chên, -in despair, "what is to be done now? For having thus irregularly -conferred wealth upon a mortal,[302] Heaven will surely punish me. Oh, -if you would save me, give away one hundred coffins[303] and one -hundred suits of wadded clothes." "My friend," replied Chia, "my -object in getting money was not to hoard it up like a miser." Mr. Chên -was delighted at this; and during the next three years Chia engaged in -trade, taking care to be all the time fulfilling his promise to Mr. -Chên. At the expiration of that time Mr. Chên himself reappeared, and, -grasping Chia's hand, said to him, "Trustworthy and noble friend, when -we last parted the Spirit of Happiness impeached me before God,[304] -and my name was erased from the list of angels. But now that you have -carried out my request, that sentence has accordingly been rescinded. -Go on as you have begun, without ceasing." Chia asked Mr. Chên what -office he filled in heaven; to which the latter replied that he was -only a fox, who, by a sinless life, had finally attained to that clear -perception of the Truth which leads to immortality. Wine was then -brought, and the two friends enjoyed themselves together as of old; -and even when Chia had passed the age of ninety years, that fox still -used to visit him from time to time. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[299] Alchemy was widely cultivated in China during the Han dynasty by -priests of the Taoist religion, but all traces of it have now long -since disappeared. - -[300] See No. XXII., note 143. - -[301] These are used, together with a heavy wooden _bâton_, by the -Chinese washerman, the effect being most disastrous to a European -wardrobe. - -[302] For thus interfering with the appointments of Destiny. - -[303] To provide coffins for poor people has ever been regarded as an -act of transcendent merit. The tornado at Canton, in April, 1878, in -which several thousand lives were lost, afforded an admirable -opportunity for the exercise of this form of charity--an opportunity -which was very largely availed of by the benevolent. - -[304] For usurping its prerogative by allowing Chia to obtain -unauthorized wealth. - - - - -CL. - -RAISING THE DEAD. - - -Mr. T'ang P'ing, who took the highest degree in the year 1661, was -suffering from a protracted illness, when suddenly he felt, as it -were, a warm glow rising from his extremities upwards. By the time it -had reached his knees, his feet were perfectly numb and without -sensation; and before long his knees and the lower part of his body -were similarly affected. Gradually this glow worked its way up until -it attacked the heart,[305] and then some painful moments ensued. -Every single incident of Mr. T'ang's life from his boyhood upwards, no -matter how trivial, seemed to surge through his mind, borne along on -the tide of his heart's blood. At the revival of any virtuous act of -his, he experienced a delicious feeling of peace and calm; but when -any wicked deed passed before his mind, a painful disturbance took -place within him, like oil boiling and fretting in a cauldron. He was -quite unable to describe the pangs he suffered; however, he mentioned -that he could recollect having stolen, when only seven or eight years -old, some young birds from their nest, and having killed them; and for -this alone, he said, boiling blood rushed through his heart during the -space of an ordinary mealtime. Then when all the acts of his life had -passed one after another in panorama before him, the warm glow -proceeded up his throat, and, entering the brain, issued out at the -top of his head like smoke from a chimney. By-and-by Mr. T'ang's soul -escaped from his body by the same aperture, and wandered far away, -forgetting all about the tenement it had left behind. Just at that -moment a huge giant came along, and, seizing the soul, thrust it into -his sleeve, where it remained cramped and confined, huddled up with a -crowd of others, until existence was almost unbearable. Suddenly Mr. -T'ang reflected that Buddha alone could save him from this horrible -state, and forthwith he began to call upon his holy name.[306] At the -third or fourth invocation he fell out of the giant's sleeve, -whereupon the latter picked him up and put him back; but this happened -several times, and at length the giant, wearied of picking him up, let -him lie where he was. The soul lay there for some time, not knowing in -which direction to proceed; however, it soon recollected that the land -of Buddha was in the west, and westwards accordingly it began to shape -its course. In a little while the soul came upon a Buddhist priest -sitting by the roadside, and, hastening forwards, respectfully -inquired of him which was the right way. "The record of life and -death for scholars," replied the priest, "is in the hands of -Wên-ch'ang[307] and Confucius; any application must receive the -consent of both." The priest then directed Mr. T'ang on his way, and -the latter journeyed along until he reached a Confucian temple, in -which the Sage was sitting with his face to the south.[308] On hearing -his business, Confucius referred him on to Wên-ch'ang; and, proceeding -onwards in the direction indicated, Mr. T'ang by-and-by arrived at -what seemed to be the palace of a king, within which sat Wên-ch'ang, -precisely as we depict him on earth. "You are an upright man," replied -the God, in reply to Mr. T'ang's prayer, "and are certainly entitled -to a longer span of life; but by this time your mortal body has become -decomposed, and unless you can secure the assistance of P'u-sa,[309] I -can give you no aid." So Mr. T'ang set off once more, and hurried -along until he came to a magnificent shrine standing in a thick grove -of tall bamboos; and, entering in, he stood in the presence of the -God, on whose head was the _ushnisha_,[310] whose golden face was -round like the full moon, and at whose side was a green willow-branch -bending gracefully over the lip of a vase. Humbly Mr. T'ang prostrated -himself on the ground, and repeated what Wên-ch'ang had said to him; -but P'u-sa seemed to think it would be impossible to grant his -request, until one of the Lohans[311] who stood by cried out, "O God, -Thou canst perform this miracle: take earth and make his flesh; take a -sprig of willow and make his bones." Thereupon P'u-sa broke off a -piece from the willow-branch in the vase beside him; and, pouring a -little of the water upon the ground, he made clay, and, casting the -whole over Mr. T'ang's soul, bade an attendant lead the body back to -the place where his coffin was. At that instant Mr. T'ang's family -heard a groan proceeding from within his coffin, and, on rushing to it -and helping out the lately-deceased man, they found he had quite -recovered. He had then been dead seven days. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[305] See No. XIV., note 97. - -[306] See No. LIV., note 293. - -[307] The God of Literature. - -[308] See No. LXXVII., note 76. - -[309] See No. XXVI., note 182. - -[310] A fleshy protuberance on the head, which is the distinguishing -mark of a Buddha. - -[311] The eighteen personal disciples of Shâkyamuni Buddha. Sixteen of -these are Hindoos, which number was subsequently increased by the -addition of two Chinese Buddhists. - - - - -CLI. - -FÊNG-SHUI.[312] - - -At I-chow there lived a high official named Sung, whose family were -all ardent supporters of Fêng-Shui; so much so, that even the -women-folk read books[313] on the subject, and understood the -principles of the science. When Mr. Sung died, his two sons set up -separate establishments,[314] and each invited to his own house -geomancers from far and near, who had any reputation in their art, to -select a spot for the dead man's grave. By degrees, they had collected -together as many as a hundred a-piece, and every day they would scour -the country round, each at the head of his own particular regiment. -After about a month of this work, both sides had fixed upon a suitable -position for the grave; and the geomancers engaged by one brother, -declared that if their spot was selected he would certainly some day -be made a marquis, while the other brother was similarly informed, by -his geomancers, that by adopting their choice he would infallibly rise -to the rank of Secretary of State. Thus, neither brother would give -way to the other, but each set about making the grave in his own -particular place,--pitching marquees, and arranging banners, and -making all necessary preparations for the funeral. Then when the -coffin arrived at the point where roads branched off to the two -graves, the two brothers, each leading on his own little army of -geomancers, bore down upon it with a view to gaining possession of the -corpse. From morn till dewy eve the battle raged; and as neither -gained any advantage over the other, the mourners and friends, who had -come to witness the ceremony of burial, stole away one by one; and the -coolies, who were carrying the coffin, after changing the poles from -one shoulder to another until they were quite worn out, put the body -down by the roadside, and went off home. It then became necessary to -make some protection for the coffin against the wind and rain; -whereupon the elder brother immediately set about building a hut close -by, in which he purposed leaving some of his attendants to keep -guard; but he had no sooner begun than the younger brother followed -his example; and when the elder built a second and third, the younger -also built a second and third; and as this went on for the space of -three whole years, by the end of that time the place had become quite -a little village. By-and-by, both brothers died, one directly after -the other; and then their two wives determined to cast to the winds -the decision of each party of geomancers. Accordingly, they went -together to the two spots in question; and after inspecting them -carefully, declared that neither was suitable. The next step was to -jointly engage another set of geomancers, who submitted for their -approval several different spots, and ten days had hardly passed away -before the two women had agreed upon the position for their -father-in-law's grave, which, as the wife of the younger brother -prophesied, would surely give to the family a high military degree. So -the body was buried, and within three years Mr. Sung's eldest -grandson, who had entered as a military cadet, actually took the -corresponding degree to a literary master of arts. - - ["Fêng-Shui," adds the great commentator I Shih-shih, "may or may - not be based upon sound principles; at any rate, to indulge a - morbid belief in it is utter folly; and thus to join issue and - fight while a coffin is relegated to the roadside, is hardly in - accordance with the doctrines of filial piety or fraternal love. - Can people believe that mere position will improve the fortunes of - their family? At any rate, that two women should have thus quietly - settled the matter is certainly worthy of record."] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[312] Literally, "wind and water," or that which cannot be seen and -that which cannot be grasped. I have explained the term in my _Chinese -Sketches_, p. 143, as "a system of geomancy, by the _science_ of which -it is possible to determine the desirability of sites,--whether of -tombs, houses, or cities, from the configuration of such natural -objects as rivers, trees, and hills, and to foretell with certainty -the fortunes of any family, community, or individual, according to the -spot selected; by the _art_ of which it is in the power of the -geomancer to counteract evil influences by good ones, to transform -straight and noxious outlines into undulating and propitious curves, -and rescue whole districts from the devastations of flood or -pestilence." - -[313] As a rule, only the daughters of wealthy families receive any -education to speak of. - -[314] A reprehensible proceeding in the eyes of all respectable -Chinese, both from a moral and a practical point of view; "for when -brothers fall out," says the proverb, "strangers get an advantage over -them." - - - - -CLII. - -THE LINGERING DEATH. - - -There was a man in our village who led an exceedingly disreputable -life. One morning when he got up rather early, two men appeared, and -led him away to the market-place, where he saw a butcher hanging up -half a pig. As they approached, the two men shoved him with all their -might against the dead animal, and lo! his own flesh began to blend -with the pork before him, while his conductors hurried off in an -opposite direction. By-and-by the butcher wanted to sell a piece of -his meat; and seizing a knife, began to cut off the quantity required. -At every touch of the blade our disreputable friend experienced a -severe pang, which penetrated into his very marrow; and when, at -length, an old man came and haggled over the weight given him, crying -out for a little bit more fat, or an extra portion of lean,[315] then, -as the butcher sliced away the pork ounce by ounce, the pain was -unendurable in the extreme. By about nine o'clock the pork was all -sold, and our hero went home, whereupon his family asked him what he -meant by staying in bed so late.[316] He then narrated all that had -taken place, and on making inquiries, they found that the pork-butcher -had only just come home; besides which our friend was able to tell him -every pound of meat he had sold, and every slice he had cut off. Fancy -a man being put to the lingering death[317] like this before -breakfast! - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[315] Chinese tradesmen invariably begin by giving short weight in -such transactions as these, partly in order to be in a position to -gratify the customer by throwing in a trifle more and thus acquire a -reputation for fair dealing. - -[316] It was only his soul that had left the house. - -[317] See No. LVI., note 322. - - - - -CLIII. - -DREAMING HONOURS. - - -Wang Tz[)u]-ngan was a Tung-ch'ang man, and a scholar of some repute, but -unfortunate at the public examinations. On one occasion, after having -been up for his master's degree, his anxiety was very great; and when -the time for the publication of the list drew near, he drank himself -gloriously tipsy, and went and lay down on the bed. In a few moments a -man rushed in, and cried out, "Sir! you have passed!" whereupon Wang -jumped up, and said, "Give him ten strings of cash."[318] Wang's wife, -seeing he was drunk, and wishing to keep him quiet, replied, "You go -on sleeping: I've given him the money." So Wang lay down again, but -before long in came another man who informed Wang that his name was -among the successful candidates for the highest degree. "Why, I -haven't been up for it yet;" said Wang, "how can I have passed?" -"What! you don't mean to say you have forgotten the examination?" -answered the man; and then Wang got up once more, and gave orders to -present the informant with ten strings of cash. "All right," replied -his wife; "you go on sleeping: I've given him the money." Another -short interval, and in burst a third messenger to say that Wang had -been elected a member of the National Academy, and that two official -servants had come to escort him thither. Sure enough there were the -two servants bowing at the bedside, and accordingly Wang directed that -they should be served with wine and meat, which his wife, smiling at -his drunken nonsense, declared had been already done. Wang now -bethought him that he should go out and receive the congratulations of -the neighbours, and roared out several times to his official servants; -but without receiving any answer. "Go to sleep," said his wife, "and -wait till I have fetched them;" and after awhile the servants actually -came in; whereupon Wang stamped and swore at them for being such -idiots as to go away. "What! you wretched scoundrel," cried the -servants, "are you cursing us in earnest, when we are only joking with -you!" At this Wang's rage knew no bounds, and he set upon the men, and -gave them a sound beating, knocking the hat of one off on to the -ground. In the _mêlée_, he himself tumbled over, and his wife ran in -to pick him up, saying, "Shame upon you, for getting so drunk as -this!" "I was only punishing the servants as they deserved," replied -Wang; "why do you call me drunk?" "Do you mean the old woman who cooks -our rice and boils the water for your foot-bath," asked his wife, -smiling, "that you talk of servants to wait upon your poverty-stricken -carcase?" At this sally all the women burst out in a roar of -laughter; and Wang, who was just beginning to get sober, waked up as -if from a dream, and knew that there was no reality in all that had -taken place. However, he recollected the spot where the servant's hat -had fallen off, and on going thither to look for it, lo! he beheld a -tiny official hat, no larger than a wine-cup, lying there behind the -door. They were all much astonished at this, and Wang himself cried -out, "Formerly people were thus tricked by devils; and now foxes are -playing the fool with me!"[319] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[318] See No. CXXIII., note 234. - -[319] A common saying is "Foxes in the north; devils in the south," as -illustrative of the folk-lore of these two great divisions of China. - - - - -CLIV. - -THE SHE-WOLF AND THE HERD-BOYS. - - -Two herd-boys went up among the hills and found a wolf's lair with two -little wolves in it. Seizing each of them one, they forthwith climbed -two trees which stood there, at a distance of forty or fifty paces -apart. Before long the old wolf came back, and, finding her cubs gone, -was in a great state of distress. Just then, one of the herd-boys -pinched his cub and made it squeak; whereupon the mother ran angrily -towards the tree whence the sound proceeded, and tried to climb up it. -At this juncture, the boy in the other tree pinched the other cub, and -thereby diverted the wolf's attention in that direction. But no sooner -had she reached the foot of the second tree, than the boy who had -first pinched his cub did so again, and away ran the old wolf back to -the tree in which her other young one was. Thus they went on time -after time, until the mother was dead tired, and lay down exhausted on -the ground. Then, when after some time she shewed no signs of moving, -the herd-boys crept stealthily down, and found that the wolf was -already stiff and cold. And truly, it is better to meet a blustering -foe with his hand upon his sword-hilt, by retiring within doors, and -leaving him to fret his violence away unopposed; for such is but the -behaviour of brute beasts, of which men thus take advantage. - - - - -CLV. - -ADULTERATION[320] PUNISHED. - - -At Chin-ling there lived a seller of spirits, who was in the habit of -adulterating his liquor with water and a certain drug, the effect of -which was that even a few cups would make the strongest-headed man as -drunk as a jelly-fish.[321] Thus his shop acquired a reputation for -having a good article on sale, and by degrees he became a rich man. -One morning, on getting up, he found a fox lying drunk alongside of -the spirit vat; and tying its legs together, he was about to fetch a -knife, when suddenly the fox waked up, and began pleading for its -life, promising in return to do anything the spirit-merchant might -require. The latter then released the animal, which instantly changed -into the form of a human being. Now, at that very time, the -wife of a neighbour was suffering under fox influence, and this -recently-transformed animal confessed to the spirit-merchant that it -was he who had been troubling her. Thereupon the spirit-merchant, who -knew the lady in question to be a celebrated beauty, begged his fox -friend to secretly introduce him to her. After raising some -objections, the fox at length consented, and conducted the -spirit-merchant to a cave, where he gave him a suit of serge clothes, -which he said had belonged to his late brother, and in which he told -him he could easily go. The merchant put them on, and returned home, -when to his great delight he observed that no one could see him, but -that if he changed into his ordinary clothes everybody could see him -as before. Accordingly he set off with the fox for his neighbour's -house; and, when they arrived, the first thing they beheld was a charm -on the wall, like a great wriggling dragon. At this the fox was -greatly alarmed, and said, "That scoundrel of a priest! I can't go any -farther." He then ran off home, leaving the spirit-merchant to proceed -by himself. The latter walked quietly in to find that the dragon on -the wall was a real one, and preparing to fly at him, so he too -turned, and ran away as fast as his legs could carry him. The fact was -that the family had engaged a priest to drive away the fox influence; -and he, not being able to go at the moment himself, gave them this -charm to stick up on the wall. The following day the priest himself -came, and, arranging an altar, proceeded to exorcise the fox. All the -villagers crowded round to see, and among others was the -spirit-merchant, who, in the middle of the ceremony, suddenly changed -colour, and hurried out of the front door, where he fell on the ground -in the shape of a fox, having his clothes still hanging about his arms -and legs. The bystanders would have killed him on the spot, but his -wife begged them to spare him; and the priest let her take the fox -home, where in a few days it died. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[320] In no country in the world is adulteration more extensively -practised than in China, the only formal check upon it being a -religious one--the dread of punishment in the world below. - -[321] The text has here a word (literally, "mud") explained to be the -name of a boneless aquatic creature, which on being removed from the -water lies motionless like a lump of mud. The common term for a -jelly-fish is _shui-mu_, "water-mother." - - - - -CLVI. - -A CHINESE SOLOMON. - - -In our district there lived two men, named Hu Ch'êng and Fêng Ngan, -between whom there existed an old feud. The former, however, was the -stronger of the two; and accordingly Fêng disguised his feelings under -a specious appearance of friendship, though Hu never placed much faith -in his professions. One day they were drinking together, and being -both of them rather the worse for liquor, they began to brag of the -various exploits they had achieved. "What care I for poverty," cried -Hu, "when I can lay a hundred ounces of silver on the table at a -moment's notice?" Now Fêng was well aware of the state of Hu's -affairs, and did not hesitate to scout such pretensions, until Hu -further informed him in perfect seriousness that the day before he had -met a merchant travelling with a large sum of money and had tumbled -him down a dry well by the wayside; in confirmation of which he -produced several hundred ounces of silver, which really belonged to a -brother-in-law on whose behalf he was managing some negotiation for -the purchase of land. When they separated, Fêng went off and gave -information to the magistrate of the place, who summoned Hu to answer -to the charge. Hu then told the actual facts of the case, and his -brother-in-law and the owner of the land in question corroborated his -statement. However, on examining the dry well by letting a man down -with a rope round him, lo! there was a headless corpse lying at the -bottom. Hu was horrified at this, and called Heaven to witness that he -was innocent; whereupon the magistrate ordered him twenty or thirty -blows on the mouth for lying in the presence of such irrefragable -proof, and cast him into the condemned cell, where he lay loaded with -chains. Orders were issued that the corpse was not to be removed, and -a notification was made to the people, calling upon the relatives of -the deceased to come forward and claim the body. Next day a woman -appeared, and said deceased was her husband; that his name was Ho, and -that he was proceeding on business with a large sum of money about him -when he was killed by Hu. The magistrate observed that possibly the -body in the well might not be that of her husband, to which the woman -replied that she felt sure it was; and accordingly the corpse was -brought up and examined, when the woman's story was found to be -correct. She herself did not go near the body, but stood at a little -distance making the most doleful lamentations; until at length the -magistrate said, "We have got the murderer, but the body is not -complete; you go home and wait until the head has been discovered, -when life shall be given for life." He then summoned Hu before him, and -told him to produce the head by the next day under penalty of severe -torture; but Hu only wandered about with the guard sent in charge of -him, crying and lamenting his fate, but finding nothing. The -instruments of torture were then produced, and preparations were made -as if for torturing Hu; however, they were not applied,[322] and -finally the magistrate sent him back to prison, saying, "I suppose -that in your hurry you didn't notice where you dropped the head." The -woman was then brought before him again; and on learning that her -relatives consisted only of one uncle, the magistrate remarked, "A -young woman like you, left alone in the world, will hardly be able to -earn a livelihood. [Here she burst into tears and implored the -magistrate's pity.] The punishment of the guilty man has been already -decided upon, but until we get the head, the case cannot be closed. As -soon as it is closed, the best thing you can do is to marry again. A -young woman like yourself should not be in and out of a police-court." -The woman thanked the magistrate and retired; and the latter issued a -notice to the people, calling upon them to make a search for the head. -On the following day, a man named Wang, a fellow villager of the -deceased, reported that he had found the missing head; and his report -proving to be true, he was rewarded with 1,000 _cash_. The magistrate -now summoned the woman's uncle above-mentioned, and told him that the -case was complete, but that as it involved such an important matter as -the life of a human being, there would necessarily be some delay in -closing it for good and all.[323] "Meanwhile," added the magistrate, -"your niece is a young woman and has no children; persuade her to -marry again and so keep herself out of these troubles, and never mind -what people may say."[324] The uncle at first refused to do this; upon -which the magistrate was obliged to threaten him until he was -ultimately forced to consent. At this, the woman appeared before the -magistrate to thank him for what he had done; whereupon the latter -gave out that any person who was willing to take the woman to wife was -to present himself at his yamên. Immediately afterwards an application -was made--by the very man who had found the head. The magistrate then -sent for the woman and asked her if she could say who was the real -murderer; to which she replied that Hu Chêng had done the deed. "No!" -cried the magistrate; "it was not he. It was you and this man here. -[Here both began loudly to protest their innocence.] I have long known -this; but, fearing to leave the smallest loophole for escape, I have -tarried thus long in elucidating the circumstances. How [to the -woman], before the corpse was removed from the well, were you so -certain that it was your husband's body? _Because you already knew he -was dead._ And does a trader who has several hundred ounces of silver -about him dress as shabbily as your husband was dressed? And you, [to -the man], how did you manage to find the head so readily? _Because you -were in a hurry to marry the woman._" The two culprits stood there as -pale as death, unable to utter a word in their defence; and on the -application of torture both confessed the crime. For this man, the -woman's paramour, had killed her husband, curiously enough, about the -time of Hu Chêng's braggart joke. Hu was accordingly released, but -Fêng suffered the penalty of a false accuser; he was severely -bambooed, and banished for three years. The case was thus brought to a -close without the wrongful punishment of a single person. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[322] See No. LXXIII., note 62. - -[323] There is a widespread belief that human life in China is held at -a cheap rate. This may be accounted for by the fact that death is the -legal punishment for many crimes not considered capital in the West; -and by the severe measures that are always taken in cases of -rebellion, when the innocent and guilty are often indiscriminately -massacred. In times of tranquillity, however, this is not the case; -and the execution of a criminal is surrounded by a number of -formalities which go far to prevent the shedding of innocent blood. -The _Hsi-yüan-lu_ (see No. XIV., note 100) opens with the words, -"There is nothing more important than human life." - -[324] See No. LXVIII., note 30. - - - - -CLVII. - -THE ROC. - - -Two herons built their nests under one of the ornaments on the roof of -a temple at Tientsin. The accumulated dust of years in the shrine -below concealed a huge serpent, having the diameter of a -washing-basin; and whenever the heron's young were ready to fly, the -reptile proceeded to the nest and swallowed every one of them, to the -great distress of the bereaved parents. This took place three years -consecutively, and people thought the birds would build there no more. -However, the following year they came again; and when the time was -drawing nigh for their young ones to take wing, away they flew, and -remained absent for nearly three days. On their return, they went -straight to the nest, and began amidst much noisy chattering to feed -their young ones as usual. Just then the serpent crawled up to reach -his prey; and as he was nearing the nest the parent-birds flew out and -screamed loudly in mid-air. Immediately, there was heard a mighty -flapping of wings, and darkness came over the face of the earth, which -the astonished spectators now perceived to be caused by a huge bird -obscuring the light of the sun. Down it swooped with the speed of -wind or falling rain, and, striking the serpent with its talons, tore -its head off at a blow, bringing down at the same time several feet of -the masonry of the temple. Then it flew away, the herons accompanying -it as though escorting a guest. The nest too had come down, and of the -two young birds one was killed by the fall; the other was taken by the -priests and put in the bell tower, whither the old birds returned to -feed it until thoroughly fledged, when it spread its wings and was -gone.[325] - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[325] This story is inserted chiefly in illustration of the fact that -all countries have a record of some enormous bird such as the _roc_ of -the "Arabian Nights." - - - - -CLVIII. - -THE FAITHFUL GANDER.[326] - - -A sportsman of Tientsin, having snared a wild goose, was followed to -his home by the gander, which flew round and round him in great -distress, and only went away at nightfall. Next day, when the -sportsman went out, there was the bird again; and at length it -alighted quite close to his feet. He was on the point of seizing it -when suddenly it stretched out its neck and disgorged a piece of pure -gold; whereupon, the sportsman, understanding what the bird meant, -cried out, "I see! this is to ransom your mate, eh?" Accordingly, he -at once released the goose, and the two birds flew away with many -expressions of their mutual joy, leaving to the sportsman nearly three -ounces of pure gold. Can, then, mere birds have such feelings as -these? Of all sorrows there is no sorrow like separation from those we -love; and it seems that the same holds good even of dumb animals. - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[326] See No. XXXV., note 217. - - - - -CLIX. - -THE ELEPHANTS AND THE LION. - - -A huntsman of Kuang-si, who was out on the hills with his bow and -arrows, lay down to rest awhile, and unwittingly fell fast asleep. As -he was slumbering, an elephant came up, and, coiling his trunk around -the man, carried him off. The latter gave himself up for dead; but -before long the elephant had deposited him at the foot of a tall tree, -and had summoned a whole herd of comrades, who crowded about the -huntsman as though asking his assistance. The elephant who had brought -him went and lay down under the tree, and first looked up into its -branches and then looked down at the man, apparently requesting him to -get up into the tree. So the latter jumped on the elephant's back and -then clambered up to the topmost branch, not knowing what he was -expected to do next. By-and-by a lion[327] arrived, and from among -the frightened herd chose out a fat elephant, which he seemed as -though about to devour. The others remained there trembling, not -daring to run away, but looking wistfully up into the tree. Thereupon -the huntsman drew an arrow from his quiver and shot the lion dead, at -which all the elephants below made him a grateful obeisance. He then -descended, when the elephant lay down again and invited him to mount -by pulling at his clothes with its trunk. This he did, and was carried -to a place where the animal scratched the ground with its foot, and -revealed to him a vast number of old tusks. He jumped down and -collected them in a bundle, after which the elephant conveyed him to a -spot whence he easily found his way home. - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[327] The term here used refers to a creature which partakes rather of -the fabulous than of the real. The _Kuang-yün_ says it is "a kind of -lion;" but other authorities describe it as a horse. Its favourite -food is tiger-flesh. Incense-burners are often made after the "lion" -pattern and called by this name, the smoke of the incense issuing from -the mouth of the animal, like our own gargoyles. - - - - -CLX. - -THE HIDDEN TREASURE. - - -Li Yüeh-shêng was the second son of a rich old man who used to bury -his money, and who was known to his fellow-townsmen as "Old Crocks." -One day the father fell sick, and summoned his sons to divide the -property between them.[328] He gave four-fifths to the elder and only -one-fifth to the younger, saying to the latter, "It is not that I love -your brother more than I love you: I have other money stored away, and -when you are alone I will hand that over to you." A few days -afterwards the old man grew worse, and Yüeh-shêng, afraid that his -father might die at any moment, seized an opportunity of seeing him -alone to ask about the money that he himself was to receive. "Ah," -replied the dying man, "the sum of our joys and of our sorrows is -determined by fate. You are now happy in the possession of a virtuous -wife, and have no right to an increase of wealth." For, as a matter of -fact, this second son was married to a lady from the Ch'ê family whose -virtue equalled that of any of the heroines of history: hence his -father's remark. Yüeh-shêng, however, was not satisfied, and implored -to be allowed to have the money; and at length the old man got angry -and said, "You are only just turned twenty; you have known none of the -trials of life, and were I to give a thousand ounces of gold, it would -soon be all spent. Go! and, until you have drunk the cup of bitterness -to its dregs, expect no money from me." Now Yüeh-shêng was a filial -son, and when his father spoke thus he did not venture to say any -more, and hoped for his speedy recovery that he might have a chance of -coaxing him to comply with his request. But the old man got worse and -worse, and at length died; whereupon the elder brother took no trouble -about the funeral ceremonies, leaving it all to the younger, who, -being an open-handed fellow, made no difficulties about the expense. -The latter was also fond of seeing a great deal of company at his -house, and his wife often had to get three or four meals a-day ready -for guests; and, as her husband did very little towards looking after -his affairs, and was further sponged upon by all the needy ones of the -neighbourhood, they were soon reduced to a state of poverty. The elder -brother helped them to keep body and soul together, but he died -shortly afterwards, and this resource was cut off from them. Then, by -dint of borrowing in the spring and repaying in the autumn,[329] they -still managed to exist, until at last it came to parting with their -land, and they were left actually destitute. At that juncture their -eldest son died, followed soon after by his mother; and Yüeh-shêng was -left almost by himself in the world. He now married the widow of a -sheep-dealer, who had a little capital; and she was very strict with -him, and wouldn't let him waste time and money with his friends. One -night his father appeared to him and said, "My son, you have drained -your cup of bitterness to the dregs. You shall now have the money. I -will bring it to you." When Yüeh-shêng woke up, he thought it was -merely a poor man's dream; but the next day, while laying the -foundations of a wall, he did come upon a quantity of gold. And then -he knew what his father had meant by "when you are alone;" for of -those about him at that time, more than half were gone. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[328] The Law of Inheritance, as it obtains in China, has been ably -illustrated by Mr. Chal. Alabaster in Vols. V. and VI. of the _China -Review_. This writer states that "there seems to be no absolutely -fixed law in regard either of inheritance or testamentary dispositions -of property, but certain general principles are recognised which the -court will not allow to be disregarded without sufficient cause." As a -rule the sons, whether by wife or concubine, share equally, and in -preference to daughters, even though there should be a written will in -favour of the latter. - -[329] This has reference to the "seed-time and harvest." - - - - -CLXI. - -THE BOATMEN OF LAO-LUNG. - - -When His Excellency Chu was Viceroy of Kuangtung, there were constant -complaints from the traders of mysterious disappearances; sometimes as -many as three or four of them disappearing at once and never being -seen or heard of again. At length the number of such cases, filed of -course against some person or persons unknown, multiplied to such an -extent that they were simply put on record, and but little notice was -further taken of them by the local officials. Thus, when His -Excellency entered upon his duties, he found more than a hundred -plaints of the kind, besides innumerable cases in which the missing -man's relatives lived at a distance and had not instituted -proceedings. The mystery so preyed upon the new Viceroy's mind that he -lost all appetite for food; and when, finally, all the inquiries he -had set on foot resulted in no clue to an elucidation of these strange -disappearances, then His Excellency proceeded to wash and purify -himself, and, having notified the Municipal God,[330] he took to -fasting and sleeping in his study alone. While he was in ecstasy, lo! -an official entered, holding a tablet in his hand, and said that he -had come from the Municipal temple with the following instructions to -the Viceroy:-- - - "Snow on the whiskers descending: - Live clouds falling from heaven: - Wood in water buoyed up: - In the wall an opening effected." - -The official then retired, and the Viceroy waked up; but it was only -after a night of tossing and turning that he hit upon what seemed to -him the solution of the enigma. "The first line," argued he, "must -signify _old_ (_lao_ in Chinese); the second refers to the -_dragon_[331] (_lung_ in Chinese); the third is clearly a _boat_; and -the fourth a _door_ here taken in its secondary sense--_man_." Now, to -the east of the province, not far from the pass by which traders from -the north connect their line of trade with the southern seas, there -was actually a ferry known as the Old Dragon (_Lao-lung_); and thither -the Viceroy immediately despatched a force to arrest those employed in -carrying people backwards and forwards. More than fifty men were -caught, and they all confessed at once without the application of -torture. In fact, they were bandits under the guise of boatmen;[332] -and after beguiling passengers on board, they would either drug them -or burn stupefying incense until they were senseless, finally cutting -them open and putting a large stone inside to make the body sink. Such -was the horrible story, the discovery of which brought throngs to the -Viceroy's door to serenade him in terms of gratitude and praise.[333] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[330] See No. I., note 36. - -[331] Clouds being naturally connected in every Chinaman's mind with -these fabulous creatures, the origin of which has been traced by some -to waterspouts. See No. LXXXI., note 84. - -[332] "Boat-men" is the solution of the last two lines of the enigma. - -[333] The commentator actually supplies a list of the persons who -signed a congratulatory petition to the Viceroy on the arrest and -punishment of the criminals. - - - - -CLXII. - -THE PIOUS SURGEON. - - -A certain veterinary surgeon, named Hou, was carrying food to his -field labourers, when suddenly a whirlwind arose in his path. Hou -seized a spoon and poured out a libation of gruel, whereupon the wind -immediately dropped. On another occasion, he was wandering about the -municipal temple when he noticed an image of Liu Ch'üan presenting the -melon,[334] in whose eye was a great splotch of dirt. "Dear me, Sir -Liu!" cried Hou, "who has been ill-using you like this?" He then -scraped away the dirt with his finger-nail, and passed on. Some years -afterwards, as he was lying down very ill, two lictors walked in and -carried him off to a yamên, where they insisted on his bribing them -heavily. Hou was at his wits' end what to do; but just at that moment -a personage dressed in green robes came forth, who was greatly -astonished at seeing him there, and asked what it all meant. Our hero -at once explained; whereupon the man in green turned upon the lictors -and abused them for not shewing proper respect to Mr. Hou. Meanwhile a -drum sounded like the roll of thunder, and the man in green told Hou -that it was for the morning session, and that he would have to attend. -Leading Hou within he put him in his proper place, and, promising to -inquire into the charge against him, went forward and whispered a few -words to one of the clerks. "Oh," said the latter, advancing and -making a bow to the veterinary surgeon, "yours is a trifling matter. -We shall merely have to confront you with a horse, and then you can go -home again." Shortly afterwards, Hou's case was called; upon which he -went forward and knelt down, as did also a horse which was prosecuting -him. The judge now informed Hou that he was accused by the horse of -having caused its death by medicines, and asked him if he pleaded -guilty or not guilty. "My lord," replied Hou, "the prosecutor was -attacked by the cattle-plague, for which I treated him accordingly; -and he actually recovered from the disease, though he died on the -following day. Am I to be held responsible for that?" The horse now -proceeded to tell his story; and after the usual cross-examination and -cries for justice, the judge gave orders to look up the horse's term -of life in the Book of Fate. Therein it appeared that the animal's -destiny had doomed it to death on the very day on which it had died; -whereupon the judge cried out, "Your term of years had already -expired; why bring this false charge? Away with you!" and turning to -Hou, the judge added, "You are a worthy man, and may be permitted to -live." The lictors were accordingly instructed to escort him back, and -with them went out both the clerk and the man in green clothes, who -bade the lictors take every possible care of Hou by the way. "You -gentlemen are very kind," said Hou, "but I haven't the honour of your -acquaintance, and should be glad to know to whom I am so much -indebted." "Three years ago," replied the man in green, "I was -travelling in your neighbourhood, and was suffering very much from -thirst, which you relieved for me by a few spoonfuls of gruel. I have -not forgotten that act." "And my name," observed the other, "is -Liu Ch'üan. You once took a splotch of dirt out of my eye that was -troubling me very much. I am only sorry that the wine and food we have -down here is unsuitable to offer you. Farewell." Hou now understood -all that had happened, and went off home with the two lictors where he -would have regaled them with some refreshment, but they refused to -take even a cup of tea. He then waked up and found that he had been -dead for two days. From this time forth he led a more virtuous life -than ever, always pouring out libations to Liu Ch'üan at all the -festivals of the year. Thus he reached the age of eighty, a hale and -hearty man, still able to sit in the saddle; until one day he met -Liu Ch'üan riding on horseback, as if about to make a long journey. -After a little friendly conversation, the latter said to him, "Your -time is up, and the warrant for your arrest is already issued; but I -have ordered the constables to delay awhile, and you can now spend -three days in preparing for death, at the expiration of which I will -come and fetch you. I have purchased a small appointment for you in -the realms below,[335] by which you will be more comfortable." So Hou -went home and told his wife and children; and after collecting his -friends and relatives, and making all necessary preparations, on the -evening of the fourth day he cried out, "Liu Ch'üan has come!" and, -getting into his coffin,[336] lay down and died. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[334] When the soul of the Emperor T'ai Tsung of the T'ang dynasty was -in the infernal regions, it promised to send Yen-lo (the Chinese -_Yama_ or Pluto) a melon; and when His Majesty recovered from the -trance into which he had been plunged, he gave orders that his promise -was to be fulfilled. Just then a man, named Liu Ch'üan, observed a -priest with a hairpin belonging to his wife, and misconstruing the -manner in which possession of it had been obtained, abused his wife so -severely that she committed suicide. Liu Ch'üan himself then -determined to follow her example, and convey the melon to Yen-lo; for -which act he was subsequently deified. See the _Hsi-yu-chi_, Section -XI. - -[335] As the Chinese believe that their disembodied spirits proceed to -a world organised on much the same model as the one they know, so do -they think that there will be social distinctions of rank and -emolument proportioned to the merits of each. - -[336] A dying man is almost always moved into his coffin to die; and -aged persons frequently take to sleeping regularly in the coffins -provided against the inevitable hour by the pious thoughtfulness of a -loving son. Even in middle life Chinese like to see their coffins -ready for them, and store them sometimes on their own premises, -sometimes in the outhouses of a neighbouring temple. - - - - -CLXIII. - -ANOTHER SOLOMON. - - -At T'ai-yüan there lived a middle-aged woman with her widowed -daughter-in-law. The former was on terms of too great intimacy with a -notably bad character of the neighbourhood; and the latter, who -objected very strongly to this, did her best to keep the man from the -house. The elder woman accordingly tried to send the other back to her -family, but she would not go; and at length things came to such a pass -that the mother-in-law actually went to the mandarin of the place and -charged her daughter-in-law with the offence she herself was -committing. When the mandarin inquired the name of the man concerned, -she said she had only seen him in the dark and didn't know who he was, -referring him for information to the accused. The latter, on being -summoned, gave the man's name, but retorted the charge on her -mother-in-law; and when the man was confronted with them, he promptly -declared both their stories to be false. The mandarin, however, said -there was a _primâ facie_ case against him, and ordered him to be -severely beaten, whereupon he confessed that it was the -daughter-in-law whom he went to visit. This the woman herself flatly -denied, even under torture; and on being released, appealed to a -higher court, with a very similar result. Thus the case dragged on, -until a Mr. Sun, who was well-known for his judicial acumen, was -appointed district magistrate at that place. Calling the parties -before him, he bade his lictors prepare stones and knives, at which -they were much exercised in their minds, the severest tortures allowed -by law being merely gyves and fetters.[337] However, everything was -got ready, and the next day Mr. Sun proceeded with his investigation. -After hearing all that each one of the three had to say, he delivered -the following judgment:--"The case is a simple one; for although I -cannot say which of you two women is the guilty one, there is no doubt -about the man, who has evidently been the means of bringing discredit -on a virtuous family. Take those stones and knives there and put him -to death. I will be responsible." Thereupon the two women began to -stone the man, especially the younger one, who seized the biggest -stones she could see and threw them at him with all the might of her -pent-up anger; while the mother-in-law chose small stones and struck -him on non-vital parts.[338] So with the knives: the daughter-in-law -would have killed him at the first blow, had not the mandarin stopped -her, and said, "Hold! I now know who is the guilty woman." The -mother-in-law was then tortured until she confessed, and the case was -thus terminated. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[337] See No. LXXIII., note 62. - -[338] The Chinese distinguish sixteen vital spots on the front of the -body and six on the back, with thirty-six and twenty non-vital spots -in similar positions, respectively. They allow, however, that a severe -blow on a non-vital spot might cause death, and _vice versâ_. - - - - -CLXIV. - -THE INCORRUPT OFFICIAL. - - -Mr. Wu, Sub-prefect of Chi-nan, was an upright man, and would have no -share in the bribery and corruption which was extensively carried on, -and at which the higher authorities connived, and in the proceeds of -which they actually shared. The Prefect tried to bully him into -adopting a similar plan, and went so far as to abuse him in violent -language; upon which Mr. Wu fired up and exclaimed, "Though I am but a -subordinate official, you should impeach me for anything you have -against me in the regular way; you have not the right to abuse me -thus. Die I may, but I will never consent to degrade my office and -turn aside the course of justice for the sake of filthy lucre." At -this outbreak the Prefect changed his tone, and tried to soothe -him.... [How dare people accuse the age of being corrupt, when it is -themselves who will not walk in the straight path.] One day after this -a certain fox-medium[339] came to the Prefect's yamên just as a feast -was in full swing, and was thus addressed by a guest:--"You who -pretend to know everything, say how many officials there are in this -Prefecture." "_One_," replied the medium; at which the company laughed -heartily, until the medium continued, "There are really seventy-two -holders of office, but Mr. Sub-prefect Wu is the only one who can -justly be called an official." - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[339] Certain classes of soothsayers are believed by the Chinese to be -possessed by foxes, which animals have the power of looking into the -future, &c., &c. - - - - -APPENDIX A. - - -Visitors to Chinese temples of the Taoist persuasion usually make at -once for what is popularly known amongst foreigners as the "Chamber of -Horrors." These belong specially to Taoism, or the ethics of Right in -the abstract, as opposed to abstract Wrong, and are not found in -temples consecrated to the religion of Buddha. Modern Taoism, however, -once a purely metaphysical system, is now so leavened with the -superstitions of Buddhism, and has borrowed so much material from its -younger rival, that an ordinary Chinaman can hardly tell one from the -other, and generally regards them as to all intents and purposes the -same. These rightly-named Chambers of Horrors--for Madame Tussaud has -nothing more ghastly to show in the whole of her wonderful -collection--represent the Ten Courts of Purgatory, through some or all -of which erring souls must pass before they are suffered to be born -again into the world under another form, or transferred to the eternal -bliss reserved for the righteous alone. As a description of these Ten -Courts may not be uninteresting to some of my readers, and as the -subject has a direct bearing upon many of the stories in the previous -collection, I hereto append my translation of a well-known Taoist -work[340] which is circulated gratuitously all over the Chinese Empire -by people who are anxious to lay up a store of good works against the -day of reckoning to come. Those who are acquainted with Dante's -_Divine Comedy_ will recollect that the poet's idea of a Christian -Purgatory was a series of nine lessening circles arranged one above -the other, so as to form a cone. The Taoist believes that his -Purgatory consists of Ten Courts of Justice situated in different -positions at the bottom of a great ocean which lies down in the -depths of the earth. These are sub-divided into special wards, -different forms of torture being inflicted in each. A perusal of this -work will shew what punishments the wicked Chinaman has to expect in -the unseen world, and by what means he may hope to obtain a partial or -complete remission of his sins. - - -_The "Divine Panorama," published by the Mercy of Yü Ti,[341] that Men -and Women may repent them of their Faults and make Atonement for their -Crimes._ - -On the birthday of the Saviour P'u-sa,[342] as the spirits of -Purgatory were thronging round to offer their congratulations, the -ruler of the Infernal Regions spake as follows:--"My wish is to -release all souls, and every moon as this day comes round I would -wholly or partially remit the punishment of erring shades, and give -them life once more in one of the Six Paths.[343] But alas! the wicked -are many and the virtuous few. Nevertheless, the punishments in the -dark region are too severe, and require some modification. Any wicked -soul that repents and induces one or two others to do likewise shall -be allowed to set this off against the punishments which should be -inflicted." The Judges of the Ten Courts of Purgatory then agreed that -all who led virtuous lives from their youth upwards shall be escorted -at their death to the land of the Immortals; that all whose balance of -good and evil is exact shall escape the bitterness of the Three -States,[344] and be born again among men; that those who have repaid -their debts of gratitude and friendship, and fulfilled their destiny, -yet have a balance of evil against them, shall pass through the -various Courts of Purgatory and then be born again amongst men, rich, -poor, old, young, diseased or crippled, to be put a second time upon -trial. Then, if they behave well they may enter into some happy state; -but if badly, they will be dragged by horrid devils through all the -Courts, suffering bitterly as they go, and will again be born, to -endure in life the uttermost of poverty and wretchedness, in death the -everlasting tortures of hell. Those who are disloyal, unfilial, who -commit suicide, take life, or disbelieve the doctrine of Cause and -Effect,[345] saying to themselves that when a man dies there is an -end of him, that when he has lost his skin[346] he has already -suffered the worst that can befall him, that living men can be -tortured, but no one ever saw a man's ghost in the pillory, that after -death all is unknown, etc., etc.,--truly these men do not know that -the body alone perishes but the soul lives for ever and ever; and that -whatsoever evil they do in this life, the same will be done unto them -in the life to come. All who commit such crimes are handed over to the -everlasting tortures of hell; for alas! in spite of the teachings of -the Three Systems[347] some will persist in regarding these warnings -as vain and empty talk. Lightly they speak of Divine mercy, and -knowingly commit many crimes, not more than one in a hundred ever -coming to repentance. Therefore the punishments of Purgatory were -strictly carried out and the tortures dreadfully severe. But now it -has been mercifully ordained that any man or woman, young, old, weak -or strong, who may have sinned in any way, shall be permitted to -obtain remission of the same by keeping his or her thoughts constantly -fixed on P'u-sa and on the birthdays of the Judges of the Ten Courts, -by fasting and prayer, and by vows never to sin again. Or for every -good work done in life they shall be allowed to escape one ward in the -Courts below. From this rule to be excepted disloyal ministers, -unfilial sons, suicides, those who plot in secret against good people, -those who are struck by lightning (_lit._ thunder), those who perish -by flood or fire, by wild animals or poisonous reptiles[348]--these to -pass through all the Courts and be punished according to their -deserts. All other sinners to be allowed to claim their good works as -a set-off against evil, thus partly escaping the agonies of hell and -receiving some reward for their virtuous deeds. - -This account of man's wickedness on the earth and the punishments in -store for him was written in language intelligible to every man and -woman, and was submitted for the approval of P'u-sa, the intention -being to wait the return[349] of some virtuous soul among the sons of -men, and by these means publish it all over the earth. When P'u-sa saw -what had been done, he said it was good; and on the 3rd of 8th moon -proceeded with the ten Judges of Purgatory to lay this book before -God.[350] - -Then God said, "Good indeed! Good indeed! henceforth let all spirits -take note of any mortal who vows to lead a virtuous life and, -repenting, promises to sin no more. Two punishments shall be remitted -him. And if, in addition to this, he succeeds in doing five virtuous -acts, then he shall escape all punishment and be born again in some -happy state--if a woman she shall be born as a man. But more than five -virtuous acts shall enable such a soul to obtain the salvation of -others, and redeem wife and family from the tortures of hell. Let -these regulations be published in the _Divine Panorama_ and circulated -on earth by the spirits of the City Guardian.[351] In fear and -trembling obey this decree and carry it reverently into effect." - - -THE FIRST COURT. - -His Infernal Majesty Ch'in Kuang is specially in charge of the -register of life and death both for old and young, and presides at the -judgment-seat in the lower regions. His court is situated in the great -Ocean, away beyond the Wu-chiao rock,[352] far to the west near the -murky road which leads to the Yellow Springs.[353] Every man and woman -dying in old age whose fate it is to be born again into the world, if -their tale of good and evil works is equally balanced, are sent to the -First Court, and thence transferred back to Life, male becoming -female, female male, rich poor, and poor rich, according to their -several deserts. But those whose good deeds are outnumbered by their -bad are sent to a terrace on the right of the Court, called the -Terrace of the Mirror of Sin, ten feet in height. The mirror is about -fifty feet[354] in circumference and hangs towards the east. Above are -seven characters written horizontally:--"Sin Mirror Terrace upon no -good men." There the wicked souls are able to see the naughtiness of -their own hearts while they were among the living, and the danger of -death and hell. Then do they realize the proverb,-- - - "Ten thousand taels of yellow gold cannot be brought away: - But every crime will tell its tale upon the judgment day." - -When the souls have been to the Terrace and seen their wickednesses, -they are forwarded into the Second Court, where they are tortured and -dismissed to the proper hell. - -Should there be any one enjoying life without reflecting that Heaven -and Earth produce mortals, that father and mother bring the child to -maturity--truly no easy matter; and, ignoring the four obligations,[355] -before receiving the summons, lightly sever the thread of their own -existence by cutting their throats, hanging, poisoning, or drowning -themselves:--then such suicides, if the deed was not done out of -loyalty, filial piety, chastity, or friendship, for which they would -go to Heaven, but in a trivial burst of rage, or fearing the -consequences of a crime which would not amount to death, or in the -hope of falsely injuring a fellow-creature--then such suicides, when -the last breath has left their bodies, shall be escorted to this Court -by the Spirits of the Threshold and of the Hearth. They shall be -placed in the Hunger and Thirst Section, and every day from 7 till 11 -o'clock they will resume their mortal coil, and suffer again the pain -and bitterness of death. After seventy days, or one or two years as -the case may be, they will be conducted back to the scene of their -suicide, but will not be permitted to taste the funeral meats, or -avail themselves of the usual offerings to the dead. Bitterly will -they repent, unable as they will be to render themselves visible and -frighten people,[356] vainly striving to procure a substitute.[357] -For when the substitute shall have been harmlessly entrapped, the -Spirits of the Threshold and Hearth will reconduct the erring soul -back to this Court, whence it will be sent on to the Second Court, -where its balance of good and evil will be struck, and dreadful -tortures applied, being finally passed on through the various Courts -to the utter misery of hell. Should any one have such intention of -suicide and thus threaten a fellow creature, even though he does not -commit the act but continues to live not without virtue, yet shall it -not be permitted in any way to remit his punishment. Any soul which -after suicide shall not remain invisible, but shall frighten people to -death, will be seized by black-faced long-tusked devils and tortured -in the various hells, to be finally thrust into the great Gehenna, for -ever to remain hung up in chains, and not permitted to be born again. - -Every Buddhist or Taoist priest who receives money for prayers and -liturgies, but skips over words and misses out sentences, on arriving -at this, the First Court, will be sent to the section for the -Completion of Prayer, and there in a small dark room he shall pick out -such passages as he has omitted, and make good the deficiency as best -he can, by the uncertain light of an infinitesimal wick burning in a -gallon of oil. Even good and virtuous priests must also repair any -omissions they may have (accidentally) made, and so must every man or -woman who in private devotion may have omitted or wrongly repeated any -part of the sacred writings from over-earnestness, their attention not -being properly fixed on the actual words they repeat. The same applies -to female priests. A dispensation from Buddha to remit such punishment -is put in force on the first day of each month when the names are -entered in the register of the virtuous. - -O ye dwellers upon earth, on the 1st day of the 2nd moon, fasting turn -to the north and make oath to abstain from evil and fix your thoughts -on good, that ye may escape hell! The precepts of Buddha are -circulated over the whole world to warn mankind to believe and repent, -that when the last hour comes their spirits may be escorted by -dark-robed boys to realms of bliss and happiness in the west. - - -THE SECOND COURT. - -His Infernal Majesty, Ch'u Ching, reigns at the bottom of the great -Ocean. Away to the south, below the Wu-chiao rocks, he has a vast -hell, many leagues in extent, and subdivided into sixteen wards, as -follows:-- - -In the first, nothing but black clouds and constant sand-storms. In -the second, mud and filth. In the third, _chevaux de frise_. In the -fourth, gnawing hunger. In the fifth, burning thirst. In the sixth, -blood and pus. In the seventh, the shades are plunged into a brazen -cauldron (of boiling water). In the eighth, the same punishment is -repeated many times. In the ninth, they are put into iron clothes. In -the tenth, they are stretched on a rack to regulation length. In the -eleventh, they are pecked by fowls. In the twelfth, they have only -rivers of lime to drink. In the thirteenth, they are hacked to pieces. -In the fourteenth, the leaves of the trees are as sharp as -sword-points. In the fifteenth they are pursued by foxes and wolves. -In the sixteenth, all is ice and snow. - -Those who lead astray young boys and girls, and then escape punishment -by cutting off their hair and entering the priesthood;[358] those who -filch letters, pictures, books, etc. entrusted to their care, and then -pretend to have lost them; those who injure a fellow-creature's ear, -eye, hand, foot, fingers, or toes; those who practise as doctors -without any knowledge of the medical art; those who will not ransom -grown-up slave-girls;[359] those who, contracting marriage for the -sake of gain, falsely state their ages; or those who in cases of -betrothal, before actual marriage, find out that one of the -contracting parties is a bad character, and yet do not come forward to -say so, but inflict an irreparable wrong on the innocent one;--such -offenders, when their quota of crime has been cast up, their youth or -age and the consequences of their acts taken into consideration, will -be seized by horrid red-faced devils and thrust into the great Hell, -and thence despatched to the particular ward in which they are to be -tormented. When their time of suffering there has expired, they will -be moved into the Third Hall, there to be tortured and passed on to -Gehenna. - -O ye men and women of the world, take this book and warn all sinners, -or copy it out and circulate it for general information! If you see -people sick and ill, give medicine to heal them. If you see people -poor and hungry, feed them. If you see people in difficulties, give -money to save them. Repent your past errors, and you will be allowed -to cancel that evil by future good, so that when the hour arrives you -will pass at once into the Tenth Hall, and thence return again to -existence on earth. - -Let such as love all creatures endowed with life, and do not -recklessly cut and slay, but teach their children not to harm small -animals and insects--let these, on the 1st of the 3rd moon, register -an oath not to take life, but to aid in preserving it. Thus they will -avoid passing through Purgatory, and will also enter at once the Tenth -Hall, to be born again in some happy state. - - -THE THIRD COURT. - -His Infernal Majesty Sung Ti reigns at the bottom of the great Ocean, -away to the south-east, below the Wu-chiao rock, in the Gehenna of -Black Ropes. This Hall is many leagues wide, and is subdivided into -sixteen wards, as follows:-- - -In the first everything is Salt; above, below, and all round, the eye -rests upon Salt alone. The shades feed upon it, and suffer horrid -torments in consequence. When the fit has passed away they return to -it once again, and suffer agonies more unutterable than before. In the -second, the erring shades are bound with cords and carry -heavily-weighted _cangues_. In the third, they are perpetually pierced -through the ribs. In the fourth, their faces are scraped with iron and -copper knives. In the fifth, their fat is scraped away from their -bodies. In the sixth, their hearts and livers are squeezed with -pincers. In the seventh, their eyes are gouged. In the eighth, they -are flayed. In the ninth, their feet are cut off. In the tenth, their -finger-nails and toe-nails are pulled out. In the eleventh their blood -is sucked. In the twelfth, they are hung up head downwards. In the -thirteenth, their shoulder-bones are split. In the fourteenth, they -are tormented by insects and reptiles. In the fifteenth, they are -beaten on the thighs. In the sixteenth, their hearts are scratched. - -Those who enjoy the light of day without reflecting on the Imperial -bounty;[360] officers of State who revel in large emoluments without -reciprocating their sovereign's goodness; private individuals who do -not repay the debt of water and earth;[361] wives and concubines who -slight their marital lords; those who fail in their duties as acting -sons,[362] or such as reap what advantages there are and then go off -to their own homes; slaves who disregard their masters; official -underlings who are ungrateful to their superiors; working partners who -behave badly to the moneyed partner; culprits who escape from prison -or abscond from their place of banishment; those who break their bail -and get others into trouble; and those infatuated ones who have long -omitted to pray and repent--all these, even though they have a set-off -of good deeds, must pass through the misery of every ward. Those who -interfere with another man's Fêng-Shui; those who obstruct funeral -obsequies or the completion of graves; those who in digging come on a -coffin and do not immediately cover it up, but injure the bones; those -who steal or avoid paying up their quota of grain;[363] those who lose -all record of the site of their family burying-place; those who incite -others to commit crimes; those who promote litigation; those who write -anonymous placards; those who repudiate a betrothal; those who forge -deeds and other documents; those who receive payment of a debt without -signing a receipt or giving up the I O U; those who counterfeit -signatures and seals; those who alter bills; those who injure -posterity in any way--all these, and similar offenders, shall be -punished according to the gravity of each offence. Devils with big -knives will seize the erring ones and thrust them into the great -Gehenna; besides which they shall expiate their sins in the proper -number of wards, and shall then be forwarded to the Fourth Court where -they shall be tortured and dismissed to the general Gehenna. - -O ye sons of men, on the 8th day of the 2nd moon, register an oath -that ye will do no evil. Thus you may escape the bitterness of these -hells. - - -THE FOURTH COURT. - -The Lord of the Five Senses reigns at the bottom of the great Ocean, -away to the east below the Wu-chiao rock. His Court is many leagues -wide, and is subdivided into sixteen wards, as follows:-- - -In the first, the wicked shades are hung up and water is continually -poured over them. In the second, they are made to kneel on chains and -pieces of split bamboo. In the third, their hands are scalded with -boiling water. In the fourth, their hands swell and stream with -perspiration. In the fifth, their muscles are cut and their bones -pulled out. In the sixth, their shoulders are pricked with a trident -and the skin rubbed with a hard brush. In the seventh, holes are bored -into their flesh. In the eighth, they are made to sit on spikes. In -the ninth, they wear iron clothes. In the tenth, they are placed under -heavy pieces of wood, stone, earth, or tiles. In the eleventh, their -eyes are put out. In the twelfth, their mouths are choked with dust. -In the thirteenth, they are perpetually dosed with nasty medicines. In -the fourteenth, it is so slippery they are always falling down. In the -fifteenth, their mouths are painfully pricked. In the sixteenth, their -bodies are buried under broken stones, &c., the head alone being left -out. - -Those who cheat the customs and evade taxes; those who repudiate their -rent, use weighted scales, sell sham medicines, water their rice,[364] -utter base coin, get deeply in debt, sell doctored[365] silks and -satins, scrape[366] or add size to linen cloth; those who do not make -way for the cripples, old and young; those who encroach upon petty -trade rights[367] of old or young; those who delay in delivering -letters entrusted to them; steal bricks from walls as they pass by, or -oil and candles from lamps;[368] poor people who do not behave -properly and rich people who are not compassionate to the poor; those -who promise a loan and go back on their word; those who see people -suffering from illness, yet cannot bring themselves to part with -certain useful drugs they may have in their possession; those who know -good prescriptions but keep them secret; those who throw vessels which -have contained medicine or broken cups and bottles into the street; -those who allow their mules and ponies to be a nuisance to other -people; those who destroy their neighbour's crops or his walls and -fences; those who try to bewitch their enemies,[369] and those who try -to frighten people in any way,--all these shall be punished according -to the gravity of their offences, and shall be thrust by the devils -into the great Gehenna until their time arrives for passing into the -Fifth Court. - -O ye children of this world, if on the 18th day of the 2nd moon you -register an oath to sin no more, then you may escape the various wards -of this Hall; and if to this book you add examples of rewards and -punishments following upon virtues and crimes, and hand them down to -posterity for the good of the human race, so that all who read may -repent them of their wickednesses--then they will be without sin, and -you not without merit! - - -THE FIFTH COURT. - -His Infernal Majesty, Yen Lo,[370] said,--"Our proper place is in the -First Court; but, pitying those who die by foul means, and should be -sent back to earth to have their wrongs redressed, we have moved our -judgment-seat to the great hell at the bottom of the Ocean, away to -the north-east below the Wu-chiao rock, and have subdivided this hell -into sixteen wards for the torment of souls. All those shades who come -before us have already suffered long tortures in the previous four -Courts, whence, if they are hardened sinners, they are passed on after -seven days to this Court, where if again found to be utterly hardened, -corruption will overtake them by the fifth or seventh day. All shades -cry out either that they have left some vow unfulfilled, or that they -wish to build a temple or a bridge, make a road, clean out a river or -well, publish some book teaching people to be virtuous, that they have -not released their due number of lives, that they have filial duties -or funeral obsequies to perform, some act of kindness to repay, &c., -&c. For these reasons they pray to be allowed to return once more to -the light of day, and are always ready to make oath that henceforth -they will lead most exemplary lives. We, hearing this, reply,--In days -gone by ye openly worked evil, but now that your boat has reached the -midstream, ye bethink yourselves of caulking the leak. For although -P'u-sa in his great mercy decreed that there should be a modification -of torture, and that good works might be set off against evil, the -same being submitted to God and ratified by Divine Decree, to be -further published in the realms below and in the Infernal City--yet we -Judges of the Ten Courts have not yet received one single virtuous man -amongst us, who, coming in the flesh, might carry this _Divine -Panorama_ back with him to the light of day. Truly those who suffer in -hell and on earth cannot complain, and virtuous men are rare! But now -ye have come to my Court, having beheld your own wickedness in the -mirror of sin. No more--bull-headed, horse-faced devils, away with -them to the Terrace[371] that they may once more gaze upon their lost -homes!" - -This Terrace is curved in front like a bow; it looks east, west, and -south. It is eighty-one _li_ from one extreme to the other. The back -part is like the string of the bow; it is enclosed by a wall of sharp -swords. It is 490 feet high; its sides are knife-blades; and the whole -is in sixty-three storeys. No good shade comes to this Terrace; -neither do those whose balance of good and evil is exact. Wicked souls -alone behold their homes close by and can see and hear what is going -on. They hear old and young talking together; they see their last -wishes disregarded and their instructions disobeyed. Everything seems -to have undergone a change. The property they scraped together with so -much trouble is dissipated and gone. The husband thinks of taking -another wife; the widow meditates second nuptials.[372] Strangers are -in possession of the old estate; there is nothing to divide amongst -the children. Debts long since paid are brought again for settlement, -and the survivors are called upon to acknowledge claims upon the -departed. Debts owed are lost for want of evidence, with endless -recriminations, abuse, and general confusion, all of which falls upon -the three families[373] of the deceased. They in their anger speak ill -of him that is gone. He sees his children become corrupt, and his -friends fall away. Some, perhaps, for the sake of bygone times, may -stroke the coffin and let fall a tear, departing quickly with a cold -smile. Worse than that, the wife sees her husband tortured in the -yamên; the husband sees his wife victim to some horrible disease, -lands gone, houses destroyed by flood or fire, and everything in -unutterable confusion--the reward of former sins.[374] All souls, -after the misery of the Terrace, will be thrust into the great -Gehenna, and, when the amount of wickedness of each has been -ascertained, they will be passed through the sixteen wards for the -punishment of evil hearts. In the Gehenna they will be buried under -wooden pillars, bound with copper snakes, crushed by iron dogs, tied -tightly hand and foot, be ripped open and have their hearts torn out, -minced up and given to snakes, their entrails being thrown to dogs. -Then, when their time is up, the pain will cease and their bodies -become whole once more, preparatory to being passed through the -sixteen wards. - -In the first are non-worshippers and sceptics. In the second, those -who have destroyed or hurt living creatures. In the third, those who -do not fulfil their vows. In the fourth, believers in false doctrines, -magicians, and sorcerers. In the fifth, those who tyrannize over the -weak but cringe to the strong; also those who openly wish for -another's death. In the sixth, those who try to put their misfortunes -on to other people's shoulders. In the seventh, those who lead immoral -lives. In the eighth, those who injure others to benefit themselves. -In the ninth, those who are parsimonious and will not help people in -trouble. In the tenth, those who steal and involve the innocent. In -the eleventh, those who forget kindness or seek revenge. In the -twelfth, those who by pernicious drugs stir up others to quarrel, -keeping themselves out of harm's way. In the thirteenth, those who -deceive or spread false reports. In the fourteenth, those who love -brawling and implicate others. In the fifteenth, those who envy the -virtuous and wise. In the sixteenth, those who are lost in vice, -evil-speakers, slanderers, and such like. - -All who disbelieve the doctrine of Cause and Effect, who obstruct good -works, make a pretence of piety, talk of other people's sins, burn or -injure religious books, omit to fast when praying for the sick, -interfere with the adoration of Buddha, slander the priesthood, or, if -scholars, abstain from instructing women and children; those who dig -up graves and obliterate all traces thereof, set light to woods and -forests, allow their servants to be careless in handling fire and thus -endanger their neighbours' property; those who wantonly discharge -arrows and bolts, who try their strength against the sick or weak, -throw potsherds over a wall, poison fish, let off guns, catch birds -either with net, sticky pole,[375] or trap; those who throw down salt -to kill plants, who do not bury dead cats and venomous snakes deep in -the ground, who dig out corpses, who break the soil or alter their -walls and stoves at wrong seasons,[376] who encroach on the public -road or take possession of other people's land, who fill up wells and -drains, &c., &c.,--all these, when they return from the Terrace, shall -first be tortured in the great Gehenna, and then such as are to have -their hearts minced shall be passed into the sixteen wards, thence to -be sent on to the Sixth Court for the punishment of other crimes. -Those who in life have not been guilty of the above sins, or, having -sinned, did on the 8th day of the 1st moon, fasting, register a vow -to sin no more, shall not only escape the punishments of this Court, -but shall also gain some further remission of torture in the Sixth -Court. Those, however, who are guilty of taking life, of gross -immorality, of stealing and implicating the innocent, of ingratitude -and revenge, of infatuated vice which no warnings can turn from its -course,--these shall not escape one jot of their punishments. - - -THE SIXTH COURT. - -This Court is situated at the bottom of the great Ocean, due north of -the Wu-chiao rock. It is a vast, noisy Gehenna, many leagues in -extent, and around it are sixteen wards. - -In the first, the souls are made to kneel for long periods on iron -shot. In the second, they are placed up to their necks in filth. In -the third, they are pounded till the blood runs out. In the fourth, -their mouths are opened with iron pincers and filled full of needles. -In the fifth, they are bitten by rats. In the sixth, they are enclosed -in a net of thorns and nipped by locusts. In the seventh, they are -crushed to a jelly. In the eighth, their skin is lacerated and they -are beaten on the raw. In the ninth, their mouths are filled with -fire. In the tenth, they are licked by flames. In the eleventh, they -are subjected to noisome smells. In the twelfth, they are butted by -oxen and trampled on by horses. In the thirteenth, their hearts are -scratched. In the fourteenth, their heads are rubbed till their skulls -come off. In the fifteenth, they are chopped in two at the waist. In -the sixteenth, their skin is taken off and rolled up into spills. - -Those discontented ones who rail against Heaven and revile Earth, who -are always finding fault either with the wind, thunder, heat, cold, -fine weather or rain; those who let their tears fall towards the -north;[377] who steal the gold from the inside[378] or scrape the -gilding from the outside of images; those who take holy names in vain, -who shew no respect for written paper, who throw down dirt and rubbish -near pagodas or temples, who use dirty cook-houses and stoves for -preparing the sacrificial meats, who do not abstain from eating beef -and dog-flesh;[379] those who have in their possession blasphemous or -obscene books and do not destroy them, who obliterate or tear books -which teach man to be good, who carve on common articles of household -use the symbol of the origin of all things,[380] the Sun and Moon and -Seven Stars, the Royal Mother and the God of Longevity on the same -article,[381] or representations of any of the Immortals; those who -embroider the Svastika[382] on fancy work, or mark characters on silk, -satin, or cloth, on banners, beds, chairs, tables, or any kind of -utensil; those who secretly wear clothes adorned with the dragon and -the phoenix[383] only to be trampled under foot, who buy up grain and -hold until the price is exorbitantly high--all these shall be thrust -into the great and noisy Gehenna, there to be examined as to their -misdeeds and passed accordingly into one of the sixteen wards, whence, -at the expiration of their time, they will be sent for further -questioning on to the Seventh Court. - -All dwellers upon earth who on the 8th day of the 3rd moon, fasting, -register a vow from that date to sin no more, and, on the 14th and -15th of the 5th moon, the 3rd of the 8th moon, and the 10th of the -10th moon, to practise abstinence, vowing moreover to exert themselves -to convert others,--these shall escape the bitterness of all the -above-mentioned wards. - - -THE SEVENTH COURT. - -His Infernal Majesty, T'ai Shan, reigns at the bottom of the great -Ocean, away to the north-west, below the Wu-chiao rock. His is a -vast, noisy Court, measuring many leagues in circumference and -subdivided into sixteen wards, as follows:-- - -In the first, the wicked souls are made to swallow their own blood. In -the second, their legs are pierced and thrust into a fiery pit. In the -third, their chests are cut open. In the fourth, their hair is torn -out with iron combs. In the fifth, they are gnawed by dogs. In the -sixth, great stones are placed on their heads. In the seventh, their -skulls are pierced. In the eighth, they wear fiery clothes. In the -ninth, their skin is torn and pulled by pigs. In the tenth, they are -pecked by huge birds. In the eleventh, they are hung up and beaten on -the feet. In the twelfth, their tongues are pulled out and their jaws -bored. In the thirteenth, they are disembowelled. In the fourteenth, -they are trampled on by mules and bitten by badgers. In the fifteenth, -their fingers are ironed with hot irons. In the sixteenth, they are -boiled in oil. - -All mortals who practise eating red lead[384] and certain other -nauseous articles,[385] who spend more than they should upon wine, who -kidnap human beings for sale, who steal clothes and ornaments from -coffins, who break up dead men's bones for medicine, who separate -people from their relatives, who sell the girl brought up in the house -to be their son's wife, who allow their wives[386] to drown female -children, who stifle their illegitimate offspring, who unite to cheat -another in gambling, who act as tutors without being properly strict, -and thus wrong their pupils, who beat and injure their slaves without -estimating the punishment by the fault, who regard districts entrusted -to their charge in the light of so much spoil, who disobey their -elders, who talk at random and go back on their word, who stir up -others to quarrel and fight--all these shall, upon verification of -their sins, be taken from the great Gehenna and passed through the -proper wards, to be forwarded when their time has expired to the -Eighth Court, again to be tortured according to their deserts. - -All things may not be used as drugs. It is bad enough to slay birds, -beasts, reptiles, and fishes, in order to prepare medicine for the -sick; but to use red lead and many of the filthy messes in vogue is -beyond all bounds of decency, and those who foul their mouths with -these nasty mixtures, no matter how virtuous they may otherwise be, -will not only derive no benefit from saying their prayers, but will be -punished for so doing without mercy. - -Ye who hear these words make haste to repent! From to-day forbear to -take life, buy many birds and animals in order to set them free,[387] -and every morning when you wash your teeth mutter a prayer to Buddha. -Thus, when your last hour comes, a good angel will stand by your side -and purify you of your former sins. - -Some steal the bones of people who have been burnt to death or the -bodies of illegitimate children, for the purpose of compounding -medicines; others steal skulls and bones (from graves) with the same -object. Worst of all are those who carry off bones by the basketful, -using the hard ones for making various articles and grinding down the -soft ones for the manufacture of pottery.[388] These, no matter what -may have been their good works on earth, will not obtain thereby any -remission of punishment; but when they are brought down below, the -Ruler of the Infernal Regions will first pass them from the great -Gehenna into the proper wards, and will send instructions to the Tenth -Court that when they are born again on earth it shall be either -without ears, or eyes, hand, foot, mouth, lips, or nose, or maimed in -some way or other. Yet such as have thus sinned may still avoid this -punishment, if only they are willing to pray and repent, vowing never -to sin again. Or if they buy coffins for the poor and persuade others -to do likewise, by these means giving a decent burial to many -corpses--then, when the death-summons comes, the Spirits of the Home -and Hearth will make a black mark upon the warrant, and punishment -will be remitted. - -Sometimes, when there is a famine, people have nothing to eat and die -of hunger, and wicked men, almost before the breath is out of their -bodies, cut them up and sell their flesh to others for food--a horrid -crime indeed. Those who are guilty of such practices will, on arrival -in the lower regions, be tortured in the various Courts for the space -of forty-nine[389] days, and then the judge of the Tenth Court will be -instructed to notify the judge of the First Court to put them down in -his register for a new birth,--if among men, as hungry famished -outcasts, and if among animals as loathing the food that falls to -their lot, and by-and-by perishing of hunger. Such is their reward. -Besides the above, those who have eaten what is unfit for food and -willingly continue to do so, will be punished either among men or -animals according to their deserts. Their throats will swell, and -though devoured by hunger they will be unable to swallow, and thus -die. Those who do not err a second time may be forgiven as they -deserve; but those who in times of distress subscribe money for the -sufferers, prepare gruel, give away rice to the needy, or distribute -ginger tea[390] and soup in the open street, and thus sustain life a -little longer and do real good to their fellow creatures--all these -shall not only obtain remission of their sins, but carry on a balance -of good to their account which shall ensure them a happy old age in -the life to come.[391] - -Of the above three clauses, two were proposed by the officials -attached to this Seventh Court, the third by the Chief Justice of the -great Gehenna, and the whole submitted together for the approval of -God, the following Rescript being obtained:--"Let it be as proposed; -let the three clauses be copied into the _Divine Panorama_, and let -the officials concerned be promoted or rewarded. Also, in case of -crimes other than those already provided for, let such be punished -according to the statutes of the Rulers of the Four Continents on -earth, and let any evasion of punishment and implication of innocent -people be at once reported by the proper officials for our -consideration. This from the Throne! Obey!" - -O ye sons and daughters of men, if on the 27th of the 3rd moon, -fasting and turned towards the north, ye register a vow to pray and -repent, and to publish the whole of the _Divine Panorama_ for the -enlightenment of mankind, then ye may escape the bitterness of this -Seventh Court. - - -THE EIGHTH COURT. - -His Infernal Majesty, Tu Shih, reigns at the bottom of the great -Ocean, due east below the Wu-chiao rock, in a vast noisy Court many -leagues in extent, subdivided into sixteen wards as follows:-- - -In the first, the wicked souls are rolled down mountains in carts. In -the second, they are shut up in huge saucepans. In the third, they are -minced. In the fourth, their noses, eyes, mouths, &c. are stopped up. -In the fifth, their uvulas are cut off. In the sixth, they are exposed -to all kinds of filth. In the seventh, their extremities are cut off. -In the eighth, their viscera[392] are fried. In the ninth, their -marrow is cauterized. In the tenth, their bowels are scratched. In the -eleventh, they are inwardly burned with fire. In the twelfth, they are -disembowelled. In the thirteenth, their chests are torn open. In the -fourteenth, their skulls are split and their teeth dragged out. In the -fifteenth, they are hacked and gashed. In the sixteenth, they are -pricked with steel prongs. - -Those who are unfilial, who do not nourish their relatives while alive -or bury them when dead, who subject their parents to fright, sorrow, -or anxiety--if they do not quickly repent them of their former sins, -the spirit of the Hearth will report their misdoings and gradually -deprive them of what prosperity they may be enjoying. Those who -indulge in magic and sorcery will, after death, when they have been -tortured in the other Courts, be brought here to this Court, and -dragged backwards by bull-headed horse-faced devils to be thrust into -the great Gehenna. Then when they have been tortured in the various -wards they will be passed on to the Tenth Court, whence at the -expiration of a _kalpa_[393] they will be sent back to earth with -changed heads and faces for ever to find their place amongst the brute -creation. But those who believe in the _Divine Panorama_, and on the -1st of the 4th moon make a vow of repentance, repeating the same every -night and morning to the Spirit of the Hearth, shall, by virtue of one -of three characters, _obedient_, _acquiescent_, or _repentant_, to be -traced on their foreheads at death by the Spirit of the Hearth, -escape half the punishments from the first to the Seventh Court -inclusive, and escape this Eighth Court altogether, being passed on to -the Ninth Court, where cases of arson and poisoning are investigated, -and finally born again from the Tenth Court among mankind as before. - -To this God added, "Whosoever may circulate the _Divine Panorama_ for -the information of the world at large shall escape all punishment from -the First to the Eighth Court inclusive. Passing through the Ninth and -Tenth Courts, they shall be born again amongst men in some happy -state." - - -THE NINTH COURT. - -His Infernal Majesty, P'ing Têng, reigns at the bottom of the great -Ocean, away to the south-west, below the Wu-chiao rock. His is the -vast, circular hell of A-pi, many leagues in breadth, jealously -enclosed by an iron net, and subdivided into sixteen wards, as -follows:-- - -In the first, the wicked souls have their bones beaten and their -bodies scorched. In the second, their muscles are drawn out and their -bones rapped. In the third, ducks eat their heart and liver. In the -fourth, dogs eat their intestines and lungs. In the fifth, they are -splashed with hot oil. In the sixth, their heads are crushed in a -frame, and their tongues and teeth are drawn out. In the seventh, -their brains are taken out and their skulls filled with hedge-hogs. In -the eighth, their heads are steamed and their brains scraped. In the -ninth, they are dragged about by sheep till they drop to pieces. In -the tenth, they are squeezed in a wooden press and pricked on the -head. In the eleventh, their hearts are ground in a mill. In the -twelfth, boiling water drips on to their bodies. In the thirteenth, -they are stung by wasps. In the fourteenth, they are tortured by ants -and maggots; they are then stewed, and finally wrung out (like -clothes). In the fifteenth, they are stung by scorpions. In the -sixteenth, they are tortured by venomous snakes, crimson and scarlet. - -All who on earth have committed one of the ten great crimes, and have -deserved either the lingering death, decapitation, strangulation, or -other punishment, shall, after passing through the tortures of the -previous Courts, be brought to this Court, together with those guilty -of arson, of making _ku_ poison,[394] bad books, stupefying drugs, and -many other disgraceful acts. Then, if it be found that, hearkening to -the words of the _Divine Panorama_, they subsequently destroyed the -blocks of these books, burnt their prescriptions, and ceased -practising the magical art, they shall escape the punishments of this -Court and be passed on to the Tenth Court, thence to be born again -amongst the sons of men. But if, having heard the warnings of the -_Divine Panorama_, they still continue to sin, from the Second to the -Eighth Court their tortures shall be increased. They shall be bound on -to a hollow copper pillar, clasping it round with their hands and -feet. Then the pillar shall be filled with fierce fire, so as to burn -into their heart and liver; and afterwards their feet shall be plunged -into the great Gehenna of A-pi, knives shall be thrust into their -lungs, they shall bite their own hearts, and gradually sink to the -uttermost depths of hell, there to endure excruciating torments until -the victims of their wickedness have either recovered the property out -of which they were cheated, or the life that was taken away from them, -and until every trace of book, prescription, picture, &c. formerly -used by these wicked souls has disappeared from the face of the earth. -Then, and only then, may they pass into the Tenth Court to be born -again in one of the Six States of existence. - -O ye who have committed such crimes as these, on the 8th of the 4th -moon, or the 1st or 15th (of any moon), fasting swear that you will -buy up all bad books and magical pamphlets and utterly destroy them -with fire; or that you will circulate copies of the _Divine Panorama_ -to be a warning to others! Then, when your last moment is at hand, the -Spirit of the Hearth will write on your forehead the two words _He -obeyed_, and from the Second up to the Ninth Court your good deeds -will be rewarded by a diminution of such punishments as you have -incurred. People in the higher ranks of life who secure incendiaries -or murderers, who destroy the blocks of bad books, or publish notices -warning others, and offer rewards for the production of such books, -will be rewarded by the success of their sons and grandsons at the -public examinations. Poor people who, by a great effort, manage to -have the _Divine Panorama_ circulated for the benefit of mankind, will -be forwarded at once to the Tenth Court, and thence be born again in -some happy state on earth. - - -THE TENTH COURT. - -His Infernal Majesty, Chuan Lun,[395] reigns in the Dark Land, due -east, away below the Wu-chiao rock, just opposite the Wu-cho of this -world. There he has six bridges, of gold, silver, jade, stone, wood, -and planks, over which all souls must pass. He examines the shades -that are sent from the other courts, and, according to their deserts, -sends them back to earth as men, women, old, young, high, low, rich, -or poor, forwarding monthly a list of their names to the judge of the -First Court for transmission to Fêng-tu.[396] - -The regulations provide that all beasts, birds, fishes, and insects, -whether biped, quadruped, or otherwise, shall after death become -_chien_,[397] to be born again for long and short lives alternately. -But such as may possibly have taken life, and such as must necessarily -have taken life, will pass through a revolution of the Wheel, and -then, when their sins have been examined, they will be sent up on -earth to receive the proper retribution. At the end of every year a -report will be forwarded to Fêng-tu. - -Those scholars who study the Book of Changes, or priests who chant -their liturgies, cannot be tortured in the Ten Courts for the sins -they have committed. When they come to this Court their names and -features are taken down in a book kept for the purpose, and they are -forwarded to Mother Mêng, who drives them on to the Terrace of -Oblivion and doses them with the draught of forgetfulness. Then they -are born again in the world for a day, a week, or it may be a year, -when they die once more; and now, having forgotten the holy words of -the Three Religions,[398] they are carried off by devils to the -various Courts, and are properly punished for their former crimes. - -All souls whose balance of good and evil is exact, whose period, or -whose crimes are many and good deeds few, as soon as their future -state has been decided,--man, woman, beautiful, ugly, comfort, toil, -wealth, or poverty, as the case may be,--must pass through the Terrace -of Oblivion. - -Amongst those shades, on their way to be born again in the world of -human beings, there are often to be found women who cry out that they -have some old and bitter wrong to avenge,[399] and that rather than be -born again amongst men they would prefer to enter the ranks of hungry -devils.[400] On examining them more closely it generally comes out -that they are the virtuous victims of some wicked student, who may -perhaps have an eye to their money, and accordingly dresses himself -out to entrap them, or promises marriage when sometimes he has a wife -already, or offers to take care of an aged mother or a late husband's -children. Thus the foolish women are beguiled, and put their property -in the wicked man's hands. By-and-by he turns round upon and reviles -them, and, losing face in the eyes of their relatives and friends, -with no one to redress their wrong, they are driven to commit suicide. -Then, hearing[401] that their seducer is likely to succeed at the -examination, they beg and implore to be allowed to go back and compass -his death. Now, although what they urge is true enough, yet that man's -destiny may not be worked out, or the transmitted effects of his -ancestors' virtue may not have passed away;[402] therefore, as a -compromise, these injured shades are allowed to send a spirit to the -Examination Hall to hinder and confuse him in the preparation of his -paper, or to change the names on the published list of successful -candidates; and finally, when his hour arrives, to proceed with the -spirit who carries the death-summons, seize him, and bring him to the -First Court of judgment. - -Ye who on the 17th of the 4th moon swear to carry out the precepts of -the _Divine Panorama_, and frequently make these words the subject of -your conversation, may in the life to come be born again amongst men -and escape official punishments, fire, flood, and all accidents to the -body. - -The place where the Wheel of Fate goes round is many leagues in -extent, enclosed on all sides by an iron palisade. Within are -eighty-one subdivisions, each of which has its proper officers and -magisterial appointments. Beyond the palisade there is a labyrinth of -108,000 paths leading by direct and circuitous routes back to earth. -Inside it is as dark as pitch, and through it pass the spirits of -priest and layman alike. But to one who looks from the outside -everything is seen as clear as crystal, and the attendants who guard -the place all have the faces and features they had at their birth. -These attendants are chosen from virtuous people who in life were -noted for filial piety, friendship, or respect for life, and are sent -here to look after the working of the Wheel and such duties. If for a -space of five years they make no mistakes they are promoted to a -higher office; but if found to be lazy or careless they are reported -to the Throne for punishment. - -Those who in life have been unfilial or have destroyed much life, when -they have been tortured in the various Courts are brought here and -beaten to death with peach twigs. They then become _chien_, and with -changed heads and altered faces are turned out into the labyrinth to -proceed by the path which ends in the brute creation. - -Birds, beasts, fishes and insects, may after many myriads of _kalpas_ -again resume their original shapes; and if there are any that during -three existences do not destroy life, they may be born amongst human -beings as a reward, a record being made and their names forwarded to -the First Court for approval. But all shades of men and women must -proceed to the Terrace of Oblivion. - -Mother Mêng was born in the Earlier Han Dynasty. In her childhood she -studied books of the Confucian school; when she grew up she chanted -the liturgies of Buddha. Of the past and the future she had no care, -but occupied herself in exhorting mankind to desist from taking life -and become vegetarians. At eighty-one years of age her hair was white -and her complexion like a child's. She lived and died a virgin, -calling herself simply Mêng; but men called her Mother Mêng. She -retired to the hills and lived as a _religieuse_ until the Later Han. -Then, because certain evil-doers, relying on their knowledge of the -past, used to beguile women by pretending to have been their husbands -in a former life, God commissioned Mother Mêng to build the Terrace of -Oblivion, and appointed her as guardian, with devils to wait upon her -and execute her commands. It was arranged that all shades who had been -sentenced in the Ten Courts to return in various conditions to earth -should first be dosed by her with a decoction of herbs, sweet, bitter, -acrid, sour or salt. Thus they forgot everything that has previously -happened to them, and carry away with them to earth some slight -weaknesses such as the mouth watering at the thought (of something -nice), laughter inducing perspiration, fear inducing tears, anger -inducing sobs, or spitting from nervousness. Good spirits who go back -into the world will have their senses of sight, hearing, smell, and -taste very much increased in power, and their physical strength and -constitution generally will be much bettered. But evil spirits will -experience the exact contrary of this, as a reward for previous sins -and as a warning to others to pray and repent. - -The Terrace is situated in front of the Ten Courts, outside the six -bridges. It is square, measuring ten (Chinese) feet every way, and -surrounded by 108 small rooms. To the east there is a raised path, one -foot four inches in breadth, and in the rooms above-mentioned are -prepared cups of forgetfulness ready for the arrival of the shades. -Whether they swallow much or little it matters not; but sometimes -there are perverse devils who altogether refuse to drink. Then beneath -their feet sharp blades start up, and a copper tube is forced down -their throats, by which means they are compelled to swallow some. When -they have drunk, they are raised by the attendants and escorted back -by the same path. They are next pushed on to the Bitter Bamboo -floating bridge, with torrents of rushing red water on either side. -Half way across they perceive written in large characters on a red -cliff on the opposite side the following lines:-- - - "To be a man is easy, but to act up to one's responsibilities as such - is hard. - Yet to be a man once again is harder still. - - For those who would be born again in some happy state there is no - great difficulty; - It is only necessary to keep mouth and heart in harmony." - -When the shades have read these words they try to jump on shore, but -are beaten back into the water by two huge devils. One has on a black -official hat and embroidered clothes; in his hand he holds a paper -pencil, and over his shoulder he carries a sharp sword. Instruments of -torture hang at his waist, fiercely he glares out of his large round -eyes and laughs a horrid laugh. His name is _Short Life_. The other -has a dirty face smeared with blood; he has on a white coat, an abacus -in his hand and a rice sack over his shoulder. Round his neck hangs a -string of paper money; his brow contracts hideously, and he utters -long sighs. His name is _They have their reward_, and his duty is to -push the shades into the red water. The wicked and foolish rejoice at -the prospect of being born once more as human beings; but the better -shades weep and mourn that in life they did not lay up a store of -virtuous acts, and thus pass away from the state of mortals for -ever.[403] Yet they all rush on to birth like an infatuated or drunken -crowd; and again, in their early childhood, hanker after the forbidden -flavours.[404] Then, regardless of consequences, they begin to destroy -life, and thus forfeit all claims to the mercy and compassion of God. -They take no thought as to the end that must overtake them; and -finally, they bring themselves once more to the same horrid plight. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[340] The _Yü Li_ or _Divine Panorama_. - -[341] The Divine Ruler, immediately below God himself. - -[342] See No. XXVI., note 182. - -[343] See _Author's Own Record_ (in _Introduction_), note 28. - -[344] The three worst of the Six Paths. - -[345] That the state of one life is the result of behaviour in a -previous existence. - -[346] _Lit._--the skin purse (of his bones). - -[347] Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. - -[348] Violent deaths are regarded with horror by the Chinese. They -hold that a truly virtuous man always dies either of illness or old -age. - -[349] Good people go to Purgatory in the flesh, and are at once passed -up to Heaven without suffering any torture, or are sent back to earth -again. - -[350] The Supreme Ruler. - -[351] See No. I., note 36. - -[352] Supposed to be the gate of the Infernal Regions. - -[353] Hades. - -[354] Literally, "ten armfuls." - -[355] To Heaven, Earth, sovereign, and relatives. - -[356] Held to be a great relief to the spirits of the dead. - -[357] It is commonly believed that if the spirit of a murdered man can -secure the violent death of some other person he returns to earth -again as if nothing had happened, the spirit of his victim passing -into the world below and suffering all the misery of a disembodied -soul in his stead. See No. XLV., note 267. - -[358] A very common trick in China. The drunken bully Lu Ta in the -celebrated novel _Shui-hu_ saved himself by these means, and I have -heard that the Mandarin who in the war of 1842 spent a large sum in -constructing a paddle-wheel steamer to be worked by men, hoping -thereby to match the wheel-ships of the Outer Barbarians, is now -expiating his failure at a monastery in Fukien. _Apropos_ of which, it -may not be generally known that at this moment there are small -paddle-wheel boats for Chinese passengers, plying up and down the -Canton river, the wheels of which are turned by gangs of coolies who -perform a movement precisely similar to that required on the -treadmill. - -[359] In order that their marriage destiny may not be interfered with. -It is considered disgraceful not to accept the ransom of a slave girl -of 15 or 16 years of age. See No. XXVI., note 185. - -[360] The soil of China belongs, every inch of it, to the Emperor. -Consequently, the people owe him a debt of gratitude for permitting -them to live upon it. - -[361] Do their duty as men and women. - -[362] A Chinaman may have three kinds of fathers; (1) his real father, -(2) an adopted father, such as an uncle without children to whom he -has been given as heir, and (3) the man his widowed mother may marry. -The first two are to all intents and purposes equal; the third is -entitled only to one year's mourning instead of the usual three. - -[363] As taxes. - -[364] Visitors to Peking may often see the junkmen at T'ung-chow -pouring water by the bucketful on to newly-arrived cargoes of Imperial -rice in order to make up the right weight and conceal the amount they -have filched on the way. - -[365] That is, with a false gloss on them. - -[366] In order to raise to nap and give an appearance of strength and -goodness. - -[367] Costermongers and others acquire certain rights to doorsteps or -snug corners in Chinese cities which are not usually infringed by -competitors in the same line of business. Chair-coolies, -carrying-coolies, ferrymen, &c., also claim whole districts as their -particular field of operations and are very jealous of any -interference. I know of a case in which the right of "scavengering" a -town had been in the same family for generations, and no one dreamt of -trying to take it out of their hands. - -[368] Chiefly alluding to small temples where some pious spirit may -have lighted a lamp or candle to the glory of his favourite P'u-sa. - -[369] This is done either by making a figure of the person to be -injured and burning it in a slow fire, like the old practice of the -wax figure in English history; or by obtaining his nativity -characters, writing them out on a piece of paper and burning them in a -candle, muttering all the time whatsoever mischief it is hoped will -befall him. - -[370] Popularly known as the Chinese Pluto. The Indian _Yama_. - -[371] The celebrated "See-one's-home Terrace." - -[372] Regarded by the Chinese with intense disgust. - -[373] Father's, mother's, and wife's families. - -[374] I know of few more pathetic passages throughout all the -exquisite imagery of the Divine Comedy than this in which the guilty -soul is supposed to look back to the home he has but lately left and -gaze in bitter anguish on his desolate hearth and broken household -gods. For once the gross tortures of Chinese Purgatory give place to -as refined and as dreadful a punishment as human ingenuity could well -devise. - -[375] A long pole tipped with a kind of birdlime is cautiously -inserted between the branches of a tree, and then suddenly dabbed on -to some unsuspecting sparrow. - -[376] If this is done in Winter or Spring the Spirits of the Hearth -and Threshold are liable to catch cold. - -[377] I presume because God sits with his face to the south. - -[378] Pious and wealthy people often give orders for an image of a -certain P'u-sa to be made with an ounce or so of gold inside. - -[379] Primarily, because no living thing should be killed for food. -The ox and the dog are specified because of their kindly services to -man in tilling the earth and guarding his home. - -[380] The symbol of the Yin and the Yang, so ably and so poetically -explained by Mr. Alabaster in his pamphlet on the Doctrine of the -Ch'i. - -[381] One being male and the other being female. This calls to mind -the extreme modesty of a celebrated French lady, who would not put -books by male and female authors on the same shelf. - -[382] The symbol on Buddha's heart; more commonly known to the western -world as Thor's Hammer. - -[383] Emblems of Imperial dignity. - -[384] Supposed to confer immortality. - -[385] Unfit for translation. - -[386] This is ingeniously expressed, as if _mothers_ were the prime -movers in such unnatural acts. - -[387] On fête days at temples it is not uncommon to see cages full of -birds hawked about among the holiday-makers, that those who feel -twinges of conscience may purchase a sparrow or two and relieve -themselves from anxiety by the simple means of setting them at -liberty. - -[388] Bones are used in glazing porcelain, to give a higher finish. - -[389] The seven periods of seven days each which occur immediately -after a death and at which the departed shade is appeased with food -and offerings of various kinds. - -[390] To warm them. - -[391] When they are born again on earth. - -[392] Heart, lungs, spleen, liver, and kidneys. - -[393] Many millions of years. - -[394] The following recipe for this deadly poison is given in the -well-known Chinese work _Instructions to Coroners_:--"Take a quantity -of insects of all kinds and throw them into a vessel of any kind; -cover them up, and let a year pass away before you look at them again. -The insects will have killed and eaten each other, until there is only -one survivor, and this one is _Ku_." - -[395] He who "turns the wheel;" a _chakravartti raja_. - -[396] The capital city of the Infernal Regions. - -[397] The ghosts of dead people are believed to be liable to death. -The ghost of a ghost is called _chien_. - -[398] On the "Three Systems." See note 347, _Appendix_. - -[399] Women are considered in China to be far more revengeful than -men. - -[400] See _Author's Own Record_ (in _Introduction_), note 28. - -[401] While in Purgatory. - -[402] It was mentioned above that the rewards for virtue would be -continued to a man's sons and grandsons. - -[403] That is, go to heaven. - -[404] Of meat, wine, &c. - - - - -APPENDIX B. - - -ANCESTRAL WORSHIP. - -"The rudimentary form of all religion is the propitiation of dead -ancestors, who are supposed to be still existing, and to be capable of -working good or evil to their descendants."--SPENCER'S ESSAYS. Vol. -iii., p. 102.--_The Origin of Animal Worship._ - - -BILOCATION. - -"As a general rule, people are apt to consider it impossible for a man -to be in two places at once, and indeed a saying to that effect has -become a popular saw. But the rule is so far from being universally -accepted, that the word 'bilocation' has been invented to express the -miraculous faculty possessed by certain saints of the Roman Church, of -being in two places at once; like St. Alfonso di Liguori, who had the -useful power of preaching his sermon in church while he was confessing -penitents at home."--TYLOR'S _Primitive Culture_. Vol. i., p. 447. - - -BURIAL RITES. - -"Hence the various burial rites--the placing of weapons and valuables -along with the body, the daily bringing of food to it, &c. I hope -hereafter, to show that with such knowledge of facts as he has, this -interpretation is the most reasonable the savage can arrive -at."--SPENCER'S ESSAYS. Vol. iii., p. 104.--_The Origin of Animal -Worship._ - - -DREAMS. - -"The distinction so easily made by us between our life in dreams and our -real life, is one which the savage recognises in but a vague way; and he -cannot express even that distinction which he perceives. When he awakes, -and to those who have seen him lying quietly asleep, describes where he -has been, and what he has done, his rude language fails to state the -difference between seeing and dreaming that he saw, doing and dreaming -that he did. From this inadequacy of his language it not only results -that he cannot truly represent this difference to others, but also -that he cannot truly represent it to himself."--SPENCER'S ESSAYS. Vol. -iii., pp. 103, 104. - - -SHADE OR SHADOW. - -"The ghost or phantasm seen by the dreamer or the visionary is an -unsubstantial form, like a shadow, and thus the familiar term of the -_shade_ comes in to express the soul. Thus the Tasmanian word for the -shadow is also that for the spirit; the Algonquin Indians describe a -man's soul as _otahchuk_, 'his shadow;' the Quiché language uses -_natub_ for 'shadow, soul;' the Arawac _ueja_ means 'shadow, soul, -image;' the Abipones made the one word _loákal_ serve for 'shadow, -soul, echo, image.'"--TYLOR'S _Primitive Culture_. Vol. i., p. 430. - - -SHADOW. - -"Thus the dead in Purgatory knew that Dante was alive when they saw -that, unlike theirs, his figure cast a shadow on the ground."--TYLOR'S -_Primitive Culture_. Vol. i., p. 431. - - -THE SOUL. - -"The savage, conceiving a corpse to be deserted by the active -personality who dwelt in it, conceives this active personality to be -still existing, and his feelings and ideas concerning it form the -basis of his superstitions."--SPENCER'S ESSAYS. Vol. iii., p. -103.--_The Origin of Animal Worship._ - - -TRANSMIGRATION. - -"Whether the Buddhists receive the full Hindu doctrine of the -migration of the individual soul from birth to birth, or whether they -refine away into metaphysical subtleties the notion of continued -personality, they do consistently and systematically hold that a -man's life in former existences is the cause of his now being what he -is, while at this moment he is accumulating merit or demerit whose -result will determine his fate in future lives."--TYLOR'S _Primitive -Culture_. Vol. ii., p. 12. - - -TRANSMIGRATION. - -"Memory, it is true, fails generally to recall these past births, but -memory, as we know, stops short of the beginning even of this present -life."--TYLOR'S _Primitive Culture_. Vol. ii., p. 12. - - -TRANSMIGRATION. - -"As for believers, savage or civilised, in the great doctrine of -metempsychosis, these not only consider that an animal may have a -soul, but that this soul may have inhabited a human being, and thus -the creature may be in fact their own ancestor or once familiar -friend."--TYLOR'S _Primitive Culture_. Vol. i., p. 469. - - -TREE-SOULS. - -"Orthodox Buddhism decided against the tree-souls, and consequently -against the scruple to harm them, declaring trees to have no mind nor -sentient principle, though admitting that certain dewas or spirits do -reside in the body of trees, and speak from within them."--TYLOR'S -_Primitive Culture_. Vol. i., p. 475. - - -THOS. DE LA RUE AND CO., PRINTERS, BUNHILL ROW, LONDON. - - - - -INDEX TO THE NOTES. - - - VOL. PAGE NOTE - - Abstinence from Wine and Meat i. 23 52 - - Actors i. 218 188 - - Adoption i. 386 310 - " ii. 156 137 - " ii. 272 256 - - Adulteration ii. 332 320 - - Age of graduates i. 345 274 - - Age to marry i. 113 112 - - Alchemy i. 65 83 - " ii. 313 299 - - Alms'-bowl i. 246 211 - " i. 395 320 - - Amusements, Literary i. 215 186 - - Anatomy, Chinese ii. 253 235 - - "Angels" of Taoism i. 17 48 - - Arbiter of Life and Death i. 226 194 - - Archery i. 91 92 - - Aristocracy, The i. 186 156 - - Auspicious Sites i. 336 268 - - - Bad Sons i. 147 131 - " " ii. 212 190 - " " ii. 281 267 - - Bambooing i. 55 76 - - Banquets, Theatrical Entertainments during ii. 54 41 - - Beadles ii. 17 18 - - Beauty, Chinese ii. 123 94 - - Beggars i. 246 212 - - Betrothals i. 108 108 - " i. 193 165 - " i. 227 195 - - Bikshu i. 395 320 - - Blowing into meat ii. 306 292 - - Blue China Epoch ii. 303 290 - - Bôdhisatva i. 208 182 - - Bridal procession i. 338 269 - - Bridegroom living in bride's family i. 193 163 - - Brotherly deference i. 314 247 - " dependence i. 318 250 - - Brothers having separate establishments ii. 322 314 - - Brown deer of Formosa i. 399 329 - - Buddha, Repeating the name of i. 367 293 - - "Bull's hide" trick, The ii. 180 163 - - Burials i. 197 171 - - Burying stray bones, &c. ii. 147 130 - - - Caligraphy ii. 174 157 - - Capping verses i. 332 262 - " " ii. 57 44 - - Cash i. 6 42 - " ii. 171 148 - - Cat and dog Restaurant ii. 308 294 - - Catalepsy i. 4 40 - " ii. 73 55 - - Celibacy i. 23 52 - - Censorate, The i. 229 197 - - Chai-mui i. 333 265 - - Chamber of Horrors i. 93 94 - - Change of residence i. 321 251 - - Charitable gifts i. 137 129 - - Chess, Chinese i. 46 66 - - Chou, General ii. 221 202 - - Chowry ii. 71 52 - - Clay-image makers ii. 276 261 - - Clepsydra i. 49 70 - - "Climbing trees to catch fish" ii. 305 291 - - Coffins i. 102 104 - " i. 197 172 - " deposited in Temples i. 237 203 - " for poor people ii. 316 303 - " Sleeping in ii. 354 336 - - Concubines i. 395 321 - - Confucius, Descendants of i. 33 61 - - Conservatism i. 427 348 - - Contemplation, Priestly ii. 71 51 - - Coroners ii. 196 175 - - Counting cattle, Method of ii. 255 239 - - Cow-herd and the Lady i. 27 55 - - Cricket-fighting i. 75 85 - - Crows, Feeding the i. 279 229 - - Cumquats ii. 301 289 - - Cycle, The Chinese i. 180 152 - - Cynthia, The Chinese i. 171 147 - - - Damon and Pythias i. 166 143 - - Death i. 150 134 - " Fear of i. 101 103 - - Death-summons, The i. 150 134 - - Decapitation ii. 78 59 - - Degrees, The three i. 1 37 - - Devils, Good and bad ii. 201 179 - - Dice ii. 145 125 - - Divorce i. 360 288 - - Doctors ii. 293 279 - - Dogs, Chinese ii. 309 296 - - Dolphin, Fresh-water ii. 43 31 - - _Double-entendres_ ii. 176 160 - - Dragon-boat festival ii. 168 142 - - Dragons ii. 112 84 - " ii. 349 331 - - Dreams ii. 250 231 - - Dwarfs i. 224 193 - - Drunkenness i. 30 59 - " i. 365 292 - " ii. 30 23 - - - Eating ii. 111 83 - - Education i. 297 237 - " ii. 322 313 - - Elixir of Immortality i. 19 49 - " " ii. 168 143 - - Examinations, Competitive i. 195 168 - " " ii. 64 48 - " " ii. 91 71 - - Eye, Pupils of the i. 8 43 - - - Fa Hsien's journey ii. 232 212 - - Fabulous Lion ii. 343 327 - - Facing the South ii. 103 76 - - Falconry i. 22 51 - - Fan, An Autumn i. 361 289 - - Fantan i. 421 343 - - Fatalism i. 340 270 - - Feet of betrothed tied together i. 431 354 - - Fêng-Shui ii. 322 312 - - Feudal Governor ii. 287 273 - - "_Fiancé_," Death of a i. 99 101 - - Figure-head ii. 54 40 - - Fire-wells ii. 238 220 - - Flageolets i. 28 58 - - Folk-lore in the North and South ii. 329 319 - - Fondness for children i. 401 332 - - Foot-binding i. 192 161 - - Fortune-tellers i. 47 68 - - Foundries, Iron ii. 216 194 - - Four Books, The i. 297 237 - - Four Seas, The ii. 116 89 - - Fox influence i. 32 60 - - Foxes, Soothsayers possessed by ii. 358 339 - - - Gambling i. 421 343 - - Ganges, The ii. 28 22 - - Gates of a city shut at night ii. 262 243 - - Geese i. 255 217 - - "Gentleman," The Chinese i. 168 145 - - Geomancy i. 227 195 - - Gioros i. 66 84 - - Girdles, The pearl i. 283 230 - - Glass i. 249 214 - " ii. 233 216 - - Go-betweens i. 187 157 - " ii. 154 135 - - God of War, The i. 2 39 - - "Golden lilies" i. 188 159 - - "Golden Orchid" Societies i. 196 170 - - Gongs ii. 105 78 - - Good fortune, Absorbing only a certain - quantity of i. 342 271 - - Graduates by purchase i. 202 177 - - Graduates, Senior i. 199 175 - - Grave, The i. 240 207 - - Great beam, Fixing the ii. 267 247 - - Greed ii. 74 56 - - - Han dynasty i. 258 219 - - Han-lin, The Chinese National Academy i. 195 169 - - Heart, The i. 96 97, - 98 - - Homicide i. 353 285 - - Honesty in olden times ii. 250 232 - - "Hsi-yüan-lu," The i. 98 100 - - "Hu," The name i. 89 90 - - Hué i. 397 325 - - Human life, Value of ii. 338 323 - - Hungry devils ii. 270 252 - - - Immortality i. 157 139 - - Immortals, Record of the ii. 88 68 - - Imperial mandates ii. 240 223 - - Impressment i. 220 190 - - Infernal Regions ii. 95 72 - " " ii. 354 335 - - Inheritance, Law of ii. 345 328 - - Initiation of a Priest ii. 69 50 - - Inner apartments i. 53 74 - " " i. 252 215 - " " ii. 46 33 - - - Jelly-fish ii. 332 321 - - Judas tree ii. 151 133 - - Judges ii. 96 74 - - Jugglers ii. 189 172 - - - Khakkharam, The i. 395 320 - - Kangs ii. 133 114 - - Keeping secret professional knowledge ii. 255 238 - - Kidnapping i. 183 154 - - Kite-flying Festival ii. 268 250 - - Knife Hill, The ii. 205 184 - - Kot'ow, The i. 388 314 - - K'u-ts'an ii. 255 237 - - Kuan-yin i. 241 208 - - - Lanterns, Feast of i. 99 102 - - Li T'ai-poh ii. 144 121 - - Lictors ii. 205 182 - - Lighting the Eyes ii. 224 203 - - Lingering death, The i. 396 322 - - Literary chancellor ii. 284 271 - - Literati, The ii. 36 29 - - Literature, God of ii. 320 307 - - Liu Ch'üan and the melon ii. 351 334 - - Living Lictors of Purgatory, The i. 207 180 - - Loans ii. 171 146 - - Locusts ii. 242 224 - - Lohans ii. 321 311 - - Long Robes ii. 273 257 - - Lots, Drawing ii. 73 54 - - Love-matches i. 115 113 - - Lucifer Matches ii. 120 92 - - Lunatics ii. 30 23 - - Lü Tung-pin ii. 296 284 - - - Magic Sword i. 62 80 - - Mandarin Dialect i. 398 327 - - Manslaughter i. 222 192 - - Marriage Ceremonies i. 10 45 - " " i. 181 153 - " " i. 227 195 - " " i. 228 196 - - Marriages i. 108 109 - " i. 193 165 - - Marrying a second time i. 112 110 - - Mars, The Chinese i. 2 39 - - Medical testimonials ii. 292 278 - - Memorial tablet, Inking ii. 224 203 - - Mercy, The Goddess of i. 241 208 - - Messengers of good tidings ii. 252 234 - - Milky way, The i. 152 135 - - Miracles i. 396 323 - - "Mirror and Listen" trick ii. 251 233 - - Misappropriation of funds ii. 224 204 - - Moon, The Goddess of the i. 19 49 - " The Lady of the i. 19 49 - - Mothers-in-law i. 315 249 - - Mourning for a father i. 199 174 - - Mules ii. 242 225 - - Murders i. 230 198 - - - Names, Family i. 92 93 - " Personal ii. 132 111 - - Night, Divisions of the i. 215 187 - - Nine grades of official life i. 388 313 - - Nunneries i. 262 221 - - - Oath of confederation ii. 146 127 - - Oblivion, Potion of ii. 207 189 - - Official corruption ii. 79 60 - " responsibility i. 232 199 - - Officials i. 237 202 - - Old age ii. 31 24 - - Olive, the sign of peace i. 324 256 - - - Paper men i. 49 71 - " money i. 391 317 - " " ii. 172 150 - - Pao Shu i. 166 143 - - Patra, The i. 395 320 - " " i. 246 211 - - Pawn-shops i. 198 173 - - Persia ii. 25 21 - - Phoenix Tower ii. 270 253 - - Physiognomy, Professors of ii. 290 275 - - Planchette ii. 295 283 - - Playing _wei-ch'i_ for money ii. 271 254 - - Poetical proficiency i. 33 62 - - Police system i. 221 191 - - Politeness ii. 203 181 - - Poor scholars i. 160 142 - - Pope of the Taoists i. 118 114 - - Porterage ii. 181 164 - - Posthumous Honours i. 305 241 - - Praying for good or bad weather ii. 294 282 - - Praying-mat ii. 183 166 - - Precedence at table i. 332 261 - - Predestination i. 48 69 - " i. 156 138 - - Primogeniture i. 203 179 - - Prisoners in China i. 372 299 - " " ii. 96 73 - " " ii. 261 242 - - P'u-hsien, God of Action ii. 232 214 - - Pulse, The i. 39 64 - - Punishments i. 381 306 - - Pupils taken by priests ii. 119 91 - - Purgatory, Capital of ii. 238 220 - - - Quail-fighting i. 75 85 - - Quail's Tail, A i. 209 183 - - - Rebel, The first ii. 52 37 - - Red-garment figure, The i. 19 50 - - Red-haired barbarians ii. 179 162 - - Relationship, Test of ii. 278 264 - - Religion and the drama i. 345 277 - - Resemblance between soul and body ii. 280 265 - - Retinues of mandarins i. 389 315 - " " ii. 174 155 - " " ii. 175 158 - - Returning invitations ii. 227 206 - - Revenge i. 310, 243, - 311 244 - " for adultery i. 62 81 - - Reward of filial piety i. 351 283 - - Rising when spoken to ii. 280 266 - - Roc, The ii. 341 325 - - Rosary, The Buddhist i. 369 295 - - Royal Mother, The ii. 187 170 - - Rulers of animal and vegetable kingdoms i. 292 235 - - Running water ii. 110 82 - - - Sacred edict, The i. 203 179 - - Sale of children i. 183 154 - " degrees ii. 170 144 - - Salt monopoly ii. 215 192 - - "Same-year men" i. 136 128 - - Saving life ii. 200 178 - " " ii. 214 191 - - Scribbling and carving names ii. 123 96 - - Sea-serpent, The ii. 113 86 - - Secret societies i. 196 170 - - Sections of Purgatory, The nine ii. 205 183 - - Senses, The five i. 259 220 - - Separation of sexes ii. 167 141 - - Shaking hands i. 287 233 - " " ii. 151 134 - - Sham entertainment i. 323 254 - - Shampooing ii. 53 38 - - "Shang-yang" brings rain ii. 131 109 - - "Shoes" of silver i. 148 133 - - Short weights ii. 325 315 - - Shun, The Emperor i. 37 63 - - Shun Chih, The Emperor ii. 184 167 - - Sickness i. 107 107 - - Six Boards, The i. 26 54 - - Slave-girls' feet i. 430 353 - - Slavery i. 211 185 - - Small feet i. 76 86 - " " i. 192 161 - " waists ii. 47 35 - - Sons i. 64 82 - - Spirit calling i. 189 160 - " entering another's body ii. 24 20 - - Spirits, Disembodied i. 79 87 - " " i. 119 115 - " " i. 123 119 - " " i. 157 139 - - Spiritualistic _séances_ ii. 133 112 - - Sponge, A i. 248 213 - - Spring festival ii. 186 169 - - Squeezes i. 219 189 - - Staff of Buddhist priests, The i. 395 320 - - Stealing, Pardonable ii. 217 196 - - Strong rooms ii. 172 149 - - Styx, The ii. 216 193 - - Subscriptions ii. 220 201 - - Substantiality of ghosts i. 239 205 - " " ii. 236 219 - - Substitution theory i. 334 267 - - Suicide i. 311 244 - " Meritorious ii. 142 120 - - Superior man, The i. 168 145 - - Supernatural government i. 292 235 - - Supreme Ruler, The i. 242 209 - - Surnames, Common i. 210 184 - - Sutra, The Diamond i. 238 204 - - - Tails of horses not cut ii. 286 272 - - Taking life i. 79 88 - - Talking when born i. 243 210 - - Tao i. 14 46 - - Taot'ai ii. 229 207 - - Tartar general ii. 128 106 - - Temples, Repairs to ii. 127 105 - - Theatricals i. 218 188 - - Threshing-floors ii. 236 218 - - Thunder, God of i. 43 65 - " " ii. 112 85 - - Ting P'u-lang ii. 109 80 - - Titles of Nobility i. 305 241 - - Torture ii. 81 62 - " Supply of instruments of ii. 238 221 - - Tree worship ii. 72 53 - - Trousseau, Bride's i. 256 218 - - Tung-t'ing Lake i. 271 226 - - Types of friendship i. 166 143 - - Tz[)u]-ang, a Chinese Landseer ii. 287 274 - - - Ulysses, A Chinese i. 91 91 - - Ushnisha, The ii. 320 310 - - - Valuables in coffins i. 311 245 - - Verdict i. 56 78 - - Visiting the tutor ii. 126 103 - - Vital spots on the body ii. 356 338 - - - Wang Wei, The poet ii. 149 132 - - Washing-blocks ii. 315 301 - - Watchmen i. 51 72 - - Wedding-presents i. 28 57 - - Wei-ch'i ii. 268 249 - - Wên-shu, the God of Wisdom ii. 232 214 - - White Lily sect ii. 189 171 - - Widowers ii. 183 165 - - Widows ii. 39 30 - - Windows i. 61 79 - - Wine ii. 259, 240, - 260 241 - - Wine-cup upside down, Turning the i. 264 224 - - Wine taken hot ii. 144 122 - - Witnesses in a court of justice ii. 156 136 - - Women ride astride i. 354 286 - - Wooden fish, The ii. 195 174 - - Works of supererogation i. 426 346 - - Worldly-mindedness ii. 312 298 - - Wu Wang i. 278 228 - - - Yamên i. 2 38 - - Yang Ta-hung ii. 310 297 - - Yang-tsze, The ii. 176 159 - - Years, Names of i. 113 111 - - Yellow girdles i. 66 84 - - _Yin_ and the _yang_, The i. 176 150 - - Yojana, A i. 394 319 - - Yü-chiao-li, The ii. 164 140 - - - - -_BY THE SAME AUTHOR:--_ - - - CHINESE SKETCHES. - Demy 8vo. pp. 204. - - CHINESE WITHOUT A TEACHER. - Being a Collection of Easy and Useful Sentences in the Mandarin - Dialect, with a Vocabulary. Post 8vo. pp. 60, paper cover. - - DICTIONARY OF COLLOQUIAL IDIOMS. - In the Mandarin Dialect. Demy 4to, half bound. - - FROM SWATOW TO CANTON OVERLAND. - Demy 8vo. pp. 76, paper cover. - - A GLOSSARY OF REFERENCE, - on subjects connected with the Far East. Demy 8vo. pp. 184, - paper cover. - - HAND-BOOK OF THE SWATOW DIALECT. - With a Vocabulary. Demy 8vo. pp. 60, paper cover. - - RECORD OF THE BUDDHISTIC KINGDOMS. - Translated from the Chinese. Demy 8vo. pp. 130, paper cover. - - SYNOPTICAL STUDIES IN THE CHINESE LANGUAGE. - Demy 8vo. pp. 118, half bound. - - THE SAN TZU CHING; - or, Three Character Classic and the Ch'ien Tz[)u] Wên or 1,000 - Character Essay Metrically translated. Post 8vo. pp. 28, paper - cover. - - A SHORT HISTORY OF KOOLANGSU. - Demy 8vo. pp. 38, paper cover. - - * * * * * - -TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE - -This book was published in two volumes, of which this is the second. -The first volume was released as Project Gutenberg ebook #xxxxx, -available at http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/xxxxx. Referenced content -not present in this electronic text can be found in Volume I. -The table of contents is reproduced as printed in Volume I. - -Italic text is denoted by _underscores_. [)u] represents u breve. - -Obvious typographical errors repaired. Punctuation, spelling, -hyphenation, use of accented characters and stylistic presentation -standardized when a predominant preference was found in this book. -Capitalization and hyphenation of Chinese personal names has been -standardized. Otherwise left as printed. - -Footnote numbers were re-indexed in this electronic text, internal -references renumbered correspondingly. - -Footnote 72, 'excepting' changed to 'except' (except in the matter of -light). - -Footnote 92, 'of' added (first quarter of the present century). - -Footnote 124, 'denôuement' changed to 'dénouement' (important to the -_dénouement_ of the story). - -Footnote 140, 'dénoûement' changed to 'dénouement' (The _dénouement_ -of the _Yü-chiao-li_). - -Footnote 172, 'Ibu' changed to 'Ibn' (Ibn Batuta writes as follows). - -Footnote 324, 'LXVII.' changed to 'LXVIII.' (See No. LXVIII.). - -Page 19, 'of' added (a number of curious stones). - -Page 65, 'be' changed to 'he' (but he soon reflected). - -Page 145, 'sung' changed to 'sang' (whereupon he sang the following -lines). - -Page 198, 'he' changed to 'be' (that he would be only too happy). - -Page 208, 'according' changed to 'accordingly' (accordingly, when the -King was looking). - -Page 254, 'Ch'êng' changed to 'Ch'ên' (This frightened Ch'ên). - -Page 255, 'Ch'êng' changed to 'Ch'ên' (Ch'ên himself was a -cattle-farmer). - -Page 286, 'servants' changed to 'servant' (rode away, telling his -servant). - -Page 287, 'a Mr. Ts'ui' changed to 'Mr. Ts'ui' (who lived next door to -Mr. Ts'ui). - -Page 41, 'He then bit her across the neck' should probably be 'He then -hit her across the neck'. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio -vol. 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Giles—A Project Gutenberg eBook</title> @@ -636,48 +636,7 @@ abbr{ </head> <body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio vol. -II (of 2), by Songling Pu - -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/license - - -Title: Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio vol. II (of 2) - -Author: Songling Pu - -Translator: Herbert A. Giles - -Release Date: September 3, 2013 [EBook #43628] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STRANGE STORIES 2/2 *** - - - - -Produced by obstobst, Henry Flower and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) - - - - - - -</pre> - +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43628 ***</div> <div class="trn-top"> <p>Please read the <b><a href="#t-note">Transcriber's Note</a></b> at the end of this electronic text.</p> @@ -16501,388 +16460,6 @@ hit her across the neck’.</p> </div> - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio -vol. 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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/license - - -Title: Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio vol. II (of 2) - -Author: Songling Pu - -Translator: Herbert A. Giles - -Release Date: September 3, 2013 [EBook #43628] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STRANGE STORIES 2/2 *** - - - - -Produced by obstobst, Henry Flower and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) - - - - - - - - - -STRANGE STORIES - -FROM A - -CHINESE STUDIO. - - - - - STRANGE STORIES - FROM A - CHINESE STUDIO. - - TRANSLATED AND ANNOTATED - BY - HERBERT A. GILES, - _Of H.M.'s Consular Service_. - - IN TWO VOLUMES. - - VOL. II. - - LONDON: - THOS. DE LA RUE & CO. - 110, BUNHILL ROW. - - 1880. - - - - - PRINTED BY - THOMAS DE LA RUE AND CO., BUNHILL ROW, - LONDON. - - - - -CONTENTS. - - - INTRODUCTION Vol. I., pp. xiii-xxxii. - - - STORIES. - - VOL. I. VOL. II. - - PAGE PAGE - - Adulteration Punished -- 332 - - Alchemist, The -- 313 - - Boat-girl Bride, The -- 149 - - Boatmen of Lao-lung, The -- 348 - - Boon Companion, The 165 -- - - Bribery and Corruption -- 170 - - Buddhist Priest of Ch'ang-ch'ing, The 22 -- - - Buddhist Priests, Arrival of -- 231 - - Butterfly's Revenge, The -- 289 - - Carrying a Corpse -- 181 - - Cattle Plague, The -- 253 - - Censor in Purgatory, The -- 238 - - Chang Pu-liang -- 177 - - Chang's Transformation 237 -- - - Chou K'o-ch'ang and his Ghost -- 106 - - Clay Image, The -- 276 - - Cloth Merchant, The -- 127 - - Collecting Subscriptions -- 220 - - Considerate Husband, The 158 -- - - Country of the Cave Men, The 397 -- - - Courage Tested -- 116 - - Cruelty Avenged -- 267 - - Dead Priest, The -- 247 - - Death by Laughing 352 -- - - Disembodied Friend, The -- 119 - - Dishonesty Punished -- 279 - - Doctor, The -- 290 - - Donkey's Revenge, The -- 64 - - Dr. Tseng's Dream 387 -- - - Dreaming Honours -- 327 - - Dutch Carpet, The -- 179 - - Dwarf, A 224 -- - - Earthquake, An -- 263 - - Elephants and the Lion, The -- 343 - - Engaged to a Nun 262 -- - - Examination for the Post of Guardian Angel 1 -- - - Faithful Dog, The -- 261 - - Faithful Gander, The -- 342 - - Faithless Widow, The -- 39 - - Feasting the Ruler of Purgatory -- 284 - - Feng-shui -- 322 - - Fight with the Foxes, The 251 -- - - Fighting Cricket, The -- 17 - - Fighting Quails, The 66 -- - - Fisherman and his Friend, The -- 197 - - Flood, A 350 -- - - Flower-nymphs, The 285 -- - - Flying Cow, The -- 249 - - Foot-ball on the Tung-t'ing Lake 408 -- - - Foreign Priests 343 -- - - Fortune-hunter Punished, The -- 272 - - Forty Strings of Cash, The -- 211 - - Friendship with Foxes -- 300 - - Gambler's Talisman, The 419 -- - - Grateful Dog, The -- 308 - - Great Rat, The -- 303 - - Great Test, The -- 310 - - Hidden Treasure, The -- 345 - - His Father's Ghost -- 142 - - Hsiang-ju's Misfortunes 225 -- - - Husband Punished, The 422 -- - - Incorrupt Official, The -- 358 - - Infernal Regions, In the -- 95 - - Ingratitude Punished -- 138 - - Injustice of Heaven, The -- 111 - - Invisible Priest, The -- 235 - - Jen Hsiu, The Gambler 196 -- - - Joining the Immortals 53 -- - - Jonah, A Chinese -- 176 - - Judge Lu 92 -- - - Justice for Rebels -- 184 - - Killing a Serpent -- 190 - - King, The 257 -- - - Life Prolonged -- 273 - - Lingering Death, The -- 325 - - Little Chu 143 -- - - Lo-ch'a Country and the Sea Market, The -- 1 - - Lost Brother, The 203 -- - - Mad Priest, The -- 282 - - Magic Mirror, The -- 114 - - Magic Path, The -- 36 - - Magic Sword, The 124 -- - - Magical Arts 47 -- - - Magnanimous Girl, The 160 -- - - Making Animals -- 265 - - Man who was changed into a Crow, The 278 -- - - Man who was thrown down a Well, The 365 -- - - Marriage Lottery, The 428 -- - - Marriage of the Fox's Daughter, The 26 -- - - Marriage of the Virgin Goddess, The -- 257 - - Master-thief, The 347 -- - - Metempsychosis -- 207 - - "Mirror and Listen" Trick, The -- 251 - - Miss Chiao-no 33 -- - - Miss Lien-hsiang, The Fox-girl 168 -- - - Miss Quarta Hu 152 -- - - Miss Ying-ning; or, the Laughing Girl 106 -- - - Mr. Tung; or, Virtue Rewarded -- 244 - - Mr. Willow and the Locusts -- 242 - - Mysterious Head, The -- 135 - - Painted Skin, The 76 -- - - Painted Wall, The 9 -- - - Performing Mice, The 218 -- - - Perseverance Rewarded 186 -- - - Picture Horse, The -- 286 - - Pious Surgeon, The -- 351 - - Planchette -- 295 - - Planting a Pear-tree 14 -- - - Playing at Hanging 354 -- - - Priest's Warning, The -- 205 - - Princess Lily, The -- 56 - - Princess of the Tung-t'ing Lake -- 43 - - Quarrelsome Brothers, The 313 -- - - Raising the Dead -- 318 - - Rat Wife, The 355 -- - - Resuscitated Corpse, The -- 193 - - Rip van Winkle, A Chinese -- 85 - - Roc, The -- 340 - - Salt Smuggler, The -- 215 - - Saving Life -- 213 - - Sea-serpent, The -- 113 - - Self-punished Murderer, The 345 -- - - She-wolf and the Herd-boys, The -- 330 - - Shui-mang Plant, The 136 -- - - Singing Frogs, The 217 -- - - Singular case of Ophthalmia -- 102 - - Singular Verdict -- 307 - - Sisters, The 336 -- - - Smelling Essays -- 139 - - Snow in Summer -- 294 - - Solomon, A Chinese -- 335 - - Solomon, Another -- 355 - - Spirit of the Hills, The -- 137 - - Spirits of the Po-yang Lake, The -- 109 - - Spiritualistic Seances -- 131 - - Stolen Eyes, The -- 233 - - Strange Companion, A -- 130 - - Stream of Cash, The -- 110 - - Supernatural Wife, A -- 166 - - Taking Revenge -- 25 - - Talking Pupils, The 5 -- - - Ta-nan in Search of his Father 296 -- - - Taoist Devotee, A -- 183 - - Taoist Miracles -- 226 - - Taoist Priest, A 246 -- - - Taoist Priest of Lao-shan, The 17 -- - - Theft of the Peach -- 186 - - Three Genii, The 214 -- - - Three States of Existence, The -- 90 - - Thunder God, The 413 -- - - Tiger Guest, The 330 -- - - Tiger of Chao-ch'eng, The 219 -- - - Tipsy Turtle, The -- 28 - - Trader's Son, The 85 -- - - Two Brides, The -- 158 - - Unjust Sentence, The -- 80 - - Virtuous Daughter-in-law, The 374 -- - - Wei-ch'i Devil, The -- 268 - - Wine Insect, The -- 259 - - Wolf Dream, The -- 73 - - Wolves -- 305 - - Wonderful Stone, The 306 -- - - Young Gentleman who couldn't spell, The 326 -- - - Young Lady of the Tung-t'ing Lake, The 271 -- - - - APPENDIX A -- 361 - - " B -- 389 - - - - -STRANGE STORIES - -FROM A - -CHINESE STUDIO. - - - - -LXIII. - -THE LO-CH'A COUNTRY AND THE SEA-MARKET.[1] - - -Once upon a time there was a young man, named Ma Chuen, who was also -known as Lung-mei. He was the son of a trader, and a youth of -surpassing beauty. His manners were courteous, and he loved nothing -better than singing and playing. He used to associate with actors, and -with an embroidered handkerchief round his head the effect was that of -a beautiful woman. Hence he acquired the sobriquet of the Beauty. At -fourteen years of age he graduated and began to make a name for -himself; but his father, who was growing old and wished to retire from -business, said to him, "My boy, book-learning will never fill your -belly or put a coat on your back; you had much better stick to the old -thing." Accordingly, Ma from that time occupied himself with scales -and weights, with principle and interest, and such matters. - -He made a voyage across the sea, and was carried away by a typhoon. -After being tossed about for many days and nights he arrived at a -country where the people were hideously ugly. When these people saw Ma -they thought he was a devil and all ran screeching away. Ma was -somewhat alarmed at this, but finding that it was they who were -frightened at him, he quickly turned their fear to his own advantage. -If he came across people eating and drinking he would rush upon them, -and when they fled away for fear, he would regale himself upon what -they had left. By-and-by he went to a village among the hills, and -there the people had at any rate some facial resemblance to ordinary -men. But they were all in rags and tatters like beggars. So Ma sat -down to rest under a tree, and the villagers, not daring to come near -him, contented themselves with looking at him from a distance. They -soon found, however, that he did not want to eat them, and by degrees -approached a little closer to him. Ma, smiling, began to talk; and -although their language was different, yet he was able to make himself -tolerably intelligible, and told them whence he had come. The -villagers were much pleased, and spread the news that the stranger was -not a man-eater. Nevertheless, the very ugliest of all would only take -a look and be off again; they would not come near him. Those who did -go up to him were not very much unlike his own countrymen, the -Chinese. They brought him plenty of food and wine. Ma asked them what -they were afraid of. They replied, "We had heard from our forefathers -that 26,000 _li_ to the west there is a country called China. We had -heard that the people of that land were the most extraordinary in -appearance you can possibly imagine. Hitherto it has been hearsay; we -can now believe it." He then asked them how it was they were so poor. -They answered, "You see, in our country everything depends, not on -literary talent, but on beauty. The most beautiful are made ministers -of state; the next handsomest are made judges and magistrates; and the -third class in looks are employed in the palace of the king. Thus -these are enabled out of their pay to provide for their wives and -families. But we, from our very birth, are regarded by our parents as -inauspicious, and are left to perish, some of us being occasionally -preserved by more humane parents to prevent the extinction of the -family." Ma asked the name of their country, and they told him it was -Lo-ch'a. Also that the capital city was some 30 _li_ to the north. He -begged them to take him there, and next day at cock-crow he started -thitherwards in their company, arriving just about dawn. The walls of -the city were made of black stone, as black as ink, and the city -gate-houses were about 100 feet high. Red stones were used for tiles, -and picking up a broken piece Ma found that it marked his finger-nail -like vermilion. They arrived just when the Court was rising, and saw -all the equipages of the officials. The village people pointed out -one who they said was Prime Minister. His ears drooped forward in -flaps; he had three nostrils, and his eye-lashes were just like bamboo -screens hanging in front of his eyes. Then several came out on -horseback, and they said these were the privy councillors. So they -went on, telling him the rank of all the ugly uncouth fellows he saw. -The lower they got down in the official scale the less hideous the -officials were. By-and-by Ma went back, the people in the streets -marvelling very much to see him, and tumbling helter-skelter one over -another as if they had met a goblin. The villagers shouted out to -re-assure them, and then they stood at a distance to look at him. When -he got back, there was not a man, woman, or child in the whole nation -but knew that there was a strange man at the village; and the gentry -and officials became very desirous to see him. However, if he went to -any of their houses the porter always slammed the door in his face, -and the master, mistress, and family, in general, would only peep at, -and speak to him through the cracks. Not a single one dared receive -him face to face; but, finally, the village people, at a loss what to -do, bethought themselves of a man who had been sent by a former king -on official business among strange nations. "He," said they, "having -seen many kinds of men, will not be afraid of you." So they went to -his house, where they were received in a very friendly way. He seemed -to be about eighty or ninety years of age; his eye-balls protruded, -and his beard curled up like a hedge-hog. He said, "In my youth I was -sent by the king among many nations, but I never went to China. I am -now one hundred and twenty years of age, and that I should be -permitted to see a native of your country is a fact which it will be -my duty to report to the Throne. For ten years and more I have not -been to Court, but have remained here in seclusion; yet I will now -make an effort on your behalf." Then followed a banquet, and when the -wine had already circulated pretty freely, some dozen singing girls -came in and sang and danced before them. The girls all wore white -embroidered turbans, and long scarlet robes which trailed on the -ground. The words they uttered were unintelligible, and the tunes they -played perfectly hideous. The host, however, seemed to enjoy it very -much, and said to Ma, "Have you music in China?" He replied that they -had, and the old man asked for a specimen. Ma hummed him a tune, -beating time on the table, with which he was very much pleased, -declaring that his guest had the voice of a phoenix and the notes of a -dragon, such as he had never heard before. The next day he presented a -memorial to the Throne, and the king at once commanded Ma to appear -before him. Several of the ministers, however, represented that his -appearance was so hideous it might frighten His Majesty, and the king -accordingly desisted from his intention. The old man returned and told -Ma, being quite upset about it. They remained together some time until -they had drunk themselves tipsy. Then Ma, seizing a sword, began to -attitudinize, smearing his face all over with coal-dust. He acted the -part of Chang Fei,[2] at which his host was so delighted that he -begged him to appear before the Prime Minister in the character of -Chang Fei. Ma replied, "I don't mind a little amateur acting, but how -can I play the hypocrite[3] for my own personal advantage?" On being -pressed he consented, and the old man prepared a great feast, and -asked some of the high officials to be present, telling Ma to paint -himself as before. When the guests had arrived, Ma was brought out to -see them; whereupon they all exclaimed, "Ai-yah! how is it he was so -ugly before and is now so beautiful?" By-and-by, when they were all -taking wine together, Ma began to sing them a most bewitching song, -and they got so excited over it that next day they recommended him to -the king. The king sent a special summons for him to appear, and asked -him many questions about the government of China, to all of which Ma -replied in detail, eliciting sighs of admiration from His Majesty. He -was honoured with a banquet in the royal guest-pavilion, and when the -king had made himself tipsy he said to him, "I hear you are a very -skilful musician. Will you be good enough to let me hear you?" Ma then -got up and began to attitudinize, singing a plaintive air like the -girls with the turbans. The king was charmed, and at once made him a -privy councillor, giving him a private banquet, and bestowing other -marks of royal favour. As time went on his fellow-officials found out -the secret of his painted face,[4] and whenever he was among them they -were always whispering together, besides which they avoided being near -him as much as possible. Thus Ma was left to himself, and found his -position anything but pleasant in consequence. So he memorialized the -Throne, asking to be allowed to retire from office, but his request -was refused. He then said his health was bad, and got three months' -sick leave, during which he packed up his valuables and went back to -the village. The villagers on his arrival went down on their knees to -him, and he distributed gold and jewels amongst his old friends. They -were very glad to see him, and said, "Your kindness shall be repaid -when we go to the sea-market; we will bring you some pearls and -things." Ma asked them where that was. They said it was at the bottom -of the sea, where the mermaids[5] kept their treasures, and that as -many as twelve nations were accustomed to go thither to trade. Also -that it was frequented by spirits, and that to get there it was -necessary to pass through red vapours and great waves. "Dear Sir," -they said, "do not yourself risk this great danger, but let us take -your money and purchase these rare pearls for you. The season is now -at hand." Ma asked them how they knew this. They said, "Whenever we -see red birds flying backwards and forwards over the sea, we know that -within seven days the market will open." He asked when they were -going to start, that he might accompany them; but they begged him not -to think of doing so. He replied, "I am a sailor: how can I be afraid -of wind and waves?" Very soon after this people came with merchandise -to forward, and so Ma packed up and went on board the vessel that was -going. - -This vessel held some tens of people, was flat-bottomed with a railing -all round, and, rowed by ten men, it cut through the water like an -arrow. After a voyage of three days they saw afar off faint outlines -of towers and minarets, and crowds of trading vessels. They soon -arrived at the city, the walls of which were made of bricks as long as -a man's body, the tops of its buildings being lost in the Milky -Way.[6] Having made fast their boat they went in, and saw laid out in -the market rare pearls and wondrous precious stones of dazzling -beauty, such as are quite unknown amongst men. Then they saw a young -man come forth riding upon a beautiful steed. The people of the market -stood back to let him pass, saying he was the third son of the king; -but when the Prince saw Ma, he exclaimed, "This is no foreigner," and -immediately an attendant drew near and asked his name and country. Ma -made a bow, and standing at one side told his name and family. The -prince smiled, and said, "For you to have honoured our country thus is -no small piece of good luck." He then gave him a horse and begged him -to follow. They went out of the city gate and down to the sea-shore, -whereupon their horses plunged into the water. Ma was terribly -frightened and screamed out; but the sea opened dry before them and -formed a wall of water on either side. In a little time they reached -the king's palace, the beams of which were made of tortoise-shell and -the tiles of fishes' scales. The four walls were of crystal, and -dazzled the eye like mirrors. They got down off their horses and went -in, and Ma was introduced to the king. The young prince said, "Sire, I -have been to the market, and have got a gentleman from China." -Whereupon Ma made obeisance before the king, who addressed him as -follows:--"Sir, from a talented scholar like yourself I venture to ask -for a few stanzas upon our sea-market. Pray do not refuse." Ma -thereupon made a _kot'ow_ and undertook the king's command. Using an -ink-slab of crystal, a brush of dragon's beard, paper as white as -snow, and ink scented like the larkspur,[7] Ma immediately threw off -some thousand odd verses, which he laid at the feet of the king. When -His Majesty saw them, he said, "Sir, your genius does honour to these -marine nations of ours." Then, summoning the members of the royal -family, the king gave a great feast in the Coloured Cloud pavilion; -and, when the wine had circulated freely, seizing a great goblet in -his hand, the king rose and said before all the guests, "It is a -thousand pities, Sir, that you are not married. What say you to -entering the bonds of wedlock?" Ma rose blushing, and stammered out -his thanks; upon which the king looking round spoke a few words to the -attendants, and in a few moments in came a bevy of court ladies -supporting the king's daughter, whose ornaments went tinkle, tinkle, -as she walked along. Immediately the nuptial drums and trumpets began -to sound forth, and bride and bridegroom worshipped Heaven and Earth -together.[8] Stealing a glance Ma saw that the princess was endowed -with a fairy-like loveliness. When the ceremony was over she retired, -and by-and-by the wine-party broke up. Then came several -beautifully-dressed waiting-maids, who with painted candles escorted -Ma within. The bridal couch was made of coral adorned with eight kinds -of precious stones, and the curtains were thickly hung with pearls as -big as acorns. Next day at dawn a crowd of young slave-girls trooped -into the room to offer their services; whereupon Ma got up and went -off to Court to pay his respects to the king. He was then duly -received as royal son-in-law and made an officer of state. The fame of -his poetical talents spread far and wide, and the kings of the various -seas sent officers to congratulate him, vying with each other in their -invitations to him. Ma dressed himself in gorgeous clothes, and went -forth riding on a superb steed, with a mounted body-guard all -splendidly armed. There were musicians on horseback and musicians in -chariots, and in three days he had visited every one of the marine -kingdoms, making his name known in all directions. In the palace there -was a jade tree, about as big round as a man could clasp. Its roots -were as clear as glass, and up the middle ran, as it were, a stick of -pale yellow. The branches were the size of one's arm; the leaves like -white jade, as thick as a copper cash. The foliage was dense, and -beneath its shade the ladies of the palace were wont to sit and sing. -The flowers which covered the tree resembled grapes, and if a single -petal fell to the earth it made a ringing sound. Taking one up, it -would be found to be exactly like carved cornelian, very bright and -pretty to look at. From time to time a wonderful bird came and sang -there. Its feathers were of a golden hue, and its tail as long as its -body. Its notes were like the tinkling of jade, very plaintive and -touching to listen to. When Ma heard this bird sing, it called up in -him recollections of his old home, and accordingly he said to the -princess, "I have now been away from my own country for three years, -separated from my father and mother. Thinking of them my tears flow -and the perspiration runs down my back. Can you return with me?" His -wife replied, "The way of immortals is not that of men. I am unable to -do what you ask, but I cannot allow the feelings of husband and wife -to break the tie of parent and child. Let us devise some plan." When -Ma heard this he wept bitterly, and the princess sighed and said, "We -cannot both stay or both go." The next day the king said to him, "I -hear that you are pining after your old home. Will to-morrow suit you -for taking leave?" Ma thanked the king for his great kindness, which -he declared he could never forget, and promised to return very -shortly. That evening the princess and Ma talked over their wine of -their approaching separation. Ma said they would soon meet again; but -his wife averred that their married life was at an end. Then he wept -afresh, but the princess said, "Like a filial son you are going home -to your parents. In the meetings and separations of this life, a -hundred years seem but a single day; why, then, should we give way to -tears like children? I will be true to you; do you be faithful to me; -and then, though separated, we shall be united in spirit, a happy -pair. Is it necessary to live side by side in order to grow old -together? If you break our contract your next marriage will not be a -propitious one; but if loneliness[9] overtakes you then choose a -concubine. There is one point more of which I would speak, with -reference to our married life. I am about to become a mother, and I -pray you give me a name for your child." To this Ma replied, "If a -girl I would have her called Lung-kung; if a boy, then name him -Fu-hai."[10] The princess asked for some token of remembrance, and Ma -gave her a pair of jade lilies that he had got during his stay in the -marine kingdom. She added, "On the 8th of the 4th moon, three years -hence, when you once more steer your course for this country, I will -give you up your child." She next packed a leather bag full of jewels -and handed it to Ma, saying, "Take care of this; it will be a -provision for many generations." When the day began to break a -splendid farewell feast was given him by the king, and Ma bade them -all adieu. The princess, in a car drawn by snow-white sheep, escorted -him to the boundary of the marine kingdom, where he dismounted and -stepped ashore. "Farewell!" cried the princess, as her returning car -bore her rapidly away, and the sea, closing over her, snatched her -from her husband's sight. Ma returned to his home across the ocean. -Some had thought him long since dead and gone; all marvelled at his -story. Happily his father and mother were yet alive, though his former -wife had married another man; and so he understood why the princess -had pledged him to constancy, for she already knew that this had taken -place. His father wished him to take another wife, but he would not. -He only took a concubine. Then, after the three years had passed away, -he started across the sea on his return journey, when lo! he beheld, -riding on the wave-crests and splashing about the water in playing, -two young children. On going near, one of them seized hold of him and -sprung into his arms; upon which the elder cried until he, too, was -taken up. They were a boy and girl, both very lovely, and wearing -embroidered caps adorned with jade lilies. On the back of one of them -was a worked case, in which Ma found the following letter:-- - -"I presume my father and mother-in-law are well. Three years have -passed away and destiny still keeps us apart. Across the great ocean, -the letter-bird would find no path.[11] I have been with you in my -dreams until I am quite worn out. Does the blue sky look down upon any -grief like mine? Yet Ch'ang-ngo[12] lives solitary in the moon, and -Chih Nue[13] laments that she cannot cross the Silver River. Who am I -that I should expect happiness to be mine? Truly this thought turns my -tears into joy. Two months after your departure I had twins, who can -already prattle away in the language of childhood, at one moment -snatching a date, at another a pear. Had they no mother they would -still live. These I now send to you, with the jade lilies you gave me -in their hats, in token of the sender. When you take them upon your -knee, think that I am standing by your side. I know that you have kept -your promise to me, and I am happy. I shall take no second husband, -even unto death. All thoughts of dress and finery are gone from me; my -looking-glass sees no new fashions; my face has long been unpowdered, -my eyebrows unblacked. You are my Ulysses, I am your Penelope;[14] -though not actually leading a married life, how can it be said that -we are not husband and wife. Your father and mother will take their -grandchildren upon their knees, though they have never set eyes upon -the bride. Alas! there is something wrong in this. Next year your -mother will enter upon the long night. I shall be there by the side of -the grave as is becoming in her daughter-in-law. From this time forth -our daughter will be well; later on she will be able to grasp her -mother's hand. Our boy, when he grows up, may possibly be able to come -to and fro. Adieu, dear husband, adieu, though I am leaving much -unsaid." Ma read the letter over and over again, his tears flowing all -the time. His two children clung round his neck, and begged him to -take them home. "Ah, my children," said he, "where is your home?" Then -they all wept bitterly, and Ma, looking at the great ocean stretching -away to meet the sky, lovely and pathless, embraced his children, and -proceeded sorrowfully to return. Knowing, too, that his mother could -not last long, he prepared everything necessary for the ceremony of -interment, and planted a hundred young pine-trees at her grave.[15] -The following year the old lady did die, and her coffin was borne to -its last resting-place, when lo! there was the princess standing by -the side of the grave. The lookers-on were much alarmed, but in a -moment there was a flash of lightning, followed by a clap of thunder -and a squall of rain, and she was gone. It was then noticed that many -of the young pine-trees which had died were one and all brought to -life. Subsequently, Fu-hai went in search of the mother for whom he -pined so much, and after some days' absence returned. Lung-kung, being -a girl, could not accompany him, but she mourned much in secret. One -dark day her mother entered and bid her dry her eyes, saying, "My -child, you must get married. Why these tears?" She then gave her a -tree of coral eight feet in height, some Baroos camphor,[16] one -hundred valuable pearls, and two boxes inlaid with gold and precious -stones, as her dowry. Ma having found out she was there, rushed in and -seizing her hand began to weep for joy, when suddenly a violent peal -of thunder rent the building, and the princess had vanished. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[1] The term "sea-market" is generally understood in the sense of -_mirage_, or some similar phenomenon. - -[2] A famous General who played a leading part in the wars of the -Three Kingdoms. See No. XCIII., note 127. - -[3] A hit at the hypocrisy of the age. - -[4] Shewing that hypocrisy is bad policy in the long run. - -[5] The tears of Chinese mermaids are said to be pearls. - -[6] See No. XIX., note 135. - -[7] Good ink of the kind miscalled "Indian," is usually very highly -scented; and from a habit the Chinese have of sucking their -writing-brushes to a fine point, the phrase "to eat ink" has become a -synonym of "to study." - -[8] This all-important point in a Chinese marriage ceremony is the -equivalent of our own "signing in the vestry." - -[9] Literally, "if you have no one to cook your food." - -[10] "Dragon Palace" and "Happy Sea," respectively. - -[11] Alluding to an old legend of a letter conveyed by a bird. - -[12] See No. V., note 49. - -[13] The "Spinning Damsel," or name of a star in Lyra, connected with -which there is a celebrated legend of its annual transit across the -Milky Way. - -[14] These are of course only the equivalents of the Chinese names in -the text. - -[15] To keep off the much-dreaded wind, which disturbs the rest of the -departed. - -[16] For which a very high price is obtained in China. - - - - -LXIV. - -THE FIGHTING CRICKET. - - -During the reign of Hsuean Te,[17] cricket fighting was very much in -vogue at court, levies of crickets being exacted from the people as a -tax. On one occasion the magistrate of Hua-yin, wishing to make -friends with the Governor, presented him with a cricket which, on -being set to fight, displayed very remarkable powers; so much so that -the Governor commanded the magistrate to supply him regularly with -these insects. The latter, in his turn, ordered the beadles of his -district to provide him with crickets; and then it became a practice -for people who had nothing else to do to catch and rear them for this -purpose. Thus the price of crickets rose very high; and when the -beadle's[18] runners came to exact even a single one, it was enough -to ruin several families. - -Now in the village of which we are speaking there lived a man named -Ch'eng, a student who had often failed for his bachelor's degree; and, -being a stupid sort of fellow, his name was sent in for the post of -beadle. He did all he could to get out of it, but without success; and -by the end of the year his small patrimony was gone. Just then came a -call for crickets, and Ch'eng, not daring to make a like call upon his -neighbours, was at his wits' end, and in his distress determined to -commit suicide. "What's the use of that?" cried his wife. "You'd do -better to go out and try to find some." So off went Ch'eng in the -early morning, with a bamboo tube and a silk net, not returning till -late at night; and he searched about in tumble-down walls, in bushes, -under stones, and in holes, but without catching more than two or -three, do what he would. Even those he did catch were weak creatures, -and of no use at all, which made the magistrate fix a limit of time, -the result of which was that in a few days Ch'eng got one hundred -blows with the bamboo. This made him so sore that he was quite unable -to go after the crickets any more, and, as he lay tossing and turning -on the bed, he determined once again to put an end to his life. - -About that time a hump-backed fortune-teller of great skill arrived at -the village, and Ch'eng's wife, putting together a trifle of money, -went off to seek his assistance. The door was literally blocked -up--fair young girls and white-headed dames crowding in from all -quarters. A room was darkened, and a bamboo screen hung at the door, -an altar being arranged outside at which the fortune-seekers burnt -incense in a brazier, and prostrated themselves twice, while the -soothsayer stood by the side, and, looking up into vacancy, prayed for -a response. His lips opened and shut, but nobody heard what he said, -all standing there in awe waiting for the answer. In a few moments a -piece of paper was thrown from behind the screen, and the soothsayer -said that the petitioner's desire would be accomplished in the way he -wished. Ch'eng's wife now advanced, and, placing some money on the -altar, burnt her incense and prostrated herself in a similar manner. -In a few moments the screen began to move, and a piece of paper was -thrown down, on which there were no words, but only a picture. In the -middle was a building like a temple, and behind this a small hill, at -the foot of which were a number of curious stones, with the long, -spiky feelers of innumerable crickets appearing from behind. Hard by -was a frog, which seemed to be engaged in putting itself into various -kinds of attitudes. The good woman had no idea what it all meant; but -she noticed the crickets, and accordingly went off home to tell her -husband. "Ah," said he, "this is to shew me where to hunt for -crickets;" and, on looking closely at the picture, he saw that the -building very much resembled a temple to the east of their village. So -he forced himself to get up, and, leaning on a stick, went out to seek -crickets behind the temple. Rounding an old grave, he came upon a -place where stones were lying scattered about as in the picture, and -then he set himself to watch attentively. He might as well have been -looking for a needle or a grain of mustard-seed; and by degrees he -became quite exhausted, without finding anything, when suddenly an old -frog jumped out. Ch'eng was a little startled, but immediately pursued -the frog, which retreated into the bushes. He then saw one of the -insects he wanted sitting at the root of a bramble; but on making a -grab at it, the cricket ran into a hole, from which he was unable to -move it until he poured in some water, when out the little creature -came. It was a magnificent specimen, strong and handsome, with a fine -tail, green neck, and golden wings; and, putting it in his basket, he -returned home in high glee to receive the congratulations of his -family. He would not have taken anything for this cricket, and -proceeded to feed it up carefully in a bowl. Its belly was the colour -of a crab's, its back that of a sweet chestnut; and Ch'eng tended it -most lovingly, waiting for the time when the magistrate should call -upon him for a cricket. - -Meanwhile, a son of Ch'eng's, aged nine, one day took the opportunity -of his father being out to open the bowl. Instantaneously the cricket -made a spring forward and was gone; and all efforts to catch it again -were unavailing. At length the boy made a grab at it with his hand, -but only succeeded in seizing one of its legs, which thereupon broke, -and the little creature soon afterwards died. Ch'eng's wife turned -deadly pale when her son, with tears in his eyes, told her what had -happened. "Oh! won't you catch it when your father comes home," said -she; at which the boy ran away, crying bitterly. Soon after Ch'eng -arrived, and when he heard his wife's story he felt as if he had been -turned to ice, and went in search of his son, who, however, was -nowhere to be found, until at length they discovered his body lying at -the bottom of a well. Their anger was thus turned to grief, and death -seemed as though it would be a pleasant relief to them as they sat -facing each other in silence in their thatched and smokeless[19] hut. -At evening they prepared to bury the boy; but, on touching the body, -lo! he was still breathing. Overjoyed, they placed him upon the bed, -and towards the middle of the night he came round; but a drop of -bitterness was mingled in his parents' cup when they found that his -reason had fled. His father, however, caught sight of the empty bowl -in which he had kept the cricket, and ceased to think any more about -his son, never once closing his eyes all night; and as day gradually -broke, there he lay stiff and stark, until suddenly he heard the -chirping of a cricket outside the house door. Jumping up in a great -hurry to see, there was his lost insect; but, on trying to catch it, -away it hopped directly. At last he got it under his hand, though, -when he came to close his fingers on it, there was nothing in them. So -he went on, chasing it up and down, until finally it hopped into a -corner of the wall; and then, looking carefully about, he espied it -once more, no longer the same in appearance, but small, and of a dark -red colour. Ch'eng stood looking at it, without trying to catch such a -worthless specimen, when all of a sudden the little creature hopped -into his sleeve; and, on examining it more nearly, he saw that it -really was a handsome insect, with well-formed head and neck, and -forthwith took it indoors. He was now anxious to try its prowess; and -it so happened that a young fellow of the village, who had a fine -cricket which used to win every bout it fought, and was so valuable to -him that he wanted a high price for it, called on Ch'eng that very -day. He laughed heartily at Ch'eng's champion, and, producing his own, -placed it side by side, to the great disadvantage of the former. -Ch'eng's countenance fell, and he no longer wished to back his -cricket; however, the young fellow urged him, and he thought that -there was no use in rearing a feeble insect, and that he had better -sacrifice it for a laugh; so they put them together in a bowl. The -little cricket lay quite still like a piece of wood, at which the -young fellow roared again, and louder than ever when it did not move -even though tickled with a pig's bristle. By dint of tickling it was -roused at last, and then it fell upon its adversary with such fury, -that in a moment the young fellow's cricket would have been killed -outright had not its master interfered and stopped the fight. The -little cricket then stood up and chirped to Ch'eng as a sign of -victory; and Ch'eng, overjoyed, was just talking over the battle with -the young fellow, when a cock caught sight of the insect, and ran up -to eat it. Ch'eng was in a great state of alarm; but the cock luckily -missed its aim, and the cricket hopped away, its enemy pursuing at -full speed. In another moment it would have been snapped up, when, lo! -to his great astonishment, Ch'eng saw his cricket seated on the cock's -head, holding firmly on to its comb. He then put it into a cage, and -by-and-by sent it to the magistrate, who, seeing what a small one he -had provided, was very angry indeed. Ch'eng told the story of the -cock, which the magistrate refused to believe, and set it to fight -with other crickets, all of which it vanquished without exception. He -then tried it with a cock, and as all turned out as Ch'eng had said, -he gave him a present, and sent the cricket in to the Governor. The -Governor put it into a golden cage, and forwarded it to the palace, -accompanied by some remarks on its performances; and when there, it -was found that of all the splendid collection of His Imperial Majesty, -not one was worthy to be placed alongside of this one. It would dance -in time to music, and thus became a great favourite, the Emperor in -return bestowing magnificent gifts of horses and silks upon the -Governor. The Governor did not forget whence he had obtained the -cricket, and the magistrate also well rewarded Ch'eng by excusing him -from the duties of beadle, and by instructing the Literary Chancellor -to pass him for the first degree. A few months afterwards Ch'eng's son -recovered his intellect, and said that he had been a cricket, and had -proved himself a very skilful fighter.[20] The Governor, too, rewarded -Ch'eng handsomely, and in a few years he was a rich man, with flocks, -and herds, and houses, and acres, quite one of the wealthiest of -mankind. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[17] Of the Ming dynasty; reigned A.D. 1426-1436. - -[18] These beadles are chosen by the officials from among the -respectable and substantial of the people to preside over a small area -and be responsible for the general good behaviour of its inhabitants. -The post is one of honour and occasional emolument, since all -petitions presented to the authorities, all mortgages, transfers of -land, &c., should bear the beadle's seal or signature in evidence of -their _bona fide_ character. On the other hand, the beadle is punished -by fine, and sometimes bambooed, if robberies are too frequent within -his jurisdiction, or if he fails to secure the person of any -malefactor particularly wanted by his superior officers. And other -causes may combine to make the post a dangerous one; but no one is -allowed to refuse acceptance of it point-blank. - -[19] A favourite Chinese expression, signifying the absence of food. - -[20] That is to say, his spirit had entered, during his period of -temporary insanity, into the cricket which had allowed itself to be -caught by his father, and had animated it to fight with such -extraordinary vigour in order to make good the loss occasioned by his -carelessness in letting the other escape. - - - - -LXV. - -TAKING REVENGE. - - -Hsiang Kao, otherwise called Ch'u-tan, was a T'ai-yuean man, and deeply -attached to his half-brother Sheng. Sheng himself was desperately -enamoured of a young lady named Po-ss[)u],[21] who was also very fond of -him: but the mother wanted too much money for her daughter. Now a rich -young fellow named Chuang thought he should like to get Po-ss[)u] for -himself, and proposed to buy her as a concubine. "No, no," said Po-ss[)u] -to her mother, "I prefer being Sheng's wife to becoming Chuang's -concubine." So her mother consented, and informed Sheng, who had only -recently buried his first wife; at which he was delighted and made -preparations to take her over to his own house. When Chuang heard this -he was infuriated against Sheng for thus depriving him of Po-ss[)u]; and -chancing to meet him out one day, set to and abused him roundly. -Sheng answered him back, and then Chuang ordered his attendants to -fall upon Sheng and beat him well, which they did, leaving him -lifeless on the ground. When Hsiang heard what had taken place he ran -out and found his brother lying dead upon the ground. Overcome with -grief, he proceeded to the magistrate's, and accused Chuang of murder; -but the latter bribed so heavily that nothing came of the accusation. -This worked Hsiang to frenzy, and he determined to assassinate Chuang -on the high road; with which intent he daily concealed himself, with a -sharp knife about him, among the bushes on the hill-side, waiting for -Chuang to pass. By degrees, this plan of his became known far and -wide, and accordingly Chuang never went out except with a strong -body-guard, besides which he engaged at a high price the services of a -very skilful archer, named Chiao T'ung, so that Hsiang had no means of -carrying out his intention. However, he continued to lie in wait day -after day, and on one occasion it began to rain heavily, and in a -short time Hsiang was wet through to the skin. Then the wind got up, -and a hailstorm followed, and by-and-by Hsiang was quite numbed with -the cold. On the top of the hill there was a small temple wherein -lived a Taoist priest, whom Hsiang knew from the latter having -occasionally begged alms in the village, and to whom he had often -given a meal. This priest, seeing how wet he was, gave him some other -clothes, and told him to put them on; but no sooner had he done so -than he crouched down like a dog, and found that he had been changed -into a tiger, and that the priest had vanished. It now occurred to him -to seize this opportunity of revenging himself upon his enemy; and -away he went to his old ambush, where lo and behold! he found his own -body lying stiff and stark. Fearing lest it should become food for -birds of prey, he guarded it carefully, until at length one day Chuang -passed by. Out rushed the tiger and sprung upon Chuang, biting his -head off, and swallowing it upon the spot; at which Chiao T'ung, the -archer, turned round and shot the animal through the heart. Just at -that moment Hsiang awaked as though from a dream, but it was some time -before he could crawl home, where he arrived to the great delight of -his family, who didn't know what had become of him. Hsiang said not a -word, lying quietly on the bed until some of his people came in to -congratulate him on the death of his great enemy Chuang. Hsiang then -cried out, "I was that tiger," and proceeded to relate the whole -story, which thus got about until it reached the ears of Chuang's son, -who immediately set to work to bring his father's murderer to justice. -The magistrate, however, did not consider this wild story as -sufficient evidence against him, and thereupon dismissed the case. - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[21] This is the term used by the Chinese for "Persia," often put by -metonymy for things which come from that country, _sc._ "valuables." -Thus, "to be poor in Persia" is to have but few jewels, gold and -silver ornaments, and even clothes. - - - - -LXVI. - -THE TIPSY TURTLE. - - -At Lin-t'iao there lived a Mr. Feng, whose other name the person who -told me this story could not remember; he belonged to a good family, -though now somewhat falling into decay. Now a certain man, who caught -turtles, owed him some money which he could not pay, but whenever he -captured any turtles he used to send one to Mr. Feng. One day he took -him an enormous creature, with a white spot on its forehead; but Feng -was so struck with something in its appearance, that he let it go -again. A little while afterwards he was returning home from his -son-in-law's, and had reached the banks of the river,[22] when in the -dusk of the evening he saw a drunken man come rolling along, attended -by two or three servants. No sooner did he perceive Feng than he -called out, "Who are you?" to which Feng replied that he was a -traveller. "And haven't you got a name?" shouted out the drunken man -in a rage, "that you must call yourself a traveller?" To this Feng -made no reply, but tried to pass by; whereupon he found himself seized -by the sleeve and unable to move. His adversary smelt horribly of -wine, and at length Feng asked him, saying, "And pray who are you?" -"Oh, I am the late magistrate at Nan-tu," answered he; "what do you -want to know for?" "A nice disgrace to society you are, too," cried -Feng; "however, I am glad to hear you are only _late_ magistrate, for -if you had been present magistrate there would be bad times in store -for travellers." This made the drunken man furious, and he was -proceeding to use violence, when Feng cried out, "My name is -So-and-so, and I'm not the man to stand this sort of thing from -anybody." No sooner had he uttered these words than the drunken man's -rage was turned into joy, and, falling on his knees before Feng, he -said, "My benefactor! pray excuse my rudeness." Then getting up, he -told his servants to go on ahead and get something ready; Feng at -first declining to go with him, but yielding on being pressed. Taking -his hand, the drunken man led him along a short distance until they -reached a village, where there was a very nice house and grounds, -quite like the establishment of a person of position. As his friend -was now getting sober, Feng inquired what might be his name. "Don't be -frightened when I tell you," said the other; "I am the Eighth Prince -of the T'iao river. I have just been out to take wine with a friend, -and somehow I got tipsy; hence my bad behaviour to you, which please -forgive." Feng now knew that he was not of mortal flesh and blood; -but, seeing how kindly he himself was treated, he was not a bit -afraid. A banquet followed, with plenty of wine, of which the Eighth -Prince drank so freely that Feng thought he would soon be worse than -ever, and accordingly said he felt tipsy himself, and asked to be -allowed to go to bed. "Never fear," answered the Prince, who perceived -Feng's thoughts; "many drunkards will tell you that they cannot -remember in the morning the extravagances of the previous night, but I -tell you this is all nonsense, and that in nine cases out of ten those -extravagances are committed wittingly and with malice prepense.[23] -Now, though I am not the same order of being as yourself, I should -never venture to behave badly in your good presence; so pray do not -leave me thus." Feng then sat down again and said to the Prince, -"Since you are aware of this, why not change your ways?" "Ah," replied -the Prince, "when I was a magistrate I drank much more than I do now; -but I got into disgrace with the Emperor and was banished here, since -which time, ten years and more, I have tried to reform. Now, however, -I am drawing near the wood,[24] and being unable to move about much, -the old vice has come upon me again; I have found it impossible to -stop myself, but perhaps what you say may do me some good." While they -were thus talking, the sound of a distant bell broke upon their ears; -and the Prince, getting up and seizing Feng's hand, said, "We cannot -remain together any longer; but I will give you something by which I -may in part requite your kindness to me. It must not be kept for any -great length of time; when you have attained your wishes, then I will -receive it back again." Thereupon he spit out of his mouth a tiny man, -no more than an inch high, and scratching Feng's arm with his nails -until Feng felt as if the skin was gone, he quickly laid the little -man upon the spot. When he let go, the latter had already sunk into -the skin, and nothing was to be seen but a cicatrix well healed over. -Feng now asked what it all meant, but the Prince only laughed, and -said, "It's time for you to go," and forthwith escorted him to the -door. The prince here bade him adieu, and when he looked round, -Prince, village, and house had all disappeared together, leaving -behind a great turtle which waddled down into the water, and -disappeared likewise. He could now easily account for the Prince's -present to him; and from this moment his sight became intensely keen. -He could see precious stones lying in the bowels of the earth, and was -able to look down as far as Hell itself; besides which he suddenly -found that he knew the names of many things of which he had never -heard before. From below his own bedroom he dug up many hundred ounces -of pure silver, upon which he lived very comfortably; and once when a -house was for sale, he perceived that in it lay concealed a vast -quantity of gold, so he immediately bought it, and so became immensely -rich in all kinds of valuables. He secured a mirror, on the back of -which was a phoenix, surrounded by water and clouds, and portraits of -the celebrated wives of the Emperor Shun,[25] so beautifully executed -that each hair of the head and eyebrows could easily be counted. If -any woman's face came upon the mirror, there it remained indelibly -fixed and not to be rubbed out; but if the same woman looked into the -mirror again, dressed in a different dress, or if some other woman -chanced to look in, then the former face would gradually fade away. - -Now the third princess in Prince Su's family was very beautiful; and -Feng, who had long heard of her fame, concealed himself on the -K'ung-tung hill, when he knew the Princess was going there. He waited -until she alighted from her chair, and then getting the mirror full -upon her, he walked off home. Laying it on the table, he saw therein a -lovely girl in the act of raising her handkerchief, and with a sweet -smile playing over her face; her lips seemed about to move, and a -twinkle was discernible in her eyes.[26] Delighted with this picture, -he put the mirror very carefully away; but in about a year his wife -had let the story leak out, and the Prince, hearing of it, threw Feng -into prison, and took possession of the mirror. Feng was to be -beheaded; however, he bribed one of the Prince's ladies to tell His -Highness that if he would pardon him all the treasures of the earth -might easily become his; whereas, on the other hand, his death could -not possibly be of any advantage to the Prince. The Prince now thought -of confiscating all his goods and banishing him; but the third -princess observed, that as he had already seen her, were he to die ten -times over it would not give her back her lost face, and that she had -much better marry him. The Prince would not hear of this, whereupon -his daughter shut herself up and refused all nourishment, at which the -ladies of the palace were dreadfully alarmed, and reported it at once -to the Prince. Feng was accordingly liberated, and was informed of the -determination of the Princess, which, however, he declined to fall in -with, saying that he was not going thus to sacrifice the wife of his -days of poverty,[27] and would rather die than carry out such an -order. He added that if His Highness would consent, he would purchase -his liberty at the price of everything he had. The Prince was -exceedingly angry at this, and seized Feng again; and meanwhile one of -the concubines got Feng's wife into the palace, intending to poison -her. Feng's wife, however, brought her a beautiful present of a coral -stand for a looking-glass, and was so agreeable in her conversation, -that the concubine took a great fancy to her, and presented her to the -Princess, who was equally pleased, and forthwith determined that they -would both be Feng's wives.[28] When Feng heard of this plan, he said -to his wife, "With a Prince's daughter there can be no distinctions of -first and second wife;" but Mrs. Feng paid no heed to him, and -immediately sent off to the Prince such an enormous quantity of -valuables that it took a thousand men to carry them, and the Prince -himself had never before heard of such treasures in his life. Feng was -now liberated once more, and solemnized his marriage with the -Princess. - -One night after this he dreamt that the Eighth Prince came to him and -asked him to return his former present, saying that to keep it too -long would be injurious to his chances of life. Feng asked him to -take a drink, but the Eighth Prince said that he had forsworn wine, -acting under Feng's advice, for three years. He then bit Feng's arm, -and the latter waked up with the pain to find that the cicatrix on his -arm was no longer there. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[22] The name here used is the _Heng_ or "ceaseless" river, which is -applied by the Chinese to the Ganges. A certain number, extending to -fifty-three places of figures, is called "Ganges sand," in allusion to -a famous remark that "Buddha and the Bodhisatvas knew of the creation -and destruction of every grain of dust in Jambudwipa (the universe); -how much more the number of the sand-particles in the river Ganges?" - -[23] Drunkenness is not recognised in China as an extenuating -circumstance; neither, indeed, is insanity,--a lunatic who takes -another man's life being equally liable with ordinary persons to the -forfeiture of his own. - -[24] A favourite Chinese figure expressive of old age. It dates back -to the celebrated commentary by Tso Ch'iu Ming on Confucius' _Spring -and Autumn_ (See No. XLI., note 237):--"Hsi is twenty-three and I am -twenty-five; and marrying thus we shall approach the wood together;" -the "wood" being, of course, that of the coffin. - -[25] See No. VIII., note 63. - -[26] - - "... Move these eyes? - ... Here are severed lips." - - --_Merchant of Venice_, Act iii., sc. 2. - -[27] See No. LIII., note 288. - -[28] This method of arranging a matrimonial difficulty is a common one -in Chinese fiction, but I should say quite unknown in real life. - - - - -LXVII. - -THE MAGIC PATH. - - -In the province of Kuangtung there lived a scholar named Kuo, who was -one evening on his way home from a friend's, when he lost his way -among the hills. He got into a thick jungle, where, after about an -hour's wandering, he suddenly heard the sound of laughing and talking -on the top of the hill. Hurrying up in the direction of the sound, he -beheld some ten or a dozen persons sitting on the ground engaged in -drinking. No sooner had they caught sight of Kuo than they all cried -out, "Come along! just room for one more; you're in the nick of time." -So Kuo sat down with the company, most of whom, he noticed, belonged -to the literati,[29] and began by asking them to direct him on his way -home; but one of them cried out, "A nice sort of fellow you are, to -be bothering about your way home, and paying no attention to the fine -moon we have got to-night." The speaker then presented him with a -goblet of wine of exquisite bouquet, which Kuo drank off at a draught, -and another gentleman filled up again for him at once. Now, Kuo was -pretty good in that line, and being very thirsty withal from his long -walk, tossed off bumper after bumper, to the great delight of his -hosts, who were unanimous in voting him a jolly good fellow. He was, -moreover, full of fun, and could imitate exactly the note of any kind -of bird; so all of a sudden he began on the sly to twitter like a -swallow, to the great astonishment of the others, who wondered how it -was a swallow could be out so late. He then changed his note to that -of a cuckoo, sitting there laughing and saying nothing, while his -hosts were discussing the extraordinary sounds they had just heard. -After a while he imitated a parrot, and cried, "Mr. Kuo is very drunk: -you'd better see him home;" and then the sounds ceased, beginning -again by-and-by, when at last the others found out who it was, and all -burst out laughing. They screwed up their mouths and tried to whistle -like Kuo, but none of them could do so; and soon one of them observed, -"What a pity Madam Ch'ing isn't with us: we must rendezvous here again -at mid-autumn, and you, Mr. Kuo, must be sure and come." Kuo said he -would, whereupon another of his hosts got up and remarked that, as he -had given them such an amusing entertainment, they would try to shew -him a few acrobatic feats. They all arose, and one of them planting -his feet firmly, a second jumped up on to his shoulders, a third on to -the second's shoulders, and a fourth on to his, until it was too high -for the rest to jump up, and accordingly they began to climb as though -it had been a ladder. When they were all up, and the topmost head -seemed to touch the clouds, the whole column bent gradually down until -it lay along the ground transformed into a path. Kuo remained for some -time in a state of considerable alarm, and then, setting out along -this path, ultimately reached his own home. Some days afterwards he -revisited the spot, and saw the remains of a feast lying about on the -ground, with dense bushes on all sides, but no sign of a path. At -mid-autumn he thought of keeping his engagement; however, his friends -persuaded him not to go. - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[29] This term, while really including all literary men, of no matter -what rank or standing, is more usually confined to that large section -of unemployed scholarship made up of (1) those who are waiting to get -started in an official career, (2) those who have taken one or more -degrees and are preparing for the next, (3) those who have failed to -distinguish themselves at the public examinations, and eke out a small -patrimony by taking pupils, and (4) scholars of sufficiently high -qualifications who have no taste for official life. - - - - -LXVIII. - -THE FAITHLESS WIDOW.[30] - - -Mr. Niu was a Kiangsi man who traded in piece goods. He married a wife -from the Cheng family, by whom he had two children, a boy and a girl. -When thirty-three years of age he fell ill and died, his son Chung -being then only twelve and his little girl eight or nine. His wife did -not remain faithful to his memory, but, selling off all the property, -pocketed the proceeds and married another man, leaving her two -children almost in a state of destitution with their aunt, Niu's -sister-in-law, an old lady of sixty, who had lived with them -previously, and had now nowhere to seek a shelter. A few years later -this aunt died, and the family fortunes began to sink even lower than -before; Chung, however, was now grown up, and determined to carry on -his father's trade, only he had no capital to start with. His sister -marrying a rich trader named Mao, she begged her husband to lend Chung -ten ounces of silver, which he did, and Chung immediately started for -Nanking. On the road he fell in with some bandits, who robbed him of -all he had, and consequently he was unable to return; but one day when -he was at a pawnshop he noticed that the master of the shop was -wonderfully like his late father, and on going out and making -inquiries he found that this pawnbroker bore precisely the same names. -In great astonishment, he forthwith proceeded to frequent the place -with no other object than to watch this man, who, on the other hand, -took no notice of Chung; and by the end of three days, having -satisfied himself that he really saw his own father, and yet not -daring to disclose his own identity, he made application through one -of the assistants, on the score of being himself a Kiangsi man, to be -employed in the shop. Accordingly, an indenture was drawn up; and when -the master noticed Chung's name and place of residence he started, and -asked him whence he came. With tears in his eyes Chung addressed him -by his father's name, and then the pawnbroker became lost in a deep -reverie, by-and-by asking Chung how his mother was. Now Chung did not -like to allude to his father's death, and turned the question by -saying, "My father went away on business six years ago, and never came -back; my mother married again and left us, and had it not been for my -aunt our corpses would long ago have been cast out in the kennel." -Then the pawnbroker was much moved, and cried out, "I am your father!" -seizing his son's hand and leading him within to see his step-mother. -This lady was about twenty-two, and, having no children of her own, -was delighted with Chung, and prepared a banquet for him in the inner -apartments. Mr. Niu himself was, however, somewhat melancholy, and -wished to return to his old home; but his wife, fearing that there -would be no one to manage the business, persuaded him to remain; so he -taught his son the trade, and in three months was able to leave it all -to him. He then prepared for his journey, whereupon Chung informed his -step-mother that his father was really dead, to which she replied in -great consternation that she knew him only as a trader to the place, -and that six years previously he had married her, which proved -conclusively that he couldn't be dead. He then recounted the whole -story, which was a perfect mystery to both of them; and twenty-four -hours afterwards in walked his father, leading a woman whose hair was -all dishevelled. Chung looked at her and saw that she was his own -mother; and Niu took her by the ear and began to revile her, saying, -"Why did you desert my children?" to which the wretched woman made no -reply. He then bit her across the neck, at which she screamed to Chung -for assistance, and he, not being able to bear the sight, stepped in -between them. His father was more than ever enraged at this, when, lo! -Chung's mother had disappeared. While they were still lost in -astonishment at this strange scene, Mr. Niu's colour changed; in -another moment his empty clothes had dropped upon the ground, and he -himself became a black vapour and also vanished from their sight. The -step-mother and son were much overcome; they took Niu's clothes and -buried them, and after that Chung continued his father's business and -soon amassed great wealth. On returning to his native place he found -that his mother had actually died on the very day of the above -occurrence, and that his father had been seen by the whole family. - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[30] Unless under exceptional circumstances it is not considered -creditable in China for widows to marry again. It may here be -mentioned that the honorary tablets conferred from time to time by His -Imperial Majesty upon virtuous widows are only given to women who, -widowed before the age of thirty, have remained in that state for a -period of thirty years. The meaning of this is obvious: temptations -are supposed to be fewer and less dangerous after thirty, which is the -equivalent of forty with us; and it is wholly improbable that thirty -years of virtuous life, at which period the widow would be at least -fifty, would be followed by any act that might cast a stain upon the -tablet thus bestowed. - - - - -LXIX. - -THE PRINCESS OF THE TUNG-T'ING LAKE. - - -Ch'en Pi-chiao was a Pekingese; and being a poor man he attached -himself as secretary to the suite of a high military official named -Chia. On one occasion, while anchored on the Tung-t'ing lake, they saw -a dolphin[31] floating on the surface of the water; and General Chia -took his bow and shot at it, wounding the creature in the back. A fish -was hanging on to its tail, and would not let go; so both were pulled -out of the water together, and attached to the mast. There they lay -gasping, the dolphin opening its mouth as if pleading for life, until -at length young Ch'en begged the General to let them go again; and -then he himself half jokingly put a piece of plaster upon the -dolphin's wound, and had the two thrown back into the water, where -they were seen for some time afterwards diving and rising again to the -surface. About a year afterwards, Ch'en was once more crossing the -Tung-t'ing lake on his way home, when the boat was upset in a squall, -and he himself only saved by clinging to a bamboo crate, which -finally, after floating about all night, caught in the overhanging -branch of a tree, and thus enabled him to scramble on shore. -By-and-by, another body floated in, and this turned out to be his -servant; but on dragging him out, he found life was already extinct. -In great distress, he sat himself down to rest, and saw beautiful -green hills and waving willows, but not a single human being of whom -he could ask the way. From early dawn till the morning was far -advanced he remained in that state; and then, thinking he saw his -servant's body move, he stretched out his hand to feel it, and before -long the man threw up several quarts of water and recovered his -consciousness. They now dried their clothes in the sun, and by noon -these were fit to put on; at which period the pangs of hunger began to -assail them, and accordingly they started over the hills in the hope -of coming upon some habitation of man. As they were walking along, an -arrow whizzed past, and the next moment two young ladies dashed by on -handsome palfreys. Each had a scarlet band round her head, with a -bunch of pheasant's feathers stuck in her hair, and wore a purple -riding-jacket with small sleeves, confined by a green embroidered -girdle round the waist. One of them carried a cross-bow for shooting -bullets, and the other had on her arm a dark-coloured bow-and-arrow -case. Reaching the brow of the hill, Ch'en beheld a number of riders -engaged in beating the surrounding cover, all of whom were beautiful -girls and dressed exactly alike. Afraid to advance any further, he -inquired of a youth who appeared to be in attendance, and the latter -told him that it was a hunting party from the palace; and then, having -supplied him with food from his wallet, he bade him retire quickly, -adding that if he fell in with them he would assuredly be put to -death. Thereupon Ch'en hurried away; and descending the hill, turned -into a copse where there was a building which he thought would in all -probability be a monastery. On getting nearer, he saw that the place -was surrounded by a wall, and between him and a half-open red-door was -a brook spanned by a stone bridge leading up to it. Pulling back the -door, he beheld within a number of ornamental buildings circling in -the air like so many clouds, and for all the world resembling the -Imperial pleasure-grounds; and thinking it must be the park of some -official personage, he walked quietly in, enjoying the delicious -fragrance of the flowers as he pushed aside the thick vegetation which -obstructed his way. After traversing a winding path fenced in by -balustrades, Ch'en reached a second enclosure, wherein were a quantity -of tall willow-trees which swept the red eaves of the buildings with -their branches. The note of some bird would set the petals of the -flowers fluttering in the air, and the least wind would bring the -seed-vessels down from the elm-trees above; and the effect upon the -eye and heart of the beholder was something quite unknown in the world -of mortals. Passing through a small kiosque, Ch'en and his servant -came upon a swing which seemed as though suspended from the clouds, -while the ropes hung idly down in the utter stillness that -prevailed.[32] Thinking by this that they were approaching the ladies' -apartments,[33] Ch'en would have turned back, but at that moment he -heard sounds of horses' feet at the door, and what seemed to be the -laughter of a bevy of girls. So he and his servant hid themselves in a -bush; and by-and-by, as the sounds came nearer, he heard one of the -young ladies say, "We've had but poor sport to-day;" whereupon another -cried out, "If the princess hadn't shot that wild goose, we should -have taken all this trouble for nothing." Shortly after this, a number -of girls dressed in red came in escorting a young lady, who went and -sat down under the kiosque. She wore a hunting costume with tight[34] -sleeves, and was about fourteen or fifteen years old. Her hair looked -like a cloud of mist at the back of her head, and her waist seemed as -though a breath of wind might snap it[35]--incomparable for beauty, -even among the celebrities of old. Just then the attendants handed her -some exquisitely fragrant tea, and stood glittering round her like a -bank of beautiful embroidery. In a few moments the young lady arose -and descended the kiosque; at which one of her attendants cried out, -"Is your Highness too fatigued by riding to take a turn in the swing?" -The princess replied that she was not; and immediately some supported -her under the shoulders, while others seized her arms, and others -again arranged her petticoats, and brought her the proper shoes.[36] -Thus they helped her into the swing, she herself stretching out her -shining arms, and putting her feet into a suitable pair of slippers; -and then--away she went, light as a flying-swallow, far up into the -fleecy clouds. As soon as she had had enough, the attendants helped -her out, and one of them exclaimed, "Truly, your Highness is a -perfect angel!" At this the young lady laughed, and walked away, Ch'en -gazing after her in a state of semi-consciousness, until, at length, -the voices died away, and he and his servant crept forth. Walking up -and down near the swing, he suddenly espied a red handkerchief near -the paling, which he knew had been dropped by one of the young ladies; -and, thrusting it joyfully into his sleeve, he walked up and entered -the kiosque. There, upon a table, lay writing materials, and taking -out the handkerchief he indited upon it the following lines:-- - - "What form divine was just now sporting nigh?-- - 'Twas she, I trow of 'golden lily' fame; - Her charms the moon's fair denizens might shame, - Her fairy footsteps bear her to the sky." - -Humming this stanza to himself, Ch'en walked along seeking for the -path by which he had entered; but every door was securely barred, and -he knew not what to do. So he went back to the kiosque, when suddenly -one of the young ladies appeared, and asked him in astonishment what -he did there. "I have lost my way," replied Ch'en; "I pray you lend me -your assistance." "Do you happen to have found a red handkerchief?" -said the girl. "I have, indeed," answered Ch'en, "but I fear I have -made it somewhat dirty;" and, suiting the action to the word, he drew -it forth, and handed it to her. "Wretched man!" cried the young lady, -"you are undone. This is a handkerchief the princess is constantly -using, and you have gone and scribbled all over it; what will become -of you now?" Ch'en was in a great fright, and begged the young lady -to intercede for him; to which she replied, "It was bad enough that -you should come here and spy about; however, being a scholar, and a -man of refinement, I would have done my best for you; but after this, -how am I to help you?" Off she then ran with the handkerchief, while -Ch'en remained behind in an agony of suspense, and longing for the -wings of a bird to bear him away from his fate. By-and-by, the young -lady returned and congratulated him, saying, "There is some hope for -you. The Princess read your verses several times over, and was not at -all angry. You will probably be released; but, meanwhile, wait here, -and don't climb the trees, or try to get through the walls, or you may -not escape after all." Evening was now drawing on, and Ch'en knew not, -for certain, what was about to happen; at the same time he was very -empty, and, what with hunger and anxiety, death would have been almost -a happy release. Before long, the young lady returned with a lamp in -her hand, and followed by a slave-girl bearing wine and food, which -she forthwith presented to Ch'en. The latter asked if there was any -news about himself; to which the young lady replied that she had just -mentioned his case to the Princess who, not knowing what to do with -him at that hour of the night, had given orders that he should at once -be provided with food, "which, at any rate," added she, "is not bad -news." The whole night long Ch'en walked up and down unable to take -rest; and it was not till late in the morning that the young lady -appeared with more food for him. Imploring her once more to intercede -on his behalf, she told him that the Princess had not instructed them -either to kill or to release him, and that it would not be fitting for -such as herself to be bothering the Princess with suggestions. So -there Ch'en still remained until another day had almost gone, hoping -for the welcome moment; and then the young lady rushed hurriedly in, -saying, "You are lost! Some one has told the Queen, and she, in a fit -of anger, threw the handkerchief on the ground, and made use of very -violent language. Oh dear! oh dear! I'm sure something dreadful will -happen." Ch'en threw himself on his knees, his face as pale as ashes, -and begged to know what he should do; but at that moment sounds were -heard outside, and the young lady waved her hand to him, and ran away. -Immediately a crowd came pouring in through the door, with ropes ready -to secure the object of their search; and among them was a slave-girl, -who looked fixedly at our hero, and cried out, "Why, surely you are -Mr. Ch'en, aren't you?" at the same time stopping the others from -binding him until she should have reported to the Queen. In a few -minutes she came back, and said the Queen requested him to walk in; -and in he went, through a number of doors, trembling all the time with -fear, until he reached a hall, the screen before which was ornamented -with green jade and silver. A beautiful girl drew aside the bamboo -curtain at the door, and announced, "Mr. Ch'en;" and he himself -advanced, and fell down before a lady, who was sitting upon a dais at -the other end, knocking his head upon the ground, and crying out, -"Thy servant is from a far-off country; spare, oh! spare his life." -"Sir!" replied the Queen, rising hastily from her seat, and extending -a hand to Ch'en, "but for you, I should not be here to-day. Pray -excuse the rudeness of my maids." Thereupon a splendid repast was -served, and wine was poured out in chased goblets, to the no small -astonishment of Ch'en, who could not understand why he was treated -thus. "Your kindness," observed the Queen, "in restoring me to life, I -am quite unable to repay; however, as you have made my daughter the -subject of your verse, the match is clearly ordained by fate, and I -shall send her along to be your handmaid." Ch'en hardly knew what to -make of this extraordinary accomplishment of his wishes, but the -marriage was solemnized there and then; bands of music struck up -wedding-airs, beautiful mats were laid down for them to walk upon, and -the whole place was brilliantly lighted with a profusion of coloured -lamps. Then Ch'en said to the Princess, "That a stray and unknown -traveller like myself, guilty of spoiling your Highness's -handkerchief, should have escaped the fate he deserved, was already -more than could be expected; but now to receive you in marriage--this, -indeed, far surpasses my wildest expectations." "My mother," replied -the Princess, "is married to the King of this lake, and is herself a -daughter of the River Prince. Last year, when on her way to visit her -parents, she happened to cross the lake, and was wounded by an arrow; -but you saved her life, and gave her plaster for the wound. Our -family, therefore, is grateful to you, and can never forget your good -act. And do not regard me as of another species than yourself; the -Dragon King has bestowed upon me the elixir of immortality, and this I -will gladly share with you." Then Ch'en knew that his wife was a -spirit, and by-and-by he asked her how the slave-girl had recognised -him; to which she replied, that the girl was the small fish which had -been found hanging to the dolphin's tail. He then inquired why, as -they didn't intend to kill him, he had been kept so long a prisoner. -"I was charmed with your literary talent," answered the Princess, "but -I did not venture to take the responsibility upon myself; and no one -saw how I tossed and turned the livelong night." "Dear friend," said -Ch'en; "but, come, tell me who was it that brought my food." "A trusty -waiting-maid of mine," replied the Princess; "her name is A-nien." -Ch'en then asked how he could ever repay her, and the Princess told -him there would be plenty of time to think of that; and when he -inquired where the king, her father, was, she said he had gone off -with the God of War to fight against Ch'ih-yu,[37] and had not -returned. A few days passed, and Ch'en began to think his people at -home would be anxious about him; so he sent off his servant with a -letter to tell them he was safe and sound, at which they were all -overjoyed, believing him to have been lost in the wreck of the boat, -of which event news had already reached them. However, they were -unable to send him any reply, and were considerably distressed as to -how he would find his way home again. Six months afterwards Ch'en -himself appeared, dressed in fine clothes, and riding on a splendid -horse, with plenty of money, and valuable jewels in his -pocket--evidently a man of wealth. From that time forth he kept up a -magnificent establishment; and in seven or eight years had become the -father of five children. Every day he kept open house, and if any one -asked him about his adventures, he would readily tell them without -reservation. Now a friend of his, named Liang, whom he had known since -they were boys together, and who, after holding an appointment for -some years in Nan-fu, was crossing the Tung-t'ing Lake, on his way -home, suddenly beheld an ornamental barge, with carved wood-work and -red windows, passing over the foamy waves to the sound of music and -singing from within. Just then a beautiful young lady leant out of one -of the windows, which she had pushed open, and by her side Liang saw a -young man sitting, in a _neglige_ attitude, while two nice-looking -girls stood by and shampooed[38] him. Liang, at first, thought it -must be the party of some high official, and wondered at the scarcity -of attendants;[39] but, on looking more closely at the young man, he -saw it was no other than his old friend Ch'en. Thereupon he began -almost involuntarily to shout out to him; and when Ch'en heard his own -name, he stopped the rowers, and walked out towards the -figure-head,[40] beckoning Liang to cross over into his boat, where -the remains of their feast was quickly cleared away, and fresh -supplies of wine, and tea, and all kinds of costly foods spread out by -handsome slave-girls. "It's ten years since we met," said Liang, "and -what a rich man you have become in the meantime." "Well," replied -Ch'en, "do you think that so very extraordinary for a poor fellow like -me?" Liang then asked him who was the lady with whom he was taking -wine, and Ch'en said she was his wife, which very much astonished -Liang, who further inquired whither they were going. "Westwards," -answered Ch'en, and prevented any further questions by giving a signal -for the music, which effectually put a stop to all further -conversation.[41] By-and-by, Liang found the wine getting into his -head, and seized the opportunity to ask Ch'en to make him a present -of one of his beautiful slave-girls. "You are drunk,[42] my friend," -replied Ch'en; "however, I will give you the price of one as a pledge -of our old friendship." And, turning to a servant, he bade him present -Liang with a splendid pearl, saying, "Now you can buy a Green -Pearl;[43] you see I am not stingy;" adding forthwith, "but I am -pressed for time, and can stay no longer with my old friend." So he -escorted Liang back to his boat, and, having let go the rope, -proceeded on his way. Now, when Liang reached home, and called at -Ch'en's house, whom should he see but Ch'en himself drinking with a -party of friends. "Why, I saw you only yesterday," cried Liang, "upon -the Tung-t'ing. How quickly you have got back!" Ch'en denied this, and -then Liang repeated the whole story, at the conclusion of which, Ch'en -laughed, and said, "You must be mistaken. Do you imagine I can be in -two places at once?" The company were all much astonished, and knew -not what to make of it; and subsequently when Ch'en, who died at the -age of eighty, was being carried to his grave, the bearers thought the -coffin seemed remarkably light, and on opening it to see, found that -the body had disappeared. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[31] Literally, a "pig old-woman dragon." Porpoise (Fr. -_porc-poisson_) suggests itself at once; but I think fresh-water -dolphin is the best term, especially as the Tung-t'ing lake is many -hundred miles inland. The commentator explains it by _t'o_, which -would be "alligator" or "cayman," and is of course out of the -question. My friend, Mr. L. C. Hopkins, has taken the trouble to make -some investigations for me on this subject. He tells me that this -fish, also called the "river pig," has first to be surrounded and -secured by a strong net. Being too large to be hauled on board a boat, -it is then driven ashore, where oil is extracted from the carcase and -used for giving a gloss to silk thread, &c. - -[32] Literally, in the utter absence of anybody. - -[33] In passing near to the women's quarters in a friend's house, it -is etiquette to cough slightly, that inmates may be warned and -withdraw from the doors or windows in time to escape observation. Over -and over again at interviews with mandarins of all grades I have heard -the rustling of the ladies' dresses from some coigne of vantage, -whence every movement of mine was being watched by an inquisitive -crowd; and on one occasion I actually saw an eye peering through a -small hole in the partition behind me. - -[34] Literally, "bald"--_i.e._, without the usual width and -ornamentation of a Chinese lady's sleeve. - -[35] Small waists are much admired in China, but any such artificial -aids as stays and tight lacing are quite unknown. A certain Prince Wei -admitted none but the possessors of small waists into his harem; hence -his establishment came to be called the _Palace of Small Waists_. - -[36] Probably of felt or some such material, to prevent the young lady -from slipping as she stood, not sat, in the swing. - -[37] A rebel chieftain of the legendary period of China's history, who -took up arms against the Emperor Huang Ti (B.C. 2697-2597), but was -subsequently defeated in what was perhaps the first decisive battle of -the world. - -[38] This favourite process consists in gently thumping the person -operated upon all over the back with the soft part of the closed -fists. Compare Lane, _Arabian Nights_, Vol. I., p. 551:--"She then -pressed me to her bosom, and laid me on the bed, and continued gently -kneading my limbs until slumber overcame me." - -[39] See No. LVI., note 315. A considerable number of the attendants -there mentioned would accompany any high official, some in the same, -the rest in another barge. - -[40] Generally known as the "cut-wave God." - -[41] At all great banquets in China a theatrical troupe is engaged to -perform while the dinner, which may last from four to six hours, drags -its slow length along. - -[42] See No. LIV., note 292. - -[43] The name of a celebrated beauty. - - - - -LXX. - -THE PRINCESS LILY. - - -At Chiao-chou there lived a man named Tou Hsuen, otherwise known as -Hsiao-hui. One day he had just dropped off to sleep when he beheld a -man in serge clothes standing by the bedside, and apparently anxious -to communicate something to him. Tou inquired his errand; to which the -man replied that he was the bearer of an invitation from his master. -"And who is your master?" asked Tou. "Oh, he doesn't live far off," -replied the other; so away they went together, and after some time -came to a place where there were innumerable white houses rising one -above the other, and shaded by dense groves of lemon-trees. They -threaded their way past countless doors, not at all similar to those -usually used, and saw a great many official-looking men and women -passing and repassing, each of whom called out to the man in serge, -"Has Mr. Tou come?" to which he always replied in the affirmative. -Here a mandarin met them and escorted Tou into a palace, upon which -the latter remarked, "This is really very kind of you; but I haven't -the honour of knowing you, and I feel somewhat diffident about going -in." "Our Prince," answered his guide, "has long heard of you as a -man of good family and excellent principles, and is very anxious to -make your acquaintance." "Who is your Prince?" inquired Tou. "You'll -see for yourself in a moment," said the other; and just then out came -two girls with banners, and guided Tou through a great number of doors -until they came to a throne, upon which sat the Prince. His Highness -immediately descended to meet him, and made him take the seat of -honour; after which ceremony exquisite viands of all kinds were spread -out before them. Looking up, Tou noticed a scroll, on which was -inscribed, _The Cassia Court_, and he was just beginning to feel -puzzled as to what he should say next, when the Prince addressed him -as follows:--"The honour of having you for a neighbour is, as it were, -a bond of affinity between us. Let us, then, give ourselves up to -enjoyment, and put away suspicion and fear." Tou murmured his -acquiescence; and when the wine had gone round several times there -arose from a distance the sound of pipes and singing, unaccompanied, -however, by the usual drum, and very much subdued in volume. Thereupon -the Prince looked about him and cried out, "We are about to set a -verse for any of you gentlemen to cap; here you are:--'_Genius seeks -the Cassia Court_.'" While the courtiers were all engaged in thinking -of some fit antithesis,[44] Tou added, "_Refinement loves the Lily -flower_;" upon which the Prince exclaimed, "How strange! Lily is my -daughter's name; and, after such a coincidence, she must come in for -you to see her." In a few moments the tinkling of her ornaments and a -delicious fragrance of musk announced the arrival of the Princess, who -was between sixteen and seventeen and endowed with surpassing beauty. -The Prince bade her make an obeisance to Tou, at the same time -introducing her as his daughter Lily; and as soon as the ceremony was -over the young lady moved away. Tou remained in a state of -stupefaction, and, when the Prince proposed that they should pledge -each other in another bumper, paid not the slightest attention to what -he said. Then the Prince, perceiving what had distracted his guest's -attention, remarked that he was anxious to find a consort for his -daughter, but that unfortunately there was the difficulty of -_species_, and he didn't know what to do; but again Tou took no notice -of what the Prince was saying, until at length one of the bystanders -plucked his sleeve, and asked him if he hadn't seen that the Prince -wished to drink with him, and had just been addressing some remarks to -him. Thereupon Tou started, and, recovering himself at once, rose from -the table and apologized to the Prince for his rudeness, declaring -that he had taken so much wine he didn't know what he was doing. -"Besides," said he, "your Highness has doubtless business to transact; -I will therefore take my leave." "I am extremely pleased to have seen -you," replied the Prince, "and only regret that you are in such a -hurry to be gone. However, I won't detain you now; but, if you don't -forget all about us, I shall be very glad to invite you here again." -He then gave orders that Tou should be escorted home; and on the way -one of the courtiers asked the latter why he had said nothing when the -Prince had spoken of a consort for his daughter, as his Highness had -evidently made the remark with an eye to securing Tou as his -son-in-law. The latter was now sorry that he had missed his -opportunity; meanwhile they reached his house, and he himself awoke. -The sun had already set, and there he sat in the gloom thinking of -what had happened. In the evening he put out his candle, hoping to -continue his dream; but, alas! the thread was broken, and all he could -do was to pour forth his repentance in sighs. One night he was -sleeping at a friend's house when suddenly an officer of the court -walked in and summoned him to appear before the Prince; so up he -jumped, and hurried off at once to the palace, where he prostrated -himself before the throne. The Prince raised him and made him sit -down, saying that since they had last met he had become aware that Tou -would be willing to marry his daughter, and hoped that he might be -allowed to offer her as a handmaid. Tou rose and thanked the Prince, -who thereupon gave orders for a banquet to be prepared; and when they -had finished their wine it was announced that the Princess had -completed her toilet. Immediately a bevy of young ladies came in with -the Princess in their midst, a red veil covering her head, and her -tiny footsteps sounding like rippling water as they led her up to be -introduced to Tou. When the ceremonies were concluded, Tou said to -the Princess, "In your presence, Madam, it would be easy to forget -even death itself; but, tell me, is not this all a dream?" "And how -can it be a dream," asked the Princess, "when you and I are here -together?" - -Next morning Tou amused himself by helping the Princess to paint her -face,[45] and then, seizing a girdle, began to measure the size of her -waist[46] and the length of her fingers and feet. "Are you crazy?" -cried she, laughing; to which Tou replied, "I have been deceived so -often by dreams, that I am now making a careful record. If such it -turns out to be, I shall still have something as a souvenir of you." -While they were thus chatting a maid rushed into the room, shrieking -out, "Alas, alas! a great monster has got into the palace: the Prince -has fled into a side chamber: destruction is surely come upon us." Tou -was in a great fright when he heard this, and rushed off to see the -Prince, who grasped his hand and, with tears in his eyes, begged him -not to desert them. "Our relationship," cried he, "was cemented when -Heaven sent this calamity upon us; and now my kingdom will be -overthrown. What shall I do?" Tou begged to know what was the matter; -and then the Prince laid a despatch upon the table, telling Tou to -open it and make himself acquainted with its contents. This despatch -ran as follows:--"The Grand Secretary of State, Black Wings, to His -Royal Highness, announcing the arrival of an extraordinary monster, -and advising the immediate removal of the Court in order to preserve -the vitality of the empire. A report has just been received from the -officer in charge of the Yellow Gate stating that, ever since the 6th -of the 5th moon, a huge monster, 10,000 feet in length, has been lying -coiled up outside the entrance to the palace, and that it has already -devoured 13,800 and odd of your Highness's subjects, and is spreading -desolation far and wide. On receipt of this information your servant -proceeded to make a reconnaissance, and there beheld a venomous -reptile with a head as big as a mountain and eyes like vast sheets of -water. Every time it raised its head, whole buildings disappeared down -its throat; and, on stretching itself out, walls and houses were alike -laid in ruins. In all antiquity there is no record of such a scourge. -The fate of our temples and ancestral halls is now a mere question of -hours; we therefore pray your Royal Highness to depart at once with -the Royal Family and seek somewhere else a happier abode."[47] When -Tou had read this document his face turned ashy pale; and just then a -messenger rushed in, shrieking out, "Here is the monster!" at which -the whole Court burst into lamentations as if their last hour was at -hand. The Prince was beside himself with fear; all he could do was to -beg Tou to look to his own safety without regarding the wife through -whom he was involved in their misfortunes. The Princess, however, who -was standing by bitterly lamenting the fate that had fallen upon them, -begged Tou not to desert her; and, after a moment's hesitation, he -said he should be only too happy to place his own poor home at their -immediate disposal if they would only deign to honour him. "How can we -talk of _deigning_," cried the Princess, "at such a moment as this? I -pray you take us there as quickly as possible." So Tou gave her his -arm, and in no time they had arrived at Tou's house, which the -Princess at once pronounced to be a charming place of residence, and -better even than their former kingdom. "But I must now ask you," said -she to Tou, "to make some arrangement for my father and mother, that -the old order of things may be continued here." Tou at first offered -objections to this; whereupon the Princess said that a man who would -not help another in his hour of need was not much of a man, and -immediately went off into a fit of hysterics, from which Tou was -trying his best to recall her, when all of a sudden he awoke and found -that it was all a dream. However, he still heard a buzzing in his ears -which he knew was not made by any human being, and, on looking -carefully about he discovered two or three bees which had settled on -his pillow. He was very much astonished at this, and consulted with -his friend, who was also greatly amazed at his strange story; and then -the latter pointed out a number of other bees on various parts of his -dress, none of which would go away even when brushed off. His friend -now advised him to get a hive for them, which he did without delay; -and immediately it was filled by a whole swarm of bees, which came -flying from over the wall in great numbers. On tracing whence they had -come, it was found that they belonged to an old gentleman who lived -near, and who had kept bees for more than thirty years previously. Tou -thereupon went and told him the story; and when the old gentleman -examined his hive he found the bees all gone. On breaking it open he -discovered a large snake inside of about ten feet in length, which he -immediately killed, recognising in it the "huge monster" of Tou's -adventure. As for the bees, they remained with Tou, and increased in -numbers every year. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[44] In this favourite pastime of the literati in China the important -point is that each word in the second line should be a due and proper -antithesis of the word in the first line to which it corresponds. - -[45] See No. LXII., note 349. - -[46] See No. LXIX., note 35. - -[47] The language in which this fanciful document is couched is -precisely such as would be used by an officer of the Government in -announcing some national calamity; hence the value of these -tales,--models as they are of the purest possible style. - - - - -LXXI. - -THE DONKEY'S REVENGE. - - -Chung Ch'ing-yue was a scholar of some reputation, who lived in -Manchuria. When he went up for his master's degree, he heard that -there was a Taoist priest at the capital who would tell people's -fortunes, and was very anxious to see him; and at the conclusion of -the second part of the examination,[48] he accidentally met him at -Pao-t'u-ch'uean.[49] The priest was over sixty years of age, and had -the usual white beard, flowing down over his breast. Around him stood -a perfect wall of people inquiring their future fortunes, and to each -the old man made a brief reply: but when he saw Chung among the crowd, -he was overjoyed, and, seizing him by the hand, said, "Sir, your -virtuous intentions command my esteem." He then led him up behind a -screen, and asked if he did not wish to know what was to come; and -when Chung replied in the affirmative, the priest informed him that -his prospects were bad. "You may succeed in passing this examination," -continued he, "but on returning covered with honour to your home, I -fear that your mother will be no longer there." Now Chung was a very -filial son; and as soon as he heard these words, his tears began to -flow, and he declared that he would go back without competing any -further. The priest observed that if he let this chance slip, he could -never hope for success; to which Chung replied that, on the other -hand, if his mother were to die he could never hope to have her back -again, and that even the rank of Viceroy would not repay him for her -loss. "Well," said the priest, "you and I were connected in a former -existence, and I must do my best to help you now." So he took out a -pill which he gave to Chung, and told him that if he sent it -post-haste by some one to his mother, it would prolong her life for -seven days, and thus he would be able to see her once again after the -examination was over. Chung took the pill, and went off in very low -spirits; but he soon reflected that the span of human life is a matter -of destiny, and that every day he could spend at home would be one -more day devoted to the service of his mother. Accordingly, he got -ready to start at once, and, hiring a donkey, actually set out on his -way back. When he had gone about half-a-mile, the donkey turned round -and ran home; and when he used his whip, the animal threw itself down -on the ground. Chung got into a great perspiration, and his servant -recommended him to remain where he was; but this he would not hear -of, and hired another donkey, which served him exactly the same trick -as the other one. The sun was now sinking behind the hills, and his -servant advised his master to stay and finish his examination while he -himself went back home before him. Chung had no alternative but to -assent, and the next day he hurried through with his papers, starting -immediately afterwards, and not stopping at all on the way either to -eat or to sleep. All night long he went on, and arrived to find his -mother in a very critical state; however, when he gave her the pill -she so far recovered that he was able to go in and see her. Grasping -his hand, she begged him not to weep, telling him that she had just -dreamt she had been down to the Infernal Regions, where the King of -Hell had informed her with a gracious smile that her record was fairly -clean, and that in view of the filial piety of her son she was to have -twelve years more of life. Chung was rejoiced at this, and his mother -was soon restored to her former health. - -Before long the news arrived that Chung had passed his examination; -upon which he bade adieu to his mother, and went off to the capital, -where he bribed the eunuchs of the palace to communicate with his -friend the Taoist priest. The latter was very much pleased, and came -out to see him, whereupon Chung prostrated himself at his feet. "Ah," -said the priest, "this success of yours, and the prolongation of your -good mother's life, is all a reward for your virtuous conduct. What -have I done in the matter?" Chung was very much astonished that the -priest should already know what had happened; however, he now -inquired as to his own future. "You will never rise to high rank," -replied the priest, "but you will attain the years of an octogenarian. -In a former state of existence you and I were once travelling -together, when you threw a stone at a dog, and accidentally killed a -frog. Now that frog has re-appeared in life as a donkey, and according -to all principles of destiny you ought to suffer for what you did; but -your filial piety has touched the Gods, a protecting star-influence -has passed into your nativity sheet, and you will come to no harm. On -the other hand, there is your wife; in her former state she was not as -virtuous as she might have been, and her punishment in this life was -to be widowed quite young; you, however, have secured the prolongation -of your own term of years, and therefore I fear that before long your -wife will pay the penalty of death." Chung was much grieved at hearing -this; but after a while he asked the priest where his second wife to -be was living. "At Chung-chou," replied the latter; "she is now -fourteen years old." The priest then bade him adieu, telling him that -if any mischance should befall him he was to hurry off towards the -south-east. About a year after this, Chung's wife did die; and his -mother then desiring him to go and visit his uncle, who was a -magistrate in Kiangsi, on which journey he would have to pass through -Chung-chou, it seemed like a fulfilment of the old priest's prophecy. -As he went along, he came to a village on the banks of a river, where -a large crowd of people was gathered together round a theatrical -performance which was going on there. Chung would have passed quietly -by, had not a stray donkey followed so close behind him that he turned -round and hit it over the ears. This startled the donkey so much that -it ran off full gallop, and knocked a rich gentleman's child, who was -sitting with its nurse on the bank, right into the water, before any -one of the servants could lend a hand to save it. Immediately there -was a great outcry against Chung, who gave his mule the rein and -dashed away, mindful of the priest's warning, towards the south-east. -After riding about seven miles, he reached a mountain village, where -he saw an old man standing at the door of a house, and, jumping off -his mule, made him a low bow. The old man asked him in, and inquired -his name and whence he came; to which Chung replied by telling him the -whole adventure. "Never fear," said the old man; "you can stay here, -while I send out to learn the position of affairs." By the evening his -messenger had returned, and then they knew for the first time that the -child belonged to a wealthy family. The old man looked grave and said, -"Had it been anybody else's child, I might have helped you; as it is I -can do nothing." Chung was greatly alarmed at this; however, the old -man told him to remain quietly there for the night, and see what turn -matters might take. Chung was overwhelmed with anxiety, and did not -sleep a wink; and next morning he heard that the constables were after -him, and that it was death to any one who should conceal him. The old -man changed countenance at this, and went inside, leaving Chung to -his own reflections; but towards the middle of the night he came and -knocked at Chung's door, and, sitting down, began to ask how old his -wife was. Chung replied that he was a widower; at which the old man -seemed rather pleased, and declared that in such case help would be -forthcoming; "for," said he, "my sister's husband has taken the vows -and become a priest,[50] and my sister herself has died, leaving an -orphan girl who has now no home; and if you would only marry her...." -Chung was delighted, more especially as this would be both the -fulfilment of the Taoist priest's prophecy, and a means of extricating -himself from his present difficulty; at the same time, he declared he -should be sorry to implicate his future father-in-law. "Never fear -about that," replied the old man; "my sister's husband is pretty -skilful in the black art. He has not mixed much with the world of -late; but when you are married, you can discuss the matter with my -niece." So Chung married the young lady, who was sixteen years of age, -and very beautiful; but whenever he looked at her he took occasion to -sigh. At last she said, "I may be ugly; but you needn't be in such a -hurry to let me know it;" whereupon Chung begged her pardon, and said -he felt himself only too lucky to have met with such a divine -creature; adding that he sighed because he feared some misfortune was -coming on them which would separate them for ever. He then told her -his story, and the young lady was very angry that she should have been -drawn into such a difficulty without a word of warning. Chung fell on -his knees, and said he had already consulted with her uncle, who was -unable himself to do anything, much as he wished it. He continued that -he was aware of her power; and then, pointing out that his alliance -was not altogether beneath her, made all kinds of promises if she -would only help him out of this trouble. The young lady was no longer -able to refuse, but informed him that to apply to her father would -entail certain disagreeable consequences, as he had retired from the -world, and did not any more recognise her as his daughter. That night -they did not attempt to sleep, spending the interval in padding their -knees with thick felt concealed beneath their clothes; and then they -got into chairs and were carried off to the hills. After journeying -some distance, they were compelled by the nature of the road to alight -and walk; and it was only by a great effort that Chung succeeded at -last in getting his wife to the top. At the door of the temple they -sat down to rest, the powder and paint on the young lady's face having -all mixed with the perspiration trickling down; but when Chung began -to apologize for bringing her to this pass, she replied that it was a -mere trifle compared with what was to come. By-and-by, they went -inside; and threading their way to the wall beyond, found the young -lady's father sitting in contemplation,[51] his eyes closed, and a -servant-boy standing by with a chowry.[52] Everything was beautifully -clean and nice, but before the dais were sharp stones scattered about -as thick as the stars in the sky. The young lady did not venture to -select a favourable spot; she fell on her knees at once, and Chung did -likewise behind her. Then her father opened his eyes, shutting them -again almost instantaneously; whereupon the young lady said, "For a -long time I have not paid my respects to you. I am now married, and I -have brought my husband to see you." A long time passed away, and then -her father opened his eyes and said, "You're giving a great deal of -trouble," immediately relapsing into silence again. There the husband -and wife remained until the stones seemed to pierce into their very -bones; but after a while the father cried out, "Have you brought the -donkey?" His daughter replied that they had not; whereupon they were -told to go and fetch it at once, which they did, not knowing what the -meaning of this order was. After a few more days' kneeling, they -suddenly heard that the murderer of the child had been caught and -beheaded, and were just congratulating each other on the success of -their scheme, when a servant came in with a stick in his hand, the top -of which had been chopped off. "This stick," said the servant, "died -instead of you. Bury it reverently, that the wrong done to the tree -may be somewhat atoned for."[53] Then Chung saw that at the place -where the top of the stick had been chopped off there were traces of -blood; he therefore buried it with the usual ceremony, and immediately -set off with his wife, and returned to his own home. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[48] The examination consists of three bouts of three days each, -during which periods the candidates remain shut up in their -examination cells day and night. - -[49] The name of a place. - -[50] This interesting ceremony is performed by placing little conical -pastilles on a certain number of spots, varying from three to twelve, -on the candidate's head. These are then lighted and allowed to burn -down into the flesh, while the surrounding parts are vigorously rubbed -by attendant priests in order to lessen the pain. The whole thing -lasts about twenty minutes, and is always performed on the eve of -Shakyamuni Buddha's birthday. The above was well described by Mr. S. -L. Baldwin in the _Foochow Herald_. - -[51] There is a room in most Buddhist temples specially devoted to -this purpose. - -[52] The Buddhist emblem of cleanliness; generally a yak's tail, and -commonly used as a fly-brush. - -[53] Tree-worship can hardly be said to exist in China at the present -day; though at a comparatively recent epoch this phase of religious -sentiment must have been widely spread. See _The Flower Nymphs_ and -_Mr. Willow_. - - - - -LXXII. - -THE WOLF DREAM. - - -Mr. Pai was a native of Chi-li, and his eldest son was called Chia. -The latter had been some two years holding an appointment[54] as -magistrate in the south; but because of the great distance between -them, his family had heard nothing of him. One day a distant -connection, named Ting, called at the house; and Mr. Pai, not having -seen this gentleman for a long time, treated him with much cordiality. -Now Ting was one of those persons who are occasionally employed by the -Judge of the Infernal Regions to make arrests on earth;[55] and, as -they were chatting together, Mr. Pai questioned him about the realms -below. Ting told him all kinds of strange things, but Pai did not -believe them, answering only by a smile. Some days afterwards, he had -just lain down to sleep when Ting walked in and asked him to go for a -stroll; so they went off together, and by-and-by reached the city. -"There," said Ting, pointing to a door, "lives your nephew," alluding -to a son of Mr. Pai's elder sister, who was a magistrate in Honan; and -when Pai expressed his doubts as to the accuracy of this statement, -Ting led him in, when, lo and behold! there was his nephew, sitting in -his court dressed in his official robes. Around him stood the guard, -and it was impossible to get near him; but Ting remarked that his -son's residence was not far off, and asked Pai if he would not like to -see him too. The latter assenting, they walked along till they came to -a large building, which Ting said was the place. However, there was a -fierce wolf at the entrance,[56] and Mr. Pai was afraid to go in. Ting -bade him enter, and accordingly they walked in, when they found that -all the employes of the place, some of whom were standing about and -others lying down to sleep, were all wolves. The central pathway was -piled up with whitening bones, and Mr. Pai began to feel horribly -alarmed but Ting kept close to him all the time, and at length they -got safely in. Pai's son, Chia, was just coming out; and when he saw -his father accompanied by Ting, he was overjoyed, and, asking them to -sit down, bade the attendants serve some refreshment. Thereupon a -great big wolf brought in in his mouth the carcase of a dead man, and -set it before them, at which Mr. Pai rose up in consternation, and -asked his son what this meant. "It's only a little refreshment for -you, father," replied Chia; but this did not calm Mr. Pai's agitation, -who would have retired precipitately, had it not been for the crowd of -wolves which barred the path. Just as he was at a loss what to do, -there was a general stampede among the animals which scurried away, -some under the couches and some under the tables and chairs; and while -he was wondering what the cause of this could be, in marched two -knights in golden armour, who looked sternly at Chia, and, producing a -black rope, proceeded to bind him hand and foot. Chia fell down before -them, and was changed into a tiger with horrid fangs; and then one of -the knights drew a glittering sword and would have cut off its head, -had not the other cried out, "Not yet! not yet! that is for the fourth -month next year. Let us now only take out its teeth." Immediately that -knight produced a huge mallet, and, with a few blows, scattered the -tiger's teeth all over the floor, the tiger roaring so loudly with -pain as to shake the very hills, and frightening all the wits out of -Mr. Pai--who woke up with a start. He found he had been dreaming, and -at once sent off to invite Ting to come and see him; but Ting sent -back to say he must beg to be excused. Then Mr. Pai, pondering on what -he had seen in his dream, despatched his second son with a letter to -Chia, full of warnings and good advice; and lo! when his son arrived, -he found that his elder brother had lost all his front teeth, these -having been knocked out, as he averred, by a fall he had had from his -horse when tipsy; and, on comparing dates, the day of that fall was -found to coincide with the day of his father's dream. The younger -brother was greatly amazed at this, and took out their father's -letter, which he gave to Chia to read. The latter changed colour, but -immediately asked his brother what there was to be astonished at in -the coincidence of a dream. And just at that time he was busily -engaged in bribing his superiors to put him first on the list for -promotion, so that he soon forgot all about the circumstance; while -the younger, observing what harpies Chia's subordinates were, taking -presents from one man and using their influence for another, in one -unbroken stream of corruption, sought out his elder brother, and, with -tears in his eyes, implored him to put some check upon their rapacity. -"My brother," replied Chia, "your life has been passed in an obscure -village; you know nothing of our official routine. We are promoted or -degraded at the will of our superiors, and not by the voice of the -people. He, therefore, who gratifies his superiors is marked out for -success;[57] whereas he who consults the wishes of the people is -unable to gratify his superiors as well." Chia's brother saw that his -advice was thrown away; he accordingly returned home and told his -father all that had taken place. The old man was much affected, but -there was nothing that he could do in the matter, so he devoted -himself to assisting the poor, and such acts of charity, daily praying -the Gods that the wicked son alone might suffer for his crimes, and -not entail misery on his innocent wife and children. The next year it -was reported that Chia had been recommended for a post in the Board of -Civil Office,[58] and friends crowded the father's door, offering -their congratulations upon the happy event. But the old man sighed and -took to his bed, pretending he was too unwell to receive visitors. -Before long another message came, informing them that Chia had fallen -in with bandits while on his way home, and that he and all his retinue -had been killed. Then his father arose and said, "Verily the Gods are -good unto me, for they have visited his sins upon himself alone;" and -he immediately proceeded to burn incense and return thanks. Some of -his friends would have persuaded him that the report was probably -untrue; but the old man had no doubts as to its correctness, and made -haste to get ready his son's grave. But Chia was not yet dead. In the -fatal fourth moon he had started on his journey and had fallen in with -bandits, to whom he had offered all his money and valuables; upon -which the latter cried out, "We have come to avenge the cruel wrongs -of many hundreds of victims; do you imagine we want only _that_?" They -then cut off his head, and the head of his wicked secretary, and the -heads of several of his servants who had been foremost in carrying -out his shameful orders, and were now accompanying him to the capital. -They then divided the booty between them, and made off with all speed. -Chia's soul remained near his body for some time, until at length a -high mandarin passing by asked who it was that was lying there dead. -One of his servants replied that he had been a magistrate at such and -such a place, and that his name was Pai. "What!" said the mandarin, -"the son of old Mr. Pai? It is hard that his father should live to see -such sorrow as this. Put his head on again."[59] Then a man stepped -forward and placed Chia's head upon his shoulders again, when the -mandarin interrupted him, saying, "A crooked-minded man should not -have a straight body: put his head on sideways." By-and-by Chia's soul -returned to its tenement; and when his wife and children arrived to -take away the corpse, they found that he was still breathing. Carrying -him home, they poured some nourishment down his throat, which he was -able to swallow; but there he was at an out-of-the-way place, without -the means of continuing his journey. It was some six months before his -father heard the real state of the case, and then he sent off the -second son to bring his brother home. Chia had indeed come to life -again, but he was able to see down his own back, and was regarded ever -afterwards more as a monstrosity than as a man. Subsequently the -nephew, whom old Mr. Pai had seen sitting in state surrounded by -officials, actually became an Imperial Censor, so that every detail of -the dream was thus strangely realised.[60] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[54] Literally, "had been allotted the post of Nan-fu magistrate," -such appointments being always determined by drawing lots. - -[55] Such is one common explanation of catalepsy (see No. I., note -40), it being further averred that the proper lictors of the Infernal -regions are unable to remain long in the _light_ of the upper world. - -[56] Upon a wall at the entrance to every official residence is -painted a huge fabulous animal, called _Greed_, in such a position -that the resident mandarin must see it every time he goes out of his -front gates. It is to warn him against greed and the crimes that are -sure to flow from it. - -[57] Such, indeed, is the case at the present day in China, and -elsewhere. - -[58] See No. VII., note 54. - -[59] The great sorrow of decapitation as opposed to strangulation is -that the body will appear in the realms below without a head. The -family of any condemned man who may have sufficient means always bribe -the executioner to sew it on again. - -[60] This story is an admirable _expose_ of Chinese official -corruption, as rampant at the present day as ever in the long history -of China. - - - - -LXXIII. - -THE UNJUST SENTENCE. - - -Mr. Chu was a native of Yang-ku, and, as a young man, was much given -to playing tricks and talking in a loose kind of way. Having lost his -wife, he went off to ask a certain old woman to arrange another match -for him; and on the way, he chanced to fall in with a neighbour's wife -who took his fancy very much. So he said in joke to the old woman, -"Get me that stylish-looking, handsome lady, and I shall be quite -satisfied." "I'll see what I can do," replied the old woman, also -joking, "if you will manage to kill her present husband;" upon which -Chu laughed and said he certainly would do so. Now about a month -afterwards, the said husband, who had gone out to collect some money -due to him, was actually killed in a lonely spot; and the magistrate -of the district immediately summoned the neighbours and beadle[61] and -held the usual inquest, but was unable to find any clue to the -murderer. However, the old woman told the story of her conversation -with Chu, and suspicion at once fell upon him. The constables came -and arrested him; but he stoutly denied the charge; and the magistrate -now began to suspect the wife of the murdered man. Accordingly, she -was severely beaten and tortured in several ways until her strength -failed her, and she falsely acknowledged her guilt.[62] Chu was then -examined, and he said, "This delicate woman could not bear the agony -of your tortures; what she has stated is untrue; and, even should her -wrong escape the notice of the Gods, for her to die in this way with a -stain upon her name is more than I can endure. I will tell the whole -truth. I killed the husband that I might secure the wife: she knew -nothing at all about it." And when the magistrate asked for some -proof, Chu said his bloody clothes would be evidence enough; but when -they sent to search his house, no bloody clothes were forthcoming. He -was then beaten till he fainted; yet when he came round he still stuck -to what he had said. "It is my mother," cried he, "who will not sign -the death-warrant of her son. Let me go myself and I will get the -clothes." So he was escorted by a guard to his home, and there he -explained to his mother that whether she gave up or withheld the -clothes, it was all the same; that in either case he would have to -die, and it was better to die early than late. Thereupon his mother -wept bitterly, and going into the bedroom, brought out, after a short -delay, the required clothes, which were taken at once to the -magistrate's. There was now no doubt as to the truth of Chu's story; -and as nothing occurred to change the magistrate's opinion, Chu was -thrown into prison to await the day for his execution. Meanwhile, as -the magistrate was one day inspecting his gaol, suddenly a man -appeared in the hall, who glared at him fiercely and roared out, -"Dull-headed fool! unfit to be the guardian of the people's -interests!"--whereupon the crowd of servants standing round rushed -forward to seize him, but with one sweep of his arms he laid them all -flat on the ground. The magistrate was frightened out of his wits, and -tried to escape, but the man cried out to him, "I am one of Kuan -Ti's[63] lieutenants. If you move an inch you are lost." So the -magistrate stood there, shaking from head to foot with fear, while his -visitor continued, "The murderer is Kung Piao: Chu had nothing to do -with it." - -The lieutenant then fell down on the ground, and was to all appearance -lifeless; however, after a while he recovered, his face having quite -changed, and when they asked him his name, lo! it was Kung Piao. Under -the application of the bamboo he confessed his guilt. Always an -unprincipled man, he had heard that the murdered man was going out to -collect money, and thinking he would be sure to bring it back with -him, he had killed him, but had found nothing. Then when he learnt -that Chu had acknowledged the crime as his own doing, he had rejoiced -in secret at such a stroke of luck. How he had got into the -magistrate's hall he was quite unable to say. The magistrate now -called for some explanation of Chu's bloody clothes, which Chu himself -was unable to give; but his mother, who was at once sent for, stated -that she had cut her own arm to stain them, and when they examined her -they found on her left arm the scar of a recent wound. The magistrate -was lost in amazement at all this; unfortunately for him the reversal -of his sentence cost him his appointment, and he died in poverty, -unable to find his way home. As for Chu, the widow of the murdered man -married him[64] in the following year, out of gratitude for his noble -behaviour. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[61] See No. LXIV., note 18. - -[62] Such has, doubtless, been the occasional result of torture in -China; but the singular keenness of the mandarins, as a body, in -recognising the innocent and detecting the guilty,--that is, when -their own avaricious interests are not involved,--makes this -contingency so rare as to be almost unknown. A good instance came -under my own notice at Swatow in 1876. For years a Chinese servant had -been employed at the foreign Custom House to carry a certain sum of -money every week to the bank, and at length his honesty was above -suspicion. On the occasion to which I allude he had been sent as usual -with the bag of dollars, but after a short absence he rushed back with -a frightful gash on his right arm, evidently inflicted by a heavy -chopper, and laying the bone bare. The money was gone. He said he had -been invited into a tea-house by a couple of soldiers whom he could -point out; that they had tried to wrest the bag from him, and that at -length one of them seized a chopper and inflicted so severe a wound on -his arm, that in his agony he dropped the money, and the soldiers made -off with it. The latter were promptly arrested and confronted with -their accuser; but, with almost indecent haste, the police magistrate -dismissed the case against them, and declared that he believed the man -had made away with the money and inflicted the wound on himself. And -so it turned out to be, under overwhelming evidence. This servant of -proved fidelity had given way to a rash hope of making a little money -at the gaming-table; had hurried into one of these hells and lost -everything in three stakes; had wounded himself on the right arm (he -was a left-handed man), and had concocted the story of the soldiers, -all within the space of about twenty-five minutes. When he saw that he -was detected, he confessed everything, without having received a -single blow of the bamboo; but up to the moment of his confession the -foreign feeling against that police-magistrate was undeniably strong. - -[63] See No. I., note 39. - -[64] See No. LXVIII., note 30. The circumstances which led to this -marriage would certainly be considered "exceptional." - - - - -LXXIV. - -A RIP VAN WINKLE.[65] - - -[The story runs that a Mr. Chia, after obtaining, with the assistance -of a mysterious friend, his master's degree, became alive to the -vanity of mere earthly honours, and determined to devote himself to -the practice of Taoism, in the hope of obtaining the elixir of -immortality.[66]] - -So early one morning Chia and his friend, whose name was Lang, stole -away together, without letting Chia's family know anything about it; -and by-and-by they found themselves among the hills, in a vast cave -where there was another world and another sky. An old man was sitting -there in great state, and Lang presented Chia to him as his future -master. "Why have you come so soon?" asked the old man; to which Lang -replied, "My friend's determination is firmly fixed: I pray you -receive him amongst you." "Since you have come," said the old man, -turning to Chia, "you must begin by putting away from you your -earthly body." Chia murmured his assent, and was then escorted by Lang -to sleeping-chamber where he was provided with food, after which Lang -went away. The room was beautifully clean:[67] the doors had no panels -and the windows no lattices; and all the furniture was one table and -one couch. Chia took off his shoes and lay down, with the moon shining -brightly into the room; and beginning soon to feel hungry, he tried -one of the cakes on the table, which he found sweet and very -satisfying. He thought Lang would be sure to come back, but there he -remained hour after hour by himself, never hearing a sound. He -noticed, however, that the room was fragrant with a delicious perfume; -his viscera seemed to be removed from his body, by which his -intellectual faculties were much increased; and every one of his veins -and arteries could be easily counted. Then suddenly he heard a sound -like that of a cat scratching itself; and, looking out of the window, -he beheld a tiger sitting under the verandah. He was horribly -frightened for the moment, but immediately recalling the admonition of -the old man, he collected himself and sat quietly down again. The -tiger seemed to know that there was a man inside, for it entered the -room directly afterwards, and walking straight up to the couch sniffed -at Chia's feet. Whereupon there was a noise outside, as if a fowl were -having its legs tied, and the tiger ran away. Shortly afterwards a -beautiful young girl came in, suffusing an exquisite fragrance around; -and going up to the couch where Chia was, she bent over him and -whispered, "Here I am." Her breath was like the sweet odour of -perfumes; but as Chia did not move, she whispered again, "Are you -sleeping?" The voice sounded to Chia remarkably like that of his wife; -however, he reflected that these were all probably nothing more than -tests of his determination, so he closed his eyes firmly for a while. -But by-and-by the young lady called him by his pet name, and then he -opened his eyes wide to discover that she was no other than his own -wife. On asking her how she had come there, she replied that Mr. Lang -was afraid her husband would be lonely, and had sent an old woman to -guide her to him. Just then they heard the old man outside in a -towering rage, and Chia's wife, not knowing where to conceal herself, -jumped over a low wall near by and disappeared. In came the old man, -and gave Lang a severe beating before Chia's face, bidding him at once -to get rid of his visitor; so Lang led Chia away over the low wall, -saying, "I knew how anxious you were to consummate your immortality, -and accordingly I tried to hurry things on a bit; but now I see that -your time has not yet come: hence this beating I have had. Good-by: we -shall meet again some day." He then shewed Chia the way to his home, -and waving his hand bade him farewell. Chia looked down--for he was in -the moon--and beheld the old familiar village and recollecting that -his wife was not a good walker and would not have got very far, -hurried on to overtake her. Before long he was at his own door, but he -noticed that the place was all tumble-down and in ruins, and not as it -was when he went away. As for the people he saw, old and young alike, -he did not recognise one of them; and recollecting the story of how -Liu and Yuean came back from heaven,[68] he was afraid to go in at the -door. So he sat down and rested outside; and after a while an old man -leaning on a staff came out, whereupon Chia asked him which was the -house of Mr. Chia. "This is it," replied the old man; "you probably -wish to hear the extraordinary story connected with the family? I know -all about it. They say that Mr. Chia ran away just after he had taken -his master's degree, when his son was only seven or eight years old; -and that about seven years afterwards the child's mother went into a -deep sleep from which she did not awake. As long as her son was alive -he changed his mother's clothes for her according to the seasons, but -when he died, her grandsons fell into poverty, and had nothing but an -old shanty to put the sleeping lady into. Last month she awaked, -having been asleep for over a hundred years. People from far and near -have been coming in great numbers to hear the strange story; of late, -however, there have been rather fewer." Chia was amazed when he heard -all this, and, turning to the old man, said, "I am Chia Feng-chih." -This astonished the old man very much, and off he went to make the -announcement to Chia's family. The eldest grandson was dead; and the -second, a man of about fifty, refused to believe that such a -young-looking man was really his grandfather; but in a few moments out -came Chia's wife, and she recognised her husband at once. They then -fell upon each other's necks and mingled their tears together. - -[After which the story is drawn out to a considerable length, but is -quite devoid of interest.][69] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[65] This being a long and tedious story, I have given only such part -of it as is remarkable for its similarity to Washington Irving's -famous narrative. - -[66] See No. IV., note 46. - -[67] Borrowed from Buddhism. - -[68] Alluding to a similar story, related in the _Record of the -Immortals_, of how these two friends lost their way while gathering -simples on the hills, and were met and entertained by two lovely young -damsels for the space of half-a-year. When, however, they subsequently -returned home, they found that ten generations had passed away. - -[69] Besides the above, there is the story of a man named Wang, who, -wandering one day in the mountains, came upon some old men playing a -game of _wei-ch'i_ (see _Appendix_); and after watching them for some -time, he found that the handle of an axe he had with him had mouldered -away into dust. Seven generations of men had passed away in the -interval. Also, a similar legend of a horseman, who, when riding over -the hills, saw several old men playing a game with rushes, and tied -his horse to a tree while he himself approached to observe them. A few -minutes afterwards he turned to depart, but found only the skeleton of -his horse and the rotten remnants of the saddle and bridle. He then -sought his home, but that was gone too; and so he laid himself down -upon the ground and died of a broken heart. - - - - -LXXV. - -THE THREE STATES OF EXISTENCE. - - -A certain man of the province of Hunan could recall what had happened -to him in three previous lives. In the first, he was a magistrate; -and, on one occasion, when he had been nominated Assistant-Examiner,[70] -a candidate, named Hsing, was unsuccessful. Hsing went home dreadfully -mortified, and soon after died; but his spirit appeared before the -King of Purgatory, and read aloud the rejected essay, whereupon -thousands of other shades, all of whom had suffered in a similar way, -thronged around, and unanimously elected Hsing as their chief. The -Examiner was immediately summoned to take his trial, and when he -arrived the King asked him, saying, "As you are appointed to examine -the various essays, how is it that you throw out the able and admit -the worthless?" "Sire," replied he, "the ultimate decision rests with -the Grand Examiner; I only pass them on to him." The King then issued -a warrant for the apprehension of the Grand Examiner, and, as soon as -he appeared, he was told what had just now been said against him; to -which he answered, "I am only able to make a general estimate of the -merits of the candidates. Valuable essays may be kept back from me by -my Associate-Examiners, in which case I am powerless."[71] But the -King cried out, "It's all very well for you two thus to throw the -blame on each other; you are both guilty, and both of you must be -bambooed according to law." This sentence was about to be carried into -effect, when Hsing, who was not at all satisfied with its lack of -severity, set up such a fearful screeching and howling, in which he -was well supported by all the other hundreds and thousands of shades, -that the King stopped short, and inquired what was the matter. -Thereupon Hsing informed His Majesty that the sentence was too light, -and that the Examiners should both have their eyes gouged out, so as -not to be able to read essays any more. The King would not consent to -this, explaining to the noisy rabble that the Examiners did not -purposely reject good essays, but only because they themselves were -naturally wanting in capacity. The shades then begged that, at any -rate, their hearts might be cut out, and to this the King was obliged -to yield; so the Examiners were seized by the attendants, their -garments stripped off, and their bodies ripped open with sharp knives. -The blood poured out on the ground, and the victims screamed with -pain; at which all the shades rejoiced exceedingly, and said, "Here we -have been pent up, with no one to redress our wrongs; but now Mr. -Hsing has come, our injuries are washed away." They then dispersed -with great noise and hubbub. As for our Associate-Examiner, after his -heart had been cut out, he came to life again as the son of a poor man -in Shensi; and when he was twenty years old he fell into the hands of -the rebels, who were at that time giving great trouble to the country. -By-and-by, a certain official was sent at the head of some soldiers to -put down the insurrection, and he succeeded in capturing a large -number of the rebels, among whom was our hero. The latter reflected -that he himself was no rebel, and he was hoping that he would be able -to obtain his release in consequence, when he noticed that the officer -in charge was also a man of his own age, and, on looking more closely, -he saw that it was his old enemy, Hsing. "Alas!" cried he, "such is -destiny;" and so indeed it turned out, for all the other prisoners -were forthwith released, and he alone was beheaded. Once more his -spirit stood before the King of Purgatory, this time with an -accusation against Hsing. The King, however, would not summon Hsing at -once, but said he should be allowed to complete his term of official -life on earth; and it was not till thirty years afterwards that Hsing -appeared to answer to the charge. Then, because he had made light of -the lives of his people, he was condemned to be born again as a -brute-beast; and our hero, too, inasmuch as he had been known to beat -his father and mother, was sentenced to a similar fate. The latter, -fearing the future vengeance of Hsing, persuaded the King to give him -the advantage of size; and, accordingly, orders were issued that he -was to be born again as a big, and Hsing as a little, dog. The big dog -came to life in a shop in Shun-t'ien Fu, and was one day lying down in -the street, when a trader from the south arrived, bringing with him a -little golden-haired dog, about the size of a wild cat, which, lo and -behold! turned out to be Hsing. The other, thinking Hsing's size would -render him an easy prey, seized him at once; but the little one caught -him from underneath by the throat, and hung there firmly, like a bell. -The big dog tried hard to shake him off, and the people of the shop -did their best to separate them, but all was of no avail, and in a few -moments both dogs were dead. Upon their spirits presenting themselves, -as usual, before the King, each with its grievance against the other, -the King cried out, "When will ye have done with your wrongs and your -animosities? I will now settle the matter finally for you;" and -immediately commanded that Hsing should become the other's son-in-law -in the next world. The latter was then born at Ch'ing-yuen, and when he -was twenty-eight years of age took his master's degree. He had one -daughter, a very pretty girl, whom many of his wealthy neighbours -would have been glad to get for their sons; but he would not accept -any of their offers. On one occasion, he happened to pass through the -prefectural city just as the examination for bachelor's degree was -over; and the candidate who had come out at the top of the list, -though named Li, was no other than Mr. Hsing. So he led this man away, -and took him to an inn, where he treated him with the utmost -cordiality, finally arranging that, as Mr. Li was still unmarried, he -should marry his pretty daughter. Everyone, of course, thought that -this was done in admiration of Li's talents, ignorant that destiny had -already decreed the union of the young couple. No sooner were they -married than Li, proud of his own literary achievements, began to -slight his father-in-law, and often passed many months without going -near him; all of which the father-in-law bore very patiently, and -when, at length, Li had repeatedly failed to get on any farther in his -career, he even went so far as to set to work, by all manner of means, -to secure his success; after which they lived happily together as -father and son. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[70] See _Appendix_ A. - -[71] If there is one institution in the Chinese empire which is -jealously guarded and honestly administered, it is the great system of -competitive examinations which has obtained in China now for many -centuries. And yet frauds do take place, in spite of the exceptionally -heavy penalties incurred upon detection. Friends are occasionally -smuggled through by the aid of marked essays; and dishonest candidates -avail themselves of "sleeve editions," as they are called, of the -books in which they are to be examined. On the whole, the result is a -successful one. As a rule the best candidates pull through; while, in -exceptional cases, unquestionably good men are rejected. Of the latter -class, the author of this work is a most striking instance. Excelling -in literary attainments of the highest order, he failed more than once -to obtain his master's degree, and finally threw up in disgust. -Thenceforward he became the enemy of the mandarinate; and how he has -lashed the corruption of his age may be read in such stories as _The -Wolf Dream_, and many others, while the policy that he himself would -have adopted, had he been fortunate enough to succeed, must remain for -ever a matter of doubt and speculation. - - - - -LXXVI. - -IN THE INFERNAL REGIONS. - - -Hsi Fang-p'ing was a native of Tung-an. His father's name was Hsi -Lien--a hasty-tempered man, who had quarrelled with a neighbour named -Yang. By-and-by Yang died: and some years afterwards when Lien was on -his death-bed, he cried out that Yang was bribing the devils in hell -to torture him. His body then swelled up and turned red, and in a few -moments he had breathed his last. His son wept bitterly, and refused -all food, saying, "Alas! my poor father is now being maltreated by -cruel devils; I must go down and help to redress his wrongs." -Thereupon he ceased speaking, and sat for a long time like one dazed, -his soul having already quitted its tenement of clay. To himself he -appeared to be outside the house, not knowing in what direction to go, -so he inquired from one of the passers-by which was the way to the -district city.[72] Before long he found himself there, and, directing -his steps towards the prison, found his father lying outside[73] in a -very shocking state. When the latter beheld his son, he burst into -tears, and declared that the gaolers had been bribed to beat him, -which they did both day and night, until they had reduced him to his -present sorry plight. Then Fang-p'ing turned round in a great rage, -and began to curse the gaolers. "Out upon you!" cried he; "if my -father is guilty he should be punished according to law, and not at -the will of a set of scoundrels like you." Thereupon he hurried away, -and prepared a petition, which he took with him to present at the -morning session of the City God; but his enemy, Yang, had meanwhile -set to work, and bribed so effectually, that the City God dismissed -his petition for want of corroborative evidence.[74] Fang-p'ing was -furious, but could do nothing; so he started at once for the -prefectural city, where he managed to get his plaint received, though -it was nearly a month before it came on for hearing, and then all he -got was a reference back to the district city, where he was severely -tortured, and escorted back to the door of his own home, for fear he -should give further trouble. However, he did not go in, but stole -away and proceeded to lay his complaint before one of the ten Judges -of Purgatory; whereupon the two mandarins who had previously ill-used -him, came forward and secretly offered him a thousand ounces of silver -if he would withdraw the charge. This he positively refused to do; and -some days subsequently the landlord of the inn, where he was staying, -told him he had been a fool for his pains, and that he would now get -neither money nor justice, the Judge himself having already been -tampered with. Fang-p'ing thought this was mere gossip, and would not -believe it; but, when his case was called, the Judge utterly refused -to hear the charge, and ordered him twenty blows with the bamboo, -which were administered in spite of all his protestations. He then -cried out, "Ah! it's all because I have no money to give you;" which -so incensed the Judge, that he told the lictors to throw Fang-p'ing on -the fire-bed. This was a great iron couch, with a roaring fire -underneath, which made it red-hot; and upon that the devils cast -Fang-p'ing, having first stripped off his clothes, pressing him down -on it, until the fire ate into his very bones, though in spite of that -he could not die. After a while the devils said he had had enough, and -made him get off the iron bed, and put his clothes on again. He was -just able to walk, and when he went back into court, the Judge asked -him if he wanted to make any further complaints. "Alas!" cried he, "my -wrongs are still unredressed, and I should only be lying were I to say -I would complain no more." The Judge then inquired what he had to -complain of; to which Fang-p'ing replied that it was of the injustice -of his recent punishment. This enraged the Judge so much that he -ordered his attendants to saw Fang-p'ing in two. He was then led away -by devils, to a place where he was thrust in between a couple of -wooden boards, the ground on all sides being wet and sticky with -blood. Just at that moment he was summoned to return before the Judge, -who asked him if he was still of the same mind; and, on his replying -in the affirmative, he was taken back again, and bound between the two -boards. The saw was then applied, and as it went through his brain he -experienced the most cruel agonies, which, however, he managed to -endure without uttering a cry. "He's a tough customer," said one of -the devils, as the saw made its way gradually through his chest; to -which the other replied, "Truly, this is filial piety; and, as the -poor fellow has done nothing, let us turn the saw a little out of the -direct line, so as to avoid injuring his heart." Fang-p'ing then felt -the saw make a curve inside him, which caused him even more pain than -before; and, in a few moments, he was cut through right down to the -ground, and the two halves of his body fell apart, along with the -boards to which they were tied, one on either side. The devils went -back to report progress, and were then ordered to join Fang-p'ing -together again, and bring him in. This they accordingly did,--the cut -all down Fang-p'ing's body hurting him dreadfully, and feeling as if -it would re-open every minute. But, as Fang-p'ing was unable to walk, -one of the devils took out a cord and tied it round his waist, as a -reward, he said, for his filial piety. The pain immediately ceased, -and Fang-p'ing appeared once more before the Judge, this time -promising that he would make no more complaints. The Judge now gave -orders that he should be sent up to earth, and the devils, escorting -him out of the north gate of the city, shewed him his way home, and -went away. Fang-p'ing now saw that there was even less chance of -securing justice in the Infernal Regions than upon the earth above; -and, having no means of getting at the Great King to plead his case, -he bethought himself of a certain upright and benevolent God, called -Erh Lang, who was a relative of the Great King's, and him he -determined to seek. So he turned about and took his way southwards, -but was immediately seized by some devils, sent out by the Judge to -watch that he really went back to his home. These devils hurried him -again into the Judge's presence, where he was received, contrary to -his expectation, with great affability; the Judge himself praising his -filial piety, but declaring that he need trouble no further in the -matter, as his father had already been born again in a wealthy and -illustrious family. "And upon you," added the Judge, "I now bestow a -present of one thousand ounces of silver to take home with you, as -well as the old age of a centenarian, with which I hope you will be -satisfied." He then shewed Fang-p'ing the stamped record of this, and -sent him away in charge of the devils. The latter now began to abuse -him for giving them so much trouble, but Fang-p'ing turned sharply -upon them, and threatened to take them back before the Judge. They -were then silent, and marched along for about half-a-day, until at -length they reached a village, where the devils invited Fang-p'ing -into a house, the door of which was standing half-open. Fang-p'ing was -just going in, when suddenly the devils gave him a shove from behind, -and ... there he was, born again on earth as a little girl. For three -days he pined and cried, without taking any food, and then he died. -But his spirit did not forget Erh Lang, and set out at once in search -of that God. He had not gone far when he fell in with the retinue of -some high personage, and one of the attendants seized him for getting -in the way, and hurried him before his master. He was taken to a -chariot, where he saw a handsome young man, sitting in great state; -and thinking that now was his chance, he told the young man, who he -imagined to be a high mandarin, all his sad story from beginning to -end. His bonds were then loosed, and he went along with the young man -until they reached a place where several officials came out to receive -them; and to one of these he confided Fang-p'ing, who now learnt that -the young man was no other than God himself, the officials being the -nine princes of heaven, and the one to whose care he was entrusted no -other than Erh Lang. This last was very tall, and had a long white -beard, not at all like the popular representation of a God; and when -the other princes had gone, he took Fang-p'ing into a court-room, -where he saw his father and their old enemy, Yang, besides all the -lictors and others who had been mixed up in the case. By-and-by, some -criminals were brought in in cages, and these turned out to be the -Judge, Prefect, and Magistrate. The trial was then commenced, the -three wicked officers trembling and shaking in their shoes; and when -he had heard the evidence, Erh Lang proceeded to pass sentence upon -the prisoners, each of whom he sentenced, after enlarging upon the -enormity of their several crimes, to be roasted, boiled, and otherwise -put to most excruciating tortures. As for Fang-p'ing, he accorded him -three extra decades of life, as a reward for his filial piety, and a -copy of the sentence was put in his pocket. Father and son journeyed -along together, and at length reached their home; that is to say, -Fang-p'ing was the first to recover consciousness, and then bade the -servants open his father's coffin, which they immediately did, and the -old man at once came back to life. But when Fang-p'ing looked for his -copy of the sentence, lo! it had disappeared. As for the Yang family, -poverty soon overtook them, and all their lands passed into -Fang-p'ing's hands; for as sure as any one else bought them, they -became sterile forthwith, and would produce nothing; but Fang-p'ing -and his father lived on happily, both reaching the age of ninety and -odd years.[75] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[72] The Infernal Regions are supposed to be pretty much a counterpart -of the world above, except in the matter of light. - -[73] The visitor to Canton cannot fail to observe batches of prisoners -with chains on them sitting in the street outside the prisons, many of -them engaged in plying their particular trades. - -[74] The judge in a Chinese court is necessarily very much dependent -on his secretaries; and, except in special cases, he takes his cue -almost entirely from them. They take theirs from whichever party to -the case knows best how to "cross the palm." - -[75] The whole story is of course simply a satire upon the venality -and injustice of the ruling classes in China. - - - - -LXXVII. - -SINGULAR CASE OF OPHTHALMIA. - - -A Mr. Ku, of Chiang-nan, was stopping in an inn at Chi-hsia, when he -was attacked by a very severe inflammation of the eyes. Day and night -he lay on his bed groaning, no medicines being of any avail; and when -he did get a little better, his recovery was accompanied by a singular -phenomenon. Every time he closed his eyes, he beheld in front of him a -number of large buildings, with all their doors wide open, and people -passing and repassing in the background, none of whom he recognised by -sight. One day he had just sat down to have a good look, when, all of -a sudden, he felt himself passing through the open doors. He went on -through three court-yards without meeting any one; but, on looking -into some rooms on either side, he saw a great number of young girls -sitting, lying, and kneeling about on a red carpet, which was spread -on the ground. Just then a man came out from behind the building, and, -seeing Ku, said to him, "Ah, the Prince said there was a stranger at -the door; I suppose you are the person he meant." He then asked Ku to -walk in, which the latter was at first unwilling to do; however, he -yielded to the man's instances, and accompanied him in, asking whose -palace it was. His guide told him it belonged to the son of the Ninth -Prince, and that he had arrived at the nick of time, for a number of -friends and relatives had chosen this very day to come and -congratulate the young gentleman on his recent recovery from a severe -illness. Meanwhile another person had come out to hurry them on, and -they soon reached a spot where there was a pavilion facing the north, -with an ornamental terrace and red balustrades, supported by nine -pillars. Ascending the steps, they found the place full of visitors, -and then espied a young man seated with his face to the north,[76] -whom they at once knew to be the Prince's son, and thereupon they -prostrated themselves before him, the whole company rising as they did -so. The young Prince made Ku sit down to the east of him, and caused -wine to be served; after which some singing-girls came in and -performed the Hua-feng-chu.[77] They had got to about the third scene, -when, all of a sudden, Ku heard the landlord of the inn and his -servant shouting out to him that dinner was ready, and was dreadfully -afraid that the young Prince, too, had heard. No one, however, seemed -to have noticed anything, so Ku begged to be excused a moment, as he -wished to change his clothes, and immediately ran out. He then looked -up, and saw the sun low in the west, and his servant standing by his -bedside, whereupon he knew that he had never left the inn. He was much -chagrined at this, and wished to go back as fast as he could; he, -therefore, dismissed his servant, and on shutting his eyes once more, -he found everything just as he had left it, except that where, on the -first occasion, he had observed the young girls, there were none now -to be seen, but only some dishevelled hump-backed creatures, who cried -out at him, and asked him what he meant by spying about there. Ku -didn't dare reply, but hurried past them as quickly as he could, and -on to the pavilion of the young Prince. There he found him still -sitting, but with a black beard over a foot in length; and the Prince -was anxious to know where he had been, saying that seven scenes of the -play were already over. He then seized a big goblet of wine, and made -Ku drink it as a penalty, by which time the play was finished, and the -list was handed up for a further selection. The "Marriage of P'eng -Tsu" was selected, and then the singing-girls began to hand round the -wine in cocoa-nuts big enough to hold about five quarts, which Ku -declined, on the ground that he was suffering from weak eyes, and was -consequently afraid to drink too much. "If your eyes are bad," cried -the young Prince, "the Court physician is at hand, and can attend to -you." Thereupon, one of the guests sitting to the east came forward, -and opening Ku's eyes with his fingers, touched them with some white -ointment, which he applied from the end of a jade pin. He then bade Ku -close his eyes, and take a short nap; so the Prince had him conducted -into a sleeping-room, where he found the bed so soft, and surrounded -by such delicious perfume, that he soon fell into a deep slumber. -By-and-by he was awaked by what appeared to be the clashing of -cymbals, and fancied that the play was still going on; but on opening -his eyes, he saw that it was only the inn-dog, which was licking an -oilman's gong.[78] His ophthalmia, however, was quite cured; and when -he shut his eyes again he could see nothing. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[76] In Book V. of Mencius' works we read that Shun, the perfect man, -stood with his face to the south, while the Emperor Yao (see No. -VIII., note 63) and his nobles faced the north. This arrangement is -said to have been adopted in deference to Shun's virtue; for in modern -times the Emperor always sits facing the south. - -[77] Name of a celebrated play. - -[78] These are about as big as a cheese-plate and attached to a short -stick, from which hangs suspended a small button of metal in such a -manner as to clash against the face of the gong at every turn of the -hand. The names and descriptions of various instruments employed by -costermongers in China would fill a good-sized volume. - - - - -LXXVIII. - -CHOU K'O-CH'ANG AND HIS GHOST. - - -At Huai-shang there lived a graduate named Chou T'ien-i, who, though -fifty years of age, had but one son, called K'o-ch'ang, whom he loved -very dearly. This boy, when about thirteen or fourteen, was a -handsome, well-favoured fellow, strangely averse to study, and often -playing truant from school, sometimes for the whole day, without any -remonstrance on the part of his father. One day he went away and did -not come back in the evening; neither, after a diligent search, could -any traces of him be discovered. His father and mother were in -despair, and hardly cared to live; but after a year and more had -passed away, lo and behold! K'o-ch'ang returned, saying that he had -been beguiled away by a Taoist priest, who, however, had not done him -any harm, and that he had seized a moment while the priest was absent -to escape and find his way home again. His father was delighted, and -asked him no more questions, but set to work to give him an education; -and K'o-ch'ang was so much cleverer and more intelligent than he had -been before, that by the following year he had taken his bachelor's -degree and had made quite a name for himself. Immediately all the good -families of the neighbourhood wanted to secure him as a son-in-law. -Among others proposed there was an extremely nice girl, the daughter -of a gentleman named Chao, who had taken his doctor's degree, and -K'o-ch'ang's father was very anxious that he should marry the young -lady. The youth himself would not hear of it, but stuck to his books -and took his master's degree, quite refusing to entertain any thought -of marriage; and this so exasperated his mother that one day the good -lady began to rate him soundly. K'o-ch'ang got up in a great rage and -cried out, "I have long been wanting to get away, and have only -remained for your sakes. I shall now say farewell, and leave Miss Chao -for any one that likes to marry her." At this his mother tried to -detain him, but in a moment he had fallen forwards on the ground, and -there was nothing left of him but his hat and clothes. They were all -dreadfully frightened, thinking that it must have been K'o-ch'ang's -ghost who had been with them, and gave themselves up to weeping and -lamentation; however, the very next day K'o-ch'ang arrived, -accompanied by a retinue of horses and servants, his story being that -he had formerly been kidnapped[79] and sold to a wealthy trader, who, -being then childless, had adopted him, but who, when he subsequently -had a son born to him by his own wife, sent K'o-ch'ang back to his old -home. And as soon as his father began to question him as to his -studies, his utter dulness and want of knowledge soon made it clear -that he was the real K'o-ch'ang of old; but he was already known as a -man who had got his master's degree, (that is, the ghost of him had -got it,) so it was determined in the family to keep the whole affair -secret. This K'o-ch'ang was only too ready to espouse Miss Chao; and -before a year had passed over their heads his wife had presented the -old people with the much longed-for grandson. - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[79] See No. XXIII., note 154. - - - - -LXXIX. - -THE SPIRITS OF THE PO-YANG LAKE. - - -An official, named Chai, was appointed to a post at Jao-chou, and on -his way thither crossed the Po-yang lake. Happening to visit the -shrine of the local spirits, he noticed a carved image of the -patriotic Ting P'u-lang,[80] and another of a namesake of his own, the -latter occupying a very inferior position. "Come! come!" said Chai, -"my patron saint shan't be put in the background like that;" so he -moved the image into a more honourable place, and then went back on -board his boat again. Soon after, a great wind struck the vessel, and -carried away the mast and sails; at which the sailors, in great alarm, -set to work to howl and cry. However, in a few moments they saw a -small skiff come cutting through the waves, and before long they were -all safely on board. The man who rowed it was strangely like the image -in the shrine, the position of which Chai had changed; but they were -hardly out of danger when the squall had passed over, and skiff and -man had both vanished. - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[80] A famous official who lived in the reign of Hung Wu, first -Emperor of the Ming dynasty (A.D. 1368-1399). I have not been able to -discover what was the particular act for which he has been celebrated -as "loyal to the death." - - - - -LXXX. - -THE STREAM OF CASH. - - -A certain gentleman's servant was one day in his master's garden, when -he beheld a stream of cash[81] flowing by, two or three feet in -breadth and of about the same depth. He immediately seized two large -handfuls, and then threw himself down on the top of the stream in -order to try and secure the rest. However, when he got up he found -that it had all flowed away from under him, none being left except -what he had got in his two hands. - -["Ah!" says the commentator, "money is properly a circulating medium, -and is not intended for a man to lie upon and keep all to -himself."][82] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[81] See No. II., note 42. - -[82] The Chinese, fond as they are of introducing water, under the -form of miniature lakes, into their gardens and pleasure-grounds, do -not approve of a running stream near the dwelling-house. I myself knew -a case of a man, provided with a pretty little house, rent free, -alongside of which ran a mountain-rill, who left the place and paid -for lodgings out of his own pocket rather than live so close to a -stream which he averred _carried all his good luck away_. Yet this man -was a fair scholar and a graduate to boot. - - - - -LXXXI. - -THE INJUSTICE OF HEAVEN. - - -Mr. Hsue was a magistrate at Shantung. A certain upper chamber of his -house was used as a store-room; but some creature managed so -frequently to get in and make havoc among the stores, for which the -servants were always being scolded, that at length some of the latter -determined to keep watch. By-and-by they saw a huge spider as big as a -peck measure, and hurried off to tell their master, who thought it so -strange that he gave orders to the servants to feed the insect with -cakes. It thus became very tame, and would always come forth when -hungry, returning as soon as it had taken enough to eat.[83] Years -passed away, and one day Mr. Hsue was consulting his archives, when -suddenly the spider appeared and ran under the table. Thinking it was -hungry, he bade his servants give it a cake; but the next moment he -noticed two snakes, of about the thickness of a chop-stick, lying one -on each side. The spider drew in its legs as if in mortal fear, and -the snakes began to swell out until they were as big round as an egg; -at which Mr. Hsue was greatly alarmed, and would have hurried away, -when crash! went a peal of thunder, killing every person in the house. -Mr. Hsue himself recovered consciousness after a little while, but only -to see his wife and servants, seven persons in all, lying dead; and -after a month's illness he, too, departed this life. Now Mr. Hsue was -an upright, honourable man, who really had the interests of the people -at heart. A subscription was accordingly raised to pay his funeral -expenses, and on the day of his burial the air was rent for miles -round with cries of weeping and lamentation. - -[Hereon the commentator, I Shih-shih, makes the following -remark:--"That dragons play with pearls[84] I have always regarded as -an old woman's tale. Is it possible, then, that the story is a fact? I -have heard, too, that the thunder strikes only the guilty man;[85] -and, if so, how could a virtuous official be visited with this dire -calamity?"] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[83] That Chinaman thinks his a hard lot who cannot "eat till he is -full." It may be noticed here that the Chinese seem not so much to -enjoy the process of eating as the subsequent state of repletion. As a -rule, they bolt their food, and get their enjoyment out of it -afterwards. - -[84] The full explanation and origin of this saying I have failed to -elucidate. Dragons are often represented with pearls before their -mouths; and these they are supposed to spit out or swallow as fancy -may take them. The pearl, too, is said to be the essence of the -dragon's nature, without which it would be powerless; but this is all -I know about the subject. - -[85] Such is the common belief in China at the present day. There is a -God of Thunder who punishes wicked people; the lightning is merely a -mirror, by the aid of which he singles out his victims. - - - - -LXXXII. - -THE SEA-SERPENT. - - -A trader named Chia was voyaging on the south seas, when one night it -suddenly became as light as day on board his ship. Jumping up to see -what was the matter, he beheld a huge creature with its body half out -of the water, towering up like a hill. Its eyes resembled two suns, -and threw a light far and wide; and when the trader asked the boatmen -what it was, there was not one who could say. They all crouched down -and watched it; and by-and-by the monster gradually disappeared in the -water again, leaving everything in darkness as before. And when they -reached port, they found all the people talking about a strange -phenomenon of a great light that had appeared in the night, the time -of which coincided exactly with the strange scene they themselves had -witnessed.[86] - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[86] The "sea-serpent" in this case was probably nothing more or less -than some meteoric phenomenon. - - - - -LXXXIII. - -THE MAGIC MIRROR.[87] - - -"... But if you would really like to have something that has belonged -to me," said she, "you shall." Whereupon she took out a mirror and -gave it to him, saying, "Whenever you want to see me, you must look -for me in your books; otherwise I shall not be visible;"--and in a -moment she had vanished. Liu went home very melancholy at heart; but -when he looked in the mirror, there was Feng-hsien, standing with her -back to him, gazing, as it were, at some one who was going away, and -about a hundred paces from her. He then bethought himself of her -injunctions, and settled down to his studies, refusing to receive any -visitors; and a few days subsequently, when he happened to look in the -mirror, there was Feng-hsien, with her face turned towards him, and -smiling in every feature. After this, he was always taking out the -mirror to look at her; however, in about a month his good resolutions -began to disappear, and he once more went out to enjoy himself and -waste his time as before. When he returned home and looked in the -mirror, Feng-hsien seemed to be crying bitterly; and the day after, -when he looked at her again, she had her back turned towards him as on -the day he received the mirror. He now knew that it was because he had -neglected his studies, and forthwith set to work again with all -diligence, until in a month's time she had turned round once again. -Henceforward, whenever anything interrupted his progress, Feng-hsien's -countenance became sad; but whenever he was getting on well, her -sadness was changed to smiles. Night and morning Liu would look at the -mirror, regarding it quite in the light of a revered preceptor; and in -three years' time he took his degree in triumph. "Now," cried he, "I -shall be able to look Feng-hsien in the face." And there, sure enough, -she was, with her delicately-pencilled arched eye-brows, and her teeth -just showing between her lips, as happy-looking as she could be, when, -all of a sudden, she seemed to speak, and Liu heard her say, "A pretty -pair we make, I must allow"--and the next moment Feng-hsien stood by -his side. - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[87] The following is merely a single episode taken from a long and -otherwise uninteresting story. Miss Feng-hsien was a fox; hence her -power to bestow such a singular present as the mirror here described, -the object of which was to incite her lover to success--the condition -of their future union. - - - - -LXXXIV. - -COURAGE TESTED. - - -Mr. Tung was a Hsue-chou man, very fond of playing broad-sword, and a -light-hearted, devil-may-care fellow, who was often involving himself -in trouble. One day he fell in with a traveller who was riding on a -mule and going the same way as himself; whereupon they entered into -conversation, and began to talk to each other about feats of strength -and so on. The traveller said his name was T'ung,[88] and that he -belonged to Liao-yang; that he had been twenty years away from home, -and had just returned from beyond the sea. "And I venture to say," -cried Tung, "that in your wanderings on the Four Seas[89] you have -seen a great many people; but have you seen any supernaturally clever -ones?" T'ung asked him to what he alluded; and then Tung explained -what his own particular hobby was, adding how much he would like to -learn from them any tricks in the art of broad-sword. "Supernatural," -replied the traveller, "are to be found everywhere. It needs but that -a man should be a loyal subject and a filial son for him to know all -that the supernaturals know." "Right you are, indeed!" cried Tung, as -he drew a short sword from his belt, and, tapping the blade with his -fingers, began to accompany it with a song. He then cut down a tree -that was by the wayside, to shew T'ung how sharp it was; at which -T'ung smoothed his beard and smiled, begging to be allowed to have a -look at the weapon. Tung handed it to him, and, when he had turned it -over two or three times, he said, "This is a very inferior piece of -steel; now, though I know nothing about broad-sword myself, I have a -weapon which is really of some use." He then drew from beneath his -coat a sword of a foot or so in length, and with it he began to pare -pieces off Tung's sword, which seemed as soft as a melon, and which he -cut quite away like a horse's hoof. Tung was greatly astonished, and -borrowed the other's sword to examine it, returning it after carefully -wiping the blade. He then invited T'ung to his house, and made him -stay the night; and, after begging him to explain the mystery of his -sword, began to nurse his leg and sit listening respectfully without -saying a word. It was already pretty late, when suddenly there was a -sound of scuffling next door, where Tung's father lived; and, on -putting his ear to the wall, he heard an angry voice saying, "Tell -your son to come here at once, and then I will spare you." This was -followed by other sounds of beating and a continued groaning, in a -voice which Tung knew to be his father's. He therefore seized a spear, -and was about to rush forth, but T'ung held him back, saying, "You'll -be killed for a certainty if you go. Let us think of some other plan." -Tung asked what plan he could suggest; to which the other replied, -"The robbers are killing your father: there is no help for you; but as -you have no brothers, just go and tell your wife and children what -your last wishes are, while I try and rouse the servants." Tung agreed -to this, and ran in to tell his wife, who clung to him and implored -him not to go, until at length all his courage had ebbed away, and he -went upstairs with her to get his bow and arrows ready to resist the -robbers' attack. At that juncture he heard the voice of his friend -T'ung, outside on the eaves of the house, saying, with a laugh, "All -right; the robbers have gone;" but on lighting a candle, he could see -nothing of him. He then stole out to the front door, where he met his -father with a lantern in his hand, coming in from a party at a -neighbour's house; and the whole court-yard was covered with the ashes -of burnt grass, whereby he knew that T'ung the traveller was himself a -supernatural.[90] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[88] Besides the all-important aspirate, this name is pronounced in a -different _tone_ from the first-mentioned "Tung;" and is moreover -expressed in writing by a totally different character. To a Chinese -ear, the two words are as unlikely to be confounded as Brown and -Jones. - -[89] The Four Seas are supposed by the Chinese to bound the habitable -portions of the earth, which, by the way, they further believe to be -square. In the centre of all is China, extending far and wide in every -direction, the eye of the universe, the Middle Kingdom. Away at a -distance from her shores lie a number of small islands, wherein dwell -such barbarous nations as the English, French, Dutch, etc. - -[90] The commentator, I Shih-shih, adds a note to this story which -might be summed up in our own-- - - "The [wo]man that deliberates is lost." - - - - -LXXXV. - -THE DISEMBODIED FRIEND. - - -Mr. Ch'en, M.A., of Shun-t'ien Fu, when a boy of sixteen, went to -school at a Buddhist temple.[91] There were a great many scholars -besides himself, and, among others, one named Ch'u, who said he came -from Shantung. This Ch'u was a very hard-working fellow; he never -seemed to be idle, and actually slept in the school-room, not going -home at all. Ch'en became much attached to him, and one day asked him -why he never went away. "Well, you see," replied Ch'u, "my people are -very poor, and can hardly afford to pay for my schooling; but, by dint -of working half the night, two of my days are equal to three of -anybody else's." Thereupon Ch'en said he would bring his own bed to -the school, and that they would sleep there together; to which Ch'u -replied that the teaching they got wasn't worth much, and that they -would do better by putting themselves under a certain old scholar -named Lue. This they were easily able to do, as the arrangement at the -temple was monthly, and at the end of each month anyone was free to go -or to come. So off they went to this Mr. Lue, a man of considerable -literary attainments, who had found himself in Shun-t'ien Fu without a -cash in his pocket, and was accordingly obliged to take pupils. He was -delighted at getting two additions to his number and, Ch'u showing -himself an apt scholar, the two soon became very great friends, -sleeping in the same room and eating at the same table. At the end of -the month Ch'u asked for leave of absence, and, to the astonishment of -all, ten days elapsed without anything being heard of him. It then -chanced that Ch'en went to the T'ien-ning temple, and there he saw -Ch'u under one of the verandahs, occupied in cutting wood for -lucifer-matches.[92] The latter was much disconcerted by the arrival -of Ch'en, who asked him why he had given up his studies; so the latter -took him aside, and explained that he was so poor as to be obliged to -work half a month to scrape together funds enough for his next month's -schooling. "You come along back with me," cried Ch'en, on hearing -this, "I will arrange for the payment," which Ch'u immediately -consented to do on condition that Ch'en would keep the whole thing a -profound secret. Now Ch'en's father was a wealthy tradesman, and from -his till Ch'en abstracted money wherewith to pay for Ch'u; and -by-and-by, when his father found him out, he confessed why he had done -so. Thereupon Ch'en's father called him a fool, and would not let him -resume his studies; at which Ch'u was much hurt, and would have left -the school too, but that old Mr. Lue discovered what had taken place, -and gave him the money to return to Ch'en's father, keeping him still -at the school, and treating him quite like his own son. So Ch'en -studied no more, but whenever he met Ch'u he always asked him to join -in some refreshment at a restaurant, Ch'u invariably refusing, but -yielding at length to his entreaties, being himself loth to break off -their old acquaintanceship. - -Thus two years passed away, when Ch'en's father died, and Ch'en went -back to his books under the guidance of old Mr. Lue, who was very glad -to see such determination. Of course Ch'en was now far behind Ch'u; -and in about six months Lue's son arrived, having begged his way in -search of his father, so Mr. Lue gave up his school and returned home -with a purse which his pupils had made up for him, Ch'u adding nothing -thereto but his tears. At parting, Mr. Lue advised Ch'en to take Ch'u -as his tutor, and this he did, establishing him comfortably in the -house with him. The examination was very shortly to commence, and -Ch'en felt convinced that he should not get through; but Ch'u said he -thought he should be able to manage the matter for him. On the -appointed day he introduced Ch'en to a gentleman who he said was a -cousin of his, named Liu, and asked Ch'en to accompany this cousin, -which Ch'en was just proceeding to do when Ch'u pulled him back from -behind,[93] and he would have fallen down but that the cousin pulled -him up again, and then, after having scrutinized his appearance, -carried him off to his own house. There being no ladies there, Ch'en -was put into the inner apartments; and a few days afterwards Liu said -to him, "A great many people will be at the gardens to-day; let us go -and amuse ourselves awhile, and afterwards I will send you home -again." He then gave orders that a servant should proceed on ahead -with tea and wine, and by-and-by they themselves went, and were soon -in the thick of the fete. Crossing over a bridge, they saw beneath an -old willow tree a little painted skiff, and were soon on board, -engaged in freely passing round the wine. However, finding this a -little dull, Liu bade his servant go and see if Miss Li, the famous -singing-girl, was at home; and in a few minutes the servant returned -bringing Miss Li with him. Ch'en had met her before, and so they at -once exchanged greetings, while Liu begged her to be good enough to -favour them with a song. Miss Li, who seemed labouring under a fit of -melancholy, forthwith began a funeral dirge; at which Ch'en was not -much pleased, and observed that such a theme was hardly suitable to -the occasion. With a forced smile, Miss Li changed her key, and gave -them a love-song; whereupon Ch'en seized her hand, and said, "There's -that song of the Huan-sha river,[94] which you sang once before; I -have read it over several times, but have quite forgotten the words." -Then Miss Li began-- - - "Eyes overflowing with tears, she sits gazing into her glass, - Lifting the bamboo screen, one of her comrades approaches; - She bends her head and seems intent on her bow-like slippers, - And forces her eyebrows to arch themselves into a smile. - With her scarlet sleeve she wipes the tears from her perfumed cheek, - In fear and trembling lest they should guess the thoughts that - o'erwhelm her."[95] - -Ch'en repeated this over several times, until at length the skiff -stopped, and they passed through a long verandah, where a great many -verses had been inscribed on the walls,[96] to which Ch'en at once -proceeded to add a stanza of his own. Evening was now coming on, and -Liu remarked that the candidates would be just about leaving the -examination-hall;[97] so he escorted him back to his own home, and -there left him. The room was dark, and there was no one with him; but -by-and-by the servants ushered in some one whom at first he took to be -Ch'u. However, he soon saw that it was not Ch'u, and in another moment -the stranger had fallen against him and knocked him down. "Master's -fainted!" cried the servants, as they ran to pick him up; and then -Ch'en discovered that the one who had fallen down was really no other -than himself.[98] On getting up, he saw Ch'u standing by his side; and -when they had sent away the servants the latter said, "Don't be -alarmed: I am nothing more than a disembodied spirit. My time for -re-appearing on earth[99] is long overdue, but I could not forget your -great kindness to me, and accordingly I have remained under this form -in order to assist in the accomplishment of your wishes. The three -bouts[100] are over, and your ambition will be gratified." Ch'en then -inquired if Ch'u could assist him in like manner for his doctor's -degree; to which the latter replied, "Alas! the luck descending to you -from your ancestors is not equal to that.[101] They were a niggardly -lot, and unfit for the posthumous honours you would thus confer on -them." Ch'en next asked him whither he was going; and Ch'u replied -that he hoped, through the agency of his cousin, who was a clerk in -Purgatory, to be born again in old Mr. Lue's family. They then bade -each other adieu; and, when morning came, Ch'en set off to call on -Miss Li, the singing-girl; but on reaching her house he found that she -had been dead some days.[102] He walked on to the gardens, and there -he saw traces of verses that had been written on the walls, and -evidently rubbed out, so as to be hardly decipherable. In a moment it -flashed across him that the verses and their composers belonged to the -other world. Towards evening Ch'u re-appeared in high spirits, saying -that he had succeeded in his design, and had come to wish Ch'en a long -farewell. Holding out his open palms, he requested Ch'en to write the -word _Ch'u_ on each; and then, after refusing to take a parting cup, -he went away, telling Ch'en that the examination-list would soon be -out, and that they would meet again before long. Ch'en brushed away -his tears and escorted him to the door, where a man, who had been -waiting for him, laid his hand on Ch'u's head and pressed it downwards -until Ch'u was perfectly flat. The man then put him in a sack and -carried him off on his back. A few days afterwards the list came out, -and, to his great joy, Ch'en found his name among the successful -candidates; whereupon he immediately started off to visit his old -tutor, Mr. Lue.[103] Now Mr. Lue's wife had had no children for ten -years, being about fifty years of age, when suddenly she gave birth to -a son, who was born with both fists doubled up so that no one could -open them. On his arrival Ch'en begged to see the child, and declared -that inside its hands would be found written the word Ch'u. Old Mr. Lue -laughed at this; but no sooner had the child set eyes on Ch'en than -both its fists opened spontaneously, and there was the word as Ch'en -had said. The story was soon told, and Ch'en went home, after making a -handsome present to the family; and later on, when Mr. Lue went up for -his doctor's degree[104] and stayed at Ch'en's house, his son was -thirteen years old, and had already matriculated as a candidate for -literary honours. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[91] Buddhist priests not unusually increase the revenue of their -monastery by taking pupils; and it is only fair to them to add that -the curriculum is strictly secular, the boys learning precisely what -they would at an ordinary school and nothing else. - -[92] These consist simply of thin slips of wood dipped in brimstone, -and resemble those used in England as late as the first quarter of the -present century. They are said to have been invented by the people of -Hang-chou, the capital of Chekiang; but it is quite possible that the -hint may have first reached China from the west. They were called _yin -kuang_ "bring light," (_cf._ _lucifer_), _fa chu_ "give forth -illumination," and other names. Lucifer matches are now generally -spoken of as _tz[)u] lai huo_ "self-come fire," and are almost -universally employed, except in remote parts where the flint and steel -still hold sway. - -[93] The whole point of the story hinges on this. - -[94] Beside which lived Hsi Shih, the famous beauty of the fifth -century after Christ. - -[95] I fear that the translation of this "Singing-girl's Lament" falls -so considerably below the pathetic original as to give but a poor idea -of the real merit of the latter as a lyric gem. - -[96] The Chinese have precisely the same mania as our Browns, Joneses, -and Robinsons, for scribbling and carving their names and compositions -all over the available parts of any place of public resort. The -literature of inn walls alone would fill many ponderous tomes. - -[97] The examination, which lasts nine days, has been going on all -this time. - -[98] That is, his own body, into which Ch'u's spirit had temporarily -passed, his own occupying, meanwhile, the body of his friend. - -[99] That is, for being born again, the sole hope and ambition of a -disembodied shade. - -[100] See No. LXXI., note 48. - -[101] See No. LXI., note 346. - -[102] His own spirit in Ch'u's body had met her in a disembodied -state. - -[103] Such is the invariable custom. Large presents are usually made -by those who can afford the outlay, and the tutor's name has ever -afterwards an honourable place in the family records. - -[104] See No. XLVIII., note 274. - - - - -LXXXVI. - -THE CLOTH MERCHANT. - - -A certain cloth merchant went to Ch'ing-chou, where he happened to -stroll into an old temple, all tumble-down and in ruins. He was -lamenting over this sad state of things, when a priest who stood by -observed that a devout believer like himself could hardly do better -than put the place into repair, and thus obtain favour in the eyes of -Buddha. This the merchant consented to do; whereupon the priest -invited him to walk into the private quarters of the temple, and -treated him with much courtesy; but he went on to propose that our -friend the merchant should also undertake the general ornamentation of -the place both inside and out.[105] The latter declared he could not -afford the expense, and the priest began to get very angry, and urged -him so strongly that at last the merchant, in terror, promised to give -all the money he had. After this he was preparing to go away, but the -priest detained him, saying, "You haven't given the money of your own -free will, and consequently you'll be owing me a grudge: I can't do -better than make an end of you at once." Thereupon he seized a knife, -and refused to listen to all the cloth merchant's entreaties, until at -length the latter asked to be allowed to hang himself, to which the -priest consented; and, showing him into a dark room, told him to make -haste about it. - -At this juncture, a Tartar-General[106] happened to pass by the -temple; and from a distance, through a breach in the old wall, he saw -a damsel in a red dress pass into the priest's quarters. This roused -his suspicions,[107] and dismounting from his horse, he entered the -temple and searched high and low, but without discovering anything. -The dark room above-mentioned was locked and double-barred, and the -priest refused to open it, saying the place was haunted. The General -in a rage burst open the door, and there beheld the cloth merchant -hanging from a beam. He cut him down at once, and in a short time he -was brought round and told the General the whole story. They then -searched for the damsel, but she was nowhere to be found, having been -nothing more than a divine manifestation. The General cut off the -priest's head and restored the cloth merchant's property to him, after -which the latter put the temple in thorough repair and kept it well -supplied with lights and incense ever afterwards. - -Mr. Chao, M.A., told me this story with all its details.[108] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[105] The elaborate gilding and wood-work of an ordinary Chinese -temple form a very serious item in the expense of restoration. Public -subscriptions are usually the means employed for raising sufficient -funds, the names of subscribers and amount given by each being -published in some conspicuous position. Occasionally devout -priests--black swans, indeed, in China--shut themselves up in boxes -studded with nails, one of which they pull out every time a certain -donation is given, and there they remain until every nail is -withdrawn. But after all it is difficult to say whether they endure -these trials so much for the faith's sake as for the funds from which -they derive more of the luxuries of life, and the temporary notoriety -gained by thus coming before the public. A Chinese proverb says, "The -image-maker doesn't worship Buddha. He knows too much about the idol;" -and the application of this saying may safely be extended to the -majority of Buddhist priests in China. - -[106] This is the title generally applied to the Manchu commanders of -Manchu garrisons, who are stationed at certain of the most important -points of the Chinese Empire, and whose presence is intended as a -check upon the action of the civil authorities. - -[107] See No. VI., note 52. - -[108] The moral being, of course, that Buddha protects those who look -after his interests on earth. - - - - -LXXXVII. - -A STRANGE COMPANION. - - -Han Kung-fu, of Yue-ch'eng, told me that he was one day travelling -along a road with a man of his village, named P'eng, when all of a -sudden the latter disappeared, leaving his mule to jog along with an -empty saddle. At the same moment, Mr. Han heard his voice calling for -assistance, and apparently proceeding from inside one of the panniers -strapped across the mule's back; and on looking closely, there indeed -he was in one of the panniers, which, however, did not seem to be at -all displaced by his weight. On trying to get him out the mouth of the -pannier closed itself tightly; and it was only when he cut it open -with a knife that he saw P'eng curled up in it like a dog. He then -helped him out, and asked him how he managed to get in; but this he -was unable to say. It further appeared that his family was under fox -influence, many strange things of this kind having happened before. - - - - -LXXXVIII. - -SPIRITUALISTIC SEANCES. - - -It is customary in Shantung, when any one is sick, for the womenfolk -to engage an old sorceress or medium, who strums on a tambourine and -performs certain mysterious antics. This custom obtains even more in -the capital, where young ladies of the best families frequently -organize such _seances_ among themselves. On a table in the hall they -spread out a profusion of wine and meat, and burn huge candles which -make the place as light as day. Then the sorceress, shortening her -skirts, stands on one leg and performs the _shang-yang_,[109] while -two of the others support her, one on each side. All this time she is -chattering unintelligible sentences,[110] something between a song -and a prayer, the words being confused but uttered in a sort of tune; -while the hall resounds with the thunder of drums, enough to stun a -person, with which her vaticinations are mixed up and lost. By-and-by -her head begins to droop, and her eyes to look aslant; and but for her -two supporters she would inevitably fall to the ground. Suddenly she -stretches forth her neck and bounds several feet into the air, upon -which the other women regard her in terror, saying, "The spirits have -come to eat;" and immediately all the candles are blown out and -everything is in total darkness. Thus they remain for about a quarter -of an hour, afraid to speak a word, which in any case would not be -heard through the din, until at length the sorceress calls out the -personal name of the head of the family[111] and some others; -whereupon they immediately relight the candles and hurry up to ask if -the reply of the spirits is favourable or otherwise. They then see -that every scrap of the food and every drop of the wine has -disappeared. Meanwhile, they watch the old woman's expression, whereby -they can tell if the spirits are well disposed; and each one asks her -some question, to which she as promptly replies. Should there be any -unbelievers among the party, the spirits are at once aware of their -presence; and the old sorceress, pointing her finger at such a one, -cries out, "Disrespectful mocker! where are your trousers?" upon which -the mocker alluded to looks down, and lo! her trousers are gone--gone -to the top of a tree in the court-yard, where they will subsequently -be found.[112] - -Manchu women and girls, especially, are firm believers in -spiritualism. On the slightest provocation they consult their medium, -who comes into the room gorgeously dressed, and riding on an imitation -horse or tiger.[113] In her hand she holds a long spear, with which -she mounts the couch[114] and postures in an extraordinary manner, the -animal she rides snorting or roaring fiercely all the time. Some call -her Kuan Ti,[115] others Chang Fei, and others again Chou Kung, from -her terribly martial aspect, which strikes fear into all beholders. -And should any daring fellow try to peep in while the _seance_ is -going on, out of the window darts the spear, transfixes his hat, and -draws it off his head into the room, while women and girls, young and -old, hop round one after the other like geese, on one leg, without -seeming to get the least fatigued. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[109] It is related in the _Family Sayings_, an apocryphal work which -professes to give conversations of Confucius, that a number of -one-legged birds having suddenly appeared in Ch'i, the Duke of Ch'i -sent off to ask the Sage what was the meaning of this strange -phenomenon. Confucius replied, "The bird is the _shang-yang_, and -portends beneficial rain." And formerly the boys and girls in Shantung -would hop about on one leg, crying, "The _shang-yang_ has come;" after -which rain would be sure to follow. - -[110] Speaking in the unknown tongue, like the Irvingites and others. - -[111] This is a clever hit. The "personal" name of a man may not be -uttered except by his father or mother, grandfather, grandmother, -uncles, etc. Thus, the mere use of the personal name of the _head of a -family_ proves conclusively that the spirit of someone of his -ancestors must be present. - -[112] I consider the whole of the above a curious story to be found in -a Chinese work exactly 200 years old, but no part of it more so than -the forcible removal of some part of the clothing, which has been so -prominent a feature in the _seances_ of our own day. It may be added -that in many a court-yard in Peking will be found one or more trees, -which cause the view from the city wall to be very pleasing to the -eye, in spite of the filth and ruins which a closer inspection -reveals. - -[113] The arrangement being that of the hobby-horse of by-gone days. - -[114] The couches of the north of China are brick beds, heated by a -stove underneath, and covered with a mat. Upon one of these is -generally a dwarf table and a couple of pillows; and here it is that -the Chinaman loves to recline, his wine-kettle, opium-pipe, or teapot -within reach, and a friend at his side, with whom he may converse far -into the night. - -[115] See No. LXXIII., note 63. Chang Fei was the bosom-friend of the -last, and was his associate-commander in the wars of the Three -Kingdoms. Chou Kung was the first Emperor of the Chou dynasty, and a -pattern of wisdom and virtue. He is said by the Chinese to have -invented the mariner's compass; but the legend will not bear -investigation. - - - - -LXXXIX. - -THE MYSTERIOUS HEAD. - - -Several traders who were lodging at an inn in Peking, occupied a room -which was divided from the adjoining apartment by a partition of -boards from which a piece was missing, leaving an aperture about as -big as a basin. Suddenly a girl's head appeared through the opening, -with very pretty features and nicely dressed hair; and the next moment -an arm, as white as polished jade. The traders were much alarmed, and, -thinking it was the work of devils, tried to seize the head, which, -however, was quickly drawn in again out of their reach. This happened -a second time, and then, as they could see no body belonging to the -head, one of them took a knife in his hand and crept up against the -partition underneath the hole. In a little while the head re-appeared, -when he made a chop at it and cut it off, the blood spurting out all -over the floor and wall. The traders hurried off to tell the landlord, -who immediately reported the matter to the authorities, taking the -head with him, and the traders were forthwith arrested and examined; -but the magistrate could make nothing of the case, and, as no one -appeared for the prosecution, the accused, after about six months' -incarceration, were accordingly released, and orders were given for -the girl's head to be buried. - - - - -XC. - -THE SPIRIT OF THE HILLS. - - -A man named Li, of I-tu, was once crossing the hills when he came upon -a number of persons sitting on the ground engaged in drinking. As soon -as they saw Li they begged him to join them, and vied with each other -in filling his cup. Meanwhile, he looked about him and noticed that -the various trays and dishes contained all kinds of costly food; the -wine only seemed to him a little rough on the palate. In the middle of -their fun up came a stranger with a face about three feet long and a -very tall hat; whereupon the others were very much alarmed, and cried -out, "The hill spirit! the hill spirit!" running away in all -directions as fast as they could go. Li hid himself in a hole in the -ground; and when by-and-by he peeped out to see what had happened, the -wine and food had disappeared, and there was nothing there but a few -dirty potsherds and some pieces of broken tiles with efts and lizards -crawling over them.[116] - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[116] Mr. Li had, doubtless, taken a "drop too much" before he started -on his mountain walk. - - - - -XCI. - -INGRATITUDE PUNISHED. - - -K'u Ta-yu was a native of the Yang district, and managed to get a -military appointment under the command of Tsu Shu-shun.[117] The -latter treated him most kindly, and finally sent him as Major-General -of some troops by which he was then trying to establish the dynasty of -the usurping Chows. K'u soon perceived that the game was lost, and -immediately turned his forces upon Tsu Shu-shun, whom he succeeded in -capturing, after Tsu had been wounded in the hand, and whom he at once -forwarded as a prisoner to headquarters. That night he dreamed that -the Judge of Purgatory appeared to him, and, reproaching him with his -base ingratitude, bade the devil-lictors seize him and scald his feet -in a cauldron of boiling oil. K'u then woke up with a start, and found -that his feet were very sore and painful; and in a short time they -swelled up, and his toes dropped off. Fever set in, and in his agony -he shrieked out, "Ungrateful wretch that I was indeed," and fell back -and expired. - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[117] Of whom I can learn nothing. - - - - -XCII. - -SMELLING ESSAYS.[118] - - -Now as they wandered about the temple they came upon an old blind -priest sitting under the verandah, engaged in selling medicines and -prescribing for patients. "Ah!" cried Sung, "there is an extraordinary -man who is well versed in the arts of composition;" and immediately he -sent back to get the essay they had just been reading, in order to -obtain the old priest's opinion as to its merits. At the same moment -up came their friend from Yue-hang, and all three went along together. -Wang began by addressing him as "Professor;" whereupon the priest, who -thought the stranger had come to consult him as a doctor, inquired -what might be the disease from which he was suffering. Wang then -explained what his mission was; upon which the priest smiled and said, -"Who's been telling you this nonsense? How can a man with no eyes -discuss with you the merits of your compositions?" Wang replied by -asking him to let his ears do duty for his eyes; but the priest -answered that he would hardly have patience to sit out Wang's three -sections, amounting perhaps to some two thousand and more words. -"However," added he, "if you like to burn it, I'll try what I can do -with my nose." Wang complied, and burnt the first section there and -then; and the old priest, snuffing up the smoke, declared that it -wasn't such a bad effort, and finally gave it as his opinion that Wang -would probably succeed at the examination. The young scholar from -Yue-hang didn't believe that the old priest could really tell anything -by these means, and forthwith proceeded to burn an essay by one of the -old masters; but the priest no sooner smelt the smoke than he cried -out, "Beautiful indeed! beautiful indeed! I do enjoy this. The light -of genius and truth is evident here." The Yue-hang scholar was greatly -astonished at this, and began to burn an essay of his own; whereupon -the priest said, "I had had but a taste of that one; why change so -soon to another?" "The first paragraph," replied the young man, "was -by a friend; the rest is my own composition." No sooner had he uttered -these words than the old priest began to retch violently, and begged -that he might have no more, as he was sure it would make him sick. The -Yue-hang scholar was much abashed at this, and went away; but in a few -days the list came out and his name was among the successful ones, -while Wang's was not. He at once hurried off to tell the old priest, -who, when he heard the news, sighed and said, "I may be blind with my -eyes but I am not so with my nose, which I fear is the case with the -examiners. Besides," added he, "I was talking to you about -composition: I said nothing about _destiny_."[119] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[118] The following extract from a long and otherwise tedious story -tells its own tale. Wang is the modest man, and the young man from -Yue-hang the braggart. Sung is merely a friend of Wang's. - -[119] This is one of our author's favourite shafts--a sneer at -examiners in general, and those who rejected him in particular. - - - - -XCIII. - -HIS FATHER'S GHOST. - - -A man named T'ien Tz[)u]-ch'eng, of Chiang-ning, was crossing the -Tung-t'ing lake, when the boat was capsized, and he was drowned. His -son, Liang-ss[)u], who, towards the close of the Ming dynasty, took the -highest degree, was then a baby in arms; and his wife, hearing the bad -news, swallowed poison forthwith,[120] and left the child to the care -of his grandmother. When Liang-ss[)u] grew up, he was appointed -magistrate in Hu-pei, where he remained about a year. He was then -transferred to Hu-nan, on military service; but, on reaching the -Tung-t'ing lake, his feelings overpowered him, and he returned to -plead inability as an excuse for not taking up his post. Accordingly, -he was degraded to the rank of Assistant-Magistrate, which he at first -declined, but was finally compelled to accept; and thenceforward gave -himself up to roaming about on the lakes and streams of the -surrounding country, without paying much attention to his official -duties. - -One night he had anchored his boat alongside the bank of a river, when -suddenly the cadence of a sweetly-played flageolet broke upon his ear; -so he strolled along by the light of the moon in the direction of the -music, until, after a few minutes' walking, he reached a cottage -standing by itself, with a few citron-trees round it, and -brilliantly-lighted inside. Approaching a window, he peeped in, and -saw three persons sitting at a table, engaged in drinking. In the -place of honour was a graduate of about thirty years of age; an old -man played the host, and at the side sat a much younger man playing on -the flageolet. When he had finished, the old man clapped his hands in -admiration; but the graduate turned away with a sigh, as if he had not -heard a note. "Come now, Mr. Lu," cried the old man, addressing the -latter, "kindly favour us with one of your songs, which, I know, must -be worth hearing." The graduate then began to sing as follows:-- - - "Over the river the wind blows cold on lonely me: - Each flow'ret trampled under foot, all verdure gone. - At home a thousand _li_ away, I cannot be; - So towards the Bridge my spirit nightly wanders on." - -The above was given in such melancholy tones that the old man smiled -and said, "Mr. Lu, these must be experiences of your own," and, -immediately filling a goblet, added, "I can do nothing like that; but -if you will let me, I will give you a song to help us on with our -wine." He then sung a verse from "Li T'ai-poh,"[121] and put them all -in a lively humour again; after which the young man said he would just -go outside and see how high the moon was, which he did, and observing -Liang-ss[)u] outside, clapped his hands, and cried out to his companions, -"There is a man at the window, who has seen all we have been doing." -He then led Liang-ss[)u] in; whereupon the other two rose, and begged him -to be seated, and to join them in their wine. The wine, however, was -cold,[122] and he therefore declined; but the young man at once -perceived his reason, and proceeded to warm some for him. Liang-ss[)u] -now ordered his servant to go and buy some more, but this his host -would not permit him to do. They next inquired Liang-ss[)u]'s name, and -whence he came, and then the old man said, "Why, then, you are the -father and mother[123] of the district in which I live. My name is -River: I am an old resident here. This young man is a Mr. Tu, of -Kiang-si; and this gentleman," added he, pointing to the graduate, "is -Mr. Rushten,[124] a fellow-provincial of yours." Mr. Rushten looked -at Liang-ss[)u] in rather a contemptuous way, and without taking much -notice of him; whereupon Liang-ss[)u] asked him whereabouts he lived in -Chiang-ning, observing that it was strange he himself should never -have heard of such an accomplished gentleman. "Alas!" replied Rushten, -"it is many a long day since I left my home, and I know nothing even -of my own family. Alas, indeed!" These words were uttered in so -mournful a tone of voice that the old man broke in with, "Come, come, -now! talking like this, instead of drinking when we're all so jolly -together; this will never do." He then drained a bumper himself, and -said, "I propose a game of forfeits. We'll throw with three dice; and -whoever throws so that the spots on one die[125] equal those on the -other two shall give us a verse with a corresponding classical -allusion in it." He then threw himself, and turned up an ace, a two, -and a three; whereupon he sang the following lines:-- - - "An ace and a deuce on one side, just equal a three on the other: - For Fan a chicken was boiled, though three years had passed, by - Chang's mother.[126] - Thus friends love to meet!" - -Then the young musician threw, and turned up two twos and a four; -whereupon he exclaimed, "Don't laugh at the feeble allusion of an -unlearned fellow like me:-- - - 'Two deuces are equal to a four: - Four men united their valour in the old city.[127] - Thus brothers love to meet!'" - -Mr. Rushten followed with two aces and a two, and recited these -lines:-- - - "Two aces are equal to a two: - Lu-hsiang stretched out his two arms and embraced his father.[128] - Thus father and son love to meet!" - -Liang then threw, and turned up the same as Mr. Rushten; whereupon he -said:-- - - "Two aces are equal to a two: - Mao-jung regaled Lin-tsung with two baskets.[129] - Thus host and guest love to meet!" - -When the _partie_ was over Liang-ss[)u] rose to go, but Mr. Rushten -said, "Dear me! why are you in such a hurry; we haven't had a moment -to speak of the old place. Please stay: I was just going to ask you a -few questions." So Liang-ss[)u] sat down again, and Mr. Rushten -proceeded. "I had an old friend," said he, "who was drowned in the -Tung-t'ing lake. He bore the same name as yourself; was he a -relative?" "He was my father," replied Liang-ss[)u]; "how did you know -him?" "We were friends as boys together; and when he was drowned, I -recovered and buried his body by the river-side."[130] Liang-ss[)u] here -burst into tears, and thanked Mr. Rushten very warmly, begging him to -point out his father's grave. "Come again to-morrow," said Mr. -Rushten, "and I will shew it to you. You could easily find it -yourself. It is close by here, and has ten stalks of water-rush -growing on it." Liang-ss[)u] now took his leave, and went back to his -boat, but he could not sleep for thinking of what Mr. Rushten had told -him; and at length, without waiting for the dawn, he set out to look -for the grave. To his great astonishment, the house where he had spent -the previous evening had disappeared; but hunting about in the -direction indicated by Mr. Rushten, he found a grave with ten -water-rushes growing on it, precisely as Mr. Rushten had described. It -then flashed across him that Mr. Rushten's name had a special meaning, -and that he had been holding converse with none other than the -disembodied spirit of his own father. And, on inquiring of the people -of the place, he learnt that twenty years before a benevolent old -gentleman, named Kao, had been in the habit of collecting the bodies -of persons found drowned, and burying them in that spot. Liang then -opened the grave, and carried off his father's remains to his own -home, where his grandmother, to whom he described Mr. Rushten's -appearance, confirmed the suspicion he himself had formed. It also -turned out that the young musician was a cousin of his, who had been -drowned when nineteen years of age; and then he recollected that the -boy's father had subsequently gone to Kiang-si, and that his mother -had died there, and had been buried at the Bamboo Bridge, to which Mr. -Rushten had alluded in his song. But he did not know who the old man -was.[131] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[120] This would be regarded as a very meritorious act by the Chinese. - -[121] The Byron of China. - -[122] Chinese wine--or, more correctly, _spirits_--is always taken -hot; hence the term wine-kettle, which frequently occurs in these -pages. - -[123] The Magistrate; who is supposed to be towards the people what a -father is to his children. - -[124] This singularly un-Chinese surname is employed to keep up a -certain play upon words which exists in the original, and which is -important to the _denouement_ of the story. "River" is the simple -translation of a name actually in use. - -[125] Chinese dice are the exact counterpart of our own, except that -the ace and the four are coloured red: the ace because the combination -of black and white would be unlucky, and the four because this number -once turned up in response to the call of an Emperor of the T'ang -dynasty, who particularly wanted a four to win him the _partie_. All -letters, despatches, and such documents, have invariably something -_red_ about them, this being the lucky colour, and to the Chinese, -emblematic of prosperity and joy. - -[126] Alluding to an ancient story of a promise by a Mr. Fan that he -would be at his friend Chang's house that day three years. When the -time drew near, Chang's mother ridiculed the notion of a man keeping a -three years' appointment; but, acceding to her son's instances, -prepared a boiled chicken, which was barely ready when Fan arrived to -eat of it. - -[127] Alluding to the celebrated oath of confederation sworn in the -peach garden between Kuan Yue, or Kuan Ti (see No. I., note 39), Chang -Fei (see No. LXIII., note 2), Liu Pei, who subsequently proclaimed -himself Emperor, A.D. 221, and Chu-ko Liang, his celebrated minister, -to whose sage counsels most of the success of the undertaking was due. -The whole story is one of the best known of Chinese historical -romances, bringing about, as it did, the downfall of the famous Han -dynasty, which had endured for over 400 years. - -[128] Alluding to the story of a young man who went in search of his -missing father. - -[129] Lin-tsung saw his host kill a chicken which he thought was -destined for himself. However, Mao-jung served up the dainty morsel to -his mother, while he and his guest regaled themselves with two baskets -of common vegetables. At this instance of filial piety, Lin-tsung had -the good sense to be charmed. - -[130] The Chinese recognise no act more worthy a virtuous man than -that of burying stray bones, covering up exposed coffins, and so -forth. By such means the favour of the Gods is most surely obtained, -to say nothing of the golden opinions of the living. - -[131] This is merely our author's way of putting the question of the -old man's identity. He was the Spirit of the Waters--his name, it will -be recollected, was River--just, in fact, as we say Old Father Thames. - - - - -XCIV. - -THE BOAT-GIRL BRIDE. - - -Wang Kuli-ngan was a young man of good family. It happened once when -he was travelling southwards, and had moored his boat to the bank, -that he saw in another boat close by a young boat-girl embroidering -shoes. He was much struck by her beauty, and continued gazing at her -for some time, though she took not the slightest notice of him. -By-and-by he began singing-- - - "The Lo-yang lady lives over the way: - [Fifteen years is her age I should say]."[132] - -to attract her attention, and then she seemed to perceive that he was -addressing himself to her; but, after just raising her head and -glancing at him, she resumed her embroidery as before. Wang then threw -a piece of silver towards her, which fell on her skirt; however she -merely picked it up, and flung it on to the bank, as if she had not -seen what it was, so Wang put it back in his pocket again. He -followed up by throwing her a gold bracelet, to which she paid no -attention whatever, never taking her eyes off her work. A few minutes -after her father appeared, much to the dismay of Wang, who was afraid -he would see the bracelet; but the young girl quietly placed her feet -over it, and concealed it from his sight. The boatman let go the -painter, and away they went down stream, leaving Wang sitting there, -not knowing what to do next. And, having recently lost his wife, he -regretted that he had not seized this opportunity to make another -match; the more so, as when he came to ask the other boat-people of -the place, no one knew anything about them. So Wang got into his own -boat, and started off in pursuit; but evening came on, and, as he -could see nothing of them, he was obliged to turn back and proceed in -the direction where business was taking him. When he had finished -that, he returned, making inquiries all the way along, but without -hearing anything about the object of his search. On arriving at home, -he was unable either to eat or to sleep, so much did this affair -occupy his mind; and about a year afterwards he went south again, -bought a boat, and lived in it as his home, watching carefully every -single vessel that passed either up or down, until at last there was -hardly one he didn't know by sight. But all this time the boat he was -looking for never reappeared. - -Some six months passed away thus, and then, having exhausted all his -funds, he was obliged to go home, where he remained in a state of -general inaptitude for anything. One night he dreamed that he entered -a village on the river-bank, and that, after passing several houses, -he saw one with a door towards the south, and a palisade of bamboos -inside. Thinking it was a garden, he walked in and beheld a beautiful -magnolia, covered with blossoms, which reminded him of the line-- - - "And Judas-tree in flower before her door."[133] - -A few steps farther on was a neat bamboo hedge, on the other side of -which, towards the north, he found a small house, with three columns, -the door of which was locked; and another, towards the south, with its -window shaded by the broad leaves of a plaintain-tree. The door was -barred by a clothes-horse,[134] on which was hanging an embroidered -petticoat; and, on seeing this, Wang stepped back, knowing that he had -got to the ladies' quarters; but his presence had already been noticed -inside, and, in another moment, out came his heroine of the boat. -Overjoyed at seeing her, he was on the point of grasping her hand, -when suddenly the girl's father arrived, and, in his consternation, -Wang waked up, and found that it was all a dream. Every incident of -it, however, remained clear and distinct in his mind, and he took care -to say nothing about it to anybody, for fear of destroying its -reality. - -Another year passed away, and he went again to Chinkiang, where lived -an official, named Hsue, who was an old friend of the family, and who -invited Wang to come and take a cup of wine with him. On his way -thither, Wang lost his way, but at length reached a village which -seemed familiar to him, and which he soon found, by the door with the -magnolia inside, to be identical, in every particular, with the -village of his dream. He went in through the doorway, and there was -everything as he had seen it in his dream, even to the boat-girl -herself. She jumped up on his arrival, and, shutting the door in his -face, asked what his business was there. Wang inquired if she had -forgotten about the bracelet, and went on to tell her how long he had -been searching for her, and how, at last, she had been revealed to him -in a dream. The girl then begged to know his name and family; and when -she heard who he was, she asked what a gentleman like himself could -want with a poor boat-girl like her, as he must have a wife of his -own. "But for you," replied Wang, "I should, indeed, have been married -long ago." Upon which the girl told him if that was really the case, -he had better apply to her parents, "although," added she, "they have -already refused a great many offers for me. The bracelet you gave me -is here, but my father and mother are just now away from home; they -will be back shortly. You go away now and engage a match-maker, when I -dare say it will be all right if the proper formalities are observed." -Wang then retired, the girl calling after him to remember that her -name was Meng Yuen, and her father's Meng Chiang-li. He proceeded at -once on his way to Mr. Hsue's, and after that sought out his intended -father-in-law, telling him who he was, and offering him at the same -time one hundred ounces of silver, as betrothal-money for his -daughter. "She is already promised," replied the old man; upon which -Wang declared he had been making careful inquiries, and had heard, on -all sides, that the young lady was not engaged, winding up by begging -to know what objection there was to his suit. "I have just promised -her," answered her father, "and I cannot possibly break my word;" so -Wang went away, deeply mortified, not knowing whether to believe it or -not. That night he tossed about a good deal; and next morning, braving -the ridicule with which he imagined his friend would view his -wished-for alliance with a boat-girl, he went off to Mr. Hsue, and told -him all about it. "Why didn't you consult me before?" cried Mr. Hsue; -"her father is a connection of mine." Wang then went on to give -fuller particulars, which his friend interrupted by saying, "Chang-li -is indeed poor, but he has never been a boatman. Are you sure you are -not making a mistake?" He then sent off his elder son to make -inquiries; and to him the girl's father said, "Poor I am, but I don't -_sell_ my daughter.[135] Your friend imagined that I should be tempted -by the sight of his money to forego the usual ceremonies, and so I -won't have anything to do with him. But if your father desires this -match, and everything is in proper order, I will just go in and -consult with my daughter, and see if she is willing." He then retired -for a few minutes, and when he came back he raised his hands in -congratulation, saying, "Everything is as you wish;" whereupon a day -was fixed, and the young man went home to report to his father. Wang -now sent off betrothal presents, with the usual formalities, and took -up his abode with his friend, Mr. Hsue, until the marriage was -solemnized, three days after which he bade adieu to his father-in-law, -and started on his way northwards. In the evening, as they were -sitting on the boat together, Wang said to his wife, "When I first met -you near this spot, I fancied you were not of the ordinary -boating-class. Where were you then going?" "I was going to visit my -uncle," she replied. "We are not a wealthy family, you know, but we -don't want anything through an improper channel; and I couldn't help -smiling at the great eyes you were making at me, all the time trying -to tempt me with money. But when I heard you speak, I knew at once you -were a man of refinement, though I guessed you were a bit of a rake; -and so I hid your bracelet, and saved you from the wrath of my -father." "And yet," replied Wang, "you have fallen into my snare after -all;" adding, after a little pressure, "for I can't conceal from you -much longer the fact that I have already a wife, belonging to a high -official family." This she did not believe, until he began to affirm -it seriously; and then she jumped up and ran out of the cabin. Wang -followed at once, but, before he could reach her, she was already in -the river; whereupon he shouted out to boats to come to their -assistance, causing quite a commotion all round about; but nothing was -to be seen in the river, save only the reflection of the stars shining -brightly on the water. All night long Wang went sorrowfully up and -down, and offered a high reward for the body, which, however, was not -forthcoming. So he went home in despair, and then, fearing lest his -father-in-law should come to visit his daughter, he started on a visit -to a connection of his, who had an appointment in Honan. In the course -of a year or two, when on his homeward journey, he chanced to be -detained by bad weather at a roadside inn of rather cleaner appearance -than usual. Within he saw an old woman playing with a child, which, as -soon as he entered, held out its arms to him to be taken. Wang took -the child on his knee, and there it remained, refusing to go back to -its nurse; and, when the rain had stopped, and Wang was getting ready -to go, the child cried out, "Pa-pa gone!" The nurse told it to hold -its tongue, and, at the same moment, out from behind the screen came -Wang's long-lost wife. "You bad fellow," said she, "what am I to do -with this?" pointing to the child; and then Wang knew that the boy was -his own son. He was much affected, and swore by the sun[136] that the -words he had uttered had been uttered in jest, and by-and-by his -wife's anger was soothed. She then explained how she had been picked -up by a passing boat, the occupant of which was the owner of the house -they were in, a man of sixty years of age, who had no children of his -own, and who kindly adopted her.[137] She also told him how she had -had several offers of marriage, all of which she had refused, and how -her child was born, and that she had called him Chi-sheng, and that he -was then a year old. Wang now unpacked his baggage again, and went in -to see the old gentleman and his wife, whom he treated as if they had -actually been his wife's parents. A few days afterwards they set off -together towards Wang's home, where they found his wife's real father -awaiting them. He had been there more than two months, and had been -considerably disconcerted by the mysterious remarks of Wang's -servants; but the arrival of his daughter and her husband made things -all smooth again, and when they told him what had happened, he -understood the demeanour of the servants which had seemed so strange -to him at first. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[132] From a poem by Wang Wei, a noted poet of the T'ang dynasty. The -second line is not given in the text. - -[133] From a poem by P'an T'ang-shen, which runs:-- - - "Her rustic home stands by the Tung-t'ing lake. - Ye who would there a pure libation pour, - Look for mud walls--a roof of rushy make-- - And Judas-tree in flower before the door." - -The Chinese believe that the Judas-tree will only bloom where -fraternal love prevails. - -[134] I have already observed that men and women should not let their -hands touch when passing things to each other (see No. XL., note 233); -neither is it considered proper for persons of different sexes to hang -their clothes on the same clothes-horse. (See _Appendix_, note 381.) - -With regard to shaking hands, I have omitted to mention how hateful -this custom is in the eyes of the Chinese, as in vogue among -foreigners, without reference to sex. They believe that a bad man -might easily secrete some noxious drug in the palm of his hand, and so -convey it into the system of any woman, who would then be at his -mercy. - -[135] Alluding to Wang's breach of etiquette in visiting the father -himself, instead of sending a go-between, who would have offered the -same sum in due form as the usual dowry or present to the bride's -family. - -[136] Witnesses in a Chinese court of justice take no oath, in our -sense of the term. Their written depositions, however, are always -ended with the words "the above evidence is the truth!" In ordinary -life people call heaven and earth to witness, or, as in this case, the -sun; or they declare themselves willing to forfeit their lives; and so -on, if their statements are not true. "Saucer-breaking" is one of -those pleasant inductions from probably a single instance, which may -have been the fancy of a moment; at any rate, it is quite unknown in -China as a national custom. "Cock-killing" usually has reference to -the ceremonies of initiation performed by the members of the numerous -secret societies which exist over the length and breadth of the -Empire, in spite of Government prohibitions, and the penalty of death -incurred upon detection. - -[137] Adoption is common all over China, and is regulated by law. For -instance, an adopted son excludes all the daughters of the family. A -man is not allowed to marry a girl whom he has adopted until he shall -have given her away to be adopted in a family of a _different surname -from his own_; after which fictitious ceremony, his marriage with her -becomes legal (see No. XV., note 109); for the child adopted takes the -same surname as that of the family into which he is adopted, and is so -far cut off from his own relations, that he would not venture even to -put on mourning for his real parents without first obtaining the -consent of those who had adopted him. A son or daughter may be sold, -but an adopted child may not; neither may the adopted child be given -away in adoption to any one else without the specific consent of his -real parents. The general object in adopting children is to leave some -one behind at death to look after the duties of ancestral worship. For -this boys are preferred; but the _Fortunate Union_ gives an instance -in which these rites were very creditably performed by the heroine of -the tale. - - - - -XCV. - -THE TWO BRIDES.[138] - - -Now Chi-sheng, or Wang Sun, was one of the cleverest young fellows in -the district; and his father and mother, who had foreseen his ability -from the time when, as a baby in long clothes, he distinguished them -from other people, loved him very dearly. He grew up into a handsome -lad; at eight or nine he could compose elegantly, and by fourteen he -had already entered his name as a candidate for the first degree, -after which his marriage became a question for consideration. Now his -father's younger sister, Erh-niang, had married a gentleman named -Cheng Tz[)u]-ch'iao, and they had a daughter called Kuei-hsiu, who was -extremely pretty, and with whom Chi-sheng fell deeply in love, being -soon unable either to eat or to sleep. His parents became extremely -uneasy about him, and inquired what it was that ailed him; and when he -told them, they at once sent off a match-maker to Mr. Cheng. The -latter, however, was rather a stickler for the proprieties, and -replied that the near relationship precluded him from accepting the -offer.[139] Thereupon Chi-sheng became dangerously ill, and his -mother, not knowing what to do, secretly tried to persuade Erh-niang -to let her daughter come over to their house; but Mr. Cheng heard of -it, and was so angry that Chi-sheng's father and mother gave up all -hope of arranging the match. - -At that time there was a gentleman named Chang living near by, who had -five daughters, all very pretty, but the youngest, called Wu-k'o, was -singularly beautiful, far surpassing her four sisters. She was not -betrothed to any one, when one day, as she was on her way to worship -at the family tombs, she chanced to see Chi-sheng, and at her return -home spoke about him to her mother. Her mother guessed what her -meaning was, and arranged with a match-maker, named Mrs. Yue, to call -upon Chi-sheng's parents. This she did precisely at the time when -Chi-sheng was so ill, and forthwith told his mother that her son's -complaint was one she, Mrs. Yue, was quite competent to cure; going on -to tell her about Miss Wu-k'o and the proposed marriage, at which the -good lady was delighted, and sent her in to talk about it to Chi-sheng -himself. "Alas!" cried he, when he had heard Mrs. Yue's story, "you are -bringing me the wrong medicine for my complaint." "All depends upon -the efficacy of the medicine," replied Mrs. Yue; "if the medicine is -good, it matters not what is the name of the doctor who administers -the draught; while to set your heart on a particular person, and to -lie there and die because that person doesn't come, is surely foolish -in the extreme." "Ah," rejoined Chi-sheng, "there's no medicine under -heaven that will do me any good." Mrs. Yue told him his experience was -limited, and proceeded to expatiate by speaking and gesticulating on -the beauty and liveliness of Wu-k'o. But all Chi-sheng said was that -she was not what he wanted, and, turning round his face to the wall, -would listen to no more about her. So Mrs. Yue was obliged to go away, -and Chi-sheng became worse and worse every day, until suddenly one of -the maids came in and informed him that the young lady herself was at -the door. Immediately he jumped up and ran out, and lo! there before -him stood a beautiful girl, whom, however he soon discovered not to be -Kuei-hsiu. She wore a light yellow robe with a fine silk jacket and an -embroidered petticoat, from beneath which her two little feet peeped -out; and altogether she more resembled a fairy than anything else. -Chi-sheng inquired her name; to which she replied that it was Wu-k'o, -adding that she couldn't understand his devoted attachment to -Kuei-hsiu, as if there was nobody else in the world. Chi-sheng -apologized, saying that he had never before seen any one so beautiful -as Kuei-hsiu, but that he was now aware of his mistake. He then swore -everlasting fidelity to her, and was just grasping her hand, when he -awoke and found his mother rubbing him. It was a dream, but so -accurately defined in all its details that he began to think if Wu-k'o -was really such as he had seen her, there would be no further need to -try for his impracticable cousin. So he communicated his dream to his -mother; and she, only too delighted to notice this change of feeling, -offered to go to Wu-k'o's house herself; but Chi-sheng would not hear -of this, and arranged with an old woman who knew the family to find -some pretext for going there, and to report to him what Wu-k'o was -like. When she arrived Wu-k'o was ill in bed, and lay with her head -propped up by pillows, looking very pretty indeed. The old woman -approached the couch and asked what was the matter; to which Wu-k'o -made no reply, her fingers fidgetting all the time with her waistband. -"She's been behaving badly to her father and mother," cried the -latter, who was in the room; "there's many a one has offered to marry -her, but she says she'll have none but Chi-sheng: and then when I -scold her a bit, she takes on and won't touch her food for days." -"Madam," said the old woman, "if you could get that young man for your -daughter they would make a truly pretty pair; and as for him, if he -could only see Miss Wu-k'o, I'm afraid it would be too much for him. -What do you think of my going there and getting them to make -proposals?" "No, thank you," replied Wu-k'o; "I would rather not risk -his refusal;" upon which the old woman declared she would succeed, and -hurried off to tell Chi-sheng, who was delighted to find from her -report that Wu-k'o was exactly as he had seen her in his dream, though -he didn't trust implicitly in all the old woman said. By-and-by, when -he began to get a little better, he consulted with the old woman as to -how he could see Wu-k'o with his own eyes; and, after some little -difficulty, it was arranged that Chi-sheng should hide himself in a -room from which he would be able to see her as she crossed the yard -supported by a maid, which she did every day at a certain hour. This -Chi-sheng proceeded to do, and in a little while out she came, -accompanied by the old woman as well, who instantly drew her attention -either to the clouds or the trees, in order that she should walk more -leisurely. Thus Chi-sheng had a good look at her, and saw that she was -truly the young lady of his dream. He could hardly contain himself for -joy; and when the old woman arrived and asked if she would do instead -of Kuei-hsiu, he thanked her very warmly and returned to his own home. -There he told his father and mother, who sent off a match-maker to -arrange the preliminaries; but the latter came back and told them that -Wu-k'o was already betrothed. This was a terrible blow for Chi-sheng, -who was soon as ill as ever, and offered no reply to his father and -mother when they charged him with having made a mistake. For several -months he ate nothing but a bowl of rice-gruel a-day, and he became as -emaciated as a fowl, when all of a sudden the old woman walked in and -asked him what was the matter. "Foolish boy," said she, when he had -told her all; "before you wouldn't have her, and do you imagine she is -bound to have you now? But I'll see if I can't help you; for were she -the Emperor's own daughter, I should still find some way of getting -her." Chi-sheng asked what he should do, and she then told him to send -a servant with a letter next day to Wu-k'o's house, to which his -father at first objected for fear of another repulse; but the old -woman assured him that Wu-k'o's parents had since repented, besides -which no written contract had as yet been made; "and you know the -proverb," added she, "that those who are first at the fire will get -their dinner first." So Chi-sheng's father agreed, and two servants -were accordingly sent, their mission proving a complete success. -Chi-sheng now rapidly recovered his health, and thought no more of -Kuei-hsiu, who, when she heard of the intended match, became in her -turn very seriously ill, to the great anger of her father, who said -she might die for all he cared, but to the great sorrow of her mother, -who was extremely fond of her daughter. The latter even went so far as -to propose to Mr. Chang that Kuei-hsiu should go as second wife, at -which he was so enraged that he declared he would wash his hands of -the girl altogether. The mother then found out when Chi-sheng's -wedding was to take place; and, borrowing a chair and attendants from -her brother under pretence of going to visit him, put Kuei-hsiu inside -and sent her off to her uncle's house. As she arrived at the door, the -servants spread a carpet for her to walk on, and the band struck up -the wedding march. Chi-sheng went out to see what it was all about, -and there met a young lady in a bridal veil, from whom he would have -escaped had not her servants surrounded them, and, before he knew what -he was doing, he was making her the usual salutation of a bridegroom. -They then went in together, and, to his further astonishment, he found -that the young lady was Kuei-hsiu; and, being now unable to go and -meet Wu-k'o, a message was sent to her father, telling him what had -occurred. He, too, got into a great rage, and vowed he would break off -the match; but Wu-k'o herself said she would go all the same, her -rival having only got the start of her in point of time. And go she -did; and the two wives, instead of quarrelling, as was expected, lived -very happily together like sisters, and wore each other's clothes and -shoes without distinction, Kuei-hsiu taking the place of an elder -sister as being somewhat older than Wu-k'o.[140] One day, after these -events, Chi-sheng asked Wu-k'o why she had refused his offer; to which -she replied that it was merely to pay him out for having previously -refused her father's proposal. "Before you had seen me, your head was -full of Kuei-hsiu; but after you had seen me, your thoughts were -somewhat divided; and I wanted to know how I compared with her, and -whether you would fall ill on my account as you had on hers, that we -mightn't quarrel about our looks." "It was a cruel revenge," said -Chi-sheng; "but how should I ever have got a sight of you had it not -been for the old woman?" "What had she to do with it?" replied Wu-k'o; -"I knew you were behind the door all the time. When I was ill I dreamt -that I went to your house and saw you, but I looked upon it only as a -dream until I heard that you had dreamt that I had actually been -there, and then I knew that my spirit must have been with you." -Chi-sheng now related to her the particulars of his vision, which -coincided exactly with her own; and thus, strangely enough, had the -matrimonial alliances of both father and son been brought about by -dreams. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[138] This story is a sequel to the last. - -[139] The surnames would in this case be different, and no obstacle -could be offered on that score. See No. XV., note 109. - -[140] The _denouement_ of the _Yue-chiao-li_, a small novel which was -translated into French by Remusat, and again by Julien under the title -of _Les Deux Cousines_, is effected by the hero of the tale marrying -both the heroines. - - - - -XCVI. - -A SUPERNATURAL WIFE. - - -A certain Mr. Chao, of Ch'ang-shan, lodged in a family of the name of -T'ai. He was very badly off, and, falling sick, was brought almost to -death's door. One day they moved him into the verandah, that it might -be cooler for him; and, when he awoke from a nap, lo! a beautiful girl -was standing by his side. "I am come to be your wife," said the girl, -in answer to his question as to who she was; to which he replied that -a poor fellow like himself did not look for such luck as that; adding -that, being then on his death-bed, he would not have much occasion for -the services of a wife. The girl said she could cure him; but he told -her he very much doubted that; "And even," continued he, "should you -have any good prescription, I have not the means of getting it made -up." "I don't want medicine to cure you with," rejoined the girl, -proceeding at once to rub his back and sides with her hand, which -seemed to him like a ball of fire. He soon began to feel much better, -and asked the young lady what her name was, in order, as he said, that -he might remember her in his prayers. "I am a spirit," replied she; -"and you, when alive under the Han dynasty as Ch'u Sui-liang, were a -benefactor of my family. Your kindness being engraven on my heart, I -have at length succeeded in my search for you, and am able in some -measure to requite you." Chao was dreadfully ashamed of his -poverty-stricken state, and afraid that his dirty room would spoil the -young lady's dress; but she made him show her in, and accordingly he -took her into his apartment, where there were neither chairs to sit -upon, nor signs of anything to eat, saying, "You might, indeed, be -able to put up with all this; but you see my larder is empty, and I -have absolutely no means of supporting a wife." "Don't be alarmed -about that," cried she; and in another moment he saw a couch covered -with costly robes, the walls papered with a silver-flecked paper, and -chairs and tables appear, the latter laden with all kinds of wine and -exquisite viands. They then began to enjoy themselves, and lived -together as husband and wife, many people coming to witness these -strange things, and being all cordially received by the young lady, -who in her turn always accompanied Mr. Chao when he went out to dinner -anywhere.[141] One day there was an unprincipled young graduate among -the company, which she seemed immediately to become aware of; and, -after calling him several bad names, she struck him on the side of the -head, causing his head to fly out of the window while his body -remained inside; and there he was, stuck fast, unable to move either -way, until the others interceded for him and he was released. After -some time visitors became too numerous, and if she refused to see them -they turned their anger against her husband. At length, as they were -sitting together drinking with some friends at the Tuan-yang -festival,[142] a white rabbit ran in, whereupon the girl jumped up and -said, "The doctor[143] has come for me;" then, turning to the rabbit, -she added, "You go on: I'll follow you." So the rabbit went away, and -then she ordered them to get a ladder and place it against a high tree -in the back yard, the top of the ladder overtopping the tree. The -young lady went up first and Chao close behind her; after which she -called out to anybody who wished to join them to make haste up. None -ventured to do so with the exception of a serving-boy belonging to the -house, who followed after Chao; and thus they went up, up, up, up, -until they disappeared in the clouds and were seen no more. However, -when the bystanders came to look at the ladder, they found it was only -an old door-frame with the panels knocked out; and when they went into -Mr. Chao's room, it was the same old, dirty, unfurnished room as -before. So they determined to find out all about it from the -serving-boy when he came back; but this he never did. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[141] The sexes do not dine together. On the occasion of a -dinner-party, private or official, the ladies give a separate -entertainment to the wives of the various guests in the "inner" or -women's apartments, as an adjunct to which a theatrical troupe is -often engaged, precisely as in the case of the opposite sex. -Singing-girls are, however, present at and share in the banquets of -the _roues_ of China. - -[142] This occurs on the 5th of the 5th moon, and is commonly known as -the Dragon-Boat Festival, from a practice of racing on that day in -long, narrow boats. It is said to have been instituted in memory of a -patriotic statesman, whose identity, however, is not settled, some -writers giving Wu Yun (see _The Middle Kingdom_, Vol. II., p. 82), -others Ch'ue Yuean (see _The Chinese Reader's Manual_, p. 107), as the -hero of the day. - -[143] A hare or rabbit is believed to sit at the foot of the -cassia-tree in the moon, pounding the drugs out of which is concocted -the elixir of immortality. An allusion to this occurs in the poems of -Tu Fu, one of the celebrated bards of the T'ang dynasty:-- - - "The frog is not drowned in the river; - The medicine hare lives for ever." - - - - -XCVII. - -BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION. - - -At Pao-ting Fu there lived a young man, who having purchased the -lowest[144] degree was about to proceed to Peking, in the hope of -obtaining, by the aid of a little bribery, an appointment as District -Magistrate. His boxes were all ready packed, when he was taken -suddenly ill and was confined to his bed for more than a month. One -day the servant entered and announced a visitor; whereupon our sick -man jumped up and ran to the door as if there was nothing the matter -with him. The visitor was elegantly dressed like a man of some -position in society; and, after bowing thrice, he walked into the -house, explaining that he was Kung-sun Hsia,[145] tutor to the -Eleventh Prince, and that he had heard our Mr. So-and-so wished to -arrange for the purchase of a magistracy. "If that is really so," -added he, "would you not do better to buy a prefecture?" So-and-so -thanked him warmly, but said his funds would not be sufficient; upon -which Mr. Kung-sun declared he should be delighted to assist him with -half the purchase-money, which he could repay after taking up the -post.[146] He went on to say that being on intimate terms with the -various provincial Governors the thing could be easily managed for -about five thousand taels; and also that at that very moment Chen-ting -Fu being vacant, it would be as well to make an early effort to get -the appointment. So-and-so pointed out that this place was in his -native province;[147] but Kung-sun only laughed at his objection, and -reminded him that money[148] could obliterate all distinctions of that -kind. This did not seem quite satisfactory; however, Kung-sun told him -not to be alarmed, as the post of which he was speaking was below in -the infernal regions. "The fact is," said he, "that your term of life -has expired, and that your name is already on the death list; by these -means you will take your place in the world below as a man of official -position. Farewell! in three days we shall meet again." He then went -to the door and mounted his horse and rode away. So-and-so now opened -his eyes and spoke a few parting words to his wife and children, -bidding them take money from his strong-room[149] and go buy large -quantities of paper ingots,[150] which they immediately did, quite -exhausting all the shops. This was piled in the court-yard with paper -images of men, devils, horses, &c., and burning went on day and night -until the ashes formed quite a hill. In three days Kung-sun returned, -bringing with him the money; upon which So-and-so hurried off to the -Board of Civil Office,[151] where he had an interview with the high -officials, who, after asking his name, warned him to be a pure and -upright officer, and then calling him up to the table handed him his -letter of appointment. So-and-so bowed and took his leave; but -recollecting at once that his purchased degree would not carry much -weight with it in the eyes of his subordinates,[152] he sent off to -buy elaborate chairs and a number of horses for his retinue, at the -same time despatching several devil lictors to fetch his favourite -wife in a beautifully adorned sedan-chair. All arrangements were just -completed when some of the Chen-ting staff came to meet the new -Prefect,[153] others awaiting him all along the line of road, about -half a mile in length. He was immensely gratified at this reception, -when all of a sudden the gongs before him ceased to sound and the -banners were lowered to the ground. He had hardly time to ask what was -the matter before he saw those of his servants who were on horseback -jump hastily to the ground and dwindle down to about a foot in height, -while their horses shrunk to the size of foxes or racoons. One of the -attendants near his chariot cried out in alarm, "Here's Kuan Ti!"[154] -and then he, too, jumped out in a fright, and saw in the distance Kuan -Ti himself slowly approaching them, followed by four or five retainers -on horseback. His great beard covered the lower half of his face, -quite unlike ordinary mortals; his aspect was terrible to behold, and -his eyes reached nearly to his ears. "Who is this?" roared he to his -servants; and they immediately informed him that it was the new -Prefect of Chen-ting. "What!" cried he; "a petty fellow like that to -have a retinue like this?"[155] Whereupon So-and-so's flesh began to -creep with fear, and in a few moments he found that he too had shrunk -to the size of a little boy of six or seven. Kuan Ti bade his -attendants bring the new Prefect with them, and went into a building -at the roadside, where he took up his seat facing the south[156] and -calling for writing materials told So-and-so to write down his name -and address. When this was handed to him he flew into a towering -passion, and said, "The scribbly scrawl of a placeman, indeed![157] -Can such a one be entrusted with the welfare of the people? Look me up -the record of his good works." A man then advanced, and whispered -something in a low tone; upon which Kuan Ti exclaimed in a loud voice, -"The crime of the briber is comparatively trifling; the heavy guilt -lies with those who sell official posts for money." So-and-so was now -seized by angels in golden armour, and two of them tore off his cap -and robes, and administered to him fifty blows with the bamboo until -hardly any flesh remained on his bones. He was then thrust outside the -door, and lo! his carriages and horses had disappeared, and he himself -was lying, unable to walk for pain, at no great distance from his own -house. However, his body seemed as light as a leaf, and in a day and -a night he managed to crawl home. When he arrived, he awoke as it were -from a dream, and found himself groaning upon the bed; and to the -inquiries of his family he only replied that he felt dreadfully sore. -Now he really had been dead for seven days; and when he came round -thus, he immediately asked for A-lien, which was the name of his -favourite wife. But the very day before, while chatting with the other -members of the family, A-lien had suddenly cried out that her husband -was made Prefect of Chen-ting, and that his lictors had come to escort -her thither. Accordingly she retired to dress herself in her best -clothes, and, when ready to start, she fell back and expired. Hearing -this sad story, So-and-so began to mourn and beat his breast, and he -would not allow her to be buried at once, in the hope that she might -yet come round; but this she never did. Meanwhile So-and-so got slowly -better, and by the end of six months was able to walk again. He would -often exclaim, "The ruin of my career and the punishment I -received--all this I could have endured; but the loss of my dear -A-lien is more than I can bear."[158] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[144] By which he would become eligible for Government employ. The -sale of degrees has been extensively carried on under the present -dynasty, as a means of replenishing an empty Treasury. - -[145] Kung-sun is an example of a Chinese double surname. - -[146] Such is the common system of repaying the loan, by means of -which an indigent nominee is enabled to defray the expenses of his -journey to the post to which he has been appointed, and other calls -upon his purse. These loans are generally provided by some "western" -merchant, which term is an ellipsis for a "Shansi" banker, Shansi -being literally "west of the mountains." Some one accompanies the -newly-made official to his post, and holds his commission in pawn -until the amount is repaid; which settlement is easily effected by the -issue of some well-understood proclamation, calling, for instance, -upon the people to close all gambling-houses within a given period. -Immediately the owners of these hells forward presents of money to the -incoming official, the Shansi banker gets his principal with interest, -perhaps at the rate of 2 per cent. _per month_, the gambling-houses -carry on as usual, and everybody is perfectly satisfied. - -[147] Which fact would disqualify him from taking the post. - -[148] Literally, "Square hole." A common name for the Chinese cash. -See No. II., note 42. - -[149] In the case of wealthy families these strong rooms often -contain, in addition to bullion, jewels to a very great amount -belonging to the ladies of the house; and, as a rule, the door may not -be opened unless in the presence of a certain number of the male -representatives of the house. - -[150] Pieces of silver and gold paper made up to represent the -ordinary Chinese "shoes" of bullion (See No. XVIII., note 133), and -burnt for the use of the dead. Generally known to foreigners in China -as "joss-paper." - -[151] See No. VII., note 54. In this case the reference is to a -similar Board in the Infernal Regions. - -[152] These would be sure to sneer at him behind his back. - -[153] A compliment usually paid to an in-coming official. - -[154] See No. I., note 39. - -[155] The retinue of a Mandarin should be in accordance with his rank. -I have given elsewhere (See No. LVI., note 315) what would be that of -an official of the highest rank. - -[156] See No. LXXVII., note 76. - -[157] Good writing holds a much higher place in the estimation of the -Chinese than among western nations. The very nature of their -characters raises calligraphy almost to the rank of an art. - -[158] The commentator here adds a somewhat similar case, which -actually occurred in the reign of K'ang Hsi, of a Viceroy modestly -attended falling in with the gorgeous retinue of a Magistrate, and -being somewhat rudely treated by the servants of the latter. On -arriving at his destination, the Viceroy sent for that Magistrate, and -sternly bade him retire from office, remarking that no simple -magistrate could afford to keep such a retinue of attendants unless by -illegal exactions from the suffering people committed to his charge. - - - - -XCVIII. - -A CHINESE JONAH. - - -A man named Sun Pi-chen was crossing the river[159] when a great -thunder-squall broke upon the vessel and caused her to toss about -fearfully, to the great terror of all the passengers. Just then, an -angel in golden armour appeared standing upon the clouds above them, -holding in his hand a scroll inscribed with certain characters, also -written in gold, which the people on the vessel easily made out to be -three in number, namely _Sun Pi-chen_. So, turning at once to their -fellow-traveller, they said to him, "You have evidently incurred the -displeasure of Heaven; get into a boat by yourself, and do not involve -us in your punishment." And without giving him time to reply whether -he would do so or not, they hurried him over the side into a small -boat and set him adrift; but when Sun Pi-chen looked back, lo! the -vessel itself had capsized.[160] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[159] The Yang-tsze: sometimes spoken of as the Long River. - -[160] The full point of this story can hardly be conveyed in -translation. The man's surname was Sun, and his praenomen, Pi-chen, -(which in Chinese _follows_ the nomen) might be rendered -"Must-be-saved." However, there is another word meaning "struck," -precisely similar in sound and tone, though written differently, to -the above _chen_; and, as far as the ear alone is concerned, our -hero's name might have been either _Sun Must-be-saved_ or _Sun -Must-be-struck_. That the merchants mistook the character _chen_, -"saved," for _chen_, "struck," is evident from the catastrophe which -overtook their vessel, while Mr. Sun's little boat rode safely through -the storm. - - - - -XCIX. - -CHANG PU-LIANG. - - -A certain trader who was travelling in the province of Chih-li, being -overtaken by a storm of rain and hail, took shelter among some -standing crops by the way-side. There he heard a voice from heaven, -saying, "These are Chang Pu-liang's fields; do not injure his crops." -The trader began to wonder who this Chang Pu-liang could be, and how, -if he was _pu liang_ (not virtuous), he came to be under divine -protection; so when the storm was over and he had reached the -neighbouring village, he made enquiries on the subject, and told the -people there what he had heard. The villagers then informed him that -Chang Pu-liang was a very wealthy farmer, who was accustomed every -spring to make loans of grain to the poor of the district, and who was -not too particular about getting back the exact amount he had -lent,--taking, in fact, whatever they brought him without discussion; -hence the sobriquet of _pu liang_ "no measure" (_i.e._, the man who -doesn't measure the repayments of his loans).[161] After that, they -all proceeded in a body to the fields, where it was discovered that -vast damage had been done to the crops generally, with the exception -of Chang Pu-liang's, which had escaped uninjured. - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[161] Here again we have a play upon words similar to that in the last -story. - - - - -C. - -THE DUTCH CARPET. - - -Formerly, when the Dutch[162] were permitted to trade with China, the -officer in command of the coast defences would not allow them, on -account of their great numbers, to come ashore. The Dutch begged very -hard for the grant of a piece of land such as a carpet would cover; -and the officer above-mentioned, thinking that this could not be very -large, acceded to their request. A carpet was accordingly laid down, -big enough for about two people to stand on; but by dint of -stretching, it was soon enough for four or five; and so they went on, -stretching and stretching, until at last it covered about an acre, -and by-and-by, with the help of their knives, they had filched a piece -of ground several miles in extent.[163] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[162] We read in the _History of Amoy_:--"In the year 1622 the -red-haired barbarians seized the Pescadores and attacked Amoy." From -the Pescadores they finally retired, on a promise that trade would be -permitted, to Formosa, whence they were expelled by the famous Koxinga -in 1662. "Red-haired barbarians," a term now commonly applied to all -foreigners, was first used in the records of the Ming dynasty to -designate the Dutch. - -[163] Our author would here seem to have heard of the famous bull's -hide which is mentioned in the first book of the _AEneid_. In any case, -the substitution of "stretching" is no improvement on the celebrated -device by which the bull's hide was made to enclose so large a space. - - - - -CI. - -CARRYING A CORPSE. - - -A woodsman who had been to market was returning home with his pole -across his shoulder,[164] when suddenly he felt it become very heavy -at the end behind him, and looking round he saw attached to it the -headless trunk of a man. In great alarm, he got his pole quit of the -burden and struck about him right and left, whereupon the body -disappeared. He then hurried on to the next village, and when he -arrived there in the dusk of the evening, he found several men holding -lights to the ground as if looking for something. On asking what was -the matter, they told him that while sitting together a man's head had -fallen from the sky into their midst; that they had noticed the hair -and beard were all draggled, but in a moment the head had vanished. -The woodsman then related what had happened to himself; and thus one -whole man was accounted for, though no one could tell whence he came. -Subsequently, another man was carrying a basket when some one saw a -man's head in it, and called out to him; whereupon he dropped the -basket in a fright, and the head rolled away and disappeared. - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[164] The common method of porterage in China is by a bamboo pole over -the shoulder with well-balanced burdens hanging from each end. I have -often seen children carried thus, sitting in wicker baskets; sometimes -for long journeys. - - - - -CII. - -A TAOIST DEVOTEE. - - -Chue Yao-ju was a Ch'ing-chou man, who, when his wife died, left his -home and became a priest.[165] Some years afterwards he returned, -dressed in the Taoist garb, and carrying his praying-mat[166] over his -shoulder; and after staying one night he wanted to go away again. His -friends, however, would not give him back his cassock and staff; so at -length he pretended to take a stroll outside the village, and when -there, his clothes and other belongings came flying out of the house -after him, and he got safely away. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[165] It would be more usual to "renew the guitar string," as the -Chinese idiom runs. In the paraphrase of the first maxim of the -_Sacred Edict_ we are told that "The closest of all ties is that of -husband and wife; but suppose your wife dies, why, you can marry -another. But if your brother were to die," &c., &c. - -[166] This, as well as the staff mentioned below, belongs to Buddhism. -See No. IV., note 46. - - - - -CIII. - -JUSTICE FOR REBELS. - - -During the reign of Shun Chih,[167] of the people of T'eng-i, seven in -ten were opposed to the Manchu dynasty. The officials dared not touch -them; and subsequently, when the country became more settled, the -magistrates used to distinguish them from the others by always -deciding any cases in their favour: for they feared lest these men -should revert to their old opposition. And thus it came about that one -litigant would begin by declaring himself to have been a "rebel," -while his adversary would follow up by shewing such statement to be -false; so that before any case could be heard on its actual merits, it -was necessary to determine the status both of plaintiff and defendant, -whereby infinite labour was entailed upon the Registrars. - -Now it chanced that the yamen of one of the officials was haunted by a -fox, and the official's daughter was bewitched by it. Her father, -therefore, engaged the services of a magician, who succeeded in -capturing the animal and putting it into a bottle; but just as he was -going to commit it to the flames, the fox cried out from inside the -bottle, "I'm a rebel!" at which the bystanders were unable to suppress -their laughter. - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[167] The first Manchu ruler of the empire of China. He came to the -throne in A.D. 1644. - - - - -CIV. - -THEFT OF THE PEACH. - - -When I was a little boy I went one day to the prefectural city.[168] -It was the time of the Spring festival,[169] and the custom was that -on the day before, all the merchants of the place should proceed with -banners and drums to the judge's yamen: this was called "bringing in -the Spring." I went with a friend to see the fun; the crowd was -immense, and there sat the officials in crimson robes arranged right -and left in the hall; but I was small and didn't know who they were, -my attention being attracted chiefly by the hum of voices and the -noise of the drums. In the middle of it all, a man leading a boy with -his hair unplaited and hanging down his back, walked up to the dais. -He carried a pole on his shoulder, and appeared to be saying something -which I couldn't hear for the noise; I only saw the officials smile, -and immediately afterwards an attendant came down, and in a loud -voice ordered the man to give a performance. "What shall it be?" asked -the man in reply; whereupon, after some consultation between the -officials on the dais, the attendant inquired what he could do best. -The man said he could invert the order of nature; and then, after -another pause, he was instructed to produce some peaches; to this he -assented; and taking off his coat, laid it on his box, at the same -time observing that they had set him a hard task, the winter frost not -having broken up, and adding that he was afraid the gentlemen would be -angry with him, &c., &c. His son here reminded him that he had agreed -to the task and couldn't well get out of it; so, after fretting and -grumbling awhile, he cried out, "I have it! with snow on the ground we -shall never get peaches here; but I guess there are some up in heaven -in the Royal Mother's garden,[170] and there we must try." "How are we -to get up, father?" asked the boy; whereupon the man said, "I have the -means," and immediately proceeded to take from his box a cord some -tens of feet in length. This he carefully arranged, and then threw one -end of it high up into the air where it remained as if caught by -something. He now paid out the rope which kept going up higher and -higher until the end he had thrown up disappeared in the clouds and -only a short piece was left in his hands. Calling his son, he then -explained that he himself was too heavy, and, handing him the end of -the rope, bid him go up at once. The boy, however, made some -difficulty, objecting that the rope was too thin to bear his weight up -to such a height, and that he would surely fall down and be killed; -upon which his father said that his promise had been given and that -repentance was now too late, adding that if the peaches were obtained -they would surely be rewarded with a hundred ounces of silver, which -should be set aside to get the boy a pretty wife. So his son seized -the rope and swarmed up, like a spider running up a thread of its web; -and in a few moments he was out of sight in the clouds. By-and-by down -fell a peach as large as a basin, which the delighted father handed up -to his patrons on the dais who were some time coming to a conclusion -whether it was real or imitation. But just then down came the rope -with a run, and the affrighted father shrieked out, "Alas! alas! some -one has cut the rope: what will my boy do now?" and in another minute -down fell something else, which was found on examination to be his -son's head. "Ah me!" said he, weeping bitterly and shewing the head; -"the gardener has caught him, and my boy is no more." After that, his -arms, and legs, and body, all came down in like manner; and the -father, gathering them up, put them in the box and said, "This was my -only son, who accompanied me everywhere; and now what a cruel fate is -his. I must away and bury him." He then approached the dais and said, -"Your peach, gentlemen, was obtained at the cost of my boy's life; -help me now to pay his funeral expenses, and I will be ever grateful -to you." The officials who had been watching the scene in horror and -amazement, forthwith collected a good purse for him; and when he had -received the money, he rapped on his box and said, "Pa-pa'rh! why -don't you come out and thank the gentlemen?" Thereupon, there was a -thump on the box from the inside and up came the boy himself, who -jumped out and bowed to the assembled company. I have never forgotten -this strange trick, which I subsequently heard could be done by the -White Lily sect,[171] who probably got it from this source.[172] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[168] It is worth noting that the author professes actually to have -witnessed the following extraordinary scene. - -[169] The vernal equinox, which would fall on or about the 20th of -March. - -[170] A fabulous lady, said to reside at the summit of the K'un-lun -mountain, where, on the border of the Gem Lake, grows the peach-tree -of the angels, the fruit of which confers immortality on him who eats -it. - -[171] One of the most celebrated of the numerous secret societies of -China, the origin of which dates back to about A.D. 1350. Its members -have always been credited with a knowledge of the black art. - -[172] Of Chinese jugglers, Ibn Batuta writes as follows:--"They -produced a chain fifty cubits in length, and in my presence threw one -end of it towards the sky, where it remained, as if fastened to -something in the air. A dog was then brought forward, and, being -placed at the lower end of the chain, immediately ran up, and reaching -the other end immediately disappeared in the air. In the same manner a -hog, a panther, a lion, and a tiger were alternately sent up the -chain, and all equally disappeared at the upper end of it. At last -they took down the chain, and put it into a bag, no one ever -discerning in what way the different animals were made to vanish into -the air in the mysterious manner above described. This, I may venture -to affirm, was beyond measure strange and surprising." - -_Apropos_ of which passage, Mr. Maskelyne, the prince of all -black-artists, ancient or modern, says:--"These apparent effects were, -doubtless, due to the aid of concave mirrors, the use of which was -known to the ancients, especially in the East, but they could not have -been produced in the open air." - - - - -CV. - -KILLING A SERPENT. - - -At Ku-chi island in the eastern sea, there were camellias of all -colours which bloomed throughout the year. No one, however, lived -there, and very few people ever visited the spot. One day, a young man -of Teng-chou, named Chang, who was fond of hunting and adventure, -hearing of the beauties of the place, put together some wine and food, -and rowed himself across in a small open boat. The flowers were just -then even finer than usual, and their perfume was diffused for a mile -or so around; while many of the trees he saw were several armfuls in -circumference. So he roamed about and gave himself up to enjoyment of -the scene; and by-and-by he opened a flask of wine, regretting very -much that he had no companion to share it with him, when all of a -sudden a most beautiful young girl, with extremely bright eyes and -dressed in red, stepped down from one of the camellias before -him.[173] "Dear me!" said she on seeing Mr. Chang; "I expected to be -alone here, and was not aware that the place was already occupied." -Chang was somewhat alarmed at this apparition, and asked the young -lady whence she came; to which she replied that her name was -Chiao-ch'ang, and that she had accompanied thither a Mr. Hai, who had -gone off for a stroll and had left her to await his return. Thereupon -Chang begged her to join him in a cup of wine, which she very -willingly did, and they were just beginning to enjoy themselves when a -sound of rushing wind was heard and the trees and plants bent beneath -it. "Here's Mr. Hai!" cried the young lady; and jumping quickly up, -disappeared in a moment. The horrified Chang now beheld a huge serpent -coming out of the bushes near by, and immediately ran behind a large -tree for shelter, hoping the reptile would not see him. But the -serpent advanced and enveloped both Chang and the tree in its great -folds, binding Chang's arms down to his sides so as to prevent him -from moving them; and then raising its head, darted out its tongue and -bit the poor man's nose, causing the blood to flow freely out. This -blood it was quietly sucking up, when Chang, who thought that his last -hour had come, remembered that he had in his pocket some fox poison; -and managing to insert a couple of fingers, he drew out the packet, -broke the paper, and let the powder lie in the palm of his hand. He -next leaned his hand over the serpent's coils in such a way that the -blood from his nose dripped into his hand, and when it was nearly full -the serpent actually did begin to drink it. And in a few moments the -grip was relaxed; the serpent struck the ground heavily with its -tail, and dashed away up against another tree, which was broken in -half, and then stretched itself out and died. Chang was a long time -unable to rise, but at length he got up and carried the serpent off -with him. He was very ill for more than a month afterwards, and even -suspected the young lady of being a serpent, too, in disguise. - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[173] See No. LXXI., note 53. - - - - -CVI. - -THE RESUSCITATED CORPSE. - - -A certain old man lived at Ts'ai-tien, in the Yang-hsin district. The -village was some miles from the district city, and he and his son kept -a roadside inn where travellers could pass the night. One day, as it -was getting dusk, four strangers presented themselves and asked for a -night's lodging; to which the landlord replied that every bed was -already occupied. The four men declared it was impossible for them to -go back, and urged him to take them in somehow; and at length the -landlord said he could give them a place to sleep in if they were not -too particular,--which the strangers immediately assured him they were -not. The fact was that the old man's daughter-in-law had just died, -and that her body was lying in the women's quarters, waiting for the -coffin, which his son had gone away to buy. So the landlord led them -round thither, and walking in, placed a lamp on the table. At the -further end of the room lay the corpse, decked out with paper robes, -&c., in the usual way; and in the foremost section were -sleeping-couches for four people. The travellers were tired, and, -throwing themselves on the beds, were soon snoring loudly, with the -exception of one of them, who was not quite off when suddenly he heard -a creaking of the trestles on which the dead body was laid out, and, -opening his eyes, he saw by the light of the lamp in front of the -corpse that the girl was raising the coverings from her and preparing -to get down. In another moment she was on the floor and advancing -towards the sleepers. Her face was of a light yellow hue, and she had -a silk kerchief round her head; and when she reached the beds she blew -on the other three travellers, whereupon the fourth, in a great -fright, stealthily drew up the bed-clothes over his face, and held his -breath to listen. He heard her breathe on him as she had done on the -others, and then heard her go back again and get under the paper -robes, which rustled distinctly as she did so. He now put out his head -to take a peep, and saw that she was lying down as before; whereupon, -not daring to make any noise, he stretched forth his foot and kicked -his companions, who, however, shewed no signs of moving. He now -determined to put on his clothes and make a bolt for it; but he had -hardly begun to do so before he heard the creaking sound again, which -sent him back under the bed-clothes as fast as he could go. Again the -girl came to him, and breathing several times on him, went away to lie -down as before, as he could tell by the noise of the trestles. He then -put his hand very gently out of bed, and, seizing his trousers, got -quickly into them, jumped up with a bound, and rushed out of the place -as fast as his legs would carry him. The corpse, too, jumped up; but -by this time the traveller had already drawn the bolt, and was outside -the door, running along and shrieking at the top of his voice, with -the corpse following close behind. No one seemed to hear him, and he -was afraid to knock at the door of the inn for fear they should not -let him in in time; so he made for the highway to the city, and after -awhile he saw a monastery by the roadside, and, hearing the "wooden -fish,"[174] he ran up and thumped with all his might at the gate. The -priest, however, did not know what to make of it, and would not open -to him; and as the corpse was only a few yards off, he could do -nothing but run behind a tree which stood close by, and there shelter -himself, dodging to the right as the corpse dodged to the left, and so -on. This infuriated the dead girl to madness; and at length, as tired -and panting they stood watching each other on opposite sides of the -tree, the corpse made a rush forward with one arm on each side in the -hope of thus grabbing its victim. The traveller, however, fell -backwards and escaped, while the corpse remained rigidly embracing the -tree. By-and-by the priest, who had been listening from the inside, -hearing no sounds for some time, came out and found the traveller -lying senseless on the ground; whereupon he had him carried into the -monastery, and by morning they had got him round again. After giving -him a little broth to drink, he related the whole story; and then in -the early dawn they went out to examine the tree, where they found the -girl fixed tightly to the tree. The news being sent to the magistrate, -that functionary attended at once in person,[175] and gave orders to -remove the body; but this they were at first unable to do, the girl's -fingers having penetrated into the bark so far that her nails were not -to be seen. At length they got her away, and then a messenger was -despatched to the inn, already in a state of great commotion over the -three travellers, who had been found dead in their beds. The old man -accordingly sent to fetch his daughter-in-law; and the surviving -traveller petitioned the magistrate, saying, "Four of us left home, -but only one will go back. Give me something that I may show to my -fellow-townsmen." So the magistrate gave him a certificate and sent -him home again.[176] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[174] This instrument, used by Buddhist priests in the musical -accompaniment to their liturgies, is said to be so called because a -fish never closes its eyes, and is therefore a fit model of vigilance -to him who would walk in the paths of holiness and virtue. - -[175] The duties of Coroner belong to the office of a District -Magistrate in China. - -[176] Without such certificate he would be liable to be involved in -trouble and annoyance at the will of any unfriendly neighbour. - - - - -CVII. - -THE FISHERMAN AND HIS FRIEND. - - -In the northern parts of Tz[)u]-chou there lived a man named Hsue, a -fisherman by trade. Every night when he went to fish he would carry -some wine with him, and drink and fish by turns, always taking care to -pour out a libation on the ground, accompanied by the following -invocation:--"Drink too, ye drowned spirits of the river!" Such was his -regular custom; and it was also noticeable that, even on occasions -when the other fishermen caught nothing, he always got a full basket. -One night, as he was sitting drinking by himself, a young man suddenly -appeared and began walking up and down near him. Hsue offered him a cup -of wine, which was readily accepted, and they remained chatting -together throughout the night, Hsue meanwhile not catching a single -fish. However, just as he was giving up all hope of doing anything, -the young man rose and said he would go a little way down the stream -and beat them up towards Hsue, which he accordingly did, returning in a -few minutes and warning him to be on the look-out. Hsue now heard a -noise like that of a shoal coming up the stream, and, casting his net, -made a splendid haul,--all that he caught being over a foot in length. -Greatly delighted, he now prepared to go home, first offering his -companion a share of the fish, which the latter declined, saying that -he had often received kindnesses from Mr. Hsue, and that he would be -only too happy to help him regularly in the same manner if Mr. Hsue -would accept his assistance. The latter replied that he did not -recollect ever meeting him before, and that he should be much obliged -for any aid the young man might choose to afford him; regretting, at -the same time, his inability to make him any adequate return. He then -asked the young man his name and surname; and the young man said his -surname was Wang, adding that Hsue might address him when they met as -Wang Liu-lang, he having no other name. Thereupon they parted, and the -next day Hsue sold his fish and bought some more wine, with which he -repaired as usual to the river bank. There he found his companion -already awaiting him, and they spent the night together in precisely -the same way as the preceding one, the young man beating up the fish -for him as before. This went on for some months, until at length one -evening the young man, with many expressions of his thanks and his -regrets, told Hsue that they were about to part for ever. Much alarmed -by the melancholy tone in which his friend had communicated this news, -Hsue was on the point of asking for an explanation, when the young man -stopped him, and himself proceeded as follows:--"The friendship that -has grown up between us is truly surprising; and, now that we shall -meet no more, there is no harm in telling you the whole truth. I am a -disembodied spirit--the soul of one who was drowned in this river -when tipsy. I have been here many years, and your former success in -fishing was due to the fact that I used secretly to beat up the fish -towards you, in return for the libations you were accustomed to pour -out. To-morrow my time is up: my substitute will arrive, and I shall -be born again in the world of mortals.[177] We have but this one -evening left, and I therefore take advantage of it to express my -feelings to you." On hearing these words, Hsue was at first very much -alarmed; however, he had grown so accustomed to his friend's society, -that his fears soon passed away; and, filling up a goblet, he said, -with a sigh, "Liu-lang, old fellow, drink this up, and away with -melancholy. It's hard to lose you; but I'm glad enough for your sake, -and won't think of my own sorrow." He then inquired of Liu-lang who -was to be his substitute; to which the latter replied, "Come to the -river-bank to-morrow afternoon and you'll see a woman drowned: she is -the one." Just then the village cocks began to crow, and, with tears -in their eyes, the two friends bade each other farewell. - -Next day Hsue waited on the river bank to see if anything would happen, -and lo! a woman carrying a child in her arms came along. When close to -the edge of the river, she stumbled and fell into the water, managing, -however, to throw the child safely on to the bank, where it lay -kicking and sprawling and crying at the top of its voice. The woman -herself sank and rose several times, until at last she succeeded in -clutching hold of the bank and pulled herself, dripping, out; and -then, after resting awhile, she picked up the child and went on her -way. All this time Hsue had been in a great state of excitement, and -was on the point of running to help the woman out of the water; but he -remembered that she was to be the substitute of his friend, and -accordingly restrained himself from doing so.[178] Then when he saw -the woman get out by herself, he began to suspect that Liu-lang's -words had not been fulfilled. That night he went to fish as usual, -and before long the young man arrived and said, "We meet once again: -there is no need now to speak of separation." Hsue asked him how it was -so; to which he replied, "The woman you saw had already taken my -place, but I could not bear to hear the child cry, and I saw that my -one life would be purchased at the expense of their two lives, -wherefore I let her go, and now I cannot say when I shall have another -chance.[179] The union of our destinies may not yet be worked out." -"Alas!" sighed Hsue, "this noble conduct of yours is enough to move God -Almighty." - -After this the two friends went on much as they had done before, until -one day Liu-lang again said he had come to bid Hsue farewell. Hsue -thought he had found another substitute, but Liu-lang told him that -his former behaviour had so pleased Almighty Heaven, that he had been -appointed guardian angel of Wu-chen, in the Chao-yuean district, and -that on the following morning he would start for his new post. "And if -you do not forget the days of our friendship," added he, "I pray you -come and see me, in spite of the long journey." "Truly," replied Hsue, -"you well deserved to be made a God; but the paths of Gods and men -lie in different directions, and even if the distance were nothing, -how should I manage to meet you again?" "Don't be afraid on that -score," said Liu-lang, "but come;" and then he went away, and Hsue -returned home. The latter immediately began to prepare for the -journey, which caused his wife to laugh at him and say, "Supposing you -do find such a place at the end of that long journey, you won't be -able to hold a conversation with a clay image." Hsue, however, paid no -attention to her remarks, and travelled straight to Chao-yuean, where -he learned from the inhabitants that there really was a village called -Wu-chen, whither he forthwith proceeded and took up his abode at an -inn. He then inquired of the landlord where the village temple was; to -which the latter replied by asking him somewhat hurriedly if he was -speaking to Mr. Hsue. Hsue informed him that his name was Hsue, asking in -reply how he came to know it; whereupon the landlord further inquired -if his native place was not Tz[)u]-chou. Hsue told him it was, and again -asked him how he knew all this; to which the landlord made no answer, -but rushed out of the room; and in a few moments the place was crowded -with old and young, men, women, and children, all come to visit Hsue. -They then told him that a few nights before they had seen their -guardian deity in a vision, and he had informed them that Mr. Hsue -would shortly arrive, and had bidden them to provide him with -travelling expenses, &c. Hsue was very much astonished at this, and -went off at once to the shrine, where he invoked his friend as -follows:--"Ever since we parted I have had you daily and nightly in -my thoughts; and now that I have fulfilled my promise of coming to see -you, I have to thank you for the orders you have issued to the people -of the place. As for me, I have nothing to offer you but a cup of -wine, which I pray you accept as though we were drinking together on -the river-bank." He then burnt a quantity of paper money,[180] when -lo! a wind suddenly arose, which, after whirling round and round -behind the shrine, soon dropped, and all was still. That night Hsue -dreamed that his friend came to him, dressed in his official cap and -robes, and very different in appearance from what he used to be, and -thanked him, saying, "It is truly kind of you to visit me thus: I only -regret that my position makes me unable to meet you face to face, and -that though near we are still so far. The people here will give you a -trifle, which pray accept for my sake; and when you go away, I will -see you a short way on your journey." A few days afterwards Hsue -prepared to start, in spite of the numerous invitations to stay which -poured in upon him from all sides; and then the inhabitants loaded him -with presents of all kinds, and escorted him out of the village. There -a whirlwind arose and accompanied him several miles, when he turned -round and invoked his friend thus:--"Liu-lang, take care of your valued -person. Do not trouble yourself to come any farther.[181] Your noble -heart will ensure happiness to this district, and there is no occasion -for me to give a word of advice to my old friend." By-and-by the -whirlwind ceased, and the villagers, who were much astonished, -returned to their own homes. Hsue, too, travelled homewards, and being -now a man of some means, ceased to work any more as a fisherman. And -whenever he met a Chao-yuean man he would ask him about that guardian -angel, being always informed in reply that he was a most beneficent -God. Some say the place was Shih-k'eng-chuang, in Chang-ch'in: I can't -say which it was myself. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[177] See No. XLV., note 267. - -[178] We have in this story the keynote to the notorious and -much-to-be-deprecated dislike of the Chinese people to assist in -saving the lives of drowning strangers. Some of our readers may, -perhaps, not be aware that the Government of Hong-Kong has found it -necessary to insert a clause on the junk-clearances issued in that -colony, by which the junkmen are bound to assist to the utmost in -saving life. The apparent apathy of the Chinese in this respect comes -before us, however, in quite a different light when coupled with the -superstition that disembodied spirits of persons who have met a -violent death may return to the world of mortals if only fortunate -enough to secure a substitute. For among the crowd of shades, anxious -all to revisit their "sweet sons," may perchance be some dear relative -or friend of the man who stands calmly by while another is drowning; -and it may be that to assist the drowning stranger would be to take -the longed-for chance away from one's own kith or kin. Therefore, the -superstition-ridden Chinaman turns away, often perhaps, as in the -story before us, with feelings of pity and remorse. And yet this -belief has not prevented the establishment, especially on the river -Yang-tsze, of institutions provided with life-boats, for the express -purpose of saving life in those dangerous waters; so true is it that -when the Chinese people wish to move _en masse_ in any given -direction, the fragile barrier of superstition is trampled down and -scattered to the winds. - -[179] As there are good and bad foxes, so may devils be beneficent or -malicious according to circumstances; and Chinese apologists for the -discourtesy of the term "foreign devils," as applied to Europeans and -Americans alike, have gone so far as to declare that in this -particular instance the allusion is to the more virtuous among the -denizens of the Infernal Regions. - -[180] See No. XCVII., note 150. - -[181] A phrase constantly repeated, in other terms, by a guest to a -host who is politely escorting him to the door. - - - - -CVIII. - -THE PRIEST'S WARNING. - - -A man named Chang died suddenly, and was escorted at once by -devil-lictors[182] into the presence of the King of Purgatory. His -Majesty turned to Chang's record of good and evil, and then, in great -anger, told the lictors they had brought the wrong man, and bade them -take him back again. As they left the judgment-hall, Chang persuaded -his escort to let him have a look at Purgatory; and, accordingly, the -devils conducted him through the nine sections,[183] pointing out to -him the Knife Hill,[184] the Sword Tree, and other objects of -interest. By-and-by, they reached a place where there was a Buddhist -priest, hanging suspended in the air head downwards, by a rope through -a hole in his leg. He was shrieking with pain, and longing for death; -and when Chang approached, lo! he saw that it was his own brother. In -great distress, he asked his guides the reason of this punishment; and -they informed him that the priest was suffering thus for collecting -subscriptions on behalf of his order, and then privately squandering -the proceeds in gambling and debauchery.[185] "Nor," added they, "will -he escape this torment unless he repents him of his misdeeds." When -Chang came round,[186] he thought his brother was already dead, and -hurried off to the Hsing-fu monastery, to which the latter belonged. -As he went in at the door, he heard a loud shrieking; and, on -proceeding to his brother's room, he found him laid up with a very bad -abscess in his leg, the leg itself being tied up above him to the -wall, this being, as his brother informed him, the only bearable -position in which he could lie. Chang now told him what he had seen in -Purgatory, at which the priest was so terrified, that he at once gave -up taking wine and meat,[187] and devoted himself entirely to -religious exercises. In a fortnight he was well, and was known ever -afterwards as a most exemplary priest. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[182] The spiritual lictors who are supposed to arrest the souls of -dying persons, are also believed to be armed with warrants signed and -sealed in due form as in the world above. - -[183] Literally, the "nine dark places," which will remind readers of -Dante of the nine "bolgie" of the _Inferno_. - -[184] This is a cliff over which sinners are hurled, to alight upon -the upright points of knives below. The branches of the Sword Tree are -sharp blades which cut and hack all who pass within reach. - -[185] A crime by no means unknown to the clergy of China. - -[186] That is, when the lictors had returned his soul to its tenement. - -[187] See No. VI., note 52. - - - - -CIX. - -METEMPSYCHOSIS. - - -Mr. Lin, who took his master's degree in the same year as the late Mr. -Wen Pi,[188] could remember what had happened to him in his previous -state of existence, and once told the whole story, as follows:--I was -originally of a good family, but, after leading a very dissolute life, -I died at the age of sixty-two. On being conducted into the presence -of the King of Purgatory, he received me civilly, bade me be seated, -and offered me a cup of tea. I noticed, however, that the tea in His -Majesty's cup was clear and limpid, while that in my own was muddy, -like the lees of wine. It then flashed across me that this was the -potion which was given to all disembodied spirits to render them -oblivious of the past:[189] and, accordingly, when the King was looking -the other way, I seized the opportunity of pouring it under the table, -pretending afterwards that I had drunk it all up. My record of good -and evil was now presented for inspection, and when the King saw what -it was, he flew into a great passion, and ordered the attendant devils -to drag me away, and send me back to earth as a horse. I was -immediately seized and bound, and the devils carried me off to a -house, the door-sill of which was so high I could not step over it. -While I was trying to do so, the devils behind lashed me with all -their might, causing me such pain that I made a great spring, and--lo -and behold! I was a horse in a stable. "The mare has got a nice colt," -I then heard a man call out; but, although I was perfectly aware of -all that was passing, I could say nothing myself. Hunger now came upon -me, and I was glad to be suckled by the mare; and by the end of four -or five years I had grown into a fine strong horse, dreadfully afraid -of the whip, and running away at the very sight of it. When my master -rode me, it was always with a saddle-cloth, and at a leisurely pace, -which was bearable enough; but when the servants mounted me -barebacked, and dug their heels into me, the pain struck into my -vitals; and at length I refused all food, and in three days I died. -Reappearing before the King of Purgatory, His Majesty was enraged to -find that I had thus tried to shirk working out my time; and, flaying -me forthwith, condemned me to go back again as a dog. And when I did -not move, the devils came behind me and lashed me until I ran away -from them into the open country, where, thinking I had better die -right off, I jumped over a cliff, and lay at the bottom unable to -move. I then saw that I was among a litter of puppies, and that an old -bitch was licking and suckling me by turns; whereby I knew that I was -once more among mortals. In this hateful form I continued for some -time, longing to kill myself, and yet fearing to incur the penalty of -shirking. At length, I purposely bit my master in the leg, and tore -him badly; whereupon he had me destroyed, and I was taken again into -the presence of the King, who was so displeased with my vicious -behaviour that he condemned me to become a snake, and shut me up in a -dark room, where I could see nothing. After a while I managed to climb -up the wall, bore a hole in the roof, and escape; and immediately I -found myself lying in the grass, a veritable snake. Then I registered -a vow that I would harm no living thing, and I lived for some years, -feeding upon berries and such like, ever remembering neither to take -my own life, nor by injuring any one to incite them to take it, but -longing all the while for the happy release, which did not come to me. -One day, as I was sleeping in the grass, I heard the noise of a -passing cart, and, on trying to get across the road out of its way, I -was caught by the wheel, and cut in two. The King was astonished to -see me back so soon, but I humbly told my story, and, in pity for the -innocent creature that loses its life, he pardoned me, and permitted -me to be born again at my appointed time as a human being. - -Such was Mr. Lin's story. He could speak as soon as he came into the -world; and could repeat anything he had once read. In the year 1621 he -took his master's degree, and was never tired of telling people to put -saddle-cloths on their horses, and recollect that the pain of being -gripped by the knees is even worse than the lash itself. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[188] In A.D. 1621. - -[189] According to the _Yue-li-ch'ao_, this potion is administered by -an old beldame, named Mother Meng, who sits upon the Terrace of -Oblivion. "Whether they swallow much or little it matters not; but -sometimes there are perverse devils who altogether refuse to drink. -Then beneath their feet sharp blades start up, and a copper tube is -forced down their throats, by which means they are compelled to -swallow some." - - - - -CX. - -THE FORTY STRINGS OF CASH. - - -Mr. Justice Wang had a steward, who was possessed of considerable -means. One night the latter dreamt that a man rushed in and said to -him, "To-day you must repay me those forty strings of cash." The -steward asked who he was; to which the man made no answer, but hurried -past him into the women's apartments. When the steward awoke, he found -that his wife had been delivered of a son; and, knowing at once that -retribution was at hand, he set aside forty strings of cash to be -spent solely in food, clothes, medicines, and so on, for the baby. By -the time the child was between three and four years old, the steward -found that of the forty strings only about seven hundred cash -remained; and when the wet-nurse, who happened to be standing by, -brought the child and dandled it in her arms before him, he looked at -it and said, "The forty strings are all but repaid; it is time you -were off again." Thereupon the child changed colour; its head fell -back, and its eyes stared fixedly, and, when they tried to revive it, -lo! respiration had already ceased. The father then took the balance -of the forty strings, and with it defrayed the child's funeral -expenses--truly a warning to people to be sure and pay their debts. - -Formerly, an old childless man consulted a great many Buddhist priests -on the subject. One of them said to him, "If you owe no one anything, -and no one owes you anything, how can you expect to have children? A -good son is the repayment of a former debt; a bad son is a dunning -creditor, at whose birth there is no rejoicing, at whose death no -lamentations."[190] - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[190] And such is actually the prevalent belief in China to this day. - - - - -CXI. - -SAVING LIFE. - - -A certain gentleman of Shen-yu, who had taken the highest degree, -could remember himself in a previous state of existence. He said he -had formerly been a scholar, and had died in middle life; and that -when he appeared before the Judge of Purgatory, there stood the -cauldrons, the boiling oil, and other apparatus of torture, exactly as -we read about them on earth. In the eastern corner of the hall were a -number of frames from which hung the skins of sheep, dogs, oxen, -horses, etc.; and when anybody was condemned to re-appear in life -under any one of these forms, his skin was stripped off and a skin was -taken from the proper frame and fixed on to his body. The gentleman of -whom I am writing heard himself sentenced to become a sheep; and the -attendant devils had already clothed him in a sheep's-skin in the -manner above described, when the clerk of the record informed the -Judge that the criminal before him had once saved another man's life. -The Judge consulted his books, and forthwith cried out, "I pardon him; -for although his sins have been many, this one act has redeemed them -all."[191] The devils then tried to take off the sheep's-skin, but it -was so tightly stuck on him that they couldn't move it. However, after -great efforts, and causing the gentleman most excruciating agony, they -managed to tear it off bit by bit, though not quite so cleanly as one -might have wished. In fact, a piece as big as the palm of a man's hand -was left near his shoulder; and when he was born again into the world, -there was a great patch of hair on his back, which grew again as fast -as it was cut off. - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[191] Note 178 to No. CVII. should be read here. To save life is -indeed the bounden duty of every good Buddhist, for which he will be -proportionately rewarded in the world to come. - - - - -CXII. - -THE SALT SMUGGLER. - - -Wang Shih, of Kao-wan, a petty salt huckster, was inordinately fond of -gambling. One night he was arrested by two men, whom he took for -lictors of the Salt Gabelle; and, flinging down what salt he had with -him, he tried to make his escape.[192] He found, however, that his -legs would not move with him, and he was forthwith seized and bound. -"We are not sent by the Salt Commissioner," cried his captors, in -reply to an entreaty to set him free; "we are the devil-constables of -Purgatory." Wang was horribly frightened at this, and begged the -devils to let him bid farewell to his wife and children; but this they -refused to do, saying, "You aren't going to die; you are only wanted -for a little job there is down below." Wang asked what the job was; to -which the devils replied, "A new Judge has come into office, and, -finding the river[193] and the eighteen hells choked up with the -bodies of sinners, he has determined to employ three classes of -mortals to clean them out. These are thieves, unlicensed -founders,[194] and unlicensed dealers in salt, and, for the dirtiest -work of all, he is going to take musicians."[195] - -Wang accompanied the devils until at length they reached a city, where -he was brought before the Judge, who was sitting in his Judgment-hall. -On turning up his record in the books, one of the devils explained -that the prisoner had been arrested for unlicensed trading; whereupon -the Judge became very angry, and said, "Those who drive an illicit -trade in salt, not only defraud the State of its proper revenue, but -also prey upon the livelihood of the people. Those, however, whom the -greedy officials and corrupt traders of to-day denounce as unlicensed -traders, are among the most virtuous of mankind--needy unfortunates -who struggle to save a few cash in the purchase of their pint of -salt.[196] Are they your unlicensed traders?" The Judge then bade the -lictors buy four pecks of salt, and send it to Wang's house for him, -together with that which had been found upon him; and, at the same -time, he gave Wang an iron scourge, and told him to superintend the -works at the river. So Wang followed the devils, and found the river -swarming with people like ants in an ant-hill. The water was turbid -and red, the stench from it being almost unbearable, while those who -were employed in cleaning it out were working there naked. Sometimes -they would sink down in the horrid mass of decaying bodies: sometimes -they would get lazy, and then the iron scourge was applied to their -backs. The assistant-superintendents had small scented balls, which -they held in their mouths. Wang himself approached the bank, and saw -the licensed salt-merchant of Kao-wan[197] in the midst of it all, and -thrashed him well with his scourge, until he was afraid he would never -come up again. This went on for three days and three nights, by which -time half the workmen were dead, and the work completed; whereupon the -same two devils escorted him home again, and then he waked up. - -As a matter of fact, Wang had gone out to sell some salt, and had not -come back. Next morning, when his wife opened the house door, she -found two bags of salt in the court-yard; and, as her husband did not -return, she sent off some people to search for him, and they -discovered him lying senseless by the wayside. He was immediately -conveyed home, where, after a little time, he recovered consciousness, -and related what had taken place. Strange to say, the licensed -salt-merchant had fallen down in a fit on the previous evening, and -had only just recovered; and Wang, hearing that his body was covered -with sores--the result of the beating with the iron scourge--went off -to his house to see him; however, directly the wretched man set eyes -on Wang, he hastily covered himself up with the bed-clothes, -forgetting that they were no longer at the infernal river. He did not -recover from his injuries for a year, after which he retired from -trade.[198] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[192] Salt is a Government monopoly in China, and its sale is only -permitted to licensed dealers. It is a contraband article of commerce, -whether for import or export, to foreign nations trading with China. -In an account of a journey from Swatow to Canton in March-April, 1877, -I wrote:--"_Apropos_ of salt, we came across a good-sized bunker of it -when stowing away our things in the space below the deck. The boatmen -could not resist the temptation of doing a little smuggling on the way -up.... At a secluded point in a bamboo-shaded bend of the river, they -ran the boat alongside the bank, and were instantly met by a number of -suspicious-looking gentlemen with baskets, who soon relieved them of -the smuggled salt and separated in different directions." Thus do the -people of China seek to lighten the grievous pressure of this tax. A -curious custom exists in Canton. Certain blind old men and women are -allowed to hawk salt about the streets, and earn a scanty living from -the profits they are able to make. - -It may interest some to know that in the cities of the north of China -_ice_ and _coal_ may only be retailed by licensed dealers, who retain -such authority on the condition of supplying the yamens of the local -mandarins with these two necessaries, free of all charge. - -[193] The Styx. - -[194] These words require some explanation. Ordinarily they would be -taken in the sense of casting _cash_ of a base description; but they -might equally well signify the casting of iron articles of any kind, -and thereby hang some curious details. Iron foundries in China may -only be opened under license from the local officials, and the -articles there made, consisting chiefly of cooking utensils, may only -be sold within a given area, each district having its own particular -foundries from which alone the supplies of the neighbourhood may be -derived. Free trade in iron is much feared by the authorities, as -thereby pirates and rebels would be enabled to supply themselves with -arms. At the framing of the Treaty of Tientsin, with its accompanying -tariff and rules, iron was not specified among other prohibited -articles of commerce. Consequently, British merchants would appear to -have a full right to purchase iron in the interior and convey it to -any of the open ports under Transit-pass. But the Chinese officials -steadily refuse to acknowledge, or permit the exercise of, this right, -putting forward their own time-honoured custom with regard to iron, -and enumerating the disadvantages to China were such an innovation to -be brought about. - -[195] The allusion is to women, of a not very respectable class. - -[196] No Chinese magistrate would be found to pass sentence upon a man -who stole food under stress of hunger. - -[197] His own village. - -[198] The whole story is meant as a satire upon the iniquity of the -Salt Gabelle. - - - - -CXIII. - -COLLECTING SUBSCRIPTIONS. - - -The Frog-God frequently employs a magician to deliver its oracles to -those who have faith. Should the magician declare that the God is -pleased, happiness is sure to follow; but if he says the God is angry, -women and children[199] sit sorrowfully about, and neglect even their -meals. Such is the customary belief, and it is probably not altogether -devoid of foundation. - -There was a certain wealthy merchant, named Chou, who was a very -stingy man. Once, when some repairs were necessary to the temple of -the God of War,[200] and rich and poor were subscribing as much as -each could afford, he alone gave nothing.[201] By-and-by the works -were stopped for want of funds, and the committee of management were -at a loss what to do next. It happened that just then there was a -festival in honour of the Frog-God, at which the magician suddenly -cried out, "General Chou[202] has given orders for a further -subscription. Bring forth the books." The people all shouting assent -to this, the magician went on to say, "Those who have already -subscribed will not be compelled to do so again; those who have not -subscribed must give according to their means." Thereupon various -persons began to put down their names, and when this was finished, -the magician examined the books. He then asked if Mr. Chou was -present; and the latter, who was skulking behind, in dread lest he -should be detected by the God, had no alternative but to come to the -front. "Put yourself down for one hundred taels," said the magician to -him; and when Chou hesitated, he cried out to him in anger, "You could -give two hundred for your own bad purposes: how much more should you -do so in a good cause?" alluding to a scandalous intrigue of Chou's, -the consequences of which he had averted by payment of the sum -mentioned. This put our friend to the blush, and he was obliged to -enter his name for one hundred taels, at which his wife was very -angry, and said the magician was a rogue, and whenever he came to -collect the money he was put off with some excuse. - -Shortly afterwards, Chou was one day going to sleep, when he heard a -noise outside his house, like the blowing of an ox, and beheld a huge -frog walking leisurely through the front door, which was just big -enough to let it pass. Once inside, the creature laid itself down to -sleep, with its head on the threshold, to the great horror of all the -inmates; upon which Chou observed that it had probably come to collect -his subscription, and burning some incense, he vowed that he would pay -down thirty taels on the spot, and send the balance later on. The -frog, however, did not move, so Chou promised fifty, and then there -was a slight decrease in the frog's size. Another twenty brought it -down to the size of a peck measure; and when Chou said the full -amount should be paid on the spot, the frog became suddenly no larger -than one's fist, and disappeared through a hole in the wall. Chou -immediately sent off fifty taels, at which all the other subscribers -were much astonished, not knowing what had taken place. A few days -afterwards the magician said Chou still owed fifty taels, and that he -had better send it in soon; so Chou forwarded ten more, hoping now to -have done with the matter. However, as he and his wife were one day -sitting down to dinner, the frog reappeared, and glaring with anger, -took up a position on the bed, which creaked under it, as though -unable to bear the weight. Putting its head on the pillow, the frog -went off to sleep, its body gradually swelling up until it was as big -as a buffalo, and nearly filled the room, causing Chou to send off the -balance of his subscription without a moment's delay. There was now no -diminution in the size of the frog's body; and by-and-by crowds of -small frogs came hopping in, boring through the walls, jumping on the -bed, catching flies on the cooking-stove, and dying in the saucepans, -until the place was quite unbearable. Three days passed thus, and then -Chou sought out the magician, and asked him what was to be done. The -latter said he could manage it, and began by vowing on behalf of Chou -twenty more taels' subscription. At this the frog raised its head, and -a further increase caused it to move one foot; and by the time a -hundred taels was reached, the frog was walking out of the door. At -the door, however, it stopped, and lay down once more, which the -magician explained by saying, that immediate payment was required; so -Chou handed over the amount at once, and the frog, shrinking down to -its usual size, mingled with its companions, and departed with them. - -The repairs to the temple were accordingly completed, but for -"lighting the eyes,"[203] and the attendant festivities, some further -subscriptions were wanted. Suddenly, the magician, pointing at the -managers, cried out, "There is money short; of fifteen men, two of you -are defaulters." At this, all declared they had given what they could -afford; but the magician went on to say, "It is not a question of what -you can afford; you have misappropriated the funds[204] that should -not have been touched, and misfortune would come upon you, but that, -in return for your exertions, I shall endeavour to avert it from you. -The magician himself is not without taint.[205] Let him set you a good -example." Thereupon, the magician rushed into his house, and brought -out all the money he had, saying, "I stole eight taels myself, which I -will now refund." He then weighed what silver he had, and finding that -it only amounted to a little over six taels, he made one of the -bystanders take a note of the difference. Then the others came forward -and paid up, each what he had misappropriated from the public fund. -All this time the magician had been in a divine ecstasy, not knowing -what he was saying; and when he came round, and was told what had -happened, his shame knew no bounds, so he pawned some of his clothes, -and paid in the balance of his own debt. As to the two defaulters who -did not pay, one of them was ill for a month and more; while the other -had a bad attack of boils. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[199] The chief supporters of superstition in China. - -[200] See No. I., note 39. - -[201] Such is one of the most common causes of hostile demonstration -against Chinese Christians. The latter, acting under the orders of the -missionaries, frequently refuse to subscribe to the various local -celebrations and processions, the great annual festivities, and -ceremonies of all kinds, on the grounds that these are idolatrous and -forbidden by the Christian faith. Hence bad feeling, high words, blows, -and sometimes bloodshed. I say "frequently," because I have discovered -several cases in which converts have quietly subscribed like other -people rather than risk an _emeute_. - -An amusing incident came under my own special notice not very long -ago. A missionary appeared before me one day to complain that a -certain convert of his had been posted in his own village, and cut off -from his civic rights for two years, merely because he had agreed to -let a room of his house to be used as a missionary _depot_. I took a -copy of the placard which was handed to me in proof of this statement, -and found it to run thus:--"In consequence of ---- having entered into -an agreement with a barbarian pastor, to lease to the said barbarian -pastor a room in his house to be used as a missionary chapel, we, the -elders of this village, do hereby debar ---- from the privilege of -worshipping in our ancestral hall for the space of two years." It is -needless, of course, to mention that Ancestral Worship is prohibited -by all sects of missionaries in China alike; or that, when I pointed -this out to the individual in question, who could not have understood -the import of the Chinese placard, the charge was promptly withdrawn. - -[202] An historical character who was formerly among the ranks of the -Yellow Turban rebels, but subsequently entered the service of Kuan Yue -(see No. I., note 39), and was canonized by an Emperor of the last -dynasty. - -[203] This curious ceremony is the final touch to a newly-built or -newly-restored temple, and consists in giving expression to the eyes -of the freshly-painted idols, which have been purposely left blank by -the painter. Up to that time these blocks of clay or wood are not -supposed to have been animated by the spiritual presence of the deity -in question; but no sooner are the eyes lighted than the gratified God -smiles down upon the handsome decorations thus provided by devout and -trusting suppliants. - -There is a cognate custom belonging to the ceremonies of ancestral -worship, of great importance in the eyes of the Chinese. On a certain -day after the death of a parent, the surviving head of the family -proceeds with much solemnity to dab a spot of ink upon the memorial -tablet of the deceased. This is believed to give to the departed -spirit the power of remaining near to, and watching over the fortunes -of, those left behind. - -[204] Such indeed is the fate of a per-centage of all public -subscriptions raised and handled by Chinese of no matter what class. A -year or two ago an application was made to me for a donation to a -native foundling hospital at Swatow, on the ground that I was known as -a "read (Chinese) book man," and that consequently other persons, both -Chinese and foreigners, might be induced to follow my example. On my -declining to do so, the manager of the concern informed me that if I -would only put down my name for fifty dollars, say L10, no call should -be made upon me for the money! Even in the matter of the funds -collected for the famine-stricken people of 1878, it is whispered that -peculation has been rife. - -[205] The reader must recollect that these are the words of the God, -speaking from the magician's body. - - - - -CXIV. - -TAOIST MIRACLES. - - -At Chi-nan Fu there lived a certain priest: I cannot say whence he -came, or what was his name. Winter and summer alike he wore but one -unlined robe, and a yellow girdle about his waist, with neither shirt -nor trousers. He combed his hair with a broken comb, holding the ends -in his mouth, like the strings of a hat. By day he wandered about the -market-place; at night he slept in the street, and to a distance of -several feet round where he lay, the ice and snow would melt. When he -first arrived at Chi-nan he used to perform miracles, and the people -vied with each other in making him presents. One day a disreputable -young fellow gave him a quantity of wine, and begged him in return to -divulge the secret of his power; and when the priest refused, the -young man watched him get into the river to bathe, and then ran off -with his clothes. The priest called out to him to bring them back, -promising that he would do as the young man required; but the latter, -distrusting the priest's good faith, refused to do so; whereupon the -priest's girdle was forthwith changed into a snake, several spans in -circumference, which coiled itself round its master's head, and glared -and hissed terribly. The young man now fell on his knees, and humbly -prayed the priest to save his life; at which the priest put his girdle -on again, and a snake that had appeared to be his girdle, wriggled -away and disappeared. The priest's fame was thus firmly established, -and the gentry and officials of the place were constantly inviting him -to join them in their festive parties. By-and-by the priest said he -was going to invite his entertainers to a return feast;[206] and at -the appointed time each one of them found on his table a formal -invitation to a banquet at the Water Pavilion, but no one knew who had -brought the letters. However, they all went, and were met at the door -by the priest, in his usual garb; and when they got inside, the place -was all desolate and bare, with no banquet ready. "I'm afraid I shall -be obliged to ask you gentlemen to let me use your attendants," said -the priest to his guests; "I am a poor man, and keep no servants -myself." To this all readily consented; whereupon the priest drew a -double door upon the wall, and rapped upon it with his knuckles. -Somebody answered from within, and immediately the door was thrown -open, and a splendid array of handsome chairs, and tables loaded with -exquisite viands and costly wines, burst upon the gaze of the -astonished guests. The priest bade the attendants receive all these -things from the door, and bring them outside, cautioning them on no -account to speak with the people inside; and thus a most luxurious -entertainment was provided to the great amazement of all present. - -Now this Pavilion stood upon the bank of a small lake, and every year, -at the proper season, it was literally covered with lilies; but, at -the time of this feast, the weather was cold, and the surface of the -lake was of a smoky green colour. "It's a pity," said one of the -guests, "that the lilies are not out"--a sentiment in which the others -very cordially agreed, when suddenly a servant came running in to say -that, at that moment, the lake was a perfect mass of lilies. Every one -jumped up directly, and ran to look out of the window, and, lo! it was -so; and in another minute the fragrant perfume of the flowers was -borne towards them by the breeze. Hardly knowing what to make of this -strange sight, they sent off some servants, in a boat, to gather a few -of the lilies, but they soon returned empty-handed, saying, that the -flowers seemed to shift their position as fast as they rowed towards -them; at which the priest laughed, and said, "These are but the lilies -of your imagination, and have no real existence." And later on, when -the wine was finished, the flowers began to droop and fade; and -by-and-by a breeze from the north carried off every sign of them, -leaving the lake as it had been before. - -A certain Taot'ai,[207] at Chi-nan, was much taken with this priest, -and gave him rooms at his yamen. One day, he had some friends to -dinner, and set before them some very choice old wine that he had, and -of which he only brought out a small quantity at a time, not wishing -to get through it too rapidly. The guests, however, liked it so much -that they asked for more; upon which the Taot'ai said, "he was very -sorry, but it was all finished." The priest smiled at this, and said, -"I can give the gentlemen some, if they will oblige me by accepting -it;" and immediately inserted the wine-kettle[208] in his sleeve, -bringing it out again directly, and pouring out for the guests. This -wine tasted exactly like the choice wine they had just been drinking, -and the priest gave them all as much of it as they wanted, which made -the Taot'ai suspect that something was wrong; so, after the dinner, he -went into his cellar to look at his own stock, when he found the jars -closely tied down, with unbroken seals, but one and all empty. In a -great rage, he caused the priest to be arrested for sorcery, and -proceeded to have him bambooed; but no sooner had the bamboo touched -the priest than the Taot'ai himself felt a sting of pain, which -increased at every blow; and, in a few moments, there was the priest -writhing and shrieking under every cut,[209] while the Taot'ai was -sitting in a pool of blood. Accordingly, the punishment was soon -stopped, and the priest was commanded to leave Chi-nan, which he did, -and I know not whither he went. He was subsequently seen at Nanking, -dressed precisely as of old; but on being spoken to, he only smiled -and made no reply. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[206] It is considered a serious breach of Chinese etiquette to accept -invitations without returning the compliment at an early date. - -[207] A high Chinese official, known to foreigners as Intendant of -Circuit; the circuit being a circuit of Prefectures, over which he has -full control, subject only to the approval of the highest provincial -authorities. It is with this functionary that foreign Consuls rank. - -[208] See No. XCIII., note 122. - -[209] Of course only pretending to be hurt, the pain of the blows -being transferred by his magical art to the back of the Taot'ai. - - - - -CXV. - -ARRIVAL OF BUDDHIST PRIESTS. - - -Two Buddhist priests having arrived from the West,[210] one went to -the Wu-t'ai hill, while the other hung up his staff[211] at T'ai-shan. -Their clothes, complexions, language, and features, were very -different from those of our country. They further said they had -crossed the Fiery Mountains, from the peaks of which smoke was always -issuing as from the chimney of a furnace; that they could only travel -after rain, and that excessive caution was necessary to avoid -displacing any stone and thus giving a vent to the flames. They also -stated that they had passed through the River of Sand, in the middle -of which was a crystal hill with perpendicular sides and perfectly -transparent; and that there was a defile just broad enough to admit a -single cart, its entrance guarded by two dragons with crossed horns. -Those who wished to pass prostrated themselves before these dragons, -and on receiving permission to enter, the horns opened and let them -through. The dragons were of a white colour, and their scales and -bristles seemed to be of crystal. Eighteen winters and summers these -priests had been on the road; and of twelve who started from the west -together, only two reached China.[212] These two said that in their -country four of our mountains are held in great esteem, namely, T'ai, -Hua, Wu-t'ai, and Lo-chia. The people there also think that China[213] -is paved with yellow gold, that Kuan-yin and Wen-shu[214] are still -alive, and that they have only come here to be sure of their -Buddhahood and of immortal life. Hearing these words it struck me that -this was precisely what our own people say and think about the West; -and that if travellers from each country could only meet half way and -tell each other the true state of affairs, there would be some hearty -laughter on both sides, and a saving of much unnecessary trouble. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[210] That is, missionaries from India. - -[211] See No. LVI., note 320. - -[212] Much of the above recalls Fa Hsien's narrative of his celebrated -journey from China to India in the early years of the fifth century of -our era, with which our author was evidently well acquainted. That -courageous traveller complained that of those who had set out with him -some had stopped on the way and others had died, leaving him only his -own shadow as a companion. - -[213] This may almost be said to have been the belief of the Arabs at -the date of the composition of "The Arabian Nights." - -[214] For Kuan-yin, see No. XXXIII., note 208. Wen-shu, or Manjusiri, -is the God of Wisdom, and is generally represented as riding on a -lion, in attendance, together with P'u-hsien, the God of Action, who -rides an elephant, upon Shakyamuni Buddha. - - - - -CXVI. - -THE STOLEN EYES. - - -When His Excellency Mr. T'ang, of our village, was quite a child, a -relative of his took him to a temple to see the usual theatrical -performances.[215] He was a clever little fellow, afraid of nothing -and nobody; and when he saw one of the clay images in the vestibule -staring at him with its great glass[216] eyes, the temptation was -irresistible; and, secretly gouging them out with his finger, he -carried them off with him. When they reached home, his relative was -taken suddenly ill and remained for a long time speechless; at length, -jumping up he cried out several times in a voice of thunder, "Why did -you gouge out my eyes?" His family did not know what to make of this, -until little T'ang told them what he had done; they then immediately -began to pray to the possessed man, saying, "A mere child, -unconscious of the wickedness of his act, took away in his fun thy -sacred eyes. They shall be reverently replaced." Thereupon the voice -exclaimed, "In that case, I shall go away;" and he had hardly spoken -before T'ang's relative fell flat upon the ground and lay there in a -state of insensibility for some time. When he recovered, they asked -him concerning what he had said; but he remembered nothing of it. The -eyes were then forthwith restored to their original sockets. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[215] See No. XLVIII., note 277. - -[216] The term here used stands for a vitreous composition that has -long been prepared by the Chinese. Glass, properly so called, is said -to have been introduced into China from the west, by a eunuch, during -the Ming dynasty. - - - - -CXVII. - -THE INVISIBLE PRIEST. - - -Mr. Han was a gentleman of good family, on very intimate terms with a -skilful Taoist priest and magician named Tan, who, when sitting -amongst other guests, would suddenly become invisible. Mr. Han was -extremely anxious to learn this art, but Tan refused all his -entreaties, "Not," as he said, "because I want to keep the secret for -myself, but simply as a matter of principle. To teach the superior -man[217] would be well enough; others, however, would avail themselves -of such knowledge to plunder their neighbours. There is no fear that -you would do this, though even you might be tempted in certain ways." -Mr. Han, finding all his efforts unavailing, flew into a great -passion, and secretly arranged with his servants that they should give -the magician a sound beating; and, in order to prevent his escape -through the power of making himself invisible, he had his -threshing-floor[218] covered with a fine ash-dust, so that at any rate -his footsteps would be seen and the servants could strike just above -them.[219] He then inveigled Tan to the appointed spot, which he had -no sooner reached than Han's servants began to belabour him on all -sides with leathern thongs. Tan immediately became invisible, but his -footprints were clearly seen as he moved about hither and thither to -avoid the blows, and the servants went on striking above them until -finally he succeeded in getting away. Mr. Han then went home, and -subsequently Tan reappeared and told the servants that he could stay -there no longer, adding that before he went he intended to give them -all a feast in return for many things they had done for him. And -diving into his sleeve he brought forth a quantity of delicious meats -and wines which he spread out upon the table, begging them to sit down -and enjoy themselves. The servants did so, and one and all of them got -drunk and insensible; upon which Tan picked each of them up and stowed -them away in his sleeve. When Mr. Han heard of this, he begged Tan to -perform some other trick; so Tan drew upon the wall a city, and -knocking at the gate with his hand it was instantly thrown open. He -then put inside it his wallet and clothes, and stepping through the -gateway himself, waved his hand and bade Mr. Han farewell. The city -gates were now closed, and Tan vanished from their sight. It was said -that he appeared again in Ch'ing-chou, where he taught little boys to -paint a circle on their hands, and, by dabbing this on to another -person's face or clothes, to imprint the circle on the place thus -struck without a trace of it being left behind upon the hand. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[217] The perfect man, according to the Confucian standard. - -[218] A large, smooth, area of concrete, to be seen outside all -country houses of any size, and used for preparing the various kinds -of grain. - -[219] Compare--"The not uncommon practice of strewing ashes to show -the footprints of ghosts or demons takes for granted that they are -substantial bodies."--Tylor's _Primitive Culture_, Vol. I., p. 455. - - - - -CXVIII. - -THE CENSOR IN PURGATORY. - - -Just beyond Feng-tu[220] there is a fathomless cave which is reputed -to be the entrance to Purgatory. All the implements of torture -employed therein are of human manufacture; old, worn-out gyves and -fetters being occasionally found at the mouth of the cave, and as -regularly replaced by new ones, which disappear the same night, and -for which the magistrate of the district makes a formal charge[221] in -his accounts. - -Under the Ming dynasty, there was a certain Censor,[222] named Hua, -whose duties brought him to this place; and hearing the story of the -cave, he said he did not believe it, but would penetrate into it and -see for himself. People tried to dissuade him from such an enterprise; -however, he paid no heed to their remonstrances, and entered the cave -with a lighted candle in his hand, followed by two attendants. They -had proceeded about half a mile, when suddenly the candle was -violently extinguished, and Mr. Hua saw before him a broad flight of -steps leading up to the Ten Courts, or Judgment-halls, in each of -which a judge was sitting with his robes and tablets all complete. On -the eastern side there was one vacant place; and when the judges saw -Mr. Hua, they hastened down the steps to meet him, and each one cried -out, "So you have come at last, have you? I hope you have been quite -well since last we met." Mr. Hua asked what the place was; to which -they replied that it was the Court of Purgatory, and then Mr. Hua in a -great fright was about to take his leave, when the judges stopped him, -saying, "No, no, Sir! that is your seat there; how can you imagine you -are to go back again?" Thereupon Mr. Hua was overwhelmed with fear, -and begged and implored the judges to forgive him; but the latter -declared they could not interfere with the decrees of fate, and taking -down the register of Life and Death they showed him that it had been -ordained that on such a day of such a month his living body would pass -into the realms of darkness. When Mr. Hua read these words he shivered -and shook as if iced water was being poured down his back, and -thinking of his old mother and his young children, his tears began to -flow. At that juncture an angel in golden armour appeared, holding in -his hand a document written on yellow silk,[223] before which the -judges all performed a respectful obeisance. They then unfolded and -read the document, which was nothing more or less than a general -pardon from the Almighty for the suffering sinners in Purgatory, by -virtue of which Mr. Hua's fate would be set aside, and he would be -enabled to return once more to the light of day. Thereupon the judges -congratulated him upon his release, and started him on his way home; -but he had not got more than a few steps of the way before he found -himself plunged in total darkness. He was just beginning to despair, -when forth from the gloom came a God with a red face and a long beard, -rays of light shooting out from his body and illuminating the darkness -around. Mr. Hua made up to him at once, and begged to know how he -could get out of the cave; to which the God curtly replied, "Repeat -the _sutras_ of Buddha!" and vanished instantly from his sight. Now -Mr. Hua had forgotten almost all the _sutras_ he had ever known; -however, he remembered a little of the diamond _sutra_, and, clasping -his hands in an attitude of prayer, he began to repeat it aloud. No -sooner had he done this than a faint streak of light glimmered through -the darkness, and revealed to him the direction of the path; but the -next moment he was at a loss how to go on and the light forthwith -disappeared. He then set himself to think hard what the next verse -was, and as fast as he recollected and could go on repeating, so fast -did the light reappear to guide him on his way, until at length he -emerged once more from the mouth of the cave. As to the fate of the -two servants who accompanied him it is needless to inquire. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[220] Feng-tu is a district city in the province of Szechuen, and near -it are said to be fire-wells (see Williams' _Syllabic Dictionary_, -s.v.), otherwise known as the entrance to Purgatory, the capital city -of which is also called Feng-tu. - -[221] To the Imperial Treasury. From what I know of the barefacedness -of similar official impostures, I should say that this statement is -quite within the bounds of truth. For instance, at Amoy one per cent. -is collected by the local mandarins on all imports, ostensibly for the -purpose of providing the Imperial table with a delicious kind of -bird's-nest said to be found in the neighbourhood! Seven-tenths of the -sum thus collected is pocketed by the various officials of the place, -and with the remaining three-tenths a certain quantity of the ordinary -article of commerce is imported from the Straits and forwarded to -Peking. - -[222] See No. XXXII., note 197. - -[223] An Imperial mandate is always written on yellow silk, and the -ceremony of opening and perusing it is accompanied by prostrations and -other acts of reverential submission. - - - - -CXIX. - -MR. WILLOW AND THE LOCUSTS. - - -During the Ming dynasty a plague of locusts[224] visited Ch'ing-yen, -and was advancing rapidly towards the I district, when the magistrate -of that place, in great tribulation at the pending disaster, retired -one day to sleep behind the screen in his office. There he dreamt that -a young graduate, named Willow, wearing a tall hat and a green robe, -and of very commanding stature, came to see him, and declared that he -could tell the magistrate how to get rid of the locusts. "To-morrow," -said he, "on the south-west road, you will see a woman riding[225] on -a large jennet: she is the Spirit of the Locusts; ask her, and she -will help you." The magistrate thought this strange advice; however, -he got everything ready, and waited, as he had been told, at the -roadside. By-and-by, along came a woman with her hair tied up in a -knot, and a serge cape over her shoulders, riding slowly northwards on -an old mule; whereupon the magistrate burned some sticks of incense, -and, seizing the mule's bridle, humbly presented a goblet of wine. The -woman asked him what he wanted; to which he replied, "Lady, I implore -you to save my small magistracy from the dreadful ravages of your -locusts." "Oho!" said the woman, "that scoundrel, Willow, has been -letting the cat out of the bag, has he? He shall suffer for it: I -won't touch your crops." She then drank three cups of wine, and -vanished out of sight. Subsequently, when the locusts did come, they -flew high in the air, and did not settle on the crops; but they -stripped the leaves off every willow-tree far and wide; and then the -magistrate awaked to the fact that the graduate of his dream was the -Spirit of the Willows. Some said that this happy result was owing to -the magistrate's care for the welfare of his people. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[224] Innumerable pamphlets have been published in China on the best -methods of getting rid of these destructive insects, but none to my -knowledge contain much sound or practical advice. - -[225] See No. LII., note 286. The mules of the north of China are -marvels of beauty and strength; and the price of a fine animal often -goes as high as L100. - - - - -CXX. - -MR. TUNG; OR, VIRTUE REWARDED. - - -At Ch'ing-chow there lived a Mr. Tung, President of one of the Six -Boards, whose domestic regulations were so strict that the men and -women servants were not allowed to speak to each other.[226] One day -he caught a slave-girl laughing and talking with one of his -attendants, and gave them both a sound rating. That night he retired -to sleep, accompanied by his _valet-de-chambre_, in his library, the -door of which, as it was very hot weather, was left wide open. When -the night was far advanced, the valet was awaked by a noise at his -master's bed: and, opening his eyes, he saw, by the light of the moon, -the attendant above-mentioned pass out of the door with something in -his hand. Recognizing the man as one of the family, he thought nothing -of the occurrence, but turned round and went to sleep again. Soon -after, however, he was again aroused by the noise of footsteps -tramping heavily across the room, and, looking up, he beheld a huge -being with a red face and a long beard, very like the God of -War,[227] carrying a man's head. Horribly frightened, he crawled under -the bed, and then he heard sounds above him as of clothes being shaken -out, and as if some one was being shampooed.[228] In a few moments, -the boots tramped once more across the room and went away; and then he -gradually put out his head, and, seeing the dawn beginning to peep -through the window, he stretched out his hand to reach his clothes. -These he found to be soaked through and through, and, on applying his -hand to his nose, he smelt the smell of blood. He now called out -loudly to his master, who jumped up at once; and, by the light of a -candle, they saw that the bed clothes and pillows were alike steeped -in blood. Just then some constables knocked at the door, and when Mr. -Tung went out to see who it was, the constables were all astonishment; -"for," said they, "a few minutes ago a man rushed wildly up to our -yamen, and said he had killed his master; and, as he himself was -covered with blood, he was arrested, and turned out to be a servant of -yours. He also declared that he had buried your head alongside the -temple of the God of War; and when we went to look, there, indeed, was -a freshly-dug hole, but the head was gone." Mr. Tung was amazed at all -this story, and, on proceeding to the magistrate's yamen, he -discovered that the man in charge was the attendant whom he had -scolded the day before. Thereupon, the criminal was severely bambooed -and released; and then Mr. Tung, who was unwilling to make an enemy of -a man of this stamp, gave him the girl to wife. However, a few nights -afterwards the people who lived next door to the newly-married couple -heard a terrific crash in their house, and, rushing in to see what was -the matter, found that husband and wife, and the bedstead as well, had -been cut clean in two as if by a sword. The ways of the God are many, -indeed, but few more extraordinary than this.[229] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[226] See No. XL., note 233, and No. XCIV., note 134. - -[227] See No. I., note 39. - -[228] See No. LXIX., note 38. - -[229] It was the God of War who replaced Mr. Tung's head after it had -actually been cut off and buried. - - - - -CXXI. - -THE DEAD PRIEST. - - -A certain Taoist priest, overtaken in his wanderings by the shades of -evening, sought refuge in a small Buddhist monastery. The monk's -apartment was, however, locked; so he threw his mat down in the -vestibule of the shrine, and seated himself upon it. In the middle of -the night, when all was still, he heard a sound of some one opening -the door behind him; and looking round, he saw a Buddhist priest, -covered with blood from head to foot, who did not seem to notice that -anybody else was present. Accordingly, he himself pretended not to be -aware of what was going on; and then he saw the other priest enter the -shrine, mount the altar, and remain there some time embracing Buddha's -head, and laughing by turns. When morning came, he found the monk's -room still locked; and, suspecting something was wrong, he walked to a -neighbouring village, where he told the people what he had seen. -Thereupon the villagers went back with him, and broke open the door, -and there before them lay the priest weltering in his blood, having -evidently been killed by robbers, who had stripped the place bare. -Anxious now to find out what had made the disembodied spirit of the -priest laugh in the way it had been seen to do, they proceeded to -inspect the head of the Buddha on the altar; and, at the back of it, -they noticed a small mark, scraping through which they discovered a -sum of over thirty ounces of silver. This sum was forthwith used for -defraying the funeral expenses of the murdered man. - - - - -CXXII. - -THE FLYING COW. - - -A certain man, who had bought a fine cow, dreamt the same night that -wings grew out of the animal's back, and that it had flown away. -Regarding this as an omen of some pending misfortune, he led the cow -off to market again, and sold it at a ruinous loss. Wrapping up in a -cloth the silver he received, he slung it over his back, and was half -way home, when he saw a falcon eating part of a hare.[230] Approaching -the bird, he found it was quite tame, and accordingly tied it by the -leg to one of the corners of the cloth, in which his money was. The -falcon fluttered about a good deal, trying to escape; and, by-and-by, -the man's hold being for a moment relaxed, away went the bird, cloth, -money, and all. "It was destiny," said the man every time he told the -story; ignorant as he was, first, that no faith should be put in -dreams;[231] and, secondly, that people shouldn't take things they see -by the wayside.[232] Quadrupeds don't usually fly. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[230] See No. VI., note 51. - -[231] The highly educated Confucianist rises above the superstition -that darkens the lives of his less fortunate fellow countrymen. Had -such a dream as the above received an inauspicious interpretation at -the hands of some local soothsayer, the owner of the animal would in -nine cases out of ten have taken an early opportunity of getting rid -of it. - -[232] The Chinese love to refer to the "good old time" of their -forefathers, when a man who dropped anything on the highway would have -no cause to hurry back for fear of its being carried off by a -stranger. - - - - -CXXIII. - -THE "MIRROR AND LISTEN" TRICK. - - -At I-tu there lived a family of the name of Cheng. The two sons were -both distinguished scholars, but the elder was early known to fame, -and, consequently, the favourite with his parents, who also extended -their preference to his wife. The younger brother was a trifle wild, -which displeased his father and mother very much, and made them regard -his wife, too, with anything but a friendly eye. The latter reproached -her husband for being the cause of this, and asked him why he, being a -man like his brother, could not vindicate the slights that were put -upon her. This piqued him; and, setting to work in good earnest, he -soon gained a fair reputation, though still not equal to his -brother's. That year the two went up for the highest degree; and, on -New Year's Eve, the wife of the younger, very anxious for the success -of her husband, secretly tried the "mirror and listen" trick.[233] She -saw two men pushing each other in jest, and heard them say, "You go -and get cool," which remark she was quite unable to interpret for good -or for bad, so she thought no more about the matter. After the -examination, the two brothers returned home; and one day, when the -weather was extremely hot, and their two wives were hard at work in -the cook-house, preparing food for their field-labourers, a messenger -rode up in hot haste[234] to announce that the elder brother had -passed. Thereupon his mother went into the cook-house, and, calling to -her daughter-in-law, said, "Your husband has passed; _you go and get -cool_." Rage and grief now filled the breast of the second son's wife, -who, with tears in her eyes, continued her task of cooking, when -suddenly another messenger rushed in to say, that the second son had -passed, too. At this, his wife flung down her frying-pan, and cried -out, "Now I'll _go and get cool_;" and as in the heat of her -excitement she uttered these words, the recollection of her trial of -the "mirror and listen" trick flashed upon her, and she knew that the -words of that evening had been fulfilled. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[233] One method is to wrap an old mirror (formerly a polished metal -disc) in a handkerchief, and then, no one being present, to bow seven -times towards the Spirit of the Hearth: after which the first words -heard spoken by any one will give a clue to the issue under -investigation. Another method is to close the eyes and take seven -paces, opening them at the seventh and getting some hint from the -objects first seen in a mirror held in the hand, coupled with the -words first spoken within the experimenter's hearing. - -[234] In former days, these messengers of good tidings to candidates -whose homes were in distant parts used to earn handsome sums if first -to announce the news; but now, at any rate along the coast, steamers -and the telegraph have taken their occupation from them. - - - - -CXXIV. - -THE CATTLE PLAGUE. - - -Ch'en Hua-feng, of Meng-shan, overpowered by the great heat, went and -lay down under a tree, when suddenly up came a man with a thick -comforter round his neck, who also sat down on a stone in the shade, -and began fanning himself as hard as he could, the perspiration all -the time running off him like a waterfall. Ch'en rose and said to him -with a smile, "If Sir, you were to remove that comforter, you would be -cool enough without the help of a fan." "It would be easy enough," -replied the stranger, "to take off my comforter; but the difficulty -would be in getting it on again." He then went on to converse -generally upon other matters, in a manner which betokened considerable -refinement; and by-and-by he exclaimed, "What I should like now is -just a draught of iced wine to cool the twelve joints of my -oesophagus."[235] "Come along, then," cried Ch'en, "my house is close -by, and I shall be happy to give you what you want." So off they went -together; and Ch'en set before them some capital wine, which he -produced from a cave, cold enough to numb their teeth. The stranger -was delighted, and remained there drinking until late in the evening, -when, all at once, it began to rain. Ch'en lighted a lamp; and he and -his guest, who now took off the comforter, sat talking together in -_dishabille_. Every now and again the former thought he saw a light -coming from the back of the stranger's head; and when at length he had -gone off into a tipsy sleep, Ch'en took the light to examine more -closely. He found behind the ears a large cavity, partitioned by a -number of membranes, and looking like a lattice, with a thin skin -hanging down in front of each, the spaces being apparently empty. In -great astonishment Ch'en took a hair-pin, and inserted it into one of -these places, when pff! out flew something like a tiny cow, which -broke through the window,[236] and was gone. This frightened Ch'en, -and he determined to play no more tricks; just then, however, the -stranger waked up. "Alas!" cried he, "you have been at my head, and -have let out the Cattle Plague. What is to be done, now?" Ch'en asked -what he meant: upon which the stranger said, "There is no object in -further concealment. I will tell you all. I am the Angel of -Pestilence for the six kinds of domestic animals. That form which you -have let out attacks oxen, and I fear that, for miles round, few will -escape alive." Now Ch'en himself was a cattle-farmer, and when he -heard this was dreadfully alarmed, and implored the stranger to tell -him what to do. "What to do!" replied he; "why, I shall not escape -punishment myself; how can I tell you what to do. However, you will -find powdered _K'u-ts'an_[237] an efficacious remedy, that is if you -don't keep it a secret for your private use."[238] The stranger then -departed, first of all piling up a quantity of earth in a niche in the -wall, a handful of which, he told Ch'en, given to each animal, might -prove of some avail. Before long the plague did break out; and Ch'en, -who was desirous of making a little money by it, told the remedy to no -one, with the exception of his younger brother. The latter tried it on -his own beasts with great success; while, on the other hand, those -belonging to Ch'en himself died off, to the number of fifty head,[239] -leaving him only four or five old cows, which shewed every sign of -soon sharing the same fate. In his distress, Ch'en suddenly bethought -himself of the earth in the niche; and, as a last resource, gave some -to the sick animals. By the next morning they were quite well, and -then he knew that his secrecy about the remedy had caused it to have -no effect. From that moment his stock went on increasing, and in a few -years he had as many as ever. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[235] Accurate anatomical descriptions must not be looked for in -Chinese literature. "Man has three hundred and sixty-five bones, -corresponding to the number of days it takes the heavens to revolve." -From the _Hsi-yuean-lu_, or _Institutions to Coroners_, Book I., ch. -12. [See No. XIV., note 100.] - -[236] See No. X., note 79. - -[237] _Radix robiniae amarae._ - -[238] As the Chinese invariably do whenever they get hold of a useful -prescription or remedy. Master workmen also invariably try to withhold -something of their art from the apprentices they engage to teach. - -[239] The text has "of two hundred hoofs." - - - - -CXXV. - -THE MARRIAGE OF THE VIRGIN GODDESS. - - -At Kuei-chi there is a shrine to the Plum Virgin, who was formerly a -young lady named Ma, and lived at Tung-wan. Her betrothed husband -dying before the wedding, she swore she would never marry, and at -thirty years of age she died. Her kinsfolk built a shrine to her -memory, and gave her the title of the Plum Virgin. Some years -afterwards, a Mr. Chin, on his way to the examination, happened to -pass by the shrine; and entering in, he walked up and down thinking -very much of the young lady in whose honour it had been erected. That -night he dreamt that a servant came to summon him into the presence of -the Goddess; and that, in obedience to her command, he went and found -her waiting for him just outside the shrine. "I am deeply grateful to -you, Sir," said the Goddess, on his approach, "for giving me so large -a share of your thoughts; and I intend to repay you by becoming your -humble handmaid." Mr. Chin bowed an assent; and then the Goddess -escorted him back, saying, "When your place is ready, I will come and -fetch you." On waking in the morning, Mr. Chin was not over pleased -with his dream; however that very night every one of the villagers -dreamt that the Goddess appeared and said she was going to marry Mr. -Chin, bidding them at once prepare an image of him. This the village -elders, out of respect for their Goddess, positively refused to do; -until at length they all began to fall ill, and then they made a clay -image of Mr. Chin, and placed it on the left of the Goddess. Mr. Chin -now told his wife that the Plum Virgin had come for him; and, putting -on his official cap and robes, he straightway died. Thereupon his wife -was very angry; and, going to the shrine, she first abused the -Goddess, and then, getting on the altar, slapped her face well. The -Goddess is now called Chin's virgin wife. - - - - -CXXVI. - -THE WINE INSECT. - - -A Mr. Lin of Ch'ang-shan was extremely fat, and so fond of wine[240] -that he would often finish a pitcher by himself. However, he owned -about fifty acres of land, half of which was covered with millet, and -being well off, he did not consider that his drinking would bring him -into trouble. One day a foreign Buddhist priest saw him, and remarked -that he appeared to be suffering from some extraordinary complaint. -Mr. Lin said nothing was the matter with him; whereupon the priest -asked him if he often got drunk. Lin acknowledged that he did; and the -priest told him that he was afflicted by the wine insect. "Dear me!" -cried Lin, in great alarm, "do you think you could cure me?" The -priest declared there would be no difficulty in doing so; but when Lin -asked him what drugs he intended to use, the priest said he should not -use any at all. He then made Lin lie down in the sun; and tying his -hands and feet together, he placed a stoup of good wine about half a -foot from his head. By-and-by, Lin felt a deadly thirst coming on; and -the flavour of the wine passing through his nostrils, seemed to set -his vitals on fire. Just then he experienced a tickling sensation in -his throat, and something ran out of his mouth and jumped into the -wine. On being released from his bonds, he saw that it was an insect -about three inches in length, which wriggled about in the wine like a -tadpole, and had mouth and eyes all complete. Lin was overjoyed, and -offered money to the priest, who refused to take it, saying, all he -wanted was the insect, which he explained to Lin was the essence of -wine, and which, on being stirred up in water, would turn it into -wine. Lin tried this, and found it was so; and ever afterwards he -detested the sight of wine. He subsequently became very thin, and so -poor that he had hardly enough to eat and drink.[241] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[240] The ordinary "wine" of China is a spirit distilled from rice. -See No. XCIII., note 122. - -[241] The commentator would have us believe that Mr. Lin's fondness -for wine was to him an element of health and happiness rather than a -disease to be cured, and that the priest was wrong in meddling with -the natural bent of his constitution. - - - - -CXXVII. - -THE FAITHFUL DOG. - - -A certain man of Lu-ngan, whose father had been cast into prison, and -was brought almost to death's door,[242] scraped together one hundred -ounces of silver, and set out for the city to try and arrange for his -parent's release. Jumping on a mule, he saw that a black dog, -belonging to the family, was following him. He tried in vain to make -the dog remain at home; and when, after travelling for some miles, he -got off his mule to rest awhile, he picked up a large stone and threw -it at the dog, which then ran off. However, he was no sooner on the -road again, than up came the dog, and tried to stop the mule by -holding on to its tail. His master beat it off with the whip; -whereupon the dog ran barking loudly in front of the mule, and seemed -to be using every means in its power to cause his master to stop. The -latter thought this a very inauspicious omen, and turning upon the -animal in a rage, drove it away out of sight. He now went on to the -city; but when, in the dusk of the evening, he arrived there, he found -that about half his money was gone. In a terrible state of mind he -tossed about all night; then, all of a sudden, it flashed across him -that the strange behaviour of the dog might possibly have some -meaning; so getting up very early, he left the city as soon as the -gates were open,[243] and though, from the number of passers-by, he -never expected to find his money again, he went on until he reached -the spot where he had got off his mule the day before. There he saw -his dog lying dead upon the ground, its hair having apparently been -wetted through with perspiration;[244] and, lifting up the body by one -of its ears, he found his lost silver. Full of gratitude, he bought a -coffin and buried the dead animal; and the people now call the place -the Grave of the Faithful Dog. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[242] In an entry on torture (see No. LXXIII., note 62), which occurs -in my _Glossary of Reference_, I made the following statement:--"The -real tortures of a Chinese prison are the filthy dens in which the -unfortunate victims are confined, the stench in which they have to -draw breath, the fetters and manacles by which they are secured, the -absolute insufficiency even of the disgusting rations doled out to -them, and above all the mental agony which must ensue in a country -with no _Habeas corpus_ to protect the lives and fortunes of its -citizens." - -[243] For a small bribe, the soldiers at the gates of a Chinese city -will usually pass people in and out by means of a ladder placed -against the wall at some convenient spot. - -[244] I believe it is with us only a recently determined fact that -dogs perspire through the skin. - - - - -CXXVIII. - -AN EARTHQUAKE. - - -In 1668 there was a very severe earthquake.[245] I myself was staying -at Chi-hsia, and happened to be that night sitting over a kettle of -wine with my cousin Li Tu. All of a sudden we heard a noise like -thunder, travelling from the south-east in a north-westerly direction. -We were much astonished at this, and quite unable to account for the -noise; in another moment the table began to rock, and the wine-cups -were upset; the beams and supports of the house snapped here and there -with a crash, and we looked at each other in fear and trembling. -By-and-by we knew that it was an earthquake; and, rushing out, we saw -houses and other buildings, as it were, fall down and get up again; -and, amidst the sounds of crushing walls, we heard the shrieks of -women and children, the whole mass being like a great seething -cauldron. Men were giddy and could not stand, but rolled about on the -ground; the river overflowed its banks; cocks crowed, and dogs barked -from one end of the city to the other. In a little while the quaking -began to subside; and then might be seen men and women running half -naked about the streets, all anxious to tell their own experiences, -and forgetting that they had on little or no clothing. I subsequently -heard that a well was closed up and rendered useless by this -earthquake; that a house was turned completely round, so as to face -the opposite direction; that the Chi-hsia hill was riven open, and -that the waters of the I river flowed in and made a lake of an acre -and more. Truly such an earthquake as this is of rare occurrence. - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[245] The exact date is given,--the 17th of the 6th moon, which would -probably fall towards the end of June. - - - - -CXXIX. - -MAKING ANIMALS. - - -The tricks for bewitching people are many. Sometimes drugs are put in -their food, and when they eat they become dazed, and follow the person -who has bewitched them. This is commonly called _ta hsue pa_; in -Kiang-nan it is known as _ch'e hsue_. Little children are most -frequently bewitched in this way. There is also what is called "making -animals," which is better known on the south side of the River.[246] - -One day a man arrived at an inn in Yang-chow, leading with him five -donkeys. Tying them up near the stable, he told the landlord he would -be back in a few minutes, and bade him give his donkeys no water. He -had not been gone long before the donkeys, which were standing out in -the glare of the sun, began to kick about, and make a noise; whereupon -the landlord untied them, and was going to put them in the shade, when -suddenly they espied water, and made a rush to get at it. So the -landlord let them drink; and no sooner had the water touched their -lips than they rolled on the ground, and changed into women. In great -astonishment, the landlord asked them whence they came; but their -tongues were tied, and they could not answer, so he hid them in his -private apartments, and at that moment their owner returned, bringing -with him five sheep. The latter immediately asked the landlord where -his donkeys were; to which the landlord replied by offering him some -wine, saying, the donkeys would be brought to him directly. He then -went out and gave the sheep some water, on drinking which they were -all changed into boys. Accordingly, he communicated with the -authorities, and the stranger was arrested and forthwith beheaded. - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[246] See No. XCVIII., note 159. - - - - -CXXX. - -CRUELTY AVENGED. - - -A certain magistrate caused a petty oil-vendor, who was brought before -him for some trifling misdemeanour, and whose statements were very -confused, to be bambooed to death. The former subsequently rose to -high rank; and having amassed considerable wealth, set about building -himself a fine house. On the day when the great beam was to be fixed -in its place,[247] among the friends and relatives who arrived to -offer their congratulations, he was horrified to see the oilman walk -in. At the same instant one of the servants came rushing up to -announce to him the birth of a son; whereupon, he mournfully remarked, -"The house not yet finished, and its destroyer already here." The -bystanders thought he was joking, for they had not seen what he had -seen.[248] However, when that boy grew up, by his frivolity and -extravagance he quite ruined his father. He was finally obliged -himself to go into service; and spent all his earnings in oil, which -he swallowed in large quantities. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[247] This corresponds to our ceremony of laying the foundation stone, -except that one commemorates the beginning, the other the completion, -of a new building. - -[248] That is, the disembodied spirit of the oilman. - - - - -CXXXI. - -THE WEI-CH'I DEVIL. - - -A certain general, who had resigned his command, and had retired to -his own home, was very fond of roaming about and amusing himself with -wine and _wei-ch'i_.[249] One day--it was the 9th of the 9th moon, -when everybody goes up high[250]--as he was playing with some friends, -a stranger walked up, and watched the game intently for some time -without going away. He was a miserable-looking creature, with a very -ragged coat, but nevertheless possessed of a refined and courteous -air. The general begged him to be seated, an offer which he accepted, -being all the time extremely deferential in his manner. "I suppose you -are pretty good at this," said the general, pointing to the board; -"try a bout with one of my friends here." The stranger made a great -many apologies in reply, but finally accepted, and played a game in -which, apparently to his great disappointment, he was beaten. He -played another with the same result; and now, refusing all offers of -wine, he seemed to think of nothing but how to get some one to play -with him. Thus he went on until the afternoon was well advanced; when -suddenly, just as he was in the middle of a most exciting game, which -depended on a single place, he rushed forward, and throwing himself at -the feet of the general, loudly implored his protection. The general -did not know what to make of this; however, he raised him up, and -said, "It's only a game: why get so excited?" To this the stranger -replied by begging the general not to let his gardener seize him; and -when the general asked what gardener he meant, he said the man's name -was Ma-ch'eng. Now this Ma-ch'eng was often employed as a lictor by -the Ruler of Purgatory, and would sometimes remain away as much as ten -days, serving the warrants of death; accordingly, the general sent off -to inquire about him, and found that he had been in a trance for two -days.[251] His master cried out that he had better not behave rudely -to his guest, but at that very moment the stranger sunk down to the -ground, and was gone. The general was lost in astonishment; however, -he now knew that the man was a disembodied spirit, and on the next -day, when Ma-ch'eng came round, he asked him for full particulars. -"The gentleman was a native of Hu-hsiang," replied the gardener, "who -was passionately addicted to _wei-ch'i_, and had lost a great deal of -money by it. His father, being much grieved at his behaviour, confined -him to the house; but he was always getting out, and indulging the -fatal passion, and at last his father died of a broken heart. In -consequence of this, the Ruler of Purgatory curtailed his term of -life, and condemned him to become a hungry devil,[252] in which state -he has already passed seven years. And now that the Phoenix Tower[253] -is completed, an order has been issued for the literati to present -themselves, and compose an inscription to be cut on stone, as a -memorial thereof, by which means they would secure their own salvation -as a reward. Many of the shades failing to arrive at the appointed -time, God was very angry with the Ruler of Purgatory, and the latter -sent off me, and others who are employed in the same way, to hunt up -the defaulters. But as you, Sir, bade me treat the gentleman with -respect, I did not venture to bind him." The general inquired what -had become of the stranger; to which the gardener replied, "He is now -a mere menial in Purgatory, and can never be born again." "Alas!" -cried his master, "thus it is that men are ruined by any inordinate -passion."[254] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[249] A most abstruse and complicated game of skill, for which the -Chinese claim an antiquity of four thousand years, and which I was the -first to introduce to a European public through an article in _Temple -Bar Magazine_ for January, 1877. _Apropos_ of which, an accomplished -American lady, Miss A. M. Fielde, of Swatow, wrote as follows:--"The -game seems to me the peer of chess.... It is a game for the slow, -persistent, astute, multitudinous Chinese; while chess, by the -picturesque appearance of the board, the variety and prominent -individuality of the men, and the erratic combination of the -attack,--is for the Anglo-Saxon." - -[250] On this day, annually dedicated to kite-flying, picnics, and -good cheer, everybody tries to get up to as great an elevation as -possible, in the hope, as some say, of thereby prolonging life. It was -this day--4th October, 1878--which was fixed for the total -extermination of foreigners in Foochow. - -[251] See No. XXVI., note 180. - -[252] One of the _pretas_, or the fourth of the six paths (gati) of -existence; the other five being (1) angels, (2) men, (3) demons, (5) -brute beasts, and (6) sinners in hell. The term is often used -colloquially for a self-invited guest. - -[253] An imaginary building in the Infernal Regions. - -[254] Mencius reckoned "to play _wei-ch'i_ for money" among the five -unfilial acts. - - - - -CXXXII. - -THE FORTUNE-HUNTER PUNISHED. - - -A certain man's uncle had no children, and the nephew, with an eye to -his uncle's property, volunteered to become his adopted son.[255] When -the uncle died all the property passed accordingly to his nephew, who -thereupon broke faith as to his part of the contract.[256] He did the -same with another uncle, and thus united three properties in his own -person, whereby he became the richest man of the neighbourhood. -Suddenly he fell ill, and seemed to go out of his mind; for he cried -out, "So you wish to live in wealth, do you?" and immediately seizing -a sharp knife, he began hacking away at his own body until he had -strewed the floor with pieces of flesh. He then exclaimed, "You cut -off other people's posterity and expect to have posterity yourself, do -you?" and forthwith he ripped himself open and died. Shortly -afterwards his son, too, died, and the property fell into the hands of -strangers. Is not this a retribution to be dreaded? - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[255] See No. LV., note 310; and No. XCIV., note 137. - -[256] That is, in carrying out the obligations he had entered into, -such as conducting the ceremonies of ancestral worship, repairing the -family tombs, &c. - - - - -CXXXIII. - -LIFE PROLONGED. - - -A certain cloth merchant of Ch'ang-ch'ing was stopping at T'ai-ngan, -when he heard of a magician who was said to be very skilled in casting -nativities. So he went off at once to consult him; but the magician -would not undertake the task, saying, "Your destiny is bad: you had -better hurry home." At this the merchant was dreadfully frightened, -and, packing up his wares, set off towards Ch'ang-ch'ing. On the way -he fell in with a man in short clothes,[257] like a constable; and the -two soon struck up a friendly intimacy, taking their meals together. -By-and-by the merchant asked the stranger what his business was; and -the latter told him he was going to Ch'ang-ch'ing to serve summonses, -producing at the same time a document and showing it to the merchant, -who, on looking closely, saw a list of names, at the head of which -was his own. In great astonishment he inquired what he had done that -he should be arrested thus; to which his companion replied, "I am not -a living being: I am a lictor in the employ of the infernal -authorities, and I presume your term of life has expired." The -merchant burst into tears and implored the lictor to spare him, which -the latter declared was impossible; "But," added he, "there are a -great many names down, and it will take me some time to get through -them: you go off home and settle up your affairs, and, as a slight -return for your friendship, I'll call for you last." A few minutes -afterwards they reached a stream where the bridge was in ruins, and -people could only cross with great difficulty; at which the lictor -remarked, "You are now on the road to death, and not a single cash can -you carry away with you. Repair this bridge and benefit the public; -and thus from a great outlay you may possibly yourself derive some -small advantage." The merchant said he would do so; and when he got -home, he bade his wife and children prepare for his coming -dissolution, and at the same time set men to work and made the bridge -sound and strong again. Some time elapsed, but no lictor arrived; and -his suspicions began to be aroused, when one day the latter walked in -and said, "I reported that affair of the bridge to the Municipal -God,[258] who communicated it to the Ruler of Purgatory; and for that -good act your span of life has been lengthened, and your name struck -out of the list. I have now come to announce this to you." The -merchant was profuse in his thanks; and the next time he went to -T'ai-ngan, he burnt a quantity of paper ingots,[259] and made -offerings and libations to the lictor, out of gratitude for what he -had done. Suddenly the lictor himself appeared, and cried out, "Do you -wish to ruin me? Happily my new master has only just taken up his -post, and he has not noticed this, or where should I be?"[260] The -lictor then escorted the merchant some distance; and, at parting, bade -him never return by that road, but, if he had any business at -T'ai-ngan, to go thither by a roundabout way. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[257] The long flowing robe is a sign of respectability which all but -the very poorest classes love to affect in public. At the port of -Haiphong, _shoes_ are the criterion of social standing; but, as a -rule, the well-to-do native merchants prefer to go barefoot rather -than give the authorities a chance of exacting heavier squeezes, on -the strength of such a palpable acknowledgment of wealth. - -[258] See No. I., note 36. - -[259] See No. LVI., note 317; and No. XCVII., note 150. - -[260] The lictor had no right to divulge his errand when he first met -the cloth merchant, or to remove the latter's name from the top to the -bottom of the list. - - - - -CXXXIV. - -THE CLAY IMAGE. - - -On the river I there lived a man named Ma, who married a wife from the -Wang family, with whom he was very happy in his domestic life. Ma, -however, died young; and his wife's parents were unwilling that their -daughter should remain a widow, but she resisted all their -importunities, and declared firmly she would never marry again. "It is -a noble resolve of yours, I allow," argued her mother; "but you are -still a mere girl, and you have no children. Besides, I notice that -people who start with such rigid determinations always end by doing -something discreditable, and therefore you had better get married as -soon as you can, which is no more than is done every day." The girl -swore she would rather die than consent, and accordingly her mother -had no alternative but to let her alone. She then ordered a clay image -to be made, exactly resembling her late husband;[261] and whenever she -took her own meals, she would set meat and wine before it, precisely -as if her husband had been there. One night she was on the point of -retiring to rest, when suddenly she saw the clay image stretch itself -and step down from the table, increasing all the while in height, -until it was as tall as a man, and neither more nor less than her own -husband. In great alarm she called out to her mother, but the image -stopped her, saying, "Don't do that! I am but shewing my gratitude for -your affectionate care of me, and it is chill and uncomfortable in the -realms below. Such devotion as yours casts its light back on -generations gone by; and now I, who was cut off in my prime because my -father did evil, and was condemned to be without an heir, have been -permitted, in consequence of your virtuous conduct, to visit you once -again, that our ancestral line may yet remain unbroken."[262] Every -morning at cock-crow her husband resumed his usual form and size as -the clay image; and after a time he told her that their hour of -separation had come, upon which husband and wife bade each other an -eternal farewell. By-and-by the widow, to the great astonishment of -her mother, bore a son, which caused no small amusement among the -neighbours who heard the story; and, as the girl herself had no proof -of what she stated to be the case, a certain beadle[263] of the place, -who had an old grudge against her husband, went off and informed the -magistrate of what had occurred. After some investigation, the -magistrate exclaimed, "I have heard that the children of disembodied -spirits have no shadow; and that those who have shadows are not -genuine." Thereupon they took Ma's child into the sunshine, and lo! -there was but a very faint shadow, like a thin vapour. The magistrate -then drew blood from the child, and smeared it on the clay image; upon -which the blood at once soaked in and left no stain. Another clay -image being produced and the same experiment tried, the blood remained -on the surface so that it could be wiped away.[264] The girl's story -was thus acknowledged to be true; and when the child grew up, and in -every feature was the counterpart of Ma, there was no longer any room -for suspicion. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[261] The clay image makers of Tientsin are wonderfully clever in -taking likenesses by these means. Some of the most skilful will even -manipulate the clay behind their backs, and then, adding the proper -colours, will succeed in producing an exceedingly good resemblance. -They find, however, more difficulty with foreign faces, to which they -are less accustomed in the trade. - -[262] See No. LXI., note 346. - -[263] See No. LXIV., note 18. - -[264] Such is the officially authorised method of determining a -doubtful relationship between a dead parent and a living child, -substituting a bone for the clay image here mentioned. - - - - -CXXXV. - -DISHONESTY PUNISHED. - - -At Chiao-chou there lived a man named Liu Hsi-ch'uan, who was steward -to His excellency Mr. Fa. When already over forty a son was born to -him, whom he loved very dearly, and quite spoilt by always letting him -have his own way. When the boy grew up he led a dissolute, extravagant -life, and ran through all his father's property. By-and-by he fell -sick, and then he declared that nothing would cure him but a slice off -a fat old favourite mule they had; upon which his father had another -and more worthless animal killed; but his son found out he was being -tricked, and, after abusing his father soundly, his symptoms became -more and more alarming. The mule was accordingly killed, and some of -it was served up to the sick man; however, he only just tasted it and -sent the rest away. From that time he got gradually worse and worse, -and finally died, to the great grief of his father, who would gladly -have died too. Three or four years afterwards, as some of the -villagers were worshipping on Mount Tai, they saw a man riding on a -mule, the very image of Mr. Liu's dead son; and, on approaching more -closely, they saw that it was actually he.[265] Jumping from his -mule,[266] he made them a salutation, and then they began to chat with -him on various subjects, always carefully avoiding that one of his own -death. They asked him what he was doing there; to which he replied -that he was only roaming about, and inquired of them in his turn at -what inn they were staying; "For," added he, "I have an engagement -just now, but I will visit you to-morrow." So they told him the name -of the inn, and took their leave, not expecting to see him again. -However, the next day he came, and, tying his mule to a post outside, -went in to see them. "Your father," observed one of the villagers, "is -always thinking about you. Why do you not go and pay him a visit?" The -young man asked to whom he was alluding; and, at the mention of his -father's name, he changed colour and said, "If he is anxious to see -me, kindly tell him that on the 7th of the 4th moon I will await him -here." He then went away, and the villagers returned and told Mr. Liu -all that had taken place. At the appointed time the latter was very -desirous of going to see his son; but his master dissuaded him, saying -that he thought from what he knew of his son that the interview might -possibly not turn out as he would desire; "Although," added he, "if -you are bent upon going, I should be sorry to stand in your way. Let -me, however, counsel you to conceal yourself in a cupboard, and thus, -by observing what takes place, you will know better how to act, and -avoid running into any danger." This he accordingly did, and, when his -son came, Mr. Fa received him at the inn as before. "Where's Mr. Liu?" -cried the son. "Oh, he hasn't come," replied Mr. Fa. "The old beast! -What does he mean by that?" exclaimed his son; whereupon Mr. Fa asked -him what _he_ meant by cursing his own father. "My father!" shrieked -the son; "why he's nothing more to me than a former rascally partner -in trade, who cheated me out of all my money, and for which I have -since avenged myself on him.[267] What sort of a father is that, I -should like to know?" He then went out of the door; and his father -crept out of the cupboard from which, with the perspiration streaming -down him and hardly daring to breathe, he had heard all that had -passed, and sorrowfully wended his way home again. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[265] "In various savage superstitions the minute resemblance of soul -to body is forcibly stated."--_Myths and Myth-makers_, by John Fiske, -p. 228. - -[266] An important point in Chinese etiquette. It is not considered -polite for a person in a sitting position to address an equal who is -standing. - -[267] By becoming his son and behaving badly to him. See No. CX., note -190, and the text to which it refers. - - - - -CXXXVI. - -THE MAD PRIEST. - - -A certain mad priest, whose name I do not know, lived in a temple on -the hills. He would sing and cry by turns, without any apparent -reason; and once somebody saw him boiling a stone for his dinner. At -the autumn festival of the 9th day of the 9th moon,[268] an official -of the district went up in that direction for the usual picnic, taking -with him his chair and his red umbrellas. After luncheon he was -passing by the temple, and had hardly reached the door, when out -rushed the priest, barefooted and ragged, and himself opening a yellow -umbrella, cried out as the attendants of a mandarin do when ordering -the people to stand back. He then approached the official, and made as -though he were jesting at him; at which the latter was extremely -indignant, and bade his servants drive the priest away. The priest -moved off with the servants after him, and in another moment had -thrown down his yellow umbrella, which split into a number of pieces, -each piece changing immediately into a falcon, and flying about in all -directions. The umbrella handle became a huge serpent, with red -scales and glaring eyes; and then the party would have turned and -fled, but that one of them declared it was only an optical delusion, -and that the creature couldn't do any hurt. The speaker accordingly -seized a knife and rushed at the serpent, which forthwith opened its -mouth and swallowed its assailant whole. In a terrible fright the -servants crowded round their master and hurried him away, not stopping -to draw breath until they were fully a mile off. By-and-by several of -them stealthily returned to see what was going on; and, on entering -the temple, they found that both priest and serpent had disappeared. -But from an old ash-tree hard by they heard a sound proceeding,--a -sound, as it were, of a donkey panting; and at first they were afraid -to go near, though after a while they ventured to peep through a hole -in the tree, which was an old hollow trunk; and there, jammed hard and -fast with his head downwards, was the rash assailant of the serpent. -It being quite impossible to drag him out, they began at once to cut -the tree away; but by the time they had set him free he was already -perfectly unconscious. However, he ultimately came round and was -carried home; but from this day the priest was never seen again.[269] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[268] See No. CXXXI., note 250. - -[269] The story is intended as a satire on those puffed-up dignitaries -who cannot even go to a picnic without all the retinue belonging to -their particular rank. See No. LVI., note 315. - - - - -CXXXVII. - -FEASTING THE RULER OF PURGATORY. - - -At Ching-hai there lived a young man, named Shao, whose family was -very poor. On the occasion of his mother completing her cycle,[270] he -arranged a quantity of meat-offerings and wine on a table in the -court-yard, and proceeded to invoke the Gods in the usual manner; but -when he rose from his knees, lo and behold! all the meat and wine had -disappeared. His mother thought this was a bad omen, and that she was -not destined to enjoy a long life; however, she said nothing on the -subject to her son, who was himself quite at a loss to account for -what had happened. A short time afterwards the Literary -Chancellor[271] arrived; and young Chao, scraping together what funds -he could, went off to present himself as a candidate. On the road he -met with a man who gave him such a cordial invitation to his house -that he willingly accepted; and the stranger led him to a stately -mansion, with towers and terraces rising one above the other as far -as the eye could reach. In one of the apartments was a king, sitting -upon a throne, who received Shao in a very friendly manner; and, after -regaling him with an excellent banquet, said, "I have to thank you for -the food and drink you gave my servants that day we passed your -house." Shao was greatly astonished at this remark, when the King -proceeded, "I am the Ruler of Purgatory. Don't you recollect -sacrificing on your mother's birthday?" The King then bestowed on Shao -a packet of silver, saying, "Pray accept this in return for your -kindness." Shao thanked him and retired; and in another moment the -palace and its occupants had one and all vanished from his sight, -leaving him alone in the midst of some tall trees. On opening his -packet he found it to contain five ounces of pure gold; and, after -defraying the expenses of his examination, half was still left, which -he carried home and gave to his mother. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[270] See No. XXIII., note 152. - -[271] The examiner for the bachelor's, or lowest, degree. - - - - -CXXXVIII. - -THE PICTURE HORSE. - - -A certain Mr. Ts'ui, of Lin-ch'ing, was too poor to keep his garden -walls in repair, and used often to find a strange horse lying down on -the grass inside. It was a black horse marked with white, and having a -scrubby tail, which looked as if the end had been burnt off;[272] and, -though always driven away, would still return to the same spot. Now -Mr. Ts'ui had a friend, who was holding an appointment in Shansi; and -though he had frequently felt desirous of paying him a visit, he had -no means of travelling so far. Accordingly, he one day caught the -strange horse and, putting a saddle on its back, rode away, telling -his servant that if the owner of the horse should appear, he was to -inform him where the animal was to be found. The horse started off at -a very rapid pace, and, in a short time, they were thirty or forty -miles from home; but at night it did not seem to care for its food, so -the next day Mr. Ts'ui, who thought perhaps illness might be the -cause, held the horse in, and would not let it gallop so fast. -However, the animal did not seem to approve of this, and kicked and -foamed until at length Mr. Ts'ui let it go at the same old pace; and -by mid-day he had reached his destination. As he rode into the town, -the people were astonished to hear of the marvellous journey just -accomplished, and the Prince[273] sent to say he should like to buy -the horse. Mr. Ts'ui, fearing that the real owner might come forward, -was compelled to refuse this offer; but when, after six months had -elapsed, no inquiries had been made, he agreed to accept eight hundred -ounces of silver, and handed over the horse to the Prince. He then -bought himself a good mule, and returned home. Subsequently, the -Prince had occasion to use the horse for some important business at -Lin-ch'ing; and when there it took the opportunity to run away. The -officer in charge pursued it right up to the house of a Mr. Tseng, who -lived next door to Mr. Ts'ui, and saw it run in and disappear. -Thereupon he called upon Mr. Tseng to restore it to him; and, on the -latter declaring he had never even seen the animal, the officer walked -into his private apartments, where he found, hanging on the wall, a -picture of a horse, by Tz[)u]-ang,[274] exactly like the one he was in -search of, and with part of the tail burnt away by a joss-stick. It -was now clear that the Prince's horse was a supernatural creature; but -the officer, being afraid to go back without it, would have -prosecuted Mr. Tseng, had not Ts'ui, whose eight hundred ounces of -silver had since increased to something like ten thousand, stepped in -and paid back the original purchase-money. Mr. Tseng was exceedingly -grateful to him for this act of kindness, ignorant, as he was, of the -previous sale of the horse by Ts'ui to the Prince. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[272] The Chinese never cut the tails of their horses or mules. - -[273] One of the feudal Governors of by-gone days. - -[274] A Chinese Landseer. - - - - -CXXXIX. - -THE BUTTERFLY'S REVENGE. - - -Mr. Wang, of Ch'ang-shan, was in the habit, when a District -Magistrate, of commuting the fines and penalties of the Penal Code, -inflicted on the various prisoners, for a corresponding number of -butterflies. These he would let go all at once in the court, rejoicing -to see them fluttering hither and thither, like so many tinsel -snippings borne about by the breeze. One night he dreamt that a young -lady, dressed in gay-coloured clothes, appeared to him and said, "Your -cruel practice has brought many of my sisters to an untimely end, and -now you shall pay the penalty of thus gratifying your tastes." The -young lady then changed into a butterfly and flew away. Next day, the -magistrate was sitting alone, over a cup of wine, when it was -announced to him that the censor was at the door; and out he ran at -once to receive His Excellency, with a white flower, that some of his -women had put in his official hat, still sticking there. His -Excellency was very angry at what he deemed a piece of disrespect to -himself; and, after severely censuring Mr. Wang, turned round and went -away. Thenceforward no more penalties were commuted for butterflies. - - - - -CXL. - -THE DOCTOR. - - -A certain poor man, named Chang, who lived at I, fell in one day with -a Taoist priest. The latter was highly skilled in the science of -physiognomy;[275] and, after looking at Chang's features, said to him, -"You would make your fortune as a doctor." "Alas!" replied Chang, "I -can barely read and write; how then could I follow such a calling as -that?" "And where, you simple fellow," asked the priest, "is the -necessity for a doctor to be a scholar? You just try, that's all." -Thereupon Chang returned home; and, being very poor, he simply -collected a few of the commonest prescriptions, and set up a small -stall with a handful of fishes' teeth and some dry honeycomb from a -wasp's nest,[276] hoping thus to earn, by his tongue, enough to keep -body and soul together, to which, however, no one paid any particular -attention. Now it chanced that just then the Governor of Ch'ing-chou -was suffering from a bad cough, and had given orders to his -subordinates to send to him the most skilful doctors in their -respective districts; and the magistrate of I, which was an -out-of-the-way mountainous district, being unable to lay his hands on -any one whom he could send in, gave orders to the beadle[277] to do -the best he could under the circumstances. Accordingly, Chang was -nominated by the people, and the magistrate put his name down to go in -to the Governor. When Chang heard of his appointment, he happened to -be suffering himself from a bad attack of bronchitis, which he was -quite unable to cure, and he begged, therefore, to be excused; but the -magistrate would not hear of this, and forwarded him at once in charge -of some constables. While crossing the hills, he became very thirsty, -and went into a village to ask for a drink of water; but water there -was worth its weight in jade, and no one would give him any. By-and-by -he saw an old woman washing a quantity of vegetables in a scanty -supply of water which was, consequently, very thick and muddy; and, -being unable to bear his thirst any longer, he obtained this and drank -it up. Shortly afterwards he found that his cough was quite cured, and -then it occurred to him that he had hit upon a capital remedy. When he -reached the city, he learned that a great many doctors had already -tried their hand upon the patient, but without success; so asking for -a private room in which to prepare his medicines, he obtained from the -town some bunches of bishop-wort, and proceeded to wash them as the -old woman had done. He then took the dirty water, and gave a dose of -it to the Governor, who was immediately and permanently relieved. The -patient was overjoyed; and, besides making Chang a handsome present, -gave him a certificate written in golden characters, in consequence of -which his fame spread far and wide;[278] and of the numerous cases he -subsequently undertook, in not a single instance did he fail to effect -a cure. One day, however, a patient came to him, complaining of a -violent chill; and Chang, who happened to be tipsy at the time, -treated him by mistake for remittent fever. When he got sober, he -became aware of what he had done; but he said nothing to anybody about -it, and three days afterwards the same patient waited upon him with -all kinds of presents to thank him for a rapid recovery. Such cases as -this were by no means rare with him; and soon he got so rich that he -would not attend when summoned to visit a sick person, unless the -summons was accompanied by a heavy fee and a comfortable chair to ride -in.[279] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[275] Advertisements of these professors of physiognomy are to be seen -in every Chinese city. - -[276] In order to make some show for the public eye. - -[277] See No. LXIV., note 18. - -[278] A doctor of any repute generally has large numbers of such -certificates, generally engraved on wood, hanging before and about his -front door. When I was stationed at Swatow, the writer at Her -Majesty's Consulate presented one to Dr. E. J. Scott, the resident -medical practitioner, who had cured him of opium smoking. It bore two -principal characters, "Miraculous Indeed!" accompanied by a few -remarks, in a smaller sized character, laudatory of Dr. Scott's -professional skill. Banners, with graceful inscriptions written upon -them, are frequently presented by Chinese passengers to the captains -of coasting steamers who may have brought them safely through bad -weather. - -[279] The story is intended as a satire upon Chinese doctors -generally, whose ranks are recruited from the swarms of half-educated -candidates who have been rejected at the great competitive -examinations, medical diplomas being quite unknown in China. Doctors' -fees are, by a pleasant fiction, called "horse-money;" and all -prescriptions are made up by the local apothecary, never by the -physician himself. - - - - -CXLI. - -SNOW IN SUMMER. - - -On the 6th day of the 7th moon[280] of the year Ting-Hai (1647) there -was a heavy fall of snow at Soochow. The people were in a great state -of consternation at this, and went off to the temple of the Great -Prince[281] to pray. Then the spirit moved one of them to say, "You -now address me as _Your Honour_. Make it _Your Excellency_, and, -though I am but a lesser deity, it may be well worth your while to do -so." Thereupon the people began to use the latter term, and the snow -stopped at once; from which I infer that flattery is just as pleasant -to divine as to mortal ears.[282] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[280] This would be exactly at the hottest season. - -[281] The _Jupiter Pluvius_ of the neighbourhood. - -[282] A sneer at the superstitious custom of praying for good or bad -weather, which obtains in China from the Son of Heaven himself down to -the lowest agriculturist whose interests are involved. Droughts, -floods, famines, and pestilences, are alike set down to the anger of -Heaven, to be appeased only by prayer and repentance. - - - - -CXLII. - -PLANCHETTE.[283] - - -At Ch'ang-shan there lived a man, named Wang Jui-t'ing, who understood -the art of planchette. He called himself a disciple of Lue -Tung-pin,[284] and some one said he was probably that worthy's crane. -At his _seances_ the subjects were always literary--essays, poetry, -and so on. The well-known scholar, Li Chih, thought very highly of -him, and availed himself of his aid on more than one occasion; so that -by degrees the literati generally also patronized him. His responses -to questions of doubt or difficulty were remarkable for their -reasonableness; matters of mere good or bad fortune he did not care to -enter into. In 1631, just after the examination at Chi-nan, a number -of the candidates requested Mr. Wang to tell them how they would stand -on the list; and, after having examined their essays, he proceeded to -pass his opinion on their merits.[285] Among the rest there happened -to be one who was very intimate with another candidate, not present, -whose name was Li Pien; and who, being an enthusiastic student and a -deep thinker, was confidently expected to appear among the successful -few. Accordingly, the friend submitted Mr. Li's essay for inspection; -and in a few minutes two characters appeared on the sand--namely, -"Number one." After a short interval this sentence followed:--"The -decision given just now had reference to Mr. Li's essay simply as an -essay. Mr. Li's destiny is darkly obscured, and he will suffer -accordingly. It is strange, indeed, that a man's literary powers and -his destiny should thus be out of harmony.[286] Surely the Examiner -will judge of him by his essay;--but stay: I will go and see how -matters stand." Another pause ensued, and then these words were -written down:--"I have been over to the Examiner's yamen, and have -found a pretty state of things going on; instead of reading the -candidates' papers himself, he has handed them over to his clerks, -some half-dozen illiterate fellows who purchased their own degrees, -and who, in their previous existence, had no status whatever,--'hungry -devils'[287] begging their bread in all directions; and who, after -eight hundred years passed in the murky gloom of the infernal regions, -have lost all discrimination, like men long buried in a cave and -suddenly transferred to the light of day. Among them may be one or two -who have risen above their former selves, but the odds are against an -essay falling into the hands of one of these." The young men then -begged to know if there was any method by which such an evil might be -counteracted; to which the planchette replied that there was, but, as -it was universally understood, there was no occasion for asking the -question. Thereupon they went off and told Mr. Li, who was so much -distressed at the prediction that he submitted his essay to His -Excellency Sun Tz[)u]-mei, one of the finest scholars of the day. This -gentleman examined it, and was so pleased with its literary merit that -he told Li he was quite sure to pass, and the latter thought no more -about the planchette prophecy. However, when the list came out, there -he was down in the fourth class; and this so much disconcerted His -Excellency Mr. Sun, that he went carefully through the essay again for -fear lest any blemishes might have escaped his attention. Then he -cried out, "Well, I have always thought this Examiner to be a scholar; -he can never have made such a mistake as this; it must be the fault of -some of his drunken assistants, who don't know the mere rudiments of -composition." This fulfilment of the prophecy raised Mr. Wang very -high in the estimation of the candidates, who forthwith went and -burned incense and invoked the spirit of the planchette, which at once -replied in the following terms:--"Let not Mr. Li be disheartened by -temporary failure. Let him rather strive to improve himself still -further, and next year he may be among the first on the list." Li -carried out these injunctions; and after a time the story reached the -ears of the Examiner, who gratified Li by making a public -acknowledgment that there had been some miscarriage of justice at the -examination; and the following year he was passed high up on the -list.[288] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[283] Planchette was in full swing in China at the date of the -composition of these stories, more than 200 years ago, and remains so -at the present day. The character _chi_, used here and elsewhere for -Planchette, is defined in the _Shuo Wen_, a Chinese dictionary, -published A.D. 100, "to inquire by divination on doubtful topics," no -mention being made of the particular manner in which responses are -obtained. For the purpose of writing from personal experience, I -recently attended a _seance_ at a temple in Amoy, and witnessed the -whole performance. After much delay, I was requested to write on a -slip of paper "any question I might have to put to the God;" and, -accordingly, I took a pencil and wrote down, "A humble suppliant -ventures to inquire if he will win the Manila lottery." This question -was then placed upon the altar, at the feet of the God; and shortly -afterwards two respectable-looking Chinamen, not priests, approached a -small table covered with sand, and each seized one arm of a forked -piece of wood, at the fork of which was a stumpy end, at right angles -to the plane of the arms. Immediately the attendants began burning -quantities of joss-paper, while the two performers whirled the -instrument round and round at a rapid rate, its vertical point being -all the time pressed down upon the table of sand. All of a sudden the -whirling movement stopped, and the point of the instrument rapidly -traced a character in the sand, which was at once identified by -several of the bystanders, and forthwith copied down by a clerk in -attendance. The whirling movement was then continued until a similar -pause was made and another character appeared; and so on, until I had -four lines of correctly-rhymed Chinese verse, each line consisting of -seven characters. The following is an almost word-for-word -translation:-- - - "The pulse of human nature throbs from England to Cathay, - And gambling mortals ever love to swell their gains by play; - For gold in this vile world of ours is everywhere a prize-- - A thousand taels shall meet the prayer that on this altar lies." - -As the question is not concealed from view, all that is necessary for -such a hollow deception is a quick-witted versifier who can put -together a poetical response _stans pede in uno_. But in such matters -the unlettered masses of China are easily outwitted, and are a -profitable source of income to the more astute of their -fellow-countrymen. - -[284] An official who flourished in the eighth century of our era, and -who, for his devotion to the Taoist religion, was subsequently -canonized as one of the Eight Immortals. He is generally represented -as riding on a crane. - -[285] That is, by means of the planchette-table. - -[286] Our author was here evidently thinking of his own unlucky fate. - -[287] See No. CXXXI., note 252. - -[288] See No. LXXV., note 71. - - - - -CXLIII. - -FRIENDSHIP WITH FOXES. - - -A certain man had an enormous stack of straw, as big as a hill, in -which his servants, taking what was daily required for use, had made -quite a hole. In this hole a fox fixed his abode, and would often shew -himself to the master of the house under the form of an old man. One -day the latter invited the master to walk into the cave, which he at -first declined, but accepted on being pressed by the fox; and when he -got inside, lo! he saw a long suite of handsome apartments. They then -sat down, and exquisitely perfumed tea and wine were brought; but the -place was so gloomy that there was no difference between night and -day. By-and-by, the entertainment being over, the guest took his -leave; and on looking back the beautiful rooms and their contents had -all disappeared. The old man himself was in the habit of going away in -the evening and returning with the first streaks of morning; and as no -one was able to follow him, the master of the house asked him one day -whither he went. To this he replied that a friend invited him to take -wine; and then the master begged to be allowed to accompany him, a -proposal to which the old man very reluctantly consented. However, he -seized the master by the arm, and away they went as though riding on -the wings of the wind; and, in about the time it takes to cook a pot -of millet, they reached a city, and walked into a restaurant, where -there were a number of people drinking together and making a great -noise. The old man led his companion to a gallery above, from which -they could look down on the feasters below; and he himself went down -and brought away from the tables all kinds of nice food and wine, -without appearing to be seen or noticed by any of the company. After -awhile a man dressed in red garments came forward and laid upon the -table some dishes of cumquats;[289] and the master at once requested -the old man to go down and get him some of these. "Ah," replied the -latter, "that is an upright man: I cannot approach him." Thereupon the -master said to himself, "By thus seeking the companionship of a fox, I -then am deflected from the true course. Henceforth I, too, will be an -upright man." No sooner had he formed this resolution, than he -suddenly lost all control over his body, and fell from the gallery -down among the revellers below. These gentlemen were much astonished -by his unexpected descent; and he himself, looking up, saw there was -no gallery to the house, but only a large beam upon which he had been -sitting. He now detailed the whole of the circumstances, and those -present made up a purse for him to pay his travelling expenses; for he -was at Yue-t'ai--one thousand _li_ from home. - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[289] Literally, "golden oranges." These are skilfully preserved by -the Cantonese, and form a delicious sweetmeat for dessert. - - - - -CXLIV. - -THE GREAT RAT. - - -During the reign of the Emperor Wan Li,[290] the palace was troubled -by the presence of a huge rat, quite as big as a cat, which ate up all -the cats that were set to catch it. Just then it chanced that among -the tribute offerings sent by some foreign State was a lion-cat, as -white as snow. This cat was accordingly put into the room where the -rat usually appeared; and, the door being closely shut, a secret watch -was kept. By-and-by the rat came out of its hole and rushed at the -cat, which turned and fled, finally jumping up on the table. The rat -followed, upon which the cat jumped down; and thus they went on up and -down for some time. Those who were watching said the cat was afraid -and of no use; however, in a little while the rat began to jump less -briskly, and soon after squatted down out of breath. Then the cat -rushed at it, and, seizing the rat by the back of the neck, shook and -shook while its victim squeaked and squeaked, until life was extinct. -Thus they knew the cat was not afraid, but merely waited for its -adversary to be fatigued, fleeing when pursued and itself pursuing the -fleeing rat. Truly, many a bad swordsman may be compared with that -rat! - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[290] A.D. 1573-1620, the epoch of the most celebrated "blue china." - - - - -CXLV. - -WOLVES. - - -I.--A certain village butcher, who had bought some meat at market and -was returning home in the evening, suddenly came across a wolf, which -followed him closely, its mouth watering at the sight of what he was -carrying. The butcher drew his knife and drove the animal off; and -then reflecting that his meat was the attraction, he determined to -hang it up in a tree and fetch it the next morning. This he -accordingly did, and the wolf followed him no further; but when he -went at daylight to recover his property, he saw something hanging up -in the tree resembling a human corpse. It turned out to be the wolf, -which, in its efforts to get at the meat, had been caught on the -meat-hook like a fish; and as the skin of a wolf was just then worth -ten ounces of silver, the butcher found himself possessed of quite a -little capital. Here we have a laughable instance of the result of -"climbing trees to catch fish."[291] - - -II.--A butcher, while travelling along at night, was sore pressed by a -wolf, and took refuge in an old mat shed which had been put up for -the watchman of the crops. There he lay, while the wolf sniffed at him -from outside, and at length thrust in one of its paws from underneath. -This the butcher seized hold of at once, and held it firmly, so that -the wolf couldn't stir; and then, having no other weapon at hand, he -took a small knife he had with him and slit the skin underneath the -wolf's paw. He now proceeded to blow into it, as butchers blow into -pork;[292] and after vigorously blowing for some time, he found that -the wolf had ceased to struggle; upon which he went outside and saw -the animal lying on the ground, swelled up to the size of a cow, and -unable to bend its legs or close its open mouth. Thereupon he threw it -across his shoulders and carried it off home. However, such a feat as -this could only be accomplished by a butcher. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[291] A satirical remark of Mencius (Book I.), used by the sage when -combating the visionary projects of a monarch of antiquity. - -[292] This disgusting process is too frequently performed by native -butchers at the present day, in order to give their meat a more -tempting appearance. Water is also blown in through a tube, to make it -heavier; and inexperienced housekeepers are often astonished to find -how light ducks and geese become after being cooked, not knowing that -the fraudulent poulterer had previously stuffed their throats as full -as possible of sand. - - - - -CXLVI. - -SINGULAR VERDICT. - - -A servant in the employ of a Mr. Sun was sleeping alone one night, -when all on a sudden he was arrested and carried before the tribunal -of the Ruler of Purgatory. "This is not the right man," cried his -Majesty, and immediately sent him back. However, after this the -servant was afraid to sleep on that bed again, and took up his -quarters elsewhere. But another servant, named Kuo Ngan, seeing the -vacant place, went and occupied it. A third servant, named Li Lu, who -had an old standing grudge against the first, stole up to the bed that -same night with a knife in his hand, and killed Kuo Ngan[293] in -mistake for his enemy. Kuo's father at once brought the case before -the magistrate of the place, pleading that the murdered man was his -only son on whom he depended for his living; and the magistrate -decided that Kuo was to take Li Lu in the place of his dead son, much -to the discomfiture of the old man. Truly the descent of the first -servant into Purgatory was not so marvellous as the magistrate's -decision! - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[293] This was the man whose destiny it was really to die just then, -and appear before the Ruler of Purgatory. - - - - -CXLVII. - -THE GRATEFUL DOG. - - -A certain trader who had been doing business at Wu-hu and was -returning home with the large profits he had made, saw on the river -bank a butcher tying up a dog.[294] He bought the animal for much more -than its value, and carried it along with him in his boat. Now the -boatman had formerly been a bandit; and, tempted by his passenger's -wealth, ran the boat among the rushes, and, drawing a knife, prepared -to slay him. The trader begged the man to leave him a whole skin;[295] -so the boatman wrapped him up in a carpet and threw him into the -river. The dog, on seeing what was done, whined piteously, and jumping -into the river, seized the bundle with his teeth and did its best to -keep the trader above water until at length a shallow spot was -reached. The animal then succeeded by continuous barking in attracting -the attention of some people on the bank, and they hauled the bundle -out of the river, and released the trader who was still alive. The -latter asked to be taken back to Wu-hu where he might look out for the -robber boatman; but just as he was about to start, lo! the dog was -missing. The trader was much distressed at this; and after spending -some days at Wu-hu without being able to find, among the forest of -masts collected there, the particular boat he wanted, he was on the -point of returning home with a friend, when suddenly the dog -re-appeared and seemed by its barking to invite its master to follow -in a certain direction. This the trader did, until at length the dog -jumped on a boat and seized one of the boatmen by the leg. No beating -could make the animal let go; and on looking closely at the man, the -trader saw he was the identical boatman who had robbed and tried to -murder him. He had changed his clothes and also his boat, so that at -first he was not recognisable; he was now, however, arrested, and the -whole of the money was found in his boat. To think that a dog could -show gratitude like that! Truly there are not a few persons who would -be put to shame by that faithful animal.[296] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[294] The city of Canton boasts several "cat and dog" restaurants; but -the consumption of this kind of food is much less universal than is -generally supposed. - -[295] Not in our sense of the term. It was not death, but -decapitation, or even mutilation, from which the trader begged to be -spared. See No. LXXII., note 59. - -[296] The Chinese dog is usually an ill-fed, barking cur, without one -redeeming trait in its character. Valued as a guardian of house and -property, this animal does not hold the same social position as with -us; its very name is a by-word of reproach; and the people of Tonquin -explain their filthy custom of blackening the teeth on the ground that -a dog's teeth are white. - - - - -CXLVIII. - -THE GREAT TEST. - - -Before Mr. Yang Ta-hung[297] was known to fame, he had already -acquired some reputation as a scholar in his own part of the country, -and felt convinced himself that his was to be no mean destiny. When -the list of successful candidates at the examination was brought to -where he lived, he was in the middle of dinner, and rushed out with -his mouth full to ask if his name was there or not; and on hearing -that it was not, he experienced such a revulsion of feeling that what -he then swallowed stuck fast like a lump in his chest and made him -very ill. His friends tried to appease him by advising him to try at -the further examination of the rejected, and when he urged that he had -no money, they subscribed ten ounces of silver and started him on his -way. - -That night he dreamt that a man appeared to him and said, "Ahead of -you there is one who can cure your complaint: beseech him to aid you." -The man then added-- - - "A tune on the flute 'neath the riverside willow: - Oh, show no regret when 'tis cast to the billow!" - -Next day, Mr. Yang actually met a Taoist priest sitting beneath a -willow tree; and, making him a bow, asked him to prescribe for his -malady. "You have come to the wrong person," replied the priest, -smiling; "I cannot cure diseases; but had you asked me for a tune on -the flute, I could have possibly helped you." Then Mr. Yang knew that -his dream was being fulfilled; and going down on his knees offered the -priest all the money he had. The priest took it, but immediately threw -it into the river, at which Mr. Yang, thinking how hardly he had come -by this money, was moved to express his regret. "Aha!" cried the -priest at this; "so you are not indifferent, eh? You'll find your -money all safe on the bank." There indeed Mr. Yang found it, at which -he was so much astonished that he addressed the priest as though he -had been an angel. "I am no angel," said the priest, "but here comes -one;" whereupon Mr. Yang looked behind him, and the priest seized the -opportunity to give him a slap on the back, crying out at the same -time, "You worldly-minded fellow!" This blow brought up the lump of -food that had stuck in his chest, and he felt better at once; but when -he looked round the priest had disappeared.[298] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[297] A celebrated scholar and statesman, who flourished towards the -close of the Ming dynasty, and distinguished himself by his -impeachment of the powerful eunuch, Wei Chung-hsien,--a dangerous step -to take in those eunuch-ridden times. - -[298] Mr. Yang was a man of tried virtue, and had he been able to -tolerate _oculo irretorto_, the loss of his money, the priest would -have given him, not merely a cure for the bodily ailment under which -he was suffering, but a knowledge of those means by which he might -have obtained the salvation of his soul, and have enrolled himself -among the ranks of the Taoist Immortals. "To those, however," remarks -the commentator, "who lament that Mr. Yang was too worldly-minded to -secure this great prize, I reply, 'Better one more good man on earth, -than an extra angel in heaven.'" - - - - -CXLIX. - -THE ALCHEMIST.[299] - - -At Ch'ang-ngan there lived a scholar named Chia Tz[)u]-lung, who one day -noticed a very refined-looking stranger; and, on making inquiries -about him, learnt that he was a Mr. Chen, who had taken lodgings hard -by. Accordingly, next day Chia called and sent in his card, but did -not see Chen, who happened to be out at the time. The same thing -occurred thrice; and at length Chia engaged some one to watch and let -him know when Mr. Chen was at home. However, even then the latter -would not come forth to receive his guest, and Chia had to go in and -rout him out. The two now entered into conversation, and soon became -mutually charmed with each other; and by-and-by Chia sent off a -servant to bring wine from a neighbouring wine-shop. Mr. Chen proved -himself a pleasant boon companion, and when the wine was nearly -finished, he went to a box, and took from it some wine-cups and a -large and beautiful jade tankard, into the latter of which he poured -a single cup of wine, and lo! it was filled to the brim. They then -proceeded to help themselves from the tankard; but however much they -took out, the contents never seemed to diminish. Chia was astonished -at this, and begged Mr. Chen to tell him how it was done. "Ah," -replied Mr. Chen, "I tried to avoid making your acquaintance solely -because of your one bad quality--avarice. The art I practise is a -secret known to the Immortals only: how can I divulge it to you?" "You -do me wrong," rejoined Chia, "in thus attributing avarice to me. The -avaricious, indeed, are always poor." Mr. Chen laughed, and they -separated for that day; but from that time they were constantly -together, and all ceremony was laid aside between them. Whenever Chia -wanted money, Mr. Chen would bring out a black stone, and, muttering a -charm, would rub it on a tile or a brick, which was forthwith changed -into a lump of silver. This silver he would give to Chia, and it was -always just as much as he actually required, neither more nor less; -and if ever the latter asked for more, Mr. Chen would rally him on the -subject of avarice. Finally, Chia determined to try and get possession -of this stone; and one day, when Mr. Chen was sleeping off the fumes -of a drinking-bout, he tried to extract it from his clothes. However, -Chen detected him at once, and declared that they could be friends no -more, and next day he left the place altogether. About a year -afterwards Chia was one day wandering by the river-bank, when he saw a -handsome-looking stone, marvellously like that in the possession of -Mr. Chen; and he picked it up at once and carried it home with him. A -few days passed away, and suddenly Mr. Chen presented himself at -Chia's house, and explained that the stone in question possessed the -property of changing anything into gold, and had been bestowed upon -him long before by a certain Taoist priest, whom he had followed as a -disciple. "Alas!" added he, "I got tipsy and lost it; but divination -told me where it was, and if you will now restore it to me, I shall -take care to repay your kindness." "You have divined rightly," replied -Chia; "the stone is with me; but recollect, if you please, that the -indigent Kuan Chung[300] shared the wealth of his friend Pao Shu." At -this hint Mr. Chen said he would give Chia one hundred ounces of -silver; to which the latter replied that one hundred ounces was a fair -offer, but that he would far sooner have Mr. Chen teach him the -formula to utter when rubbing the stone on anything, so as just to try -the thing once himself. Mr. Chen was afraid to do this; whereupon Chia -cried out, "You are an Immortal yourself; you must know well enough -that I would never deceive a friend." So Mr. Chen was prevailed upon -to teach him the formula, and then Chia would have tried the art upon -the immense stone washing-block[301] which was lying near at hand, had -not Mr. Chen seized his arm and begged him not to do any thing so -outrageous. Chia then picked up half a brick and laid it on the -washing-block, saying to Mr. Chen, "This little piece is not too much, -surely?" Accordingly, Mr. Chen relaxed his hold and let Chia proceed; -which he did by promptly ignoring the half brick and quickly rubbing -the stone on the washing-block. Mr. Chen turned pale when he saw him -do this, and made a dash forward to get hold of the stone; but it was -too late, the washing-block was already a solid mass of silver, and -Chia quietly handed him back the stone. "Alas! alas!" cried Mr. Chen, -in despair, "what is to be done now? For having thus irregularly -conferred wealth upon a mortal,[302] Heaven will surely punish me. Oh, -if you would save me, give away one hundred coffins[303] and one -hundred suits of wadded clothes." "My friend," replied Chia, "my -object in getting money was not to hoard it up like a miser." Mr. Chen -was delighted at this; and during the next three years Chia engaged in -trade, taking care to be all the time fulfilling his promise to Mr. -Chen. At the expiration of that time Mr. Chen himself reappeared, and, -grasping Chia's hand, said to him, "Trustworthy and noble friend, when -we last parted the Spirit of Happiness impeached me before God,[304] -and my name was erased from the list of angels. But now that you have -carried out my request, that sentence has accordingly been rescinded. -Go on as you have begun, without ceasing." Chia asked Mr. Chen what -office he filled in heaven; to which the latter replied that he was -only a fox, who, by a sinless life, had finally attained to that clear -perception of the Truth which leads to immortality. Wine was then -brought, and the two friends enjoyed themselves together as of old; -and even when Chia had passed the age of ninety years, that fox still -used to visit him from time to time. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[299] Alchemy was widely cultivated in China during the Han dynasty by -priests of the Taoist religion, but all traces of it have now long -since disappeared. - -[300] See No. XXII., note 143. - -[301] These are used, together with a heavy wooden _baton_, by the -Chinese washerman, the effect being most disastrous to a European -wardrobe. - -[302] For thus interfering with the appointments of Destiny. - -[303] To provide coffins for poor people has ever been regarded as an -act of transcendent merit. The tornado at Canton, in April, 1878, in -which several thousand lives were lost, afforded an admirable -opportunity for the exercise of this form of charity--an opportunity -which was very largely availed of by the benevolent. - -[304] For usurping its prerogative by allowing Chia to obtain -unauthorized wealth. - - - - -CL. - -RAISING THE DEAD. - - -Mr. T'ang P'ing, who took the highest degree in the year 1661, was -suffering from a protracted illness, when suddenly he felt, as it -were, a warm glow rising from his extremities upwards. By the time it -had reached his knees, his feet were perfectly numb and without -sensation; and before long his knees and the lower part of his body -were similarly affected. Gradually this glow worked its way up until -it attacked the heart,[305] and then some painful moments ensued. -Every single incident of Mr. T'ang's life from his boyhood upwards, no -matter how trivial, seemed to surge through his mind, borne along on -the tide of his heart's blood. At the revival of any virtuous act of -his, he experienced a delicious feeling of peace and calm; but when -any wicked deed passed before his mind, a painful disturbance took -place within him, like oil boiling and fretting in a cauldron. He was -quite unable to describe the pangs he suffered; however, he mentioned -that he could recollect having stolen, when only seven or eight years -old, some young birds from their nest, and having killed them; and for -this alone, he said, boiling blood rushed through his heart during the -space of an ordinary mealtime. Then when all the acts of his life had -passed one after another in panorama before him, the warm glow -proceeded up his throat, and, entering the brain, issued out at the -top of his head like smoke from a chimney. By-and-by Mr. T'ang's soul -escaped from his body by the same aperture, and wandered far away, -forgetting all about the tenement it had left behind. Just at that -moment a huge giant came along, and, seizing the soul, thrust it into -his sleeve, where it remained cramped and confined, huddled up with a -crowd of others, until existence was almost unbearable. Suddenly Mr. -T'ang reflected that Buddha alone could save him from this horrible -state, and forthwith he began to call upon his holy name.[306] At the -third or fourth invocation he fell out of the giant's sleeve, -whereupon the latter picked him up and put him back; but this happened -several times, and at length the giant, wearied of picking him up, let -him lie where he was. The soul lay there for some time, not knowing in -which direction to proceed; however, it soon recollected that the land -of Buddha was in the west, and westwards accordingly it began to shape -its course. In a little while the soul came upon a Buddhist priest -sitting by the roadside, and, hastening forwards, respectfully -inquired of him which was the right way. "The record of life and -death for scholars," replied the priest, "is in the hands of -Wen-ch'ang[307] and Confucius; any application must receive the -consent of both." The priest then directed Mr. T'ang on his way, and -the latter journeyed along until he reached a Confucian temple, in -which the Sage was sitting with his face to the south.[308] On hearing -his business, Confucius referred him on to Wen-ch'ang; and, proceeding -onwards in the direction indicated, Mr. T'ang by-and-by arrived at -what seemed to be the palace of a king, within which sat Wen-ch'ang, -precisely as we depict him on earth. "You are an upright man," replied -the God, in reply to Mr. T'ang's prayer, "and are certainly entitled -to a longer span of life; but by this time your mortal body has become -decomposed, and unless you can secure the assistance of P'u-sa,[309] I -can give you no aid." So Mr. T'ang set off once more, and hurried -along until he came to a magnificent shrine standing in a thick grove -of tall bamboos; and, entering in, he stood in the presence of the -God, on whose head was the _ushnisha_,[310] whose golden face was -round like the full moon, and at whose side was a green willow-branch -bending gracefully over the lip of a vase. Humbly Mr. T'ang prostrated -himself on the ground, and repeated what Wen-ch'ang had said to him; -but P'u-sa seemed to think it would be impossible to grant his -request, until one of the Lohans[311] who stood by cried out, "O God, -Thou canst perform this miracle: take earth and make his flesh; take a -sprig of willow and make his bones." Thereupon P'u-sa broke off a -piece from the willow-branch in the vase beside him; and, pouring a -little of the water upon the ground, he made clay, and, casting the -whole over Mr. T'ang's soul, bade an attendant lead the body back to -the place where his coffin was. At that instant Mr. T'ang's family -heard a groan proceeding from within his coffin, and, on rushing to it -and helping out the lately-deceased man, they found he had quite -recovered. He had then been dead seven days. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[305] See No. XIV., note 97. - -[306] See No. LIV., note 293. - -[307] The God of Literature. - -[308] See No. LXXVII., note 76. - -[309] See No. XXVI., note 182. - -[310] A fleshy protuberance on the head, which is the distinguishing -mark of a Buddha. - -[311] The eighteen personal disciples of Shakyamuni Buddha. Sixteen of -these are Hindoos, which number was subsequently increased by the -addition of two Chinese Buddhists. - - - - -CLI. - -FENG-SHUI.[312] - - -At I-chow there lived a high official named Sung, whose family were -all ardent supporters of Feng-Shui; so much so, that even the -women-folk read books[313] on the subject, and understood the -principles of the science. When Mr. Sung died, his two sons set up -separate establishments,[314] and each invited to his own house -geomancers from far and near, who had any reputation in their art, to -select a spot for the dead man's grave. By degrees, they had collected -together as many as a hundred a-piece, and every day they would scour -the country round, each at the head of his own particular regiment. -After about a month of this work, both sides had fixed upon a suitable -position for the grave; and the geomancers engaged by one brother, -declared that if their spot was selected he would certainly some day -be made a marquis, while the other brother was similarly informed, by -his geomancers, that by adopting their choice he would infallibly rise -to the rank of Secretary of State. Thus, neither brother would give -way to the other, but each set about making the grave in his own -particular place,--pitching marquees, and arranging banners, and -making all necessary preparations for the funeral. Then when the -coffin arrived at the point where roads branched off to the two -graves, the two brothers, each leading on his own little army of -geomancers, bore down upon it with a view to gaining possession of the -corpse. From morn till dewy eve the battle raged; and as neither -gained any advantage over the other, the mourners and friends, who had -come to witness the ceremony of burial, stole away one by one; and the -coolies, who were carrying the coffin, after changing the poles from -one shoulder to another until they were quite worn out, put the body -down by the roadside, and went off home. It then became necessary to -make some protection for the coffin against the wind and rain; -whereupon the elder brother immediately set about building a hut close -by, in which he purposed leaving some of his attendants to keep -guard; but he had no sooner begun than the younger brother followed -his example; and when the elder built a second and third, the younger -also built a second and third; and as this went on for the space of -three whole years, by the end of that time the place had become quite -a little village. By-and-by, both brothers died, one directly after -the other; and then their two wives determined to cast to the winds -the decision of each party of geomancers. Accordingly, they went -together to the two spots in question; and after inspecting them -carefully, declared that neither was suitable. The next step was to -jointly engage another set of geomancers, who submitted for their -approval several different spots, and ten days had hardly passed away -before the two women had agreed upon the position for their -father-in-law's grave, which, as the wife of the younger brother -prophesied, would surely give to the family a high military degree. So -the body was buried, and within three years Mr. Sung's eldest -grandson, who had entered as a military cadet, actually took the -corresponding degree to a literary master of arts. - - ["Feng-Shui," adds the great commentator I Shih-shih, "may or may - not be based upon sound principles; at any rate, to indulge a - morbid belief in it is utter folly; and thus to join issue and - fight while a coffin is relegated to the roadside, is hardly in - accordance with the doctrines of filial piety or fraternal love. - Can people believe that mere position will improve the fortunes of - their family? At any rate, that two women should have thus quietly - settled the matter is certainly worthy of record."] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[312] Literally, "wind and water," or that which cannot be seen and -that which cannot be grasped. I have explained the term in my _Chinese -Sketches_, p. 143, as "a system of geomancy, by the _science_ of which -it is possible to determine the desirability of sites,--whether of -tombs, houses, or cities, from the configuration of such natural -objects as rivers, trees, and hills, and to foretell with certainty -the fortunes of any family, community, or individual, according to the -spot selected; by the _art_ of which it is in the power of the -geomancer to counteract evil influences by good ones, to transform -straight and noxious outlines into undulating and propitious curves, -and rescue whole districts from the devastations of flood or -pestilence." - -[313] As a rule, only the daughters of wealthy families receive any -education to speak of. - -[314] A reprehensible proceeding in the eyes of all respectable -Chinese, both from a moral and a practical point of view; "for when -brothers fall out," says the proverb, "strangers get an advantage over -them." - - - - -CLII. - -THE LINGERING DEATH. - - -There was a man in our village who led an exceedingly disreputable -life. One morning when he got up rather early, two men appeared, and -led him away to the market-place, where he saw a butcher hanging up -half a pig. As they approached, the two men shoved him with all their -might against the dead animal, and lo! his own flesh began to blend -with the pork before him, while his conductors hurried off in an -opposite direction. By-and-by the butcher wanted to sell a piece of -his meat; and seizing a knife, began to cut off the quantity required. -At every touch of the blade our disreputable friend experienced a -severe pang, which penetrated into his very marrow; and when, at -length, an old man came and haggled over the weight given him, crying -out for a little bit more fat, or an extra portion of lean,[315] then, -as the butcher sliced away the pork ounce by ounce, the pain was -unendurable in the extreme. By about nine o'clock the pork was all -sold, and our hero went home, whereupon his family asked him what he -meant by staying in bed so late.[316] He then narrated all that had -taken place, and on making inquiries, they found that the pork-butcher -had only just come home; besides which our friend was able to tell him -every pound of meat he had sold, and every slice he had cut off. Fancy -a man being put to the lingering death[317] like this before -breakfast! - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[315] Chinese tradesmen invariably begin by giving short weight in -such transactions as these, partly in order to be in a position to -gratify the customer by throwing in a trifle more and thus acquire a -reputation for fair dealing. - -[316] It was only his soul that had left the house. - -[317] See No. LVI., note 322. - - - - -CLIII. - -DREAMING HONOURS. - - -Wang Tz[)u]-ngan was a Tung-ch'ang man, and a scholar of some repute, but -unfortunate at the public examinations. On one occasion, after having -been up for his master's degree, his anxiety was very great; and when -the time for the publication of the list drew near, he drank himself -gloriously tipsy, and went and lay down on the bed. In a few moments a -man rushed in, and cried out, "Sir! you have passed!" whereupon Wang -jumped up, and said, "Give him ten strings of cash."[318] Wang's wife, -seeing he was drunk, and wishing to keep him quiet, replied, "You go -on sleeping: I've given him the money." So Wang lay down again, but -before long in came another man who informed Wang that his name was -among the successful candidates for the highest degree. "Why, I -haven't been up for it yet;" said Wang, "how can I have passed?" -"What! you don't mean to say you have forgotten the examination?" -answered the man; and then Wang got up once more, and gave orders to -present the informant with ten strings of cash. "All right," replied -his wife; "you go on sleeping: I've given him the money." Another -short interval, and in burst a third messenger to say that Wang had -been elected a member of the National Academy, and that two official -servants had come to escort him thither. Sure enough there were the -two servants bowing at the bedside, and accordingly Wang directed that -they should be served with wine and meat, which his wife, smiling at -his drunken nonsense, declared had been already done. Wang now -bethought him that he should go out and receive the congratulations of -the neighbours, and roared out several times to his official servants; -but without receiving any answer. "Go to sleep," said his wife, "and -wait till I have fetched them;" and after awhile the servants actually -came in; whereupon Wang stamped and swore at them for being such -idiots as to go away. "What! you wretched scoundrel," cried the -servants, "are you cursing us in earnest, when we are only joking with -you!" At this Wang's rage knew no bounds, and he set upon the men, and -gave them a sound beating, knocking the hat of one off on to the -ground. In the _melee_, he himself tumbled over, and his wife ran in -to pick him up, saying, "Shame upon you, for getting so drunk as -this!" "I was only punishing the servants as they deserved," replied -Wang; "why do you call me drunk?" "Do you mean the old woman who cooks -our rice and boils the water for your foot-bath," asked his wife, -smiling, "that you talk of servants to wait upon your poverty-stricken -carcase?" At this sally all the women burst out in a roar of -laughter; and Wang, who was just beginning to get sober, waked up as -if from a dream, and knew that there was no reality in all that had -taken place. However, he recollected the spot where the servant's hat -had fallen off, and on going thither to look for it, lo! he beheld a -tiny official hat, no larger than a wine-cup, lying there behind the -door. They were all much astonished at this, and Wang himself cried -out, "Formerly people were thus tricked by devils; and now foxes are -playing the fool with me!"[319] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[318] See No. CXXIII., note 234. - -[319] A common saying is "Foxes in the north; devils in the south," as -illustrative of the folk-lore of these two great divisions of China. - - - - -CLIV. - -THE SHE-WOLF AND THE HERD-BOYS. - - -Two herd-boys went up among the hills and found a wolf's lair with two -little wolves in it. Seizing each of them one, they forthwith climbed -two trees which stood there, at a distance of forty or fifty paces -apart. Before long the old wolf came back, and, finding her cubs gone, -was in a great state of distress. Just then, one of the herd-boys -pinched his cub and made it squeak; whereupon the mother ran angrily -towards the tree whence the sound proceeded, and tried to climb up it. -At this juncture, the boy in the other tree pinched the other cub, and -thereby diverted the wolf's attention in that direction. But no sooner -had she reached the foot of the second tree, than the boy who had -first pinched his cub did so again, and away ran the old wolf back to -the tree in which her other young one was. Thus they went on time -after time, until the mother was dead tired, and lay down exhausted on -the ground. Then, when after some time she shewed no signs of moving, -the herd-boys crept stealthily down, and found that the wolf was -already stiff and cold. And truly, it is better to meet a blustering -foe with his hand upon his sword-hilt, by retiring within doors, and -leaving him to fret his violence away unopposed; for such is but the -behaviour of brute beasts, of which men thus take advantage. - - - - -CLV. - -ADULTERATION[320] PUNISHED. - - -At Chin-ling there lived a seller of spirits, who was in the habit of -adulterating his liquor with water and a certain drug, the effect of -which was that even a few cups would make the strongest-headed man as -drunk as a jelly-fish.[321] Thus his shop acquired a reputation for -having a good article on sale, and by degrees he became a rich man. -One morning, on getting up, he found a fox lying drunk alongside of -the spirit vat; and tying its legs together, he was about to fetch a -knife, when suddenly the fox waked up, and began pleading for its -life, promising in return to do anything the spirit-merchant might -require. The latter then released the animal, which instantly changed -into the form of a human being. Now, at that very time, the -wife of a neighbour was suffering under fox influence, and this -recently-transformed animal confessed to the spirit-merchant that it -was he who had been troubling her. Thereupon the spirit-merchant, who -knew the lady in question to be a celebrated beauty, begged his fox -friend to secretly introduce him to her. After raising some -objections, the fox at length consented, and conducted the -spirit-merchant to a cave, where he gave him a suit of serge clothes, -which he said had belonged to his late brother, and in which he told -him he could easily go. The merchant put them on, and returned home, -when to his great delight he observed that no one could see him, but -that if he changed into his ordinary clothes everybody could see him -as before. Accordingly he set off with the fox for his neighbour's -house; and, when they arrived, the first thing they beheld was a charm -on the wall, like a great wriggling dragon. At this the fox was -greatly alarmed, and said, "That scoundrel of a priest! I can't go any -farther." He then ran off home, leaving the spirit-merchant to proceed -by himself. The latter walked quietly in to find that the dragon on -the wall was a real one, and preparing to fly at him, so he too -turned, and ran away as fast as his legs could carry him. The fact was -that the family had engaged a priest to drive away the fox influence; -and he, not being able to go at the moment himself, gave them this -charm to stick up on the wall. The following day the priest himself -came, and, arranging an altar, proceeded to exorcise the fox. All the -villagers crowded round to see, and among others was the -spirit-merchant, who, in the middle of the ceremony, suddenly changed -colour, and hurried out of the front door, where he fell on the ground -in the shape of a fox, having his clothes still hanging about his arms -and legs. The bystanders would have killed him on the spot, but his -wife begged them to spare him; and the priest let her take the fox -home, where in a few days it died. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[320] In no country in the world is adulteration more extensively -practised than in China, the only formal check upon it being a -religious one--the dread of punishment in the world below. - -[321] The text has here a word (literally, "mud") explained to be the -name of a boneless aquatic creature, which on being removed from the -water lies motionless like a lump of mud. The common term for a -jelly-fish is _shui-mu_, "water-mother." - - - - -CLVI. - -A CHINESE SOLOMON. - - -In our district there lived two men, named Hu Ch'eng and Feng Ngan, -between whom there existed an old feud. The former, however, was the -stronger of the two; and accordingly Feng disguised his feelings under -a specious appearance of friendship, though Hu never placed much faith -in his professions. One day they were drinking together, and being -both of them rather the worse for liquor, they began to brag of the -various exploits they had achieved. "What care I for poverty," cried -Hu, "when I can lay a hundred ounces of silver on the table at a -moment's notice?" Now Feng was well aware of the state of Hu's -affairs, and did not hesitate to scout such pretensions, until Hu -further informed him in perfect seriousness that the day before he had -met a merchant travelling with a large sum of money and had tumbled -him down a dry well by the wayside; in confirmation of which he -produced several hundred ounces of silver, which really belonged to a -brother-in-law on whose behalf he was managing some negotiation for -the purchase of land. When they separated, Feng went off and gave -information to the magistrate of the place, who summoned Hu to answer -to the charge. Hu then told the actual facts of the case, and his -brother-in-law and the owner of the land in question corroborated his -statement. However, on examining the dry well by letting a man down -with a rope round him, lo! there was a headless corpse lying at the -bottom. Hu was horrified at this, and called Heaven to witness that he -was innocent; whereupon the magistrate ordered him twenty or thirty -blows on the mouth for lying in the presence of such irrefragable -proof, and cast him into the condemned cell, where he lay loaded with -chains. Orders were issued that the corpse was not to be removed, and -a notification was made to the people, calling upon the relatives of -the deceased to come forward and claim the body. Next day a woman -appeared, and said deceased was her husband; that his name was Ho, and -that he was proceeding on business with a large sum of money about him -when he was killed by Hu. The magistrate observed that possibly the -body in the well might not be that of her husband, to which the woman -replied that she felt sure it was; and accordingly the corpse was -brought up and examined, when the woman's story was found to be -correct. She herself did not go near the body, but stood at a little -distance making the most doleful lamentations; until at length the -magistrate said, "We have got the murderer, but the body is not -complete; you go home and wait until the head has been discovered, -when life shall be given for life." He then summoned Hu before him, and -told him to produce the head by the next day under penalty of severe -torture; but Hu only wandered about with the guard sent in charge of -him, crying and lamenting his fate, but finding nothing. The -instruments of torture were then produced, and preparations were made -as if for torturing Hu; however, they were not applied,[322] and -finally the magistrate sent him back to prison, saying, "I suppose -that in your hurry you didn't notice where you dropped the head." The -woman was then brought before him again; and on learning that her -relatives consisted only of one uncle, the magistrate remarked, "A -young woman like you, left alone in the world, will hardly be able to -earn a livelihood. [Here she burst into tears and implored the -magistrate's pity.] The punishment of the guilty man has been already -decided upon, but until we get the head, the case cannot be closed. As -soon as it is closed, the best thing you can do is to marry again. A -young woman like yourself should not be in and out of a police-court." -The woman thanked the magistrate and retired; and the latter issued a -notice to the people, calling upon them to make a search for the head. -On the following day, a man named Wang, a fellow villager of the -deceased, reported that he had found the missing head; and his report -proving to be true, he was rewarded with 1,000 _cash_. The magistrate -now summoned the woman's uncle above-mentioned, and told him that the -case was complete, but that as it involved such an important matter as -the life of a human being, there would necessarily be some delay in -closing it for good and all.[323] "Meanwhile," added the magistrate, -"your niece is a young woman and has no children; persuade her to -marry again and so keep herself out of these troubles, and never mind -what people may say."[324] The uncle at first refused to do this; upon -which the magistrate was obliged to threaten him until he was -ultimately forced to consent. At this, the woman appeared before the -magistrate to thank him for what he had done; whereupon the latter -gave out that any person who was willing to take the woman to wife was -to present himself at his yamen. Immediately afterwards an application -was made--by the very man who had found the head. The magistrate then -sent for the woman and asked her if she could say who was the real -murderer; to which she replied that Hu Cheng had done the deed. "No!" -cried the magistrate; "it was not he. It was you and this man here. -[Here both began loudly to protest their innocence.] I have long known -this; but, fearing to leave the smallest loophole for escape, I have -tarried thus long in elucidating the circumstances. How [to the -woman], before the corpse was removed from the well, were you so -certain that it was your husband's body? _Because you already knew he -was dead._ And does a trader who has several hundred ounces of silver -about him dress as shabbily as your husband was dressed? And you, [to -the man], how did you manage to find the head so readily? _Because you -were in a hurry to marry the woman._" The two culprits stood there as -pale as death, unable to utter a word in their defence; and on the -application of torture both confessed the crime. For this man, the -woman's paramour, had killed her husband, curiously enough, about the -time of Hu Cheng's braggart joke. Hu was accordingly released, but -Feng suffered the penalty of a false accuser; he was severely -bambooed, and banished for three years. The case was thus brought to a -close without the wrongful punishment of a single person. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[322] See No. LXXIII., note 62. - -[323] There is a widespread belief that human life in China is held at -a cheap rate. This may be accounted for by the fact that death is the -legal punishment for many crimes not considered capital in the West; -and by the severe measures that are always taken in cases of -rebellion, when the innocent and guilty are often indiscriminately -massacred. In times of tranquillity, however, this is not the case; -and the execution of a criminal is surrounded by a number of -formalities which go far to prevent the shedding of innocent blood. -The _Hsi-yuean-lu_ (see No. XIV., note 100) opens with the words, -"There is nothing more important than human life." - -[324] See No. LXVIII., note 30. - - - - -CLVII. - -THE ROC. - - -Two herons built their nests under one of the ornaments on the roof of -a temple at Tientsin. The accumulated dust of years in the shrine -below concealed a huge serpent, having the diameter of a -washing-basin; and whenever the heron's young were ready to fly, the -reptile proceeded to the nest and swallowed every one of them, to the -great distress of the bereaved parents. This took place three years -consecutively, and people thought the birds would build there no more. -However, the following year they came again; and when the time was -drawing nigh for their young ones to take wing, away they flew, and -remained absent for nearly three days. On their return, they went -straight to the nest, and began amidst much noisy chattering to feed -their young ones as usual. Just then the serpent crawled up to reach -his prey; and as he was nearing the nest the parent-birds flew out and -screamed loudly in mid-air. Immediately, there was heard a mighty -flapping of wings, and darkness came over the face of the earth, which -the astonished spectators now perceived to be caused by a huge bird -obscuring the light of the sun. Down it swooped with the speed of -wind or falling rain, and, striking the serpent with its talons, tore -its head off at a blow, bringing down at the same time several feet of -the masonry of the temple. Then it flew away, the herons accompanying -it as though escorting a guest. The nest too had come down, and of the -two young birds one was killed by the fall; the other was taken by the -priests and put in the bell tower, whither the old birds returned to -feed it until thoroughly fledged, when it spread its wings and was -gone.[325] - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[325] This story is inserted chiefly in illustration of the fact that -all countries have a record of some enormous bird such as the _roc_ of -the "Arabian Nights." - - - - -CLVIII. - -THE FAITHFUL GANDER.[326] - - -A sportsman of Tientsin, having snared a wild goose, was followed to -his home by the gander, which flew round and round him in great -distress, and only went away at nightfall. Next day, when the -sportsman went out, there was the bird again; and at length it -alighted quite close to his feet. He was on the point of seizing it -when suddenly it stretched out its neck and disgorged a piece of pure -gold; whereupon, the sportsman, understanding what the bird meant, -cried out, "I see! this is to ransom your mate, eh?" Accordingly, he -at once released the goose, and the two birds flew away with many -expressions of their mutual joy, leaving to the sportsman nearly three -ounces of pure gold. Can, then, mere birds have such feelings as -these? Of all sorrows there is no sorrow like separation from those we -love; and it seems that the same holds good even of dumb animals. - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[326] See No. XXXV., note 217. - - - - -CLIX. - -THE ELEPHANTS AND THE LION. - - -A huntsman of Kuang-si, who was out on the hills with his bow and -arrows, lay down to rest awhile, and unwittingly fell fast asleep. As -he was slumbering, an elephant came up, and, coiling his trunk around -the man, carried him off. The latter gave himself up for dead; but -before long the elephant had deposited him at the foot of a tall tree, -and had summoned a whole herd of comrades, who crowded about the -huntsman as though asking his assistance. The elephant who had brought -him went and lay down under the tree, and first looked up into its -branches and then looked down at the man, apparently requesting him to -get up into the tree. So the latter jumped on the elephant's back and -then clambered up to the topmost branch, not knowing what he was -expected to do next. By-and-by a lion[327] arrived, and from among -the frightened herd chose out a fat elephant, which he seemed as -though about to devour. The others remained there trembling, not -daring to run away, but looking wistfully up into the tree. Thereupon -the huntsman drew an arrow from his quiver and shot the lion dead, at -which all the elephants below made him a grateful obeisance. He then -descended, when the elephant lay down again and invited him to mount -by pulling at his clothes with its trunk. This he did, and was carried -to a place where the animal scratched the ground with its foot, and -revealed to him a vast number of old tusks. He jumped down and -collected them in a bundle, after which the elephant conveyed him to a -spot whence he easily found his way home. - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[327] The term here used refers to a creature which partakes rather of -the fabulous than of the real. The _Kuang-yuen_ says it is "a kind of -lion;" but other authorities describe it as a horse. Its favourite -food is tiger-flesh. Incense-burners are often made after the "lion" -pattern and called by this name, the smoke of the incense issuing from -the mouth of the animal, like our own gargoyles. - - - - -CLX. - -THE HIDDEN TREASURE. - - -Li Yueeh-sheng was the second son of a rich old man who used to bury -his money, and who was known to his fellow-townsmen as "Old Crocks." -One day the father fell sick, and summoned his sons to divide the -property between them.[328] He gave four-fifths to the elder and only -one-fifth to the younger, saying to the latter, "It is not that I love -your brother more than I love you: I have other money stored away, and -when you are alone I will hand that over to you." A few days -afterwards the old man grew worse, and Yueeh-sheng, afraid that his -father might die at any moment, seized an opportunity of seeing him -alone to ask about the money that he himself was to receive. "Ah," -replied the dying man, "the sum of our joys and of our sorrows is -determined by fate. You are now happy in the possession of a virtuous -wife, and have no right to an increase of wealth." For, as a matter of -fact, this second son was married to a lady from the Ch'e family whose -virtue equalled that of any of the heroines of history: hence his -father's remark. Yueeh-sheng, however, was not satisfied, and implored -to be allowed to have the money; and at length the old man got angry -and said, "You are only just turned twenty; you have known none of the -trials of life, and were I to give a thousand ounces of gold, it would -soon be all spent. Go! and, until you have drunk the cup of bitterness -to its dregs, expect no money from me." Now Yueeh-sheng was a filial -son, and when his father spoke thus he did not venture to say any -more, and hoped for his speedy recovery that he might have a chance of -coaxing him to comply with his request. But the old man got worse and -worse, and at length died; whereupon the elder brother took no trouble -about the funeral ceremonies, leaving it all to the younger, who, -being an open-handed fellow, made no difficulties about the expense. -The latter was also fond of seeing a great deal of company at his -house, and his wife often had to get three or four meals a-day ready -for guests; and, as her husband did very little towards looking after -his affairs, and was further sponged upon by all the needy ones of the -neighbourhood, they were soon reduced to a state of poverty. The elder -brother helped them to keep body and soul together, but he died -shortly afterwards, and this resource was cut off from them. Then, by -dint of borrowing in the spring and repaying in the autumn,[329] they -still managed to exist, until at last it came to parting with their -land, and they were left actually destitute. At that juncture their -eldest son died, followed soon after by his mother; and Yueeh-sheng was -left almost by himself in the world. He now married the widow of a -sheep-dealer, who had a little capital; and she was very strict with -him, and wouldn't let him waste time and money with his friends. One -night his father appeared to him and said, "My son, you have drained -your cup of bitterness to the dregs. You shall now have the money. I -will bring it to you." When Yueeh-sheng woke up, he thought it was -merely a poor man's dream; but the next day, while laying the -foundations of a wall, he did come upon a quantity of gold. And then -he knew what his father had meant by "when you are alone;" for of -those about him at that time, more than half were gone. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[328] The Law of Inheritance, as it obtains in China, has been ably -illustrated by Mr. Chal. Alabaster in Vols. V. and VI. of the _China -Review_. This writer states that "there seems to be no absolutely -fixed law in regard either of inheritance or testamentary dispositions -of property, but certain general principles are recognised which the -court will not allow to be disregarded without sufficient cause." As a -rule the sons, whether by wife or concubine, share equally, and in -preference to daughters, even though there should be a written will in -favour of the latter. - -[329] This has reference to the "seed-time and harvest." - - - - -CLXI. - -THE BOATMEN OF LAO-LUNG. - - -When His Excellency Chu was Viceroy of Kuangtung, there were constant -complaints from the traders of mysterious disappearances; sometimes as -many as three or four of them disappearing at once and never being -seen or heard of again. At length the number of such cases, filed of -course against some person or persons unknown, multiplied to such an -extent that they were simply put on record, and but little notice was -further taken of them by the local officials. Thus, when His -Excellency entered upon his duties, he found more than a hundred -plaints of the kind, besides innumerable cases in which the missing -man's relatives lived at a distance and had not instituted -proceedings. The mystery so preyed upon the new Viceroy's mind that he -lost all appetite for food; and when, finally, all the inquiries he -had set on foot resulted in no clue to an elucidation of these strange -disappearances, then His Excellency proceeded to wash and purify -himself, and, having notified the Municipal God,[330] he took to -fasting and sleeping in his study alone. While he was in ecstasy, lo! -an official entered, holding a tablet in his hand, and said that he -had come from the Municipal temple with the following instructions to -the Viceroy:-- - - "Snow on the whiskers descending: - Live clouds falling from heaven: - Wood in water buoyed up: - In the wall an opening effected." - -The official then retired, and the Viceroy waked up; but it was only -after a night of tossing and turning that he hit upon what seemed to -him the solution of the enigma. "The first line," argued he, "must -signify _old_ (_lao_ in Chinese); the second refers to the -_dragon_[331] (_lung_ in Chinese); the third is clearly a _boat_; and -the fourth a _door_ here taken in its secondary sense--_man_." Now, to -the east of the province, not far from the pass by which traders from -the north connect their line of trade with the southern seas, there -was actually a ferry known as the Old Dragon (_Lao-lung_); and thither -the Viceroy immediately despatched a force to arrest those employed in -carrying people backwards and forwards. More than fifty men were -caught, and they all confessed at once without the application of -torture. In fact, they were bandits under the guise of boatmen;[332] -and after beguiling passengers on board, they would either drug them -or burn stupefying incense until they were senseless, finally cutting -them open and putting a large stone inside to make the body sink. Such -was the horrible story, the discovery of which brought throngs to the -Viceroy's door to serenade him in terms of gratitude and praise.[333] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[330] See No. I., note 36. - -[331] Clouds being naturally connected in every Chinaman's mind with -these fabulous creatures, the origin of which has been traced by some -to waterspouts. See No. LXXXI., note 84. - -[332] "Boat-men" is the solution of the last two lines of the enigma. - -[333] The commentator actually supplies a list of the persons who -signed a congratulatory petition to the Viceroy on the arrest and -punishment of the criminals. - - - - -CLXII. - -THE PIOUS SURGEON. - - -A certain veterinary surgeon, named Hou, was carrying food to his -field labourers, when suddenly a whirlwind arose in his path. Hou -seized a spoon and poured out a libation of gruel, whereupon the wind -immediately dropped. On another occasion, he was wandering about the -municipal temple when he noticed an image of Liu Ch'uean presenting the -melon,[334] in whose eye was a great splotch of dirt. "Dear me, Sir -Liu!" cried Hou, "who has been ill-using you like this?" He then -scraped away the dirt with his finger-nail, and passed on. Some years -afterwards, as he was lying down very ill, two lictors walked in and -carried him off to a yamen, where they insisted on his bribing them -heavily. Hou was at his wits' end what to do; but just at that moment -a personage dressed in green robes came forth, who was greatly -astonished at seeing him there, and asked what it all meant. Our hero -at once explained; whereupon the man in green turned upon the lictors -and abused them for not shewing proper respect to Mr. Hou. Meanwhile a -drum sounded like the roll of thunder, and the man in green told Hou -that it was for the morning session, and that he would have to attend. -Leading Hou within he put him in his proper place, and, promising to -inquire into the charge against him, went forward and whispered a few -words to one of the clerks. "Oh," said the latter, advancing and -making a bow to the veterinary surgeon, "yours is a trifling matter. -We shall merely have to confront you with a horse, and then you can go -home again." Shortly afterwards, Hou's case was called; upon which he -went forward and knelt down, as did also a horse which was prosecuting -him. The judge now informed Hou that he was accused by the horse of -having caused its death by medicines, and asked him if he pleaded -guilty or not guilty. "My lord," replied Hou, "the prosecutor was -attacked by the cattle-plague, for which I treated him accordingly; -and he actually recovered from the disease, though he died on the -following day. Am I to be held responsible for that?" The horse now -proceeded to tell his story; and after the usual cross-examination and -cries for justice, the judge gave orders to look up the horse's term -of life in the Book of Fate. Therein it appeared that the animal's -destiny had doomed it to death on the very day on which it had died; -whereupon the judge cried out, "Your term of years had already -expired; why bring this false charge? Away with you!" and turning to -Hou, the judge added, "You are a worthy man, and may be permitted to -live." The lictors were accordingly instructed to escort him back, and -with them went out both the clerk and the man in green clothes, who -bade the lictors take every possible care of Hou by the way. "You -gentlemen are very kind," said Hou, "but I haven't the honour of your -acquaintance, and should be glad to know to whom I am so much -indebted." "Three years ago," replied the man in green, "I was -travelling in your neighbourhood, and was suffering very much from -thirst, which you relieved for me by a few spoonfuls of gruel. I have -not forgotten that act." "And my name," observed the other, "is -Liu Ch'uean. You once took a splotch of dirt out of my eye that was -troubling me very much. I am only sorry that the wine and food we have -down here is unsuitable to offer you. Farewell." Hou now understood -all that had happened, and went off home with the two lictors where he -would have regaled them with some refreshment, but they refused to -take even a cup of tea. He then waked up and found that he had been -dead for two days. From this time forth he led a more virtuous life -than ever, always pouring out libations to Liu Ch'uean at all the -festivals of the year. Thus he reached the age of eighty, a hale and -hearty man, still able to sit in the saddle; until one day he met -Liu Ch'uean riding on horseback, as if about to make a long journey. -After a little friendly conversation, the latter said to him, "Your -time is up, and the warrant for your arrest is already issued; but I -have ordered the constables to delay awhile, and you can now spend -three days in preparing for death, at the expiration of which I will -come and fetch you. I have purchased a small appointment for you in -the realms below,[335] by which you will be more comfortable." So Hou -went home and told his wife and children; and after collecting his -friends and relatives, and making all necessary preparations, on the -evening of the fourth day he cried out, "Liu Ch'uean has come!" and, -getting into his coffin,[336] lay down and died. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[334] When the soul of the Emperor T'ai Tsung of the T'ang dynasty was -in the infernal regions, it promised to send Yen-lo (the Chinese -_Yama_ or Pluto) a melon; and when His Majesty recovered from the -trance into which he had been plunged, he gave orders that his promise -was to be fulfilled. Just then a man, named Liu Ch'uean, observed a -priest with a hairpin belonging to his wife, and misconstruing the -manner in which possession of it had been obtained, abused his wife so -severely that she committed suicide. Liu Ch'uean himself then -determined to follow her example, and convey the melon to Yen-lo; for -which act he was subsequently deified. See the _Hsi-yu-chi_, Section -XI. - -[335] As the Chinese believe that their disembodied spirits proceed to -a world organised on much the same model as the one they know, so do -they think that there will be social distinctions of rank and -emolument proportioned to the merits of each. - -[336] A dying man is almost always moved into his coffin to die; and -aged persons frequently take to sleeping regularly in the coffins -provided against the inevitable hour by the pious thoughtfulness of a -loving son. Even in middle life Chinese like to see their coffins -ready for them, and store them sometimes on their own premises, -sometimes in the outhouses of a neighbouring temple. - - - - -CLXIII. - -ANOTHER SOLOMON. - - -At T'ai-yuean there lived a middle-aged woman with her widowed -daughter-in-law. The former was on terms of too great intimacy with a -notably bad character of the neighbourhood; and the latter, who -objected very strongly to this, did her best to keep the man from the -house. The elder woman accordingly tried to send the other back to her -family, but she would not go; and at length things came to such a pass -that the mother-in-law actually went to the mandarin of the place and -charged her daughter-in-law with the offence she herself was -committing. When the mandarin inquired the name of the man concerned, -she said she had only seen him in the dark and didn't know who he was, -referring him for information to the accused. The latter, on being -summoned, gave the man's name, but retorted the charge on her -mother-in-law; and when the man was confronted with them, he promptly -declared both their stories to be false. The mandarin, however, said -there was a _prima facie_ case against him, and ordered him to be -severely beaten, whereupon he confessed that it was the -daughter-in-law whom he went to visit. This the woman herself flatly -denied, even under torture; and on being released, appealed to a -higher court, with a very similar result. Thus the case dragged on, -until a Mr. Sun, who was well-known for his judicial acumen, was -appointed district magistrate at that place. Calling the parties -before him, he bade his lictors prepare stones and knives, at which -they were much exercised in their minds, the severest tortures allowed -by law being merely gyves and fetters.[337] However, everything was -got ready, and the next day Mr. Sun proceeded with his investigation. -After hearing all that each one of the three had to say, he delivered -the following judgment:--"The case is a simple one; for although I -cannot say which of you two women is the guilty one, there is no doubt -about the man, who has evidently been the means of bringing discredit -on a virtuous family. Take those stones and knives there and put him -to death. I will be responsible." Thereupon the two women began to -stone the man, especially the younger one, who seized the biggest -stones she could see and threw them at him with all the might of her -pent-up anger; while the mother-in-law chose small stones and struck -him on non-vital parts.[338] So with the knives: the daughter-in-law -would have killed him at the first blow, had not the mandarin stopped -her, and said, "Hold! I now know who is the guilty woman." The -mother-in-law was then tortured until she confessed, and the case was -thus terminated. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[337] See No. LXXIII., note 62. - -[338] The Chinese distinguish sixteen vital spots on the front of the -body and six on the back, with thirty-six and twenty non-vital spots -in similar positions, respectively. They allow, however, that a severe -blow on a non-vital spot might cause death, and _vice versa_. - - - - -CLXIV. - -THE INCORRUPT OFFICIAL. - - -Mr. Wu, Sub-prefect of Chi-nan, was an upright man, and would have no -share in the bribery and corruption which was extensively carried on, -and at which the higher authorities connived, and in the proceeds of -which they actually shared. The Prefect tried to bully him into -adopting a similar plan, and went so far as to abuse him in violent -language; upon which Mr. Wu fired up and exclaimed, "Though I am but a -subordinate official, you should impeach me for anything you have -against me in the regular way; you have not the right to abuse me -thus. Die I may, but I will never consent to degrade my office and -turn aside the course of justice for the sake of filthy lucre." At -this outbreak the Prefect changed his tone, and tried to soothe -him.... [How dare people accuse the age of being corrupt, when it is -themselves who will not walk in the straight path.] One day after this -a certain fox-medium[339] came to the Prefect's yamen just as a feast -was in full swing, and was thus addressed by a guest:--"You who -pretend to know everything, say how many officials there are in this -Prefecture." "_One_," replied the medium; at which the company laughed -heartily, until the medium continued, "There are really seventy-two -holders of office, but Mr. Sub-prefect Wu is the only one who can -justly be called an official." - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[339] Certain classes of soothsayers are believed by the Chinese to be -possessed by foxes, which animals have the power of looking into the -future, &c., &c. - - - - -APPENDIX A. - - -Visitors to Chinese temples of the Taoist persuasion usually make at -once for what is popularly known amongst foreigners as the "Chamber of -Horrors." These belong specially to Taoism, or the ethics of Right in -the abstract, as opposed to abstract Wrong, and are not found in -temples consecrated to the religion of Buddha. Modern Taoism, however, -once a purely metaphysical system, is now so leavened with the -superstitions of Buddhism, and has borrowed so much material from its -younger rival, that an ordinary Chinaman can hardly tell one from the -other, and generally regards them as to all intents and purposes the -same. These rightly-named Chambers of Horrors--for Madame Tussaud has -nothing more ghastly to show in the whole of her wonderful -collection--represent the Ten Courts of Purgatory, through some or all -of which erring souls must pass before they are suffered to be born -again into the world under another form, or transferred to the eternal -bliss reserved for the righteous alone. As a description of these Ten -Courts may not be uninteresting to some of my readers, and as the -subject has a direct bearing upon many of the stories in the previous -collection, I hereto append my translation of a well-known Taoist -work[340] which is circulated gratuitously all over the Chinese Empire -by people who are anxious to lay up a store of good works against the -day of reckoning to come. Those who are acquainted with Dante's -_Divine Comedy_ will recollect that the poet's idea of a Christian -Purgatory was a series of nine lessening circles arranged one above -the other, so as to form a cone. The Taoist believes that his -Purgatory consists of Ten Courts of Justice situated in different -positions at the bottom of a great ocean which lies down in the -depths of the earth. These are sub-divided into special wards, -different forms of torture being inflicted in each. A perusal of this -work will shew what punishments the wicked Chinaman has to expect in -the unseen world, and by what means he may hope to obtain a partial or -complete remission of his sins. - - -_The "Divine Panorama," published by the Mercy of Yue Ti,[341] that Men -and Women may repent them of their Faults and make Atonement for their -Crimes._ - -On the birthday of the Saviour P'u-sa,[342] as the spirits of -Purgatory were thronging round to offer their congratulations, the -ruler of the Infernal Regions spake as follows:--"My wish is to -release all souls, and every moon as this day comes round I would -wholly or partially remit the punishment of erring shades, and give -them life once more in one of the Six Paths.[343] But alas! the wicked -are many and the virtuous few. Nevertheless, the punishments in the -dark region are too severe, and require some modification. Any wicked -soul that repents and induces one or two others to do likewise shall -be allowed to set this off against the punishments which should be -inflicted." The Judges of the Ten Courts of Purgatory then agreed that -all who led virtuous lives from their youth upwards shall be escorted -at their death to the land of the Immortals; that all whose balance of -good and evil is exact shall escape the bitterness of the Three -States,[344] and be born again among men; that those who have repaid -their debts of gratitude and friendship, and fulfilled their destiny, -yet have a balance of evil against them, shall pass through the -various Courts of Purgatory and then be born again amongst men, rich, -poor, old, young, diseased or crippled, to be put a second time upon -trial. Then, if they behave well they may enter into some happy state; -but if badly, they will be dragged by horrid devils through all the -Courts, suffering bitterly as they go, and will again be born, to -endure in life the uttermost of poverty and wretchedness, in death the -everlasting tortures of hell. Those who are disloyal, unfilial, who -commit suicide, take life, or disbelieve the doctrine of Cause and -Effect,[345] saying to themselves that when a man dies there is an -end of him, that when he has lost his skin[346] he has already -suffered the worst that can befall him, that living men can be -tortured, but no one ever saw a man's ghost in the pillory, that after -death all is unknown, etc., etc.,--truly these men do not know that -the body alone perishes but the soul lives for ever and ever; and that -whatsoever evil they do in this life, the same will be done unto them -in the life to come. All who commit such crimes are handed over to the -everlasting tortures of hell; for alas! in spite of the teachings of -the Three Systems[347] some will persist in regarding these warnings -as vain and empty talk. Lightly they speak of Divine mercy, and -knowingly commit many crimes, not more than one in a hundred ever -coming to repentance. Therefore the punishments of Purgatory were -strictly carried out and the tortures dreadfully severe. But now it -has been mercifully ordained that any man or woman, young, old, weak -or strong, who may have sinned in any way, shall be permitted to -obtain remission of the same by keeping his or her thoughts constantly -fixed on P'u-sa and on the birthdays of the Judges of the Ten Courts, -by fasting and prayer, and by vows never to sin again. Or for every -good work done in life they shall be allowed to escape one ward in the -Courts below. From this rule to be excepted disloyal ministers, -unfilial sons, suicides, those who plot in secret against good people, -those who are struck by lightning (_lit._ thunder), those who perish -by flood or fire, by wild animals or poisonous reptiles[348]--these to -pass through all the Courts and be punished according to their -deserts. All other sinners to be allowed to claim their good works as -a set-off against evil, thus partly escaping the agonies of hell and -receiving some reward for their virtuous deeds. - -This account of man's wickedness on the earth and the punishments in -store for him was written in language intelligible to every man and -woman, and was submitted for the approval of P'u-sa, the intention -being to wait the return[349] of some virtuous soul among the sons of -men, and by these means publish it all over the earth. When P'u-sa saw -what had been done, he said it was good; and on the 3rd of 8th moon -proceeded with the ten Judges of Purgatory to lay this book before -God.[350] - -Then God said, "Good indeed! Good indeed! henceforth let all spirits -take note of any mortal who vows to lead a virtuous life and, -repenting, promises to sin no more. Two punishments shall be remitted -him. And if, in addition to this, he succeeds in doing five virtuous -acts, then he shall escape all punishment and be born again in some -happy state--if a woman she shall be born as a man. But more than five -virtuous acts shall enable such a soul to obtain the salvation of -others, and redeem wife and family from the tortures of hell. Let -these regulations be published in the _Divine Panorama_ and circulated -on earth by the spirits of the City Guardian.[351] In fear and -trembling obey this decree and carry it reverently into effect." - - -THE FIRST COURT. - -His Infernal Majesty Ch'in Kuang is specially in charge of the -register of life and death both for old and young, and presides at the -judgment-seat in the lower regions. His court is situated in the great -Ocean, away beyond the Wu-chiao rock,[352] far to the west near the -murky road which leads to the Yellow Springs.[353] Every man and woman -dying in old age whose fate it is to be born again into the world, if -their tale of good and evil works is equally balanced, are sent to the -First Court, and thence transferred back to Life, male becoming -female, female male, rich poor, and poor rich, according to their -several deserts. But those whose good deeds are outnumbered by their -bad are sent to a terrace on the right of the Court, called the -Terrace of the Mirror of Sin, ten feet in height. The mirror is about -fifty feet[354] in circumference and hangs towards the east. Above are -seven characters written horizontally:--"Sin Mirror Terrace upon no -good men." There the wicked souls are able to see the naughtiness of -their own hearts while they were among the living, and the danger of -death and hell. Then do they realize the proverb,-- - - "Ten thousand taels of yellow gold cannot be brought away: - But every crime will tell its tale upon the judgment day." - -When the souls have been to the Terrace and seen their wickednesses, -they are forwarded into the Second Court, where they are tortured and -dismissed to the proper hell. - -Should there be any one enjoying life without reflecting that Heaven -and Earth produce mortals, that father and mother bring the child to -maturity--truly no easy matter; and, ignoring the four obligations,[355] -before receiving the summons, lightly sever the thread of their own -existence by cutting their throats, hanging, poisoning, or drowning -themselves:--then such suicides, if the deed was not done out of -loyalty, filial piety, chastity, or friendship, for which they would -go to Heaven, but in a trivial burst of rage, or fearing the -consequences of a crime which would not amount to death, or in the -hope of falsely injuring a fellow-creature--then such suicides, when -the last breath has left their bodies, shall be escorted to this Court -by the Spirits of the Threshold and of the Hearth. They shall be -placed in the Hunger and Thirst Section, and every day from 7 till 11 -o'clock they will resume their mortal coil, and suffer again the pain -and bitterness of death. After seventy days, or one or two years as -the case may be, they will be conducted back to the scene of their -suicide, but will not be permitted to taste the funeral meats, or -avail themselves of the usual offerings to the dead. Bitterly will -they repent, unable as they will be to render themselves visible and -frighten people,[356] vainly striving to procure a substitute.[357] -For when the substitute shall have been harmlessly entrapped, the -Spirits of the Threshold and Hearth will reconduct the erring soul -back to this Court, whence it will be sent on to the Second Court, -where its balance of good and evil will be struck, and dreadful -tortures applied, being finally passed on through the various Courts -to the utter misery of hell. Should any one have such intention of -suicide and thus threaten a fellow creature, even though he does not -commit the act but continues to live not without virtue, yet shall it -not be permitted in any way to remit his punishment. Any soul which -after suicide shall not remain invisible, but shall frighten people to -death, will be seized by black-faced long-tusked devils and tortured -in the various hells, to be finally thrust into the great Gehenna, for -ever to remain hung up in chains, and not permitted to be born again. - -Every Buddhist or Taoist priest who receives money for prayers and -liturgies, but skips over words and misses out sentences, on arriving -at this, the First Court, will be sent to the section for the -Completion of Prayer, and there in a small dark room he shall pick out -such passages as he has omitted, and make good the deficiency as best -he can, by the uncertain light of an infinitesimal wick burning in a -gallon of oil. Even good and virtuous priests must also repair any -omissions they may have (accidentally) made, and so must every man or -woman who in private devotion may have omitted or wrongly repeated any -part of the sacred writings from over-earnestness, their attention not -being properly fixed on the actual words they repeat. The same applies -to female priests. A dispensation from Buddha to remit such punishment -is put in force on the first day of each month when the names are -entered in the register of the virtuous. - -O ye dwellers upon earth, on the 1st day of the 2nd moon, fasting turn -to the north and make oath to abstain from evil and fix your thoughts -on good, that ye may escape hell! The precepts of Buddha are -circulated over the whole world to warn mankind to believe and repent, -that when the last hour comes their spirits may be escorted by -dark-robed boys to realms of bliss and happiness in the west. - - -THE SECOND COURT. - -His Infernal Majesty, Ch'u Ching, reigns at the bottom of the great -Ocean. Away to the south, below the Wu-chiao rocks, he has a vast -hell, many leagues in extent, and subdivided into sixteen wards, as -follows:-- - -In the first, nothing but black clouds and constant sand-storms. In -the second, mud and filth. In the third, _chevaux de frise_. In the -fourth, gnawing hunger. In the fifth, burning thirst. In the sixth, -blood and pus. In the seventh, the shades are plunged into a brazen -cauldron (of boiling water). In the eighth, the same punishment is -repeated many times. In the ninth, they are put into iron clothes. In -the tenth, they are stretched on a rack to regulation length. In the -eleventh, they are pecked by fowls. In the twelfth, they have only -rivers of lime to drink. In the thirteenth, they are hacked to pieces. -In the fourteenth, the leaves of the trees are as sharp as -sword-points. In the fifteenth they are pursued by foxes and wolves. -In the sixteenth, all is ice and snow. - -Those who lead astray young boys and girls, and then escape punishment -by cutting off their hair and entering the priesthood;[358] those who -filch letters, pictures, books, etc. entrusted to their care, and then -pretend to have lost them; those who injure a fellow-creature's ear, -eye, hand, foot, fingers, or toes; those who practise as doctors -without any knowledge of the medical art; those who will not ransom -grown-up slave-girls;[359] those who, contracting marriage for the -sake of gain, falsely state their ages; or those who in cases of -betrothal, before actual marriage, find out that one of the -contracting parties is a bad character, and yet do not come forward to -say so, but inflict an irreparable wrong on the innocent one;--such -offenders, when their quota of crime has been cast up, their youth or -age and the consequences of their acts taken into consideration, will -be seized by horrid red-faced devils and thrust into the great Hell, -and thence despatched to the particular ward in which they are to be -tormented. When their time of suffering there has expired, they will -be moved into the Third Hall, there to be tortured and passed on to -Gehenna. - -O ye men and women of the world, take this book and warn all sinners, -or copy it out and circulate it for general information! If you see -people sick and ill, give medicine to heal them. If you see people -poor and hungry, feed them. If you see people in difficulties, give -money to save them. Repent your past errors, and you will be allowed -to cancel that evil by future good, so that when the hour arrives you -will pass at once into the Tenth Hall, and thence return again to -existence on earth. - -Let such as love all creatures endowed with life, and do not -recklessly cut and slay, but teach their children not to harm small -animals and insects--let these, on the 1st of the 3rd moon, register -an oath not to take life, but to aid in preserving it. Thus they will -avoid passing through Purgatory, and will also enter at once the Tenth -Hall, to be born again in some happy state. - - -THE THIRD COURT. - -His Infernal Majesty Sung Ti reigns at the bottom of the great Ocean, -away to the south-east, below the Wu-chiao rock, in the Gehenna of -Black Ropes. This Hall is many leagues wide, and is subdivided into -sixteen wards, as follows:-- - -In the first everything is Salt; above, below, and all round, the eye -rests upon Salt alone. The shades feed upon it, and suffer horrid -torments in consequence. When the fit has passed away they return to -it once again, and suffer agonies more unutterable than before. In the -second, the erring shades are bound with cords and carry -heavily-weighted _cangues_. In the third, they are perpetually pierced -through the ribs. In the fourth, their faces are scraped with iron and -copper knives. In the fifth, their fat is scraped away from their -bodies. In the sixth, their hearts and livers are squeezed with -pincers. In the seventh, their eyes are gouged. In the eighth, they -are flayed. In the ninth, their feet are cut off. In the tenth, their -finger-nails and toe-nails are pulled out. In the eleventh their blood -is sucked. In the twelfth, they are hung up head downwards. In the -thirteenth, their shoulder-bones are split. In the fourteenth, they -are tormented by insects and reptiles. In the fifteenth, they are -beaten on the thighs. In the sixteenth, their hearts are scratched. - -Those who enjoy the light of day without reflecting on the Imperial -bounty;[360] officers of State who revel in large emoluments without -reciprocating their sovereign's goodness; private individuals who do -not repay the debt of water and earth;[361] wives and concubines who -slight their marital lords; those who fail in their duties as acting -sons,[362] or such as reap what advantages there are and then go off -to their own homes; slaves who disregard their masters; official -underlings who are ungrateful to their superiors; working partners who -behave badly to the moneyed partner; culprits who escape from prison -or abscond from their place of banishment; those who break their bail -and get others into trouble; and those infatuated ones who have long -omitted to pray and repent--all these, even though they have a set-off -of good deeds, must pass through the misery of every ward. Those who -interfere with another man's Feng-Shui; those who obstruct funeral -obsequies or the completion of graves; those who in digging come on a -coffin and do not immediately cover it up, but injure the bones; those -who steal or avoid paying up their quota of grain;[363] those who lose -all record of the site of their family burying-place; those who incite -others to commit crimes; those who promote litigation; those who write -anonymous placards; those who repudiate a betrothal; those who forge -deeds and other documents; those who receive payment of a debt without -signing a receipt or giving up the I O U; those who counterfeit -signatures and seals; those who alter bills; those who injure -posterity in any way--all these, and similar offenders, shall be -punished according to the gravity of each offence. Devils with big -knives will seize the erring ones and thrust them into the great -Gehenna; besides which they shall expiate their sins in the proper -number of wards, and shall then be forwarded to the Fourth Court where -they shall be tortured and dismissed to the general Gehenna. - -O ye sons of men, on the 8th day of the 2nd moon, register an oath -that ye will do no evil. Thus you may escape the bitterness of these -hells. - - -THE FOURTH COURT. - -The Lord of the Five Senses reigns at the bottom of the great Ocean, -away to the east below the Wu-chiao rock. His Court is many leagues -wide, and is subdivided into sixteen wards, as follows:-- - -In the first, the wicked shades are hung up and water is continually -poured over them. In the second, they are made to kneel on chains and -pieces of split bamboo. In the third, their hands are scalded with -boiling water. In the fourth, their hands swell and stream with -perspiration. In the fifth, their muscles are cut and their bones -pulled out. In the sixth, their shoulders are pricked with a trident -and the skin rubbed with a hard brush. In the seventh, holes are bored -into their flesh. In the eighth, they are made to sit on spikes. In -the ninth, they wear iron clothes. In the tenth, they are placed under -heavy pieces of wood, stone, earth, or tiles. In the eleventh, their -eyes are put out. In the twelfth, their mouths are choked with dust. -In the thirteenth, they are perpetually dosed with nasty medicines. In -the fourteenth, it is so slippery they are always falling down. In the -fifteenth, their mouths are painfully pricked. In the sixteenth, their -bodies are buried under broken stones, &c., the head alone being left -out. - -Those who cheat the customs and evade taxes; those who repudiate their -rent, use weighted scales, sell sham medicines, water their rice,[364] -utter base coin, get deeply in debt, sell doctored[365] silks and -satins, scrape[366] or add size to linen cloth; those who do not make -way for the cripples, old and young; those who encroach upon petty -trade rights[367] of old or young; those who delay in delivering -letters entrusted to them; steal bricks from walls as they pass by, or -oil and candles from lamps;[368] poor people who do not behave -properly and rich people who are not compassionate to the poor; those -who promise a loan and go back on their word; those who see people -suffering from illness, yet cannot bring themselves to part with -certain useful drugs they may have in their possession; those who know -good prescriptions but keep them secret; those who throw vessels which -have contained medicine or broken cups and bottles into the street; -those who allow their mules and ponies to be a nuisance to other -people; those who destroy their neighbour's crops or his walls and -fences; those who try to bewitch their enemies,[369] and those who try -to frighten people in any way,--all these shall be punished according -to the gravity of their offences, and shall be thrust by the devils -into the great Gehenna until their time arrives for passing into the -Fifth Court. - -O ye children of this world, if on the 18th day of the 2nd moon you -register an oath to sin no more, then you may escape the various wards -of this Hall; and if to this book you add examples of rewards and -punishments following upon virtues and crimes, and hand them down to -posterity for the good of the human race, so that all who read may -repent them of their wickednesses--then they will be without sin, and -you not without merit! - - -THE FIFTH COURT. - -His Infernal Majesty, Yen Lo,[370] said,--"Our proper place is in the -First Court; but, pitying those who die by foul means, and should be -sent back to earth to have their wrongs redressed, we have moved our -judgment-seat to the great hell at the bottom of the Ocean, away to -the north-east below the Wu-chiao rock, and have subdivided this hell -into sixteen wards for the torment of souls. All those shades who come -before us have already suffered long tortures in the previous four -Courts, whence, if they are hardened sinners, they are passed on after -seven days to this Court, where if again found to be utterly hardened, -corruption will overtake them by the fifth or seventh day. All shades -cry out either that they have left some vow unfulfilled, or that they -wish to build a temple or a bridge, make a road, clean out a river or -well, publish some book teaching people to be virtuous, that they have -not released their due number of lives, that they have filial duties -or funeral obsequies to perform, some act of kindness to repay, &c., -&c. For these reasons they pray to be allowed to return once more to -the light of day, and are always ready to make oath that henceforth -they will lead most exemplary lives. We, hearing this, reply,--In days -gone by ye openly worked evil, but now that your boat has reached the -midstream, ye bethink yourselves of caulking the leak. For although -P'u-sa in his great mercy decreed that there should be a modification -of torture, and that good works might be set off against evil, the -same being submitted to God and ratified by Divine Decree, to be -further published in the realms below and in the Infernal City--yet we -Judges of the Ten Courts have not yet received one single virtuous man -amongst us, who, coming in the flesh, might carry this _Divine -Panorama_ back with him to the light of day. Truly those who suffer in -hell and on earth cannot complain, and virtuous men are rare! But now -ye have come to my Court, having beheld your own wickedness in the -mirror of sin. No more--bull-headed, horse-faced devils, away with -them to the Terrace[371] that they may once more gaze upon their lost -homes!" - -This Terrace is curved in front like a bow; it looks east, west, and -south. It is eighty-one _li_ from one extreme to the other. The back -part is like the string of the bow; it is enclosed by a wall of sharp -swords. It is 490 feet high; its sides are knife-blades; and the whole -is in sixty-three storeys. No good shade comes to this Terrace; -neither do those whose balance of good and evil is exact. Wicked souls -alone behold their homes close by and can see and hear what is going -on. They hear old and young talking together; they see their last -wishes disregarded and their instructions disobeyed. Everything seems -to have undergone a change. The property they scraped together with so -much trouble is dissipated and gone. The husband thinks of taking -another wife; the widow meditates second nuptials.[372] Strangers are -in possession of the old estate; there is nothing to divide amongst -the children. Debts long since paid are brought again for settlement, -and the survivors are called upon to acknowledge claims upon the -departed. Debts owed are lost for want of evidence, with endless -recriminations, abuse, and general confusion, all of which falls upon -the three families[373] of the deceased. They in their anger speak ill -of him that is gone. He sees his children become corrupt, and his -friends fall away. Some, perhaps, for the sake of bygone times, may -stroke the coffin and let fall a tear, departing quickly with a cold -smile. Worse than that, the wife sees her husband tortured in the -yamen; the husband sees his wife victim to some horrible disease, -lands gone, houses destroyed by flood or fire, and everything in -unutterable confusion--the reward of former sins.[374] All souls, -after the misery of the Terrace, will be thrust into the great -Gehenna, and, when the amount of wickedness of each has been -ascertained, they will be passed through the sixteen wards for the -punishment of evil hearts. In the Gehenna they will be buried under -wooden pillars, bound with copper snakes, crushed by iron dogs, tied -tightly hand and foot, be ripped open and have their hearts torn out, -minced up and given to snakes, their entrails being thrown to dogs. -Then, when their time is up, the pain will cease and their bodies -become whole once more, preparatory to being passed through the -sixteen wards. - -In the first are non-worshippers and sceptics. In the second, those -who have destroyed or hurt living creatures. In the third, those who -do not fulfil their vows. In the fourth, believers in false doctrines, -magicians, and sorcerers. In the fifth, those who tyrannize over the -weak but cringe to the strong; also those who openly wish for -another's death. In the sixth, those who try to put their misfortunes -on to other people's shoulders. In the seventh, those who lead immoral -lives. In the eighth, those who injure others to benefit themselves. -In the ninth, those who are parsimonious and will not help people in -trouble. In the tenth, those who steal and involve the innocent. In -the eleventh, those who forget kindness or seek revenge. In the -twelfth, those who by pernicious drugs stir up others to quarrel, -keeping themselves out of harm's way. In the thirteenth, those who -deceive or spread false reports. In the fourteenth, those who love -brawling and implicate others. In the fifteenth, those who envy the -virtuous and wise. In the sixteenth, those who are lost in vice, -evil-speakers, slanderers, and such like. - -All who disbelieve the doctrine of Cause and Effect, who obstruct good -works, make a pretence of piety, talk of other people's sins, burn or -injure religious books, omit to fast when praying for the sick, -interfere with the adoration of Buddha, slander the priesthood, or, if -scholars, abstain from instructing women and children; those who dig -up graves and obliterate all traces thereof, set light to woods and -forests, allow their servants to be careless in handling fire and thus -endanger their neighbours' property; those who wantonly discharge -arrows and bolts, who try their strength against the sick or weak, -throw potsherds over a wall, poison fish, let off guns, catch birds -either with net, sticky pole,[375] or trap; those who throw down salt -to kill plants, who do not bury dead cats and venomous snakes deep in -the ground, who dig out corpses, who break the soil or alter their -walls and stoves at wrong seasons,[376] who encroach on the public -road or take possession of other people's land, who fill up wells and -drains, &c., &c.,--all these, when they return from the Terrace, shall -first be tortured in the great Gehenna, and then such as are to have -their hearts minced shall be passed into the sixteen wards, thence to -be sent on to the Sixth Court for the punishment of other crimes. -Those who in life have not been guilty of the above sins, or, having -sinned, did on the 8th day of the 1st moon, fasting, register a vow -to sin no more, shall not only escape the punishments of this Court, -but shall also gain some further remission of torture in the Sixth -Court. Those, however, who are guilty of taking life, of gross -immorality, of stealing and implicating the innocent, of ingratitude -and revenge, of infatuated vice which no warnings can turn from its -course,--these shall not escape one jot of their punishments. - - -THE SIXTH COURT. - -This Court is situated at the bottom of the great Ocean, due north of -the Wu-chiao rock. It is a vast, noisy Gehenna, many leagues in -extent, and around it are sixteen wards. - -In the first, the souls are made to kneel for long periods on iron -shot. In the second, they are placed up to their necks in filth. In -the third, they are pounded till the blood runs out. In the fourth, -their mouths are opened with iron pincers and filled full of needles. -In the fifth, they are bitten by rats. In the sixth, they are enclosed -in a net of thorns and nipped by locusts. In the seventh, they are -crushed to a jelly. In the eighth, their skin is lacerated and they -are beaten on the raw. In the ninth, their mouths are filled with -fire. In the tenth, they are licked by flames. In the eleventh, they -are subjected to noisome smells. In the twelfth, they are butted by -oxen and trampled on by horses. In the thirteenth, their hearts are -scratched. In the fourteenth, their heads are rubbed till their skulls -come off. In the fifteenth, they are chopped in two at the waist. In -the sixteenth, their skin is taken off and rolled up into spills. - -Those discontented ones who rail against Heaven and revile Earth, who -are always finding fault either with the wind, thunder, heat, cold, -fine weather or rain; those who let their tears fall towards the -north;[377] who steal the gold from the inside[378] or scrape the -gilding from the outside of images; those who take holy names in vain, -who shew no respect for written paper, who throw down dirt and rubbish -near pagodas or temples, who use dirty cook-houses and stoves for -preparing the sacrificial meats, who do not abstain from eating beef -and dog-flesh;[379] those who have in their possession blasphemous or -obscene books and do not destroy them, who obliterate or tear books -which teach man to be good, who carve on common articles of household -use the symbol of the origin of all things,[380] the Sun and Moon and -Seven Stars, the Royal Mother and the God of Longevity on the same -article,[381] or representations of any of the Immortals; those who -embroider the Svastika[382] on fancy work, or mark characters on silk, -satin, or cloth, on banners, beds, chairs, tables, or any kind of -utensil; those who secretly wear clothes adorned with the dragon and -the phoenix[383] only to be trampled under foot, who buy up grain and -hold until the price is exorbitantly high--all these shall be thrust -into the great and noisy Gehenna, there to be examined as to their -misdeeds and passed accordingly into one of the sixteen wards, whence, -at the expiration of their time, they will be sent for further -questioning on to the Seventh Court. - -All dwellers upon earth who on the 8th day of the 3rd moon, fasting, -register a vow from that date to sin no more, and, on the 14th and -15th of the 5th moon, the 3rd of the 8th moon, and the 10th of the -10th moon, to practise abstinence, vowing moreover to exert themselves -to convert others,--these shall escape the bitterness of all the -above-mentioned wards. - - -THE SEVENTH COURT. - -His Infernal Majesty, T'ai Shan, reigns at the bottom of the great -Ocean, away to the north-west, below the Wu-chiao rock. His is a -vast, noisy Court, measuring many leagues in circumference and -subdivided into sixteen wards, as follows:-- - -In the first, the wicked souls are made to swallow their own blood. In -the second, their legs are pierced and thrust into a fiery pit. In the -third, their chests are cut open. In the fourth, their hair is torn -out with iron combs. In the fifth, they are gnawed by dogs. In the -sixth, great stones are placed on their heads. In the seventh, their -skulls are pierced. In the eighth, they wear fiery clothes. In the -ninth, their skin is torn and pulled by pigs. In the tenth, they are -pecked by huge birds. In the eleventh, they are hung up and beaten on -the feet. In the twelfth, their tongues are pulled out and their jaws -bored. In the thirteenth, they are disembowelled. In the fourteenth, -they are trampled on by mules and bitten by badgers. In the fifteenth, -their fingers are ironed with hot irons. In the sixteenth, they are -boiled in oil. - -All mortals who practise eating red lead[384] and certain other -nauseous articles,[385] who spend more than they should upon wine, who -kidnap human beings for sale, who steal clothes and ornaments from -coffins, who break up dead men's bones for medicine, who separate -people from their relatives, who sell the girl brought up in the house -to be their son's wife, who allow their wives[386] to drown female -children, who stifle their illegitimate offspring, who unite to cheat -another in gambling, who act as tutors without being properly strict, -and thus wrong their pupils, who beat and injure their slaves without -estimating the punishment by the fault, who regard districts entrusted -to their charge in the light of so much spoil, who disobey their -elders, who talk at random and go back on their word, who stir up -others to quarrel and fight--all these shall, upon verification of -their sins, be taken from the great Gehenna and passed through the -proper wards, to be forwarded when their time has expired to the -Eighth Court, again to be tortured according to their deserts. - -All things may not be used as drugs. It is bad enough to slay birds, -beasts, reptiles, and fishes, in order to prepare medicine for the -sick; but to use red lead and many of the filthy messes in vogue is -beyond all bounds of decency, and those who foul their mouths with -these nasty mixtures, no matter how virtuous they may otherwise be, -will not only derive no benefit from saying their prayers, but will be -punished for so doing without mercy. - -Ye who hear these words make haste to repent! From to-day forbear to -take life, buy many birds and animals in order to set them free,[387] -and every morning when you wash your teeth mutter a prayer to Buddha. -Thus, when your last hour comes, a good angel will stand by your side -and purify you of your former sins. - -Some steal the bones of people who have been burnt to death or the -bodies of illegitimate children, for the purpose of compounding -medicines; others steal skulls and bones (from graves) with the same -object. Worst of all are those who carry off bones by the basketful, -using the hard ones for making various articles and grinding down the -soft ones for the manufacture of pottery.[388] These, no matter what -may have been their good works on earth, will not obtain thereby any -remission of punishment; but when they are brought down below, the -Ruler of the Infernal Regions will first pass them from the great -Gehenna into the proper wards, and will send instructions to the Tenth -Court that when they are born again on earth it shall be either -without ears, or eyes, hand, foot, mouth, lips, or nose, or maimed in -some way or other. Yet such as have thus sinned may still avoid this -punishment, if only they are willing to pray and repent, vowing never -to sin again. Or if they buy coffins for the poor and persuade others -to do likewise, by these means giving a decent burial to many -corpses--then, when the death-summons comes, the Spirits of the Home -and Hearth will make a black mark upon the warrant, and punishment -will be remitted. - -Sometimes, when there is a famine, people have nothing to eat and die -of hunger, and wicked men, almost before the breath is out of their -bodies, cut them up and sell their flesh to others for food--a horrid -crime indeed. Those who are guilty of such practices will, on arrival -in the lower regions, be tortured in the various Courts for the space -of forty-nine[389] days, and then the judge of the Tenth Court will be -instructed to notify the judge of the First Court to put them down in -his register for a new birth,--if among men, as hungry famished -outcasts, and if among animals as loathing the food that falls to -their lot, and by-and-by perishing of hunger. Such is their reward. -Besides the above, those who have eaten what is unfit for food and -willingly continue to do so, will be punished either among men or -animals according to their deserts. Their throats will swell, and -though devoured by hunger they will be unable to swallow, and thus -die. Those who do not err a second time may be forgiven as they -deserve; but those who in times of distress subscribe money for the -sufferers, prepare gruel, give away rice to the needy, or distribute -ginger tea[390] and soup in the open street, and thus sustain life a -little longer and do real good to their fellow creatures--all these -shall not only obtain remission of their sins, but carry on a balance -of good to their account which shall ensure them a happy old age in -the life to come.[391] - -Of the above three clauses, two were proposed by the officials -attached to this Seventh Court, the third by the Chief Justice of the -great Gehenna, and the whole submitted together for the approval of -God, the following Rescript being obtained:--"Let it be as proposed; -let the three clauses be copied into the _Divine Panorama_, and let -the officials concerned be promoted or rewarded. Also, in case of -crimes other than those already provided for, let such be punished -according to the statutes of the Rulers of the Four Continents on -earth, and let any evasion of punishment and implication of innocent -people be at once reported by the proper officials for our -consideration. This from the Throne! Obey!" - -O ye sons and daughters of men, if on the 27th of the 3rd moon, -fasting and turned towards the north, ye register a vow to pray and -repent, and to publish the whole of the _Divine Panorama_ for the -enlightenment of mankind, then ye may escape the bitterness of this -Seventh Court. - - -THE EIGHTH COURT. - -His Infernal Majesty, Tu Shih, reigns at the bottom of the great -Ocean, due east below the Wu-chiao rock, in a vast noisy Court many -leagues in extent, subdivided into sixteen wards as follows:-- - -In the first, the wicked souls are rolled down mountains in carts. In -the second, they are shut up in huge saucepans. In the third, they are -minced. In the fourth, their noses, eyes, mouths, &c. are stopped up. -In the fifth, their uvulas are cut off. In the sixth, they are exposed -to all kinds of filth. In the seventh, their extremities are cut off. -In the eighth, their viscera[392] are fried. In the ninth, their -marrow is cauterized. In the tenth, their bowels are scratched. In the -eleventh, they are inwardly burned with fire. In the twelfth, they are -disembowelled. In the thirteenth, their chests are torn open. In the -fourteenth, their skulls are split and their teeth dragged out. In the -fifteenth, they are hacked and gashed. In the sixteenth, they are -pricked with steel prongs. - -Those who are unfilial, who do not nourish their relatives while alive -or bury them when dead, who subject their parents to fright, sorrow, -or anxiety--if they do not quickly repent them of their former sins, -the spirit of the Hearth will report their misdoings and gradually -deprive them of what prosperity they may be enjoying. Those who -indulge in magic and sorcery will, after death, when they have been -tortured in the other Courts, be brought here to this Court, and -dragged backwards by bull-headed horse-faced devils to be thrust into -the great Gehenna. Then when they have been tortured in the various -wards they will be passed on to the Tenth Court, whence at the -expiration of a _kalpa_[393] they will be sent back to earth with -changed heads and faces for ever to find their place amongst the brute -creation. But those who believe in the _Divine Panorama_, and on the -1st of the 4th moon make a vow of repentance, repeating the same every -night and morning to the Spirit of the Hearth, shall, by virtue of one -of three characters, _obedient_, _acquiescent_, or _repentant_, to be -traced on their foreheads at death by the Spirit of the Hearth, -escape half the punishments from the first to the Seventh Court -inclusive, and escape this Eighth Court altogether, being passed on to -the Ninth Court, where cases of arson and poisoning are investigated, -and finally born again from the Tenth Court among mankind as before. - -To this God added, "Whosoever may circulate the _Divine Panorama_ for -the information of the world at large shall escape all punishment from -the First to the Eighth Court inclusive. Passing through the Ninth and -Tenth Courts, they shall be born again amongst men in some happy -state." - - -THE NINTH COURT. - -His Infernal Majesty, P'ing Teng, reigns at the bottom of the great -Ocean, away to the south-west, below the Wu-chiao rock. His is the -vast, circular hell of A-pi, many leagues in breadth, jealously -enclosed by an iron net, and subdivided into sixteen wards, as -follows:-- - -In the first, the wicked souls have their bones beaten and their -bodies scorched. In the second, their muscles are drawn out and their -bones rapped. In the third, ducks eat their heart and liver. In the -fourth, dogs eat their intestines and lungs. In the fifth, they are -splashed with hot oil. In the sixth, their heads are crushed in a -frame, and their tongues and teeth are drawn out. In the seventh, -their brains are taken out and their skulls filled with hedge-hogs. In -the eighth, their heads are steamed and their brains scraped. In the -ninth, they are dragged about by sheep till they drop to pieces. In -the tenth, they are squeezed in a wooden press and pricked on the -head. In the eleventh, their hearts are ground in a mill. In the -twelfth, boiling water drips on to their bodies. In the thirteenth, -they are stung by wasps. In the fourteenth, they are tortured by ants -and maggots; they are then stewed, and finally wrung out (like -clothes). In the fifteenth, they are stung by scorpions. In the -sixteenth, they are tortured by venomous snakes, crimson and scarlet. - -All who on earth have committed one of the ten great crimes, and have -deserved either the lingering death, decapitation, strangulation, or -other punishment, shall, after passing through the tortures of the -previous Courts, be brought to this Court, together with those guilty -of arson, of making _ku_ poison,[394] bad books, stupefying drugs, and -many other disgraceful acts. Then, if it be found that, hearkening to -the words of the _Divine Panorama_, they subsequently destroyed the -blocks of these books, burnt their prescriptions, and ceased -practising the magical art, they shall escape the punishments of this -Court and be passed on to the Tenth Court, thence to be born again -amongst the sons of men. But if, having heard the warnings of the -_Divine Panorama_, they still continue to sin, from the Second to the -Eighth Court their tortures shall be increased. They shall be bound on -to a hollow copper pillar, clasping it round with their hands and -feet. Then the pillar shall be filled with fierce fire, so as to burn -into their heart and liver; and afterwards their feet shall be plunged -into the great Gehenna of A-pi, knives shall be thrust into their -lungs, they shall bite their own hearts, and gradually sink to the -uttermost depths of hell, there to endure excruciating torments until -the victims of their wickedness have either recovered the property out -of which they were cheated, or the life that was taken away from them, -and until every trace of book, prescription, picture, &c. formerly -used by these wicked souls has disappeared from the face of the earth. -Then, and only then, may they pass into the Tenth Court to be born -again in one of the Six States of existence. - -O ye who have committed such crimes as these, on the 8th of the 4th -moon, or the 1st or 15th (of any moon), fasting swear that you will -buy up all bad books and magical pamphlets and utterly destroy them -with fire; or that you will circulate copies of the _Divine Panorama_ -to be a warning to others! Then, when your last moment is at hand, the -Spirit of the Hearth will write on your forehead the two words _He -obeyed_, and from the Second up to the Ninth Court your good deeds -will be rewarded by a diminution of such punishments as you have -incurred. People in the higher ranks of life who secure incendiaries -or murderers, who destroy the blocks of bad books, or publish notices -warning others, and offer rewards for the production of such books, -will be rewarded by the success of their sons and grandsons at the -public examinations. Poor people who, by a great effort, manage to -have the _Divine Panorama_ circulated for the benefit of mankind, will -be forwarded at once to the Tenth Court, and thence be born again in -some happy state on earth. - - -THE TENTH COURT. - -His Infernal Majesty, Chuan Lun,[395] reigns in the Dark Land, due -east, away below the Wu-chiao rock, just opposite the Wu-cho of this -world. There he has six bridges, of gold, silver, jade, stone, wood, -and planks, over which all souls must pass. He examines the shades -that are sent from the other courts, and, according to their deserts, -sends them back to earth as men, women, old, young, high, low, rich, -or poor, forwarding monthly a list of their names to the judge of the -First Court for transmission to Feng-tu.[396] - -The regulations provide that all beasts, birds, fishes, and insects, -whether biped, quadruped, or otherwise, shall after death become -_chien_,[397] to be born again for long and short lives alternately. -But such as may possibly have taken life, and such as must necessarily -have taken life, will pass through a revolution of the Wheel, and -then, when their sins have been examined, they will be sent up on -earth to receive the proper retribution. At the end of every year a -report will be forwarded to Feng-tu. - -Those scholars who study the Book of Changes, or priests who chant -their liturgies, cannot be tortured in the Ten Courts for the sins -they have committed. When they come to this Court their names and -features are taken down in a book kept for the purpose, and they are -forwarded to Mother Meng, who drives them on to the Terrace of -Oblivion and doses them with the draught of forgetfulness. Then they -are born again in the world for a day, a week, or it may be a year, -when they die once more; and now, having forgotten the holy words of -the Three Religions,[398] they are carried off by devils to the -various Courts, and are properly punished for their former crimes. - -All souls whose balance of good and evil is exact, whose period, or -whose crimes are many and good deeds few, as soon as their future -state has been decided,--man, woman, beautiful, ugly, comfort, toil, -wealth, or poverty, as the case may be,--must pass through the Terrace -of Oblivion. - -Amongst those shades, on their way to be born again in the world of -human beings, there are often to be found women who cry out that they -have some old and bitter wrong to avenge,[399] and that rather than be -born again amongst men they would prefer to enter the ranks of hungry -devils.[400] On examining them more closely it generally comes out -that they are the virtuous victims of some wicked student, who may -perhaps have an eye to their money, and accordingly dresses himself -out to entrap them, or promises marriage when sometimes he has a wife -already, or offers to take care of an aged mother or a late husband's -children. Thus the foolish women are beguiled, and put their property -in the wicked man's hands. By-and-by he turns round upon and reviles -them, and, losing face in the eyes of their relatives and friends, -with no one to redress their wrong, they are driven to commit suicide. -Then, hearing[401] that their seducer is likely to succeed at the -examination, they beg and implore to be allowed to go back and compass -his death. Now, although what they urge is true enough, yet that man's -destiny may not be worked out, or the transmitted effects of his -ancestors' virtue may not have passed away;[402] therefore, as a -compromise, these injured shades are allowed to send a spirit to the -Examination Hall to hinder and confuse him in the preparation of his -paper, or to change the names on the published list of successful -candidates; and finally, when his hour arrives, to proceed with the -spirit who carries the death-summons, seize him, and bring him to the -First Court of judgment. - -Ye who on the 17th of the 4th moon swear to carry out the precepts of -the _Divine Panorama_, and frequently make these words the subject of -your conversation, may in the life to come be born again amongst men -and escape official punishments, fire, flood, and all accidents to the -body. - -The place where the Wheel of Fate goes round is many leagues in -extent, enclosed on all sides by an iron palisade. Within are -eighty-one subdivisions, each of which has its proper officers and -magisterial appointments. Beyond the palisade there is a labyrinth of -108,000 paths leading by direct and circuitous routes back to earth. -Inside it is as dark as pitch, and through it pass the spirits of -priest and layman alike. But to one who looks from the outside -everything is seen as clear as crystal, and the attendants who guard -the place all have the faces and features they had at their birth. -These attendants are chosen from virtuous people who in life were -noted for filial piety, friendship, or respect for life, and are sent -here to look after the working of the Wheel and such duties. If for a -space of five years they make no mistakes they are promoted to a -higher office; but if found to be lazy or careless they are reported -to the Throne for punishment. - -Those who in life have been unfilial or have destroyed much life, when -they have been tortured in the various Courts are brought here and -beaten to death with peach twigs. They then become _chien_, and with -changed heads and altered faces are turned out into the labyrinth to -proceed by the path which ends in the brute creation. - -Birds, beasts, fishes and insects, may after many myriads of _kalpas_ -again resume their original shapes; and if there are any that during -three existences do not destroy life, they may be born amongst human -beings as a reward, a record being made and their names forwarded to -the First Court for approval. But all shades of men and women must -proceed to the Terrace of Oblivion. - -Mother Meng was born in the Earlier Han Dynasty. In her childhood she -studied books of the Confucian school; when she grew up she chanted -the liturgies of Buddha. Of the past and the future she had no care, -but occupied herself in exhorting mankind to desist from taking life -and become vegetarians. At eighty-one years of age her hair was white -and her complexion like a child's. She lived and died a virgin, -calling herself simply Meng; but men called her Mother Meng. She -retired to the hills and lived as a _religieuse_ until the Later Han. -Then, because certain evil-doers, relying on their knowledge of the -past, used to beguile women by pretending to have been their husbands -in a former life, God commissioned Mother Meng to build the Terrace of -Oblivion, and appointed her as guardian, with devils to wait upon her -and execute her commands. It was arranged that all shades who had been -sentenced in the Ten Courts to return in various conditions to earth -should first be dosed by her with a decoction of herbs, sweet, bitter, -acrid, sour or salt. Thus they forgot everything that has previously -happened to them, and carry away with them to earth some slight -weaknesses such as the mouth watering at the thought (of something -nice), laughter inducing perspiration, fear inducing tears, anger -inducing sobs, or spitting from nervousness. Good spirits who go back -into the world will have their senses of sight, hearing, smell, and -taste very much increased in power, and their physical strength and -constitution generally will be much bettered. But evil spirits will -experience the exact contrary of this, as a reward for previous sins -and as a warning to others to pray and repent. - -The Terrace is situated in front of the Ten Courts, outside the six -bridges. It is square, measuring ten (Chinese) feet every way, and -surrounded by 108 small rooms. To the east there is a raised path, one -foot four inches in breadth, and in the rooms above-mentioned are -prepared cups of forgetfulness ready for the arrival of the shades. -Whether they swallow much or little it matters not; but sometimes -there are perverse devils who altogether refuse to drink. Then beneath -their feet sharp blades start up, and a copper tube is forced down -their throats, by which means they are compelled to swallow some. When -they have drunk, they are raised by the attendants and escorted back -by the same path. They are next pushed on to the Bitter Bamboo -floating bridge, with torrents of rushing red water on either side. -Half way across they perceive written in large characters on a red -cliff on the opposite side the following lines:-- - - "To be a man is easy, but to act up to one's responsibilities as such - is hard. - Yet to be a man once again is harder still. - - For those who would be born again in some happy state there is no - great difficulty; - It is only necessary to keep mouth and heart in harmony." - -When the shades have read these words they try to jump on shore, but -are beaten back into the water by two huge devils. One has on a black -official hat and embroidered clothes; in his hand he holds a paper -pencil, and over his shoulder he carries a sharp sword. Instruments of -torture hang at his waist, fiercely he glares out of his large round -eyes and laughs a horrid laugh. His name is _Short Life_. The other -has a dirty face smeared with blood; he has on a white coat, an abacus -in his hand and a rice sack over his shoulder. Round his neck hangs a -string of paper money; his brow contracts hideously, and he utters -long sighs. His name is _They have their reward_, and his duty is to -push the shades into the red water. The wicked and foolish rejoice at -the prospect of being born once more as human beings; but the better -shades weep and mourn that in life they did not lay up a store of -virtuous acts, and thus pass away from the state of mortals for -ever.[403] Yet they all rush on to birth like an infatuated or drunken -crowd; and again, in their early childhood, hanker after the forbidden -flavours.[404] Then, regardless of consequences, they begin to destroy -life, and thus forfeit all claims to the mercy and compassion of God. -They take no thought as to the end that must overtake them; and -finally, they bring themselves once more to the same horrid plight. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[340] The _Yue Li_ or _Divine Panorama_. - -[341] The Divine Ruler, immediately below God himself. - -[342] See No. XXVI., note 182. - -[343] See _Author's Own Record_ (in _Introduction_), note 28. - -[344] The three worst of the Six Paths. - -[345] That the state of one life is the result of behaviour in a -previous existence. - -[346] _Lit._--the skin purse (of his bones). - -[347] Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. - -[348] Violent deaths are regarded with horror by the Chinese. They -hold that a truly virtuous man always dies either of illness or old -age. - -[349] Good people go to Purgatory in the flesh, and are at once passed -up to Heaven without suffering any torture, or are sent back to earth -again. - -[350] The Supreme Ruler. - -[351] See No. I., note 36. - -[352] Supposed to be the gate of the Infernal Regions. - -[353] Hades. - -[354] Literally, "ten armfuls." - -[355] To Heaven, Earth, sovereign, and relatives. - -[356] Held to be a great relief to the spirits of the dead. - -[357] It is commonly believed that if the spirit of a murdered man can -secure the violent death of some other person he returns to earth -again as if nothing had happened, the spirit of his victim passing -into the world below and suffering all the misery of a disembodied -soul in his stead. See No. XLV., note 267. - -[358] A very common trick in China. The drunken bully Lu Ta in the -celebrated novel _Shui-hu_ saved himself by these means, and I have -heard that the Mandarin who in the war of 1842 spent a large sum in -constructing a paddle-wheel steamer to be worked by men, hoping -thereby to match the wheel-ships of the Outer Barbarians, is now -expiating his failure at a monastery in Fukien. _Apropos_ of which, it -may not be generally known that at this moment there are small -paddle-wheel boats for Chinese passengers, plying up and down the -Canton river, the wheels of which are turned by gangs of coolies who -perform a movement precisely similar to that required on the -treadmill. - -[359] In order that their marriage destiny may not be interfered with. -It is considered disgraceful not to accept the ransom of a slave girl -of 15 or 16 years of age. See No. XXVI., note 185. - -[360] The soil of China belongs, every inch of it, to the Emperor. -Consequently, the people owe him a debt of gratitude for permitting -them to live upon it. - -[361] Do their duty as men and women. - -[362] A Chinaman may have three kinds of fathers; (1) his real father, -(2) an adopted father, such as an uncle without children to whom he -has been given as heir, and (3) the man his widowed mother may marry. -The first two are to all intents and purposes equal; the third is -entitled only to one year's mourning instead of the usual three. - -[363] As taxes. - -[364] Visitors to Peking may often see the junkmen at T'ung-chow -pouring water by the bucketful on to newly-arrived cargoes of Imperial -rice in order to make up the right weight and conceal the amount they -have filched on the way. - -[365] That is, with a false gloss on them. - -[366] In order to raise to nap and give an appearance of strength and -goodness. - -[367] Costermongers and others acquire certain rights to doorsteps or -snug corners in Chinese cities which are not usually infringed by -competitors in the same line of business. Chair-coolies, -carrying-coolies, ferrymen, &c., also claim whole districts as their -particular field of operations and are very jealous of any -interference. I know of a case in which the right of "scavengering" a -town had been in the same family for generations, and no one dreamt of -trying to take it out of their hands. - -[368] Chiefly alluding to small temples where some pious spirit may -have lighted a lamp or candle to the glory of his favourite P'u-sa. - -[369] This is done either by making a figure of the person to be -injured and burning it in a slow fire, like the old practice of the -wax figure in English history; or by obtaining his nativity -characters, writing them out on a piece of paper and burning them in a -candle, muttering all the time whatsoever mischief it is hoped will -befall him. - -[370] Popularly known as the Chinese Pluto. The Indian _Yama_. - -[371] The celebrated "See-one's-home Terrace." - -[372] Regarded by the Chinese with intense disgust. - -[373] Father's, mother's, and wife's families. - -[374] I know of few more pathetic passages throughout all the -exquisite imagery of the Divine Comedy than this in which the guilty -soul is supposed to look back to the home he has but lately left and -gaze in bitter anguish on his desolate hearth and broken household -gods. For once the gross tortures of Chinese Purgatory give place to -as refined and as dreadful a punishment as human ingenuity could well -devise. - -[375] A long pole tipped with a kind of birdlime is cautiously -inserted between the branches of a tree, and then suddenly dabbed on -to some unsuspecting sparrow. - -[376] If this is done in Winter or Spring the Spirits of the Hearth -and Threshold are liable to catch cold. - -[377] I presume because God sits with his face to the south. - -[378] Pious and wealthy people often give orders for an image of a -certain P'u-sa to be made with an ounce or so of gold inside. - -[379] Primarily, because no living thing should be killed for food. -The ox and the dog are specified because of their kindly services to -man in tilling the earth and guarding his home. - -[380] The symbol of the Yin and the Yang, so ably and so poetically -explained by Mr. Alabaster in his pamphlet on the Doctrine of the -Ch'i. - -[381] One being male and the other being female. This calls to mind -the extreme modesty of a celebrated French lady, who would not put -books by male and female authors on the same shelf. - -[382] The symbol on Buddha's heart; more commonly known to the western -world as Thor's Hammer. - -[383] Emblems of Imperial dignity. - -[384] Supposed to confer immortality. - -[385] Unfit for translation. - -[386] This is ingeniously expressed, as if _mothers_ were the prime -movers in such unnatural acts. - -[387] On fete days at temples it is not uncommon to see cages full of -birds hawked about among the holiday-makers, that those who feel -twinges of conscience may purchase a sparrow or two and relieve -themselves from anxiety by the simple means of setting them at -liberty. - -[388] Bones are used in glazing porcelain, to give a higher finish. - -[389] The seven periods of seven days each which occur immediately -after a death and at which the departed shade is appeased with food -and offerings of various kinds. - -[390] To warm them. - -[391] When they are born again on earth. - -[392] Heart, lungs, spleen, liver, and kidneys. - -[393] Many millions of years. - -[394] The following recipe for this deadly poison is given in the -well-known Chinese work _Instructions to Coroners_:--"Take a quantity -of insects of all kinds and throw them into a vessel of any kind; -cover them up, and let a year pass away before you look at them again. -The insects will have killed and eaten each other, until there is only -one survivor, and this one is _Ku_." - -[395] He who "turns the wheel;" a _chakravartti raja_. - -[396] The capital city of the Infernal Regions. - -[397] The ghosts of dead people are believed to be liable to death. -The ghost of a ghost is called _chien_. - -[398] On the "Three Systems." See note 347, _Appendix_. - -[399] Women are considered in China to be far more revengeful than -men. - -[400] See _Author's Own Record_ (in _Introduction_), note 28. - -[401] While in Purgatory. - -[402] It was mentioned above that the rewards for virtue would be -continued to a man's sons and grandsons. - -[403] That is, go to heaven. - -[404] Of meat, wine, &c. - - - - -APPENDIX B. - - -ANCESTRAL WORSHIP. - -"The rudimentary form of all religion is the propitiation of dead -ancestors, who are supposed to be still existing, and to be capable of -working good or evil to their descendants."--SPENCER'S ESSAYS. Vol. -iii., p. 102.--_The Origin of Animal Worship._ - - -BILOCATION. - -"As a general rule, people are apt to consider it impossible for a man -to be in two places at once, and indeed a saying to that effect has -become a popular saw. But the rule is so far from being universally -accepted, that the word 'bilocation' has been invented to express the -miraculous faculty possessed by certain saints of the Roman Church, of -being in two places at once; like St. Alfonso di Liguori, who had the -useful power of preaching his sermon in church while he was confessing -penitents at home."--TYLOR'S _Primitive Culture_. Vol. i., p. 447. - - -BURIAL RITES. - -"Hence the various burial rites--the placing of weapons and valuables -along with the body, the daily bringing of food to it, &c. I hope -hereafter, to show that with such knowledge of facts as he has, this -interpretation is the most reasonable the savage can arrive -at."--SPENCER'S ESSAYS. Vol. iii., p. 104.--_The Origin of Animal -Worship._ - - -DREAMS. - -"The distinction so easily made by us between our life in dreams and our -real life, is one which the savage recognises in but a vague way; and he -cannot express even that distinction which he perceives. When he awakes, -and to those who have seen him lying quietly asleep, describes where he -has been, and what he has done, his rude language fails to state the -difference between seeing and dreaming that he saw, doing and dreaming -that he did. From this inadequacy of his language it not only results -that he cannot truly represent this difference to others, but also -that he cannot truly represent it to himself."--SPENCER'S ESSAYS. Vol. -iii., pp. 103, 104. - - -SHADE OR SHADOW. - -"The ghost or phantasm seen by the dreamer or the visionary is an -unsubstantial form, like a shadow, and thus the familiar term of the -_shade_ comes in to express the soul. Thus the Tasmanian word for the -shadow is also that for the spirit; the Algonquin Indians describe a -man's soul as _otahchuk_, 'his shadow;' the Quiche language uses -_natub_ for 'shadow, soul;' the Arawac _ueja_ means 'shadow, soul, -image;' the Abipones made the one word _loakal_ serve for 'shadow, -soul, echo, image.'"--TYLOR'S _Primitive Culture_. Vol. i., p. 430. - - -SHADOW. - -"Thus the dead in Purgatory knew that Dante was alive when they saw -that, unlike theirs, his figure cast a shadow on the ground."--TYLOR'S -_Primitive Culture_. Vol. i., p. 431. - - -THE SOUL. - -"The savage, conceiving a corpse to be deserted by the active -personality who dwelt in it, conceives this active personality to be -still existing, and his feelings and ideas concerning it form the -basis of his superstitions."--SPENCER'S ESSAYS. Vol. iii., p. -103.--_The Origin of Animal Worship._ - - -TRANSMIGRATION. - -"Whether the Buddhists receive the full Hindu doctrine of the -migration of the individual soul from birth to birth, or whether they -refine away into metaphysical subtleties the notion of continued -personality, they do consistently and systematically hold that a -man's life in former existences is the cause of his now being what he -is, while at this moment he is accumulating merit or demerit whose -result will determine his fate in future lives."--TYLOR'S _Primitive -Culture_. Vol. ii., p. 12. - - -TRANSMIGRATION. - -"Memory, it is true, fails generally to recall these past births, but -memory, as we know, stops short of the beginning even of this present -life."--TYLOR'S _Primitive Culture_. Vol. ii., p. 12. - - -TRANSMIGRATION. - -"As for believers, savage or civilised, in the great doctrine of -metempsychosis, these not only consider that an animal may have a -soul, but that this soul may have inhabited a human being, and thus -the creature may be in fact their own ancestor or once familiar -friend."--TYLOR'S _Primitive Culture_. Vol. i., p. 469. - - -TREE-SOULS. - -"Orthodox Buddhism decided against the tree-souls, and consequently -against the scruple to harm them, declaring trees to have no mind nor -sentient principle, though admitting that certain dewas or spirits do -reside in the body of trees, and speak from within them."--TYLOR'S -_Primitive Culture_. Vol. i., p. 475. - - -THOS. DE LA RUE AND CO., PRINTERS, BUNHILL ROW, LONDON. - - - - -INDEX TO THE NOTES. - - - VOL. PAGE NOTE - - Abstinence from Wine and Meat i. 23 52 - - Actors i. 218 188 - - Adoption i. 386 310 - " ii. 156 137 - " ii. 272 256 - - Adulteration ii. 332 320 - - Age of graduates i. 345 274 - - Age to marry i. 113 112 - - Alchemy i. 65 83 - " ii. 313 299 - - Alms'-bowl i. 246 211 - " i. 395 320 - - Amusements, Literary i. 215 186 - - Anatomy, Chinese ii. 253 235 - - "Angels" of Taoism i. 17 48 - - Arbiter of Life and Death i. 226 194 - - Archery i. 91 92 - - Aristocracy, The i. 186 156 - - Auspicious Sites i. 336 268 - - - Bad Sons i. 147 131 - " " ii. 212 190 - " " ii. 281 267 - - Bambooing i. 55 76 - - Banquets, Theatrical Entertainments during ii. 54 41 - - Beadles ii. 17 18 - - Beauty, Chinese ii. 123 94 - - Beggars i. 246 212 - - Betrothals i. 108 108 - " i. 193 165 - " i. 227 195 - - Bikshu i. 395 320 - - Blowing into meat ii. 306 292 - - Blue China Epoch ii. 303 290 - - Bodhisatva i. 208 182 - - Bridal procession i. 338 269 - - Bridegroom living in bride's family i. 193 163 - - Brotherly deference i. 314 247 - " dependence i. 318 250 - - Brothers having separate establishments ii. 322 314 - - Brown deer of Formosa i. 399 329 - - Buddha, Repeating the name of i. 367 293 - - "Bull's hide" trick, The ii. 180 163 - - Burials i. 197 171 - - Burying stray bones, &c. ii. 147 130 - - - Caligraphy ii. 174 157 - - Capping verses i. 332 262 - " " ii. 57 44 - - Cash i. 6 42 - " ii. 171 148 - - Cat and dog Restaurant ii. 308 294 - - Catalepsy i. 4 40 - " ii. 73 55 - - Celibacy i. 23 52 - - Censorate, The i. 229 197 - - Chai-mui i. 333 265 - - Chamber of Horrors i. 93 94 - - Change of residence i. 321 251 - - Charitable gifts i. 137 129 - - Chess, Chinese i. 46 66 - - Chou, General ii. 221 202 - - Chowry ii. 71 52 - - Clay-image makers ii. 276 261 - - Clepsydra i. 49 70 - - "Climbing trees to catch fish" ii. 305 291 - - Coffins i. 102 104 - " i. 197 172 - " deposited in Temples i. 237 203 - " for poor people ii. 316 303 - " Sleeping in ii. 354 336 - - Concubines i. 395 321 - - Confucius, Descendants of i. 33 61 - - Conservatism i. 427 348 - - Contemplation, Priestly ii. 71 51 - - Coroners ii. 196 175 - - Counting cattle, Method of ii. 255 239 - - Cow-herd and the Lady i. 27 55 - - Cricket-fighting i. 75 85 - - Crows, Feeding the i. 279 229 - - Cumquats ii. 301 289 - - Cycle, The Chinese i. 180 152 - - Cynthia, The Chinese i. 171 147 - - - Damon and Pythias i. 166 143 - - Death i. 150 134 - " Fear of i. 101 103 - - Death-summons, The i. 150 134 - - Decapitation ii. 78 59 - - Degrees, The three i. 1 37 - - Devils, Good and bad ii. 201 179 - - Dice ii. 145 125 - - Divorce i. 360 288 - - Doctors ii. 293 279 - - Dogs, Chinese ii. 309 296 - - Dolphin, Fresh-water ii. 43 31 - - _Double-entendres_ ii. 176 160 - - Dragon-boat festival ii. 168 142 - - Dragons ii. 112 84 - " ii. 349 331 - - Dreams ii. 250 231 - - Dwarfs i. 224 193 - - Drunkenness i. 30 59 - " i. 365 292 - " ii. 30 23 - - - Eating ii. 111 83 - - Education i. 297 237 - " ii. 322 313 - - Elixir of Immortality i. 19 49 - " " ii. 168 143 - - Examinations, Competitive i. 195 168 - " " ii. 64 48 - " " ii. 91 71 - - Eye, Pupils of the i. 8 43 - - - Fa Hsien's journey ii. 232 212 - - Fabulous Lion ii. 343 327 - - Facing the South ii. 103 76 - - Falconry i. 22 51 - - Fan, An Autumn i. 361 289 - - Fantan i. 421 343 - - Fatalism i. 340 270 - - Feet of betrothed tied together i. 431 354 - - Feng-Shui ii. 322 312 - - Feudal Governor ii. 287 273 - - "_Fiance_," Death of a i. 99 101 - - Figure-head ii. 54 40 - - Fire-wells ii. 238 220 - - Flageolets i. 28 58 - - Folk-lore in the North and South ii. 329 319 - - Fondness for children i. 401 332 - - Foot-binding i. 192 161 - - Fortune-tellers i. 47 68 - - Foundries, Iron ii. 216 194 - - Four Books, The i. 297 237 - - Four Seas, The ii. 116 89 - - Fox influence i. 32 60 - - Foxes, Soothsayers possessed by ii. 358 339 - - - Gambling i. 421 343 - - Ganges, The ii. 28 22 - - Gates of a city shut at night ii. 262 243 - - Geese i. 255 217 - - "Gentleman," The Chinese i. 168 145 - - Geomancy i. 227 195 - - Gioros i. 66 84 - - Girdles, The pearl i. 283 230 - - Glass i. 249 214 - " ii. 233 216 - - Go-betweens i. 187 157 - " ii. 154 135 - - God of War, The i. 2 39 - - "Golden lilies" i. 188 159 - - "Golden Orchid" Societies i. 196 170 - - Gongs ii. 105 78 - - Good fortune, Absorbing only a certain - quantity of i. 342 271 - - Graduates by purchase i. 202 177 - - Graduates, Senior i. 199 175 - - Grave, The i. 240 207 - - Great beam, Fixing the ii. 267 247 - - Greed ii. 74 56 - - - Han dynasty i. 258 219 - - Han-lin, The Chinese National Academy i. 195 169 - - Heart, The i. 96 97, - 98 - - Homicide i. 353 285 - - Honesty in olden times ii. 250 232 - - "Hsi-yuean-lu," The i. 98 100 - - "Hu," The name i. 89 90 - - Hue i. 397 325 - - Human life, Value of ii. 338 323 - - Hungry devils ii. 270 252 - - - Immortality i. 157 139 - - Immortals, Record of the ii. 88 68 - - Imperial mandates ii. 240 223 - - Impressment i. 220 190 - - Infernal Regions ii. 95 72 - " " ii. 354 335 - - Inheritance, Law of ii. 345 328 - - Initiation of a Priest ii. 69 50 - - Inner apartments i. 53 74 - " " i. 252 215 - " " ii. 46 33 - - - Jelly-fish ii. 332 321 - - Judas tree ii. 151 133 - - Judges ii. 96 74 - - Jugglers ii. 189 172 - - - Khakkharam, The i. 395 320 - - Kangs ii. 133 114 - - Keeping secret professional knowledge ii. 255 238 - - Kidnapping i. 183 154 - - Kite-flying Festival ii. 268 250 - - Knife Hill, The ii. 205 184 - - Kot'ow, The i. 388 314 - - K'u-ts'an ii. 255 237 - - Kuan-yin i. 241 208 - - - Lanterns, Feast of i. 99 102 - - Li T'ai-poh ii. 144 121 - - Lictors ii. 205 182 - - Lighting the Eyes ii. 224 203 - - Lingering death, The i. 396 322 - - Literary chancellor ii. 284 271 - - Literati, The ii. 36 29 - - Literature, God of ii. 320 307 - - Liu Ch'uean and the melon ii. 351 334 - - Living Lictors of Purgatory, The i. 207 180 - - Loans ii. 171 146 - - Locusts ii. 242 224 - - Lohans ii. 321 311 - - Long Robes ii. 273 257 - - Lots, Drawing ii. 73 54 - - Love-matches i. 115 113 - - Lucifer Matches ii. 120 92 - - Lunatics ii. 30 23 - - Lue Tung-pin ii. 296 284 - - - Magic Sword i. 62 80 - - Mandarin Dialect i. 398 327 - - Manslaughter i. 222 192 - - Marriage Ceremonies i. 10 45 - " " i. 181 153 - " " i. 227 195 - " " i. 228 196 - - Marriages i. 108 109 - " i. 193 165 - - Marrying a second time i. 112 110 - - Mars, The Chinese i. 2 39 - - Medical testimonials ii. 292 278 - - Memorial tablet, Inking ii. 224 203 - - Mercy, The Goddess of i. 241 208 - - Messengers of good tidings ii. 252 234 - - Milky way, The i. 152 135 - - Miracles i. 396 323 - - "Mirror and Listen" trick ii. 251 233 - - Misappropriation of funds ii. 224 204 - - Moon, The Goddess of the i. 19 49 - " The Lady of the i. 19 49 - - Mothers-in-law i. 315 249 - - Mourning for a father i. 199 174 - - Mules ii. 242 225 - - Murders i. 230 198 - - - Names, Family i. 92 93 - " Personal ii. 132 111 - - Night, Divisions of the i. 215 187 - - Nine grades of official life i. 388 313 - - Nunneries i. 262 221 - - - Oath of confederation ii. 146 127 - - Oblivion, Potion of ii. 207 189 - - Official corruption ii. 79 60 - " responsibility i. 232 199 - - Officials i. 237 202 - - Old age ii. 31 24 - - Olive, the sign of peace i. 324 256 - - - Paper men i. 49 71 - " money i. 391 317 - " " ii. 172 150 - - Pao Shu i. 166 143 - - Patra, The i. 395 320 - " " i. 246 211 - - Pawn-shops i. 198 173 - - Persia ii. 25 21 - - Phoenix Tower ii. 270 253 - - Physiognomy, Professors of ii. 290 275 - - Planchette ii. 295 283 - - Playing _wei-ch'i_ for money ii. 271 254 - - Poetical proficiency i. 33 62 - - Police system i. 221 191 - - Politeness ii. 203 181 - - Poor scholars i. 160 142 - - Pope of the Taoists i. 118 114 - - Porterage ii. 181 164 - - Posthumous Honours i. 305 241 - - Praying for good or bad weather ii. 294 282 - - Praying-mat ii. 183 166 - - Precedence at table i. 332 261 - - Predestination i. 48 69 - " i. 156 138 - - Primogeniture i. 203 179 - - Prisoners in China i. 372 299 - " " ii. 96 73 - " " ii. 261 242 - - P'u-hsien, God of Action ii. 232 214 - - Pulse, The i. 39 64 - - Punishments i. 381 306 - - Pupils taken by priests ii. 119 91 - - Purgatory, Capital of ii. 238 220 - - - Quail-fighting i. 75 85 - - Quail's Tail, A i. 209 183 - - - Rebel, The first ii. 52 37 - - Red-garment figure, The i. 19 50 - - Red-haired barbarians ii. 179 162 - - Relationship, Test of ii. 278 264 - - Religion and the drama i. 345 277 - - Resemblance between soul and body ii. 280 265 - - Retinues of mandarins i. 389 315 - " " ii. 174 155 - " " ii. 175 158 - - Returning invitations ii. 227 206 - - Revenge i. 310, 243, - 311 244 - " for adultery i. 62 81 - - Reward of filial piety i. 351 283 - - Rising when spoken to ii. 280 266 - - Roc, The ii. 341 325 - - Rosary, The Buddhist i. 369 295 - - Royal Mother, The ii. 187 170 - - Rulers of animal and vegetable kingdoms i. 292 235 - - Running water ii. 110 82 - - - Sacred edict, The i. 203 179 - - Sale of children i. 183 154 - " degrees ii. 170 144 - - Salt monopoly ii. 215 192 - - "Same-year men" i. 136 128 - - Saving life ii. 200 178 - " " ii. 214 191 - - Scribbling and carving names ii. 123 96 - - Sea-serpent, The ii. 113 86 - - Secret societies i. 196 170 - - Sections of Purgatory, The nine ii. 205 183 - - Senses, The five i. 259 220 - - Separation of sexes ii. 167 141 - - Shaking hands i. 287 233 - " " ii. 151 134 - - Sham entertainment i. 323 254 - - Shampooing ii. 53 38 - - "Shang-yang" brings rain ii. 131 109 - - "Shoes" of silver i. 148 133 - - Short weights ii. 325 315 - - Shun, The Emperor i. 37 63 - - Shun Chih, The Emperor ii. 184 167 - - Sickness i. 107 107 - - Six Boards, The i. 26 54 - - Slave-girls' feet i. 430 353 - - Slavery i. 211 185 - - Small feet i. 76 86 - " " i. 192 161 - " waists ii. 47 35 - - Sons i. 64 82 - - Spirit calling i. 189 160 - " entering another's body ii. 24 20 - - Spirits, Disembodied i. 79 87 - " " i. 119 115 - " " i. 123 119 - " " i. 157 139 - - Spiritualistic _seances_ ii. 133 112 - - Sponge, A i. 248 213 - - Spring festival ii. 186 169 - - Squeezes i. 219 189 - - Staff of Buddhist priests, The i. 395 320 - - Stealing, Pardonable ii. 217 196 - - Strong rooms ii. 172 149 - - Styx, The ii. 216 193 - - Subscriptions ii. 220 201 - - Substantiality of ghosts i. 239 205 - " " ii. 236 219 - - Substitution theory i. 334 267 - - Suicide i. 311 244 - " Meritorious ii. 142 120 - - Superior man, The i. 168 145 - - Supernatural government i. 292 235 - - Supreme Ruler, The i. 242 209 - - Surnames, Common i. 210 184 - - Sutra, The Diamond i. 238 204 - - - Tails of horses not cut ii. 286 272 - - Taking life i. 79 88 - - Talking when born i. 243 210 - - Tao i. 14 46 - - Taot'ai ii. 229 207 - - Tartar general ii. 128 106 - - Temples, Repairs to ii. 127 105 - - Theatricals i. 218 188 - - Threshing-floors ii. 236 218 - - Thunder, God of i. 43 65 - " " ii. 112 85 - - Ting P'u-lang ii. 109 80 - - Titles of Nobility i. 305 241 - - Torture ii. 81 62 - " Supply of instruments of ii. 238 221 - - Tree worship ii. 72 53 - - Trousseau, Bride's i. 256 218 - - Tung-t'ing Lake i. 271 226 - - Types of friendship i. 166 143 - - Tz[)u]-ang, a Chinese Landseer ii. 287 274 - - - Ulysses, A Chinese i. 91 91 - - Ushnisha, The ii. 320 310 - - - Valuables in coffins i. 311 245 - - Verdict i. 56 78 - - Visiting the tutor ii. 126 103 - - Vital spots on the body ii. 356 338 - - - Wang Wei, The poet ii. 149 132 - - Washing-blocks ii. 315 301 - - Watchmen i. 51 72 - - Wedding-presents i. 28 57 - - Wei-ch'i ii. 268 249 - - Wen-shu, the God of Wisdom ii. 232 214 - - White Lily sect ii. 189 171 - - Widowers ii. 183 165 - - Widows ii. 39 30 - - Windows i. 61 79 - - Wine ii. 259, 240, - 260 241 - - Wine-cup upside down, Turning the i. 264 224 - - Wine taken hot ii. 144 122 - - Witnesses in a court of justice ii. 156 136 - - Women ride astride i. 354 286 - - Wooden fish, The ii. 195 174 - - Works of supererogation i. 426 346 - - Worldly-mindedness ii. 312 298 - - Wu Wang i. 278 228 - - - Yamen i. 2 38 - - Yang Ta-hung ii. 310 297 - - Yang-tsze, The ii. 176 159 - - Years, Names of i. 113 111 - - Yellow girdles i. 66 84 - - _Yin_ and the _yang_, The i. 176 150 - - Yojana, A i. 394 319 - - Yue-chiao-li, The ii. 164 140 - - - - -_BY THE SAME AUTHOR:--_ - - - CHINESE SKETCHES. - Demy 8vo. pp. 204. - - CHINESE WITHOUT A TEACHER. - Being a Collection of Easy and Useful Sentences in the Mandarin - Dialect, with a Vocabulary. Post 8vo. pp. 60, paper cover. - - DICTIONARY OF COLLOQUIAL IDIOMS. - In the Mandarin Dialect. Demy 4to, half bound. - - FROM SWATOW TO CANTON OVERLAND. - Demy 8vo. pp. 76, paper cover. - - A GLOSSARY OF REFERENCE, - on subjects connected with the Far East. Demy 8vo. pp. 184, - paper cover. - - HAND-BOOK OF THE SWATOW DIALECT. - With a Vocabulary. Demy 8vo. pp. 60, paper cover. - - RECORD OF THE BUDDHISTIC KINGDOMS. - Translated from the Chinese. Demy 8vo. pp. 130, paper cover. - - SYNOPTICAL STUDIES IN THE CHINESE LANGUAGE. - Demy 8vo. pp. 118, half bound. - - THE SAN TZU CHING; - or, Three Character Classic and the Ch'ien Tz[)u] Wen or 1,000 - Character Essay Metrically translated. Post 8vo. pp. 28, paper - cover. - - A SHORT HISTORY OF KOOLANGSU. - Demy 8vo. pp. 38, paper cover. - - * * * * * - -TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE - -This book was published in two volumes, of which this is the second. -The first volume was released as Project Gutenberg ebook #xxxxx, -available at http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/xxxxx. Referenced content -not present in this electronic text can be found in Volume I. -The table of contents is reproduced as printed in Volume I. - -Italic text is denoted by _underscores_. [)u] represents u breve. - -Obvious typographical errors repaired. Punctuation, spelling, -hyphenation, use of accented characters and stylistic presentation -standardized when a predominant preference was found in this book. -Capitalization and hyphenation of Chinese personal names has been -standardized. Otherwise left as printed. - -Footnote numbers were re-indexed in this electronic text, internal -references renumbered correspondingly. - -Footnote 72, 'excepting' changed to 'except' (except in the matter of -light). - -Footnote 92, 'of' added (first quarter of the present century). - -Footnote 124, 'denouement' changed to 'denouement' (important to the -_denouement_ of the story). - -Footnote 140, 'denouement' changed to 'denouement' (The _denouement_ -of the _Yue-chiao-li_). - -Footnote 172, 'Ibu' changed to 'Ibn' (Ibn Batuta writes as follows). - -Footnote 324, 'LXVII.' changed to 'LXVIII.' (See No. LXVIII.). - -Page 19, 'of' added (a number of curious stones). - -Page 65, 'be' changed to 'he' (but he soon reflected). - -Page 145, 'sung' changed to 'sang' (whereupon he sang the following -lines). - -Page 198, 'he' changed to 'be' (that he would be only too happy). - -Page 208, 'according' changed to 'accordingly' (accordingly, when the -King was looking). - -Page 254, 'Ch'eng' changed to 'Ch'en' (This frightened Ch'en). - -Page 255, 'Ch'eng' changed to 'Ch'en' (Ch'en himself was a -cattle-farmer). - -Page 286, 'servants' changed to 'servant' (rode away, telling his -servant). - -Page 287, 'a Mr. Ts'ui' changed to 'Mr. Ts'ui' (who lived next door to -Mr. Ts'ui). - -Page 41, 'He then bit her across the neck' should probably be 'He then -hit her across the neck'. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio -vol. 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