diff options
| author | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-03-07 15:48:14 -0800 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-03-07 15:48:14 -0800 |
| commit | a711968768d8c72f172b925f734d857ee7f1bde9 (patch) | |
| tree | b3c031bdda82dd46aedef88ce223f13ba9a1218d | |
| parent | 59286e9780097f4980611dd85adb89e85745b719 (diff) | |
| -rw-r--r-- | 43629-0.txt | 403 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 43629-8.txt | 22670 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 43629-8.zip | bin | 480569 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 43629-h/43629-h.htm | 429 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 43629.txt | 22670 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 43629.zip | bin | 480272 -> 0 bytes |
6 files changed, 5 insertions, 46167 deletions
diff --git a/43629-0.txt b/43629-0.txt index 582bd0e..563d0ee 100644 --- a/43629-0.txt +++ b/43629-0.txt @@ -1,41 +1,4 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio -(Volumes I and II), 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 (Volumes I and II) - -Author: Songling Pu - -Translator: Herbert A. Giles - -Release Date: September 3, 2013 [EBook #43629] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STRANGE STORIES *** - - - - -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 43629 *** STRANGE STORIES @@ -22304,366 +22267,4 @@ hit her across the neck’. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio (Volumes I and II), by Songling Pu -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STRANGE STORIES *** - -***** This file should be named 43629-0.txt or 43629-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/3/6/2/43629/ - -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) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, -set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to -copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to -protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project -Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you -charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you -do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the -rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose -such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and -research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do -practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is -subject to the trademark license, especially commercial -redistribution. - - - -*** START: FULL LICENSE *** - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project -Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at -http://gutenberg.org/license). - - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy -all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. -If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the -terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or -entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement -and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" -or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the -collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an -individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are -located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from -copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative -works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg -are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project -Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by -freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of -this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with -the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by -keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project -Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in -a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check -the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement -before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or -creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project -Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning -the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United -States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate -access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently -whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, -copied or distributed: - -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 - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived -from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is -posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied -and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees -or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work -with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the -work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 -through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the -Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or -1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional -terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked -to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the -permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any -word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or -distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than -"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version -posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), -you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a -copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon -request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other -form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided -that - -- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is - owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he - has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the - Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments - must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you - prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax - returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and - sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the - address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to - the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." - -- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or - destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium - and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of - Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any - money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days - of receipt of the work. - -- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set -forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from -both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael -Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the -Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm -collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain -"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or -corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual -property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a -computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by -your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with -your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with -the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a -refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity -providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to -receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy -is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further -opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER -WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO -WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. -If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the -law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be -interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by -the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any -provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance -with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, -promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, -harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, -that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do -or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm -work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any -Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. - - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers -including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists -because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from -people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. -To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation -and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 -and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. - - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive -Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at -http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent -permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. -Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered -throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at -809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email -business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact -information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official -page at http://pglaf.org - -For additional contact information: - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To -SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any -particular state visit http://pglaf.org - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. -To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate - - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm -concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared -with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project -Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. - - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. -unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily -keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. - - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: - - http://www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43629 *** diff --git a/43629-8.txt b/43629-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index c504f7c..0000000 --- a/43629-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,22670 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio -(Volumes I and II), 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 (Volumes I and II) - -Author: Songling Pu - -Translator: Herbert A. Giles - -Release Date: September 3, 2013 [EBook #43629] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STRANGE STORIES *** - - - - -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. I. - - LONDON: - THOS. DE LA RUE & CO. - 110, BUNHILL ROW. - - 1880. - - - - - PRINTED BY - THOMAS DE LA RUE AND CO., BUNHILL ROW, - LONDON. - - - - - TO MY WIFE AND OUR CHILDREN: - - _BERTRAM_, - - _LIONEL_, - - _VALENTINE_, - - _LANCELOT_. - - - - -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 - - - - -INTRODUCTION. - - -I.--PERSONAL.--The public has, perhaps, a right to be made acquainted -with the title under which I, an unknown writer, come forward as the -translator of a difficult Chinese work. In the spring of 1867 I began -the study of Chinese at H.B.M.'s Legation, Peking, under an implied -promise, in a despatch from the then Secretary of State for Foreign -Affairs, that successful efforts would be rewarded by proportionately -rapid advancement in the service of which I was a member. Then -followed a long novitiate of utterly uninteresting and, indeed, most -repellent labour,--inseparable, however, from the acquisition of this -language, which throughout its early stages demands more from sheer -memory than from the exercise of any other intellectual faculty. At -length, in the spring of 1877, while acting as Vice-Consul at Canton, -I commenced the translation of the work here offered to the English -reader. For such a task I had flattered myself into the belief that I -possessed two of the requisite qualifications: an accurate knowledge -of the grammatical structure of the language, and an extensive insight -into the manners, customs, superstitions, and general social life of -the Chinese. I had been variously stationed at Peking, Tientsin, -Takow, and Taiwan Fu (in Formosa), Ningpo, Hankow, Swatow, and Canton, -from the latter of which I was transferred--when my task was still -only half finished--to Amoy. I had travelled beyond the Great Wall -into Mongolia; and I had made the journey overland from Swatow to -Canton, a distance of five hundred miles; besides which, in addition -to my study of the language, my daily object in life had always been -to familiarise myself as much as possible with Chinese sympathies and -habits of thought. With these advantages, and by the interesting -nature of the subject-matter, I hoped to be able on the one hand to -arouse a somewhat deeper interest than is usually taken in the affairs -of China; and, on the other, to correct at any rate some of the -erroneous views, too frequently palmed off by inefficient and -disingenuous workers, and too readily accepted as fact. And I would -here draw attention to one most important point; namely, that although -a great number of books have been published about China and the -Chinese, there are extremely few in which the information is conveyed -at first hand; in other words, in which the Chinese are allowed to -speak for themselves.[1] Hence, perhaps, it may be that in an -accurately-compiled work such as Tylor's _Primitive Culture_, -allusions to the religious rites and ceremonies of nearly one-third of -the human race are condensed within the limits of barely a dozen short -passages. Hence, too, it undoubtedly is that many Chinese customs are -ridiculed and condemned by turns, simply because the medium through -which they have been conveyed has produced a distorted image. Much of -what the Chinese do actually believe and practise in their religious -and social life will be found in this volume, in the _ipsissima verba_ -of a highly-educated scholar writing about his fellow-countrymen and -his native land; while for the notes with which I have essayed to make -the picture more suggestive and more acceptable to the European eye, -I claim only so much authority as is due to the opinion of one -qualified observer who can have no possible motive in deviating ever -so slightly from what his own personal experience has taught him to -regard as the truth. - - -II.--BIOGRAPHICAL.--The barest skeleton of a biography is all that can -be formed from the very scanty materials which remain to mark the -career of a writer whose work has been for the best part of two -centuries as familiar throughout the length and breadth of China as -are the tales of the "Arabian Nights" in all English-speaking -communities. The author of "Strange Stories" was a native of Tzu-chou, -in the province of Shan-tung. His family name was P'u; his particular -name was Sung-ling; and the designation or literary epithet by which, -in accordance with Chinese usage, he was commonly known among his -friends, was Liu-hsien, or "Last of the Immortals." A further fancy -name, given to him probably by some enthusiastic admirer, was -Liu Ch'üan, or "Willow Spring;" but he is now familiarly spoken of -simply as P'u Sung-ling. We are unacquainted with the years of his -birth or death; however, by the aid of a meagre entry in the _History -of Tzü-chou_ it is possible to make a pretty good guess at the date -of the former event. For we are there told that P'u Sung-ling -successfully competed for the lowest or bachelor's degree before he -had reached the age of twenty; and that in 1651 he was in the position -of a graduate of ten years' standing, having failed in the interim to -take the second, or master's, degree. To this failure, due, as we are -informed in the history above quoted, to his neglect of the beaten -track of academic study, we owe the existence of his great work; not, -indeed, his only production, though the one _par excellence_ by which, -as Confucius said of his own "Spring and Autumn," men will know him. -All else that we have on record of P'u Sung-ling, besides the fact -that he lived in close companionship with several eminent scholars of -the day, is gathered from his own words, written when, in 1679, he -laid down his pen upon the completion of a task which was to raise him -within a short period to a foremost rank in the Chinese world of -letters. Of that record I here append a close translation, accompanied -by such notes as are absolutely necessary to make it intelligible to -non-students of Chinese. - -AUTHOR'S OWN RECORD. - - "'Clad in wistaria, girdled with ivy;'[2] thus sang San-lü[3] in - his _Dissipation of Grief_.[4] Of ox-headed devils and serpent - Gods,[5] he of the long-nails[6] never wearied to tell. Each - interprets in his own way the music of heaven;[7] and whether it - be discord or not, depends upon antecedent causes.[8] As for me, I - cannot, with my poor autumn fire-fly's light, match myself against - the hobgoblins of the age.[9] I am but the dust in the sunbeam, a - fit laughing-stock for devils.[10] For my talents are not those of - Yü Pao,[11] elegant explorer of the records of the Gods; I am - rather animated by the Spirit of Su Tung-p'o,[12] who loved to - hear men speak of the supernatural. I get people to commit what - they tell me to writing, and subsequently I dress it up in the - form of a story; and thus in the lapse of time my friends from all - quarters have supplied me with quantities of material, which, from - my habit of collecting, has grown into a vast pile.[13] - - "Human beings, I would point out, are not beyond the pale of fixed - laws, and yet there are more remarkable phenomena in their midst - than in the country of those who crop their hair;[14] antiquity is - unrolled before us, and many tales are to be found therein - stranger than that of the nation of Flying Heads.[15] - 'Irrepressible bursts, and luxurious ease,'[16]--such was always - his enthusiastic strain. 'For ever indulging in liberal - thought,'[17]--thus he spoke openly without restraint. Were men - like these to open my book, I should be a laughing-stock to them - indeed. At the cross-roads[18] men will not listen to me, and yet - I have some knowledge of the three states of existence[19] spoken - of beneath the cliff;[20] neither should the words I utter be set - aside because of him that utters them.[21] When the bow[22] was - hung at my father's door, he dreamed that a sickly-looking - Buddhist priest, but half-covered by his stole, entered the - chamber. On one of his breasts was a round piece of plaster like - a _cash_;[23] and my father, waking from sleep, found that I, just - born, had a similar black patch on my body. As a child, I was thin - and constantly ailing, and unable to hold my own in the battle of - life. Our home was chill and desolate as a monastery; and working - there for my livelihood with my pen,[24] I was as poor as a priest - with his alms-bowl.[25] Often and often I put my hand to my - head[26] and exclaimed, 'Surely he who sat with his face to the - wall[27] was myself in a previous state of existence;' and thus I - referred my non-success in this life to the influence of a destiny - surviving from the last. I have been tossed hither and thither in - the direction of the ruling wind, like a flower falling in filthy - places; but the six paths[28] of transmigration are inscrutable - indeed, and I have no right to complain. As it is, midnight finds - me with an expiring lamp, while the wind whistles mournfully - without; and over my cheerless table I piece together my - tales,[29] vainly hoping to produce a sequel to the _Infernal - Regions_.[30] With a bumper I stimulate my pen, yet I only succeed - thereby in 'venting my excited feelings,'[31] and as I thus commit - my thoughts to writing, truly I am an object worthy of - commiseration. Alas! I am but the bird that, dreading the winter - frost, finds no shelter in the tree: the autumn insect that chirps - to the moon, and hugs the door for warmth. For where are they who - know me?[32] They are 'in the bosky grove, and at the frontier - pass'[33]--wrapped in an impenetrable gloom!" - -From the above curious document the reader will gain some insight into -the abstruse, but at the same time marvellously beautiful, style of -this gifted writer. The whole essay--for such it is, and among the -most perfect of its kind--is intended chiefly as a satire upon the -scholarship of the age; scholarship which had turned the author back -to the disappointment of a private life, himself conscious all the -time of the inward fire that had been lent him by heaven. It is the -key-note to his own subsequent career, spent in the retirement of -home, in the society of books and friends; as also to the numerous -uncomplimentary allusions which occur in all his stories relating to -official life. Whether or not the world at large has been a gainer by -this instance of the fallibility of competitive examinations has been -already decided in the affirmative by the millions of P'u Sung-ling's -own countrymen, who for the past two hundred years have more than made -up to him by a posthumous and enduring reverence for the loss of those -earthly and ephemeral honours which he seems to have coveted so much. - - -III.--BIBLIOGRAPHICAL.--_Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio_, known -to the Chinese as the _Liao-Chai-Chih-I_, or more familiarly, the -_Liao-Chai_, has hardly been mentioned by a single foreigner without -some inaccuracy on the part of the writer concerned. For instance, the -late Mr. Mayers states in his _Chinese Reader's Manual_, p. 176, that -this work was composed "circa A.D. 1710," the fact being that the -collection was actually completed in 1679, as we know by the date -attached to the "Author's Own Record" given above. It is consequently -two centuries, almost to the day, since the first appearance of a book -destined to a popularity which the lapse of time seems wholly unable -to diminish; and the present may fairly be considered a fitting epoch -for its first presentation to the English reader in an English dress. -I should mention, however, that the _Liao-Chai_ was originally, and -for many years, circulated in manuscript only. P'u Sung-ling, as we -are told in a colophon by his grandson to the first edition, was too -poor to meet the heavy expense of block-cutting; and it was not until -as late as 1740, when the author must have been already for some time -a denizen of the dark land he so much loved to describe, that his -aforesaid grandson printed and published the collection now so -universally famous. Since then many editions have been laid before the -Chinese public, the best of which is that by Tan Ming-lun, a Salt -Commissioner, who flourished during the reign of Tao Kuang, and who in -1842 produced, at his own expense, an excellent edition in sixteen -small octavo volumes of about 160 pages each. And as various editions -will occasionally be found to contain various readings, I would here -warn students of Chinese who wish to compare my rendering with the -text, that it is from the edition of Tan Ming-lun, collated with that -of Yü Chi, published in 1766, that this translation has been made. -Many have been the commentaries and disquisitions upon the meaning of -obscure passages and the general scope of this work; to say nothing of -the prefaces with which the several editions have been ushered into -the world. Of the latter, I have selected one specimen, from which the -reader will be able to form a tolerably accurate opinion as to the -true nature of these always singular and usually difficult -compositions. Here it is:-- - -T'ANG MÊNG LAI'S PREFACE. - - "The common saying, 'He regards a camel as a horse with a swelled - back,' trivial of itself, may be used in illustration of greater - matters. Men are wont to attribute an existence only to such - things as they daily see with their own eyes, and they marvel at - whatsoever, appearing before them at one instant, vanishes at the - next. And yet it is not at the sprouting and falling of foliage, - or at the metamorphosis of insects that they marvel, but only at - the manifestations of the supernatural world; though of a truth, - the whistling of the wind and the movement of streams, with - nothing to set the one in motion or give sound to the other, might - well be ranked among extraordinary phenomena. We are accustomed to - these, and therefore do not note them. We marvel at devils and - foxes: we do not marvel at man. But who is it that causes a man to - move and to speak?--to which question comes the ready answer of - each individual so questioned, '_I_ do.' This 'I do,' however, is - merely a personal consciousness of the facts under discussion. - For a man can see with his eyes, but he cannot see what it is that - makes him see; he can hear with his ears, but he cannot hear what - it is that makes him hear; how, then, is it possible for him to - understand the rationale of things he can neither see nor hear. - Whatever has come within the bounds of their own ocular or - auricular experience men regard as proved to be actually existing; - and only such things.[34] But this term 'experience' may be - understood in various senses. For instance, people speak of - something which has certain attributes as _form_, and of something - else which has certain other attributes as _substance_; ignorant - as they are that form and substance are to be found existing - without those particular attributes. Things which are thus - constituted are inappreciable, indeed, by our ears and eyes; but - we cannot argue that therefore they do not exist. Some persons can - see a mosquito's eye, while to others even a mountain is - invisible; some can hear the sound of ants battling together, - while others again fail to catch the roar of a thunder-peal. - Powers of seeing and hearing vary; there should be no reckless - imputations of blindness. According to the schoolmen, man at his - death is dispersed like wind or fire, the origin and end of his - vitality being alike unknown; and as those who have seen strange - phenomena are few, the number of those who marvel at them is - proportionately great, and the 'horse with a swelled back' - parallel is very widely applicable. And ever quoting the fact that - Confucius would have nothing to say on these topics, these - schoolmen half discredit such works as the _Ch'i-chieh-chih-kuai_ - and the _Yü-ch'u-chi-i_,[35] ignorant that the Sage's - unwillingness to speak had reference only to persons of an - inferior mental calibre; for his own _Spring and Autumn_ can - hardly be said to be devoid of all allusions of the kind. Now P'u - Liu-hsien devoted himself in his youth to the marvellous, and as - he grew older was specially remarkable for his comprehension - thereof; and being moreover a most elegant writer, he occupied his - leisure in recording whatever came to his knowledge of a - particularly marvellous nature. A volume of these compositions of - his formerly fell into my hands, and was constantly borrowed by - friends; now, I have another volume, and of what I read only about - three-tenths was known to me before. What there is, should be - sufficient to open the eyes of those schoolmen, though I much fear - it will be like talking of ice to a butterfly. Personally, I - disbelieve in the irregularity of natural phenomena, and regard as - evil spirits only those who injure their neighbours. For eclipses, - falling stars, the flight of herons, the nest of a mina, talking - stones, and the combats of dragons, can hardly be classed as - irregular; while the phenomena of nature occurring out of season, - wars, rebellions, and so forth, may certainly be relegated to the - category of evil. In my opinion the morality of P'u Liu-hsien's - work is of a very high standard, its object being distinctly to - glorify virtue and to censure vice, and as a book calculated to - elevate mankind may be safely placed side by side with the - philosophical treatises of Yang Hsiung which Huan Tan declared to - be so worthy of a wide circulation." - -With regard to the meaning of the Chinese words _Liao-Chai-Chih-I_, -this title has received indifferent treatment at the hands of -different writers. Dr. Williams chose to render it by "Pastimes of the -Study," and Mr. Mayers by "The Record of Marvels, or Tales of the -Genii;" neither of which is sufficiently near to be regarded in the -light of a translation. Taken literally and in order, these words -stand for "Liao--library--record--strange," "Liao" being simply a -fanciful name given by our author to his private library or studio. An -apocryphal anecdote traces the origin of this selection to a remark -once made by himself with reference to his failure for the second -degree. "Alas!" he is reported to have said, "I shall now have no -resource (_Liao_) for my old age;" and accordingly he so named his -study, meaning that in his pen he would seek that resource which fate -had denied to him as an official. For this untranslatable "Liao" I -have ventured to substitute "Chinese," as indicating more clearly the -nature of what is to follow. No such title as "Tales of the Genii" -fully expresses the scope of this work, which embraces alike weird -stories of Taoist devilry and magic, marvellous accounts of impossible -countries beyond the sea, simple scenes of Chinese every-day life, and -notices of extraordinary natural phenomena. Indeed, the author once -had it in contemplation to publish only the more imaginative of the -tales in the present collection under the title of "Devil and Fox -Stories;" but from this scheme he was ultimately dissuaded by his -friends, the result being the heterogeneous mass which is more aptly -described by the title I have given to this volume. In a similar -manner, I too had originally determined to publish a full and complete -translation of the whole of these sixteen volumes; but on a closer -acquaintance many of the stories turned out to be quite unsuitable for -the age in which we live, forcibly recalling the coarseness of our own -writers of fiction in the last century. Others again were utterly -pointless, or mere repetitions in a slightly altered form. Of the -whole, I therefore selected one hundred and sixty-four of the best and -most characteristic stories, of which eight had previously been -published by Mr. Allen in the _China Review_, one by Mr. Mayers in -_Notes and Queries on China and Japan_, two by myself in the columns -of the _Celestial Empire_, and four by Dr. Williams in a now forgotten -handbook of Chinese. The remaining one hundred and forty-nine have -never before, to my knowledge, been translated into English. To those, -however, who can enjoy the _Liao-Chai_ in the original text, the -distinctions between the various stories of felicity in plot, -originality, and so on, are far less sharply defined, so impressed as -each competent reader must be by the incomparable style in which even -the meanest is arrayed. For in this respect, as important now in -Chinese eyes as it was with ourselves in days not long gone by, the -author of the _Liao-Chai_ and the rejected candidate succeeded in -founding a school of his own, in which he has since been followed by -hosts of servile imitators with more or less success. Terseness is -pushed to its extreme limits; each particle that can be safely -dispensed with is scrupulously eliminated; and every here and there -some new and original combination invests perhaps a single word with a -force it could never have possessed except under the hands of a -perfect master of his art. Add to the above, copious allusions and -adaptations from a course of reading which would seem to have been -co-extensive with the whole range of Chinese literature, a wealth of -metaphor and an artistic use of figures generally to which only the -_chef-d'oeuvres_ of Carlyle form an adequate parallel; and the result -is a work which for purity and beauty of style is now universally -accepted in China as the best and most perfect model. Sometimes the -story runs along plainly and smoothly enough; but the next moment we -may be plunged into pages of abstruse text, the meaning of which is so -involved in quotations from and allusions to the poetry or history of -the past three thousand years as to be recoverable only after diligent -perusal of the commentary and much searching in other works of -reference. In illustration of the popularity of this book, Mr. Mayers -once stated that "the porter at his gate, the boatman at his mid-day -rest, the chair-coolie at his stand, no less than the man of letters -among his books, may be seen poring with delight over the -elegantly-narrated marvels of the _Liao-Chai_;" but he would doubtless -have withdrawn this judgment in later years, with the work lying open -before him. Ever since I have been in China, I have made a point of -never, when feasible, passing by a reading Chinaman without asking -permission to glance at the volume in his hand; and at my various -stations in China I have always kept up a borrowing acquaintance with -the libraries of my private or official servants; but I can safely -affirm that I have not once detected the _Liao-Chai_ in the hands of -an ill-educated man. Mr. Mayers made, perhaps, a happier hit when he -observed that "fairy-tales told in the style of the _Anatomy of -Melancholy_ would scarcely be a popular book in Great Britain;" though -except in some particular points of contact, the styles of these two -writers could scarcely claim even the most distant of relationships. - -Such, then, is the setting of this collection of _Strange Stories from -a Chinese Studio_, many of which contain, in addition to the -advantages of style and plot, a very excellent moral. The intention of -most of them is, in the actual words of T'ang Mêng-lai, "to glorify -virtue and to censure vice,"--always, it must be borne in mind, -according to the Chinese and not to a European interpretation of these -terms. As an addition to our knowledge of the folk-lore of China, and -as an _aperçu_ of the manners, customs, and social life of that vast -Empire, my translation of the _Liao-Chai_ may not be wholly devoid of -interest. The amusement and instruction I have myself derived from the -task thus voluntarily imposed has already more than repaid me for the -pains I have been at to put this work before the English public in a -pleasing and available form. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[1] "How can a statement as to customs, myths, beliefs, &c., of a -savage tribe, be treated as evidence, where it depends on the -testimony of some traveller or missionary, who may be a superficial -observer, more or less ignorant of the native language, a careless -retailer of unsifted talk, a man prejudiced or even wilfully -deceitful?"--TYLOR'S _Primitive Culture_, Vol. I., p. 9. - -[2] Said of the bogies of the hills, in allusion to their _clothes_. -Here quoted with reference to the official classes, in ridicule of the -title under which they hold posts which, from a literary point of -view, they are totally unfit to occupy. - -[3] A celebrated statesman (B.C. 314) who, having lost his master's -favour by the intrigues of a rival, finally drowned himself in -despair. The Annual Dragon Festival is said by some to be a "search" -for his body. - -[4] A poem addressed by San-lü to his Prince, after his disgrace. Its -non-success was the immediate cause of his death. - -[5] That is, of the supernatural generally. - -[6] A poet of the T'ang Dynasty whose eyebrows met, whose nails were -very long, and who could write very fast. - -[7] "You know the music of earth," said the Taoist sage, Chuang-tz[)u]; -"but you have not heard the music of heaven." - -[8] That is, to the operation of some influence surviving from a -previous existence. - -[9] This is another hit at the ruling classes. Chi K'ang, a celebrated -musician and alchemist (A.D. 223-262), was sitting one night alone, -playing upon his lute, when suddenly a man with a tiny face walked in, -and began to stare hard at him, the stranger's face enlarging all the -time. "I'm not going to match myself against a devil!" cried the -musician, after a few moments, and instantly blew out the light. - -[10] When Liu Chüan, Governor of Wu-ling, determined to relieve his -poverty by trade, he saw a devil standing by his side, laughing and -rubbing his hands for glee. "Poverty and wealth are matters of -destiny," said Liu Chüan; "But to be laughed at by a devil----," and -accordingly he desisted from his intention. - -[11] A writer who flourished in the early part of the fourth century, -and composed a work in thirty books entitled _Supernatural -Researches_. - -[12] The famous poet, statesman, and essayist, who flourished A.D. -1036-1101. - -[13] "And his friends had the habit of jotting down for his unfailing -delight anything quaint or comic that they came across."--_The World_ -on Charles Dickens: 24th July 1878. - -[14] It is related in the _Historical Record_ that when T'ai Po and Yü -Chung visited the southern savages they saw men with tattooed bodies -and short hair. - -[15] A fabulous community, placed by geographers to the west of the -Dragon city--wherever that may be. So called because the heads of the -men are in the habit of leaving their bodies, and flying down to -marshy places to feed on worms and crabs. A red ring is seen the night -before the flight encircling the neck of the man whose head is about -to fly. At daylight the head returns. - -[16] A quotation from the admired works of Wang Po, a brilliant -scholar and poet, who was drowned at the early age of twenty-eight, -A.D. 675. - -[17] I have hitherto failed in all attempts to identify this -quotation. - -[18] The cross-road of the "Five Fathers" is here mentioned, which the -commentator tells us is merely the name of the place. - -[19] The past, present, and future life, of the Buddhist system of -metempsychosis. - -[20] A certain man, who was staying at a temple, dreamt that an old -priest appeared to him beneath a jade-stone cliff, and, pointing to a -stick of burning incense, said to him, "That incense represents a vow -to be fulfilled; but I say unto you, that ere its smoke shall have -curled away, your three states of existence will have been already -accomplished." The meaning is that time on earth is as nothing to the -Gods. - -[21] This remark occurs in the fifteenth of the Confucian Gospels, -section 22. - -[22] The birth of a boy was formerly signalled by hanging a bow at the -door; that of a girl, by displaying a small towel--indicative of the -parts that each would hereafter play in the drama of life. - -[23] See note 42 to No. II. - -[24] Literally, "ploughing with my pen." - -[25] The _patra_ or bowl, used by Buddhist mendicants, in imitation of -the celebrated alms-dish of Shâkyamuni Buddha. - -[26] Literally, "scratched my head," as is often done by the Chinese -in perplexity or doubt. - -[27] Alluding to the priest Dharma-nandi, who came from India to -China, and tried to convert the Emperor Wu Ti of the Liang Dynasty; -but, failing in his attempt, he retired full of mortification to a -temple at Sung-shan, where he sat for nine years before a rock, until -his own image was imprinted thereon. - -[28] The six _gâti_ or conditions of existence, namely: angels, men, -demons, hungry devils, brute beasts, and tortured sinners. - -[29] Literally, "putting together the pieces under the forelegs (of -foxes) to make robes." This part of the fox-skin is the most valuable -for making fur clothes. - -[30] The work of a well-known writer, named Lin I-ch'ing, who -flourished during the Sung Dynasty. - -[31] Alluding to an essay by Han Fei, a philosopher of the third -century B.C., in which he laments the iniquity of the age in general, -and the corruption of officials in particular. He finally committed -suicide in prison, where he had been cast by the intrigues of a rival -minister. - -[32] Confucius (_Gospel_ xiv., sec. 37) said, "Alas! there is no one -who knows me (to be what I am)." - -[33] The great poet Tu Fu (A.D. 712-770) dreamt that his greater -predecessor, Li T'ai-po (A.D. 699-762) appeared to him, "coming when -the maple-grove was in darkness, and returning while the frontier-pass -was still obscured;"--that is, at night, when no one could see him; -the meaning being that he never came at all, and that those "who know -me (P'u Sung-ling)" are equally non-existent. - -[34] "Thus, since countless things exist that the senses _can_ take -account of, it is evident that nothing exists that the senses can -_not_ take account of."--The "Professor" in W. H. Mallock's _New Paul -and Virginia_. - -This passage recalls another curious classification by the great -Chinese philosopher Han Wên-kung. "There are some things which possess -form but are devoid of sound, as for instance jade and stones; others -have sound but are without form, such as wind and thunder; others -again have both form and sound, such as men and animals; and lastly, -there is a class devoid of both, namely, _devils and spirits_." - -[35] I have never seen any of these works, but I believe they treat, -as implied by their titles, chiefly of the supernatural world. - - - - -STRANGE STORIES - -FROM A - -CHINESE STUDIO. - - - - -I. - -EXAMINATION FOR THE POST OF GUARDIAN ANGEL.[36] - - -My eldest sister's husband's grandfather, named Sung Tao, was a -graduate.[37] One day, while lying down from indisposition, an -official messenger arrived, bringing the usual notification in his -hand and leading a horse with a white forehead, to summon him to the -examination for his master's degree. Mr. Sung here remarked that the -Grand Examiner had not yet come, and asked why there should be this -hurry. The messenger did not reply to this, but pressed so earnestly -that at length Mr. Sung roused himself, and getting upon the horse -rode with him. The way seemed strange, and by-and-by they reached a -city which resembled the capital of a prince. They then entered the -Prefect's _yamên_,[38] the apartments of which were beautifully -decorated; and there they found some ten officials sitting at the -upper end, all strangers to Mr. Sung, with the exception of one whom -he recognised to be the God of War.[39] In the verandah were two -tables and two stools, and at the end of one of the former a candidate -was already seated, so Mr. Sung sat down alongside of him. On the -table were writing materials for each, and suddenly down flew a piece -of paper with a theme on it, consisting of the following eight -words:--"One man, two men; by intention, without intention." When Mr. -Sung had finished his essay, he took it into the hall. It contained -the following passage: "Those who are virtuous by intention, though -virtuous, shall not be rewarded. Those who are wicked without -intention, though wicked, shall receive no punishment." The presiding -deities praised this sentiment very much, and calling Mr. Sung to come -forward, said to him, "A Guardian Angel is wanted in Honan. Go you and -take up the appointment." Mr. Sung no sooner heard this than he bowed -his head and wept, saying, "Unworthy though I am of the honour you -have conferred upon me, I should not venture to decline it but that my -aged mother has reached her seventh decade, and there is no one now to -take care of her. I pray you let me wait until she has fulfilled her -destiny, when I will hold myself at your disposal." Thereupon one of -the deities, who seemed to be the chief, gave instructions to search -out his mother's term of life, and a long-bearded attendant forthwith -brought in the Book of Fate. On turning it over, he declared that she -still had nine years to live; and then a consultation was held among -the deities, in the middle of which the God of War said, "Very well. -Let Mr. graduate Chang take the post, and be relieved in nine years' -time." Then, turning to Mr. Sung, he continued, "You ought to proceed -without delay to your post; but as a reward for your filial piety, you -are granted a furlough of nine years. At the expiration of that time -you will receive another summons." He next addressed a few kind words -to Mr. Chang; and the two candidates, having made their _kotow_, went -away together. Grasping Mr. Sung's hand, his companion, who gave -"Chang Ch'i of Ch'ang-shan" as his name and address, accompanied him -beyond the city walls and gave him a stanza of poetry at parting. I -cannot recollect it all, but in it occurred this couplet:-- - - "With wine and flowers we chase the hours, - In one eternal spring: - No moon, no light, to cheer the night-- - Thyself that ray must bring." - -Mr. Sung here left him and rode on, and before very long reached his -own home; here he awaked as if from a dream, and found that he had -been dead three days,[40] when his mother, hearing a groan in the -coffin, ran to it and helped him out. It was some time before he could -speak, and then he at once inquired about Ch'ang-shan, where, as it -turned out, a graduate named Chang had died that very day. - -Nine years afterwards, Mr. Sung's mother, in accordance with fate, -passed from this life; and when the funeral obsequies were over, her -son, having first purified himself, entered into his chamber and died -also. Now his wife's family lived within the city, near the western -gate; and all of a sudden they beheld Mr. Sung, accompanied by -numerous chariots and horses with carved trappings and red-tasselled -bits, enter into the hall, make an obeisance, and depart. They were -very much disconcerted at this, not knowing that he had become a -spirit, and rushed out into the village to make inquiries, when they -heard he was already dead. Mr. Sung had an account of his adventure -written by himself; but unfortunately after the insurrection it was -not to be found. This is only an outline of the story. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[36] The tutelar deity of every Chinese city. - -[37] That is, he had taken the first or bachelor's degree. I shall not -hesitate to use strictly English equivalents for all kinds of Chinese -terms. The three degrees are literally, (1) Cultivated Talent, (2) -Raised Man, and (3) Promoted Scholar. - -[38] The official residence of a mandarin above a certain rank. - -[39] The Chinese Mars. A celebrated warrior, named Kuan Yü, who lived -about the beginning of the third century of our era. He was raised -after death to the rank of a God, and now plays a leading part in the -Chinese Pantheon. - -[40] Catalepsy, which is the explanation of many a story in this -collection, would appear to be of very common occurrence amongst the -Chinese. Such, however, is not the case; in which statement I am borne -out by my friend, Dr. Manson, of Amoy, who, after many years' practice -among the natives of that port, and also of Formosa, informs me that -he has never even heard of a single instance of this strange -complaint. - - - - -II. - -THE TALKING PUPILS. - - -At Ch'ang-ngan there lived a scholar, named Fang Tung, who though by -no means destitute of ability was a very unprincipled rake, and in the -habit of following and speaking to any woman he might chance to meet. -The day before the spring festival of Clear Weather,[41] he was -strolling about outside the city when he saw a small carriage with red -curtains and an embroidered awning, followed by a crowd of -waiting-maids on horseback, one of whom was exceedingly pretty, and -riding on a small palfrey. Going closer to get a better view, Mr. Fang -noticed that the carriage curtain was partly open, and inside he -beheld a beautifully dressed girl of about sixteen, lovely beyond -anything he had ever seen. Dazzled by the sight, he could not take his -eyes off her; and, now before, now behind, he followed the carriage -for many a mile. By-and-by he heard the young lady call out to her -maid, and, when the latter came alongside, say to her, "Let down the -screen for me. Who is this rude fellow that keeps on staring so?" The -maid accordingly let down the screen, and looking angrily at Mr. Fang, -said to him, "This is the bride of the Seventh Prince in the City of -Immortals going home to see her parents, and no village girl that you -should stare at her thus." Then taking a handful of dust, she threw it -at him and blinded him. He rubbed his eyes and looked round, but the -carriage and horses were gone. This frightened him, and he went off -home, feeling very uncomfortable about the eyes. He sent for a doctor -to examine his eyes, and on the pupils was found a small film, which -had increased by next morning, the eyes watering incessantly all the -time. The film went on growing, and in a few days was as thick as a -cash.[42] On the right pupil there came a kind of spiral, and as no -medicine was of any avail, the sufferer gave himself up to grief and -wished for death. He then bethought himself of repenting of his -misdeeds, and hearing that the _Kuang-ming_ sutra could relieve -misery, he got a copy and hired a man to teach it to him. At first it -was very tedious work, but by degrees he became more composed, and -spent every evening in a posture of devotion, telling his beads. At -the end of a year he had arrived at a state of perfect calm, when one -day he heard a small voice, about as loud as a fly's, calling out from -his left eye:--"It's horridly dark in here." To this he heard a reply -from the right eye, saying, "Let us go out for a stroll, and cheer -ourselves up a bit." Then he felt a wriggling in his nose which made -it itch, just as if something was going out of each of the nostrils; -and after a while he felt it again as if going the other way. -Afterwards he heard a voice from one eye say, "I hadn't seen the -garden for a long time: the epidendrums are all withered and dead." -Now Mr. Fang was very fond of these epidendrums, of which he had -planted a great number, and had been accustomed to water them himself; -but since the loss of his sight he had never even alluded to them. -Hearing, however, these words, he at once asked his wife why she had -let the epidendrums die. She inquired how he knew they were dead, and -when he told her she went out to see, and found them actually withered -away. They were both very much astonished at this, and his wife -proceeded to conceal herself in the room. She then observed two tiny -people, no bigger than a bean, come down from her husband's nose and -run out of the door, where she lost sight of them. In a little while -they came back and flew up to his face, like bees or beetles seeking -their nests. This went on for some days, until Mr. Fang heard from the -left eye, "This roundabout road is not at all convenient. It would be -as well for us to make a door." To this the right eye answered, "My -wall is too thick; it wouldn't be at all an easy job." "I'll try and -open mine," said the left eye, "and then it will do for both of us." -Whereupon Mr. Fang felt a pain in his left eye as if something was -being split, and in a moment he found he could see the tables and -chairs in the room. He was delighted at this and told his wife, who -examined his eye and discovered an opening in the film, through which -she could see the black pupil shining out beneath, the eyeball itself -looking like a cracked pepper-corn. By next morning the film had -disappeared, and when his eye was closely examined it was observed to -contain two pupils. The spiral on the right eye remained as before; -and then they knew that the two pupils had taken up their abode in one -eye. Further, although Mr. Fang was still blind of one eye, the sight -of the other was better than that of the two together. From this time -he was more careful of his behaviour, and acquired in his part of the -country the reputation of a virtuous man.[43] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[41] One of the twenty-four solar terms. It falls on or about the 5th -of April, and is the special time for worshipping at the family tombs. - -[42] The common European name for the only Chinese coin, about twenty -of which go to a penny. Each has a square hole in the middle, for the -convenience of stringing them together; hence the expression "strings -of cash." - -[43] The belief that the human eye contains a tiny being of the human -shape is universal in China. It originated, of course, from the -reflection of oneself that is seen on looking into the pupil of -anybody's eye, or even, with the aid of a mirror, into one's own. - - - - -III. - -THE PAINTED WALL. - - -A Kiang-si gentleman, named Mêng Lung-t'an, was lodging at the capital -with a Mr. Chu, M.A., when one day chance led them to a certain -monastery, within which they found no spacious halls or meditation -chambers, but only an old priest in _deshabille_. On observing the -visitors, he arranged his dress and went forward to meet them, leading -them round and showing whatever there was to be seen. In the chapel -they saw an image of Chih Kung, and the walls on either side were -beautifully painted with life-like representations of men and things. -On the east side were pictured a number of fairies, among whom was a -young girl whose maiden tresses were not yet confined by the matron's -knot. She was picking flowers and gently smiling, while her cherry -lips seemed about to move, and the moisture of her eyes to overflow. -Mr. Chu gazed at her for a long time without taking his eyes off, -until at last he became unconscious of anything but the thoughts that -were engrossing him. Then, suddenly, he felt himself floating in the -air, as if riding on a cloud, and found himself passing through the -wall,[44] where halls and pavilions stretched away one after another, -unlike the abodes of mortals. Here an old priest was preaching the Law -of Buddha, surrounded by a large crowd of listeners. Mr. Chu mingled -with the throng, and after a few moments perceived a gentle tug at his -sleeve. Turning round, he saw the young girl above-mentioned, who -walked laughing away. Mr. Chu at once followed her, and passing a -winding balustrade arrived at a small apartment beyond which he dared -not venture further. But the young lady, looking back, waved the -flowers she had in her hand as though beckoning him to come on. He -accordingly entered and found nobody else within. Then they fell on -their knees and worshipped heaven and earth together,[45] and rose up -as man and wife, after which the bride went away, bidding Mr. Chu keep -quiet until she came back. This went on for a couple of days, when the -young lady's companions began to smell a rat and discovered Mr. Chu's -hiding-place. Thereupon they all laughed and said, "My dear, you are -now a married woman, and should leave off that maidenly _coiffure_." -So they gave her the proper hair-pins and head ornaments, and bade her -go bind her hair, at which she blushed very much but said nothing. -Then one of them cried out, "My sisters, let us be off. Two's -company, more's none." At this they all giggled again and went away. - -Mr. Chu found his wife very much improved by the alteration in the -style of her hair. The high top-knot and the coronet of pendants were -very becoming to her. But suddenly they heard a sound like the -tramping of heavy-soled boots, accompanied by the clanking of chains -and the noise of angry discussion. The bride jumped up in a fright, -and she and Mr. Chu peeped out. They saw a man clad in golden armour, -with a face as black as jet, carrying in his hand chains and whips, -and surrounded by all the girls. He asked, "Are you all here?" "All," -they replied. "If," said he, "any mortal is here concealed amongst -you, denounce him at once, and lay not up sorrow for yourselves." Here -they all answered as before that there was no one. The man then made a -movement as if he would search the place, upon which the bride was -dreadfully alarmed, and her face turned the colour of ashes. In her -terror she said to Mr. Chu, "Hide yourself under the bed," and opening -a small lattice in the wall, disappeared herself. Mr. Chu in his -concealment hardly dared to draw his breath; and in a little while he -heard the boots tramp into the room and out again, the sound of the -voices getting gradually fainter and fainter in the distance. This -reassured him, but he still heard the voices of people going backwards -and forwards outside; and having been a long time in a cramped -position, his ears began to sing as if there was a locust in them, -and his eyes to burn like fire. It was almost unbearable; however, he -remained quietly awaiting the return of the young lady without giving -a thought to the why and wherefore of his present position. - -Meanwhile, Mêng Lung-t'an had noticed the sudden disappearance of his -friend, and thinking something was wrong, asked the priest where he -was. "He has gone to hear the preaching of the Law," replied the -priest. "Where?" said Mr. Mêng. "Oh, not very far," was the answer. -Then with his finger the old priest tapped the wall and called out, -"Friend Chu! what makes you stay away so long?" At this, the likeness -of Mr. Chu was figured upon the wall, with his ear inclined in the -attitude of one listening. The priest added, "Your friend here has -been waiting for you some time;" and immediately Mr. Chu descended -from the wall, standing transfixed like a block of wood, with starting -eyeballs and trembling legs. Mr. Mêng was much terrified, and asked -him quietly what was the matter. Now the matter was that while -concealed under the bed he had heard a noise resembling thunder and -had rushed out to see what it was. - -Here they all noticed that the young lady on the wall with the -maiden's tresses had changed the style of her _coiffure_ to that of a -married woman. Mr. Chu was greatly astonished at this and asked the -old priest the reason. - -He replied, "Visions have their origin in those who see them: what -explanation can I give?" This answer was very unsatisfactory to Mr. -Chu; neither did his friend, who was rather frightened, know what to -make of it all; so they descended the temple steps and went away. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[44] Which will doubtless remind the reader of _Alice through the -Looking-glass, and what she saw there_. - -[45] The all-important item of a Chinese marriage ceremony; amounting, -in fact, to calling God to witness the contract. - - - - -IV. - -PLANTING A PEAR-TREE. - - -A countryman was one day selling his pears in the market. They were -unusually sweet and fine flavoured, and the price he asked was high. A -Taoist[46] priest in rags and tatters stopped at the barrow and -begged one of them. The countryman told him to go away, but as he did -not do so he began to curse and swear at him. The priest said, "You -have several hundred pears on your barrow; I ask for a single one, the -loss of which, Sir, you would not feel. Why then get angry?" The -lookers-on told the countryman to give him an inferior one and let him -go, but this he obstinately refused to do. Thereupon the beadle of the -place, finding the commotion too great, purchased a pear and handed it -to the priest. The latter received it with a bow and turning to the -crowd said, "We who have left our homes and given up all that is dear -to us[47] are at a loss to understand selfish niggardly conduct in -others. Now I have some exquisite pears which I shall do myself the -honour to put before you." Here somebody asked, "Since you have pears -yourself, why don't you eat those?" "Because," replied the priest, "I -wanted one of these pips to grow them from." So saying, he munched up -the pear; and when he had finished took a pip in his hand, unstrapped -a pick from his back, and proceeded to make a hole in the ground, -several inches deep, wherein he deposited the pip, filling in the -earth as before. He then asked the bystanders for a little hot water -to water it with, and one among them who loved a joke fetched him some -boiling water from a neighbouring shop. The priest poured this over -the place where he had made the hole, and every eye was fixed upon him -when sprouts were seen shooting up, and gradually growing larger and -larger. By-and-by, there was a tree with branches sparsely covered -with leaves; then flowers, and last of all fine, large, sweet-smelling -pears hanging in great profusion. These the priest picked and handed -round to the assembled crowd until all were gone, when he took his -pick and hacked away for a long time at the tree, finally cutting it -down. This he shouldered, leaves and all, and sauntered quietly away. -Now, from the very beginning, our friend the countryman had been -amongst the crowd, straining his neck to see what was going on, and -forgetting all about his business. At the departure of the priest he -turned round and discovered that every one of his pears was gone. He -then knew that those the old fellow had been giving away so freely -were really his own pears. Looking more closely at the barrow he also -found that one of the handles was missing, evidently having been newly -cut off. Boiling with rage, he set out in pursuit of the priest, and -just as he turned the corner he saw the lost barrow-handle lying under -the wall, being in fact the very pear-tree that the priest had cut -down. But there were no traces of the priest--much to the amusement of -the crowd in the market-place. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[46] That is, of the religion of _Tao_, or, as it is sometimes called, -_Rationalism_. It was founded some six centuries before the Christian -era by a man named Lao-tz[)u], "Old boy," who was said to have been born -with white hair and a beard. Originally a pure system of metaphysics, -it is now but a shadow of its former self, and is corrupted by the -grossest forms of superstition borrowed from Buddhism, which has in -its turn adopted many of the forms and beliefs of Taoism, so that the -two religions are hardly distinguishable one from the other. - -"What seemed to me the most singular circumstance connected with the -matter, was the presence of half-a-dozen Taoist priests, who joined in -all the ceremonies, doing everything that the Buddhist priests did, -and presenting a very odd appearance, with their top-knots and cues, -among their closely shaven Buddhist brethren. It seemed strange that -the worship of Sakyamuni by celibate Buddhist priests, with shaved -heads, into which holes were duly burned at their initiation, should -be participated in by married Taoist priests, whose heads are not -wholly shaven, and have never been burned."--_Initiation of Buddhist -Priests at Kooshan_, by S. L. B. - -Taoist priests are credited with a knowledge of alchemy and the black -art in general. - -[47] A celibate priesthood belongs properly to Buddhism, and is not a -doctrine of the Taoist church. - - - - -V. - -THE TAOIST PRIEST OF LAO-SHAN. - - -There lived in our village a Mr. Wang, the seventh son in an old -family. This gentleman had a _penchant_ for the Taoist religion; and -hearing that at Lao-shan there were plenty of Immortals,[48] -shouldered his knapsack and went off for a tour thither. Ascending a -peak of the mountain he reached a secluded monastery where he found a -priest sitting on a rush mat, with long hair flowing over his neck, -and a pleasant expression on his face. Making a low bow, Wang -addressed him thus:--"Mysterious indeed is the doctrine: I pray you, -Sir, instruct me therein." "Delicately-nurtured and wanting in energy -as you are," replied the priest, "I fear you could not support the -fatigue." "Try me," said Wang. So when the disciples, who were very -many in number, collected together at dusk, Wang joined them in making -obeisance to the priest, and remained with them in the monastery. Very -early next morning the priest summoned Wang, and giving him a hatchet -sent him out with the others to cut firewood. Wang respectfully -obeyed, continuing to work for over a month until his hands and feet -were so swollen and blistered that he secretly meditated returning -home. One evening when he came back he found two strangers sitting -drinking with his master. It being already dark, and no lamp or -candles having been brought in, the old priest took some scissors and -cut out a circular piece of paper like a mirror, which he proceeded to -stick against the wall. Immediately it became a dazzling moon, by the -light of which you could have seen a hair or a beard of corn. The -disciples all came crowding round to wait upon them, but one of the -strangers said, "On a festive occasion like this we ought all to enjoy -ourselves together." Accordingly he took a kettle of wine from the -table and presented it to the disciples, bidding them drink each his -fill; whereupon our friend Wang began to wonder how seven or eight of -them could all be served out of a single kettle. The disciples, too, -rushed about in search of cups, each struggling to get the first drink -for fear the wine should be exhausted. Nevertheless, all the -candidates failed to empty the kettle, at which they were very much -astonished, when suddenly one of the strangers said, "You have given -us a fine bright moon; but it's dull work drinking by ourselves. Why -not call Ch'ang-ngo[49] to join us?" He then seized a chop-stick and -threw it into the moon, whereupon a lovely girl stepped forth from its -beams. At first she was only a foot high, but on reaching the ground -lengthened to the ordinary size of women. She had a slender waist and -a beautiful neck, and went most gracefully through the Red Garment -figure.[50] When this was finished she sang the following words:-- - - "Ye fairies! ye fairies! I'm coming back soon, - Too lonely and cold is my home in the moon." - -Her voice was clear and well sustained, ringing like the notes of a -flageolet, and when she had concluded her song she pirouetted round -and jumped up on the table, where, with every eye fixed in -astonishment upon her, she once more became a chop-stick. The three -friends laughed loudly, and one of them said, "We are very jolly -to-night, but I have hardly room for any more wine. Will you drink a -parting glass with me in the palace of the moon?" They then took up -the table and walked into the moon where they could be seen drinking -so plainly, that their eyebrows and beards appeared like reflections -in a looking-glass. By-and-by the moon became obscured; and when the -disciples brought a lighted candle they found the priest sitting in -the dark alone. The viands, however, were still upon the table and the -mirror-like piece of paper on the wall. "Have you all had enough to -drink?" asked the priest; to which they answered that they had. "In -that case," said he, "you had better get to bed, so as not to be -behindhand with your wood-cutting in the morning." So they all went -off, and among them Wang, who was delighted at what he had seen, and -thought no more of returning home. But after a time he could not stand -it any longer; and as the priest taught him no magical arts he -determined not to wait, but went to him and said, "Sir, I travelled -many long miles for the benefit of your instruction. If you will not -teach me the secret of Immortality, let me at any rate learn some -trifling trick, and thus soothe my cravings for a knowledge of your -art. I have now been here two or three months, doing nothing but chop -firewood, out in the morning and back at night, work to which I was -never accustomed in my own home." "Did I not tell you," replied the -priest, "that you would never support the fatigue? To-morrow I will -start you on your way home." "Sir," said Wang, "I have worked for you -a long time. Teach me some small art, that my coming here may not have -been wholly in vain." "What art?" asked the priest. "Well," answered -Wang, "I have noticed that whenever you walk about anywhere, walls and -so on are no obstacle to you. Teach me this, and I'll be satisfied." -The priest laughingly assented, and taught Wang a formula which he -bade him recite. When he had done so he told him to walk through the -wall; but Wang, seeing the wall in front of him, didn't like to walk -at it. As, however, the priest bade him try, he walked quietly up to -it and was there stopped. The priest here called out, "Don't go so -slowly. Put your head down and rush at it." So Wang stepped back a few -paces and went at it full speed; and the wall yielding to him as he -passed, in a moment he found himself outside. Delighted at this, he -went in to thank the priest, who told him to be careful in the use of -his power, or otherwise there would be no response, handing him at the -same time some money for his expenses on the way. When Wang got home, -he went about bragging of his Taoist friends and his contempt for -walls in general; but as his wife disbelieved his story, he set about -going through the performance as before. Stepping back from the wall, -he rushed at it full speed with his head down; but coming in contact -with the hard bricks, finished up in a heap on the floor. His wife -picked him up and found he had a bump on his forehead as big as a -large egg, at which she roared with laughter; but Wang was overwhelmed -with rage and shame, and cursed the old priest for his base -ingratitude. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[48] The "angels" of Taoism--immortality in a happy land being the -reward held out for a life on earth in accordance with the doctrines -of Tao, for which, as Mr. Chalmers says, "three terms suggest -themselves--the Way, Reason, and the _Word_; but they are all liable -to objection." - -Taoist priests are believed by some to possess an elixir of -immortality in the form of a precious liquor; others again hold that -the elixir consists solely in a virtuous conduct of life. - -[49] The beautiful wife of a legendary chieftain, named Hou I, who -flourished about 2,500 B.C. She is said to have stolen from her -husband the elixir of immortality, and to have fled with it to the -moon. - -[50] The name of a celebrated _pas seul_ of antiquity. - - - - -VI. - -THE BUDDHIST PRIEST OF CH'ANG-CH'ING. - - -At Ch'ang-ch'ing there lived a Buddhist priest of exceptional virtue -and purity of conduct, who, though over eighty years of age, was still -hale and hearty. One day he fell down and could not move; and when the -other priests rushed to help him up, they found he was already gone. -The old priest was himself unconscious of death, and his soul flew -away to the borders of the province of Honan. Now it chanced that the -scion of an old family residing in Honan, had gone out that very day -with some ten or a dozen followers to hunt the hare with falcons;[51] -but his horse having run away with him he fell off and was killed. -Just at that moment the soul of the priest came by and entered into -the body, which thereupon gradually recovered consciousness. The -servants crowded round to ask him how he felt, when opening his eyes -wide, he cried out, "How did I get here?" They assisted him to rise, -and led him into the house, where all his ladies came to see him and -inquire how he did. In great amazement he said, "I am a Buddhist -priest. How came I hither?" His servants thought he was wandering, and -tried to recall him by pulling his ears. As for himself, he could make -nothing of it, and closing his eyes refrained from saying anything -further. For food, he would only eat rice, refusing all wine and meat; -and avoided the society of his wives.[52] After some days he felt -inclined for a stroll, at which all his family were delighted; but no -sooner had he got outside and stopped for a little rest than he was -besieged by servants begging him to take their accounts as usual. -However, he pleaded illness and want of strength, and no more was -said. He then took occasion to ask if they knew the district of -Ch'ang-ch'ing, and on being answered in the affirmative expressed his -intention of going thither for a trip, as he felt dull and had nothing -particular to do, bidding them at the same time look after his affairs -at home. They tried to dissuade him from this on the ground of his -having but recently risen from a sick bed; but he paid no heed to -their remonstrances, and on the very next day set out. Arriving in the -Ch'ang-ch'ing district, he found everything unchanged; and without -being put to the necessity of asking the road, made his way straight -to the monastery. His former disciples received him with every token -of respect as an honoured visitor; and in reply to his question as to -where the old priest was, they informed him that their worthy teacher -had been dead for some time. On asking to be shewn his grave, they led -him to a spot where there was a solitary mound some three feet high, -over which the grass was not yet green. Not one of them knew his -motives for visiting this place; and by-and-by he ordered his horse, -saying to the disciples, "Your master was a virtuous priest. Carefully -preserve whatever relics of him you may have, and keep them from -injury." They all promised to do this, and he then set off on his way -home. When he arrived there, he fell into a listless state and took -no interest in his family affairs. So much so, that after a few -months he ran away and went straight to his former home at the -monastery, telling the disciples that he was their old master. This -they refused to believe, and laughed among themselves at his -pretensions; but he told them the whole story, and recalled many -incidents of his previous life among them, until at last they were -convinced. He then occupied his old bed and went through the same -daily routine as before, paying no attention to the repeated -entreaties of his family, who came with carriages and horses to beg -him to return. - -About a year subsequently, his wife sent one of the servants with -splendid presents of gold and silk, all of which he refused with the -exception of a single linen robe. And whenever any of his old friends -passed this monastery, they always went to pay him their respects, -finding him quiet, dignified, and pure. He was then barely thirty, -though he had been a priest for more than eighty years.[53] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[51] This form of sport may still be seen in the north of China. A -hare being started, two Chinese greyhounds (which are very slow) are -slipped from their leash in pursuit. But, as the hare would easily run -straight away from them, a falcon is released almost simultaneously. -The latter soars to a considerable height, and then swoops down on the -hare, striking it a violent blow with the "pounce," or claw. This -partially stuns the hare, and allows the dogs to regain lost ground, -by which time the hare is ready once more, and off they go again. The -chase is ended by the hare getting to earth in a fox's burrow, or -being ultimately overtaken by the dogs. In the latter case the heart -and liver are cut out on the spot, and given to the falcon; otherwise -he would hunt no more that day. Two falcons are often released, one -shortly after the other. They wear hoods, which are removed at the -moment of flying, and are attached by a slip-string from one leg to -the falconer's wrist. During the night previous to a day's hunting, -they are not allowed to sleep. Each falconer lies down with one falcon -on his left wrist, and keeps up an incessant tapping with the other on -the bird's head. This is done to make them fierce. Should the quarry -escape, a hare's skin is thrown down, by which means the falcons are -secured, and made ready for a further flight. Occasionally, but -rarely, the falcon misses its blow at the hare, with the result of a -broken or injured "arm." - -[52] Abstinence from wine and meat, and celibacy, are among the most -important dogmas of the Buddhist church, as specially applied to its -priesthood. At the door of every Buddhist monastery may be seen a -notice that "No wine or meat may enter here!" Even the laity are not -supposed to drink wine. - -[53] Having renewed his youth by assuming the body of the young man -into which his soul had entered. - - - - -VII. - -THE MARRIAGE OF THE FOX'S DAUGHTER. - - -A president of the Board of Civil Office,[54] named Yin, and a native -of Li-ch'êng, when a young man, was very badly off, but was endowed -with considerable physical courage. Now in his part of the country -there was a large establishment, covering several acres, with an -unbroken succession of pavilions and verandahs, and belonging to one -of the old county families; but because ghosts and apparitions were -frequently seen there, the place had for a long time remained -untenanted, and was overgrown with grass and weeds, no one venturing -to enter in even in broad daylight. One evening when Yin was carousing -with some fellow-students, one of them jokingly said, "If anybody will -pass a night in the haunted house, the rest of us will stand him a -dinner." Mr. Yin jumped up at this, and cried out, "What is there -difficult in that?" So, taking with him a sleeping-mat, he proceeded -thither, escorted by all his companions as far as the door, where -they laughed and said, "We will wait here a little while. In case you -see anything, shout out to us at once." "If there are any goblins or -foxes," replied Yin, "I'll catch them for you." He then went in, and -found the paths obliterated by long grass, which had sprung up, -mingled with weeds of various kinds. It was just the time of the new -moon, and by its feeble light he was able to make out the door of the -house. Feeling his way, he walked on until he reached the back -pavilion, and then went up on to the Moon Terrace, which was such a -pleasant spot that he determined to stop there. Gazing westwards, he -sat for a long time looking at the moon--a single thread of light -embracing in its horns the peak of a hill--without hearing anything at -all unusual; so, laughing to himself at the nonsense people talked, he -spread his mat upon the floor, put a stone under his head for a -pillow, and lay down to sleep. He had watched the Cow-herd and the -Lady[55] until they were just disappearing, and was on the point of -dropping off, when suddenly he heard footsteps down below coming up -the stairs. Pretending to be asleep, he saw a servant enter, carrying -in his hand a lotus-shaped lantern,[56] who, on observing Mr. Yin, -rushed back in a fright, and said to someone behind, "There is a -stranger here!" The person spoken to asked who it was, but the servant -did not know; and then up came an old gentleman, who, after examining -Mr. Yin closely, said, "It's the future President: he's as drunk as -can be. We needn't mind him; besides, he's a good fellow, and won't -give us any trouble." So they walked in and opened all the doors; and -by-and-by there were a great many other people moving about, and -quantities of lamps were lighted, till the place was as light as day. -About this time Mr. Yin slightly changed his position, and sneezed; -upon which the old man, perceiving that he was awake, came forward and -fell down on his knees, saying, "Sir, I have a daughter who is to be -married this very night. It was not anticipated that Your Honour would -be here. I pray, therefore, that we may be excused." Mr. Yin got up -and raised the old man, regretting that, in his ignorance of the -festive occasion, he had brought with him no present.[57] "Ah, Sir," -replied the old man, "your very presence here will ward off all -noxious influences; and that is quite enough for us." He then begged -Mr. Yin to assist in doing the honours, and thus double the obligation -already conferred. Mr. Yin readily assented, and went inside to look -at the gorgeous arrangements they had made. He was here met by a lady, -apparently about forty years of age, whom the old gentleman introduced -as his wife; and he had hardly made his bow when he heard the sound of -flageolets,[58] and someone came hurrying in, saying, "He has come!" -The old gentleman flew out to meet this personage, and Mr. Yin also -stood up, awaiting his arrival. In no long time, a bevy of people with -gauze lanterns ushered in the bridegroom himself, who seemed to be -about seventeen or eighteen years old, and of a most refined and -prepossessing appearance. The old gentleman bade him pay his respects -first to their worthy guest; and upon his looking towards Mr. Yin, -that gentleman came forward to welcome him on behalf of the host. Then -followed ceremonies between the old man and his son-in-law; and when -these were over, they all sat down to supper. Hosts of waiting-maids -brought in profuse quantities of wine and meats, with bowls and cups -of jade or gold, till the table glittered again. And when the wine had -gone round several times, the old gentleman told one of the maids to -summon the bride. This she did, but some time passed and no bride -came. So the old man rose and drew aside the curtain, pressing the -young lady to come forth; whereupon a number of women escorted out the -bride, whose ornaments went _tinkle tinkle_ as she walked along, sweet -perfumes being all the time diffused around. Her father told her to -make the proper salutation, after which she went and sat by her -mother. Mr. Yin took a glance at her, and saw that she wore on her -head beautiful ornaments made of kingfisher's feathers, her beauty -quite surpassing anything he had ever seen. All this time they had -been drinking their wine out of golden goblets big enough to hold -several pints, when it flashed across him that one of these goblets -would be a capital thing to carry back to his companions in evidence -of what he had seen. So he secreted it in his sleeve, and, pretending -to be tipsy,[59] leaned forward with his head upon the table as if -going off to sleep. "The gentleman is drunk," said the guests; and -by-and-by Mr. Yin heard the bridegroom take his leave, and there was a -general trooping downstairs to the tune of a wedding march. When they -were all gone the old gentleman collected the goblets, one of which -was missing, though they hunted high and low to find it. Someone -mentioned the sleeping guest; but the old gentleman stopped him at -once for fear Mr. Yin should hear, and before long silence reigned -throughout. Mr. Yin then arose. It was dark, and he had no light; but -he could detect the lingering smell of the food, and the place was -filled with the fumes of wine. Faint streaks of light now appearing in -the east, he began quietly to make a move, having first satisfied -himself that the goblet was still in his sleeve. Arriving at the door, -he found his friends already there; for they had been afraid he might -come out after they left, and go in again early in the morning. When -he produced the goblet they were all lost in astonishment; and on -hearing his story, they were fain to believe it, well knowing that a -poor student like Yin was not likely to have such a valuable piece of -plate in his possession. - -Later on Mr. Yin took his doctor's degree, and was appointed -magistrate over the district of Fei-ch'iu, where there was an -old-established family of the name of Chu. The head of the family -asked him to a banquet in honour of his arrival, and ordered the -servants to bring in the large goblets. After some delay a slave-girl -came and whispered something to her master which seemed to make him -very angry. Then the goblets were brought in, and Mr. Yin was invited -to drink. He now found that these goblets were of precisely the same -shape and pattern as the one he had at home, and at once begged his -host to tell him where he had had these made. "Well," said Mr. Chu, -"there should be eight of them. An ancestor of mine had them made, -when he was a minister at the capital, by an experienced artificer. -They have been handed down in our family from generation to -generation, and have now been carefully laid by for some time; but I -thought we would have them out to-day as a compliment to your Honour. -However, there are only seven to be found. None of the servants can -have touched them, for the old seals of ten years ago are still upon -the box, unbroken. I don't know what to make of it." Mr. Yin laughed, -and said, "It must have flown away! Still, it is a pity to lose an -heir-loom of that kind; and as I have a very similar one at home, I -shall take upon myself to send it to you." When the banquet was over, -Mr. Yin went home, and taking out his own goblet, sent it off to Mr. -Chu. The latter was somewhat surprised to find that it was identical -with his own, and hurried away to thank the magistrate for his gift, -asking him at the same time how it had come into his possession. Mr. -Yin told him the whole story, which proves conclusively that although -a fox may obtain possession of a thing, even at a distance of many -hundred miles, he will not venture to keep it altogether.[60] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[54] One of the "Six Boards" at the capital, equivalent to our own War -Office, Board of Works, etc. - -[55] The Chinese names for two stars: beta-gamma Aquila and alpha Lyra. - -[56] Lanterns very prettily made to resemble all kinds of flowers are -to be seen at the Chinese New Year. - -[57] This is, as with us, obligatory on all friends invited to a -marriage. - -[58] The accompaniment of all weddings and funerals in China. - -[59] The soberest people in the world, amongst whom anything like -sottishness is comparatively unknown, think it no disgrace, but rather -complimentary, to get pleasantly tipsy on all festive occasions; and -people who are physically unable to do so, frequently go so far as to -hire substitutes to drink for them. Mandarins especially suffer very -much from the custom of being obliged to "take wine" with a large -number of guests. For further on this subject, see No. LIV., note 292. - -[60] The wedding-party was, of course, composed entirely of foxes; -this animal being believed by the Chinese to be capable of appearing -at will under the human form, and of doing either good or evil to its -friends or foes. These facts will be prominently brought out in -several of the stories to follow. - - - - -VIII. - -MISS CHIAO-NO. - - -K'ung Hsüeh-li was a descendant of Confucius.[61] He was a man of -considerable ability, and an excellent poet.[62] A fellow-student, to -whom he was much attached, became magistrate at T'ien-t'ai, and sent -for K'ung to join him. Unfortunately, just before K'ung arrived his -friend died, and he found himself without the means of returning home; -so he took up his abode in a Buddhist monastery, where he was employed -in transcribing for the priests. Several hundred paces to the west of -this monastery there was a house belonging to a Mr. Shan, a gentleman -who had known better days, but who had spent all his money in a heavy -law-suit; and then, as his family was a small one, had gone away to -live in the country and left his house vacant. One day there was a -heavy fall of snow which kept visitors away from the monastery; and -K'ung, finding it dull, went out. As he was passing by the door of the -house above-mentioned, a young man of very elegant appearance came -forth, who, the moment he saw K'ung, ran up to him, and with a bow, -entered into conversation, asking him to be pleased to walk in. K'ung -was much taken with the young man, and followed him inside. The rooms -were not particularly large, but adorned throughout with embroidered -curtains, and from the walls hung scrolls and drawings by celebrated -masters. On the table lay a book, the title of which was, "Jottings -from Paradise;" and turning over its leaves, K'ung found therein many -strange things. He did not ask the young man his name, presuming that -as he lived in the Shan family mansion, he was necessarily the owner -of the place. The young man, however, inquired what he was doing in -that part of the country, and expressed great sympathy with his -misfortunes, recommending him to set about taking pupils. "Alas!" said -K'ung, "who will play the Mæcenas to a distressed wayfarer like -myself?" "If," replied the young man, "you would condescend so far, I -for my part would gladly seek instruction at your hands." K'ung was -much gratified at this, but said he dared not arrogate to himself the -position of teacher, and begged merely to be considered as the young -man's friend. He then asked him why the house had been shut up for so -long; to which the young man replied, "This is the Shan family -mansion. It has been closed all this time because of the owner's -removal into the country. My surname is Huang-fu, and my home is in -Shen-si; but as our house has been burnt down in a great fire, we have -put up here for a while." Thus Mr. K'ung found out that his name was -not Shan. That evening they spent in laughing and talking together, -and K'ung remained there for the night. In the morning a lad came in -to light the fire; and the young man, rising first, went into the -private part of the house. Mr. K'ung was sitting up with the -bed-clothes still huddled round him, when the lad looked in and said, -"Master's coming!" So he jumped up with a start, and in came an old -man with a silvery beard, who began to thank him, saying, "I am very -much obliged to you for your condescension in becoming my son's tutor. -At present he writes a villainous hand; and I can only hope you will -not allow the ties of friendship to interfere with discipline." -Thereupon, he presented Mr. K'ung with an embroidered suit of clothes, -a sable hat, and a set of shoes and stockings; and when the latter had -washed and dressed himself he called for wine and food. K'ung could -not make out what the valances of the chairs and tables were made of: -they were so very bright-coloured and dazzling. By-and-by, when the -wine had circulated several times, the old gentleman picked up his -walking-stick and took his leave. After breakfast, the young man -handed in his theme, which turned out to be written in an archaic -style, and not at all after the modern fashion of essay-writing. K'ung -asked him why he had done this, to which the young man replied that he -did not contemplate competing at the public examinations. In the -evening they had another drinking-bout, but it was agreed that there -should be no more of it after that night. The young man then called -the boy and told him to see if his father was asleep or not; adding, -that if he was, he might quietly summon Miss Perfume. The boy went -off, first taking a guitar out of a very pretty case; and in a few -minutes in came a very nice-looking young girl. The young man bade -her play the _Death of Shun_;[63] and seizing an ivory plectrum she -swept the chords, pouring forth a vocal melody of exquisite sweetness -and pathos. He then gave her a goblet of wine to drink, and it was -midnight before they parted. Next morning they got up early and -settled down to work. The young man proved an apt scholar; he could -remember what he had once read, and at the end of two or three months -had made astonishing progress. Then they agreed that every five days -they would indulge in a symposium, and that Miss Perfume should always -be of the party. One night when the wine had gone into K'ung's head, -he seemed to be lost in a reverie; whereupon his young friend, who -knew what was the matter with him, said, "This girl was brought up by -my father. I know you find it lonely, and I have long been looking out -for a nice wife for you." "Let her only resemble Miss Perfume," said -K'ung, "and she will do." "Your experience," said the young man, -laughing, "is but limited, and, consequently, anything is a surprise -to you. If Miss Perfume is your _beau ideal_, why it will not be -difficult to satisfy you." - -Some six months had passed away, when one day Mr. K'ung took it into -his head that he would like to go out for a stroll in the country. The -entrance, however, was carefully closed; and on asking the reason, the -young man told him that his father wished to receive no guests for -fear of causing interruption to his studies. So K'ung thought no more -about it; and by-and-by, when the heat of summer came on, they moved -their study to a pavilion in the garden. At this time Mr. K'ung had a -swelling on the chest about as big as a peach, which, in a single -night, increased to the size of a bowl. There he lay groaning with the -pain, while his pupil waited upon him day and night. He slept badly -and took hardly any food; and in a few days the place got so much -worse that he could neither eat nor drink. The old gentleman also came -in, and he and his son lamented over him together. Then the young man -said, "I was thinking last night that my sister, Chiao-no, would be -able to cure Mr. K'ung, and accordingly I sent over to my -grandmother's asking her to come. She ought to be here by now." At -that moment a servant entered and announced Miss Chiao-no, who had -come with her cousin, having been at her aunt's house. Her father and -brother ran out to meet her, and then brought her in to see Mr. K'ung. -She was between thirteen and fourteen years old, and had beautiful -eyes with a very intelligent expression in them, and a most graceful -figure besides. No sooner had Mr. K'ung beheld this lovely creature -than he quite forgot to groan, and began to brighten up. Meanwhile the -young man was saying, "This respected friend of mine is the same to -me as a brother. Try, sister, to cure him." Miss Chiao-no immediately -dismissed her blushes, and rolling up her long sleeves approached the -bed to feel his pulse.[64] As she was grasping his wrist, K'ung became -conscious of a perfume more delicate than that of the epidendrum; and -then she laughed, saying, "This illness was to be expected; for the -heart is touched. Though it is severe, a cure can be effected; but, as -there is already a swelling, not without using the knife." Then she -drew from her arm a gold bracelet which she pressed down upon the -suffering spot, until by degrees the swelling rose within the bracelet -and overtopped it by an inch and more, the outlying parts that were -inflamed also passing under, and thus very considerably reducing the -extent of the tumour. With one hand she opened her robe and took out a -knife with an edge as keen as paper, and pressing the bracelet down -all the time with the other, proceeded to cut lightly round near the -root of the swelling. The dark blood gushed forth, and stained the bed -and the mat; but Mr. K'ung was delighted to be near such a -beauty,--not only felt no pain, but would willingly have continued the -operation that she might sit by him a little longer. In a few moments -the whole thing was removed, and the place looked like the knot on a -tree where a branch has been cut away. Here Miss Chiao-no called for -water to wash the wound, and from between her lips she took a red pill -as big as a bullet, which she laid upon the flesh, and, after drawing -the skin together, passed round and round the place. The first turn -felt like the searing of a hot iron; the second like a gentle itching; -and at the third he experienced a sensation of lightness and coolness -which penetrated into his very bones and marrow. The young lady then -returned the pill to her mouth, and said, "He is cured," hurrying away -as fast as she could. Mr. K'ung jumped up to thank her, and found that -his complaint had quite disappeared. Her beauty, however, had made -such an impression on him that his troubles were hardly at an end. -From this moment he gave up his books, and took no interest in -anything. This state of things was soon noticed by the young man, who -said to him, "My brother, I have found a fine match for you." "Who is -it to be?" asked K'ung. "Oh, one of the family," replied his friend. -Thereupon Mr. K'ung remained some time lost in thought, and at length -said, "Please don't!" Then turning his face to the wall, he repeated -these lines:-- - - "Speak not of lakes and streams to him who once has seen the sea; - The clouds that circle Wu's peak are the only clouds for me." - -The young man guessed to whom he was alluding, and replied, "My father -has a very high opinion of your talents, and would gladly receive you -into the family, but that he has only one daughter, and she is much -too young. My cousin, Ah-sung, however, is seventeen years old, and -not at all a bad-looking girl. If you doubt my word, you can wait in -the verandah until she takes her daily walk in the garden, and thus -judge for yourself." This Mr. K'ung acceded to, and accordingly saw -Miss Chiao-no come out with a lovely girl--her black eyebrows -beautifully arched, and her tiny feet encased in phoenix-shaped -shoes--as like one another as they well could be. He was of course -delighted, and begged the young man to arrange all preliminaries; and -the very next day his friend came to tell him that the affair was -finally settled. A portion of the house was given up to the bride and -bridegroom, and the marriage was celebrated with plenty of music and -hosts of guests, more like a fairy wedding than anything else. Mr. -K'ung was very happy, and began to think that the position of Paradise -had been wrongly laid down, until one day the young man came to him -and said, "For the trouble you have been at in teaching me, I shall -ever remain your debtor. At the present moment, the Shan family -law-suit has been brought to a termination, and they wish to resume -possession of their house immediately. We therefore propose returning -to Shen-si, and as it is unlikely that you and I will ever meet again, -I feel very sorrowful at the prospect of parting." Mr. K'ung replied -that he would go too, but the young man advised him to return to his -old home. This, he observed, was no easy matter; upon which the young -man said, "Don't let that trouble you: I will see you safe there." -By-and-by his father came in with Mr. K'ung's wife, and presented Mr. -K'ung with one hundred ounces of gold; and then the young man gave the -husband and wife each one of his hands to grasp, bidding them shut -their eyes. The next instant they were floating away in the air, with -the wind whizzing in their ears. In a little while he said, "You have -arrived," and opening his eyes, K'ung beheld his former home. Then he -knew that the young man was not a human being. Joyfully he knocked at -the old door, and his mother was astonished to see him arrive with -such a nice wife. They were all rejoicing together, when he turned -round and found that his friend had disappeared. His wife attended on -her mother-in-law with great devotion, and acquired a reputation both -for virtue and beauty, which was spread round far and near. Some time -passed away, and then Mr. K'ung took his doctor's degree, and was -appointed Governor of the Gaol in Yen-ngan. He proceeded to his post -with his wife only, the journey being too long for his mother, and -by-and-by a son was born. Then he got into trouble by being too honest -an official, and threw up his appointment; but had not the wherewithal -to get home again. One day when out hunting he met a handsome young -man riding on a nice horse, and seeing that he was staring very hard -looked closely at him. It was young Huang-fu. So they drew bridle, and -fell to laughing and crying by turns,--the young man then inviting -K'ung to go along with him. They rode on together until they had -reached a village thickly shaded with trees, so that the sun and sky -were invisible overhead, and entered into a most elaborately-decorated -mansion, such as might belong to an old-established family. K'ung -asked after Miss Chiao-no, and heard that she was married; also that -his own mother-in-law was dead, at which tidings he was greatly moved. -Next day he went back and returned again with his wife. Chiao-no also -joined them, and taking up K'ung's child played with it, saying, "Your -mother played us truant." Mr. K'ung did not forget to thank her for -her former kindness to him, to which she replied, "You're a great man -now. Though the wound has healed, haven't you forgotten the pain yet?" -Her husband, too, came to pay his respects, returning with her on the -following morning. One day the young Huang-fu seemed troubled in -spirit, and said to Mr. K'ung, "A great calamity is impending. Can you -help us?" Mr. K'ung did not know what he was alluding to, but readily -promised his assistance. The young man then ran out and summoned the -whole family to worship in the ancestral hall, at which Mr. K'ung was -alarmed, and asked what it all meant. "You know," answered the young -man, "I am not a man but a fox. To-day we shall be attacked by -thunder;[65] and if only you will aid us in our trouble, we may still -hope to escape. If you are unwilling, take your child and go, that you -may not be involved with us." Mr. K'ung protested he would live or die -with them, and so the young man placed him with a sword at the door, -bidding him remain quiet there in spite of all the thunder. He did as -he was told, and soon saw black clouds obscuring the light until it -was all as dark as pitch. Looking round, he could see that the house -had disappeared, and that its place was occupied by a huge mound and a -bottomless pit. In the midst of his terror, a fearful peal was heard -which shook the very hills, accompanied by a violent wind and driving -rain. Old trees were torn up, and Mr. K'ung became both dazed and -deaf. Yet he stood firm until he saw in a dense black column of smoke -a horrid thing with a sharp beak and long claws, with which it -snatched some one from the hole, and was disappearing up with the -smoke. In an instant K'ung knew by her clothes and shoes that the -victim was no other than Chiao-no, and instantly jumping up he struck -the devil violently with his sword, and cut it down. Immediately the -mountains were riven, and a sharp peal of thunder laid K'ung dead upon -the ground. Then the clouds cleared away, and Chiao-no gradually came -round, to find K'ung dead at her feet. She burst out crying at the -sight, and declared that she would not live since K'ung had died for -her. K'ung's wife also came out, and they bore the body inside. -Chiao-no then made Ah-sung hold her husband's head, while her brother -prised open his teeth with a hair-pin, and she herself arranged his -jaw. She next put a red pill into his mouth, and bending down breathed -into him. The pill went along with the current of air, and presently -there was a gurgle in his throat, and he came round. Seeing all the -family about him, he was disturbed as if waking from a dream. However -they were all united together, and fear gave place to joy; but Mr. -K'ung objected to live in that out-of-the-way place, and proposed that -they should return with him to his native village. To this they were -only too pleased to assent--all except Chiao-no; and when Mr. K'ung -invited her husband, Mr. Wu, as well, she said she feared her father -and mother-in-law would not like to lose the children. They had tried -all day to persuade her, but without success, when suddenly in rushed -one of the Wu family's servants, dripping with perspiration and quite -out of breath. They asked what was the matter, and the servant replied -that the Wu family had been visited by a calamity on the very same -day, and had every one perished. Chiao-no cried very bitterly at this, -and could not be comforted; but now there was nothing to prevent them -from all returning together. Mr. K'ung went into the city for a few -days on business, and then they set to work packing-up night and day. -On arriving at their destination, separate apartments were allotted to -young Mr. Huang-fu, and these he kept carefully shut up, only opening -the door to Mr. K'ung and his wife. - -Mr. K'ung amused himself with the young man and his sister Chiao-no, -filling up the time with chess,[66] wine, conversation, and good -cheer, as if they had been one family. His little boy, Huan, grew up -to be a handsome young man, with a fox-like _penchant_ for roaming -about; and it was generally known that he was actually the son of a -fox. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[61] Lineal descendants of Confucius are to be found at this day near -their founder's mausoleum in Shantung. The head of the family is a -hereditary _kung_ or "duke," and each member enjoys a share of the -revenues with which the family has been endowed, in well-merited -recognition of the undying influence of China's greatest sage. - -[62] More or less proficiency in the art of poetry is an absolutely -essential qualification for all who present themselves at the great -competitive tests by which successful candidates are admitted to -Chinese official life. [See _Appendix_ A.] The following anecdote is -given by the London correspondent of the _Leeds Mercury_:-- - -"The new Chinese ambassador in this country is a man of considerable -literary ability, and perhaps one of the few diplomatists since the -days of Matthew Prior (Lord Lytton alone excepted) who has achieved -distinction as a poet. Shortly after his arrival in this country, he -expressed a wish to become acquainted with the principal English -poets, and as Mr. Browning is more accessible and more a man of the -world than the Poet Laureate, an arrangement was made the other day by -which the two should be brought in contact with one another. After the -mutual courtesies, Mr. Browning having learnt that His Excellency was -also a poet, expressed a desire to know how much he had published. -"Only three or four volumes," was the reply, through the interpreter. -"Then," said Mr. Browning, "I am a greater offender than His -Excellency, and unequal to him in self-restraint. What kind of poetry -does His Excellency write: pastoral, humorous, epic or what?" There -was a pause for a short time. At length the interpreter said that His -Excellency thought his poetry would be better described as the -"enigmatic." "Surely," replied Mr. Browning, "there ought then to be -the deepest sympathy between us, for that is just the criticism which -is brought against my own works; and I believe it to be a just one."" - -[63] One of the two celebrated but legendary rulers of China in the -golden ages of antiquity. Yao--who died B.C. 2258--nominated as his -successor a young and virtuous husbandman named Shun, giving him both -his daughters in marriage. At the death of Shun, these ladies are said -to have wept so much that their tears literally drenched the bamboos -which grew beside their husband's grave; and the speckled bamboo is -now commonly known as the bamboo of Shun's wives. - -[64] Volumes have been written by Chinese doctors on the subject of -the pulse. They profess to distinguish as many as twenty-four -different kinds, among which is one well known to our own -practitioners--namely, the "thready" pulse; they, moreover, make a -point of feeling the pulses of _both_ wrists. - -[65] The Chinese believe that wicked people are struck by the God of -Thunder, and killed in punishment for some hidden crime. They regard -lightning merely as an arrangement by which the God is enabled to see -his victim. - -[66] Chinese "chess" is similar to, but not identical with, our game. -The board is divided by a river, and the king is confined to a small -square of moves on his own territory. The game _par excellence_ in -China is _wei-ch'i_, an account of which I contributed to the _Temple -Bar_ Magazine for January, 1877. - - - - -IX. - -MAGICAL ARTS. - - -A certain Mr. Yü was a spirited young fellow, fond of boxing and -trials of strength. He was able to take two kettles and swing them -round about with the speed of the wind. Now, during the reign of -Ch'ung Chêng,[67] when up for the final examination at the capital, -his servant became seriously ill. Much troubled at this, he applied to -a necromancer in the market-place[68] who was skilful at determining -the various leases of life allotted to men. Before he had uttered a -word, the necromancer asked him, saying, "Is it not about your -servant, Sir, that you would consult me?" Mr. Yü was startled at this, -and replied that it was. "The sick man," continued the necromancer, -"will come to no harm; you, Sir, are the one in danger." Mr. Yü then -begged him to cast his nativity, which he proceeded to do, finally -saying to Mr. Yü, "You have but three days to live!" Dreadfully -frightened, he remained some time in a state of stupefaction, when the -necromancer quietly observed that he possessed the power of averting -this calamity by magic, and would exert it for the sum of ten ounces -of silver. But Mr. Yü reflected that Life and Death are already -fixed,[69] and he didn't see how magic could save him. So he refused, -and was just going away, whereupon the necromancer said, "You grudge -this trifling outlay. I hope you will not repent it." Mr. Yü's friends -also urged him to pay the money, advising him rather to empty his -purse than not secure the necromancer's compassion. Mr. Yü, however, -would not hear of it and the three days slipped quickly away. Then he -sat down calmly in his inn to see what was going to happen. Nothing -did happen all day, and at night he shut his door and trimmed the -lamp; then, with a sword at his side, he awaited the approach of -death. - -By-and-by, the clepsydra[70] shewed that two hours had already gone -without bringing him any nearer to dissolution; and he was thinking -about lying down, when he heard a scratching at the window, and then -saw a tiny little man creep through, carrying a spear on his shoulder, -who, on reaching the ground, shot up to the ordinary height. Mr. Yü -seized his sword and at once struck at it; but only succeeded in -cutting the air. His visitor instantly shrunk down small again, and -made an attempt to escape through the crevice of the window; but Yü -redoubled his blows and at last brought him to the ground. Lighting -the lamp, he found only a paper man,[71] cut right through the middle. -This made him afraid to sleep, and he sat up watching, until in a -little time he saw a horrid hobgoblin creep through the same place. No -sooner did it touch the ground than he assailed it lustily with his -sword, at length cutting it in half. Seeing, however, that both halves -kept on wriggling about, and fearing that it might get up again, he -went on hacking at it. Every blow told, giving forth a hard sound, and -when he came to examine his work, he found a clay image all knocked to -pieces. Upon this he moved his seat near to the window, and kept his -eye fixed upon the crack. After some time, he heard a noise like a -bull bellowing outside the window, and something pushed against the -window-frame with such force as to make the whole house tremble and -seem about to fall. Mr. Yü, fearing he should be buried under the -ruins, thought he could not do better than fight outside; so he -accordingly burst open the door with a crash and rushed out. There he -found a huge devil, as tall as the house, and he saw by the dim light -of the moon that its face was as black as coal. Its eyes shot forth -yellow fire: it had nothing either upon its shoulders or feet; but -held a bow in its hand and had some arrows at its waist. Mr. Yü was -terrified; and the devil discharged an arrow at him which he struck to -the ground with his sword. On Mr. Yü preparing to strike, the devil -let off another arrow which the former avoided by jumping aside, the -arrow quivering in the wall beyond with a smart crack. The devil here -got very angry, and drawing his sword flourished it like a whirlwind, -aiming a tremendous blow at Mr. Yü. Mr. Yü ducked, and the whole force -of the blow fell upon the stone wall of the house, cutting it right in -two. Mr. Yü then ran out from between the devil's legs, and began -hacking at its back--whack!--whack! The devil now became furious, and -roared like thunder, turning round to get another blow at his -assailant. But Mr. Yü again ran between his legs, the devil's sword -merely cutting off a piece of his coat. Once more he hacked -away--whack!--whack!--and at length the devil came tumbling down flat. -Mr. Yü cut at him right and left, each blow resounding like the -watchman's wooden gong;[72] and then, bringing a light, he found it -was a wooden image about as tall as a man. The bow and arrows were -still there, the latter attached to its waist. Its carved and painted -features were most hideous to behold; and wherever Mr. Yü had struck -it with his sword, there was blood. Mr. Yü sat with the light in his -hand till morning, when he awaked to the fact that all these devils -had been sent by the necromancer in order to kill him, and so evidence -his own magical power. The next day, after having told the story far -and wide, he went with some others to the place where the necromancer -had his stall; but the latter, seeing them coming, vanished in the -twinkling of an eye. Some one observed that the blood of a dog would -reveal a person who had made himself invisible, and Mr. Yü immediately -procured some and went back with it. The necromancer disappeared as -before, but on the spot where he had been standing they quickly threw -down the dog's blood. Thereupon they saw his head and face all smeared -over with the blood, his eyes glaring like a devil's; and at once -seizing him, they handed him over to the authorities, by whom he was -put to death. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[67] The last emperor of the Ming dynasty. Began to reign A.D. 1628. - -[68] The trade of fortune-teller is one of the most flourishing in -China. A large majority of the candidates who are unsuccessful at the -public examinations devote their energies in this direction; and in -every Chinese city there are regular establishments whither the -superstitious people repair to consult the oracle on every imaginable -subject; not to mention hosts of itinerant soothsayers, both in town -and country, whose stock-in-trade consists of a trestle-table, pen, -ink, and paper, and a few other mysterious implements of their art. -The nature of the response, favourable or otherwise, is determined by -an inspection of the year, month, day and hour at which the applicant -was born, taken in combination with other particulars referring to the -question at issue. - -[69] A firm belief in predestination is an important characteristic of -the Chinese mind. "All is destiny" is a phrase daily in the mouth of -every man, woman, and child, in the empire. Confucius himself, we are -told, objected to discourse to his disciples upon this topic; but it -is evident from many passages in the _Lun Yü_, or _Confucian Gospels_, -[Book VI. ch. 8., Book XIV. ch. 38, &c.] that he believed in a certain -pre-arrangement of human affairs, against which all efforts would be -unavailing. - -[70] An appliance of very ancient date in China, now superseded by -cheap clocks and watches. A large clepsydra, consisting of four copper -jars standing on steps one above the other, is still, however, to be -seen in the city of Canton, and is in excellent working order, the -night-watches being determined by reference to its indicator in the -lower jar. By its aid, coils of "joss-stick," or pastille, are -regulated to burn so many hours, and are sold to the poor, who use -them both for the purpose of guiding their extremely vague notions of -time, and for the oft-recurring tobacco-pipe. - -[71] "Paper men" are a source of great dread to the people at large. -During the year 1876 whole provinces were convulsed by the belief that -some such superstitious agency was at work to deprive innocent persons -of their tails; and the so-called "Pope" of the Taoist religion even -went so far as to publish a charm against the machinations of the -unseen. It ran as follows:--"Ye who urge filthy devils to spy out the -people!--the Master's spirits are at hand and will soon discover you. -With this charm anyone may travel by sunlight, moonlight, or starlight -all over the earth." At one time popular excitement ran so high that -serious consequences were anticipated; and the mandarins in the -affected districts found it quite as much as they could do to prevent -lynch-law being carried out on harmless strangers who were unlucky -enough to give rise to the slightest suspicion. - -Taoist priests are generally credited with the power of cutting out -human, animal, or other figures, of infusing vitality into them on the -spot, and of employing them for purposes of good or evil. - -[72] Watchmen in China, when on their nightly rounds, keep up an -incessant beating on what, for want of a better term, we have called a -wooden gong. The object is to let thieves know they are awake and on -the look-out. - - - - -X. - -JOINING THE IMMORTALS. - - -A Mr. Chou, of Wên-têng, had in his youth been fellow-student with a -Mr. Ch'êng, and a firm friendship was the result. The latter was poor, -and depended very much upon Chou, who was the elder of the two. He -called Chou's wife his "sister," and had the run of the house just as -if he was one of the family. Now this wife happening to die in -child-bed, Chou married another named Wang; but as she was quite a -young girl, Ch'êng did not seek to be introduced.[73] One day her -younger brother came to visit her, and was being entertained in the -"inner" apartments[74] when Ch'êng chanced to call. The servant -announced his arrival, and Chou bade him ask Mr. Ch'êng in. But Ch'êng -would not enter, and took his leave. Thereupon Chou caused the -entertainment to be moved into the public part of the house, and, -sending after Ch'êng, succeeded in bringing him back. They had hardly -sat down before some one came in to say that a former servant of the -establishment had been severely beaten at the magistrate's yamên; the -facts of the case being that a cow-boy of the Huang family connected -with the Board of Rites had driven his cattle across the Chou family's -land, and that words had arisen between the two servants in -consequence; upon which the Huang family's servant had complained to -his master, who had seized the other and had sent him in to the -magistrate's, where he had been bambooed. When Mr. Chou found out what -the matter was, he was exceedingly angry, and said, "How dares this -pig-boy fellow behave thus? Why, only a generation ago his master was -my father's servant! He emerges a little from his obscurity, and -immediately thinks himself I don't know what!" Swelling with rage, he -rose to go in quest of Huang, but Ch'êng held him back, saying, "The -age is corrupt: there is no distinction between right and wrong. -Besides, the officials of the day are half of them thieves, and you -will only get yourself into hot water." Chou, however, would not -listen to him; and it was only when tears were added to remonstrances -that he consented to let the matter drop. But his anger did not cease, -and he lay tossing and turning all night. In the morning he said to -his family, "I can stand the insults of Mr. Huang; but the magistrate -is an officer of the Government, and not the servant of influential -people. If there is a case of any kind, he should hear both plaintiff -and defendant, and not act like a dog, biting anybody he is set upon. -I will bring an action against the cow-boy, and see what the -magistrate will do to him." As his family rather egged him on, he -accordingly proceeded to the magistrate's and entered a formal plaint; -but that functionary tore up his petition, and would have nothing to -do with it. This roused Chou's anger, and he told the magistrate -plainly what he thought of him, in return for which contempt of court -he was at once seized and bound. During the forenoon Mr. Ch'êng called -at his house, where he learnt that Chou had gone into the city to -prosecute the cow-boy, and immediately hurried after him with a view -to stop proceedings. But his friend was already in the gaol, and all -he could do was to stamp his foot in anger. Now it happened that three -pirates had just been caught; and the magistrate and Huang, putting -their heads together, bribed these fellows to say that Chou was one of -their gang, whereupon the higher authorities were petitioned to -deprive him of his status as a graduate,[75] and the magistrate then -had him most unmercifully bambooed.[76] Mr. Ch'êng gained admittance -to the gaol, and, after a painful interview, proposed that a petition -should be presented direct to the Throne. "Alas!" cried Chou, "here -am I bound and guarded, like a bird in a cage. I have indeed a young -brother, but it is as much as he can do to provide me with food." Then -Ch'êng stepped forward, saying, "I will perform this service. Of what -use are friends who will not assist in the hour of trouble?" So away -he went, and Chou's son provided him with money to defray his -expenses. After a long journey he arrived at the capital, where he -found himself quite at a loss as to how he should get the petition -presented. However, hearing that the Emperor was about to set out on a -hunting tour, he concealed himself in the market-place, and when His -Majesty passed by, prostrated himself on the ground with loud cries -and gesticulations. The Emperor received his petition, and sent it to -the Board of Punishments,[77] desiring to be furnished with a report -on the case. It was then more than ten months since the beginning of -the affair, and Chou, who had been made to confess[78] to this false -charge, was already under sentence of death; so that the officers of -the Board were very much alarmed when they received the Imperial -instructions, and set to work to re-hear the case in person. Huang was -also much alarmed, and devised a plan for killing Mr. Chou by bribing -the gaolers to stop his food and drink; so that when his brother -brought provisions he was rudely thrust back and prevented from -taking them in. Mr. Ch'êng complained of this to the Viceroy of the -province, who investigated the matter himself, and found that Chou was -in the last stage of starvation, for which the gaolers were bambooed -to death. Terrified out of his wits, Huang, by dint of bribing -heavily, succeeded in absconding and escaping a just punishment for -his crimes. The magistrate, however, was banished for perversion of -the law, and Chou was permitted to return home, his affection for -Ch'êng being now very much increased. But ever after the prosecution -and his friend's captivity, Mr. Ch'êng took a dismal view of human -affairs, and one day invited Chou to retire with him from the world. -The latter, who was deeply attached to his young wife, threw cold -water on the proposition, and Mr. Ch'êng pursued the subject no -farther, though his own mind was fully made up. Not seeing him for -some days afterwards, Mr. Chou sent to inquire about him at his house; -but there they all thought he was at Chou's, neither family, in fact, -having seen anything of him. This looked suspicious, and Chou, aware -of his peculiarity, sent off people to look for him, bidding them -search all the temples and monasteries in the neighbourhood. He also -from time to time supplied Ch'êng's son with money and other -necessaries. - -Eight or nine years had passed away when suddenly Ch'êng re-appeared, -clad in a yellow cap and stole, and wearing the expression of a Taoist -priest. Chou was delighted, and seized his arm, saying, "Where have -you been?--letting me search for you all over the place." "The -solitary cloud and the wild crane," replied Ch'êng, laughing, "have no -fixed place of abode. Since we last met my equanimity has happily been -restored." Chou then ordered wine, and they chatted together on what -had taken place in the interval. He also tried to persuade Ch'êng to -detach himself from the Taoist persuasion, but the latter only smiled -and answered nothing. "It is absurd!" argued Chou. "Why cast aside -your wife and child as you would an old pair of shoes?" "Not so," -answered Ch'êng; "a man may wish to cast aside his son, but how can he -do so?" Chou asked where he lived, to which he replied, "In the Great -Pure Mansion on Mount Lao." They then retired to sleep on the same -bed; and by-and-by Chou dreamt that Ch'êng was lying on his chest so -that he could not breathe. In a fright he asked him what he was doing, -but got no answer; and then he waked up with a start. Calling to -Ch'êng and receiving no reply, he sat up and stretched out his hand to -touch him. The latter, however, had vanished, he knew not whither. -When he got calm, he found he was lying at Ch'êng's end of the bed, -which rather startled him. "I was not tipsy last night," reflected he; -"how could I have got over here?" He next called his servants, and -when they came and struck a light, lo! he was Ch'êng. Now Chou had had -a beard, so he put up his hand to feel for it, but found only a few -straggling hairs. He then seized a mirror to look at himself, and -cried out in alarm: "If this is Mr. Ch'êng, where on earth am I?" By -this time he was wide awake, and knew that Ch'êng had employed magic -to induce him to retire from the world. He was on the point of -entering the ladies' apartments; but his brother, not recognising who -he was, stopped him, and would not let him go in; and as he himself -was unable to prove his own identity, he ordered his horse that he -might go in search of Ch'êng. After some days' journey he arrived at -Mount Lao; and, as his horse went along at a good rate, the servant -could not keep up with him. By-and-by he rested awhile under a tree, -and saw a great number of Taoist priests going backwards and forwards, -and among them was one who stared fixedly at him. So he inquired of -him where he should find Ch'êng; whereat the priest laughed and said, -"I know the name. He is probably in the Great Pure Mansion." When he -had given this answer he went on his way, Chou following him with his -eyes about a stone's throw, until he saw him speak with some one else, -and, after saying a few words, proceed onwards as before. The person -whom he had spoken with came on to where Chou was, and turned out to -be a fellow-townsman of his. He was much surprised at meeting Chou, -and said, "I haven't seen you for some years. They told me you had -gone to Mount Lao to be a Taoist priest. How is it you are still -amusing yourself among mortals?" Chou told him who he really was; upon -which the other replied, "Why, I thought the gentleman I just met was -you! He has only just left me, and can't have got very far." "Is it -possible," cried Chou, "that I didn't know my own face?" Just then -the servant came up, and away they went full speed, but could not -discover the object of their search. All around them was a vast -desert, and they were at a loss whether to go on or to return. But -Chou reflected that he had no longer any home to receive him, and -determined to carry out his design to the bitter end; but as the road -was dangerous for riding, he gave his horse to the servant, and bade -him go back. On he went cautiously by himself, until he spied a boy -sitting by the wayside alone. He hurried up to him and asked the boy -to direct him where he could find Mr. Ch'êng. "I am one of his -disciples," replied the lad; and, shouldering Chou's bundle, started -off to shew the way. They journeyed on together, taking their food by -the light of the stars, and sleeping in the open air, until, after -many miles of road, they arrived in three days at their destination. -But this Great Pure locality was not like that generally spoken of in -the world. Though as late as the middle of the tenth moon, there was a -great profusion of flowers along the road, quite unlike the beginning -of winter. The lad went in and announced the arrival of a stranger, -whereupon Mr. Ch'êng came out, and Chou recognised his own features. -Ch'êng grasped his hand and led him inside, where he prepared wine and -food, and they began to converse together. Chou noticed many birds of -strange plumage, so tame that they were not afraid of him; and these -from time to time would alight on the table and sing with voices like -Pan-pipes. He was very much astonished at all this, but a love of -mundane pleasures had eaten into his soul, and he had no intention of -stopping. On the ground were two rush-mats, upon which Ch'êng invited -his friend to sit down with him. Then about midnight a serene calm -stole over him; and while he was dozing off for a moment, he seemed to -change places with Ch'êng. Suspecting what had happened, he put his -hand up to his chin, and found it covered with a beard as before. At -dawn he was anxious to return home, but Ch'êng pressed him to stay; -and when three days had gone by Ch'êng said to him, "I pray you take a -little rest now: to-morrow I will set you on your way." Chou had -barely closed his eyelids before he heard Ch'êng call out, "Everything -is ready for starting!" So he got up and followed him along a road -other than that by which he had come, and in a very short time he saw -his home in the distance. In spite of Chou's entreaties, Ch'êng would -not accompany him so far, but made Chou go, waiting himself by the -roadside. So the latter went alone, and when he reached his house, -knocked at the door. Receiving no answer, he determined to get over -the wall, when he found that his body was as light as a leaf, and with -one spring he was over. In the same manner he passed several inner -walls, until he reached the ladies' apartments, where he saw by the -still burning lamp that the inmates had not yet retired for the night. -Hearing people talking within, he licked a hole in the paper -window[79] and peeped through, and saw his wife sitting drinking with -a most disreputable-looking fellow. Bursting with rage, his first -impulse was to surprise them in the act; but seeing there were two -against one, he stole away and let himself out by the entrance-gate, -hurrying off to Ch'êng, to whom he related what he had seen, and -finally begged his assistance. Ch'êng willingly went along with him; -and when they reached the room, Chou seized a big stone and hammered -loudly at the door. All was then confusion inside, so Chou hammered -again, upon which the door was barricaded more strongly than before. -Here Ch'êng came forward with his sword,[80] and burst the door open -with a crash. Chou rushed in, and the man inside rushed out; but -Ch'êng was there, and with his sword cut his arm right off. Chou -rudely seized his wife, and asked what it all meant; to which she -replied that the man was a friend who sometimes came to take a cup of -wine with them. Thereupon Chou borrowed Ch'êng's sword and cut off her -head,[81] hanging up the trunk on a tree in the court-yard. He then -went back with Ch'êng. By-and-by he awaked and found himself on the -bed, at which he was somewhat disturbed, and said, "I have had a -strangely-confused dream, which has given me a fright." "My brother," -replied Ch'êng, smiling, "you look upon dreams as realities: you -mistake realities for dreams." Chou asked what he meant by these -words; and then Ch'êng shewed him his sword besmeared with blood. Chou -was terrified, and sought to destroy himself; but all at once it -occurred to him that Ch'êng might be deceiving him again. Ch'êng -divined his suspicions, and made haste at once to see him home. In a -little while they arrived at the village-gate, and then Ch'êng said, -"Was it not here that, sword in hand, I awaited you that night? I -cannot look upon the unclean spot. I pray you go on, and let me stay -here. If you do not return by the afternoon, I will depart alone." -Chou then approached his house, which he found all shut up as if no -one was living there; so he went into his brother's. - -The latter, when he beheld Chou, began to weep bitterly, saying, -"After your departure, thieves broke into the house and killed my -sister-in-law, hanging her body upon a tree. Alas! alas! The murderers -have not yet been caught." Chou then told him the whole story of his -dream, and begged him to stop further proceedings; at all of which his -brother was perfectly lost in astonishment. Chou then asked after his -son, and his brother told the nurse to bring him in; whereupon the -former said, "Upon this infant are centered the hopes of our -race.[82] Tend him well; for I am going to bid adieu to the world." He -then took his leave, his brother following him all the time with tears -in his eyes to induce him to remain. But he heeded him not; and when -they reached the village-gate his brother saw him go away with Ch'êng. -From afar he looked back and said, "Forbear, and be happy!" His -brother would have replied; but here Ch'êng whisked his sleeve, and -they disappeared. The brother remained there for some time, and then -went back overwhelmed with grief. He was an unpractical man, and -before many years were over all the property was gone and the family -reduced to poverty. Chou's son, who was growing up, was thus unable to -secure the services of a tutor, and had no one but his uncle to teach -him. One morning, on going into the school-room, the uncle found a -letter lying on his desk addressed to himself in his brother's -handwriting. There was, however, nothing in it but a finger-nail about -four inches in length. Surprised at this, he laid the nail down on the -ink-slab while he went out to ask whence the letter had come. This no -one knew; but when he went back he found that the ink-stone had been -changed into a piece of shining yellow gold. More than ever -astonished, he tried the nail on copper and iron things, all of which -were likewise turned to gold. He thus became very rich, sharing his -wealth with Chou's son; and it was bruited about that the two families -possessed the secret of transmutation.[83] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[73] This is a characteristic touch. Only the most intimate of friends -ever see each other's wives. - -[74] Where the women of the family live, and into which no stranger -ever penetrates. Among other names by which a Chinese husband speaks -of his wife, a very common one is "the inner [wo]man." - -[75] Until which he would be safe, by virtue of his degree, from the -degrading penalty of the bamboo. - -[76] This is the instrument commonly used for flogging criminals in -China, and consists of a strip of split bamboo planed down smooth. -Strictly speaking there are two kinds, the _heavy_ and the _light_; -the former is now hardly if ever used. Until the reign of K'ang Hsi -all strokes were given across the back; but that humane Emperor -removed the _locus operandi_ lower down, "for fear of injuring the -liver or the lungs." - -[77] See No. VII., note 54. - -[78] It is a principle of Chinese jurisprudence that no sentence can -be passed until the prisoner has confessed his guilt--a principle, -however, not unfrequently set aside in practice. - -[79] Wooden frames covered with a semi-transparent paper are used all -over the northern provinces of China; in the south, oyster-shells, cut -square and planed down thin, are inserted tile-fashion in the long -narrow spaces of a wooden frame made to receive them, and used for the -same purpose. But glass is gradually finding its way into the houses -of the well-to-do, large quantities being made at Canton and exported -to various parts of the empire. - -[80] Every Taoist priest has a magic sword, corresponding to our -"magician's wand." - -[81] In China, a man has the right to slay his adulterous wife, but he -must slay her paramour also; both or neither. Otherwise, he lays -himself open to a prosecution for murder. The act completed, he is -further bound to proceed at once to the magistrate of the district and -report what he has done. - -[82] The importance of male offspring in Chinese social life is hardly -to be expressed in words. To the son is confided the task of -worshipping at the ancestral tombs, the care of the ancestral tablets, -and the due performance of all rites and ceremonies connected with the -departed dead. No Chinaman will die, if he can help it, without -leaving a son behind him. If his wife is childless he will buy a -concubine; and we are told on page 41, vol. xiii., of the _Liao Chai_, -that a good wife, "who at thirty years of age has not borne a child -should forthwith pawn her jewellery and purchase a concubine for her -husband; for to be without a son is hard indeed!" Another and a common -resource is to adopt a nephew; and sometimes a boy is bought from -starving parents, or from a professional kidnapper. Should a little -boy die, no matter how young, his parents do not permit even him to be -without the good offices of a son. They adopt some other child on his -behalf; and when the latter grows up it becomes his duty to perform -the proper ceremonies at his baby father's tomb. Girls do not enjoy -the luxury of this sham posterity. They are quietly buried in a hole -near the family vault, and their disembodied spirits are left to -wander about in the realms below uncared for and unappeased. Every -mother, however, shares in the ancestral worship, and her name is -recorded on the tombstone, side by side with that of her husband. -Hence it is that Chinese tombstones are always to the memory either of -a father or of a mother, or of both, with occasionally the addition of -the grandfather and grandmother, and sometimes even that of the -generation preceding. - -[83] The belief that a knowledge of alchemy is obtainable by leading -the life of a pure and perfect Taoist, is one of the numerous -additions in later ages to this ancient form of religion. See No. IV., -note 46. - - - - -XI. - -THE FIGHTING QUAILS. - - -Wang Ch'êng belonged to an old family in P'ing-yüan, but was such an -idle fellow that his property gradually disappeared, until at length -all he had left was an old tumble-down house. His wife and he slept -under a coarse hempen coverlet, and the former was far from sparing of -her reproaches. At the time of which we are speaking the weather was -unbearably hot; and Wang went to pass the night with many other of his -fellow-villagers in a pavilion which stood among some dilapidated -buildings belonging to a family named Chou. With the first streaks of -dawn his comrades departed; but Wang slept well on till about nine -o'clock, when he got up and proceeded leisurely home. All at once he -saw in the grass a gold hair-pin; and taking it up to look at it, -found engraved thereon in small characters--"The property of the -Imperial family." Now Wang's own grandfather had married into the -Imperial family,[84] and consequently he had formerly possessed many -similar articles; but while he was thinking it over up came an old -woman in search of the hair-pin, which Wang, who though poor was -honest, at once produced and handed to her. The old woman was -delighted, and thanked Wang very much for his goodness, observing that -the pin was not worth much in itself, but was a relic of her departed -husband. Wang asked what her husband had been; to which she replied, -"His name was Wang Chien-chih, and he was connected by marriage with -the Imperial family." "My own grandfather!" cried Wang, in great -surprise; "how could you have known him?" "You, then," said the old -woman, "are his grandson. I am a fox, and many years ago I was married -to your grandfather; but when he died I retired from the world. -Passing by here I lost my hair-pin, which destiny conveyed into your -hands." Wang had heard of his grandfather's fox-wife, and believing -therefore the old woman's story, invited her to return with him, which -she did. Wang called his wife out to receive her; but when she came in -rags and tatters, with unkempt hair and dirty face, the old woman -sighed, and said, "Alas! Alas! has Wang Chien-chih's grandson come to -this?" Then looking at the broken, smokeless stove, she added, "How, -under these circumstances, have you managed even to support life?" -Here Wang's wife told the tale of their poverty, with much sobbing and -tears; whereupon the old woman gave her the hair-pin, bidding her go -pawn it, and with the proceeds buy some food, saying that in three -days she would visit them again. Wang pressed her to stay, but she -said, "You can't even keep your wife alive; what would it benefit you -to have me also dependent on you?" So she went away, and then Wang -told his wife who she was, at which his wife felt very much alarmed; -but Wang was so loud in her praises, that finally his wife consented -to treat her with all proper respect. In three days she returned as -agreed, and, producing some money, sent out for a hundred-weight of -rice and a hundred-weight of corn. She passed the night with them, -sleeping with Mrs. Wang, who was at first rather frightened, but who -soon laid aside her suspicions when she found that the old lady meant -so well towards them. Next day, the latter addressed Wang, saying, "My -grandson, you must not be so lazy. You should try to make a little -money in some way or other." Wang replied that he had no capital; upon -which the old lady said, "When your grandfather was alive, he allowed -me to take what money I liked; but not being a mortal, I had no use -for it, and consequently did not draw largely upon him. I have, -however, saved from my pin-money the sum of forty ounces of silver, -which has long been lying idle for want of an investment. Take it, and -buy summer cloth, which you may carry to the capital and re-sell at a -profit." So Wang bought some fifty pieces of summer cloth; and the old -lady made him get ready, calculating that in six or seven days he -would reach the capital. She also warned him, saying, - - "Be neither lazy nor slow-- - For if a day too long you wait, - Repentance comes a day too late." - -Wang promised all obedience, and packed up his goods and went off. On -the road he was overtaken by a rain-storm which soaked him through to -the skin; and as he was not accustomed to be out in bad weather, it -was altogether too much for him. He accordingly sought shelter in an -inn, but the rain went on steadily till night, running over the eaves -of the house like so many ropes. Next morning the roads were in a -horrible state; and Wang, watching the passers-by slipping about in -the slush, unable to see any path, dared not face it all, and remained -until noon, when it began to dry up a little. Just then, however, the -clouds closed over again, and down came the rain in torrents, causing -him to stay another night before he could go on. When he was nearing -the capital, he heard to his great joy that summer cloth was at a -premium; and on arrival proceeded at once to take up his quarters at -an inn. There the landlord said it was a pity he had come so late, as -communications with the south having been only recently opened, the -supply of summer cloth had been small; and there being a great demand -for it among the wealthy families of the metropolis, its price had -gone up to three times the usual figure. "But," he added, "two days -ago several large consignments arrived, and the price went down again, -so that the late comers have lost their market." Poor Wang was thus -left in the lurch, and as every day more summer cloth came in, the -value of it fell in a corresponding ratio. Wang would not part with -his at a loss, and held on for some ten days, when his expenses for -board and lodging were added to his present distress. The landlord -urged him to sell even at a loss, and turn his attention to something -else, which he ultimately did, losing over ten ounces of silver on his -venture. Next day he rose in the morning to depart, but on looking in -his purse found all his money gone. He rushed away to tell the -landlord, who, however, could do nothing for him. Some one then -advised him to take out a summons and make the landlord reimburse him; -but he only sighed, and said, "It is my destiny, and no fault of the -landlord's." Thereupon the landlord was very grateful to him, and gave -him five ounces of silver to enable him to go home. He did not care, -however, to face his grandmother empty-handed, and remained in a very -undecided state, until suddenly he saw a quail-catcher winning heaps -of money by fighting his birds, and selling them at over 100 _cash_ -a-piece. He then determined to lay out his five ounces of silver in -quails, and pay back the landlord out of the profits. The latter -approved very highly of this plan, and not only agreed to lend him a -room but also to charge him little or nothing for his board. So Wang -went off rejoicing, and bought two large baskets of quails, with which -he returned to the city, to the great satisfaction of the landlord -who advised him to lose no time in disposing of them. All that night -it poured in torrents, and the next morning the streets were like -rivers, the rain still continuing to fall. Wang waited for it to clear -up, but several days passed and still there were no signs of fine -weather. He then went to look at his quails, some of which he found -dead and others dying. He was much alarmed at this, but was quite at a -loss what to do; and by the next day a lot more had died, so that only -a few were left, which he fed all together in one basket. The day -after this he went again to look at them, and lo! there remained but a -single quail. With tears in his eyes he told the landlord what had -happened, and he, too, was much affected. Wang then reflected that he -had no money left to carry him home, and that he could not do better -than cease to live. But the landlord spoke to him and soothed him, and -they went together to look at the quail. "This is a fine bird," said -the landlord, "and it strikes me that it has simply killed the others. -Now, as you have got nothing to do, just set to work and train it; and -if it is good for anything, why you'll be able to make a living out of -it." Wang did as he was told; and when the bird was trained, the -landlord bade him take it into the street and gamble for something to -eat. This, too, he did, and his quail won every main; whereupon the -landlord gave him some money to bet with the young fellows of the -neighbourhood. Everything turned out favourably, and by the end of six -months he had saved twenty ounces of silver, so that he became quite -easy in his mind and looked upon the quail as a dispensation of his -destiny. - -Now one of the princes was passionately fond of quail-fighting, and -always at the Feast of Lanterns anybody who owned quails might go and -fight them in the palace against the prince's birds. The landlord -therefore said to Wang, "Here is a chance of enriching yourself by a -single stroke; only I can't say what your luck will do for you." He -then explained to him what it was, and away they went together, the -landlord saying, "If you lose, burst out into lamentations; but if you -are lucky enough to win, and the prince wishes, as he will, to buy -your bird, don't consent. If he presses you very much watch for a nod -from me before you agree." This settled, they proceeded to the palace -where they found crowds of quail-fighters already on the ground; and -then the prince came forth, heralds proclaiming to the multitude that -any who wished to fight their birds might come up. Some man at once -stepped forward, and the prince gave orders for the quails to be -released; but at the first strike the stranger's quail was knocked out -of time. The prince smiled, and by-and-by won several more mains, -until at last the landlord said, "Now's our time," and went up -together with Wang. The Prince looked at their bird and said, "It has -a fierce-looking eye and strong feathers. We must be careful what we -are doing." So he commanded his servants to bring out Iron Beak to -oppose Wang's bird; but, after a couple of strikes, the prince's quail -was signally defeated. He sent for a better bird, but that shared the -same fate; and then he cried out, "Bring the Jade Bird from the -palace!" In a little time it arrived, with pure white feathers like an -egret, and an unusually martial appearance. Wang was much alarmed, and -falling on his knees prayed to be excused this main, saying, "Your -highness's bird is too good. I fear lest mine should be wounded, and -my livelihood be taken from me." But the Prince laughed and said, "Go -on. If your quail is killed I will make it up to you handsomely." Wang -then released his bird and the prince's quail rushed at it at once; -but when the Jade bird was close by, Wang's quail awaited its coming -head down and full of rage. The former made a violent peck at its -adversary, and then sprung up to swoop down on it. Thus they went on -up and down, backwards and forwards, until at length they got hold of -each other, and the prince's bird was beginning to show signs of -exhaustion. This enraged it all the more, and it fought more violently -than ever; but soon a perfect snowstorm of feathers began to fall, -and, with drooping wings, the Jade bird made its escape. The -spectators were much moved by the result; and the prince himself, -taking up Wang's bird, examined it closely from beak to claws, finally -asking if it was for sale. "My sole dependence," replied Wang, "is -upon this bird. I would rather not part with it." "But," said the -prince, "if I give you as much as the capital, say of an ordinary -tradesman, will not that tempt you?" Wang thought some time, and then -answered, "I would rather not sell my bird; but as your highness has -taken a fancy to it I will only ask enough to find me in food and -clothes." "How much do you want?" inquired the prince; to which Wang -replied that he would take a thousand ounces of silver. "You fool!" -cried the Prince; "do you think your bird is such a jewel as all -that?" "If your highness," said Wang, "does not think the bird a -jewel, I value it more than that stone which was priced at fifteen -cities." "How so?" asked the prince. "Why," said Wang, "I take my bird -every day into the market-place. It there wins for me several ounces -of silver, which I exchange for rice; and my family, over ten in -number, has nothing to fear from either cold or hunger. What jewel -could do that?" "You shall not lose anything," replied the prince; "I -will give you two hundred ounces." But Wang would not consent, and -then the prince added another hundred; whereupon Wang looked at the -landlord, who, however, made no sign. Wang then offered to take nine -hundred; but the prince ridiculed the idea of paying such a price for -a quail, and Wang was preparing to take his leave with the bird, when -the prince called him back, saying, "Here! here! I will give you six -hundred. Take it or leave it as you please." Wang here looked at the -landlord, and the landlord remained motionless as before. However, -Wang was satisfied himself with this offer, and being afraid of -missing his chance, said to his friend, "If I get this price for it I -shall be quite content. If we go on haggling and finally come to no -terms, that will be a very poor end to it all." So he took the -prince's offer, and the latter, overjoyed, caused the money to be -handed to him. Wang then returned with his earnings; but the landlord -said to him, "What did I say to you? You were in too much of a hurry -to sell. Another minute, and you would have got eight hundred." When -Wang got back he threw the money on the table and told the landlord to -take what he liked; but the latter would not, and it was only after -some pressing that he would accept payment for Wang's board. Wang then -packed up and went home, where he told his story and produced his -silver to the great delight of all of them. The old lady counselled -the purchase of a quantity of land, the building of a house, and the -purchase of implements; and in a very short time they became a wealthy -family. The old lady always got up early in the morning and made Wang -attend to the farm, his wife to her spinning; and rated them soundly -at any signs of laziness. The husband and wife henceforth lived in -peace, and no longer abused each other, until at the expiration of -three years the old lady declared her intention of bidding them adieu. -They both tried to stop her, and with the aid of tears succeeded in -persuading her; but the next day she had disappeared.[85] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[84] The direct issue of the Emperors of the present dynasty and their -descendants in the male line for ever are entitled to wear a yellow -girdle in token of their relationship to the Imperial family, each -generation becoming a degree lower in rank, but always retaining this -distinctive badge. Members of the collateral branches wear a red -girdle, and are commonly known as _gioros_. With the lapse of two -hundred and fifty years, the wearers of these badges have become -numerous, and in many cases disreputable; and they are now to be found -even among the lowest dregs of Chinese social life. - -[85] Quail fighting is not so common now in China as it appears to -have been formerly. Cricket-fighting is, however, a very favourite -form of gambling, large quantities of these insects being caught every -year for this purpose, and considerable sums frequently staked on the -result of a contest between two champions. - - - - -XII. - -THE PAINTED SKIN. - - -At T'ai-yüan there lived a man named Wang. One morning he was out -walking when he met a young lady carrying a bundle and hurrying along -by herself. As she moved along with some difficulty,[86] Wang -quickened his pace and caught her up, and found she was a pretty girl -of about sixteen. Much smitten he inquired whither she was going so -early, and no one with her. "A traveller like you," replied the girl, -"cannot alleviate my distress; why trouble yourself to ask?" "What -distress is it?" said Wang; "I'm sure I'll do anything I can for you." -"My parents," answered she, "loved money, and they sold me as -concubine into a rich family, where the wife was very jealous, and -beat and abused me morning and night. It was more than I could stand, -so I have run away." Wang asked her where she was going; to which she -replied that a runaway had no fixed place of abode. "My house," said -Wang, "is at no great distance; what do you say to coming there?" She -joyfully acquiesced; and Wang, taking up her bundle, led the way to -his house. Finding no one there, she asked Wang where his family were; -to which he replied that that was only the library. "And a very nice -place, too," said she; "but if you are kind enough to wish to save my -life, you mustn't let it be known that I am here." Wang promised he -would not divulge her secret, and so she remained there for some days -without anyone knowing anything about it. He then told his wife, and -she, fearing the girl might belong to some influential family, advised -him to send her away. This, however, he would not consent to do; when -one day, going into the town, he met a Taoist priest, who looked at -him in astonishment, and asked him what he had met. "I have met -nothing," replied Wang. "Why," said the priest, "you are bewitched; -what do you mean by not having met anything?" But Wang insisted that -it was so, and the priest walked away, saying, "The fool! Some people -don't seem to know when death is at hand." This startled Wang, who at -first thought of the girl; but then he reflected that a pretty young -thing as she was couldn't well be a witch, and began to suspect that -the priest merely wanted to do a stroke of business. When he returned, -the library door was shut, and he couldn't get in, which made him -suspect that something was wrong; and so he climbed over the wall, -where he found the door of the inner room shut too. Softly creeping -up, he looked through the window and saw a hideous devil, with a green -face and jagged teeth like a saw, spreading a human skin upon the bed -and painting it with a paint-brush. The devil then threw aside the -brush, and giving the skin a shake out, just as you would a coat, -threw it over its shoulders, when, lo! it was the girl. Terrified at -this, Wang hurried away with his head down in search of the priest who -had gone he knew not whither; subsequently finding him in the fields, -where he threw himself on his knees and begged the priest to save him. -"As to driving her away," said the priest, "the creature must be in -great distress to be seeking a substitute for herself;[87] besides, I -could hardly endure to injure a living thing."[88] However, he gave -Wang a fly-brush, and bade him hang it at the door of the bedroom, -agreeing to meet again at the Ch'ing-ti temple. Wang went home, but -did not dare enter the library; so he hung up the brush at the bedroom -door, and before long heard a sound of footsteps outside. Not daring -to move, he made his wife peep out; and she saw the girl standing -looking at the brush, afraid to pass it. She then ground her teeth and -went away; but in a little while came back, and began cursing, saying, -"You priest, you won't frighten me. Do you think I am going to give up -what is already in my grasp?" Thereupon, she tore the brush to pieces, -and bursting open the door, walked straight up to the bed, where she -ripped open Wang and tore out his heart, with which she went away. -Wang's wife screamed out, and the servant came in with a light; but -Wang was already dead and presented a most miserable spectacle. His -wife, who was in an agony of fright, hardly dared cry for fear of -making a noise; and next day she sent Wang's brother to see the -priest. The latter got into a great rage, and cried out, "Was it for -this that I had compassion on you, devil that you are?" proceeding at -once with Wang's brother to the house, from which the girl had -disappeared without anyone knowing whither she had gone. But the -priest, raising his head, looked all round, and said, "Luckily she's -not far off." He then asked who lived in the apartments on the south -side, to which Wang's brother replied that he did; whereupon the -priest declared that there she would be found. Wang's brother was -horribly frightened and said he did not think so; and then the priest -asked him if any stranger had been to the house. To this he answered -that he had been out to the Ch'ing-ti temple and couldn't possibly -say; but he went off to inquire, and in a little while came back and -reported that an old woman had sought service with them as a -maid-of-all-work, and had been engaged by his wife. "That is she," -said the priest, as Wang's brother added she was still there; and they -all set out to go to the house together. Then the priest took his -wooden sword, and standing in the middle of the court-yard, shouted -out, "Base-born fiend, give me back my fly-brush!" Meanwhile the new -maid-of-all-work was in a great state of alarm, and tried to get away -by the door; but the priest struck her and down she fell flat, the -human skin dropped off, and she became a hideous devil. There she lay -grunting like a pig, until the priest grasped his wooden sword and -struck off her head. She then became a dense column of smoke curling -up from the ground, when the priest took an uncorked gourd and threw -it right into the midst of the smoke. A sucking noise was heard, and -the whole column was drawn into the gourd; after which the priest -corked it up closely and put it in his pouch.[89] The skin, too, which -was complete even to the eyebrows, eyes, hands, and feet, he also -rolled up as if it had been a scroll, and was on the point of leaving -with it, when Wang's wife stopped him, and with tears entreated him to -bring her husband to life. The priest said he was unable to do that; -but Wang's wife flung herself at his feet, and with loud lamentations -implored his assistance. For some time he remained immersed in -thought, and then replied, "My power is not equal to what you ask. I -myself cannot raise the dead; but I will direct you to some one who -can, and if you apply to him properly you will succeed." Wang's wife -asked the priest who it was; to which he replied, "There is a maniac -in the town who passes his time grovelling in the dirt. Go, prostrate -yourself before him, and beg him to help you. If he insults you, shew -no sign of anger." Wang's brother knew the man to whom he alluded, and -accordingly bade the priest adieu, and proceeded thither with his -sister-in-law. - -They found the destitute creature raving away by the road side, so -filthy that it was all they could do to go near him. Wang's wife -approached him on her knees; at which the maniac leered at her, and -cried out, "Do you love me, my beauty?" Wang's wife told him what she -had come for, but he only laughed and said, "You can get plenty of -other husbands. Why raise the dead one to life?" But Wang's wife -entreated him to help her; whereupon he observed, "It's very strange: -people apply to me to raise their dead as if I was king of the -infernal regions." He then gave Wang's wife a thrashing with his -staff, which she bore without a murmur, and before a gradually -increasing crowd of spectators. After this he produced a loathsome -pill which he told her she must swallow, but here she broke down and -was quite unable to do so. However, she did manage it at last, and -then the maniac crying out, "How you do love me!" got up and went away -without taking any more notice of her. They followed him into a temple -with loud supplications, but he had disappeared, and every effort to -find him was unsuccessful. Overcome with rage and shame, Wang's wife -went home, where she mourned bitterly over her dead husband, -grievously repenting the steps she had taken, and wishing only to die. -She then bethought herself of preparing the corpse, near which none of -the servants would venture; and set to work to close up the frightful -wound of which he died. - -While thus employed, interrupted from time to time by her sobs, she -felt a rising lump in her throat, which by-and-by came out with a pop -and fell straight into the dead man's wound. Looking closely at it, -she saw it was a human heart; and then it began as it were to throb, -emitting a warm vapour like smoke. Much excited, she at once closed -the flesh over it, and held the sides of the wound together with all -her might. Very soon, however, she got tired, and finding the vapour -escaping from the crevices, she tore up a piece of silk and bound it -round, at the same time bringing back circulation by rubbing the body -and covering it up with clothes. In the night, she removed the -coverings, and found that breath was coming from the nose; and by -next morning her husband was alive again, though disturbed in mind as -if awaking from a dream and feeling a pain in his heart. Where he had -been wounded, there was a cicatrix about as big as a cash, which soon -after disappeared. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[86] Impeded, of course, by her small feet. This practice is said to -have originated about A.D. 970, with Yao Niang, the concubine of the -pretender Li Yü, who wished to make her feet like the "new moon." The -Manchu or Tartar ladies have not adopted this custom, and therefore -the empresses of modern times have feet of the natural size; neither -is it in force among the Hakkas or hill-tribes of China and Formosa. -The practice was forbidden in 1664 by the Manchu Emperor, K'ang Hsi; -but popular feeling was so strong on the subject that four years -afterwards the prohibition was withdrawn. Protestant missionaries are -now making a dead set at this shameful custom, but so far with very -indifferent success; as parents who do not cramp the feet of their -daughters would experience no small difficulty in finding husbands for -them when they grow up. Besides, the gait of a young lady hobbling -along, as we should say, seems to be much admired by the other sex. -The following seven reasons why this custom still keeps its hold upon -the Chinese mind emanate from a native convert:-- - -"1st.--If a girl's feet are not bound, people say she is not like a -woman but like a man; they laugh at her, calling her names, and her -parents are ashamed of her. - -"2nd.--Girls are like flowers, like the willow. It is very important -that their feet should be bound short so that they can walk -beautifully, with mincing steps, swaying gracefully, thus showing they -are persons of respectability. People praise them. If not bound short, -they say the mother has not trained her daughter carefully. She goes -from house to house with noisy steps, and is called names. Therefore -careful persons bind short. - -"3rd.--One of a good family does not wish to marry a woman with long -feet. She is commiserated because her feet are not perfect. If -betrothed, and the size of her feet is not discovered till after -marriage, her husband and mother-in-law are displeased, her -sisters-in-law laugh at her, and she herself is sad. - -"4th.--The large footed has to do rough work, does not sit in a sedan -when she goes out, walks in the streets barefooted, has no red -clothes, does not eat the best food. She is wetted by the rain, tanned -by the sun, blown upon by the wind. If unwilling to do all the rough -work of the house she is called 'gormandizing and lazy.' Perhaps she -decides to go out as a servant. She has no fame and honour. To escape -all this her parents bind her feet. - -"5th.--There _are_ those with unbound feet who do no heavy work, wear -gay clothing, ride in a sedan, call others to wait upon them. Although -so fine they are low and mean. If a girl's feet are unbound, she -cannot be distinguished from one of these. - -"6th.--Girls are like gold, like gems. They ought to stay in their own -house. If their feet are not bound they go here and go there with -unfitting associates; they have no good name. They are like defective -gems that are rejected. - -"7th.--Parents are covetous. They think small feet are pleasing and -will command a high price for a bride."--_On Foot-Binding_, by Miss S. -Woolston. - -[87] The disembodied spirits of the Chinese _Inferno_ are permitted, -under certain conditions of time and good conduct, to appropriate to -themselves the vitality of some human being, who, as it were, -exchanges places with the so-called "devil." The devil does not, -however, reappear as the mortal whose life it has become possessed of, -but is merely born again into the world; the idea being that the -amount of life on earth is a constant quantity, and cannot be -increased or diminished, reminding one in a way of the great modern -doctrine of the conservation of energy. This curious belief has an -important bearing that will be brought out in a subsequent story. - -[88] Here again is a Taoist priest quoting the Buddhist commandment, -"Thou shalt not take life." The Buddhist laity in China, who do not -hesitate to take life for the purposes of food, salve their -consciences from time to time by buying birds, fishes, &c., and -letting them go, in the hope that such acts will be set down on the -credit side of their record of good and evil. - -[89] This recalls the celebrated story of the fisherman in the -_Arabian Nights_. - - - - -XIII. - -THE TRADER'S SON. - - -In the province of Hunan there dwelt a man who was engaged in trading -abroad; and his wife, who lived alone, dreamt one night that some one -was in her room. Waking up, she looked about, and discovered a small -creature which on examination she knew to be a fox; but in a moment -the thing had disappeared, although the door had not been opened. The -next evening she asked the cook-maid to come and keep her company; as -also her own son, a boy of ten, who was accustomed to sleep elsewhere. -Towards the middle of the night, when the cook and the boy were fast -asleep, back came the fox; and the cook was waked up by hearing her -mistress muttering something as if she had nightmare. The former then -called out, and the fox ran away; but from that moment the trader's -wife was not quite herself. When night came she dared not blow out the -candle, and bade her son be sure and not sleep too soundly. Later on, -her son and the old woman having taken a nap as they leant against the -wall, suddenly waked up and found her gone. They waited some time, but -she did not return, and the cook was too frightened to go and look -after her; so her son took a light, and at length found her fast -asleep in another room. She didn't seem aware that anything particular -had happened, but she became queerer and queerer every day, and -wouldn't have either her son or the cook to keep her company any more. -Her son, however, made a point of running at once into his mother's -room if he heard any unusual sounds; and though his mother always -abused him for his pains, he paid no attention to what she said. At -the same time, the more people urged him on to keep a sharp look-out, -the more eccentric were his mother's ways. One day she played at being -a mason, and piled up stones upon the window-sill, in spite of all -that was said to her; and if anyone took away a stone, she threw -herself on the ground, and cried like a child, so that nobody dared go -near her. In a few days she had got both windows blocked up and the -light excluded; and then she set to filling up the chinks with mud. -She worked hard all day without minding the trouble, and when it was -finished she smoothed it off with the kitchen chopper. Everyone who -saw her was disgusted with such antics, and would take no notice of -her. At night her son darkened his lamp, and, with a knife concealed -on his person, sat waiting for his mother to mutter. As soon as she -began he uncovered his light, and, blocking up the doorway, shouted -out at the top of his voice. Nothing, however, happened, and he moved -from the door a little way, when suddenly out rushed something like a -fox, which was disappearing through the door, when he made a quick -movement and cut off about two inches of its tail, from which the warm -blood was still dripping as he brought the light to bear upon it. His -mother hereupon cursed and reviled him, but he pretended not to hear -her, regretting only as he went to bed that he hadn't hit the brute -fair. But he consoled himself by thinking that although he hadn't -killed it outright, he had done enough to prevent it coming again. On -the morrow he followed the tracks of blood over the wall and into the -garden of a family named Ho; and that night, to his great joy, the fox -did not reappear. His mother was meanwhile prostrate, with hardly any -life in her, and in the midst of it all his father came home. The boy -told him what had happened, at which he was much alarmed, and sent for -a doctor to attend his wife; but she only threw the medicine away, and -cursed and swore horribly. So they secretly mixed the medicine with -her tea and soup, and in a few days she began to get better, to the -inexpressible delight of both her husband and son. One night, however, -her husband woke up and found her gone; and after searching for her -with the aid of his son, they discovered her sleeping in another room. -From that time she became more eccentric than ever, and was always -being found in strange places, cursing those who tried to remove her. -Her husband was at his wits' end. It was no use keeping the door -locked, for it opened of itself at her approach; and he had called in -any number of magicians to exorcise the fox, but without obtaining the -slightest result. One evening her son concealed himself in the Ho -family garden, and lay down in the long grass with a view to detecting -the fox's retreat. As the moon rose he heard the sound of voices, and, -pushing aside the grass, saw two people drinking, with a long-bearded -servant pouring out their wine, dressed in an old dark-brown coat. -They were whispering together, and he could not make out what they -said; but by-and-by he heard one of them remark, "Get some white wine -for to-morrow," and then they went away, leaving the long-bearded -servant alone. The latter then threw off his coat, and lay down to -sleep on the stones; whereupon the trader's son eyed him carefully, -and saw that he was like a man in every respect except that he had a -tail. The boy would then have gone home; but he was afraid the fox -might hear him, and accordingly remained where he was till near dawn, -when he saw the other two come back, one at a time, and then they all -disappeared among the bushes. On reaching home his father asked him -where he had been, and he replied that he had stopped the night with -the Ho family. He then accompanied his father to the town, where he -saw hanging up at a hat-shop a fox's tail, and finally, after much -coaxing, succeeded in making his father buy it for him. While the -latter was engaged in a shop, his son, who was playing about beside -him, availed himself of a moment when his father was not looking and -stole some money from him, and went off and bought a quantity of white -wine, which he left in charge of the wine-merchant. Now an uncle of -his, who was a sportsman by trade, lived in the city, and thither he -next betook himself. His uncle was out, but his aunt was there, and -inquired after the health of his mother. "She has been better the last -few days," replied he; "but she is now very much upset by a rat having -gnawed a dress of hers, and has sent me to ask for some poison." His -aunt opened the cupboard and gave him about the tenth of an ounce in a -piece of paper, which he thought was very little; so, when his aunt -had gone to get him something to eat, he took the opportunity of being -alone, opened the packet, and abstracted a large handful. Hiding this -in his coat, he ran to tell his aunt that she needn't prepare anything -for him, as his father was waiting in the market, and he couldn't stop -to eat it. He then went off; and having quietly dropped the poison -into the wine he had bought, went sauntering about the town. At -nightfall he returned home, and told his father that he had been at -his uncle's. This he continued to do for some time, until one day he -saw amongst the crowd his long-bearded friend. Marking him closely, he -followed him, and at length entered into conversation, asking him -where he lived. "I live at Pei-ts'un," said he; "where do you live?" -"I," replied the trader's son, falsely, "live in a hole on the -hill-side." The long-bearded man was considerably startled at his -answer, but much more so when he added, "We've lived there for -generations: haven't _you_?" The other then asked his name, to which -the boy replied, "My name is Hu.[90] I saw you with two gentlemen in -the Ho family garden, and haven't forgotten you." Questioning him more -fully, the long-bearded man was still in a half-and-half state of -belief and doubt, when the trader's son opened his coat a little bit, -and showed him the end of the tail he had bought, saying, "The like -of us can mix with ordinary people, but unfortunately we can never get -rid of this." The long-bearded man then asked him what he was doing -there, to which he answered that his father had sent him to buy wine; -whereupon the former remarked that that was exactly what he had come -for, and the boy then inquired if he had bought it yet or not. "We are -poor," replied the stranger, "and as a rule I prefer to steal it." "A -difficult and dangerous job," observed the boy. "I have my master's -instructions to get some," said the other, "and what am I to do?" The -boy then asked him who his masters were, to which he replied that they -were the two brothers the boy had seen that night. "One of them has -bewitched a lady named Wang; and the other, the wife of a trader who -lives near. The son of the last-mentioned lady is a violent fellow, -and cut off my master's tail, so that he was laid up for ten days. But -he is putting her under spells again now." He was then going away, -saying he should never get his wine; but the boy said to him, "It's -much easier to buy than steal. I have some at the wine-shop there -which I will give to you. My purse isn't empty, and I can buy some -more." The long-bearded man hardly knew how to thank him; but the boy -said, "We're all one family. Don't mention such a trifle. When I have -time I'll come and take a drink with you." So they went off together -to the wine-shop, where the boy gave him the wine and they then -separated. That night his mother slept quietly and had no fits, and -the boy knew that something must have happened. He then told his -father, and they went to see if there were any results; when lo! they -found both foxes stretched out dead in the arbour. One of the foxes -was lying on the grass, and out of its mouth blood was still -trickling. The wine-bottle was there; and on shaking it they heard -that some was left. Then his father asked him why he had kept it all -so secret; to which the boy replied that foxes were very sagacious, -and would have been sure to scent the plot. Thereupon his father was -mightily pleased, and said he was a perfect Ulysses[91] for cunning. -They then carried the foxes home, and saw on the tail of one of them -the scar of a knife-wound. From that time they were left in peace; but -the trader's wife became very thin, and though her reason returned, -she shortly afterwards died of consumption. The other lady, Mrs. Wang, -began to get better as soon as the foxes had been killed; and as to -the boy, he was taught riding and archery[92] by his proud parent, and -subsequently rose to high rank in the army. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[90] _Hu_ is the sound of the character for "fox;" it is also the -sound of quite a different character, which is used as a surname. - -[91] The name of the Chinese type was Ch'ên P'ing. See Mayer's -_Reader's Manual_, No. 102. - -[92] At the date at which we are writing skill in archery is still _de -rigueur_ for all Manchus, and for those who would rise in the Chinese -army. Only the other day the progressive Governor-General of the Two -Kiang, Shên Pao-chên, memorialised the Throne with a view to the -abandonment of this effete and useless form of military drill, and -received a direct snub for his pains. Two hundred odd years ago, when -the Manchus were establishing their power, the dexterity of their -bowmen doubtless stood them in good stead; though if we are to judge -of their skill then by the ordinary practice of to-day, as seen on any -Chinese parade-ground, they could never have been more than very -third-rate archers after all. - - - - -XIV. - -JUDGE LU. - - -At Ling-yang there lived a man named Chu Erh-tan, whose literary -designation[93] was Hsiao-ming. He was a fine manly fellow, but an -egregious dunce, though he tried hard to learn. One day he was taking -wine with a number of fellow-students, when one of them said to him, -by way of a joke, "People credit you with plenty of pluck. Now, if you -will go in the middle of the night to the Chamber of Horrors,[94] and -bring back the Infernal Judge from the left-hand porch, we'll all -stand you a dinner." For at Ling-yang there was a representation of -the Ten Courts of Purgatory, with the Gods and devils carved in wood, -and almost life-like in appearance; and in the eastern vestibule there -was a full-length image of the Judge with a green face, and a red -beard, and a hideous expression in his features. Sometimes sounds of -examination under the whip were heard to issue during the night from -both porches, and persons who went in found their hair standing on end -from fear; so the other young men thought it would be a capital test -for Mr. Chu. Thereupon Chu smiled, and rising from his seat went -straight off to the temple; and before many minutes had elapsed they -heard him shouting outside, "His Excellency has arrived!" At this they -all got up, and in came Chu with the image on his back, which he -proceeded to deposit on the table, and then poured out a triple -libation in its honour. His comrades who were watching what he did, -felt ill at ease, and did not like to resume their seats; so they -begged him to carry the Judge back again. But he first poured some -wine upon the ground, invoking the image as follows:--"I am only a -fool-hardy, illiterate fellow: I pray Your Excellency excuse me. My -house is close by, and whenever Your Excellency feels so disposed I -shall be glad to take a cup of wine with you in a friendly way." He -then carried the Judge back, and the next day his friends gave him the -promised dinner, from which he went home half-tipsy in the evening. -But not feeling that he had had enough, he brightened up his lamp, and -helped himself to another cup of wine, when suddenly the bamboo -curtain was drawn aside, and in walked the Judge. Mr. Chu got up and -said, "Oh, dear! Your Excellency has come to cut off my head for my -rudeness the other night." The Judge parted his thick beard, and -smiling, replied, "Nothing of the kind. You kindly invited me last -night to visit you; and as I have leisure this evening, here I am." -Chu was delighted at this, and made his guest sit down, while he -himself wiped the cups and lighted a fire.[95] "It's warm weather," -said the Judge; "let's drink the wine cold." Chu obeyed, and putting -the bottle on the table, went out to tell his servants to get some -supper. His wife was much alarmed when she heard who was there, and -begged him not to go back; but he only waited until the things were -ready, and then returned with them. They drank out of each other's -cups,[96] and by-and-by Chu asked the name of his guest. "My name is -Lu," replied the Judge; "I have no other names." They then conversed -on literary subjects, one capping the other's quotation as echo -responds to sound. The Judge then asked Chu if he understood -composition; to which he answered that he could just tell good from -bad; whereupon the former repeated a little infernal poetry which was -not very different from that of mortals. He was a deep drinker, and -took off ten goblets at a draught; but Chu who had been at it all day, -soon got dead drunk and fell fast asleep with his head on the table. -When he waked up the candle had burnt out and day was beginning to -break, his guest having already departed; and from this time the Judge -was in the habit of dropping in pretty often, until a close friendship -sprang up between them. Sometimes the latter would pass the night at -the house, and Chu would show him his essays, all of which the Judge -scored and underlined as being good for nothing. One night Chu got -tipsy and went to bed first, leaving the Judge drinking by himself. In -his drunken sleep he seemed to feel a pain in his stomach, and waking -up he saw that the Judge, who was standing by the side of the bed, had -opened him, and was carefully arranging his inside. "What harm have I -done you?" cried Chu, "that you should thus seek to destroy me?" -"Don't be afraid," replied the Judge, laughing, "I am only providing -you with a more intelligent heart."[97] He then quietly put back Chu's -viscera, and closed up the opening, securing it with a bandage tied -tightly round his waist. There was no blood on the bed, and all Chu -felt was a slight numbness in his inside. Here he observed the Judge -place a piece of flesh upon the table, and asked him what it was. -"Your heart," said the latter, "which wasn't at all good at -composition, the proper orifice being stuffed up.[98] I have now -provided you with a better one, which I procured from Hades, and I am -keeping yours to put in its place."[99] He then opened the door and -took his leave. In the morning Chu undid the bandage, and looked at -his waist, the wound on which had quite healed up, leaving only a red -seam. From that moment he became an apt scholar, and found his memory -much improved; so much so, that a few days afterwards he showed an -essay to the Judge for which he was very much commended. "However," -said the latter, "your success will be limited to the master's degree. -You won't get beyond that." "When shall I take it?" asked Chu. "This -year," replied the Judge. And so it turned out. Chu passed first on -the list for the bachelor's degree, and then among the first five for -the master's degree. His old comrades, who had been accustomed to make -a laughing-stock of him, were now astonished to find him a full blown -M.A., and when they learned how it had come about, they begged Chu to -speak to the Judge on their behalf. The Judge promised to assist them, -and they made all ready to receive him; but when in the evening he did -come, they were so frightened at his red beard and flashing eyes that -their teeth chattered in their heads, and one by one they stole away. -Chu then took the Judge home with him to have a cup together, and when -the wine had mounted well into his head, he said, "I am deeply -grateful to Your Excellency's former kindness in arranging my inside; -but there is still another favour I venture to ask which possibly may -be granted." The Judge asked him what it was; and Chu replied, "If you -can change a person's inside, you surely could also change his face. -Now my wife is not at all a bad figure, but she is very ugly. I pray -Your Excellency try the knife upon her." The Judge laughed, and said -he would do so, only it would be necessary to give him a little time. -Some days subsequently, the Judge knocked at Chu's door towards the -middle of the night; whereupon the latter jumped up and invited him -in. Lighting a candle, it was evident that the Judge had something -under his coat, and in answer to Chu's inquiries, he said, "It's what -you asked me for. I have had great trouble in procuring it." He then -produced the head of a nice-looking young girl, and presented it to -Chu, who found the blood on the neck was still warm. "We must make -haste," said the Judge, "and take care not to wake the fowls or -dogs."[100] Chu was afraid his wife's door might be bolted; but the -Judge laid his hand on it and it opened at once. Chu then led him to -the bed where his wife was lying asleep on her side; and the Judge, -giving Chu the head to hold, drew from his boot a steel blade shaped -like the handle of a spoon. He laid this across the lady's neck, which -he cut through as if it had been a melon, and the head fell over the -back of the pillow. Seizing the head he had brought with him, he now -fitted it on carefully and accurately, and pressing it down to make it -stick, bolstered the lady up with pillows placed on either side. When -all was finished, he bade Chu put his wife's old head away, and then -took his leave. Soon after Mrs. Chu waked up, and perceived a curious -sensation about her neck, and a scaly feeling about the jaws. Putting -her hand to her face, she found flakes of dry blood; and much -frightened called a maid-servant to bring water to wash it off. The -maid-servant was also greatly alarmed at the appearance of her face, -and proceeded to wash off the blood, which coloured a whole basin of -water; but when she saw her mistress's new face she was almost -frightened to death. Mrs. Chu took a mirror to look at herself, and -was staring at herself in utter astonishment, when her husband came in -and explained what had taken place. On examining her more closely, Chu -saw that she had a well-featured pleasant face, of a medium order of -beauty; and when he came to look at her neck, he found a red seam all -round, with the parts above and below of a different coloured flesh. -Now the daughter of an official named Wu was a very nice-looking girl -who, though nineteen years of age, had not yet been married, two -gentlemen who were engaged to her having died before the day.[101] At -the Feast of Lanterns,[102] this young lady happened to visit the -Chamber of Horrors, whence she was followed home by a burglar, who -that night broke into the house and killed her. Hearing a noise, her -mother told the servant to go and see what was the matter; and the -murder being thus discovered, every member of the family got up. They -placed the body in the hall, with the head alongside, and gave -themselves up to weeping and wailing the livelong night. Next morning, -when they removed the coverings, the corpse was there but the head had -disappeared. The waiting-maids were accordingly flogged for neglect of -duty, and consequent loss of the head, and Mr. Wu brought the matter -to the notice of the Prefect. This officer took very energetic -measures, but for three days no clue could be obtained; and then the -story of the changed head in the Chu family gradually reached Mr. Wu's -ears. Suspecting something, he sent an old woman to make inquiries; -and she at once recognised her late young mistress's features, and -went back and reported to her master. Thereupon Mr. Wu, unable to make -out why the body should have been left, imagined that Chu had slain -his daughter by magical arts, and at once proceeded to the house to -find out the truth of the matter; but Chu told him that his wife's -head had been changed in her sleep, and that he knew nothing about it, -adding that it was unjust to accuse him of the murder. Mr. Wu refused -to believe this, and took proceedings against him; but as all the -servants told the same story, the Prefect was unable to convict him. -Chu returned home and took counsel with the Judge, who told him there -would be no difficulty, it being merely necessary to make the murdered -girl herself speak. That night Mr. Wu dreamt that his daughter came -and said to him, "I was killed by Yang Ta-nien, of Su-ch'i. Mr. Chu -had nothing to do with it; but desiring a better-looking face for his -wife, Judge Lu gave him mine, and thus my body is dead while my head -still lives. Bear Chu no malice." When he awaked, he told his wife, -who had dreamt the same dream; and thereupon he communicated these -facts to the officials. Subsequently, a man of that name was captured, -who confessed under the bamboo that he had committed the crime; so Mr. -Wu went off to Chu's house, and asked to be allowed to see his wife, -regarding Chu from that time as his son-in-law. Mrs. Chu's old head -was fitted on to the young lady's body, and the two parts were buried -together. - -Subsequent to these events Mr. Chu tried three times for his doctor's -degree, but each time without success, and at last he gave up the idea -of entering into official life. Then when thirty years had passed -away, Judge Lu appeared to him one night, and said, "My friend, you -cannot live for ever. Your hour will come in five days' time." Chu -asked the Judge if he could not save him; to which he replied, "The -decrees of Heaven cannot be altered to suit the purposes of mortals. -Besides, to an intelligent man life and death are much the same.[103] -Why necessarily regard life as a boon and death as a misfortune?" Chu -could make no reply to this, and forthwith proceeded to order his -coffin and shroud;[104] and then, dressing himself in his -grave-clothes, yielded up the ghost. Next day, as his wife was weeping -over his bier, in he walked at the front door, to her very great -alarm. "I am now a disembodied spirit," said Chu to her, "though not -different from what I was in life; and I have been thinking much of -the widow and orphan I left behind." His wife, hearing this, wept till -the tears ran down her face, Chu all the time doing his best to -comfort her. "I have heard tell," said she, "of dead bodies returning -to life; and since your vital spark is not extinct, why does it not -resume the flesh?" "The ordinances of Heaven," replied her husband, -"may not be disobeyed." His wife here asked him what he was doing in -the infernal regions; and he said that Judge Lu had got him an -appointment as Registrar, with a certain rank attached, and that he -was not at all uncomfortable. Mrs. Chu was proceeding to inquire -further, when he interrupted her, saying, "The Judge has come with me; -get some wine ready and something to eat." He then hurried out, and -his wife did as he had told her, hearing them laughing and drinking in -the guest chamber just like old times come back again. About midnight -she peeped in, and found that they had both disappeared; but they came -back once in every two or three days, often spending the night, and -managing the family affairs as usual. Chu's son was named Wei, and was -about five years old; and whenever his father came he would take the -little boy upon his knee. When he was about eight years of age, Chu -began to teach him to read; and the boy was so clever that by the time -he was nine he could actually compose. At fifteen he took his -bachelor's degree, without knowing all this time that he had no -father. From that date Chu's visits became less frequent, occurring -not more than once or so in a month; until one night he told his wife -that they were never to meet again. In reply to her inquiry as to -whither he was going, he said he had been appointed to a far-off post, -where press of business and distance would combine to prevent him from -visiting them any more. The mother and son clung to him, sobbing -bitterly; but he said, "Do not act thus. The boy is now a man, and can -look after your affairs. The dearest friends must part some day." -Then, turning to his son, he added, "Be an honourable man, and take -care of the property. Ten years hence we shall meet again." With this -he bade them farewell, and went away. - -Later on, when Wei was twenty-two years of age, he took his doctor's -degree, and was appointed to conduct the sacrifices at the Imperial -tombs. On his way thither he fell in with a retinue of an official, -proceeding along with all the proper insignia,[105] and, looking -carefully at the individual sitting in the carriage, he was astonished -to find that it was his own father. Alighting from his horse, he -prostrated himself with tears at the side of the road; whereupon his -father stopped and said, "You are well spoken of. I now take leave of -this world." Wei remained on the ground, not daring to rise; and his -father, urging on his carriage, hurried away without saying any more. -But when he had gone a short distance, he looked back, and unloosing a -sword from his waist, sent it as a present to his son, shouting out to -him, "Wear this and you will succeed." Wei tried to follow him; but, -in an instant, carriage, retinue, and horses, had vanished with the -speed of wind. For a long time his son gave himself up to grief, and -then seizing the sword began to examine it closely. It was of -exquisite workmanship, and on the blade was engraved this -legend:--"_Be bold, but cautious; round in disposition, square in -action._"[106] Wei subsequently rose to high honours, and had five -sons named Ch'ên, Ch'ien, Wu, Hun, and Shên. One night he dreamt that -his father told him to give the sword to Hun, which he accordingly -did; and Hun rose to be a Viceroy of great administrative ability. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[93] Every Chinese man and woman inherits a family name or surname. A -woman takes her husband's surname, followed in official documents by -her maiden name. Children usually have a pet name given to them soon -after birth, which is dropped after a few years. Then there is the -_ming_ or name, which once given is unchangeable, and by which the -various members of a family are distinguished. But only the father and -mother and certain other relatives are allowed to use this. Friends -call each other by their literary designations or "book-names," which -are given generally by the teacher to whom the boy's education is -first entrusted. Brothers and sisters and others have all kinds of -nick-names as with us. Dogs and cats are called by such names as -"Blackey," "Whitey," "Yellowy," "Jewel," "Pearly," &c., &c. Junks are -christened "Large Profits," "Abounding Wealth," "Favourite of -Fortune," &c., &c. Places are often named after some striking -geographical feature; _e.g._, _Hankow_--"mouth of the Han river," -_i.e._, its point of junction with the Yang-tsze; or they have fancy -names, such as _Fuhkien_--"happily established;" _Tientsin_--"Heaven's -ford;" or names implying a special distinction, such as -_Nanking_--"southern capital;" _Shan-tung_--"east of the mountains," -&c. - -[94] The name given by foreigners in China to the imitation of the ten -torture-chambers of purgatory, as seen in every _Ch'êng-huang_ or -municipal temple. The various figures of the devil-lictors and the -tortured sinners are made either of clay or wood, and painted in very -bright colours; and in each chamber is depicted some specimen of the -horrible tortures that wicked people will undergo in the world to -come. I have given in the _Appendix_ a translation of the -"_Yü-li-ch'ao_," a celebrated Taoist work on this subject, which -should at any rate be glanced at by persons who would understand the -drift of some of these stories. - -[95] To heat the wine, which is almost invariably taken hot. - -[96] In token of their mutual good feeling. - -[97] The Chinese as a nation believe to this day that the heart is the -seat of the intellect and the emotions. - -[98] The heart itself is supposed to be pierced by a number of "eyes," -which pass right through; and in physical and mental health these -passages are believed to be clear. - -[99] See No. XII., note 87. - -[100] The _Hsi-yüan-lu_, a well-known work on Chinese medical -jurisprudence, and an _officially-authorised book_, while giving an -absurd antidote against a poison that never existed [see my _Chinese -Sketches_, p. 190], gravely insists that it is to be prepared at -certain dates only, "in some place quite away from women, fowls, and -dogs." - -[101] It was almost a wonder that she got a second _fiancé_, few -people caring to affiance their sons in a family where such a -catastrophe has once occurred. The death of an engaged girl is a -matter of much less importance, but is productive of a very curious -ceremony. Her betrothed goes to the house where she is lying dead and -steps over the coffin containing her body, returning home with a pair -of the girl's shoes. He thus severs all connection with her, and her -spirit cannot haunt him as it otherwise most certainly would. - -[102] Held annually on the 15th of the first Chinese month--_i.e._, at -the first full moon of the year, when coloured lanterns are hung at -every door. It was originally a ceremonial worship in the temple of -the First Cause, and dates from about the time of the Han dynasty, or -nearly two thousand years ago. - -[103] It was John Stuart Mill who pointed out that the fear of death -is due to "the illusion of imagination, which makes one conceive -oneself as if one were alive and feeling oneself dead" (_The Utility -of Religion_). - -[104] "Boards of old age" and "Clothes of old age sold here" are -common shop-signs in every Chinese city; death and burial being -always, if possible, spoken of euphemistically in some such terms as -these. A dutiful son provides, when he can afford it, decent coffins -for his father and mother. They are generally stored in the house, -sometimes in a neighbouring temple; and the old people take pleasure -in seeing that their funeral obsequies are properly provided for, -though the subject is never raised in conversation. Chinese coffins -are beautifully made; and when the body has been in for a day or two, -a candle is closely applied to the seams all round to make sure it is -air-tight,--any crack, however fine, being easily detected by the -flickering of the flame in the escaping gas. Thus bodies may be kept -unburied for a long time, until the geomancer has selected an -auspicious site for the grave. - -[105] Gongs, red umbrellas, men carrying boards on which the officer's -titles are inscribed in large characters, a huge wooden fan, &c., &c. - -[106] "Be like a cash" [see No. II., note 42] is a not uncommon saying -among the Chinese, the explanation of which rests upon the fact that a -cash is "round in shape and convenient for use," which words are -pronounced identically with a corresponding number of words meaning -"round in disposition, square in action." It is, in fact, a play on -words. - - - - -XV. - -MISS YING-NING; OR, THE LAUGHING GIRL. - - -At Lo-tien, in the province of Shantung, there lived a youth named -Wang Tz[)u]-fu, who had been left an orphan when quite young. He was a -clever boy, and took his bachelor's degree at the age of fourteen, -being quite his mother's pet, and not allowed by her to stray far away -from home. One young lady to whom he had been betrothed having -unhappily died, he was still in search of a wife when, on the occasion -of the Feast of Lanterns, his cousin Wu asked him to come along for a -stroll. But they had hardly got beyond the village before one of his -uncle's servants caught them up and told Wu he was wanted. The latter -accordingly went back; but Wang, seeing plenty of nice girls about and -being in high spirits himself, proceeded on alone. Amongst others, he -noticed a young lady with her maid. She had just picked a sprig of -plum-blossom, and was the prettiest girl he had ever heard of--a -perfect bunch of smiles. He stared and stared at her quite regardless -of appearances; and when she had passed by, she said to her maid, -"That young fellow has a wicked look in his eyes." As she was walking -away, laughing and talking, the flower dropped out of her hand; and -Wang, picking it up, stood there disconsolate as if he had lost his -wits. He then went home in a very melancholy mood; and, putting the -flower under his pillow, lay down to sleep. He would neither talk nor -eat; and his mother became very anxious about him, and called in the -aid of the priests.[107] By degrees, he fell off in flesh and got very -thin; and the doctor felt his pulse and gave him medicines to bring -out the disease. Occasionally, he seemed bewildered in his mind, but -in spite of all his mother's inquiries would give no clue as to the -cause of his malady. One day when his cousin Wu came to the house, -Wang's mother told him to try and find out what was the matter; and -the former, approaching the bed, gradually and quietly led up to the -point in question. Wang, who had wept bitterly at the sight of his -cousin, now repeated to him the whole story, begging him to lend some -assistance in the matter. "How foolish you are, cousin," cried Wu; -"there will be no difficulty at all, I'll make inquiries for you. The -girl herself can't belong to a very aristocratic family to be walking -alone in the country. If she's not already engaged, I have no doubt we -can arrange the affair; and even if she is unwilling, an extra outlay -will easily bring her round.[108] You make haste and get well: I'll -see to it all." Wang's features relaxed when he heard these words; and -Wu left him to tell his mother how the case stood, immediately setting -on foot inquiries as to the whereabouts of the girl. All his efforts, -however, proved fruitless, to the great disappointment of Wang's -mother; for since his cousin's visit Wang's colour and appetite had -returned. In a few days Wu called again, and in answer to Wang's -questions falsely told him that the affair was settled. "Who do you -think the young lady is?" said he. "Why, a cousin of ours, who is only -waiting to be betrothed; and though you two are a little near,[109] I -daresay the circumstances of the case will be allowed to overrule this -objection." Wang was overjoyed, and asked where she lived; so Wu had -to tell another lie, and say, "On the south-west hills, about ten -miles from here." Wang begged him again and again to do his best for -him, and Wu undertook to get the betrothal satisfactorily arranged. He -then took leave of his cousin, who from this moment was rapidly -restored to health. Wang drew the flower from underneath his pillow, -and found that, though dried up, the leaves had not fallen away. He -often sat playing with this flower and thinking of the young lady; but -by-and-by, as Wu did not reappear, he wrote a letter and asked him to -come. Wu pleaded other engagements, being unwilling to go; at which -Wang got in a rage and quite lost his good spirits; so that his -mother, fearing a relapse, proposed to him a speedy betrothal in -another quarter. Wang shook his head at this, and sat day after day -waiting for Wu, until his patience was thoroughly exhausted. He then -reflected that ten miles was no great distance, and that there was no -particular reason for asking anybody's aid; so, concealing the flower -in his sleeve, he went off in a huff by himself without letting it be -known. Having no opportunity of asking the way, he made straight for -the hills; and after about ten miles walking found himself right in -the midst of them, enjoying their exquisite verdure, but meeting no -one, and with nothing better than mountain paths to guide him. Away -down in the valley below, almost buried under a densely luxuriant -growth of trees and flowers, he espied a small hamlet, and began to -descend the hill and make his way thither. He found very few houses, -and all built of rushes, but otherwise pleasant enough to look at. -Before the door of one, which stood at the northern end of the -village, were a number of graceful willow trees, and inside the wall -plenty of peach and apricot trees, with tufts of bamboo between them, -and birds chirping on the branches. As it was a private house he did -not venture to go in, but sat down to rest himself on a huge smooth -stone opposite the front door. By-and-by he heard a girl's voice from -within calling out Hsiao-jung; and, noticing that it was a sweet-toned -voice, set himself to listen, when a young lady passed with a bunch of -apricot-flowers in her hand, and occupied in putting hair-pins into -her downcast head. As soon as she raised her face she saw Wang, and -stopped putting in hair-pins; then, smothering a laugh, picked a few -flowers and ran in. Wang perceived to his intense delight that she was -none other than his heroine of the Feast of Lanterns; but recollecting -that he had no right to follow her in, was on the point of calling -after her as his cousin. There was no one, however, in the street, and -he was afraid lest he might have made a mistake; neither was there -anybody at the door of whom he could make inquiries. So he remained -there in a very restless state till the sun was well down in the west, -and his hopes were almost at an end, forgetting all about food and -drink. He then saw the young lady peep through the door, apparently -very much astonished to find him still there; and in a few minutes out -came an old woman leaning on a stick, who said to him, "Whence do you -come, Sir? I hear you have been here ever since morning. What is it -you want? Aren't you hungry?" Wang got up, and making a bow, replied -that he was in search of some relatives of his; but the old woman was -deaf and didn't catch what he said, so he had to shout it out again at -the top of his voice. She asked him what their names were, but he was -unable to tell her; at which she laughed and said, "It is a funny -thing to look for people when you don't know their names. I am afraid -you are an unpractical gentleman. You had better come in and have -something to eat; we'll give you a bed and you can go back to-morrow -and find out the names of the people you are in quest of." Now Wang -was just beginning to get hungry, and, besides, this would bring him -nearer to the young lady; so he readily accepted and followed the old -woman in. They walked along a paved path banked on both sides with -hibiscus, the leaves of which were scattered about on the ground; and -passing through another door, entered a court-yard full of trained -creepers and other flowers. The old woman showed Wang into a small -room with beautifully white walls and a branch of a crab-apple tree -coming through the window, the furniture being also nice and clean. -They had hardly sat down when it was clear that some one was taking a -peep through the window; whereupon the old woman cried out, -"Hsiao-jung! make haste and get dinner," and a maid from outside -immediately answered "Yes, ma'am." Meanwhile, Wang had been explaining -who he was; and then the old lady said, "Was your maternal grandfather -named Wu?" "He was," replied Wang. "Well, I never!" cried the old -woman, "he was my uncle, and your mother and I are cousins. But in -consequence of our poverty, and having no sons, we have kept quite to -ourselves, and you have grown to be a man without my knowing you." "I -came here," said Wang, "about my cousin, but in the hurry I forgot -your name." "My name is Ch'in," replied the old lady; "I have no son: -only a girl, the child of a concubine, who, after my husband's death, -married again[110] and left her daughter with me. She's a clever girl, -but has had very little education; full of fun and ignorant of the -sorrows of life. I'll send for her by-and-by to make your -acquaintance." The maid then brought in the dinner--a large dish full -of choice morsels of fowl--and the old woman pressed him to eat. When -they had finished, and the things were taken away, the old woman said, -"Call Miss Ning," and the maid went off to do so. After some time -there was a giggling at the door, and the old woman cried out, -"Ying-ning! your cousin is here." There was then a great tittering as -the maid pushed her in, stopping her mouth all the time to try and -keep from laughing. "Don't you know better than to behave like that?" -asked the old woman, "and before a stranger, too." So Ying-ning -controlled her feelings, and Wang made her a bow, the old woman -saying, "Mr. Wang is your cousin: you have never seen him before. -Isn't that funny?" Wang asked how old his cousin was, but the old -woman didn't hear him, and he had to say it again, which sent -Ying-ning off into another fit of laughter. "I told you," observed the -old woman, "she hadn't much education; now you see it. She is sixteen -years old, and as foolish as a baby." "One year younger than I am," -remarked Wang. "Oh, you're seventeen are you? Then you were born in -the year ----, under the sign of the horse."[111] Wang nodded assent, -and then the old woman asked who his wife was, to which Wang replied -that he had none. "What! a clever, handsome young fellow of seventeen -not yet engaged?[112] Ying-ning is not engaged either: you two would -make a nice pair if it wasn't for the relationship." Wang said -nothing, but looked hard at his cousin; and just then the maid -whispered to her, "It is the fellow with the wicked eyes! He's at his -old game." Ying-ning laughed, and proposed to the maid that they should -go and see if the peaches were in blossom or not; and off they went -together, the former with her sleeve stuffed into her mouth until she -got outside, where she burst into a hearty fit of laughing. The old -woman gave orders for a bed to be got ready for Wang, saying to him, -"It's not often we meet: you must spend a few days with us now you are -here, and then we'll send you home. If you are at all dull, there's a -garden behind where you can amuse yourself, and books for you to -read." So next day Wang strolled into the garden, which was of -moderate size, with a well-kept lawn and plenty of trees and flowers. -There was also an arbour consisting of three posts with a thatched -roof, quite shut in on all sides by the luxurious vegetation. Pushing -his way among the flowers, Wang heard a noise from one of the trees, -and looking up saw Ying-ning, who at once burst out laughing and -nearly fell down. "Don't! don't!" cried Wang, "you'll fall!" Then -Ying-ning came down, giggling all the time, until, when she was near -the ground, she missed her hold, and tumbled down with a run. This -stopped her merriment, and Wang picked her up, gently squeezing her -hand as he did so. Ying-ning began laughing again, and was obliged to -lean against a tree for support, it being some time before she was -able to stop. Wang waited till she had finished, and then drew the -flower out of his sleeve and handed it to her. "It's dead," said she; -"why do you keep it?" "You dropped it, cousin, at the Feast of -Lanterns," replied Wang, "and so I kept it." She then asked him what -was his object in keeping it, to which he answered, "To show my love, -and that I have not forgotten you. Since that day when we met, I have -been very ill from thinking so much of you, and am quite changed from -what I was. But now that it is my unexpected good fortune to meet you, -I pray you have pity on me." "You needn't make such a fuss about a -trifle," replied she, "and with your own relatives, too. I'll give -orders to supply you with a whole basketful of flowers when you go -away." Wang told her she did not understand, and when she asked what -it was she didn't understand, he said, "I didn't care for the flower -itself; it was the person who picked the flower." "Of course," -answered she, "everybody cares for their relations; you needn't have -told me that." "I wasn't talking about ordinary relations," said Wang, -"but about husbands and wives." "What's the difference?" asked -Ying-ning. "Why," replied Wang, "husband and wife are always -together." "Just what I shouldn't like," cried she, "to be always with -anybody."[113] At this juncture up came the maid, and Wang slipped -quietly away. By-and-by they all met again in the house, and the old -woman asked Ying-ning where they had been; whereupon she said they had -been talking in the garden. "Dinner has been ready a long time. I -can't think what you have had to say all this while," grumbled the old -woman. "My cousin," answered Ying-ning, "has been talking to me about -husbands and wives." Wang was much disconcerted, and made a sign to -her to be quiet, so she smiled and said no more; and the old woman -luckily did not catch her words, and asked her to repeat them. Wang -immediately put her off with something else, and whispered to -Ying-ning that she had done very wrong. The latter did not see that; -and when Wang told her that what he had said was private, answered him -that she had no secrets from her old mother. "Besides," added she, -"what harm can there be in talking on such a common topic as husbands -and wives?" Wang was angry with her for being so dull, but there was -no help for it; and by the time dinner was over he found some of his -mother's servants had come in search of him, bringing a couple of -donkeys with them. It appeared that his mother, alarmed at his -non-appearance, had made strict search for him in the village; and -when unable to discover any traces of him, had gone off to the Wu -family to consult. There her nephew, who recollected what he had -previously said to young Wang, advised that a search should be -instituted in the direction of the hills; and accordingly the servants -had been to all the villages on the way until they had at length -recognised him as he was coming out of the door. Wang went in and told -the old woman, begging that he might be allowed to take Ying-ning with -him. "I have had the idea in my head for several days," replied the -old woman, overjoyed; "but I am a feeble old thing myself, and -couldn't travel so far. If, however, you will take charge of my girl -and introduce her to her aunt, I shall be very pleased." So she called -Ying-ning, who came up laughing as usual; whereupon the old woman -rebuked her, saying, "What makes you always laugh so? You would be a -very good girl but for that silly habit. Now, here's your cousin, who -wants to take you away with him. Make haste and pack up." The servants -who had come for Wang were then provided with refreshment, and the old -woman bade them both farewell, telling Ying-ning that her aunt was -quite well enough off to maintain her, and that she had better not -come back. She also advised her not to neglect her studies, and to be -very attentive to her elders, adding that she might ask her aunt to -provide her with a good husband. Wang and Ying-ning then took their -leave; and when they reached the brow of the hill, they looked back -and could just discern the old woman leaning against the door and -gazing towards the north. On arriving at Wang's home, his mother, -seeing a nice-looking young girl with him, asked in astonishment who -she might be; and Wang at once told her the whole story. "But that was -all an invention of your cousin Wu's," cried his mother; "I haven't -got a sister, and consequently I can't have such a niece." Ying-ning -here observed, "I am not the daughter of the old woman; my father was -named Ch'in and died when I was a little baby, so that I can't -remember anything." "I _had_ a sister," said Wang's mother, "who -actually did marry a Mr. Ch'in, but she died many years ago, and can't -be still living, of course." However, on inquiring as to facial -appearance and characteristic marks, Wang's mother was obliged to -acknowledge the identity, wondering at the same time how her sister -could be alive when she had died many years before. Just then in came -Wu, and Ying-ning retired within; and when he heard the story, -remained some time lost in astonishment, and then said, "Is this young -lady's name Ying-ning?" Wang replied that it was, and asked Wu how he -came to know it. "Mr. Ch'in," answered he, "after his wife's death was -bewitched by a fox, and subsequently died. The fox had a daughter -named Ying-ning, as was well known to all the family; and when Mr. -Ch'in died, as the fox still frequented the place, the Taoist -Pope[114] was called in to exorcise it. The fox then went away, taking -Ying-ning with it, and now here she is." While they were thus -discussing, peals of laughter were heard coming from within, and Mrs. -Wang took occasion to remark what a foolish girl she was. Wu begged to -be introduced, and Mrs. Wang went in to fetch her, finding her in an -uncontrollable fit of laughter, which she subdued only with great -difficulty, and by turning her face to the wall. By-and-by she went -out; but, after making a bow, ran back and burst out laughing again to -the great discomfiture of all the ladies. Wang then said he would go -and find out for them all about Ying-ning and her queer story, so as -to be able to arrange the marriage; but when he reached the spot -indicated, village and houses had all vanished, and nothing was to be -seen except hill-flowers scattered about here and there. Wu -recollected that Mrs. Ch'in had been buried at no great distance from -that spot; he found, however, that the grave had disappeared, and he -was no longer able to determine its position. Not knowing what to make -of it all, he returned home, and then Mrs. Wang told him she thought -the girl must be a disembodied spirit. Ying-ning shewed no signs of -alarm at this remark; neither did she cry at all when Mrs. Wang began -to condole with her on no longer having a home. She only laughed in -her usual silly way, and fairly puzzled them all. Sharing Miss Wang's -room, she now began to take her part in the duties of a daughter of -the family; and as for needlework, they had rarely seen anything like -hers for fineness. But she could not get over that trick of laughing, -which, by the way, never interfered with her good looks, and -consequently rather amused people than otherwise, amongst others a -young married lady who lived next door. Wang's mother fixed an -auspicious day for the wedding, but still feeling suspicious about -Ying-ning, was always secretly watching her. Finding, however, that -she had a proper shadow,[115] and that there was nothing -extraordinary in her behaviour, she had her dressed up when the day -came, in all the finery of a bride; and would have made her perform -the usual ceremonies, only Ying-ning laughed so much she was unable to -kneel down.[116] They were accordingly obliged to excuse her, but Wang -began to fear that such a foolish girl would never be able to keep the -family counsel. Luckily, she was very reticent and did not indulge in -gossip; and moreover, when Mrs. Wang was in trouble or out of temper, -Ying-ning could always bring her round with a laugh. The -maid-servants, too, if they expected a whipping for anything, would -always ask her to be present when they appeared before their mistress, -and thus they often escaped punishment. Ying-ning had a perfect -passion for flowers. She got all she could out of her relations, and -even secretly pawned her jewels to buy rare specimens; and by the end -of a few months the whole place was one mass of flowers. Behind the -house there was one especial tree[117] which belonged to the -neighbours on that side; but Ying-ning was always climbing up and -picking the flowers, for which Mrs. Wang rebuked her severely, though -without any result. One day the owner saw her, and gazed at her some -time in rapt astonishment; however, she didn't move, deigning only to -laugh. The gentleman was much smitten with her; and when she smilingly -descended the wall on her own side, pointing all the time with her -finger to a spot hard by, he thought she was making an assignation. So -he presented himself at nightfall at the same place, and sure enough -Ying-ning was there. Seizing her hand, to tell his passion, he found -that he was grasping only a log of wood which stood against the wall; -and the next thing he knew was that a scorpion had stung him violently -on the finger. There was an end of his romance, except that he died of -the wound during the night, and his family at once commenced an action -against Wang for having a witch-wife. The magistrate happened to be a -great admirer of Wang's talent, and knew him to be an accomplished -scholar; he therefore refused to grant the summons, and ordered the -prosecutor to be bambooed for false accusation.[118] Wang interposed -and got him off this punishment, and returned home himself. His mother -then scolded Ying-ning well, saying, "I knew your too playful -disposition would some day bring sorrow upon you. But for our -intelligent magistrate we should have been in a nice mess. Any -ordinary hawk-like official would have had you publicly interrogated -in court; and then how could your husband ever have held up his head -again?" Ying-ning looked grave and did not laugh this time; and Mrs. -Wang continued, "There's no harm in laughing as long as it is -seasonable laughter;" but from that moment Ying-ning laughed no more, -no matter what people did to make her, though at the same time her -expression was by no means gloomy. One evening she went in tears to -her husband, who wanted to know what was the matter. "I couldn't tell -you before," said she, sobbing; "we had known each other such a short -time. But now that you and your mother have been so kind to me, I will -keep nothing from you, but tell you all. I am the daughter of a fox. -When my mother went away she put me in the charge of the disembodied -spirit of an old woman, with whom I remained for a period of over ten -years. I have no brothers: only you to whom I can look. And now my -foster-mother is lying on the hill-side with no one to bury her and -appease her discontented shade. If not too much, I would ask you to do -this, that her spirit may be at rest, and know that it was not -neglected by her whom she brought up." Wang consented, but said he -feared they would not be able to find her grave; on which Ying-ning -said there was no danger of that, and accordingly they set forth -together. When they arrived, Ying-ning pointed out the tomb in a -lonely spot amidst a thicket of brambles, and there they found the old -woman's bones. Ying-ning wept bitterly, and then they proceeded to -carry her remains home with them, subsequently interring them in the -Ch'in family vault. That night Wang dreamt that the old woman came to -thank him, and when he waked he told Ying-ning, who said that she had -seen her also, and had been warned by her not to frighten Mr. Wang. -Her husband asked why she had not detained the old lady; but Ying-ning -replied, "She is a disembodied spirit, and would be ill at ease for -any time surrounded by so much life."[119] Wang then enquired after -Hsiao-jung, and his wife said, "She was a fox too, and a very clever -one. My foster-mother kept her to wait on me, and she was always -getting fruit and cakes for me, so that I have a friendship for her -and shall never forget her. My foster-mother told me yesterday she was -married." - -After this, whenever the great fast-day[120] came round, husband and -wife went off without fail to worship at the Ch'in family tomb; and by -the time a year had passed she gave birth to a son, who wasn't a bit -afraid of strangers, but laughed at everybody, and in fact took very -much after his mother. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[107] Sickness being supposed to result from evil influences, -witchcraft, &c., just as often as from more natural causes. - -[108] The rule which guides betrothals in China is that "the doors -should be opposite"--_i.e._, that the families of the bride and -bridegroom should be of equal position in the social scale. Any -unpleasantness about the value of the marriage presents, and so on, is -thereby avoided. - -[109] Marriage between persons of the same surname is forbidden by -law, for such are held to be blood relations, descended lineally from -the original couple of that name. Inasmuch, however, as the line of -descent is traced through the male branches only, a man may marry his -cousins on the maternal side without let or hindrance except that of -sentiment, which is sufficiently strong to keep these alliances down -to a minimum. - -[110] A very unjustifiable proceeding in Chinese eyes, unless driven -to it by actual poverty. - -[111] The Chinese years are distinguished by the names of twelve -animals--namely, rat, ox, tiger, hare, dragon, serpent, horse, sheep, -monkey, cock, dog, and boar. To the common question, "What is your -honourable age?" the reply is frequently, "I was born under the ----;" -and the hearer by a short mental calculation can tell at once how old -the speaker is, granting, of course, the impossibility of making an -error of so much as twelve years. - -[112] Parents in China like to get their sons married as early as -possible, in the hope of seeing themselves surrounded by grandsons, -and the family name in no danger of extinction. Girls are generally -married at from fifteen to seventeen. - -[113] This scene should for ever disabuse people of the notion that -there is no such thing as "making love" among the Chinese. That the -passion is just as much a disease in China as it is with us will be -abundantly evident from several subsequent stories; though by those -who have lived and mixed with the Chinese people, no such confirmation -will be needed. I have even heard it gravely asserted by an educated -native that not a few of his countrymen had "died for love" of the -beautiful Miss Lin, the charming but fictitious heroine of _The Dream -of the Red Chamber_. - -Play-goers can here hardly fail to notice a very striking similarity -to the close of the first act of Mr. W. S. Gilbert's "Sweethearts." - -[114] The semi-divine head of the Taoist religion, sometimes called -the Master of Heaven. In his body is supposed to reside the soul of a -celebrated Taoist, an ancestor of his, who actually discovered the -elixir of life and became an immortal some eighteen hundred years ago. -At death, the precious soul above-mentioned will take up its abode in -the body of some youthful member of the family to be hereinafter -revealed. Meanwhile, the present Pope makes a very respectable income -from the sale of charms, by working miracles, and so forth; and only -about two years ago he visited Shanghai, where he was interviewed by -several foreigners. - -[115] Disembodied spirits are supposed to have no shadow, and but very -little appetite. There are also certain occasions on which they cannot -stand the smell of sulphur. Fiske, in his _Myths and Myth-makers_ -(page 230) says, "Almost universally, ghosts, however impervious to -thrust of sword or shot of pistol, can eat and drink like Squire -Westerns." - -[116] See No. III., note 45. - -[117] The _Mu-hsiang_ or _Costus amarus_. - -[118] Strictly in accordance with Chinese criminal law. - -[119] These disembodied spirits are unable to stand for any length of -time the light and life of this upper world, darkness and death being -as it were necessary to their existence and comfort. - -[120] The day before the annual spring festival. - - - - -XVI. - -THE MAGIC SWORD. - - -Ning Lai-ch'ên was a Chekiang man, and a good-natured, honourable -fellow, fond of telling people that he had only loved once. Happening -to go to Chinhua, he took shelter in a temple to the north of the -city; very nice as far as ornamentation went, but overgrown with grass -taller than a man's head, and evidently not much frequented. On either -side were the priest's apartments, the doors of which were ajar, with -the exception of a small room on the south side, where the lock had a -new appearance. In the east corner he espied a group of bamboos, -growing over a large pool of water-lilies in flower; and, being much -pleased with the quiet of the place, determined to remain; more -especially as, the Grand Examiner being in the town, all lodgings had -gone up in price. So he roamed about waiting till the priests should -return; and in the evening, a gentleman came and opened the door on -the south side. Ning quickly made up to him, and with a bow informed -him of his design. "There is no one here whose permission you need -ask," replied the stranger; "I am only lodging here, and if you don't -object to the loneliness, I shall be very pleased to have the benefit -of your society." Ning was delighted, and made himself a straw bed, -and put up a board for a table, as if he intended to remain some time; -and that night, by the beams of the clear bright moon, they sat -together in the verandah and talked. The stranger's name was Yen -Ch'ih-hsia, and Ning thought he was a student up for the provincial -examination, only his dialect was not that of a Chekiang man. On being -asked, he said he came from Shensi; and there was an air of -straightforwardness about all his remarks. By-and-by, when their -conversation was exhausted, they bade each other good night and went -to bed; but Ning, being in a strange place, was quite unable to sleep; -and soon he heard sounds of voices from the room on the north side. -Getting up, he peeped through a window, and saw, in a small court-yard -the other side of a low wall, a woman of about forty with an old -maid-servant in a long faded gown, humped-backed and feeble-looking. -They were chatting by the light of the moon; and the mistress said, -"Why doesn't Hsiao-ch'ien come?" "She ought to be here by now," -replied the other. "She isn't offended with you; is she?" asked the -lady. "Not that I know of," answered the old servant; "but she seems -to want to give trouble." "Such people don't deserve to be treated -well," said the other; and she had hardly uttered these words when up -came a young girl of seventeen or eighteen, and very nice looking. The -old servant laughed, and said, "Don't talk of people behind their -backs. We were just mentioning you as you came without our hearing -you; but fortunately we were saying nothing bad about you. And, as far -as that goes," added she, "if I were a young fellow why I should -certainly fall in love with you." "If _you_ don't praise me," replied -the girl, "I'm sure I don't know who will;" and then the lady and the -girl said something together, and Mr. Ning, thinking they were the -family next door, turned round to sleep without paying further -attention to them. In a little while no sound was to be heard; but, as -he was dropping off to sleep, he perceived that somebody was in the -room. Jumping up in great haste, he found it was the young lady he had -just seen; and detecting at once that she was going to attempt to -bewitch him, sternly bade her begone. She then produced a lump of gold -which he threw away, and told her to go after it or he would call his -friend. So she had no alternative but to go, muttering something about -his heart being like iron or stone. Next day, a young candidate for -the examination came and lodged in the east room with his servant. He, -however, was killed that very night, and his servant the night after; -the corpses of both shewing a small hole in the sole of the foot as if -bored by an awl, and from which a little blood came. No one knew who -had committed these murders, and when Mr. Yen came home, Ning asked -him what he thought about it. Yen replied that it was the work of -devils, but Ning was a brave fellow, and that didn't frighten him -much. In the middle of the night Hsiao-ch'ien appeared to him again, -and said, "I have seen many men, but none with a steel cold heart like -yours. You are an upright man, and I will not attempt to deceive you. -I, Hsiao-ch'ien, whose family name is Nieh, died when only eighteen, -and was buried alongside of this temple. A devil then took possession -of me, and employed me to bewitch people by my beauty, contrary to my -inclination. There is now nothing left in this temple to slay, and I -fear that imps will be employed to kill you." Ning was very frightened -at this, and asked her what he should do. "Sleep in the same room with -Mr. Yen," replied she. "What!" asked he, "cannot the spirits trouble -Yen?" "He is a strange man," she answered, "and they don't like going -near him." Ning then inquired how the spirits worked. "I bewitch -people," said Hsiao-ch'ien, "and then they bore a hole in the foot -which renders the victim senseless, and proceed to draw off the blood, -which the devils drink. Another method is to tempt people by false -gold, the bones of some horrid demon; and if they receive it, their -hearts and livers will be torn out. Either method is used according to -circumstances." Ning thanked her, and asked when he ought to be -prepared; to which she replied, "To-morrow night." At parting she -wept, and said, "I am about to sink into the great sea, with no -friendly shore at hand. But your sense of duty is boundless, and you -can save me. If you will collect my bones and bury them in some quiet -spot, I shall not again be subject to these misfortunes." Ning said he -would do so, and asked where she lay buried. "At the foot of the -aspen-tree on which there is a bird's nest," replied she; and passing -out of the door, disappeared. The next day Ning was afraid that Yen -might be going away somewhere, and went over early to invite him -across. Wine and food were produced towards noon; and Ning, who took -care not to lose sight of Yen, then asked him to remain there for the -night. Yen declined, on the ground that he liked being by himself; but -Ning wouldn't hear any excuses, and carried all Yen's things to his -own room, so that he had no alternative but to consent. However, he -warned Ning, saying, "I know you are a gentleman and a man of honour. -If you see anything you don't quite understand, I pray you not to be -too inquisitive; don't pry into my boxes, or it may be the worse for -both of us." Ning promised to attend to what he said, and by-and-by -they both lay down to sleep; and Yen, having placed his boxes on the -window-sill, was soon snoring loudly. Ning himself could not sleep; -and after some time he saw a figure moving stealthily outside, at -length approaching the window to peep through. It's eyes flashed like -lightning, and Ning in a terrible fright was just upon the point of -calling Yen, when something flew out of one of the boxes like a strip -of white silk, and dashing against the window-sill returned at once to -the box, disappearing very much like lightning. Yen heard the noise -and got up, Ning all the time pretending to be asleep in order to -watch what happened. The former then opened the box, and took out -something which he smelt and examined by the light of the moon. It -was dazzlingly white like crystal, and about two inches in length by -the width of an onion leaf in breadth. He then wrapped it up carefully -and put it back in the broken box, saying, "A bold-faced devil that, -to come so near my box;" upon which he went back to bed; but Ning, who -was lost in astonishment, arose and asked him what it all meant, -telling at the same time what he himself had seen. "As you and I are -good friends," replied Yen, "I won't make any secret of it. The fact -is I am a Taoist priest. But for the window-sill the devil would have -been killed; as it is, he is badly wounded." Ning asked him what it -was he had there wrapped up, and he told him it was his sword,[121] on -which he had smelt the presence of the devil. At Ning's request he -produced the weapon, a bright little miniature of a sword; and from -that time Ning held his friend in higher esteem than ever. - -Next day he found traces of blood outside the window which led round -to the north of the temple; and there among a number of graves he -discovered the aspen-tree with the bird's nest at its summit. He then -fulfilled his promise and prepared to go home, Yen giving him a -farewell banquet, and presenting him with an old leather case which he -said contained a sword, and would keep at a distance from him all -devils and bogies. Ning then wished to learn a little of Yen's art; -but the latter replied that although he might accomplish this easily -enough, being as he was an upright man, yet he was well off in life, -and not in a condition where it would be of any advantage to him. Ning -then pretending he had to go and bury his sister, collected -Hsiao-ch'ien's bones, and, having wrapped them up in grave-clothes, -hired a boat, and set off on his way home. On his arrival, as his -library looked towards the open country, he made a grave hard by and -buried the bones there, sacrificing, and invoking Hsiao-ch'ien as -follows:--"In pity for your lonely ghost, I have placed your remains -near my humble cottage, where we shall be near each other, and no -devil will dare annoy you. I pray you reject not my sacrifice, poor -though it be." After this, he was proceeding home when he suddenly -heard himself addressed from behind, the voice asking him not to -hurry; and turning round he beheld Hsiao-ch'ien, who thanked him, -saying, "Were I to die ten times for you I could not discharge my -debt. Let me go home with you and wait upon your father and mother; -you will not repent it." Looking closely at her, he observed that she -had a beautiful complexion, and feet as small as bamboo shoots,[122] -being altogether much prettier now that he came to see her by -daylight. So they went together to his home, and bidding her wait -awhile, Ning ran in to tell his mother, to the very great surprise of -the old lady. Now Ning's wife had been ill for a long time, and his -mother advised him not to say a word about it to her for fear of -frightening her; in the middle of which in rushed Hsiao-ch'ien, and -threw herself on the ground before them. "This is the young lady," -said Ning; whereupon his mother in some alarm turned her attention to -Hsiao-ch'ien, who cried out, "A lonely orphan, without brother or -sister, the object of your son's kindness and compassion, begs to be -allowed to give her poor services as some return for favours shewn." -Ning's mother, seeing that she was a nice pleasant-looking girl, began -to lose fear of her, and replied, "Madam, the preference you shew for -my son is highly pleasing to an old body like myself; but this is the -only hope of our family, and I hardly dare agree to his taking a -devil-wife." "I have but one motive in what I ask," answered -Hsiao-ch'ien, "and if you have no faith in disembodied people, then -let me regard him as my brother, and live under your protection, -serving you like a daughter." Ning's mother could not resist her -straightforward manner, and Hsiao-ch'ien asked to be allowed to see -Ning's wife, but this was denied on the plea that the lady was ill. -Hsiao-ch'ien then went into the kitchen and got ready the dinner, -running about the place as if she had lived there all her life. Ning's -mother was, however, much afraid of her, and would not let her sleep -in the house; so Hsiao-ch'ien went to the library, and was just -entering when suddenly she fell back a few steps, and began walking -hurriedly backwards and forwards in front of the door. Ning seeing -this, called out and asked her what it meant; to which she replied, -"The presence of that sword frightens me, and that is why I could not -accompany you on your way home." Ning at once understood her, and hung -up the sword-case in another place; whereupon she entered, lighted a -candle, and sat down. For some time she did not speak: at length -asking Ning if he studied at night or not--"For," said she, "when I -was little I used to repeat the Lêng-yen _sutra_; but now I have -forgotten more than half, and, therefore, I should like to borrow a -copy, and when you are at leisure in the evening you might hear me." -Ning said he would, and they sat silently there for some time, after -which Hsiao-ch'ien went away and took up her quarters elsewhere. -Morning and night she waited on Ning's mother, bringing water for her -to wash in, occupying herself with household matters, and endeavouring -to please her in every way. In the evening before she went to bed, she -would always go in and repeat a little of the _sutra_, and leave as -soon as she thought Ning was getting sleepy. Now the illness of Ning's -wife had given his mother a great deal of extra trouble--more, in -fact, than she was equal to; but ever since Hsiao-ch'ien's arrival all -this was changed, and Ning's mother felt kindly disposed to the girl -in consequence, gradually growing to regard her almost as her own -child, and forgetting quite that she was a spirit. Accordingly, she -didn't make her leave the house at night; and Hsiao-ch'ien, who being -a devil had not tasted meat or drink since her arrival,[123] now -began at the end of six months to take a little thin gruel. Mother and -son alike became very fond of her, and henceforth never mentioned what -she really was; neither were strangers able to detect the fact. -By-and-by, Ning's wife died, and his mother secretly wished him to -espouse Hsiao-ch'ien, though she rather dreaded any unfortunate -consequences that might arise. This Hsiao-ch'ien perceived, and -seizing an opportunity said to Ning's mother, "I have been with you -now more than a year, and you ought to know something of my -disposition. Because I was unwilling to injure travellers I followed -your son hither. There was no other motive; and, as your son has shewn -himself one of the best of men, I would now remain with him for three -years in order that he may obtain for me some mark of Imperial -approbation[124] which will do me honour in the realms below." Ning's -mother knew that she meant no evil, but hesitated to put the family -hopes of a posterity into jeopardy. Hsiao-ch'ien, however, reassured -her by saying that Ning would have three sons, and that the line would -not be interrupted by his marrying her. On the strength of this the -marriage was arranged to the great joy of Ning, a feast prepared, and -friends and relatives invited; and when in response to a call the -bride herself came forth in her gay wedding-dress, the beholders took -her rather for a fairy than for a devil. After this, numbers of -congratulatory presents were given by the various female members of -the family, who vied with one another in making her acquaintance; and -these Hsiao-ch'ien returned by gifts of paintings of flowers, done by -herself, in which she was very skilful, the receivers being extremely -proud of such marks of her friendship. One day she was leaning at the -window in a despondent mood, when suddenly she asked where the -sword-case was. "Oh," replied Ning, "as you seemed afraid of it, I -moved it elsewhere." "I have now been so long under the influence of -surrounding life,"[125] said Hsiao-ch'ien, "that I shan't be afraid of -it any more. Let us hang it on the bed." "Why so?" asked Ning. "For the -last three days," explained she, "I have been much agitated in mind; -and I fear that the devil at the temple, angry at my escape, may come -suddenly and carry me off." So Ning brought the sword-case, and -Hsiao-ch'ien, after examining it closely, remarked, "This is where the -magician puts people. I wonder how many were slain before it got old -and worn out as it is now. Even now when I look at it my flesh -creeps." The case was then hung up, and next day removed to over the -door. At night they sat up and watched, Hsiao-ch'ien warning Ning not -to go to sleep; and suddenly something fell down flop like a bird. -Hsiao-ch'ien in a fright got behind the curtain; but Ning looked at -the thing, and found it was an imp of darkness, with glaring eyes and -a bloody mouth, coming straight to the door. Stealthily creeping up it -made a grab at the sword-case, and seemed about to tear it in pieces, -when bang!--the sword-case became as big as a wardrobe, and from it a -devil protruded part of his body and dragged the imp in. Nothing more -was heard, and the sword-case resumed its original size. Ning was -greatly alarmed, but Hsiao-ch'ien came out rejoicing, and said, -"There's an end of my troubles." In the sword-case they found only a -few quarts of clear water; nothing else. - -After these events Ning took his doctor's degree and Hsiao-ch'ien bore -him a son. He then took a concubine, and had one more son by each, all -of whom became in time distinguished men. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[121] See No. X., note 80. - -[122] Which, well cooked, are a very good substitute for asparagus. - -[123] See note 115 to the last story. - -[124] Such as are from time to time bestowed upon virtuous widows and -wives, filial sons and daughters, and others. These consist of some -laudatory scroll or tablet, and are much prized by the family of the -recipient. - -[125] See note 119 to last story. - - - - -XVII. - -THE _SHUI-MANG_ PLANT. - - -The _shui-mang_[126] is a poisonous herb. It is a creeper, like the -bean, and has a similar red flower. Those who eat of it die, and -become _shui-mang_ devils, tradition asserting that such devils are -unable to be born again unless they can find some one else who has -also eaten of this poison to take their place.[127] These _shui-mang_ -devils abound in the province of Hunan, where, by the way, the phrase -"same-year man" is applied to those born in the same year, who -exchange visits and call each other brother, their children addressing -the father's "brother" as uncle. This has now become a regular custom -there.[128] - -A young man named Chu was on his way to visit a same-year friend of -his, when he was overtaken by a violent thirst. Suddenly he came upon -an old woman sitting by the roadside under a shed and distributing -tea gratis,[129] and immediately walked up to her to get a drink. She -invited him into the shed, and presented him with a bowl of tea in a -very cordial spirit; but the smell of it did not seem like the smell -of ordinary tea, and he would not drink it, rising up to go away. The -old woman stopped him, and called out, "San-niang! bring some good -tea." Immediately a young girl came from behind the shed, carrying in -her hands a pot of tea. She was about fourteen or fifteen years old, -and of very fascinating appearance, with glittering rings and -bracelets on her fingers and arms. As Chu received the cup from her -his reason fled; and drinking down the tea she gave him, the flavour -of which was unlike any other kind, he proceeded to ask for more. -Then, watching for a moment when the old woman's back was turned, he -seized her wrist and drew a ring from her finger. The girl blushed and -smiled; and Chu, more and more inflamed, asked her where she lived. -"Come again this evening," replied she, "and you'll find me here." Chu -begged for a handful of her tea, which he stowed away with the ring, -and took his leave. Arriving at his destination, he felt a pain in his -heart, which he at once attributed to the tea, telling his friend -what had occurred. "Alas! you are undone," cried the other; "they were -_shui-mang_ devils. My father died in the same way, and we were unable -to save him. There is no help for you." Chu was terribly frightened, -and produced the handful of tea, which his friend at once pronounced -to be leaves of the _shui-mang_ plant. He then shewed him the ring, -and told him what the girl had said; whereupon his friend, after some -reflection, said, "She must be San-niang, of the K'ou family." "How -could you know her name?" asked Chu, hearing his friend use the same -words as the old woman. "Oh," replied he, "there was a nice-looking -girl of that name who died some years ago from eating of the same -herb. She is doubtless the girl you saw." Here some one observed that -if the person so entrapped by a devil only knew its name, and could -procure an old pair of its shoes, he might save himself by boiling -them in water and drinking the liquor as medicine. Chu's friend -thereupon rushed off at once to the K'ou family, and implored them to -give him an old pair of their daughter's shoes; but they, not wishing -to prevent their daughter from finding a substitute in Chu, flatly -refused his request. So he went back in anger and told Chu, who ground -his teeth with rage, saying, "If I die, she shall not obtain her -transmigration thereby." His friend then sent him home; and just as he -reached the door he fell down dead. Chu's mother wept bitterly over -his corpse, which was in due course interred; and he left behind one -little boy barely a year old. His wife did not remain a widow, but in -six months married again and went away, putting Chu's son under the -care of his grandmother, who was quite unequal to any toil, and did -nothing but weep morning and night. One day she was carrying her -grandson about in her arms, crying bitterly all the time, when -suddenly in walked Chu. His mother, much alarmed, brushed away her -tears, and asked him what it meant. "Mother," replied he, "down in the -realms below I heard you weeping. I am therefore come to tend you. -Although a departed spirit, I have a wife, who has likewise come to -share your toil. Therefore do not grieve." His mother inquired who his -wife was, to which he replied, "When the K'ou family sat still and -left me to my fate I was greatly incensed against them; and after -death I sought for San-niang, not knowing where she was. I have -recently seen my old same-year friend, and he told me where she was. -She had come to life again in the person of the baby-daughter of a -high official named Jen; but I went thither and dragged her spirit -back. She is now my wife, and we get on extremely well together." A -very pretty and well-dressed young lady here entered, and made -obeisance to Chu's mother, Chu saying, "This is San-niang, of the K'ou -family;" and although not a living being, Mrs. Chu at once took a -great fancy to her. Chu sent her off to help in the work of the house, -and, in spite of not being accustomed to this sort of thing, she was -so obedient to her mother-in-law as to excite the compassion of all. -The two then took up their quarters in Chu's old apartments, and there -they continued to remain. - -Meanwhile San-niang asked Chu's mother to let the K'ou family know; -and this she did, notwithstanding some objections raised by her son. -Mr. and Mrs. K'ou were much astonished at the news, and, ordering -their carriage, proceeded at once to Chu's house. There they found -their daughter, and parents and child fell into each other's arms. -San-niang entreated them to dry their tears; but her mother, noticing -the poverty of Chu's household, was unable to restrain her feelings. -"We are already spirits," cried San-niang; "what matters poverty to -us? Besides, I am very well treated here, and am altogether as happy -as I can be." They then asked her who the old woman was; to which she -replied, "Her name was Ni. She was mortified at being too ugly to -entrap people herself, and got me to assist her. She has now been born -again at a soy-shop in the city." Then, looking at her husband, she -added, "Come, since you are the son-in-law, pay the proper respect to -my father and mother, or what shall I think of you?" Chu made his -obeisance, and San-niang went into the kitchen to get food ready for -them, at which her mother became very melancholy, and went away home, -whence she sent a couple of maid-servants, a hundred ounces of silver, -and rolls of cloth and silk, besides making occasional presents of -food and wine, so that Chu's mother lived in comparative comfort. -San-niang also went from time to time to see her parents, but would -never stay very long, pleading that she was wanted at home, and such -excuses; and if the old people attempted to keep her, she simply went -off by herself. Her father built a nice house for Chu with all kinds -of luxuries in it; but Chu never once entered his father-in-law's -door. - -Subsequently a man of the village who had eaten _shui-mang_, and had -died in consequence, came back to life, to the great astonishment of -everybody. However, Chu explained it, saying, "I brought him back to -life. He was the victim of a man named Li Chiu; but I drove off Li's -spirit when it came to make the other take his place." Chu's mother -then asked her son why he did not get a substitute for himself; to -which he replied, "I do not like to do this. I am anxious to put an -end to, rather than take advantage of, such a system. Besides, I am -very happy waiting on you, and have no wish to be born again." From -that time all persons who had poisoned themselves with _shui-mang_ -were in the habit of feasting Chu and obtaining his assistance in -their trouble. But in ten years' time his mother died, and he and his -wife gave themselves up to sorrow, and would see no one, bidding their -little boy put on mourning, beat his breast, and perform the proper -ceremonies. Two years after Chu had buried his mother, his son married -the granddaughter of a high official named Jen. This gentleman had had -a daughter by a concubine, who had died when only a few months old; -and now, hearing the strange story of Chu's wife, came to call on her -and arrange the marriage. He then gave his granddaughter to Chu's son, -and a free intercourse was maintained between the two families. -However, one day Chu said to his son, "Because I have been of service -to my generation, God has appointed me Keeper of the Dragons; and I -am now about to proceed to my post." Thereupon four horses appeared in -the court-yard, drawing a carriage with yellow hangings, the flanks of -the horses being covered with scale-like trappings. Husband and wife -came forth in full dress, and took their seats, and, while son and -daughter-in-law were weeping their adieus, disappeared from view. That -very day the K'ou family saw their daughter arrive, and, bidding them -farewell, she told them the same story. The old people would have kept -her, but she said, "My husband is already on his way," and, leaving -the house, parted from them for ever. Chu's son was named Ngo, and his -literary name was Li-ch'ên. He begged San-niang's bones from the K'ou -family, and buried them by the side of his father's. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[126] Probably the _Illicium religiosum_ is meant. - -[127] See No. XII., note 87. - -[128] The common application of the term "same-year-men," is to -persons who have graduated at the same time. - -[129] This is by no means an uncommon form of charity. During the -temporary distress at Canton, in the summer of 1877, large tubs of -gruel were to be seen standing at convenient points, ready for any -poor person who might wish to stay his hunger. It is thus, and by -similar acts of benevolence, such as building bridges, repairing -roads, etc., etc., that the wealthy Chinaman strives to maintain an -advantageous balance in his record of good and evil. - - - - -XVIII. - -LITTLE CHU. - - -A man named Li Hua dwelt at Ch'ang-chou. He was very well off, and -about fifty years of age, but he had no sons; only one daughter, named -Hsiao-hui, a pretty child on whom her parents doted. When she was -fourteen she had a severe illness and died, leaving their home -desolate and depriving them of their chief pleasure in life. Mr. Li -then bought a concubine, and she by-and-by bore him a son, who was -perfectly idolised, and called Chu, or the Pearl. This boy grew up to -be a fine manly fellow, though so extremely stupid that when five or -six years old he didn't know pulse from corn, and could hardly talk -plainly. His father, however, loved him dearly, and did not observe -his faults. - -Now it chanced that a one-eyed priest came to collect alms in the -town, and he seemed to know so much about everybody's private affairs -that the people all looked upon him as superhuman. He himself declared -he had control over life, death, happiness, and misfortune; and -consequently no one dared refuse him whatever sum he chose to ask of -them. From Li he demanded one hundred ounces of silver, but was -offered only ten, which he refused to receive. This sum was increased -to thirty ounces, whereupon the priest looked sternly at Li and said, -"I must have one hundred; not a fraction less." Li now got angry, and -went away without giving him any, the priest, too, rising up in a rage -and shouting after him, "I hope you won't repent." Shortly after these -events little Chu fell sick, and crawled about the bed scratching the -mat, his face being of an ashen paleness. This frightened his father, -who hurried off with eighty ounces of silver, and begged the priest to -accept them. "A large sum like this is no trifling matter to earn," -said the priest, smiling; "but what can a poor recluse like myself do -for you?" So Li went home, to find that little Chu was already dead; -and this worked him into such a state that he immediately laid a -complaint before the magistrate. The priest was accordingly summoned -and interrogated; but the magistrate wouldn't accept his defence, and -ordered him to be bambooed. The blows sounded as if falling on -leather, upon which the magistrate commanded his lictors to search -him; and from about his person they drew forth two wooden men, a small -coffin, and five small flags. The magistrate here flew into a passion, -and made certain mystic signs with his fingers, which when the priest -saw he was frightened, and began to excuse himself; but the magistrate -would not listen to him, and had him bambooed to death. Li thanked him -for his kindness, and, taking his leave, proceeded home. In the -evening, after dusk, he was sitting alone with his wife, when suddenly -in popped a little boy, who said, "Pa! why did you hurry on so fast? -I couldn't catch you up." Looking at him more closely, they saw that -he was about seven or eight years old, and Mr. Li, in some alarm, was -on the point of questioning him, when he disappeared, re-appearing -again like smoke, and, curling round and round, got upon the bed. Li -pushed him off, and he fell down without making any sound, crying out, -"Pa! why do you do this?" and in a moment he was on the bed again. Li -was frightened, and ran away with his wife, the boy calling after -them, "Pa! Ma! boo-oo-oo." They went into the next room, bolting the -door after them; but there was the little boy at their heels again. Li -asked him what he wanted, to which he replied, "I belong to Su-chou; -my name is Chan; at six years of age I was left an orphan; my brother -and his wife couldn't bear me, so they sent me to live at my maternal -grandfather's. One day, when playing outside, a wicked priest killed -me by his black art underneath a mulberry-tree, and made of me an evil -spirit, dooming me to everlasting devildom without hope of -transmigration. Happily you exposed him; and I would now remain with -you as your son." "The paths of men and devils," replied Li, "lie in -different directions. How can we remain together?" "Give me only a -tiny room," cried the boy, "a bed, a mattress, and a cup of cold gruel -every day. I ask for nothing more." So Li agreed, to the great delight -of the boy, who slept by himself in another part of the house, coming -in the morning and walking in and out like any ordinary person. -Hearing Li's concubine crying bitterly, he asked how long little Chu -had been dead, and she told him seven days. "It's cold weather now," -said he, "and the body can't have decomposed. Have the grave opened, -and let me see it; if not too far gone, I can bring him to life -again." Li was only too pleased, and went off with the boy; and when -they opened the grave they found the body in perfect preservation; but -while Li was controlling his emotions, lo! the boy had vanished from -his sight. Wondering very much at this, he took little Chu's body -home, and had hardly laid it on the bed when he noticed the eyes move. -Little Chu then called for some broth, which put him into a -perspiration, and then he got up. They were all overjoyed to see him -come to life again; and, what is more, he was much brighter and -cleverer than before. At night, however, he lay perfectly stiff and -rigid, without shewing any signs of life; and, as he didn't move when -they turned him over and over, they were much frightened, and thought -he had died again. But towards daybreak he awaked as if from a dream, -and in reply to their questions said that when he was with the wicked -priest there was another boy named Ko-tz[)u];[130] and that the day -before, when he had been unable to catch up his father, it was because -he had stayed behind to bid adieu to Ko-tz[)u]; that Ko-tz[)u] was now the -son of an official in Purgatory named Chiang, and very comfortably -settled; and that he had invited him (Chan) to go and play with him -that evening, and had sent him back on a white-nosed horse. His mother -then asked him if he had seen little Chu in Purgatory; to which he -replied, "Little Chu has already been born again. He and our father -here had not really the destiny of father and son. Little Chu was -merely a man named Yen Tz[)u]-fang, from Chin-ling, who had come to -reclaim an old debt."[131] Now Mr. Li had formerly traded to -Chin-ling, and actually owed money for goods to a Mr. Yen; but he had -died, and no one else knew anything about it, so that he was now -greatly alarmed when he heard this story. His mother next asked (the -quasi) little Chu if he had seen his sister, Hsiao-hui; and he said he -had not, promising to go again and inquire about her. A few days -afterwards he told his mother that Hsiao-hui was very happy in -Purgatory, being married to a son of one of the Judges; and that she -had any quantity of jewels,[132] and crowds of attendants when she -went abroad. "Why doesn't she come home to see her parents?" asked his -mother. "Well," replied the boy, "dead people, you know, haven't got -any flesh or bones; however, if you can only remind them of something -that happened in their past lives, their feelings are at once touched. -So yesterday I managed, through Mr. Chiang, to get an interview with -Hsiao-hui; and we sat together on a coral couch, and I spoke to her -of her father and mother at home, all of which she listened to as if -she was asleep. I then remarked, 'Sister, when you were alive you were -very fond of embroidering double-stemmed flowers; and once you cut -your finger with the scissors, and the blood ran over the silk, but -you brought it into the picture as a crimson cloud. Your mother has -that picture still, hanging at the head of her bed, a perpetual -souvenir of you. Sister, have you forgotten this?' Then she burst into -tears, and promised to ask her husband to let her come and visit you." -His mother asked when she would arrive; but he said he could not tell. -However, one day he ran in and cried out, "Mother, Hsiao-hui has come, -with a splendid equipage and a train of servants; we had better get -plenty of wine ready." In a few moments he came in again, saying, -"Here is my sister," at the same time asking her to take a seat and -rest. He then wept; but none of those present saw anything at all. -By-and-by he went out and burnt a quantity of paper money[133] and -made offerings of wine outside the door, returning shortly and saying -he had sent away her attendants for a while. Hsiao-hui then asked if -the green coverlet, a small portion of which had been burnt by a -candle, was still in existence. "It is," replied her mother, and, -going to a box, she at once produced the coverlet. "Hsiao-hui would -like a bed made up for her in her old room," said her (quasi) brother; -"she wants to rest awhile, and will talk with you again in the -morning." - -Now their next-door neighbour, named Chao, had a daughter who was -formerly a great friend of Hsiao-hui's, and that night she dreamt that -Hsiao-hui appeared with a turban on her head and a red mantle over her -shoulders, and that they talked and laughed together precisely as in -days gone by. "I am now a spirit," said Hsiao-hui, "and my father and -mother can no more see me than if I was far separated from them. Dear -sister, I would borrow your body, from which to speak to them. You -need fear nothing." On the morrow when Miss Chao met her mother, she -fell on the ground before her and remained some time in a state of -unconsciousness, at length saying, "Madam, it is many years since we -met; your hair has become very white." "The girl's mad," said her -mother, in alarm; and, thinking something had gone wrong, proceeded to -follow her out of the door. Miss Chao went straight to Li's house, and -there with tears embraced Mrs. Li, who did not know what to make of it -all. "Yesterday," said Miss Chao, "when I came back, I was unhappily -unable to speak with you. Unfilial wretch that I was, to die before -you, and leave you to mourn my loss. How can I redeem such behaviour?" -Her mother thereupon began to understand the scene, and, weeping, -said to her, "I have heard that you hold an honourable position, and -this is a great comfort to me; but, living as you do in the palace of -a Judge, how is it you are able to get away?" "My husband," replied -she, "is very kind; and his parents treat me with all possible -consideration. I experience no harsh treatment at their hands." Here -Miss Chao rested her cheek upon her hand, exactly as Hsiao-hui had -been wont to do when she was alive; and at that moment in came her -brother to say that her attendants were ready to return. "I must go," -said she, rising up and weeping bitterly all the time; after which she -fell down, and remained some time unconscious as before. - -Shortly after these events Mr. Li became dangerously ill, and no -medicines were of any avail, so that his son feared they would not be -able to save his life. Two devils sat at the head of his bed, one -holding an iron staff, the other a nettle-hemp rope four or five feet -in length. Day and night his son implored them to go, but they would -not move; and Mrs. Li in sorrow began to prepare the funeral -clothes.[134] Towards evening her son entered and cried out, -"Strangers and women, leave the room! My sister's husband is coming to -see his father-in-law." He then clapped his hands, and burst out -laughing. "What is the matter?" asked his mother. "I am laughing," -answered he, "because when the two devils heard my sister's husband -was coming, they both ran under the bed, like terrapins, drawing in -their heads." By-and-by, looking at nothing, he began to talk about the -weather, and ask his sister's husband how he did, and then he clapped -his hands, and said, "I begged the two devils to go, but they would -not; it's all right now." After this he went out to the door and -returned, saying, "My sister's husband has gone. He took away the two -devils tied to his horse. My father ought to get better now. Besides, -Hsiao-hui's husband said he would speak to the Judge, and obtain a -hundred years' lease of life both for you and my father." The whole -family rejoiced exceedingly at this, and, when night came, Mr. Li was -better, and in a few days quite well again. A tutor was engaged for -(the quasi) little Chu, who shewed himself an apt pupil, and at -eighteen years of age took his bachelor's degree. He could also see -things of the other world; and when anyone in the village was ill, he -pointed out where the devils were, and burnt them out with fire, so -that everybody got well. However, before long he himself became very -ill, and his flesh turned green and purple; whereupon he said, "The -devils afflict me thus because I let out their secrets. Henceforth I -shall never divulge them again." - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[130] It may be necessary here to remind the reader that Chan's spirit -is speaking from Chu's body. - -[131] We shall come by and by to a story illustrative of this -extraordinary belief. - -[132] The _summum bonum_ of many a Chinese woman. - -[133] Chinese silver, called sycee (from the Cantonese _sai see_ "fine -silk;" because, if pure, it may be drawn out under the application of -heat into fine silk threads), is cast in the form of "shoes," weighing -from one to one hundred ounces. Paper imitations of these are burnt -for the use of the spirits in the world below. The sharp edges of a -"shoe" of sycee are caused by the mould containing the molten silver -being gently shaken until the metal has set, with a view to secure -uniform fineness throughout the lump. - -[134] Death is regarded as a summons from the authorities of -Purgatory; lictors are sent to arrest the doomed man, armed with a -written warrant similar to those issued on earth from a magistrate's -yamên. - - - - -XIX. - -MISS QUARTA HU. - - -Mr. Shang was a native of T'ai-shan, and lived quietly with his books -alone. One autumn night when the Silver River[135] was unusually -distinct and the moon shining brightly in the sky, he was walking up -and down under the shade, with his thoughts wandering somewhat at -random, when lo! a young girl leaped over the wall, and, smiling, -asked him, "What are you thinking about, Sir, all so deeply?" Shang -looked at her, and seeing that she had a pretty face, asked her to -walk in. She then told him her name was Hu,[136] and that she was -called Tertia; but when he wanted to know where she lived, she laughed -and would not say. So he did not inquire any further; and by degrees -they struck up a friendship, and Miss Tertia used to come and chat -with him every evening. He was so smitten that he could hardly take -his eyes off her, and at last she said to him, "What _are_ you -looking at?" "At you," cried he, "my lovely rose, my beautiful peach. -I could gaze at you all night long." "If you think so much of poor -me," answered she, "I don't know where your wits would be if you saw -my sister Quarta." Mr. Shang said he was sorry he didn't know her, and -begged that he might be introduced; so next night Miss Tertia brought -her sister, who turned out to be a young damsel of about fifteen, with -a face delicately powdered and resembling the lily, or like an -apricot-flower seen through mist; and altogether as pretty a girl as -he had ever seen. Mr. Shang was charmed with her, and inviting them -in, began to laugh and talk with the elder, while Miss Quarta sat -playing with her girdle, and keeping her eyes on the ground. By-and-by -Miss Tertia got up and said she was going, whereupon her sister rose -to take leave also; but Mr. Shang asked her not to be in a hurry, and -requested the elder to assist in persuading her. "You needn't hurry," -said she to Miss Quarta; and accordingly the latter remained chatting -with Mr. Shang without reserve, and finally told him she was a fox. -However, Mr. Shang was so occupied with her beauty, that he didn't pay -any heed to that; but she added, "And my sister is very dangerous; she -has already killed three people. Any one bewitched by her has no -chance of escape. Happily, you have bestowed your affections on me, -and I shall not allow you to be destroyed. You must break off your -acquaintance with her at once." Mr. Shang was very frightened, and -implored her to help him; to which she replied, "Although a fox, I am -skilled in the arts of the Immortals;[137] I will write out a charm -for you which you must paste on the door, and thus you will keep her -away." So she wrote down the charm, and in the morning when her sister -came and saw it, she fell back, crying out, "Ungrateful minx! you've -thrown me up for him, have you? You two being destined for each other, -what have I done that you should treat me thus?" She then went away; -and a few days afterwards Miss Quarta said she too would have to be -absent for a day, so Shang went out for a walk by himself, and -suddenly beheld a very nice-looking young lady emerge from the shade -of an old oak that was growing on the hill-side. "Why so dreadfully -pensive?" said she to him; "those Hu girls can never bring you a -single cent." She then presented Shang with some money, and bade him -go on ahead and buy some good wine, adding, "I'll bring something to -eat with me, and we'll have a jolly time of it." Shang took the money -and went home, doing as the young lady had told him; and by-and-by in -she herself came, and threw on the table a roast chicken and a -shoulder of salt pork, which she at once proceeded to cut up. They now -set to work to enjoy themselves, and had hardly finished when they -heard some one coming in, and the next minute in walked Miss Tertia -and her sister. The strange young lady didn't know where to hide, and -managed to lose her shoes; but the other two began to revile her, -saying, "Out upon you, base fox; what are you doing here?" They then -chased her away after some trouble, and Shang began to excuse himself -to them, until at last they all became friends again as before. - -One day, however, a Shensi man arrived, riding on a donkey, and coming -to the door said, "I have long been in search of these evil spirits: -now I have got them." Shang's father thought the man's remark rather -strange, and asked him whence he had come. "Across much land and sea," -replied he; "for eight or nine months out of every year I am absent -from my native place. These devils killed my brother with their -poison, alas! alas! and I have sworn to exterminate them; but I have -travelled many miles without being able to find them. They are now in -your house, and if you do not cut them off, you will die even as my -brother." Now Shang and the young ladies had kept their -acquaintanceship very dark; but his father and mother had guessed that -something was up, and, much alarmed, bade the Shensi man walk in and -perform his exorcisms. The latter then produced two bottles which he -placed upon the ground, and proceeded to mutter a number of charms and -cabalistic formulæ; whereupon four wreaths of smoke passed two by two -into each bottle. "I have the whole family," cried he, in an ecstasy -of delight; as he proceeded to tie down the mouths of the bottles with -pig's bladder, sealing them with the utmost care. Shang's father was -likewise very pleased, and kept his guest to dinner; but the young man -himself was sadly dejected, and approaching the bottles unperceived, -bent his ear to listen. "Ungrateful man," said Miss Quarta from -within, "to sit there and make no effort to save me." This was more -than Shang could stand, and he immediately broke the seal, but found -that he couldn't untie the knot. "Not so," cried Miss Quarta; "merely -lay down the flag that now stands on the altar, and with a pin prick -the bladder, and I can get out." Shang did as she bade him, and in a -moment a thin streak of white smoke issued forth from the hole and -disappeared in the clouds. When the Shensi man came out, and saw the -flag lying on the ground, he started violently, and cried out, -"Escaped! This must be your doing, young Sir." He then shook the -bottle and listened, finally exclaiming, "Luckily only one has got -away. She was fated not to die, and may therefore be pardoned."[138] -Thereupon he took the bottles and went his way. - -Some years afterwards Shang was one day superintending his reapers -cutting the corn, when he descried Miss Quarta at a distance, sitting -under a tree. He approached, and she took his hand, saying, "Ten years -have rolled away since last we met. Since then I have gained the -prize of immortality;[139] but I thought that perhaps you had not -quite forgotten me, and so I came to see you once more." Shang wished -her to return home with him; to which she replied, "I am no longer -what I was that I should mingle in the affairs of mortals. We shall -meet again." And as she said this, she disappeared; but twenty years -later, when Shang was one day alone, Miss Quarta walked in. Shang was -overjoyed, and began to address her; but she answered him, saying, "My -name is already enrolled in the Register of the Immortals, and I have -no right to return to earth. However, out of gratitude to you I -determined to announce to you the date of your dissolution that you -might put your affairs in order. Fear nothing; I will see you safely -through to the happy land." She then departed, and on the day named -Shang actually died. A relative of a friend of mine, Mr. Li Wên-yü, -frequently met the above-mentioned Mr. Shang.[140] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[135] The Milky Way is known to the Chinese under this -name--unquestionably a more poetical one than our own. - -[136] See No. XIII., note 90. - -[137] That is, of the Taoists. See No. IV., note 46. - -[138] Predestination _after the event_ is, luckily for China, the form -of this superstition which really appeals to her all-practical -children. Not a larger percentage than with ourselves allow belief in -an irremediable destiny to divert their efforts one moment from the -object in view; though thousands upon thousands are ready enough to -acknowledge the "will of heaven" in any national or individual -calamities that may befall. See No. IX., note 69. - -[139] Any disembodied spirit whose conduct for a certain term of years -is quite satisfactory is competent to obtain this reward. Thus, -instead of being born again on earth, perhaps as an animal, they -become angels or good spirits, and live for ever in heaven in a state -of supreme beatitude. - -[140] Our author occasionally ends up with a remark of this kind; and -these have undoubtedly had their weight with his too credulous -countrymen. - - - - -XX. - -MR. CHU, THE CONSIDERATE HUSBAND. - - -At the village of Chu in Chi-yang, there was a man named Chu, who died -at the age of fifty and odd years. His family at once proceeded to put -on their mourning robes, when suddenly they heard the dead man cry -out. Rushing up to the coffin, they found that he had come to life -again; and began, full of joy, to ask him all about it. But the old -gentleman replied only to his wife, saying, "When I died I did not -expect to come back. However, by the time I had got a few miles on my -way, I thought of the poor old body I was leaving behind me, dependent -for everything on others, and with no more enjoyment of life. So I -made up my mind to return, and take you away with me." The bystanders -thought this was only the disconnected talk of a man who had just -regained consciousness, and attached no importance to it; but the old -man repeated it, and then his wife said, "It's all very well, but you -have only just come to life; how can you go and die again directly?" -"It is extremely simple," replied her husband; "you go and pack up -everything ready." The old lady laughed and did nothing; upon which -Mr. Chu urged her again to prepare, and then left the house. In a -short time he returned, and his wife pretended that she had done what -he wanted. "Then you had better dress," said he; but Mrs. Chu did not -move until he pressed her again and again, after which she did not -like to cross him, and by-and-by came out all fully equipped. The -other ladies of the family were laughing on the sly, when Mr. Chu laid -his head upon the pillow, and told his wife to do likewise. "It's too -ridiculous," she was beginning to say, when Mr. Chu banged the bed -with his hand, and cried out, "What is there to laugh at in dying?" -upon which the various members of the family, seeing the old gentleman -was in a rage, begged her to gratify his whim. Mrs. Chu then lay down -alongside of her husband, to the infinite amusement of the spectators; -but it was soon noticed that the old lady had ceased to smile, and -by-and-by her two eyes closed. For a long time not a sound was heard, -as if she was fast asleep; and when some of those present approached -to touch her, they found she was as cold as ice, and no longer -breathing; then, turning to her husband, they perceived that he also -had passed away. - -This story was fully related by a younger sister-in-law of Mr. Chu's, -who, in the twenty-first year of the reign K'ang Hsi,[141] was -employed in the house of a high official named Pi. - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[141] A.D. 1682. - - - - -XXI. - -THE MAGNANIMOUS GIRL. - - -At Chin-ling there lived a young man named Ku, who had considerable -ability but was very poor; and having an old mother, he was very loth -to leave home. So he employed himself in writing or painting[142] for -people, and gave his mother the proceeds, going on thus till he was -twenty-five years of age without taking a wife. Opposite to their -house was another building, which had long been untenanted; and one -day an old woman and a young girl came to occupy it, but there being -no gentleman with them young Ku did not make any inquiries as to who -they were or whence they hailed. Shortly afterwards it chanced that -just as Ku was entering the house he observed a young lady come out of -his mother's door. She was about eighteen or nineteen, very clever -and refined looking, and altogether such a girl as one rarely sets -eyes on; and when she noticed Mr. Ku, she did not run away, but seemed -quite self-possessed. "It was the young lady over the way; she came to -borrow my scissors and measure," said his mother, "and she told me -that there was only her mother and herself. They don't seem to belong -to the lower classes. I asked her why she didn't get married, to which -she replied that her mother was old. I must go and call on her -to-morrow, and find out how the land lies. If she doesn't expect too -much, you could take care of her mother for her." So next day Ku's -mother went, and found that the girl's mother was deaf, and that they -were evidently poor, apparently not having a day's food in the house. -Ku's mother asked what their employment was, and the old lady said -they trusted for food to her daughter's ten fingers. She then threw -out some hints about uniting the two families, to which the old lady -seemed to agree; but, on consultation with her daughter, the latter -would not consent. Mrs. Ku returned home and told her son, saying, -"Perhaps she thinks we are too poor. She doesn't speak or laugh, is -very nice-looking, and as pure as snow; truly no ordinary girl." There -ended that; until one day, as Ku was sitting in his study, up came a -very agreeable young fellow, who said he was from a neighbouring -village, and engaged Ku to draw a picture for him. The two youths soon -struck up a firm friendship and met constantly, when it happened that -the stranger chanced to see the young lady of over the way. "Who is -that?" said he, following her with his eyes. Ku told him, and then he -said, "She is certainly pretty, but rather stern in her appearance." -By-and-by Ku went in, and his mother told him the girl had come to beg -a little rice, as they had had nothing to eat all day. "She's a good -daughter," said his mother, "and I'm very sorry for her. We must try -and help them a little." Ku thereupon shouldered a peck of rice, and, -knocking at their door, presented it with his mother's compliments. -The young lady received the rice but said nothing; and then she got -into the habit of coming over and helping Ku's mother with her work -and household affairs, almost as if she had been her daughter-in-law, -for which Ku was very grateful to her, and whenever he had anything -nice he always sent some of it in to her mother, though the young lady -herself never once took the trouble to thank him. So things went on -until Ku's mother got an abscess on her leg, and lay writhing in agony -day and night. Then the young lady devoted herself to the invalid, -waiting on her and giving her medicine with such care and attention -that at last the sick woman cried out, "Oh, that I could secure such a -daughter-in-law as you, to see this old body into its grave!" The -young lady soothed her, and replied, "Your son is a hundred times more -filial than I, a poor widow's only daughter." "But even a filial son -makes a bad nurse," answered the patient; "besides, I am now drawing -towards the evening of my life, when my body will be exposed to the -mists and the dews, and I am vexed in spirit about our ancestral -worship and the continuance of our line." As she was speaking Ku -walked in; and his mother, weeping, said, "I am deeply indebted to -this young lady; do not forget to repay her goodness." Ku made a low -bow, but the young lady said, "Sir, when you were kind to my mother, I -did not thank you; why, then, thank me?" Ku thereupon became more than -ever attached to her; but could never get her to depart in the -slightest degree from her cold demeanour towards himself. One day, -however, he managed to squeeze her hand, upon which she told him never -to do so again; and then for some time he neither saw nor heard -anything of her. She had conceived a violent dislike to the young -stranger above-mentioned; and one evening when he was sitting talking -with Ku, the young lady reappeared. After a while she got angry at -something he said, and drew from her robe a glittering knife about a -foot long. The young man, seeing her do this, ran out in a fright and -she after him, only to find that he had vanished. She then threw her -dagger up into the air, and whish! a streak of light like a rainbow, -and something came tumbling down with a flop. Ku got a light, and ran -to see what it was; and lo! there lay a white fox, head in one place -and body in another. "There is your _friend_," cried the girl; "I knew -he would cause me to destroy him sooner or later." Ku dragged it into -the house, and said, "Let us wait till to-morrow to talk it over; we -shall then be more calm." Next day the young lady arrived, and Ku -inquired about her knowledge of the black art; but she told Ku not to -trouble himself about such affairs, and to keep it secret or it might -be prejudicial to his happiness. Ku then entreated her to consent to -their union, to which she replied that she had already been as it were -a daughter-in-law to his mother, and there was no need to push the -thing further. "Is it because I am poor?" asked Ku. "Well, I am not -rich," answered she, "but the fact is I had rather not." She then took -her leave, and the next evening when Ku went across to their house to -try once more to persuade her, the young lady had disappeared, and was -never seen again. - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[142] The usual occupation of poor scholars who are ashamed to go into -trade, and who have not enterprise enough to start as doctors or -fortune-tellers. Besides painting pictures and fans, and illustrating -books, these men write fancy scrolls in the various ornamental styles -so much prized by the Chinese; they keep accounts for people, and -write or read business and private letters for the illiterate masses. - - - - -XXII. - -THE BOON-COMPANION. - - -Once upon a time there was a young man named Ch'ê, who was not -particularly well off, but at the same time very fond of his wine; so -much so, that without his three stoups of liquor every night, he was -quite unable to sleep, and bottles were seldom absent from the head of -his bed. One night he had waked up and was turning over and over, when -he fancied some one was in the bed with him; but then, thinking it was -only the clothes which had slipped off, he put out his hand to feel, -and, lo! he touched something silky like a cat, only larger. Striking -a light, he found it was a fox, lying in a drunken sleep like a dog; -and then looking at his wine bottle he saw that it had been emptied. -"A boon-companion," said he, laughing, as he avoided startling the -animal, and covering it up, lay down to sleep with his arm across it, -and the candle alight so as to see what transformation it might -undergo. About midnight, the fox stretched itself, and Ch'ê cried, -"Well, to be sure, you've had a nice sleep!" He then drew off the -clothes, and beheld an elegant young man in a scholar's dress; but the -young man jumped up, and making a low obeisance, returned his host -many thanks for not cutting off his head. "Oh," replied Ch'ê, "I am -not averse to liquor myself; in fact they say I'm too much given to -it. You shall play Pythias to my Damon;[143] and if you have no -objection, we'll be a pair of bottle-and-glass chums." So they lay -down and went to sleep again, Ch'ê urging the young man to visit him -often, and saying that they must have faith in each other. The fox -agreed to this, but when Ch'ê awoke in the morning his bedfellow had -already disappeared. So he prepared a goblet of first-rate wine in -expectation of his friend's arrival, and at nightfall sure enough he -came. They then sat together drinking, and the fox cracked so many -jokes that Ch'ê said he regretted he had not known him before. "And -truly I don't know how to repay your kindness," replied the former, -"in preparing all this nice wine for me." "Oh," said Ch'ê, "what's a -pint or so of wine?--nothing worth speaking of." "Well," rejoined the -fox, "you are only a poor scholar, and money isn't so easily to be -got. I must try if I can't secure a little wine capital for you." Next -evening when he arrived, he said to Ch'ê, "Two miles down towards the -south-east you will find some silver lying by the wayside. Go early in -the morning and get it." So on the morrow Ch'ê set off and actually -obtained two lumps of silver with which he bought some choice morsels -to help them out with their wine that evening. The fox now told him -that there was a vault in his back-yard which he ought to open; and -when he did so, he found therein more than a hundred strings of -cash.[144] "Now then," cried Ch'ê, delighted, "I shall have no more -anxiety about funds for buying wine with all this in my purse." "Ah," -replied the fox, "the water in a puddle is not inexhaustible. I must -do something further for you." Some days afterwards the fox said to -Ch'ê, "Buckwheat is very cheap in the market just now. Something is to -be done in this line." Accordingly, Ch'ê bought over forty tons, and -thereby incurred general ridicule; but by-and-by there was a bad -drought and all kinds of grain and beans were spoilt. Only buckwheat -would grow, and Ch'ê sold off his stock at a profit of one thousand -per cent. His wealth thus began to increase; he bought two hundred -acres of rich land, and always planted his crops, corn, millet, or -what not, upon the advice of the fox secretly given him beforehand. -The fox looked on Ch'ê's wife as a sister, and on Ch'ê's children as -his own; but when, subsequently, Ch'ê died, it never came to the house -again. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[143] Kuan Chung and Pao Shu are the Chinese types of friendship. They -were two statesmen of considerable ability, who flourished in the -seventh century B.C. - -[144] Say about £10. See No. II., note 42. - - - - -XXIII. - -MISS LIEN-HSIANG. - - -There was a young man named Sang Tz[)u]-ming, a native of I-chou, who had -been left an orphan when quite young. He lived near the Saffron -market, and kept himself very much to himself, only going out twice a -day for his meals to a neighbour's close by, and sitting quietly at -home all the rest of his time. One day the said neighbour called, and -asked him in joke if he wasn't afraid of devil-foxes, so much alone as -he was. "Oh," replied Sang, laughing, "what has the superior man[145] -to fear from devil-foxes. If they come as men, I have here a sharp -sword for them; and if as women, why, I shall open the door and ask -them to walk in." The neighbour went away, and having arranged with a -friend of his, they got a young lady of their acquaintance to climb -over Sang's wall with the help of a ladder, and knock at the door. -Sang peeped through, and called out, "Who's there?" to which the girl -answered, "A devil!" and frightened Sang so dreadfully that his teeth -chattered in his head. The girl then ran away, and next morning when -his neighbour came to see him, Sang told him what had happened, and -said he meant to go back to his native place. The neighbour then -clapped his hands, and said to Sang, "Why didn't you ask her in?" -Whereupon Sang perceived that he had been tricked, and went on quietly -again as before. - -Some six months afterwards, a young lady knocked at his door; and -Sang, thinking his friends were at their old tricks, opened it at -once, and asked her to walk in. She did so; and he beheld to his -astonishment a perfect Helen for beauty.[146] Asking her whence she -came, she replied that her name was Lien-hsiang, and that she lived -not very far off, adding that she had long been anxious to make his -acquaintance. After that she used to drop in every now and again for a -chat; but one evening when Sang was sitting alone expecting her, -another young lady suddenly walked in. Thinking it was Lien-hsiang, -Sang got up to meet her, but found that the new-comer was somebody -else. She was about fifteen or sixteen years of age, wore very full -sleeves, and dressed her hair after the fashion of unmarried girls, -being otherwise very stylish-looking and refined, and apparently -hesitating whether to go on or go back. Sang, in a great state of -alarm, took her for a fox; but the young lady said, "My name is Li, -and I am of a respectable family. Hearing of your virtue and talent, I -hope to be accorded the honour of your acquaintance." Sang laughed, -and took her by the hand, which he found was as cold as ice; and when -he asked the reason, she told him that she had always been delicate, -and that it was very chilly outside. She then remarked that she -intended to visit him pretty frequently, and hoped it would not -inconvenience him; so he explained that no one came to see him except -another young lady, and that not very often. "When she comes, I'll -go," replied the young lady, "and only drop in when she's not here." -She then gave him an embroidered slipper, saying that she had worn it, -and that whenever he shook it she would know that he wanted to see -her, cautioning him at the same time never to shake it before -strangers. Taking it in his hand he beheld a very tiny little shoe -almost as fine pointed as an awl, with which he was much pleased; and -next evening, when nobody was present, he produced the shoe and shook -it, whereupon the young lady immediately walked in. Henceforth, -whenever he brought it out, the young lady responded to his wishes and -appeared before him. This seemed so strange that at last he asked her -to give him some explanation; but she only laughed, and said it was -mere coincidence. One evening after this Lien-hsiang came, and said in -alarm to Sang, "Whatever has made you look so melancholy?" Sang -replied that he did not know, and by-and-by she took her leave, -saying, they would not meet again for some ten days. During this -period Miss Li visited Sang every day, and on one occasion asked him -where his other friend was. Sang told her; and then she laughed and -said, "What is your opinion of me as compared with Lien-hsiang?" "You -are both of you perfection," replied he, "but you are a little -_colder_ of the two." Miss Li didn't much like this, and cried out, -"_Both of us perfection_ is what you say to _me_. Then she must be a -downright Cynthia,[147] and I am no match for her." Somewhat out of -temper, she reckoned that Lien-hsiang's ten days had expired, and said -she would have a peep at her, making Sang promise to keep it all -secret. The next evening Lien-hsiang came, and while they were talking -she suddenly exclaimed, "Oh, dear! how much worse you seem to have -become in the last ten days. You must have encountered something bad." -Sang asked her why so; to which she answered, "First of all your -appearance; and then your pulse is very thready.[148] You've got the -devil-disease." - -The following evening when Miss Li came, Sang asked her what she -thought of Lien-hsiang. "Oh," said she, "there's no question about her -beauty; but she's a fox. When she went away I followed her to her hole -on the hill side." Sang, however, attributed this remark to jealousy, -and took no notice of it; but the next evening when Lien-hsiang came, -he observed, "I don't believe it myself, but some one has told me you -are a fox." Lien-hsiang asked who had said so, to which Sang replied -that he was only joking; and then she begged him to explain what -difference there was between a fox and an ordinary person. "Well," -answered Sang, "foxes frighten people to death, and, therefore, they -are very much dreaded." "Don't you believe that!" cried Lien-hsiang; -"and now tell me who has been saying this of me." Sang declared at -first that it was only a joke of his, but by-and-by yielded to her -instances, and let out the whole story. "Of course I saw how changed -you were," said Lien-hsiang; "she is surely not a human being to be -able to cause such a rapid alteration in you. Say nothing, to-morrow -I'll watch her as she watched me." The following evening Miss Li came -in; and they had hardly interchanged half-a-dozen sentences when a -cough was heard outside the window, and Miss Li ran away. Lien-hsiang -then entered and said to Sang, "You are lost! She is a devil, and if -you do not at once forbid her coming here, you will soon be on the -road to the other world." "All jealousy," thought Sang, saying -nothing, as Lien-hsiang continued, "I know that you don't like to be -rude to her; but I, for my part, cannot see you sacrificed, and -to-morrow I will bring you some medicine to expel the poison from your -system. Happily, the disease has not yet taken firm hold of you, and -in ten days you will be well again." The next evening she produced a -knife and chopped up some medicine for Sang, which made him feel much -better; but, although he was very grateful to her, he still persisted -in disbelieving that he had the devil-disease. After some days he -recovered and Lien-hsiang left him, warning him to have no more to do -with Miss Li. Sang pretended that he would follow her advice, and -closed the door and trimmed his lamp. He then took out the slipper, -and on shaking it Miss Li appeared, somewhat cross at having been kept -away for several days. "She merely attended on me these few nights -while I was ill," said Sang; "don't be angry." At this Miss Li -brightened up a little; but by-and-by Sang told her that people said -she was a devil. "It's that nasty fox," cried Miss Li, after a pause, -"putting these things into your head. If you don't break with her, I -won't come here again." She then began to sob and cry, and Sang had -some trouble in pacifying her. Next evening Lien-hsiang came and found -out that Miss Li had been there again; whereupon she was very angry -with Sang, and told him he would certainly die. "Why need you be so -jealous?" said Sang, laughing; at which she only got more enraged, and -replied, "When you were nearly dying the other day and I saved you, if -I had not been jealous, where would you have been now?" Sang pretended -he was only joking, and said that Miss Li had told him his recent -illness was entirely owing to the machinations of a fox; to which she -replied, "It's true enough what you say, only you don't see _whose_ -machinations. However, if any thing happens to you, I should never -clear myself even had I a hundred mouths; we will, therefore, part. A -hundred days hence I shall see you on your bed." Sang could not -persuade her to stay, and away she went; and from that time Miss Li -became a regular visitor. - -Two months passed away, and Sang began to experience a feeling of -great lassitude, which he tried at first to shake off, but by-and-by -he became very thin, and could only take thick gruel. He then thought -about going back to his native place; however, he could not bear to -leave Miss Li, and in a few more days he was so weak that he was -unable to get up. His friend next door, seeing how ill he was, daily -sent in his boy with food and drink; and now Sang began for the first -time to suspect Miss Li. So he said to her, "I am sorry I didn't -listen to Lien-hsiang before I got as bad as this." He then closed his -eyes and kept them shut for some time; and when he opened them again -Miss Li had disappeared. Their acquaintanceship was thus at an end, -and Sang lay all emaciated as he was upon his bed in his solitary room -longing for the return of Lien-hsiang. One day, while he was still -thinking about her, some one drew aside the screen and walked in. It -was Lien-hsiang; and approaching the bed she said with a smile, "Was I -then talking such nonsense?" Sang struggled a long time to speak; and, -at length, confessing he had been wrong, implored her to save him. -"When the disease has reached such a pitch as this," replied -Lien-hsiang, "there is very little to be done. I merely came to bid -you farewell, and to clear up your doubts about my jealousy." In great -tribulation, Sang asked her to take something she would find under -his pillow and destroy it; and she accordingly drew forth the slipper, -which she proceeded to examine by the light of the lamp, turning it -over and over. All at once Miss Li walked in, but when she saw -Lien-hsiang she turned back as though she would run away, which -Lien-hsiang instantly prevented by placing herself in the doorway. -Sang then began to reproach her, and Miss Li could make no reply; -whereupon Lien-hsiang said, "At last we meet. Formerly you attributed -this gentleman's illness to me; what have you to say now?" Miss Li -bent her head in acknowledgment of her guilt, and Lien-hsiang -continued, "How is it that a nice girl like you can thus turn love -into hate?" Here Miss Li threw herself on the ground in a flood of -tears and begged for mercy; and Lien-hsiang, raising her up, inquired -of her as to her past life. "I am a daughter of a petty official named -Li, and I died young, leaving the web of my destiny incomplete, like -the silkworm that perishes in the spring. To be the partner of this -gentleman was my ardent wish; but I had never any intention of causing -his death." "I have heard," remarked Lien-hsiang, "that the advantage -devils obtain by killing people is that their victims are ever with -them after death. Is this so?" "It is not," replied Miss Li; "the -companionship of two devils gives no pleasure to either. Were it -otherwise, I should not have wanted for friends in the realms below. -But tell me, how do foxes manage not to kill people?" "You allude to -such foxes as suck the breath out of people?" replied Lien-hsiang; "I -am not of that class. Some foxes are harmless; no devils are,[149] -because of the dominance of the _yin_[150] in their compositions." -Sang now knew that these two girls were really a fox and a devil; -however, from being long accustomed to their society, he was not in -the least alarmed. His breathing had dwindled to a mere thread, and at -length he uttered a cry of pain. Lien-hsiang looked round and said, -"How shall we cure him?" upon which Miss Li blushed deeply and drew -back; and then Lien-hsiang added, "If he does get well, I'm afraid you -will be dreadfully jealous." Miss Li drew herself up, and replied, -"Could a physician be found to wipe away the wrong I have done to this -gentleman, I would bury my head in the ground. How should I look the -world in the face?" Lien-hsiang here opened a bag and drew forth some -drugs, saying, "I have been looking forward to this day. When I left -this gentleman I proceeded to gather my simples, as it would take -three months for the medicine to be got ready; but then, should the -poison have brought anyone even to death's door, this medicine is able -to call him back. The only condition is that it be administered by the -very hand which wrought the ill." Miss Li did as she was told and put -the pills Lien-hsiang gave her one after another into Sang's mouth. -They burnt his inside like fire; but soon vitality began to return, -and Lien-hsiang cried out, "He is cured!" Just at this moment Miss Li -heard the cock crow and vanished,[151] Lien-hsiang remaining behind in -attendance on the invalid, who was unable to feed himself. She bolted -the outside door and pretended that Sang had returned to his native -place, so as to prevent visitors from calling. Day and night she took -care of him, and every evening Miss Li came in to render assistance, -regarding Lien-hsiang as an elder sister, and being treated by her -with great consideration and kindness. Three months afterwards Sang -was as strong and well as ever he had been, and then for several -evenings Miss Li ceased to visit them, only staying a few moments when -she did come, and seeming very uneasy in her mind. One evening Sang -ran after her and carried her back in his arms, finding her no heavier -than so much straw; and then, being obliged to stay, she curled -herself up and lay down, to all appearance in a state of -unconsciousness, and by-and-by she was gone. For many days they heard -nothing of her, and Sang was so anxious that she should come back that -he often took out her slipper and shook it. "I don't wonder at your -missing her," said Lien-hsiang, "I do myself very much indeed." -"Formerly," observed Sang, "when I shook the slipper she invariably -came. I thought it very strange, but I never suspected her of being a -devil. And now, alas! all I can do is to sit and think about her with -this slipper in my hand." He then burst into a flood of tears. - -Now a young lady named Yen-êrh, belonging to the wealthy Chang family, -and about fifteen years of age, had died suddenly, without any -apparent cause, and had come to life again in the night, when she got -up and wished to go out. They barred the door and would not hear of -her doing so; upon which she said, "I am the spirit daughter of a -petty magistrate. A Mr. Sang has been very kind to me, and I have left -my slipper at his house. I am really a spirit; what is the use of -keeping me in?" There being some reason for what she said, they asked -her why she had come there; but she only looked up and down without -being able to give any explanation. Some one here observed, that Mr. -Sang had already gone home, but the young lady utterly refused to -believe them. The family was much disturbed at all this; and when -Sang's neighbour heard the story, he jumped over the wall, and peeping -through beheld Sang sitting there chatting with a pretty-looking girl. -As he went in, there was some commotion, during which Sang's visitor -had disappeared, and when his neighbour asked the meaning of it all, -Sang replied, laughing, "Why, I told you if any ladies came I should -ask them in." His friend then repeated what Miss Yen-êrh had said; and -Sang, unbolting his door, was about to go and have a peep at her, but -unfortunately had no means of so doing. Meanwhile Mrs. Chang, hearing -that he had not gone away, was more lost in astonishment than ever, -and sent an old woman-servant to get back the slipper. Sang -immediately gave it to her, and Miss Yen-êrh was delighted to recover -it, though when she came to try it on it was too small for her by a -good inch. In considerable alarm, she seized a mirror to look at -herself; and suddenly became aware that she had come to life again in -some one else's body. She therefore told all to her mother, and -finally succeeded in convincing her, crying all the time because she -was so changed for the worse as regarded personal appearance from what -she had been before. And whenever she happened to see Lien-hsiang, she -was very much disconcerted, declaring that she had been much better -off as a devil than now as a human being. She would sit and weep over -the slipper, no one being able to comfort her; and finally, covering -herself up with bed-clothes, she lay all stark and stiff, positively -refusing to take any nourishment. Her body swelled up, and for seven -days she refused all food, but did not die; and then the swelling -began to subside, and an intense hunger to come upon her which made -her once more think about eating. Then she was troubled with a severe -irritation, and her skin peeled entirely away; and when she got up in -the morning, she found that the shoes had fallen off. On trying to put -them on again, she discovered that they did not fit her any longer; -and then she went back to her former pair which were now exactly of -the right size and shape. In an ecstasy of joy, she grasped her -mirror, and saw that her features had also changed back to what they -had formerly been; so she washed and dressed herself and went in to -visit her mother. Every one who met her was much astonished; and when -Lien-hsiang heard the strange story, she tried to persuade Mr. Sang to -make her an offer of marriage. But the young lady was rich and Sang -was poor, and he did not see his way clearly. However, on Mrs. Chang's -birthday, when she completed her cycle of sixty-one years,[152] Sang -went along with the others to wish her many happy returns of the day; -and when the old lady knew who was coming, she bade Yen-êrh take a -peep at him from behind the curtain. Sang arrived last of all; and -immediately out rushed Miss Yen-êrh and seized his sleeve, and said -she would go back with him. Her mother scolded her well for this, and -she ran in abashed; but Sang, who had looked at her closely, began to -weep, and threw himself at the feet of Mrs. Chang who raised him up -without saying anything unkind. Sang then took his leave, and got his -uncle to act as medium between them; the result being that an -auspicious day was fixed upon for the wedding. At the appointed time -Sang proceeded to the house to fetch her; and when he returned he -found that, instead of his former poor-looking furniture, beautiful -carpets were laid down from the very door, and thousands of coloured -lanterns were hung about in elegant designs. Lien-hsiang assisted the -bride to enter, and took off her veil, finding her the same bright -girl as ever. She also joined them while drinking the wedding -cup,[153] and inquired of her friend as to her recent transmigration; -and Yen-êrh related as follows:--"Overwhelmed with grief, I began to -shrink from myself as some unclean thing; and, after separating from -you that day, I would not return any more to my grave. So I wandered -about at random, and whenever I saw a living being, I envied its happy -state. By day I remained among trees and shrubs, but at night I used -to roam about anywhere. And once I came to the house of the Chang -family, where, seeing a young girl lying upon the bed, I took -possession of her mortal coil, unknowing that she would be restored to -life again." When Lien-hsiang heard this she was for some time lost in -thought; and a month or two afterwards became very ill. She refused -all medical aid and gradually got worse and worse, to the great grief -of Mr. Sang and his wife, who stood weeping at her bedside. Suddenly -she opened her eyes, and said, "You wish to live; I am willing to die. -If fate so ordains it, we shall meet again ten years hence." As she -uttered these words, her spirit passed away, and all that remained was -the dead body of a fox. Sang, however, insisted on burying it with all -the proper ceremonies. - -Now his wife had no children; but one day a servant came in and said, -"There is an old woman outside who has got a little girl for sale." -Sang's wife gave orders that she should be shown in; and no sooner had -she set eyes on the girl than she cried out, "Why, she's the image of -Lien-hsiang!" Sang then looked at her, and found to his astonishment -that she was really very like his old friend. The old woman said she -was fourteen years old; and when asked what her price was, declared -that her only wish was to get the girl comfortably settled, and -enough to keep herself alive, and ensure not being thrown out into the -kennel at death. So Sang gave a good price for her;[154] and his wife, -taking the girl's hand, led her into a room by themselves. Then, -chucking her under the chin, she asked her, smiling, "Do you know me?" -The girl said she did not; after which she told Mrs. Sang that her -name was Wei, and that her father, who had been a pickle-merchant at -Hsü-ch'êng, had died three years before. Mrs. Sang then calculated -that Lien-hsiang had been dead just ten years; and, looking at the -girl, who resembled her so exactly in every trait, at length patted -her on the head, saying, "Ah, my sister, you promised to visit us -again in ten years, and you have not played us false." The girl here -seemed to wake up as if from a dream, and, uttering an exclamation of -surprise, fixed a steady gaze upon Sang's wife. Sang himself laughed, -and said, "Just like the return of an old familiar swallow." "Now I -understand," cried the girl, in tears; "I recollect my mother saying -that when I was born I was able to speak; and that, thinking it an -inauspicious manifestation, they gave me dog's blood to drink, so that -I should forget all about my previous state of existence.[155] Is it -all a dream, or are you not the Miss Li who was so ashamed of being a -devil?" Thus they chatted of their existence in a former life, with -alternate tears and smiles; but when it came to the day for -worshipping at the tombs, Yen-êrh explained that she and her husband -were in the habit of annually visiting and mourning over her grave. -The girl replied that she would accompany them; and when they got -there they found the whole place in disorder, and the coffin wood all -warped. "Lien-hsiang and I," said Yen-êrh to her husband, "have been -attached to each other in two states of existence. Let us not be -separated, but bury my bones here with hers." Sang consented, and -opening Miss Li's tomb, took out the bones and buried them with those -of Lien-hsiang, while friends and relatives, who had heard the strange -story, gathered round the grave in gala dress to the number of many -hundreds. - -I learnt the above when travelling through I-chou, where I was -detained at an inn by rain, and read a biography of Mr. Sang written -by a comrade of his named Wang Tz[)u]-chang. It was lent me by a Mr. Liu -Tz[)u]-ching, a relative of Sang's, and was quite a long account. This is -merely an outline of it. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[145] The term constantly employed by Confucius to denote the man of -perfect probity, learning, and refinement. The nearest, if not an -exact, translation would be "gentleman." - -[146] Literally, "a young lady whose beauty would overthrow a -kingdom," in allusion to an old story which it is not necessary to -reproduce here. - -[147] The Lady of the Moon. See No. V., note 49. - -[148] See No. VIII., note 64. - -[149] Miss Lien-hsiang was here speaking without book, as will be seen -in a story later on. - -[150] The female principle. In a properly-constituted human being the -male and female principles are harmoniously combined. Nothing short of -a small volume would place this subject, the basis of Chinese -metaphysics, in a clear light before the uninitiated reader. Broadly -speaking, the _yin_ and the _yang_ are the two primeval forces from -the interaction of which all things have been evolved. - -[151] - - "_Ber._--It was about to speak, when the cock crew. - - _Hor._--And then it started like a guilty thing - Upon a fearful summons. I have heard, - The cock, that is the trumpet to the morn, - Doth with his lofty and shrill-sounding throat - Awake the God of Day; and, at his warning, - Whether in sea or fire, in earth or air, - The extravagant and erring spirit hies - To his confine." - - _Hamlet._ - -[152] "From time immemorial, the Chinese have employed a combination -of two sets of characters, numbering ten and twelve respectively, to -form a cycle of sixty terms for the purpose of chronological notation. -The period at which this cycle was invented is a subject upon which -complete uncertainty prevails, but there is little doubt that it first -came into use as a method of reckoning years after the reform of the -calendar in B.C. 104."--Mayers' _Reader's Manual_. - -The birthday on which any person completes his cycle is considered a -very auspicious occasion. The second emperor of the present dynasty, -K'ang Hsi, completed a cycle in his _reign_, with one year to spare; -and his grandson, Ch'ien Lung (or Kien Lung) fell short of this only -by a single year, dying in the same cyclical period as that in which -he had ascended the throne. - -[153] Bride and bridegroom drink wine together out of two cups joined -by a red string, typical of that imaginary bond which is believed to -unite the destinies of husband and wife long before they have set eyes -on each other. Popular tradition assigns to an old man who lives in -the moon the arrangement of all matches among mortals; hence the -common Chinese expression, "Marriages are made in the moon." - -[154] The bill of sale always handed to the purchaser of a child in -China, as a proof that the child is his _bonâ fide_ property and has -not been kidnapped, is by a pleasant fiction called a "deed of gift," -the amount paid over to the seller being therein denominated "ginger -and vinegar money," or compensation for the expense of rearing and -educating up to the date of sale. This phrase originates from the fact -that a dose of ginger and vinegar is administered to every Chinese -woman immediately after the delivery of her child. - -We may here add that the value of male children to those who have no -heirs, and of female children to those who want servants, has fostered -a regular kidnapping trade, which is carried on with great activity in -some parts of China, albeit the penalty on discovery is instant -decapitation. Some years ago I was present in the streets of Tientsin -when a kidnapper was seized by the infuriated mob, and within two -hours I heard that the man had been summarily executed. - -[155] The power of recalling events which have occurred in a previous -life will be enlarged upon in several stories to come. - - - - -XXIV. - -MISS A-PAO; OR, PERSEVERANCE REWARDED. - - -In the province of Kuang-si there lived a scholar of some reputation, -named Sun Tz[)u]-ch'u. He was born with six fingers, and such a simple -fellow was he that he readily believed any nonsense he was told. Very -shy with the fair sex, the sight of a woman was enough to send him -flying in the opposite direction; and once when he was inveigled into -a room where there were some young ladies, he blushed down to his neck -and the perspiration dripped off him like falling pearls. His -companions laughed heartily at his discomfiture, and told fine stories -of what a noodle he looked, so that he got the nickname of Silly Sun. - -In the town where our hero resided, there was a rich trader whose -wealth equalled that of any prince or nobleman, and whose connections -were all highly aristocratic.[156] He had a daughter, A-pao, of great -beauty, for whom he was seeking a husband; and the young men of -position in the neighbourhood were vying with each other to obtain her -hand, but none of them met with the father's approval. Now Silly Sun -had recently lost his wife; and some one in joke persuaded him to try -his luck and send in an application. Sun, who had no idea of his own -shortcomings, proceeded at once to follow this advice; but the father, -though he knew him to be an accomplished scholar, rejected his suit on -the ground of poverty. As the go-between[157] was leaving the house, -she chanced to meet A-pao, and related to her the object of her visit. -"Tell him," cried A-pao, laughing, "that if he'll cut off his extra -finger, I'll marry him." The old woman reported this to Sun, who -replied, "That is not very difficult;" and, seizing a chopper, cut the -finger clean off. The wound was extremely painful and he lost so much -blood that he nearly died, it being many days before he was about -again. He then sought out the go-between, and bade her inform Miss -A-pao, which she did; and A-pao was taken rather aback, but she told -the old woman to go once more and bid him cut off the "silly" from -his reputation. Sun got much excited when he heard this, and denied -that he was silly; however, as he was unable to prove it to the young -lady herself, he began to think that probably her beauty was -over-stated, and that she was giving herself great airs. So he ceased -to trouble himself about her until the following spring festival,[158] -when it was customary for both men and women to be seen abroad, and -the young rips of the place would stroll about in groups and pass -their remarks on all and sundry. Sun's friends urged him to join them -in their expedition, and one of them asked him with a smile if he did -not wish to look out for a suitable mate. Sun knew they were chaffing -him, but he thought he should like to see the girl that had made such -a fool of him, and was only too pleased to accompany them. They soon -perceived a young lady resting herself under a tree, with a throng of -young fellows crowding round her, and they immediately determined that -she must be A-pao, as in fact they found she was. Possessed of -peerless beauty, the ring of her admirers gradually increased, till at -last she rose up to go. The excitement among the young men was -intense; they criticised her face and discussed her feet,[159] Sun -only remaining silent; and when they had passed on to something else, -there they saw Sun rooted like an imbecile to the same spot. As he -made no answer when spoken to, they dragged him along with them, -saying, "Has your spirit run away after A-pao?" He made no reply to -this either; but they thought nothing of that, knowing his usual -strangeness of manner, so by dint of pushing and pulling they managed -to get him home. There he threw himself on the bed and did not get up -again for the rest of the day, lying in a state of unconsciousness -just as if he were drunk. He did not wake when called; and his people, -thinking that his spirit had fled, went about in the fields calling -out to it to return.[160] However, he shewed no signs of improvement; -and when they shook him, and asked him what was the matter, he only -answered in a sleepy kind of voice, "I am at A-pao's house;" but to -further questions he would not make any reply, and left his family in -a state of keen suspense. - -Now when Silly Sun had seen the young lady get up to go, he could not -bear to part with her, and found himself first following and then -walking along by her side without anyone saying anything to him. Thus -he went back with her to her home, and there he remained for three -days, longing to run home and get something to eat, but unfortunately -not knowing the way. By that time Sun had hardly a breath left in -him; and his friends, fearing that he was going to die, sent to beg of -the rich trader that he would allow a search to be made for Sun's -spirit in his house. The trader laughed and said, "He wasn't in the -habit of coming here, so he could hardly have left his spirit behind -him;" but he yielded to the entreaties of Sun's family, and permitted -the search to be made. Thereupon a magician proceeded to the house, -taking with him an old suit of Sun's clothes and some grass matting; -and when Miss A-pao heard the reason for which he had come, she -simplified matters very much by leading the magician straight to her -own room. The magician summoned the spirit in due form, and went back -towards Sun's house. By the time he had reached the door, Sun groaned -and recovered consciousness; and he was then able to describe all the -articles of toilette and furniture in A-pao's room without making a -single mistake. A-pao was amazed when the story was repeated to her, -and could not help feeling kindly towards him on account of the depth -of his passion. Sun himself, when he got well enough to leave his bed, -would often sit in a state of abstraction as if he had lost his wits; -and he was for ever scheming to try and have another glimpse at A-pao. - -One day he heard that she intended to worship at the Shui-yüeh temple -on the 8th of the fourth moon, that day being the Wash-Buddha -festival; and he set off early in the morning to wait for her at the -roadside. He was nearly blind with straining his eyes, and the sun was -already past noontide before the young lady arrived; but when she saw -from her carriage a gentleman standing there, she drew aside the -screen and had a good stare at him. Sun followed her in a great state -of excitement, upon which she bade one of her maids to go and ask his -name. Sun told her who he was, his perturbation all the time -increasing; and when the carriage drove on he returned home. Again he -became very ill, and lay on his bed unconscious, without taking any -food, occasionally calling on A-pao by name, at the same time abusing -his spirit for not having been able to follow her as before. Just at -this juncture a parrot that had been long with the family died; and a -child, playing with the body, laid it upon the bed. Sun then reflected -that if he was only a parrot one flap of his wings would bring him -into the presence of A-pao; and while occupied with these thoughts, -lo! the dead body moved and the parrot flew away. It flew straight to -A-pao's room, at which she was delighted; and catching it, tied a -string to its leg, and fed it upon hemp-seed. "Dear sister," cried the -bird, "do not tie me by the leg: I am Sun Tz[)u]-ch'u." In great alarm -A-pao untied the string, but the parrot did not fly away. "Alas!" said -she, "your love has engraved itself upon my heart; but now you are no -longer a man, how shall we ever be united together?" "To be near your -dear self," replied the parrot, "is all I care about." The parrot then -refused to take food from anyone else, and kept close to Miss A-pao -wherever she went, day and night alike. At the expiration of three -days, A-pao, who had grown very fond of her parrot, secretly sent some -one to ask how Mr. Sun was; but he had already been dead three days, -though the part over his heart had not grown cold. "Oh! come to life -again as a man," cried the young lady, "and I swear to be yours for -ever." "You are surely not in earnest," said the parrot, "are you?" -Miss A-pao declared she was, and the parrot, cocking its head aside, -remained some time as if absorbed in thought. By-and-by A-pao took off -her shoes to bind her feet a little tighter;[161] and the parrot, -making a rapid grab at one, flew off with it in its beak. She called -loudly after it to come back, but in a moment it was out of sight; so -she next sent a servant to inquire if there was any news of Mr. Sun, -and then learnt that he had come round again, the parrot having flown -in with an embroidered shoe and dropped down dead on the ground. Also, -that directly he regained consciousness he asked for the shoe, of -which his people knew nothing; at which moment her servant had -arrived, and demanded to know from him where it was. "It was given to -me by Miss A-pao as a pledge of faith," replied Sun; "I beg you will -tell her I have not forgotten her promise." A-pao was greatly -astonished at this, and instructed her maid to divulge the whole -affair to her mother, who, when she had made some inquiries, observed -that Sun was well known as a clever fellow, but was desperately poor, -and "to get such a son-in-law after all our trouble would give our -aristocratic friends the laugh against us."[162] However, A-pao -pleaded that with the shoe there as a proof against her, she would not -marry anybody else; and, ultimately, her father and mother gave their -consent. This was immediately announced to Mr. Sun, whose illness -rapidly disappeared in consequence. A-pao's father would have had Sun -come and live with them;[163] but the young lady objected, on the -score that a son-in-law should not remain long at a time with the -family of his wife,[164] and that as he was poor he would lower -himself still more by doing so. "I have accepted him," added she, "and -I shall gladly reside in his humble cottage, and share his poor fare -without complaint." The marriage was then celebrated, and bride and -bridegroom met as if for the first time in their lives.[165] The dowry -A-pao brought with her somewhat raised their pecuniary position, and -gave them a certain amount of comfort; but Sun himself stuck only to -his books, and knew nothing about managing affairs in general. Luckily -his wife was clever in that respect, and did not bother him with such -things; so much so that by the end of three years they were -comparatively well off, when Sun suddenly fell ill and died. Mrs. Sun -was inconsolable, and refused either to sleep or take nourishment, -being deaf to all entreaties on the subject; and before long, taking -advantage of the night, she hanged herself.[166] Her maid, hearing a -noise, ran in and cut her down just in time: but she still steadily -refused all food. Three days passed away, and the friends and -relatives of Sun came to attend his funeral, when suddenly they heard -a sigh proceeding forth from the coffin. The coffin was then opened -and they found that Sun had come to life again. He told them that he -had been before the Great Judge, who, as a reward for his upright and -honourable life, had conferred upon him an official appointment. "At -this moment," said Sun, "it was reported that my wife was close at -hand,[167] but the Judge, referring to the register, observed that her -time had not yet come. They told him she had taken no food for three -days; and then the Judge, looking at me, said that as a recompense for -her wifely virtues she should be permitted to return to life. -Thereupon he gave orders to his attendants to put to the horses and -see us safely back." From that hour Sun gradually improved, and the -next year went up for his master's degree. All his old companions -chaffed him exceedingly before the examination, and gave him seven -themes on out-of-the-way subjects, telling him privately that they had -been surreptitiously obtained from the examiners. Sun believed them as -usual, and worked at them day and night until he was perfect, his -comrades all the time enjoying a good laugh against him. However, when -the day came it was found that the examiners, fearing lest the themes -they had chosen in an ordinary way should have been dishonestly made -public,[168] took a set of fresh ones quite out of the common run--in -fact, on the very subjects Sun's companions had given to him. -Consequently, he came out at the head of the list; and the next year, -after taking his doctor's degree, he was entered among the Han-lin -Academicians.[169] The Emperor, too, happening to hear of his curious -adventures, sent for him and made him repeat his story; subsequently, -summoning A-pao and making her some very costly presents. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[156] There is nothing in China like an aristocracy of birth. Any man -may raise himself from the lowest level to the highest; and as long as -he and his family keep themselves there, they may be considered -aristocratic. Wealth has nothing to do with the question; official -rank and literary tastes, separate or combined, these constitute a -man's title to the esteem of his fellows. Trade is looked upon as -ignoble and debasing; and friendly intercourse between merchants and -officials, the two great social divisions, is so rare as to be almost -unknown. - -[157] The medium, without whose good offices no marriage can be -arranged. Generally, but not always, a woman. - -This system of go-betweens is not confined to matrimonial engagements. -No servant ever offers himself for a place; he invariably employs some -one to introduce him. So also in mercantile transactions the broker -almost invariably appears upon the scene. - -[158] See No. II., note 41. - -[159] The so-called "golden lilies" always come in for a large share -of criticism. See No. XII., note 86. This term originated with an -emperor who reigned in the fifth century, when, in ecstasies at the -graceful dancing of a concubine upon a stage ornamented with lilies, -he cried out, "Every footstep makes a lily grow." - -[160] A common custom; _e.g._ in the case of a little child lying -dangerously ill, its mother will go outside the door into the garden -or field, and call out its name several times, in the hope of bringing -back the wandering spirit. - -[161] This process must be regularly gone through night and morning, -otherwise the bandages become loose, and the gait of the walker -unsteady. - -[162] I have explained before that any great disparity of means is -considered an obstacle to a matrimonial alliance between two families. - -[163] This is a not unusual arrangement in cases where there are other -sons in the bridegroom's family, but none in that of the bride's, -especially if the advantage of wealth is on the side of the latter. - -[164] Such is the Chinese rule, adopted simply with a view to the -preservation of harmony. - -[165] They are supposed never to see each other before the -wedding-day; but, after careful investigation of the subject, I have -come to the conclusion that certainly in seven cases out of ten, the -intended bridegroom secretly procures a sight of his future wife. I am -now speaking of the higher classes; among the poor, both sexes mix -almost as freely as with us. - -[166] This would still be considered a creditable act on the part of a -Chinese widow. It is, however, of exceedingly rare occurrence. - -[167] Being nearly dead from hanging. - -[168] This is occasionally done, great influence or a heavy bribe -being brought to bear upon the Examiners, of whom there are only -two for the Master's degree, and the second of these, or -Assistant-Examiner, holds but a subordinate position. See _Appendix_ -A, and No. LXXV., note 426. - -[169] Admission to the Han-lin, or Chinese National Academy, is the -highest honour obtainable by a scholar. Its members are employed in -drawing up Government documents, histories, etc. - - - - -XXV. - -JEN HSIU. - - -Jen Chien-chih was a native of Yü-t'ai, and a dealer in rugs and furs. -One day he set off for Shensi, taking with him every penny he could -scrape together; and on the road he met a man who told him that his -name was Shên Chu-t'ing, and his native place Su-ch'ien. These two -soon became firm friends, and entered into a masonic bond[170] with -each other, journeying on together by the same stages until they -reached their destination. By-and-by Mr. Jen fell sick, and his -companion had to nurse him, which he did with the utmost attention, -but for ten days he gradually got worse and worse, and at length said -to Shên, "My family is very poor. Eight mouths depend upon my -exertions for food; and now, alas! I am about to die, far from my own -home. You and I are brothers. At this distance there is no one else to -whom I can look. Now in my purse you will find two hundred ounces of -silver. Take half, and when you have defrayed my funeral expenses, use -the balance for your return journey; and give the other half to my -family, that they may be able to send for my coffin.[171] If, however, -you will take my mortal remains with you home to my native place, -these expenses need not be incurred." He then, with the aid of a -pillow, wrote a letter, which he handed to Shên, and that evening he -died. Thereupon Shên purchased a cheap coffin[172] for some five or -six ounces of silver; and, as the landlord kept urging him to take -away the body, he said he would go out and seek for a temple where it -might be temporarily deposited. But he ran away and never went back -to the inn; and it was more than a year before Jen's family knew what -had taken place. His son was just about seventeen years of age, and -had recently been reading with a tutor; but now his books were laid -aside, and he proposed to go in search of his father's body. His -mother said he was too young; and it was only when he declared he -would rather not live than stay at home, that with the aid of the -pawn-shop[173] enough money was raised to start him on his way. An old -servant accompanied him, and it was six months before they returned -and performed the last ceremonies over Jen's remains. The family was -thus reduced to absolute destitution; but happily young Hsiu was a -clever fellow, and when the days of mourning[174] were over, took his -bachelor's degree. On the other hand, he was somewhat wild and very -fond of gambling; and although his mother strictly prohibited such -diversions, all her prohibitions were in vain. By-and-by the Grand -Examiner arrived, and Hsiu came out in the fourth class. His mother -was extremely angry, and refused to take food, which brought young -Hsiu to his senses, and he promised her faithfully he would never -gamble again. From that day he shut himself up, and the following year -took a first class degree, coming out among the "senior" -graduates.[175] His mother now advised him to take pupils, but his -reputation as a disorderly fellow stuck to him, and no one would -entrust their sons to his care. - -Just then an uncle of his, named Chang, was about to start with -merchandise for the capital, and recommended that Hsiu should go along -with him, promising himself to pay all expenses, an offer which Hsiu -was only too pleased to accept. When they reached Lin-ch'ing, they -anchored outside the Custom House, where they found a great number of -salt-junks, in fact a perfect forest of masts; and what with the noise -of the water and the people it was quite impossible to sleep. -Besides, as the row was beginning to subside, the clear rattle of dice -from a neighbouring boat fell upon Hsiu's ear, and before long he was -itching to be back again at his old games. Listening to hear if all -around him were sound asleep, he drew forth a string of cash that he -had brought with him, and thought he would just go across and try his -luck. So he got up quietly with his money, and was on the point of -going, when he suddenly recollected his mother's injunctions, and at -once tying his purse-strings laid himself down to sleep. He was far -too excited, however, to close his eyes; and after a while got up -again and re-opened his purse. This he did three times, until at last -it was too much for him, and off he went with his money. Crossing over -into the boat whence the sounds proceeded, he beheld two persons -engaged in gambling for high stakes; so throwing his money on the -table, he begged to be allowed to join. The others readily consented, -and they began to play, Hsiu winning so rapidly that soon one of the -strangers had no money left, and was obliged to get the proprietor of -the boat to change a large piece of silver for him, proceeding to lay -down as much as several ounces of silver for a single stake. - -As the play was in full swing another man walked in, who after -watching for some time at length got the proprietor to change another -lump of silver for him of one hundred ounces in weight, and also asked -to be allowed to join. Now Hsiu's uncle, waking up in the middle of -the night, and finding his nephew gone, and hearing the sound of -dice-throwing hard by, knew at once where he was, and immediately -followed him to the boat with a view of bringing him back. Finding, -however, that Hsiu was a heavy winner, he said nothing to him, only -carrying off a portion of his winnings to their own boat and making -the others of his party get up and help him to fetch the rest, even -then leaving behind a large sum for Hsiu to go on with. By-and-by the -three strangers had lost all their ready money, and there wasn't a -farthing left in the boat: upon which one of them proposed to play for -lumps of silver, but Hsiu said he never went so high as that. This -made them a little quarrelsome, Hsiu's uncle all the time trying to -get him away; and the proprietor of the boat, who had only his own -commission in view, managed to borrow some hundred strings of cash -from another boat, and started them all again. Hsiu soon took this out -of them; and, as day was beginning to dawn and the Custom House was -about to open, he went off with his winnings back to his own boat. - -The proprietor of the gambling-boat now found that the lumps of silver -which he had changed for his customers were nothing more than so much -tinsel, and rushing off in a great state of alarm to Hsiu's boat, told -him what had happened and asked him to make it good; but when he -discovered he was speaking to the son of his former travelling -companion, Jen Chien-chih, he hung his head and slunk away covered -with shame. For the proprietor of that boat was no other than Shên -Chu-t'ing, of whom Hsiu had heard when he was in Shensi; now, -however, that with supernatural aid[176] the wrongs of his father had -been avenged, he determined to pursue the man no further. So going -into partnership with his uncle, they proceeded north together; and by -the end of the year their capital had increased five-fold. Hsiu then -purchased the status of _chien-shêng_,[177] and by further careful -investment of his money ultimately became the richest man in that part -of the country. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[170] Besides the numerous secret societies so much dreaded by the -Government, membership of which is punishable by death, very intimate -friends are in the habit of adopting each other as sworn brothers, -bound to stand by one another in cases of danger and difficulty, to -the last drop of blood. The bond is cemented by an oath, accompanied -by such ceremonies as fancy may at the moment dictate. The most -curious of all, however, are the so-called "Golden Orchid" societies, -the members of which are young girls, who have sworn never to enter -into the matrimonial state. To such an extent have these sisterhoods -spread in the Kuang-tung Province, that the authorities have been -compelled to prohibit them under severe penalties. - -[171] A Chinaman loves to be buried alongside of his ancestors, and -poor families are often put to great straits to pay this last tribute -of respect and affection to the deceased. At all large cities are to -be found temporary burial grounds, where the bodies of strangers are -deposited until their relatives can come to carry them away. Large -freights of dead bodies are annually brought back to China from -California, Queensland, and other parts to which the Chinese are in -the habit of emigrating, to the great profit of the steamer-companies -concerned. Coffins are also used as a means of smuggling, respect for -the dead being so great that they are only opened under the very -strongest suspicion. - -[172] See No. XIV., note 104. The price of an elaborate Chinese coffin -goes as high as £100 or £150. - -[173] The never-failing resource of an impecunious Chinaman who has -any property whatever bearing an exchange value. The pawn-shop proper -is a licensed institution, where three per cent. _per month_ is -charged on all loans, all pledges being redeemable within sixteen -months. It is generally a very high brick structure, towering far -above the surrounding houses, with the deposits neatly packed up in -paper and arranged on the shelves of a huge wooden skeleton-like -frame, that completely fills the interior of the building, on the top -of which are ranged buckets of water in case of fire, and a quantity -of huge stones to throw down on any thieves who may be daring enough -to attempt to scale the wall. [In Peking, houses are not allowed to be -built above a certain height, as during the long summer months ladies -are in the habit of sitting to spin or sew in their courtyards, very -lightly clad.] Pawning goods in China is not held to be so disgraceful -as with us; in fact, most people, at the beginning of the hot weather, -pawn their furs and winter clothes, these being so much more carefully -looked after there than they might be at home. - -[174] Nominally of three years'--really of twenty-eight -months'--duration. - -[175] These are entitled to receive from Government a small allowance -of rice, besides being permitted to exercise certain petty functions, -for which a certain charge is authorized. See _Appendix_ A. - -[176] One of the strangers was the disembodied spirit of Hsiu's -father, helping his son to take vengeance on the wicked Shên. - -[177] An intermediate step between the first and second degrees, to -which certain privileges are attached. - - - - -XXVI. - -THE LOST BROTHER. - - -In Honan there lived a man named Chang, who originally belonged to -Shantung. His wife had been seized and carried off by the soldiery -during the period when Ching Nan's troops were overrunning the latter -province;[178] and as he was frequently in Honan on business, he -finally settled there and married a Honan wife, by whom he had a son -named Na. By-and-by this wife died, and he took another, who bore him -a son named Ch'êng. The last-mentioned lady was from the Niu family, -and a very malicious woman. So jealous was she of Na, that she treated -him like a slave or a beast of the field, giving him only the coarsest -food, and making him cut a large bundle of wood every day, in default -of which she would beat and abuse him in a most shameful manner. On -the other hand she secretly reserved all the tit-bits for Ch'êng, and -also sent him to school. As Ch'êng grew up, and began to understand -the meaning of filial piety and fraternal love,[179] he could not bear -to see this treatment of his elder brother, and spoke privately to -his mother about it; but she would pay no heed to what he said. - -One day, when Na was on the hills performing his task, a violent storm -came on, and he took shelter under a cliff. However, by the time it -was over the sun had set, and he began to feel very hungry. So, -shouldering his bundle, he wended his way home, where his step-mother, -displeased with the small quantity of wood he had brought, refused to -give him anything to eat. Quite overcome with hunger, Na went in and -lay down; and when Ch'êng came back from school, and saw the state he -was in, he asked him if he was ill. Na replied that he was only -hungry, and then told his brother the whole story; whereupon Ch'êng -coloured up and went away, returning shortly with some cakes, which he -offered to Na. "Where did you get them?" asked the latter. "Oh," -replied Ch'êng, "I stole some flour and got a neighbour's wife to make -them for me. Eat away, and don't talk." Na ate them up; but begged his -brother not to do this again, as he might get himself into trouble. "I -shan't die," added he, "if I only get one meal a-day." "You are not -strong," rejoined Ch'êng, "and shouldn't cut so much wood as you do." - -Next day, after breakfast, Ch'êng slipped away to the hills, and -arrived at the place where Na was occupied with his usual task, to the -great astonishment of the latter, who inquired what he was going to -do. "To help you cut wood," replied Ch'êng. "And who sent you?" asked -his brother. "No one," said he; "I came of my own accord." "Ah," cried -Na, "you can't do this work; and even if you can you must not. Run -along home again." Ch'êng, however, remained, aiding his brother with -his hands and feet alone, but declaring that on the morrow he would -bring an axe. Na tried to stop him, and found that he had already hurt -his finger and worn his shoes into holes; so he began to cry, and -said, "If you don't go home directly, I'll kill myself with my axe." -Ch'êng then went away, his brother seeing him half-way home, and going -back to finish his work by himself. He also called in the evening at -Ch'êng's school, and told the master his brother was a delicate boy, -and should not be allowed to go on the hills, where, he said, there -were fierce tigers and wolves. The master replied that he didn't know -where Ch'êng had been all the morning, but that he had caned him for -playing truant. Na further pointed out to Ch'êng that by not doing as -he had told him, he had let himself in for a beating. Ch'êng laughed, -and said he hadn't been beaten; and the very next day off he went -again, and this time with a hatchet. "I told you not to come," cried -Na, much alarmed; "why have you done so?" Ch'êng made no reply, but -set to work chopping wood with such energy that the perspiration -poured down his face; and when he had cut about a bundle he went away -without saying a word. The master caned him again, and then Ch'êng -told him how the matter stood, at which the former became full of -admiration for his pupil's kind behaviour, and no longer prevented him -from going. His brother, however, frequently urged him not to come, -though without the slightest success; and one day, when they went with -a number of others to cut wood, a tiger rushed down from the hills -upon them. The wood-cutters hid themselves, in the greatest -consternation; and the tiger, seizing Ch'êng, ran off with him in his -mouth. Ch'êng's weight caused the tiger to move slowly; and Na, -rushing after them, hacked away at the tiger's flanks with his axe. -The pain only made the tiger hurry off, and in a few minutes they were -out of sight. Overwhelmed with grief, Na went back to his comrades, -who tried to soothe him; but he said, "My brother was no ordinary -brother, and, besides, he died for me; why, then, should I live?" -Here, seizing his hatchet, he made a great chop at his own neck, upon -which his companions prevented him from doing himself any more -mischief. The wound, however, was over an inch deep, and blood was -flowing so copiously that Na became faint, and seemed at the point of -death. They then tore up their clothes, and, after having bandaged his -neck, proceeded to carry him home. His step-mother cried bitterly, and -cursed him, saying, "You have killed my son, and now you go and cut -your neck in this make-believe kind of way." "Don't be angry, mother," -replied Na; "I will not live now that my brother is dead." He then -threw himself on the bed; but the pain of his wound was so great he -could not sleep, and day and night he sat leaning against the wall in -tears. His father, fearing that he too would die, went every now and -then and gave him a little nourishment; but his wife cursed him so for -doing it, that at length Na refused all food, and in three days he -died. - -Now in the village where these events took place there was a magician -who was employed in certain devil-work among mortals,[180] and Na's -ghost, happening to fall in with him, related the story of its -previous sorrows, winding up by asking where his brother's ghost was. -The magician said he didn't know, but turned round with Na and shewed -him the way to a city where they saw an official servant coming out of -the city gates. The magician stopped him, and inquired if he could -tell them anything about Ch'êng; whereupon the man drew out a list -from a pouch at his side, and, after carefully examining it, replied -that among the male and female criminals within there was no one of -the name of Chang.[181] The magician here suggested that the name -might be on another list; but the man replied that he was in charge of -that road, and surely ought to know. Na, however, was not satisfied, -and persuaded the magician to enter the city, where they met many new -and old devils walking about, among whom were some Na had formerly -known in life. So he asked them if they could direct him to his -brother but none of them knew where he was; and suddenly there was a -great commotion, the devils on all sides crying out, "P'u-sa[182] has -come!" Then, looking up, Na beheld a most beautiful man descending -from above, encircled by rays of glory, which shot forth above and -below, lighting up all around him. "You are in luck's way, Sir," said -the magician to Na; "only once in many thousand years does P'u-sa -descend into hell and banish all suffering. He has come to-day." He -then made Na kneel, and all the devils began with clasped hands to -sing songs of praise to P'u-sa for his compassion in releasing them -from their misery, shaking the very earth with the sound. P'u-sa -himself, seizing a willow-branch, sprinkled them all with holy water; -and when this was done the clouds and glory melted away, and he -vanished from their sight. Na, who had felt the holy water fall upon -his neck, now became conscious that the axe-wound was no longer -painful; and the magician then proceeded to lead him back, not -quitting him until within sight of the village gate. In fact, Na had -been in a trance for two days, and when he recovered he told them all -that he had seen, asserting positively that Ch'êng was not dead. His -mother, however, looked upon the story as a make-up, and never ceased -reviling him; and, as he had no means of proving his innocence, and -his neck was now quite healed, he got up from the bed and said to his -father, "I am going away to seek for my brother throughout the -universe; if I do not find him, never expect to see me again, but I -pray you regard me as dead." His father drew him aside and wept -bitterly. However, he would not interfere with his son's design, and -Na accordingly set off. Whenever he came to a large town or populous -place he used to ask for news of Ch'êng; and by-and-by, when his money -was all spent, he begged his way on foot. A year had passed away -before he reached Nanking, and his clothes were all in tatters as -ragged as a quail's tail,[183] when suddenly he met some ten or a -dozen horsemen, and drew away to the roadside. Among them was a -gentleman of about forty, who appeared to be a mandarin, with numerous -lusty attendants and fiery steeds accompanying him before and behind. -One young man on a small palfrey, whom Na took to be the mandarin's -son, and at whom, of course, he did not venture to stare, eyed him -closely for some time, and at length stopped his steed, and, jumping -off, cried out, "Are you not my brother?" Na then raised his head, and -found that Ch'êng stood before him. Grasping each other's hands, the -brothers burst into tears, and at length Ch'êng said, "My brother, how -is it you have strayed so far as this?" Na told him the -circumstances, at which he was much affected; and Ch'êng's companions, -jumping off their horses to see what was the matter, went off and -informed the mandarin. The latter ordered one of them to give up his -horse to Na, and thus they rode together back to the mandarin's house. -Ch'êng then told his brother how the tiger had carried him away, and -how he had been thrown down in the road, where he had passed a whole -night; also how the mandarin, Mr. Chang,[184] on his return from the -capital, had seen him there, and, observing that he was no -common-looking youth, had set to work and brought him round again. -Also how he had said to Mr. Chang that his home was a great way off, -and how Mr. Chang had taken him to his own home, and finally cured him -of his wounds; when, having no son of his own, he had adopted him. And -now, happening to be out with his father, he had caught sight of his -brother. As he was speaking Mr. Chang walked in, and Na thanked him -very heartily for all his kindness; Ch'êng, meanwhile, going into the -inner apartments to get some clothes for his brother. Wine and food -was placed on the table; and while they were chatting together the -mandarin asked Na about the number of their family in Honan. "There is -only my father," replied Na, "and he is a Shantung man who came to -live in Honan." "Why, I am a Shantung man too," rejoined Mr. Chang; -"what is the name of your father's native place?" "I have heard that -it was in the Tung-ch'ang district," replied Na. "Then we are from the -same place," cried the mandarin. "Why did your father go away to -Honan?" "His first wife," said Na, "was carried off by soldiers, and -my father lost everything he possessed; so, being in the habit of -trading to Honan, he determined to settle down there for good." The -mandarin then asked what his father's other name was, and when he -heard, he sat some time staring at Na, and at length hurried away -within. In a few moments out came an old lady, and when they had all -bowed to her, she asked Na if he was Chang Ping-chih's grandson. On -his replying in the affirmative, the old lady wept, and, turning to -Mr. Chang, said, "These two are your younger brothers." And then she -explained to Na and Ch'êng as follows:--"Three years after my marriage -with your father, I was carried off to the north and made a -slave[185] in a mandarin's family. Six months afterwards your elder -brother here was born, and in another six months the mandarin died. -Your elder brother being his heir, he received this appointment, which -he is now resigning. I have often thought of my native place, and have -not unfrequently sent people to inquire about my husband, giving them -the full particulars as to name and clan; but I could never hear -anything of him. How should I know that he had gone to Honan?" Then, -addressing Mr. Chang, she continued, "That was rather a mistake of -yours, adopting your own brother." "He never told me anything about -Shantung," replied Mr. Chang; "I suppose he was too young to remember -the story; and I only looked at the difference between our ages." For -he, the elder of the brothers, was forty-one; Ch'êng, the younger, -being only sixteen; and Na, twenty years of age. Mr. Chang was very -glad to get two young brothers; and when he heard the tale of their -separation, proposed that they should all go back to their father. -Mrs. Chang was afraid her husband would not care to receive her back -again; but her eldest son said, "We will cast our lot together; all or -none. How can there be a country where fathers are not valued?" They -then sold their house and packed up, and were soon on the way to -Honan. When they arrived, Ch'êng went in first to tell his father, -whose third wife had died since Na left, and who now was a desolate -old widower, left alone with only his own shadow. He was overjoyed to -see Ch'êng again, and, looking fondly at his son, burst into a flood -of tears. Ch'êng told him his mother and brothers were outside, and -the old man was then perfectly transfixed with astonishment, unable -either to laugh or to cry. Mr. Chang next appeared, followed by his -mother; and the two old people wept in each other's arms, the late -solitary widower hardly knowing what to make of the crowd of men and -women-servants that suddenly filled his house. Here Ch'êng, not seeing -his own mother, asked where she was; and when he heard she was dead, -he fainted away, and did not come round for a good half-hour. Mr. -Chang found the money for building a fine house, and engaged a tutor -for his two brothers. Horses pranced in the stables, and servants -chattered in the hall--it was quite a large establishment. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[178] A.D. 1400 - -[179] The first of the sixteen maxims which form the so-called Sacred -Edict, embodies these two all-important family ties. The doctrine of -primogeniture is carried so far in China as to put every younger -brother in a subordinate position to every elder brother. All -property, however, of whatever kind, is equally divided among the -sons. [The Sacred Edict was delivered by the great Emperor K'ang Hsi, -and should be publicly read and explained in every city of the Empire -on the first and fifteenth of each month.] - -[180] Ordinary devils being unable to stand for any length of time the -light and life of the upper world, the souls of certain persons are -often temporarily employed in this work by the authorities of -Purgatory, their bodies remaining meanwhile in a trance or cataleptic -fit. - -[181] Their family name. - -[182] The Chinese corrupted form of Bodhisatva. Now widely employed to -designate any deity of any kind. - -[183] The usual similitude for a Chinese tatterdemalion. - -[184] The surnames Chang, Wang, and Li, correspond in China to our -Brown, Jones, and Robinson. - -[185] Slavery, under a modified form, exists in China at the present -day. All parents, having absolute power over their children, are at -liberty to sell them as servants or slaves to their wealthier -neighbours. This is not an infrequent occurrence in times of distress, -the children even going so far as to voluntarily sell themselves, and -exposing themselves in some public thoroughfare, with a notice affixed -to a kind of arrow on their backs, stating that they are for sale, and -the amount required from the purchaser. This I have seen with my own -eyes. The chief source, however, from which the supply of slaves is -kept up is kidnapping. [See No. XXIII., note 154.] As to the condition -of the slaves themselves, it is by no means an unhappy one. Their -master has nominally the power of life and death over them, but no -Chinaman would ever dream of availing himself of this dangerous -prerogative. They are generally well fed, and fairly well clothed, -being rarely beaten, for fear they should run away, and either be lost -altogether or entail much expense to secure their capture. The girls -do not have their feet compressed; hence they are infinitely more -useful than small-footed women; and, on reaching a marriageable age, -their masters are bound to provide them with husbands. They live on -terms of easy familiarity with the whole household; and, ignorant of -the meaning and value of liberty, seem quite contented with a lot -which places them beyond the reach of hunger and cold. Slaves take the -surnames of their masters, and the children of slaves are likewise -slaves. Manumission is not uncommon; and Chinese history furnishes -more than one example of a quondam slave attaining to the highest -offices of State. - - - - -XXVII. - -THE THREE GENII. - - -There was a certain scholar who, passing through Su-ch'ien on his way -to Nanking, where he was going to try for his master's degree, -happened to fall in with three other gentlemen, all graduates like -himself, and was so charmed with their unusual refinement that he -purchased a quantity of wine, and begged them to join him in drinking -it. While thus pleasantly employed, his three friends told him their -names. One was Chieh Ch'in-hêng; the second, Ch'ang Fêng-lin; and the -other, Ma Hsi-ch'ih. They drank away and enjoyed themselves very much, -until evening had crept upon them unperceived, when Chieh said, "Here -we, who ought to have been playing the host, have been feasting at a -stranger's expense. This is not right. But, come, my house is close -by; I will provide you with a bed." Ch'ang and Ma got up, and, taking -our hero by the arm, bade his servant come along with them. When they -reached a hill to the north of the village, there before them was a -house and grounds, with a stream of clear water in front of the door, -all the apartments within being beautifully clean and nice. Chieh then -gave orders to light the lamps and see after his visitor's servant; -whereupon Ma observed, "Of old it was customary to set intellectual -refreshments before one's friends; let us not miss the opportunity of -this lovely evening, but decide on four themes, one for each of us; -and then, when we have finished our essays, we can set to work on the -wine."[186] To this the others readily agreed; and each wrote down a -theme and threw it on the table. These were next divided amongst them -as they sat, and before the second watch[187] was over the essays were -all completed and handed round for general inspection; and our scholar -was so struck with the elegance and vigour of those by his three -friends, that he ran off a copy of them and put it in his pocket. The -host then produced some excellent wine, which was drunk by them in -such bumpers that soon they were all tolerably tipsy. The other two -now took their leave; but Chieh led the scholar into another room, -where, so overcome was he with wine, that he went to bed in his boots -and clothes. - -The sun was high in the heavens when our hero awaked, and, looking -round, he saw no house or grounds, only a dell on the hill-side, in -which he and his servant had been sleeping. In great alarm he called -out to the servant, who also got up, and then they found a hole with a -rill of water trickling down before it. Much astonished at all this, -he felt in his pocket, and there, sure enough, was the paper on which -he had copied the three essays of his friends. On descending the hill -and making inquiries, he found that he had been to the Grotto of the -Three Genii--namely, Crab, Snake, and Frog, three very wonderful -beings, who often came out for a stroll, and were occasionally visible -to mortal eyes. Subsequently, when our hero entered the examination -hall, lo! the three themes set were those of the Three Genii, and he -came out at the top of the list. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[186] No Chinese wine-party is complete without more or less amusement -of a literary character. Capping verses, composing impromptu odes on -persons or places, giving historical and mythological allusions, are -among the ordinary diversions of this kind. - -[187] The Chinese night lasts from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m., and is divided -into five watches of two hours each, which are subdivided into five -"beats" of the watchman's wooden tom-tom. - - - - -XXVIII. - -THE SINGING FROGS. - - -Wang Tz[)u]-sun told me that when he was at the capital he saw a man in -the street who gave the following performance:--He had a wooden box, -divided by partitions into twelve holes, in each of which was a frog; -and whenever he tapped any one of these frogs on the head with a tiny -wand, the frog so touched would immediately begin to sing. Some one -gave him a piece of silver, and then he tapped the frogs all round, -just as if he was striking a gong; whereupon they all sang together, -with their _Do_, _Ré_, _Mi_, _Fa_, in perfect time and harmony. - - - - -XXIX. - -THE PERFORMING MICE. - - -Mr. Wang also told me that there was a man at Ch'ang-an who made his -living by exhibiting performing mice. He had a pouch on his back in -which he kept some ten of these little animals; and whenever he got -among a number of people he would fix a little frame on his back, -exactly resembling a stage. Then beating a drum he would sing some old -theatrical melody, at the first sounds of which the mice would issue -forth from the pouch, and then, with masks on their faces, and arrayed -in various costumes, they would climb up his back on to the stage, -where standing on their hind-legs they would go through a performance -portraying the various emotions of joy and anger, exactly like human -actors of either sex.[188] - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[188] The _rôles_ of women are always played in China by men, dressed -up so perfectly, small feet and all, as to be quite undistinguishable -from real women. - - - - -XXX. - -THE TIGER OF CHAO-CH'ÊNG. - - -At Chao-ch'êng there lived an old woman more than seventy years of -age, who had an only son. One day he went up to the hills and was -eaten by a tiger, at which his mother was so overwhelmed with grief -that she hardly wished to live. With tears and lamentations she ran -and told her story to the magistrate of the place, who laughed and -asked her how she thought the law could be brought to bear on a tiger. -But the old woman would not be comforted, and at length the magistrate -lost his temper and bade her begone. Of this, however, she took no -notice; and then the magistrate, in compassion for her great age and -unwilling to resort to extremities, promised her that he would have -the tiger arrested. Even then she would not go until the warrant had -been actually issued; so the magistrate, at a loss what to do, asked -his attendants which of them would undertake the job.[189] Upon this -one of them, Li Nêng, who happened to be gloriously drunk, stepped -forward and said that he would; whereupon the warrant was immediately -issued and the old woman went away. When our friend, Li Nêng, got -sober, he was sorry for what he had done; but reflecting that the -whole thing was a mere trick of his master's to get rid of the old -woman's importunities, did not trouble himself much about it, handing -in the warrant as if the arrest had been made. "Not so," cried the -magistrate, "you said you could do this, and now I shall not let you -off." Li Nêng was at his wits' end, and begged that he might be -allowed to impress the hunters of the district.[190] This was -conceded; so collecting together these men, he proceeded to spend day -and night among the hills in the hope of catching a tiger, and thus -making a show of having fulfilled his duty. - -A month passed away, during which he received several hundred blows -with the bamboo,[191] and at length, in despair, he betook himself to -the Ch'êng-huang temple in the eastern suburb, where, falling on his -knees, he prayed and wept by turns. By-and-by a tiger walked in, and -Li Nêng, in a great fright, thought he was going to be eaten alive. -But the tiger took no notice of anything, remaining seated in the -doorway. Li Nêng then addressed the animal as follows:--"O tiger, if -thou didst slay that old woman's son, suffer me to bind thee with this -cord;" and, drawing a rope from his pocket, threw it over the animal's -neck. The tiger drooped its ears, and allowing itself to be bound, -followed Li Nêng to the magistrate's office. The latter then asked it, -saying, "Did you eat the old woman's son?" to which the tiger replied -by nodding its head; whereupon the magistrate rejoined, "That -murderers should suffer death has ever been the law.[192] Besides, -this old woman had but one son, and by killing him you took from her -the sole support of her declining years. But if now you will be as a -son to her, your crime shall be pardoned." The tiger again nodded -assent, and accordingly the magistrate gave orders that he should be -released, at which the old woman was highly incensed, thinking that -the tiger ought to have paid with its life for the destruction of her -son. - -Next morning, however, when she opened the door of her cottage, there -lay a dead deer before it; and the old woman, by selling the flesh and -skin, was able to purchase food. From that day this became a common -event, and sometimes the tiger would even bring her money and -valuables, so that she became quite rich, and was much better cared -for than she had been even by her own son. Consequently, she became -very well-disposed to the tiger, which often came and slept in the -verandah, remaining for a whole day at a time, and giving no cause of -fear either to man or beast. In a few years the old woman died, upon -which the tiger walked in and roared its lamentations in the hall. -However, with all the money she had saved, she was able to have a -splendid funeral; and while her relatives were standing round the -grave, out rushed a tiger, and sent them all running away in fear. But -the tiger merely went up to the mound, and, after roaring like a -thunder-peal, disappeared again. Then the people of that place built a -shrine in honour of the Faithful Tiger, and it remains there to this -day. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[189] All underlings (and we might add overlings) in China being -unpaid, it behoves them to make what they can out of the opportunities -afforded. In most _yamêns_, the various warrants and such documents -are distributed to the runners in turn, who squeeze the victims thus -handed over to them. For a small bribe they will go back and report -"not at home;" for a larger one "has absconded," and so on. - -Gatekeepers charge a fee on every petition that passes through their -hands; gaolers, for a consideration and with proper security, allow -their prisoners to be at large until wanted; clerks take bribes to use -their influence, honestly or dishonestly, with the magistrate who is -to try the case; and all the servants share equally in the gratuities -given by anyone to whom their master may send presents. The amount, -whatever it may be, is enclosed in a red envelope and addressed to the -sender of the present, with the words "Instead of tea," in large -characters; the meaning being that the refreshments which should have -been set before the servants who brought the gifts have been commuted -by a money payment. This money is put into a general fund and equally -divided at stated periods. - -All Government officers holding a post, from the highest to the -lowest, are entitled to a nominal, and what would be a quite -inadequate, salary; but no one ever sees this. It is customary to -refuse acceptance of it on some such grounds as want of merit, and -refund it to the Imperial Treasury. - -[190] Anybody is liable to be "impressed" at any moment for the -service of the Government. Boat owners, sedan-chair and coolie -proprietors, especially dread the frequent and heavy calls that are -made upon them for assistance, the remuneration they receive being in -all cases insufficient to defray mere working expenses. But inasmuch -as Chinese officials may not seize any men, or boats, or carts, -holding passes to show that they are in the employ of a foreign -merchant, a lively trade in such documents has sprung up in certain -parts of China between the dishonest of the native and foreign -commercial circles. - -[191] Constables, detectives, and others, are liable to be bambooed at -intervals, generally of three or five days, until the mission on which -they are engaged has been successfully accomplished. In cases of theft -and non-restoration of the stolen property within a given time, the -detectives or constables employed may be required to make it good. - -[192] Extended by the Chinese to certain cases of simple man -slaughter. - - - - -XXXI. - -A DWARF. - - -In the reign of K'ang Hsi, there was a magician who carried about with -him a wooden box, in which he had a dwarf not much more than a foot in -height. When people gave him money he would open the box and bid the -little creature come out. The dwarf would then sing a song and go in -again. Arriving one day at Yeh, the magistrate there seized the box, -and taking it into his yamên asked the dwarf whence he came. At first -he dared not reply, but on being pressed told the magistrate -everything. He said he belonged to a respectable family, and that once -when returning home from school he was stupified by the magician, who -gave him some drug which made his limbs shrink, and then took him -about to exhibit to people. The magistrate was very angry and had the -magician beheaded, himself taking charge of the dwarf. He was -subsequently very anxious to get him cured, but unable to obtain the -proper prescription.[193] - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[193] The Cantonese believe the following to be the usual -process:--"Young children are bought or stolen at a tender age and -placed in a _ch'ing_, or vase with a narrow neck, and having in this -case a moveable bottom. In this receptacle the unfortunate little -wretches are kept for years in a sitting posture, their heads outside, -being all the while carefully tended and fed.... When the child has -reached the age of twenty or over, he or she is taken away to some -distant place and 'discovered' in the woods as a wild man or -woman."--_China Mail_, 15th May, 1878. - - - - -XXXII. - -HSIANG-JU'S MISFORTUNES. - - -At Kuang-p'ing there lived an old man named Fêng, who had an only son -called Hsiang-ju. Both of them were graduates; and the father was very -particular and strict, though the family had long been poor. Mrs. Fêng -and Hsiang-ju's wife had died one shortly after the other, so that the -father and son were obliged to do their household work for themselves. - -One night Hsiang-ju was sitting out in the moonlight, when suddenly a -young lady from next door got on the wall to have a look at him. He -saw she was very pretty, and as he approached her she began to laugh. -He then beckoned to her with his hand; but she did not move either to -come or to go away. At length, however, she accepted the invitation, -and descended the ladder that he had placed for her. In reply to -Hsiang-ju's inquiries, the young lady said her name was Hung-yü, and -that she lived next door; so Hsiang-ju, who was much taken with her -beauty, begged her to come over frequently and have a chat. To this -she readily assented, and continued to do so for several months, until -one evening old Mr. Fêng, hearing sounds of talking and laughing in -his son's room, got up and looked in. Seeing Miss Hung-yü, he was -exceedingly angry, and called his son out, saying, "You -good-for-nothing fellow! poor as we are, why aren't you at your books, -instead of wasting your time like this? A pretty thing for the -neighbours to hear of!--and even if they don't hear of it, somebody -else will, and shorten your life accordingly."[194] Hsiang-ju fell on -his knees, and with tears implored forgiveness; whereupon his father -turned to the young lady, and said, "A girl who behaves like this -disgraces others as well as herself; and if people find this out, we -shan't be the only ones to suffer." The old man then went back to bed -in a rage, and Miss Hung-yü, weeping bitterly, said to Hsiang-ju, -"Your father's reproaches have overwhelmed me with shame. Our -friendship is now at an end." "I could say nothing," replied he, "as -long as my father was here; but if you have any consideration for me, -I pray you think nothing of his remarks." Miss Hung-yü protested, -however, that they could meet no more, and then Hsiang-ju also burst -into tears. "Do not weep," cried she, "our friendship was an -impossible one, and time must sooner or later have put an end to these -visits. Meanwhile, I hear there is a very good match to be made in the -neighbourhood." Hsiang-ju replied that he was poor; but Miss Hung-yü -told him to meet her again the following evening, when she would -endeavour to do something for him. At the appointed time she arrived, -and, producing forty ounces of silver, presented them to Hsiang-ju; -telling him that at a village some distance off there was a Miss Wei, -eighteen years of age, who was not yet married because of the -exorbitant demands of her parents, but that a little extra outlay -would secure for him the young lady's hand. Miss Hung-yü then bade him -farewell, and Hsiang-ju went off to inform his father, expressing a -desire to go and make inquiries, but saying nothing about the forty -ounces. His father, thinking that they were not sufficiently well off, -urged him not to go; however, by dint of argument, he finally -persuaded the old man that, at any rate, there was no harm in trying. -So he borrowed horses and attendants, and set off to the house of Mr. -Wei, who was a man of considerable property; and when he got there he -asked Mr. Wei to come outside and accord him a few minutes' -conversation. Now the latter knew that Hsiang-ju belonged to a very -good family; and when he saw all the retinue that Hsiang-ju had -brought with him, he inwardly consented to the match, though he was -afraid that perhaps his would-be son-in-law might not be as liberal as -he would like. Hsiang-ju soon perceived what Mr. Wei's feelings were, -and emptied his purse on the table, at which Mr. Wei was delighted, -and begged a neighbour to allow the marriage contract to be drawn up -in his house.[195] Hsiang-ju then went in to pay his respects to Mrs. -Wei, whom he found in a small, miserable room, with Miss Wei hiding -behind her. Still he was pleased to see that, in spite of her homely -toilette, the young lady herself was very nice-looking; and, while he -was being entertained in the neighbour's house, the old lady said, "It -will not be necessary for you, Sir, to come and fetch our daughter. As -soon as we have made up a small trousseau for her, we will send her -along to you."[196] Hsiang-ju then agreed with them upon a day for the -wedding, and went home and informed his father, pretending that the -Wei family only asked for respectability, and did not care about -money. His father was overjoyed to hear this; and when the day came, -the young lady herself arrived. She proved to be a thrifty housekeeper -and an obedient wife, so that she and her husband got along capitally -together. In two years she had a son, who was called Fu-êrh. And once, -on the occasion of the great spring festival, she was on her way to -the family tombs, with her boy in her arms, when she chanced to meet a -man named Sung, who was one of the gentry of the neighbourhood. This -Mr. Sung had been a Censor,[197] but had purchased his retirement, and -was now leading a private life, characterised by many overbearing and -violent acts. He was returning from his visit to the graves of his -ancestors when he saw Hsiang-ju's wife, and, attracted by her beauty, -found out who she was; and imagining that, as her husband was a poor -scholar, he might easily be induced for a consideration to part with -the lady, sent one of his servants to find out how the land lay. When -Hsiang-ju heard what was wanted, he was very angry; but, reflecting on -the power of his adversary, controlled his passion, and passed the -thing off with a laugh. His father, however, to whom he repeated what -had occurred, got into a violent rage, and, rushing out, flung his -arms about, and called Mr. Sung every name he could lay his tongue to. -Mr. Sung's emissary slunk off and went home; and then a number of men -were sent by the enraged Sung, and these burst into the house and gave -old Fêng and his son a most tremendous beating. In the middle of the -hubbub Hsiang-ju's wife ran in, and, throwing her child down on the -bed, tore her hair and shrieked for help. Sung's attendants -immediately surrounded her and carried her off, while there lay her -husband and his father, wounded on the ground and the baby squalling -on the bed. The neighbours, pitying their wretched condition, helped -them up on to the couches, and by the next day Hsiang-ju could walk -with a stick; however, his father's anger was not to be appeased, and, -after spitting a quantity of blood, he died. Hsiang-ju wept bitterly -at this, and, taking his child in his arms, used every means to bring -the offenders to justice, but without the slightest success. He then -heard that his wife had put an end to her own existence, and with this -his cup of misery was full. Unable to get his wrongs redressed, he -often meditated assassinating Sung in the open street,[198] but was -deterred from attempting this by the number of his retainers and the -fear of leaving his son with no one to protect him. Day and night he -mourned over his lot, and his eyelids were never closed in sleep, when -suddenly in walked a personage of striking appearance to condole with -him on his losses. The stranger's face was covered with a huge curly -beard; and Hsiang-ju, not knowing who he was, begged him to take a -seat, and was about to ask whence he came, when all at once he began, -"Sir! have you forgotten your father's death, your wife's disgrace?" -Thereupon Hsiang-ju, suspecting him to be a spy from the Sung family, -made some evasive reply, which so irritated the stranger that he -roared out, "I thought you were a man; but now I know that you are a -worthless, contemptible wretch." Hsiang-ju fell on his knees and -implored the stranger to forgive him, saying, "I was afraid it was a -trick of Sung's: I will speak frankly to you. For days I have lain, as -it were, upon thorns, my mouth filled with gall, restrained only by -pity for this little one and fear of breaking our ancestral line. -Generous friend, will you take care of my child if I fall?" "That," -replied the stranger, "is the business of women; I cannot undertake -it. But what you wish others to do for you, do yourself; and that -which you would do yourself, I will do for you." When Hsiang-ju heard -these words he knocked his head upon the ground; but the stranger took -no more notice of him, and walked out. Following him to the door, -Hsiang-ju asked his name, to which he replied, "If I cannot help you I -shall not wish to have your reproaches; if I do help you, I shall not -wish to have your gratitude." The stranger then disappeared, and -Hsiang-ju, having a presentiment that some misfortune was about to -happen, fled away with his child. - -When night came, and the members of the Sung family were wrapped in -sleep, some one found his way into their house and slew the ex-Censor -and his two sons, besides a maid-servant and one of the ladies. -Information was at once given to the authorities; and as the Sung -family had no doubt that the murderer was Hsiang-ju, the magistrate, -who was greatly alarmed,[199] sent out lictors to arrest him. -Hsiang-ju, however, was nowhere to be found, a fact which tended to -confirm the suspicions of the Sung family; and they, too, despatched a -number of servants to aid the mandarin in effecting his capture. -Towards evening the lictors and others reached a hill, and, hearing a -child cry, made for the sound, and thus secured the object of their -search, whom they bound and led away. As the child went on crying -louder than ever, they took it from him and threw it down by the -wayside, thereby nearly causing Hsiang-ju to die of grief and rage. On -being brought before the magistrate he was asked why he had killed -these people; to which he replied that he was falsely accused, "For," -said he, "they died in the night, whereas I had gone away in the -daytime. Besides," added he, "how, with a crying baby in my arms, -could I scale walls and kill people?" "If you didn't kill people," -cried the magistrate, "why did you run away?" Hsiang had no answer to -make to this, and he was accordingly ordered to prison; whereupon he -wept and said, "I can die without regret; but what has my child done -that he, too, should be punished?" "You," replied the magistrate, -"have slain the children of others; how can you complain if your child -meets the same fate?" Hsiang-ju was then stripped of his degree[200] -and subjected to all kinds of indignities, but they were unable to -wring a confession from his lips;[201] and that very night, as the -magistrate lay down, he heard a sharp noise of something striking the -bed, and, jumping up in a fright, found, by the light of a candle, a -small, keen blade sticking in the wood at the head of his couch so -tightly that it could not be drawn out. Terribly alarmed at this, the -magistrate walked round the room with a spear over his shoulder, but -without finding anything; and then, reflecting that nothing more was -to be feared from Sung, who was dead, as well as his two sons, he -laid Hsiang-ju's case before the higher authorities, and obtained for -him an acquittal. Hsiang-ju was released and went home. His cupboard, -however, was empty, and there was nothing except his own shadow within -the four walls of his house. Happily, his neighbours took pity on him -and supplied him with food; and whenever he thought upon the vengeance -that had been wreaked, his countenance assumed an expression of joy; -but as often as his misfortunes and the extinction of his family came -into his mind, his tears would begin to flow. And when he remembered -the poverty of his life and the end of his ancestral line, he would -seek out some solitary spot, and there burst into an ungovernable fit -of grief. Thus things went on for about six months, when the search -after the murderer began to be relaxed; and then Hsiang-ju petitioned -for the recovery of his wife's bones, which he took home with him and -buried. His sorrows made him wish to die, and he lay tossing about on -the bed without any object in life, when suddenly he heard somebody -knock at the door. Keeping quiet to listen, he distinguished the sound -of a voice outside talking with a child; and, getting up to look, he -perceived a young lady, who said to him, "Your great wrongs are all -redressed, and now, luckily, you have nothing to ail you." The voice -seemed familiar to him, but he could not at the moment recall where he -had heard it; so he lighted a candle, and Miss Hung-yü stood before -him. She was leading a small, happy-looking child by the hand; and -after she and Hsiang-ju had expressed their mutual satisfaction at -meeting once more, Miss Hung-yü pushed the boy forward, saying, "Have -you forgotten your father?" The boy clung to her dress, and looked -shyly at Hsiang-ju, who, on examining him closely, found that he was -Fu-êrh. "Where did he come from?" asked his father, in astonishment, -not unmingled with tears. "I will tell you all," replied Miss Hung-yü. -"I was only deceiving you when I said I belonged to a neighbouring -family. I am really a fox, and, happening to go out one evening, I -heard a child crying in a ditch. I took him home and brought him up; -and, now that your troubles are over, I return him to you, that father -and son may be together." Hsiang-ju wiped away his tears and thanked -her heartily; but Fu-êrh kept close to Miss Hung-yü, whom he had come -to regard as a mother, and did not seem to recognise his father again. -Before day-break Miss Hung-yü said she must go away; but Hsiang-ju -fell upon his knees and entreated her to stop, until at last she said -she was only joking, adding that, in a new establishment like theirs, -it would be a case of early to rise and late to bed. She then set to -work cutting fuel and sweeping it up, toiling hard as if she had been -a man, which made Hsiang-ju regret that he was too poor to have all -this done for her. However, she bade him mind his books, and not -trouble himself about the state of their affairs, as they were not -likely to die of hunger. She also produced some money, and bought -implements for spinning, besides renting a few acres of land and -hiring labourers to till them. Day by day she would shoulder her hoe -and work in the fields, or employ herself in mending the roof, so -that her fame as a good wife spread abroad, and the neighbours were -more than ever pleased to help them. In half-a-year's time their home -was like that of a well-to-do family, with plenty of servants about; -but one day Hsiang-ju said to Miss Hung-yü, "With all that you have -accomplished on my behalf, there is still one thing left undone." On -her asking him what it was, he continued: "The examination for -master's degree is at hand, and I have not yet recovered the -bachelor's degree of which I was stripped." "Ah," replied she, "some -time back I had your name replaced upon the list; had I waited for you -to tell me, it would have been too late." Hsiang-ju marvelled very -much at this, and accordingly took his master's degree. He was then -thirty-six years of age, the master of broad lands and fine houses; -and Miss Hung-yü, who looked delicate enough to be blown away by the -wind, and yet worked harder than an ordinary labourer's wife, keeping -her hands smooth and nice in spite of winter weather, gave herself out -to be thirty-eight, though no one took her to be much more than -twenty. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[194] Meaning that it would become known to the Arbiter of life and -death in the world below, who would punish him by shortening his -appointed term of years. See _The Wei-ch'i Devil_, No. CXXXI. - -[195] One important preliminary consists in the exchange of the four -pairs of characters which denote the year, month, day, and hour of the -births of the contracting parties. It remains for a geomancer to -determine whether these are in harmony or not; and a very simple -expedient for backing out of a proposed alliance is to bribe him to -declare that the nativities of the young couple could not be happily -brought together. - -[196] The bridegroom invariably fetches the bride from her father's -house, conveying her to his home in a handsomely-gilt red sedan-chair, -closed in on all sides, and accompanied by a band of music. - -[197] The Censorate is a body of fifty-six officials, whose duty it is -to bring matters to the notice of the Emperor which might otherwise -have escaped attention; to take exception to any acts, including those -of His Majesty himself, calculated to interfere with the welfare of -the people; and to impeach, as occasion may require, the high -provincial authorities, whose position, but for this wholesome check, -would be almost unassailable. Censors are popularly termed the "ears -and eyes" of the monarch. - -[198] In the _Book of Rites_ (I. Pt. i. v. 10), which dates, in its -present form, only from the first century B.C., occurs this passage, -"With the slayer of his father, a man may not live under the same -heaven;" and in the _Family Sayings_ (Bk. X. _ab init._), a work which -professes, though on quite insufficient authority, to record a number -of the conversations and apophthegms of Confucius not given in the -_Lun-yü_, or Confucian Gospels, we find the following course laid down -for a man whose father has been murdered:--"He must sleep upon a grass -mat, with his shield for his pillow; he must decline to take office; -he must not live under the same heaven (with the murderer). When he -meets him in the court or in the market-place, he must not return for -a weapon, but engage him there and then;" being always careful, as the -commentator observes, to carry a weapon about with him. Sir John Davis -and Dr. Legge agree in stigmatizing this as "one of the objectionable -principles of Confucius." It must, however, be admitted that (1) a -patched-up work which appeared as we have it now from two to three -centuries after Confucius's death, and (2) a confessedly apocryphal -work such as the _Family Sayings_, are hardly sufficient grounds for -affixing to the fair fame of China's great Sage the positive -inculcation of a dangerous principle of blood-vengeance like that I -have just quoted. - -[199] The Chinese theory being that every official is responsible for -the peace and well-being of the district committed to his charge, and -even liable to punishment for occurrences over which he could not -possibly have had any control. - -[200] See No. X., note 75. - -[201] See No. X., note 78. - - - - -XXXIII. - -CHANG'S TRANSFORMATION. - - -Chang Yü-tan, of Chao-yuan, was a wild fellow, who pursued his studies -at the Hsiao temple. Now it chanced that the magistrate of the -district, Mr. Tsêng of San-han, had a daughter who was very fond of -hunting, and that one day young Chang met her in the fields, and was -much struck with her great beauty. She was dressed in an embroidered -sable jacket, and rode about on a small palfrey, for all the world -like a girl in a picture. Chang went home with the young lady still in -his thoughts, his heart being deeply touched; but he soon after heard, -to his infinite sorrow and dismay, that Miss Tsêng had died suddenly. -Their own home being at a distance,[202] her father deposited the -coffin in a temple;[203] the very temple, in fact, where her lover was -residing. Accordingly Chang paid to her remains the same respect he -would have offered to a god; he burnt incense every morning, and -poured out libations at every meal, always accompanied by the -following invocation:--"I had hardly seen you when your spirit became -ever present to me in my dreams. But you passed suddenly away; and -now, near as we are together, we are as far apart as if separated by -hills and rivers. Alas! alas! In life you were under the control of -your parents; now, however, there is nothing to restrain you, and with -your supernatural power, I should be hearing the rustle of your robe -as you approach to ease the sorrow of my heart." Day and night he -prayed thus, and when some six months had passed away, and he was one -night trimming his lamp to read, he raised his head and saw a young -lady standing, all smiles, before him. Rising up, he inquired who she -was; to which his visitor replied, "Grateful to you for your love of -me, I was unable to resist the temptation of coming to thank you -myself." Chang then offered her a seat, and they sat together chatting -for some time. From this date the young lady used to come in every -evening, and on one occasion said to Chang, "I was formerly very fond -of riding and archery, shooting the musk and slaying the deer; it is a -great sorrow to me to be deprived of these pleasures by death. If you -have any friendly feelings towards me, I pray you recite for me the -Diamond _sutra_[204] five thousand and forty-eight times, and I will -never forget your kindness." Chang did as he was asked, getting up -every night and telling his beads before the coffin, until the -occasion of a certain festival, when he wished to go home to his -parents, and take the young lady with him. Miss Tsêng said she was -afraid her feet were too tender to walk far; but Chang offered to -carry her, to which she laughingly assented. It was just like carrying -a child, she was so light;[205] and by degrees Chang got so accustomed -to taking her about with him, that when he went up for his examination -she went in too.[206] The only thing was she could not travel except -at night. Later on, Chang would have gone up for his master's degree, -but the young lady told him it was of no use to try, for it was not -destined that he should pass; and accordingly he desisted from his -intention. Four or five years afterwards, Miss Tsêng's father resigned -his appointment, and so poor was he that he could not afford to pay -for the removal of his daughter's coffin, but wanted to bury it -economically where it was. Unfortunately, he had no ground of his own, -and then Chang came forward and said that a friend of his had a piece -of waste land near the temple, and that he might bury it there. Mr. -Tsêng was very glad to accept, and Chang kindly assisted him with the -funeral,--for what reason the former was quite unable to guess. One -night after this, as Miss Tsêng was sitting by Chang's side, her -father having already returned home, she burst into a flood of tears, -and said, "For five years we have been good friends; we must now part. -I can never repay your goodness to me." Chang was alarmed, and asked -her what she meant; to which she replied, "Your sympathy has told for -me in the realms below. The sum of my _sutras_ is complete, and to-day -I am to be born again in the family of a high official, Mr. Lu, of -Ho-pei. If you do not forget the present time, meet me there in -fifteen years from now, on the 16th of the 8th moon." "Alas!" cried -Chang, "I am already over thirty, and in fifteen years more I shall be -drawing near the wood.[207] What good will our meeting do?" "I can be -your servant," replied Miss Tsêng, "and so make some return to you. -But come, escort me a few miles on my way; the road is beset with -brambles, and I shall have some trouble with my dress." So Chang -carried her as before, until they reached a high road, where they -found a number of carriages and horses, the latter with one or two -riders on the backs of each, and three or four, or even more persons, -in every carriage. But there was one richly-decorated carriage, with -embroidered curtains and red awnings, in which sat only one old woman, -who, when she saw Miss Tsêng, called out, "Ah, there you are." "Here I -am," replied Miss Tsêng; and then she turned to Chang and said, "We -must part here; do not forget what I told you." Chang promised he -would remember; and then the old woman helped her up into the -carriage, round went the wheels, off went the attendants, and they -were gone. Sorrowfully Chang wended his way home, and there wrote upon -the wall the date mentioned by Miss Tsêng; after which, bethinking -himself of the efficacy of prayer, he took to reciting _sutras_ more -energetically than ever. By-and-by he dreamed that an angel appeared -to him, and said, "The bent of your mind is excellent indeed, but you -must visit the Southern Sea."[208] Asking how far off the Southern Sea -was, the angel informed him it was close by; and then waking up, and -understanding what was required of him, he fixed his sole thoughts on -Buddha, and lived a purer life than before. In three years' time his -two sons, Ming and Chêng, came out very high on the list at the -examination for the second degree, in spite of which worldly successes -Chang continued to lead his usual holy life. Then one night he dreamed -that another angel led him among beautiful halls and palaces, where he -saw a personage sitting down who resembled Buddha himself. This -personage said to him, "My son, your virtue is a matter of great joy; -unhappily your term of life is short, and I have, therefore, made an -appeal to God[209] on your behalf." Chang prostrated himself, and -knocked his head upon the ground; upon which he was commanded to rise, -and was served with tea, fragrant as the epidendrum. A boy was next -instructed to take him to bathe in a pool, the water of which was so -exquisitely clear that he could count the fishes swimming about -therein. He found it warm as he walked in, and scented like the leaves -of the lotus-flower; and gradually the water got deeper and deeper, -until he went down altogether and passed through with his head under -water. He then waked up in a fright; but from this moment he became -more robust and his sight improved. As he stroked his beard the white -hairs all came out, and by-and-by the black ones too; the wrinkles on -his face were smoothed away, and in a few months he had the beardless -face of a boy of fifteen or sixteen. He also grew very fond of playing -about like other boys, and would sometimes tumble head over heels, and -be picked up by his sons. Soon afterwards his wife died of old age, -and his sons begged him to marry again into some good family; but he -said he should be obliged to go to Ho-pei first; and then, calculating -his dates, found that the appointed time had arrived. So he ordered -his horses and servants, and set off for Ho-pei, where he discovered -that there actually was a high official named Lu. Now Mr. Lu had a -daughter, who when born was able to talk,[210] and became very clever -and beautiful as she grew up. She was the idol of her parents, and had -been asked in marriage by many suitors, but would not accept any of -them; and when her father and mother inquired her motives for refusal, -she told them the story of her engagement in her former life. "Silly -child," said they, reckoning up the time, and laughing at her; "that -Mr. Chang would now be about fifty years of age, a changed and feeble -old man. Even if he is still alive, his hair will be white and his -teeth gone." But their daughter would not listen to them; and, finding -her so obstinate in her determination, they instructed the doorkeeper -to admit no strangers until the appointed time should have passed, -that thus her expectations might be brought to naught. Before long, -Chang arrived, but the doorkeeper would not let him in, and he went -back to his inn in great distress, not knowing what to do. He then -took to walking about the fields, and secretly making inquiries -concerning the family. Meanwhile Miss Tsêng thought that he had broken -his engagement, and refused all food, giving herself up to tears -alone. Her mother argued that he was probably dead, or in any case -that the breach of engagement was no fault of her daughter's; to none -of which, however, would Miss Tsêng listen, lying where she was the -livelong day. Mr. Lu now became anxious about her, and determined to -see what manner of man this Chang might be; so, on the plea of taking -a walk, he went out to meet him in the fields, and to his astonishment -found quite a young man. They sat down together on some leaves, and -after chatting awhile Mr. Lu was so charmed with his young friend's -bearing that he invited him to his house. No sooner had they arrived, -than Mr. Lu begged Chang to excuse him a moment, and ran in first to -tell his daughter, who exerted herself to get up and take a peep at -the stranger. Finding, however, that he was not the Chang she had -formerly known, she burst into tears and crept back to bed, upbraiding -her parents for trying to deceive her thus. Her father declared he was -no other than Chang, but his daughter replied only with tears; and -then he went back very much upset to his guest, whom he treated with -great want of courtesy. Chang asked him if he was not the Mr. Lu, of -such and such a position, to which he replied in a vacant kind of way -that he was, looking the other way all the time and paying no -attention to Chang. The latter did not approve of this behaviour, and -accordingly took his leave; and in a few days Miss Tsêng had cried -herself to death. Chang then dreamed that she appeared to him, and -said, "Was it you after all that I saw? You were so changed in age and -appearance that when I looked upon your face I did not know you. I -have already died from grief; but if you make haste to the little -street shrine and summon my spirit back, I may still recover. Be not -late!" Chang then waked, and immediately made inquiries at Mr. Lu's -house, when he found that the young lady had been dead two days. -Telling her father his dream, they went forth to summon the spirit -back; and on opening the shroud, and throwing themselves with -lamentations over the corpse, a noise was heard in the young lady's -throat, and her cherry lips parted. They moved her on to a bed, and -soon she began to moan, to the great joy of Mr. Lu, who took Chang out -of the room and, over a bumper of wine, asked some questions about his -family. He was glad to find that Chang was a suitable match for his -daughter, and an auspicious day was fixed for the wedding. In a -fortnight the event came off, the bride being escorted to Chang's -house by her father, who remained with them six months before going -home again. They were a youthful pair, and people who didn't know the -story mistook Chang's son and daughter-in-law for his father and -mother. A year later Mr. Lu died; and his son, a mere child, having -been badly wounded by some scoundrels, and the family property being -almost gone, Chang made him come and live with them, and be one of -their own family. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[202] No man being allowed to hold office within a radius of 500 _li_, -or nearly 200 miles, from his native place. - -[203] This is a very common custom all over China. - -[204] Of all the Buddhist _sutras_, this is perhaps the favourite with -the Chinese. - -[205] Contrary to the German notion that the spirit of the dead -mother, coming back at night to suckle the child she has left behind, -makes an impress on the bed alongside the baby. - -[206] Being, of course, invisible to all except himself. - -[207] A very ancient expression, signifying "the grave," the word -"wood" being used by synecdoche for "coffin." - -[208] The supposed residence of Kuan-yin, the Chinese Goddess of -Mercy, she who "hears prayers" and is the giver of children. - -[209] The great Supreme Ruler, who is supposed to have absolute sway -over the various other deities of the Chinese Pantheon. - -[210] Generally spoken of as an inauspicious phenomenon. - - - - -XXXIV. - -A TAOIST PRIEST. - - -Once upon a time there was a Mr. Han, who belonged to a wealthy -family, and was fond of entertaining people. A man named Hsü, of the -same town, frequently joined him over the bottle; and on one occasion -when they were together a Taoist priest came to the door with his -alms-bowl[211] in his hand. The servants threw him some money and -food, but the priest would not accept them, neither would he go away; -and at length they would take no more notice of him. Mr. Han heard the -noise of the priest knocking his bowl[212] going on for a long time, -and asked his servants what was the matter; and they had hardly told -him when the priest himself walked in. Mr. Han begged him to be -seated; whereupon the priest bowed to both gentlemen and took his -seat. On making the usual inquiries, they found that he lived at an -old tumble-down temple to the east of the town, and Mr. Han expressed -regret at not having heard sooner of his arrival, so that he might -have shown him the proper hospitality of a resident. The priest said -that he had only recently arrived, and had no friends in the place; -but hearing that Mr. Han was a jovial fellow, he had been very anxious -to take a glass with him. Mr. Han then ordered wine, and the priest -soon distinguished himself as a hard drinker; Mr. Hsü treating him all -the time with a certain amount of disrespect in consequence of his -shabby appearance, while Mr. Han made allowances for him as being a -traveller. When he had drunk over twenty large cups of wine, the -priest took his leave, returning subsequently whenever any -jollification was going on, no matter whether it was eating or -drinking. Even Han began now to tire a little of him; and on one -occasion Hsü said to him in raillery, "Good priest, you seem to like -being a guest; why don't you play the host sometimes for a change?" -"Ah," replied the priest, "I am much the same as yourself--a mouth -carried between a couple of shoulders."[213] This put Hsü to shame, -and he had no answer to make; so the priest continued, "But although -that is so, I have been revolving the question with myself for some -time, and when we do meet I shall do my best to repay your kindness -with a cup of my own poor wine." When they had finished drinking, the -priest said he hoped he should have the pleasure of their company the -following day at noon; and at the appointed time the two friends went -together, not expecting, however, to find anything ready for them. But -the priest was waiting for them in the street; and passing through a -handsome court-yard, they beheld long suites of elegant apartments -stretching away before them. In great astonishment, they remarked to -the priest that they had not visited this temple for some time, and -asked when it had been thus repaired; to which he replied that the -work had been only lately completed. They then went inside, and there -was a magnificently-decorated apartment, such as would not be found -even in the houses of the wealthy. This made them begin to feel more -respect for their host; and no sooner had they sat down than wine and -food were served by a number of boys, all about sixteen years of age, -and dressed in embroidered coats, with red shoes. The wine and the -eatables were delicious, and very nicely served; and when the dinner -was taken away, a course of rare fruits was put on the table, the -names of all of which it would be impossible to mention. They were -arranged in dishes of crystal and jade, the brilliancy of which -lighted up the surrounding furniture; and the goblets in which the -wine was poured were of glass,[214] and more than a foot in -circumference. The priest here cried out, "Call the Shih sisters," -whereupon one of the boys went out, and in a few moments two elegant -young ladies walked in. The first was tall and slim like a willow -wand; the other was short and very young, both being exceedingly -pretty girls. Being told to sing while the company were drinking, the -younger beat time and sang a song, while the elder accompanied her on -the flageolet. They acquitted themselves admirably; and, when the song -was over, the priest holding his goblet bottom upwards in the air, -challenged his guests to follow his example, bidding his servants pour -out more wine all round. He then turned to the girls, and remarked -that they had not danced for a long time, asking if they were still -able to do so; upon which a carpet was spread by one of the boys, and -the two young ladies proceeded to dance, their long robes waving about -and perfuming the air around. The dance concluded, they leant against -a painted screen, while the two guests gradually became more and more -confused, and were at last irrecoverably drunk. The priest took no -notice of them; but when he had finished drinking, he got up and said, -"Pray, go on with your wine; I am going to rest awhile, and will -return by-and-by." He then went away, and lay down on a splendid couch -at the other end of the room; at which Hsü was very angry, and shouted -out, "Priest, you are a rude fellow," at the same time making towards -him with a view of rousing him up. The priest then ran out, and Han -and Hsü lay down to sleep, one at each end of the room, on -elaborately-carved couches covered with beautiful mattresses. When -they woke up, they found themselves lying in the road, Mr. Hsü with -his head in a dirty drain. Hard by were a couple of rush huts; but -everything else was gone. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[211] This is the Buddhist _patra_, which modern writers have come to -regard as an instrumental part of the Taoist religion. See No. IV., -note 46. - -[212] To call attention to his presence. Beggars in China accomplish -their purpose more effectually by beating a gong in the shop where -they ask for alms so loudly as to prevent the shopkeeper from hearing -his customers speak; or they vary the performance by swinging about -some dead animal tied to the end of a stick. Mendicity not being -prohibited in China, there results a system of black mail payable by -every householder to a beggars' guild, and this frees them from the -visits of the beggars of their own particular district; many, however, -do not subscribe, but take their chance in the struggle as to who will -tire out the other first, the shopkeeper, who has all to lose, being -careful to stop short of anything like manual violence, which would -forthwith bring down upon him the myrmidons of the law, and subject -him to innumerable "squeezes." - -[213] _Sc._ a "sponge." - -[214] Said to have been introduced into China from the west by a -eunuch named San-pao during the Ming dynasty. - - - - -XXXV. - -THE FIGHT WITH THE FOXES. - - -In the province of Chih-li, there was a wealthy family in want of a -tutor. One day a graduate presented himself at the door, and was asked -by the master of the house to walk in; and he conversed so pleasantly -that in a short time it was clear to both sides that they were -mutually pleased with each other. The tutor said his name was Hu; and -when the usual present had been made to him, he was forthwith provided -with apartments, and entered very energetically upon his duties, -proving himself a scholar of no mean order. He was, however, very fond -of roaming, and generally came back in the middle of the night, not -troubling himself to knock if the door was locked but suddenly -appearing on the inside. It was therefore suspected that he was a fox, -though as his intentions seemed to be harmless, he was treated -extremely well, and not with any want of courtesy as if he had been -something uncanny. By-and-by he discovered that his master had a -daughter,[215] and being desirous of securing the match was always -dropping hints to that effect, which his master, on the other hand, -invariably pretended not to understand. One day he went off for a -holiday, and on the next day a stranger called; who, tying a black -mule at the door, accepted the invitation of the master to take a seat -within. He was about fifty years of age, very neat and clean in his -dress, and gentlemanly in his manners. When they were seated, the -stranger began by saying that he was come with proposals of marriage -on behalf of Mr. Hu; to which his host, after some consideration, -replied that he and Mr. Hu got along excellently well as friends, and -there was no object in bringing about a closer connection. "Besides," -added he, "my daughter is already betrothed, and I beg you, therefore, -to ask Mr. Hu to excuse me." The stranger said he was quite sure the -young lady was not engaged, and inquired what might be the objection -to the match: but it was all of no avail, until at length he remarked, -"Mr. Hu is of a good family; I see no reason why you should have such -an aversion to him." "Well, then," replied the other, "I will tell you -what it is. We don't like his _species_." The stranger here got very -angry, and his host also lost his temper, so that they came to high -words, and were already on the way to blows, when the latter bade his -servants give the stranger a beating and turn him out. The stranger -then retired, leaving his mule behind him; and when they drew near to -look at it they found a huge creature with black hair, drooping ears, -and a long tail. They tried to lead it away, but it would not move; -and on giving it a shove with the hand from behind, it toppled over -and was discovered to be only of straw. In consequence of the angry -words that had been said, the master of the house felt sure that there -would be an attempt at revenge, and accordingly made all preparations; -and sure enough the next day a whole host of fox-soldiers arrived, -some on horseback, some on foot, some with spears, and others with -cross-bows, men and horses trampling along with an indescribable din. -The family were afraid to leave the house, and the foxes shouted out -to set the place on fire, at which the inmates were dreadfully -alarmed; but just then one of the bravest of them rushed forth with a -number of the servants to engage the foxes. Stones and arrows flew -about in all directions, and many on both sides were wounded; at -length, however, the foxes drew off leaving their swords on the field. -These glittered like frost or snow, but when picked up turned out to -be only millet-stalks. "Is this all their cunning?" cried their -adversary, laughing, at the same time making still more careful -preparations in case the foxes should come again. Next day they were -deliberating together, when suddenly a giant descended upon them from -the sky. He was over ten feet in height by several feet in breadth, -and brandished a sword as broad as half a door; but they attacked him -so vigorously with arrows and stones that he was soon stretched dead -upon the ground, when they saw that he was made of grass. Our friends -now began to make light of their fox-foes, and as they saw nothing -more of them for three days their precautions were somewhat relaxed. -The foxes, however, soon reappeared, armed with bows and arrows, and -succeeded in shooting the master of the house in the back, -disappearing when he summoned his servants and proceeded to attack -them. Then, drawing the arrow from his back, he found it was a long -thorn; and thus the foxes went on for a month or so, coming and going, -and making it necessary to take precautions, though not really -inflicting any serious injury. This annoyed the master of the family -very much, until one day Mr. Hu[216] himself appeared with a troop of -soldiers at his back, and he immediately went out to meet him. Mr. Hu -withdrew among his men, but the master called to him to come forth, -and then asked him what he had done that soldiers should be thus -brought against his family. The foxes were now on the point of -discharging their arrows; Mr. Hu, however, stopped them; whereupon he -and his old master shook hands, and the latter invited him to walk -into his old room. Wine being served, his host observed, "You, Mr. Hu, -are a man of intelligence, and I trust you will make allowances for -me. Friends as we were, I should naturally have been glad to form a -connection with you; your carriages, however, horses, houses, etc., -are not those of ordinary mortals; and even had my daughter consented, -you must know the thing would have been impossible, she being still a -great deal too young." Mr. Hu was somewhat disconcerted at this, but -his host continued, "It's of no consequence; we can still be friends -as before, and if you do not despise us earthly creatures, there is my -son whom you have taught; he is fifteen years old, and I should be -proud to see him connected with you if such an arrangement should be -feasible." Mr. Hu was delighted, and said, "I have a daughter one year -younger than your son; she is neither ugly nor stupid. How would she -do?" His host got up and made a low bow, which Mr. Hu forthwith -returned, and they then became the best of friends, forgetting all -about the former unpleasantness. Wine was given to Mr. Hu's -attendants, and every one was made happy. The host now inquired where -Mr. Hu lived, that the ceremony of pouring out a libation to the -geese[217] might be performed; but Mr. Hu said this would not be -necessary, and remained drinking till night, when he went away again. -From this time there was no more trouble; and a year passed without -any news of Mr. Hu, so that it seemed as if he wished to get out of -his bargain. The family, however, went on waiting, and in six months -more Mr. Hu reappeared, when, after a few general remarks, he declared -that his daughter was ready, and requested that an auspicious day -might be fixed for her to come to her husband's home. This being -arranged, the young lady arrived with a retinue of sedan-chairs, and -horses, and a beautiful trousseau that nearly filled a room.[218] She -was unusually respectful to her father and mother in-law, and the -former was much pleased with the match. Her father and a younger -brother of his had escorted her to the house, and conversing away in a -most refined style they sat drinking till daybreak before they went -away. The bride herself had the gift of foreknowing whether the -harvest would be good or bad, and her advice was always taken in such -matters. Mr. Hu and his brother, and also their mother, often came to -visit her in her new home, and were then very frequently seen by -people. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[215] The women's apartments being quite separate from the rest of a -Chinese house, male visitors consequently know nothing about their -inhabitants. - -[216] See No. XIII., note 90. - -[217] A very ancient custom in China, originating in a belief that -these birds never mate a second time. The libation is made on the -occasion of the bridegroom fetching his bride from her father's house. - -[218] A Chinese trousseau, in addition to clothes and jewels, consists -of tables and chairs, and all kinds of house furniture and ornaments. - - - - -XXXVI. - -THE KING. - - -A certain Governor of Hu-nan despatched a magistrate to the capital in -charge of treasure to the amount of six hundred thousand ounces of -silver. On the road the magistrate encountered a violent storm of -rain, which so delayed him that night came on before he was able to -reach the next station. He therefore took refuge in an old temple; -but, when morning came, he was horrified to find that the treasure had -disappeared. Unable to fix the guilt on any one, he returned forthwith -to the Governor and told him the whole story. The latter, however, -refused to believe what the magistrate said, and would have had him -severely punished, but that each and all of his attendants stoutly -corroborated his statements; and accordingly he bade him return and -endeavour to find the missing silver. When the magistrate got back to -the temple, he met an extraordinary-looking blind man, who informed -him that he could read people's thoughts, and further went on to say -that the magistrate had come there on a matter of money. The latter -replied that it was so, and recounted the misfortune that had -overtaken him; whereupon the blind man called for sedan-chairs, and -told the magistrate to follow and see for himself, which he -accordingly did, accompanied by all his retinue. If the blind man said -east, they went east; or if north, north; journeying along for five -days until far among the hills, where they beheld a large city with a -great number of inhabitants. They entered the gates and proceeded on -for a short distance, when suddenly the blind man cried, "Stop!" and, -alighting from his chair, pointed to a lofty door facing the west, at -which he told the magistrate to knock and make what inquiries were -necessary. He then bowed and took his leave, and the magistrate obeyed -his instructions, whereupon a man came out in reply to his summons. He -was dressed in the fashion of the Han dynasty,[219] and did not say -what his name was; but as soon as the magistrate informed him -wherefore he had come, he replied that if the latter would wait a few -days he himself would assist him in the matter. The man then conducted -the magistrate within, and giving him a room to himself, provided him -regularly with food and drink. One day he chanced to stroll away to -the back of the building, and there found a beautiful garden with -dense avenues of pine-trees and smooth lawns of fine grass. After -wandering about for some time among the arbours and ornamental -buildings, the magistrate came to a lofty kiosque, and mounted the -steps, when he saw hanging on the wall before him a number of human -skins, each with its eyes, nose, ears, mouth, and heart.[220] -Horrified at this, he beat a hasty retreat to his quarters, convinced -that he was about to leave his own skin in this out-of-the-way place, -and giving himself up for lost. He reflected, however, that he should -probably gain nothing by trying to escape, and made up his mind to -wait; and on the following day the same man came to fetch him, saying -he could now have an audience. The magistrate replied that he was -ready; and his conductor then mounted a fiery steed, leaving the other -to follow on foot. By-and-by they reached a door like that leading -into a Viceroy's _yamên_, where stood on either side crowds of -official servants, preserving the utmost silence and decorum. The man -here dismounted and led the magistrate inside; and after passing -through another door they came into the presence of a king, who wore a -cap decorated with pearls, and an embroidered sash, and sat facing the -south. The magistrate rushed forward and prostrated himself on the -ground; upon which the king asked him if he was the Hu-nan official -who had been charged with the conveyance of treasure. On his answering -in the affirmative, the king said, "The money is all here; it's a mere -trifle, but I have no objection to receive it as a present from the -Governor." The magistrate here burst into tears, and declared that -his term of grace had already expired: that he would be punished if he -went back thus, especially as he would have no evidence to adduce in -substantiation of his story. "That is easy enough," replied the king, -and put into his hands a thick letter, which he bade him give to the -Governor, assuring him that this would prevent him from getting into -any trouble. He also provided him with an escort; and the magistrate, -who dared not argue the point further, sorrowfully accepted the letter -and took his departure. The road he travelled along was not that by -which he had come; and when the hills ended, his escort left him and -went back. In a few days more he reached Ch'ang-sha, and respectfully -informed the Governor of what had taken place; but the Governor -thought he was telling more lies, and in a great rage bade the -attendants bind him hand and foot. The magistrate then drew the letter -forth from his coat; and when the Governor broke the seal and saw its -contents, his face turned deadly pale. He gave orders for the -magistrate to be unbound, remarking that the loss of the treasure was -of no importance, and that the magistrate was free to go. Instructions -were next issued that the amount was to be made up in some way or -other and forwarded to the capital; and meanwhile the Governor fell -sick and died. - -Now this Governor had had a wife of whom he was dotingly fond; and one -morning when they waked up, lo! all her hair was gone. The whole -establishment was in dismay, no one knowing what to make of such an -occurrence. But the letter above-mentioned contained that hair, -accompanied by the following words:--"Ever since you first entered -into public life your career has been one of peculation and avarice. -The six hundred thousand ounces of silver are safely stored in my -treasury. Make good this sum from your own accumulated extortions. The -officer you charged with the treasure is innocent; he must not be -wrongly punished. On a former occasion I took your wife's hair as a -gentle warning. If now you disobey my injunctions, it will not be long -before I have your head. Herewith I return the hair as an evidence of -what I say." When the Governor was dead, his family divulged the -contents of the letter; and some of his subordinates sent men to -search for the city, but they only found range upon range of -inaccessible mountains, with nothing like a road or path. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[219] Which ended some sixteen hundred years ago. - -[220] Corresponding with our five "senses," the heart taking the place -of the brain, and being regarded by Chinese doctors as the seat not -only of intelligence and the passions, but also of all sensation. - - - - -XXXVII. - -ENGAGED TO A NUN. - - -At I-ling, in Hupei, there lived a young man named Chên Yü, the son of -a graduate. He was a good scholar and a handsome fellow, and had made -a reputation for himself even before he arrived at manhood. When quite -a boy, a physiognomist had predicted that he would marry a Taoist nun; -but his parents regarded it only as a joke, and made several attempts -to get him a different kind of wife. Their efforts, however, had not -hitherto proved successful, the difficulty being to find a suitable -match. - -Now his maternal grandmother lived at Huang-kang; and on one occasion, -when young Chên was paying her a visit, he heard some one say that of -the four Yüns at Huang-chou the youngest had no peer. This remark -referred to some very nice-looking nuns who lived in a temple[221] a -few miles from his grandmother's house; and accordingly Chên secretly -set off to see them, and, knocking at the door, was very cordially -received by the four ladies, who were persons of considerable -refinement. The youngest was a girl of incomparable beauty, and Chên -could not keep his eyes off her, until at last she put her hand up to -her face and looked the other way. Her companions now going out of the -room to get tea for their visitor, Chên availed himself of the -opportunity to ask the young lady's name; to which she replied that -she was called Yün-ch'i, and that her surname was Ch'ên. "How -extraordinary!" cried Chên; "and mine is P'an."[222] This made her -blush very much, and she bent her head down and made no answer; -by-and-by rising up and going away. The tea then came in, accompanied -by some nice fruit, and the nuns began telling him their names. One -was Pai Yün-shên, and thirty odd years of age; another was Shêng -Yün-mien, just twenty; and the third was Liang Yün-tung, twenty-four -or five years old, but the junior in point of religious standing.[223] -Yün-ch'i did not re-appear, and at length Chên grew anxious to see her -again, and asked where she was. Miss Pai told him her sister was -afraid of strangers, and Chên then got up and took his leave in spite -of their efforts to detain him. "If you want to see Yün-ch'i you had -better come again to-morrow," said Miss Pai; and Chên, who went home -thinking of nothing but Yün-ch'i, did return to the temple on the -following day. All the nuns were there except Yün-ch'i, but he hardly -liked to begin by inquiring after her; and then they pressed him to -stay and take dinner with them, accepting no excuses, Miss Pai herself -setting food and chop-sticks before him, and urging him to eat. When -he asked where Yün-ch'i was, they said she would come directly; but -evening gradually drew on and Chên rose to go home. Thereupon they all -entreated him to stay, promising that if he did so they would make -Yün-ch'i come in. Chên then agreed to remain; the lamps were lighted, -and wine was freely served round, until at last he said he was so -tipsy he couldn't take any more. "Three bumpers more," cried Miss Pai, -"and then we will send for Yün-ch'i." So Chên drank off his three -cups, whereupon Miss Liang said he must also drink three with her, -which he did, turning his wine-cup down on the table[224] and -declaring that he would have no more. "The gentleman won't condescend -to drink with us," said Miss Pai to Miss Liang, "so you had better -call in Yün-ch'i, and tell the fair Eloïsa that her Abelard is -awaiting her." In a few moments Miss Liang came back and told Chên -that Yün-ch'i would not appear; upon which he went off in a huff, -without saying a word to either of them, and for several days did not -go near the place again. He could not, however, forget Yün-ch'i, and -was always hanging about on the watch, until one afternoon he observed -Miss Pai go out, at which he was delighted, for he wasn't much afraid -of Miss Liang, and at once ran up to the temple and knocked at the -door. Yün-mien answered his knock, and from her he discovered that -Miss Liang had also gone out on business. He then asked for Yün-ch'i, -and Yün-mien led him into another court-yard, where she called out, -"Yün-ch'i! here's a visitor." At this the door of the room was -immediately slammed, and Yün-mien laughed and told Chên she had locked -herself in. Chên was on the point of saying something, when Yün-mien -moved away, and a voice was heard from the other side of the window, -"They all declare I'm setting my cap at you, Sir; and if you come here -again, I cannot answer for my safety. I do not wish to remain a nun, -and if I could only meet with a gentleman like you, Mr. P'an, I would -be a handmaid to him all the days of my life." Chên offered his hand -and heart to the young lady on the spot; but she reminded him that her -education for the priesthood had not been accomplished without -expense, "and if you truly love me," added she, "bring twenty ounces -of silver wherewith to purchase my freedom. I will wait for you three -years with the utmost fidelity." Chên assented to this, and was about -to tell her who he really was, when Yün-mien returned and they all -went out together, Chên now bidding them farewell and going back to -his grandmother's. After this he always had Yün-ch'i in his thoughts, -and wanted very much to get another interview with her and be near -her once again, but at this juncture he heard that his father was -dangerously ill, and promptly set off on his way home, travelling day -and night. His father died, and his mother who then ruled the -household was such a severe person that he dared not tell her what was -nearest to his heart. Meanwhile he scraped together all the money he -could; and refused all proposals of marriage on the score of being in -mourning for his father.[225] His mother, however, insisted on his -taking a wife; and he then told her that when he was with his -grandmother at Huang-kang, an arrangement had been made that he was to -marry a Miss Ch'ên, to which he himself was quite ready to accede; and -that now, although his father's death had stopped all communications -on the subject, he could hardly do better than pay a visit to his -grandmother and see how matters stood, promising that if the affair -was not actually settled he would obey his mother's commands. His -mother consented to this, and off he started with the money he had -saved; but when he reached Huang-kang and went off to the temple, he -found the place desolate and no longer what it had been. Entering in, -he saw only one old priestess employed in cooking her food; and on -making inquiries of her, she told him that the Abbess had died in the -previous year, and that the four nuns had gone away in different -directions. According to her, Yün-ch'i was living in the northern -quarter of the city, and thither he proceeded forthwith; but after -asking for her at all the temples in the neighbourhood, he could get -no news of her, and returned sorrowfully home, pretending to his -mother that his uncle had said Mr. Ch'ên had gone away, and that as -soon as he came back they would send a servant to let him know. - -Some months after these events, Chên's mother went on a visit to her -own home, and mentioned this story in conversation with her old -mother, who, to her astonishment, knew nothing at all about it, but -suggested that Chên and his uncle must have concocted the thing -together. Luckily, however, for Chên his uncle was away at that time, -and they had no means of getting at the real truth. Meanwhile, Chên's -mother went away to the Lily Hill to fulfil a vow she had made, and -remained all night at an inn at the foot of the hill. That evening the -landlord knocked at her door and ushered in a young priestess to share -the room. The girl said her name was Yün-ch'i; and when she heard that -Chên's mother lived at I-ling, she went and sat by her side, and -poured out to her a long tale of tribulation, finishing up by saying -that she had a cousin named P'an, at I-ling, and begging Chên's mother -to send some one to tell him where she would be found. "Every day I -suffer," added she, "and each day seems like a year. Tell him to come -quickly, or I may be gone." Chên's mother inquired what his other name -might be, but she said she did not know; to which the old lady replied -that it was of no consequence, as, being a graduate, it would be easy -to find him out. Early in the morning Chên's mother bade the girl -farewell, the latter again begging her not to forget; and when she -reached home she told Chên what had occurred. Chên threw himself on -his knees, and told his mother that he was the P'an to whom the young -lady alluded; and after hearing how the engagement had come about, his -mother was exceedingly angry, and said, "Undutiful boy! how will you -face your relations with a nun for a wife?" Chên hung his head and -made no reply; but shortly afterwards when he went up for his -examination, he presented himself at the address given by -Yün-ch'i--only, however, to find that the young lady had gone away a -fortnight before. He then returned home and fell into a bad state of -health, when his grandmother died and his mother set off to assist at -her funeral. On her way back she missed the right road and reached the -house of some people named Ching, who turned out to be cousins of -hers. They invited her in, and there she saw a young girl of about -eighteen sitting in the parlour, and as great a beauty as she had ever -set eyes on. Now, as she was always thinking of making a good match -for her son, and curing him of his settled melancholy, she asked who -the young lady might be; and they told her that her name was -Wang,--that she was a connection of their own, and that her father and -mother being dead, she was staying temporarily with them. Chên's -mother inquired the name of Miss Wang's betrothed, but they said she -was not engaged; and then taking her hand, she entered into -conversation, and was very much charmed with her. Passing the night -there, Chên's mother took her cousin into her confidence, and the -latter agreed that it would be a capital match; "but," added she, -"this young lady is somewhat ambitious, or she would hardly have -remained single so long. We must think about it." Meanwhile, Chên's -mother and Miss Wang got on so extremely well together that they were -already on the terms of mother and daughter; and Miss Wang was invited -to accompany her home. This invitation she readily accepted, and next -day they went back; Chên's mother, who wished to see her son free from -his present trouble, bidding one of the servants tell him that she had -brought home a nice wife for him; Chên did not believe this; but on -peeping through the window beheld a young lady much prettier even than -Yün-ch'i herself. He now began to reflect that the three years agreed -upon had already expired; that Yün-ch'i had gone no one knew whither, -and had probably by this time found another husband; so he had no -difficulty in entertaining the thought of marrying this young lady, -and soon regained his health. His mother then caused the young people -to meet, and be introduced to one another; saying to Miss Wang, when -her son had left the room, "Did you guess why I invited you to come -home with me?" "I did," replied the young lady, "but I don't think you -guessed what was _my_ object in coming. Some years ago I was betrothed -to a Mr. P'an, of I-ling. I have heard nothing of him for a long time. -If he has found another wife I will be your daughter-in-law; if not, I -will ever regard you as my own mother, and endeavour to repay you for -your kindness to me." "As there is an actual engagement," replied -Chên's mother, "I will say no more; but when I was at the Lily Hill -there was a Taoist nun inquiring after this Mr. P'an, and now you -again, though, as a matter of fact, there is no Mr. P'an in I-ling at -all." "What!" cried Miss Wang, "are you that lady I met? I am the -person who inquired for Mr. P'an." "If that is so," replied Chên's -mother with a smile, "then your Mr. P'an is not far off." "Where is -he?" said she; and then Chên's mother bade a maid-servant lead her out -to her son and ask him. "Is your name Yün-ch'i?" said Chên, in great -astonishment; and when the young lady asked him how he knew it, he -told her the whole story of his pretending to be a Mr. P'an. But when -Yün-ch'i found out to whom she was talking, she was abashed, and went -back and told his mother, who inquired how she came to have two names. -"My real name is Wang," replied the young lady; "but the old Abbess, -being very fond of me, made me take her own name." Chên's mother was -overjoyed at all this, and an auspicious day was immediately fixed for -the celebration of their marriage. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[221] These nunneries, of which there are plenty in China, are well -worth visiting, and may be freely entered by both sexes. Sometimes -there are as many as a hundred nuns living together in one temple, and -to all appearances devoting their lives to religious exercises; -report, however, tells many tales of broken vows, and makes sad havoc -generally with the reputation of these fair vestals. - -[222] In corresponding English, this would be:--The young lady said -her name was Eloïsa. "How funny!" cried Chên, "and mine is Abelard." - -[223] That is, she was the last to take the vows. - -[224] The usual signal that a person does not wish to take any more -wine. - -[225] This would carry him well on into the third of the years during -which Yün-ch'i had promised to wait for him. - - - - -XXXVIII. - -THE YOUNG LADY OF THE TUNG-T'ING LAKE. - - -The spirits of the Tung-t'ing lake[226] are very much in the habit of -borrowing boats. Sometimes the cable of an empty junk will cast itself -off, and away goes the vessel over the waves to the sound of music in -the air above. The boatmen crouch down in one corner and hide their -faces, not daring to look up until the trip is over and they are once -more at their old anchorage. - -Now a certain Mr. Lin, returning home after having failed at the -examination for Master's degree, was lying down very tipsy on the deck -of his boat, when suddenly strains of music and singing began to be -heard. The boatmen shook Mr. Lin, but failing to rouse him, ran down -and hid themselves in the hold below. Then some one came and lifted -him up, letting him drop again on to the deck, where he was allowed to -remain in the same drunken sleep as before. By-and-by the noise of -the various instruments became almost deafening, and Lin, partially -waking up, smelt a delicious odour of perfumes filling the air around -him. Opening his eyes, he saw that the boat was crowded with a number -of beautiful girls; and knowing that something strange was going on, -he pretended to be fast asleep. There was then a call for Chih-ch'eng, -upon which a young waiting-maid came forward and stood quite close to -Mr. Lin's head. Her stockings were the colour of the kingfisher's -wing, and her feet encased in tiny purple shoes, no bigger than one's -finger. Much smitten with this young lady, he took hold of her -stocking with his teeth, causing her, the next time she moved, to fall -forward flat on her face. Some one, evidently in authority, asked what -was the matter; and when he heard the explanation, was very angry, and -gave orders to take off Mr. Lin's head. Soldiers now came and bound -Lin, and on getting up he beheld a man sitting with his face to the -south, and dressed in the garments of a king. "Sire," cried Lin, as he -was being led away, "the king of the Tung-t'ing lake was a mortal -named Lin; your servant's name is Lin also. His Majesty was a -disappointed candidate; your servant is one too. His Majesty met the -Dragon Lady, and was made immortal; your servant has played a trick -upon this girl, and he is to die. Why this inequality of fortunes?" -When the king heard this, he bade them bring him back, and asked him, -saying, "Are you, then, a disappointed candidate?" Lin said he was; -whereupon the king handed him writing materials, and ordered him to -compose an ode upon a lady's head-dress. Some time passed before Lin, -who was a scholar of some repute in his own neighbourhood, had done -more than sit thinking about what he should write; and at length the -king upbraided him, saying, "Come, come, a man of your reputation -should not take so long." "Sire," replied Lin, laying down his pen, -"it took ten years to complete the Songs of the Three Kingdoms; -whereby it may be known that the value of compositions depends more -upon the labour given to them than the speed with which they are -written." The king laughed and waited patiently from early morning -till noon, when a copy of the verses was put into his hand, with which -he declared himself very pleased. He now commanded that Lin should be -served with wine; and shortly after there followed a collation of all -kinds of curious dishes, in the middle of which an officer came in and -reported that the register of people to be drowned had been made up. -"How many in all?" asked the king. "Two hundred and twenty-eight," was -the reply; and then the king inquired who had been deputed to carry it -out; whereupon he was informed that the generals Mao and Nan had been -appointed to do the work. Lin here rose to take leave, and the king -presented him with ten ounces of pure gold and a crystal square,[227] -telling him that it would preserve him from any danger he might -encounter on the lake. At this moment the king's retinue and horses -ranged themselves in proper order upon the surface of the lake; and -His Majesty, stepping from the boat into his sedan-chair, disappeared -from view. - -When everything had been quiet for a long time, the boatmen emerged -from the hold, and proceeded to shape their course northwards. The -wind, however, was against them, and they were unable to make any -headway; when all of a sudden an iron cat appeared floating on the top -of the water. "General Mao has come," cried the boatmen, in great -alarm; and they and all the passengers on board fell down on their -faces. Immediately afterwards a great wooden beam stood up from the -lake, nodding itself backwards and forwards, which the boatmen, more -frightened than ever, said was General Nan. Before long a tremendous -sea was raging, the sun was darkened in the heavens, and every vessel -in sight was capsized. But Mr. Lin sat in the middle of the boat, with -the crystal square in his hand, and the mighty waves broke around -without doing them any harm. Thus were they saved, and Lin returned -home; and whenever he told his wonderful story he would assert that, -although unable to speak positively as to the facial beauty of the -young lady he had seen, he dared say that she had the most exquisite -pair of feet in the world. - -Subsequently, having occasion to visit the city of Wu-ch'ang, he heard -of an old woman who wished to sell her daughter, but was unwilling to -accept money, giving out that any one who had the fellow of a certain -crystal square in her possession should be at liberty to take the -girl. Lin thought this very strange; and taking his square with him -sought out the old woman, who was delighted to see him, and told her -daughter to come in. The young lady was about fifteen years of age, -and possessed of surpassing beauty; and after saying a few words of -greeting, she turned round and went within again. Lin's reason had -almost fled at the sight of this peerless girl, and he straightway -informed the old woman that he had such an article as she required, -but could not say whether it would match hers or not. So they compared -their squares together, and there was not a fraction of difference -between them, either in length or breadth. The old woman was -overjoyed, and inquiring where Lin lived, bade him go home and get a -bridal chair, leaving his square behind him as a pledge of his good -faith. This he refused to do; but the old woman laughed, and said, -"You are too cautious, Sir; do you think I should run away for a -square?" Lin was thus constrained to leave it behind him, and hurrying -away for a chair, made the best of his way back. When, however, he got -there, the old woman was gone. In great alarm he inquired of the -people who lived near as to her whereabouts; no one, however, knew; -and it being already late he returned disconsolately to his boat. On -the way, he met a chair coming towards him, and immediately the screen -was drawn aside, and a voice cried out, "Mr. Lin! why so late?" -Looking closely, he saw that it was the old woman, who, after asking -him if he hadn't suspected her of playing him false, told him that -just after he left she had had the offer of a chair; and knowing that -he, being only a stranger in the place, would have some trouble in -obtaining one, she had sent her daughter on to his boat. Lin then -begged she would return with him, to which she would not consent; and -accordingly, not fully trusting what she said, he hurried on himself -as fast as he could, and, jumping into the boat, found the young lady -already there. She rose to meet him with a smile, and then he was -astonished to see that her stockings were the colour of a kingfisher's -wing, her shoes purple, and her appearance generally like that of the -girl he had met on the Tung-t'ing lake. While he was still confused, -the young lady remarked, "You stare, Sir, as if you had never seen me -before!" but just then Lin noticed the tear in her stocking made by -his own teeth, and cried out in amazement, "What! are you -Chih-ch'eng?" The young lady laughed at this; whereupon Lin rose, and, -making her a profound bow, said, "If you are that divine creature, I -pray you tell me at once, and set my anxiety at rest." "Sir," replied -she, "I will tell you all. That personage you met on the boat was -actually the king of the Tung-t'ing lake. He was so pleased with your -talent that he wished to bestow me upon you; but, because I was a -great favourite with Her Majesty the Queen, he went back to consult -with her. I have now come at the Queen's own command." Lin was highly -pleased; and washing his hands, burnt incense, with his face towards -the lake, as if it were the Imperial Court, and then they went home -together. - -Subsequently, when Lin had occasion to go to Wu-ch'ang, his wife asked -to be allowed to avail herself of the opportunity to visit her -parents; and when they reached the lake, she drew a hair-pin from her -hair, and threw it into the water. Immediately a boat rose from the -lake, and Lin's wife, stepping into it, vanished from sight like a -bird on the wing. Lin remained waiting for her on the prow of his -vessel, at the spot where she had disappeared; and by-and-by, he -beheld a house-boat approach, from the window of which there flew a -beautiful bird which was no other than Chih-ch'eng. Then some one -handed out from the same window gold and silk, and precious things in -great abundance, all presents to them from the Queen. After this, -Chih-ch'eng went home regularly twice every year, and Lin soon became -a very rich man, the things he had being such as no one had ever -before seen or heard of. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[226] The celebrated lake in Hu-nan, round which has gathered so much -of the folk-lore of China. - -[227] The instrument used by masons is here meant. - - - - -XXXIX. - -THE MAN WHO WAS CHANGED INTO A CROW. - - -Mr. Yü Jung was a Hu-nan man. The person who told me his story did not -recollect from what department or district he came. His family was -very poor; and once, when returning home after failure at the -examination, he ran quite out of funds. Being ashamed to beg, and -feeling uncomfortably hungry, he turned to rest awhile in the Wu -Wang[228] temple, where he poured out all his sorrows at the feet of -the God. His prayers over, he was about to lie down in the outer -porch, when suddenly a man took him and led him into the presence of -Wu Wang; and then, falling on his knees, said, "Your Majesty, there is -a vacancy among the black-robes; the appointment might be bestowed on -this man." The King assented, and Yü received a suit of black clothes; -and when he had put these on he was changed into a crow, and flew -away. Outside he saw a number of fellow-crows collected together, and -immediately joined them, settling with them on the masts of the boats, -and imitating them in catching and eating the meat or cakes which the -passengers and boatmen on board threw up to them in the air.[229] In a -little while he was no longer hungry, and, soaring aloft, alighted on -the top of a tree quite satisfied with his change of condition. Two or -three days passed, and the King, now pitying his solitary state, -provided him with a very elegant mate, whose name was Chu-ch'ing, and -who took every opportunity of warning him when he exposed himself too -much in search of food. However, he did not pay much attention to -this, and one day a soldier shot him in the breast with a cross-bow; -but luckily Chu-ch'ing got away with him in her beak, and he was not -captured. This enraged the other crows very much, and with their wings -they flapped the water into such big waves that all the boats were -upset. Chu-ch'ing now procured food and fed her husband; but his wound -was a severe one, and by the end of the day he was dead--at which -moment he waked, as it were, from a dream, and found himself lying in -the temple. - -The people of the place had found Mr. Yü to all appearance dead; and -not knowing how he had come by his death, and finding that his body -was not quite cold, had set some one to watch him. They now learnt -what had happened to him, and making up a purse between them, sent him -away home. Three years afterwards he was passing by the same spot, -and went in to worship at the temple; also preparing a quantity of -food, and inviting the crows to come down and eat it. He then prayed, -saying, "If Chu-ch'ing is among you, let her remain." When the crows -had eaten the food they all flew away; and by-and-by Yü returned, -having succeeded in obtaining his master's degree. Again he visited Wu -Wang's temple, and sacrificed a calf as a feast for the crows; and -again he prayed as on the previous occasion. That night he slept on -the lake, and, just as the candles were lighted and he had sat down, -suddenly there was a noise as of birds settling, and lo! some twenty -beautiful young ladies stood before him. "Have you been quite well -since we parted?" asked one of them; to which Yü replied that he -should like to know whom he had the honour of addressing. "Don't you -remember Chu-ch'ing?" said the young lady; and then Yü was overjoyed, -and inquired how she had come. "I am now," replied Chu-ch'ing, "a -spirit of the Han river, and seldom go back to my old home; but in -consequence of what you did on two occasions, I have come to see you -once more." They then sat talking together like husband and wife -reunited after long absence, and Yü proposed that she should return -with him on his way south. Chu-ch'ing, however, said she must go west -again, and upon this point they could not come to any agreement. Next -morning, when Yü waked up, he found himself in a lofty room with two -large candles burning brightly, and no longer in his own boat. In -utter amazement he arose and asked where he was. "At Han-yang," -replied Chu-ch'ing; "my home is your home; why need you go south?" -By-and-by, when it got lighter, in came a number of serving-women with -wine, which they placed on a low table on the top of a broad couch; -and then husband and wife sat down to drink together. "Where are all -my servants?" asked Yü; and when he heard they were still on the boat, -he said he was afraid the boat people would not be able to wait. -"Never mind," replied Chu-ch'ing; "I have plenty of money, and I'll -help you to make it up to them." Yü therefore remained with her, -feasting and enjoying himself, and forgetting all about going home. As -for the boatmen, when they waked up and found themselves at Han-yang, -they were greatly astonished; and, seeing that the servants could find -no trace of their missing master, they wished to go about their own -business. They were unable, however, to undo the cable, and so they -all remained there together for more than a couple of months, by the -end of which time Mr. Yü became anxious to return home, and said to -Chu-ch'ing, "If I stay here, my family connections will be completely -severed. Besides, as we are husband and wife, it is only right that -you should pay a visit to my home." "That," replied Chu-ch'ing, "I -cannot do; and even were I able to go, you have a wife there already, -and where would you put me? It is better for me to stop where I am, -and thus you will have a second family." Yü said she would be so far -off that he could not always be dropping in; whereupon Chu-ch'ing -produced a black suit, and replied, "Here are your old clothes. -Whenever you want to see me, put these on and come, and on your -arrival I will take them off for you." She then prepared a parting -feast for her husband, at which he got very tipsy; and when he waked -up he was on board his boat again, and at his old anchorage on the -lake. The boatmen and his servants were all there, and they looked at -one another in mutual amazement; and when they asked Yü where he had -been, he hardly knew what to say. By the side of his pillow he -discovered a bundle in which were some new clothes Chu-ch'ing had -given him, shoes, stockings, &c.; and folded up with them was the suit -of black. In addition to these he found an embroidered belt for tying -round the waist, which was stuffed full of gold. He now started on his -way south, and, when he reached the end of his journey, dismissed the -boatmen with a handsome present. - -After being at home for some months, his thoughts reverted to -Han-yang; and, taking out the black clothes, he put them on, when -wings immediately grew from his ribs, and with a flap he was gone. In -about four hours he arrived at Han-yang, and, wheeling round and round -in the air, espied below him a solitary islet, on which stood a house, -and there he proceeded to alight. A maid-servant had already seen him -coming, and cried out, "Here's master!" and in a few moments out came -Chu-ch'ing, and bade the attendants take off Mr. Yü's feathers. They -were not long in setting him free, and then, hand in hand, he and -Chu-ch'ing went into the house together. "You have come at a happy -moment," said his wife, as they sat down to tell each other all the -news; and in three days' time she gave birth to a boy, whom they -called Han-ch'an, which means "born on the Han river." Three days -after the event all the river-nymphs came to congratulate them, and -brought many handsome presents. They were a charming band, not one -being over thirty years of age; and, going into the bedroom and -approaching the bed, each one pressed her thumb on the baby's nose, -saying, "Long life to thee, little one!" Yü asked who they all were, -and Chu-ch'ing told him they belonged to the same family of spirits as -herself; "And the two last of all," said she, "dressed in white like -the lily, are the nymphs who gave away their girdles at Hankow."[230] - -A few months passed away, and then Chu-ch'ing sent her husband back in -a boat to his old home. No sails or oars were used, but the boat sped -along of itself; and at the end of the river journey there were men -waiting with horses to convey him to his own door. After this he went -backwards and forwards very frequently; and in time Han-ch'an grew up -to be a fine boy, the apple of his father's eye. Unhappily his first -wife had no children, and she was extremely anxious to see Han-ch'an; -so Yü communicated this to Chu-ch'ing, who at once packed up a box and -sent him back with his father, on the understanding that he was to -return in three months. However, the other wife became quite as fond -of him as if he had been her own child, and ten months passed without -her being able to bear the thought of parting with him. But one day -Han-ch'an was taken violently ill, and died; upon which Yü's wife was -overwhelmed with grief, and wished to die too. Yü then set off for -Han-yang, to carry the tidings to Chu-ch'ing; and when he arrived, lo! -there was Han-ch'an, with his shoes and socks off, lying on the bed. -He was greatly rejoiced at this, and asked Chu-ch'ing what it all -meant. "Why," replied she, "the term agreed upon by us had long -expired, and, as I wanted my boy, I sent for him." Yü then told her -how much his other wife loved Han-ch'an, but Chu-ch'ing said she must -wait until there was another child, and then she should have him. -Later on Chu-ch'ing had twins, a boy and a girl, the former named -Han-shêng and the latter Yü-p'ei; whereupon Han-ch'an went back again -with his father, who, finding it inconvenient to be travelling -backwards and forwards three or four times in a year, removed with his -family to the city of Han-yang. At twelve years of age Han-ch'an took -his bachelor's degree; and his mother, thinking there was no girl -among mortals good enough for her son, sent for him to come home, that -she herself might find a wife for him, which she did in the person of -a Miss Chih-niang, who was the daughter of a spirit like herself. Yü's -first wife then died, and the three children all went to mourn her -loss, Han-ch'an remaining in Hu-nan after the funeral, but the other -two returning with their father, and not leaving their mother again. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[228] The guardian angel of crows. - -[229] In order to secure a favourable passage. The custom here -mentioned was actually practised at more than one temple on the river -Yang-tsze, and allusions to it will be found in more than one serious -work. - -[230] Alluding to a legend of a young man meeting two young ladies at -Hankow, each of whom wore a girdle adorned with a pearl as big as a -hen's egg. The young man begged them to give him these girdles, and -they did so; but the next moment they had vanished, and the girdles -too. - - - - -XL. - -THE FLOWER NYMPHS. - - -At the lower temple on Mount Lao the camellias[231] are twenty feet in -height, and many spans in circumference. The peonies are more than ten -feet high; and when the flowers are in bloom the effect is that of -gorgeous tapestry. - -There was a Mr. Huang, of Chiao-chow, who built himself a house at -that spot, for the purposes of study; and one day he saw from his -window a young lady dressed in white wandering about amongst the -flowers. Reflecting that she could not possibly belong to the -monastery,[232] he went out to meet her, but she had already -disappeared. After this he frequently observed her, and once hid -himself in a thick-foliaged bush, waiting for her to come. By-and-by -she appeared, bringing with her another young lady dressed in red, -who, as he noticed from his distant point of observation, was an -exceedingly good-looking girl. When they approached nearer, the young -lady in the red dress ran back, saying, "There is a man here!" -whereupon Mr. Huang jumped out upon them, and away they went in a -scare, with their skirts and long sleeves fluttering in the breeze, -and perfuming the air around. Huang pursued them as far as a low wall, -where they suddenly vanished from his gaze. In great distress at thus -losing the fair creatures, he took a pencil and wrote upon a tree the -following lines:-- - - "The pangs of love my heart enthrall - As I stand opposite this wall. - I dread some hateful tyrant's power, - With none to save you in that hour." - -Returning home he was absorbed in his own thoughts, when all at once -the young lady walked in, and he rose up joyfully to meet her. "I -thought you were a brigand," said his visitor, smiling; "you nearly -frightened me to death. I did not know you were a great scholar whose -acquaintance I now hope to have the honour of making." Mr. Huang asked -the young lady her name, &c., to which she replied, "My name is -Hsiang-yü, and I belong to P'ing-k'ang-hsiang; but a magician has -condemned me to remain on this hill much against my own inclination." -"Tell me his name," cried Huang, "and I'll soon set you free." "There -is no need for that," answered the young lady; "I suffer no injury -from him, and the place is not an inconvenient one for making the -acquaintance of such worthy gentlemen as yourself." Huang then -inquired who was the young lady in red, and she told him that her name -was Chiang-hsüeh, and that they were half-sisters; "and now," added -she, "I will sing you a song; but please don't laugh at me." She then -began as follows:-- - - "In pleasant company the hours fly fast, - And through the window daybreak peeps at last. - Ah, would that, like the swallow and his mate, - To live together were our happy fate." - -Huang here grasped her hand[233] and said, "Beauty without and -intellect within--enough to make a man love you and forget all about -death, regarding one day's absence like the separation of a thousand -years. I pray you come again whenever an opportunity may present -itself." From this time the young lady would frequently walk in to -have a chat, but would never bring her sister with her in spite of all -Mr. Huang's entreaties. Huang thought they weren't friends, but Hsiang -said her sister did not care for society in the same way that she -herself did, promising at the same time to try and persuade her to -come at some future day. One evening Hsiang-yü arrived in a melancholy -frame of mind, and told Huang that he was wanting more when he -couldn't even keep what he had got; "for to-morrow," said she, "we -part." Huang asked what she meant; and then wiping away her tears with -her sleeve, Hsiang-yü declared it was destiny, and that she couldn't -well tell him. "Your former prophecy," continued she, "has come too -true; and now it may well be said of me-- - - 'Fallen into the tyrant's power, - With none to save me in that hour.'" - -Huang again tried to question her, but she would tell him nothing; and -by-and-by she rose and took her leave. This seemed very strange; -however, next day a visitor came, who, after wandering round the -garden, was much taken with a white peony,[234] which he dug up and -carried away with him. Huang now awaked to the fact that Hsiang-yü was -a flower nymph, and became very disconsolate in consequence of what -had happened; but when he subsequently heard that the peony only -lived a few days after being taken away, he wept bitterly, and -composed an elegy in fifty stanzas, besides going daily to the hole -from which it had been taken, and watering the ground with his tears. -One day, as he was returning thence, he espied the young lady of the -red clothes also wiping away her tears alongside the hole, and -immediately walked back gently towards her. She did not run away, and -Huang, grasping her sleeve, joined with her in her lamentations. When -these were concluded he invited her to his house, and then she burst -out with a sigh, saying, "Alas! that the sister of my early years -should be thus suddenly taken from me. Hearing you, Sir, mourn as you -did, I have also been moved to tears. Those you shed have sunk down -deep to the realms below, and may perhaps succeed in restoring her to -us; but the sympathies of the dead are destroyed for ever, and how -then can she laugh and talk with us again?" "My luck is bad," said -Huang, "that I should injure those I love, neither can I have the good -fortune to draw towards me another such a beauty. But tell me, when I -often sent messages by Hsiang-yü to you, why did you not come?" "I -knew," replied she, "what nine young fellows out of ten are; but I did -not know what you were." She then took leave, Huang telling her how -dull he felt without Hsiang-yü, and begging her to come again. For -some days she did not appear; and Huang remained in a state of great -melancholy, tossing and turning on his bed and wetting the pillow with -his tears, until one night he got up, put on his clothes, and trimmed -the lamp; and having called for pen and ink, he composed the -following lines:-- - - "On my cottage roof the evening raindrops beat; - I draw the blind and near the window take my seat. - To my longing gaze no loved one appears; - Drip, drip, drip, drip: fast flow my tears." - -This he read aloud; and when he had finished, a voice outside said, -"You want some one to cap your verses there!" Listening attentively, -he knew it was Chiang-hsüeh; and opening the door he let her in. She -looked at his stanza, and added impromptu-- - - "She is no longer in the room; - A single lamp relieves the gloom; - One solitary man is there; - He and his shadow make a pair." - -As Huang read these words his tears fell fast; and then, turning to -Chiang-hsüeh, he upbraided her for not having been to see him. "I -can't come so often as Hsiang-yü did," replied she, "but only now and -then when you are very dull." After this she used to drop in -occasionally, and Huang said Hsiang-yü was his beloved wife, and she -his dear friend, always trying to find out every time she came which -flower in the garden she was, that he might bring her home with him, -and save her from the fate of Hsiang-yü. "The old earth should not be -disturbed," said she, "and it would not do any good to tell you. If -you couldn't keep your wife always with you, how will you be sure of -keeping a friend?" Huang, however, paid no heed to this, and seizing -her arm, led her out into the garden, where he stopped at every peony -and asked if this was the one; to which Chiang-hsüeh made no reply, -but only put her hand to her mouth and laughed. - -At New Year's time Huang went home, and a couple of months afterwards -he dreamt that Chiang-hsüeh came to tell him she was in great trouble, -begging him to hurry off as soon as possible to her rescue. When he -woke up, he thought his dream a very strange one; and ordering his -servant and horses to be ready, started at once for the hills. There -he found that the priests were about to build a new room; and finding -a camellia in the way, the contractor had given orders that it should -be cut down. Huang now understood his dream, and immediately took -steps to prevent the destruction of the flower. That night -Chiang-hsüeh came to thank him, and Huang laughed and said, "It serves -you right for not telling me which you were. Now I know you, and if -you don't come and see me, I'll get a firebrand and make it hot for -you." "That's just why I didn't tell you before," replied she. "The -presence of my dear friend," said Huang, after a pause, "makes me -think more of my lost wife. It is long since I have mourned for her. -Shall we go and bemoan her loss together?" So they went off and shed -many a tear on the spot where formerly Hsiang-yü had stood, until at -last Chiang-hsüeh wiped her eyes and said it was time to go. A few -evenings later Huang was sitting alone when suddenly Chiang-hsüeh -entered, her face radiant with smiles. "Good news!" cried she, "the -Flower-God,[235] moved by your tears, has granted Hsiang-yü a return -to life." Huang was overjoyed, and asked when she would come; to which -Chiang-hsüeh replied, that she could not say for certain, but that it -would not be long. "I came here on your account," said Huang; "don't -let me be duller than you can help." "All right," answered she, and -then went away, not returning for the next two evenings. Huang then -went into the garden and threw his arms around her plant, entreating -her to come and see him, though without eliciting any response. He -accordingly went back, and began twisting up a torch, when all at once -in she came, and snatching the torch out of his hand, threw it away, -saying, "You're a bad fellow, and I don't like you, and I shan't have -any more to do with you." However, Huang soon succeeded in pacifying -her, and by-and-by in walked Hsiang-yü herself. Huang now wept tears -of joy as he seized her hand, and drawing Chiang-hsüeh towards them, -the three friends mingled their tears together. They then sat down and -talked over the miseries of separation, Huang meanwhile noticing that -Hsiang-yü seemed to be unsubstantial, and that when he grasped her -hand his fingers seemed to close only on themselves, and not as in -the days gone by. This Hsiang-yü explained, saying, "When I was a -flower-nymph I had a body; but now I am only the disembodied spirit of -that flower. Do not regard me as a reality, but rather as an -apparition seen in a dream." "You have come at the nick of time," -cried Chiang-hsüeh; "your husband there was just getting troublesome." -Hsiang-yü now instructed Huang to take a little powdered white-berry, -and mixing it with some sulphur, to pour out a libation to her, -adding, "This day next year I will return your kindness." The young -ladies then went away, and next day Huang observed the shoots of a -young peony growing up where Hsiang-yü had once stood. So he made the -libation as she had told him, and had the plant very carefully tended, -even building a fence all round to protect it. Hsiang-yü came to thank -him for this, and he proposed that the plant should be removed to his -own home; but to this she would not agree, "for," said she, "I am not -very strong, and could not stand being transplanted. Besides, all -things have their appointed place; and as I was not originally -intended for your home, it might shorten my life to be sent there. We -can love each other very well here." Huang then asked why Chiang-hsüeh -did not come; to which Hsiang-yü replied that they must make her, and -proceeded with him into the garden, where, after picking a blade of -grass, she measured upwards from the roots of Chiang-hsüeh's plant to -a distance of four feet six inches, at which point she stopped, and -Huang began to scratch a mark on the place with his nails. At that -moment Chiang-hsüeh came from behind the plant, and in mock anger -cried out, "You hussy you! what do you aid that wretch for?" "Don't be -angry, my dear," said Hsiang-yü; "help me to amuse him for a year -only, and then you shan't be bothered any more." So they went on, -Huang watching the plant thrive, until by the spring it was over two -feet in height. He then went home, giving the priests a handsome -present, and bidding them take great care of it. Next year, in the -fourth moon, he returned and found upon the plant a bud just ready to -break; and as he was walking round, the stem shook violently as if it -would snap, and suddenly the bud opened into a flower as large as a -plate, disclosing a beautiful maiden within, sitting upon one of the -pistils, and only a few inches in height. In the twinkling of an eye -she had jumped out, and lo! it was Hsiang-yü. "Through the wind and -the rain I have waited for you," cried she; "why have you come so -late?" They then went into the house, where they found Chiang-hsüeh -already arrived, and sat down to enjoy themselves as they had done in -former times. Shortly afterwards Huang's wife died, and he took up his -abode at Mount Lao for good and all. The peonies were at that time as -large round as one's arm; and whenever Huang went to look at them, he -always said, "Some day my spirit will be there by your side;" to which -the two girls used to reply with a laugh, and say, "Mind you don't -forget." Ten years after these events, Huang became dangerously ill, -and his son, who had come to see him, was very much distressed about -him. "I am about to be born," cried his father; "I am not going to -die. Why do you weep?" He also told the priests that if later on they -should see a red shoot, with five leaves, thrusting itself forth -alongside of the peony, that would be himself. This was all he said, -and his son proceeded to convey him home, where he died immediately on -arrival. Next year a shoot did come up exactly as he had mentioned; -and the priests, struck by the coincidence, watered it and supplied it -with earth. In three years it was a tall plant, and a good span in -circumference, but without flowers. When the old priest died, the -others took no care of it; and as it did not flower they cut it down. -The white peony then faded and died; and before long the camellia was -dead too. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[231] The text has _nai-tung_ ("endure the winter"), for the -identification of which I am indebted to Mr. L. C. Hopkins, of H.M.'s -Consular service. - -[232] Women, of course, being excluded. - -[233] Although the Chinese do not "shake hands" in our sense of the -term, it is a sign of affection to seize the hand of a parting or -returning friend. "The Book of Rites," however, lays down the rule -that persons of opposite sexes should not, in passing things from one -to the other, _let their hands touch_; and the question was gravely -put to Mencius (Book IV.) as to whether a man might even pull his -drowning sister-in-law out of the water. Mencius replied that it was -indeed a general principle that a man should avoid touching a woman's -hand, but that he who could not make an exception in such a case would -be no better than a wolf. Neither, according to the Chinese rule, -should men and women hang their clothes on the same rack, which -reminds one of the French prude who would not allow male and female -authors to be ranged upon the same bookshelf. - -[234] The _Pæonia albiflora_. - -[235] The various subdivisions of the animal and vegetable kingdoms -are each believed by the Chinese to be under the sway of a ruler -holding his commission from and responsible to the one Supreme Power -or God, fully in accordance with the general scheme of supernatural -Government accepted in other and less civilized communities. - - - - -XLI. - -TA-NAN IN SEARCH OF HIS FATHER. - - -Hsi Ch'êng-lieh was a Ch'êng-tu man. He had a wife and a concubine, -the latter named Ho Chao-jung. His wife dying, he took a second by -name Shên, who bullied the concubine dreadfully, and by her constant -wrangling made his life perfectly unbearable, so that one day in a fit -of anger he ran away and left them. Shortly afterwards Ho gave birth -to a son, and called him Ta-nan; but as Hsi did not return, the wife -Shên turned them out of the house, making them a daily allowance of -food. By degrees Ta-nan became a big boy; and his mother, not daring -to ask for an increase of victuals, was obliged to earn a little money -by spinning. Meanwhile, Ta-nan, seeing all his companions go to school -and learn to read, told his mother he should like to go too; and -accordingly, as he was still very young, she sent him for a few days' -probation. He turned out to be so clever that he soon beat the other -boys; at which the master of the school was much pleased, and offered -to teach him for nothing.[236] His mother, therefore, sent him -regularly, making what trifling presents she could to the master; and -by the end of two or three years he had a first-rate knowledge of the -Sacred Books.[237] One day he came home and asked his mother, saying, -"All the fellows at our school get money from their fathers to buy -cakes. Why don't I?" "Wait till you are grown up," replied his -mother, "and I will explain it to you." "Why, mother," cried he, "I'm -only seven or eight years old. What a time it will be before I'm grown -up." "Whenever you pass the temple of the God of War on your way to -school," said his mother, "you should go in and pray awhile; that -would make you grow faster." Ta-nan believed she was serious; and -every day, going and coming, he went in and worshipped at that temple. -When his mother found this out, she asked him how soon he was praying -to be grown up; to which he replied that he only prayed that by the -following year he might be as big as if he were fifteen or sixteen -years old. His mother laughed; but Ta-nan went on, increasing in -wisdom and stature alike, until by the time he was ten, he looked -quite thirteen or fourteen, and his master was no longer able to -correct his essays. Then he said to his mother, "You promised me that -when I grew up you would tell me where my father is. Tell me now." -"By-and-by, by-and-by," replied his mother; so he waited another year, -and then pressed her so eagerly to tell him that she could no longer -refuse, and related to him the whole story. He heard her recital with -tears and lamentations, and expressed a wish to go in search of his -father; but his mother objected that he was too young, and also that -no one knew where his father was. Ta-nan said nothing; however, in the -middle of the day he did not come home as usual, and his mother at -once sent off to the school, where she found he had not shewn himself -since breakfast. In great alarm, and thinking that he had been playing -truant, she paid some people to go and hunt for him everywhere, but -was unable to obtain the slightest clue to his whereabouts. As to -Ta-nan himself, when he left the house he followed the road without -knowing whither he was going, until at length he met a man who was on -his way to K'uei-chou, and said his name was Ch'ien. Ta-nan begged of -him something to eat, and went along with him; Mr. Ch'ien even -procuring an animal for him to ride because he walked too slowly. The -expenses of the journey were all defrayed by Ch'ien; and when they -arrived at K'uei-chou they dined together, Ch'ien secretly putting -some drug in Ta-nan's food which soon reduced him to a state of -unconsciousness. Ch'ien then carried him off to a temple, and, -pretending that Ta-nan was his son, offered him to the priests[238] on -the plea that he had no money to continue his journey. The priests, -seeing what a nice-looking boy he was, were only too ready to buy him; -and when Ch'ien had got his money he went away. They then gave Ta-nan -a draught which brought him round; but as soon as the abbot heard of -the affair and saw Ta-nan himself, he would not allow them to keep -him, sending him away with a purse of money in his pocket. Ta-nan next -met a gentleman named Chiang, from Lu-chou, who was returning home -after having failed at the examination; and this Mr. Chiang was so -pleased with the story of his filial piety that he took him to his own -home at Lu-chou. There he remained for a month and more, asking -everybody he saw for news of his father, until one day he was told -that there was a man named Hsi among the Fokien traders. So he bade -good-by to Mr. Chiang, and set off for Fokien, his patron providing -him with clothes and shoes, and the people of the place making up a -subscription for him. On the road he met two traders in cotton cloth -who were going to Fu-ch'ing, and he joined their party; but they had -not travelled many stages before these men found out that he had -money, and taking him to a lonely spot, bound him hand and foot and -made off with all he had. Before long a Mr. Ch'ên, of Yung-fu, -happened to pass by, and at once unbound him, and giving him a seat in -one of his own vehicles, carried him off home. This Mr. Ch'ên was a -wealthy man, and in his house Ta-nan had opportunities of meeting with -traders from all quarters. He therefore begged them to aid him by -making inquiries about his father, himself remaining as a fellow -student with Mr. Ch'ên's sons, and roaming the country no more, -neither hearing any news of his former and now distant home. - -Meanwhile, his mother, Ho, had lived alone for three or four years, -until the wife, Shên, wishing to reduce the expenses, tried to -persuade her to find another husband. As Ho was now supporting -herself, she steadfastly refused to do this; and then Shên sold her to -a Chung-ch'ing trader, who took her away with him. However, she so -frightened this man by hacking herself about with a knife, that when -the wounds were healed he was only too happy to get rid of her to a -trader from Yen-t'ing, who in his turn, after Ho had nearly -disembowelled herself, readily listened to her repeated cries that -she wished to become a nun. However, he persuaded her to hire herself -out as housekeeper to a friend of his, as a means of reimbursing -himself for his outlay in purchasing her; but no sooner had she set -eyes on the gentleman in question than she found it was her own -husband. For Hsi had given up the career of a scholar, and gone into -business; and as he had no wife, he was consequently in want of a -housekeeper. They were very glad to see each other again; and on -relating their several adventures, Hsi knew for the first time that he -had a son who had gone forth in search of his father. Hsi then asked -all the traders and commercial travellers to keep a look out for -Ta-nan, at the same time raising Ho from the status of concubine to -that of wife. In consequence, however, of the many hardships Ho had -gone through, her health was anything but good, and she was unable to -do the work of the house; so she advised her husband to buy a -concubine. This he was most unwilling to do, remembering too well the -former squabbling he had to endure; but ultimately he yielded, asked a -friend to buy for him an oldish woman--at any rate more than thirty -years of age. A few months afterwards his friend arrived, bringing -with him a person of about that age; and on looking closely at her, -Hsi saw that she was no other than his own wife Shên! - -Now this lady had lived by herself for a year and more when her -brother Pao advised her to marry again, which she accordingly agreed -to do. She was prevented, however, by the younger branches of the -family from selling the landed property; but she disposed of -everything else, and the proceeds passed into her brother's hands. -About that time a Pao-ning trader, hearing that she had plenty of -money, bribed her brother to marry her to himself; and afterwards, -finding that she was a disagreeable woman, took possession of -everything she had, and advertised her for sale. No one caring to buy -a woman of her age, and her master being on the eve of starting for -K'uei-chou, took her with him, finally getting rid of her to Hsi, who -was in the same line of business as himself. When she stood before her -former husband, she was overwhelmed with shame and fear, and had not a -word to say; but Hsi gathered an outline of what had happened from the -trader, and then said to her, "Your second marriage with this Pao-ning -gentleman was doubtless contracted after you had given up all hope of -seeing me again. It doesn't matter in the least, as now I am not in -search of a wife but only of a concubine. So you had better begin by -paying your respects to your mistress here, my wife Ho Chao-jung." -Shên was ashamed to do this: but Hsi reminded her of the time when she -had been in the wife's place, and in spite of all Ho's intercession -insisted that she should do so, stimulating her to obedience by the -smart application of a stick. Shên was therefore compelled to yield, -but at the same time she never tried to gain Ho's favour, and kept -away from her as much as possible. Ho, on the other hand, treated her -with great consideration, and never took her to task on the -performance of her duties; whilst Hsi himself, whenever he had a -dinner-party, made her wait at table, though Ho often entreated him -to hire a maid. - -Now the magistrate at Yen-t'ing was named Ch'ên Tsung-ss[)u], and once -when Hsi had some trifling difficulty with one of the neighbours he -was further accused to this official of having forced his wife to -assume the position of concubine. The magistrate, however, refused to -take up the case, to the great satisfaction of Hsi and his wife, who -lauded him to the skies as a virtuous mandarin. A few nights after, at -rather a late hour, the servant knocked at the door, and called out, -"The magistrate has come!" Hsi jumped up in a hurry, and began looking -for his clothes and shoes; but the magistrate was already in the -bedroom without either of them understanding what it all meant: when -suddenly Ho, examining him closely, cried out, "It is my son!" She -then burst into tears, and the magistrate, throwing himself on the -ground, wept with his mother. It seemed he had taken the name of the -gentleman with whom he had lived, and had since entered upon an -official career. That on his way to the capital[239] he had made a -_détour_ and visited his old home, where he heard to his infinite -sorrow that both his mothers had married again; and that his -relatives, finding him already a man of position, had restored to him -the family property, of which he had left some one in charge in the -hope that his father might return. That then he had been appointed to -Yen-t'ing, but had wished to throw up the post and travel in search -of his father, from which design he had been dissuaded by Mr. Ch'ên. -Also that he had met a fortune-teller from whom he had obtained the -following response to his inquiries:--"The lesser is the greater; the -younger is the elder. Seeking the cock, you find the hen; seeking one, -you get two. Your official life will be successful." Ch'ên then took -up his appointment, but not finding his father he confined himself -entirely to a vegetable diet, and gave up the use of wine.[240] The -above-mentioned case had subsequently come under his notice, and -seeing the name Hsi, he quietly sent his private servant to find out, -and thus discovered that this Hsi was his father. At night-fall he set -off himself, and when he saw his mother he knew that the -fortune-teller had told him true. Bidding them all say nothing to -anybody about what had occurred, he provided money for the journey, -and sent them back home. On arriving there, they found the place newly -painted, and with their increased retinue of servants and horses, they -were quite a wealthy family. As to Shên when she found what a great -man Ta-nan had become, she put still more restraint upon herself; but -her brother Pao brought an action for the purpose of reinstating her -as wife. The presiding official happened to be a man of probity, and -delivered the following judgment:--"Greedy of gain you urged your -sister to re-marry. After she had driven Hsi away, she took two fresh -husbands. How have you the face to talk about reinstating her as -wife?" He thereupon ordered Pao to be severely bambooed, and from this -time there was no longer any doubt about Shên's _status_. She was the -lesser and Ho the greater; and yet in the matter of clothes and food -Ho shewed herself by no means grasping. Shên was at first afraid that -Ho would pay her out, and was consequently more than ever repentant; -and Hsi himself, letting by-gones be by-gones, gave orders that Shên -should be called _madam_ by all alike, though of course she was -excluded from any titles that might be gained for them by Ta-nan.[241] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[236] This is by no means uncommon. The debt of gratitude between -pupil and teacher is second only to that existing between child and -parent; and a successful student soon has it in his power to more than -repay any such act of kindness as that here mentioned. - -[237] Which form the unvarying curriculum of a Chinese education. -These are (1) the _Four Books_, consisting of the teachings of -Confucius and Mencius; and (2) the _Five Canons_ (in the -ecclesiastical sense of the word) or the Canons of Changes, History, -Poetry, the Record of Rites, and Spring and Autumn. The _Four Books_ -consist of:-- - -(1) The Book of Wisdom, attributed by Chu Hi to Confucius. It is a -disquisition upon virtue and the moral elevation of the people. - -(2) The _Chung Yung_, or Gospel of Tz[)u] Ss[)u] (the grandson of -Confucius) wherein the ruling motives of human conduct are traced from -their psychological source. - -(3) The Confucian Gospels, being discourses of the Sage with his -disciples on miscellaneous topics. - -(4) The Gospels of Mencius. - -_The Canon of Changes_ contains a fanciful system of philosophy based -upon the combinations of eight diagrams said to have been copied from -the lines on the back of a tortoise. Ascribed to B.C. 1150. - -_The Canon of History_ embraces a period extending from the middle of -the 24th century B.C. to B.C. 721. Was edited by Confucius from then -existing documents. - -_The Canon of Poetry_ is a collection of irregular lyrics in vogue -among the people many centuries before the Christian era. Collected -and arranged by Confucius. - -_The Record of Rites_ contains a number of rules for the performance -of ceremonies and guidance of individual conduct. - -_Spring and Autumn_ consists of the annals of the petty kingdom of Lu -from 722 to 484 B.C. Is the work of Confucius himself. - -[238] See No. XXIII., note 154. - -[239] To be presented to the Emperor before taking up his post. - -[240] Hoping thus to interest Buddha in his behalf. - -[241] In accordance with Chinese usage, by which titles of nobility -are often conferred upon the _dead_ parents of a distinguished son. - - - - -XLII. - -THE WONDERFUL STONE. - - -In the prefecture of Shun-t'ien[242] there lived a man named Hsing -Yün-fei, who was an amateur mineralogist and would pay any price for a -good specimen. One day as he was fishing in the river, something -caught his net, and diving down he brought up a stone about a foot in -diameter, beautifully carved on all sides to resemble clustering hills -and peaks. He was quite as pleased with this as if he had found some -precious stone; and having had an elegant sandal-wood stand made for -it, he set his prize upon the table. Whenever it was about to rain, -clouds, which from a distance looked like new cotton wool, would come -forth from each of the holes or grottoes on the stone, and appear to -close them up. By-and-by an influential personage called at the house -and begged to see the stone, immediately seizing it and handing it -over to a lusty servant, at the same time whipping his horse and -riding away. Hsing was in despair; but all he could do was to mourn -the loss of his stone, and indulge his anger against the thief. -Meanwhile, the servant, who had carried off the stone on his back, -stopped to rest at a bridge; when all of a sudden his hand slipped and -the stone fell into the water. His master was extremely put out at -this, and gave him a sound beating; subsequently hiring several -divers, who tried every means in their power to recover the stone, but -were quite unable to find it. He then went away, having first -published a notice of reward, and by these means many were tempted to -seek for the stone. Soon after, Hsing himself came to the spot, and as -he mournfully approached the bank, lo! the water became clear, and he -could see the stone lying at the bottom. Taking off his clothes he -quickly jumped in and brought it out, together with the sandal-wood -stand which was still with it. He carried it off home, but being no -longer desirous of shewing it to people, he had an inner room cleaned -and put it in there. Some time afterwards an old man knocked at the -door and asked to be allowed to see the stone; whereupon Hsing replied -that he had lost it a long time ago. "Isn't that it in the inner -room?" said the old man, smiling. "Oh, walk in and see for yourself if -you don't believe me," answered Hsing; and the old man did walk in, -and there was the stone on the table. This took Hsing very much aback; -and the old man then laid his hand upon the stone and said, "This is -an old family relic of mine: I lost it many months since. How does it -come to be here? I pray you now restore it to me." Hsing didn't know -what to say, but declared he was the owner of the stone; upon which -the old man remarked, "If it is really yours, what evidence can you -bring to prove it?" Hsing made no reply; and the old man continued, -"To show you that I know this stone, I may mention that it has -altogether ninety-two grottoes, and that in the largest of these are -five words:-- - - 'A stone from Heaven above.'" - -Hsing looked and found that there were actually some small characters, -no larger than grains of rice, which by straining his eyes a little he -managed to read; also, that the number of grottoes was as the old man -had said. However, he would not give him the stone; and the old man -laughed, and asked, "Pray, what right have you to keep other people's -things?" He then bowed and went away, Hsing escorting him as far as -the door; but when he returned to the room, the stone had disappeared. -In a great fright, he ran after the old man, who had walked slowly and -was not far off, and seizing his sleeve entreated him to give back the -stone. "Do you think," said the latter, "that I could conceal a stone -a foot in diameter in my sleeve?" But Hsing knew that he must be -superhuman, and led him back to the house, where he threw himself on -his knees and begged that he might have the stone. "Is it yours or -mine?" asked the old man. "Of course it is yours," replied Hsing, -"though I hope you will consent to deny yourself the pleasure of -keeping it." "In that case," said the old man, "it is back again;" and -going into the inner room, they found the stone in its old place. -"The jewels of this world," observed Hsing's visitor, "should be given -to those who know how to take care of them. This stone can choose its -own master, and I am very pleased that it should remain with you; at -the same time I must inform you that it was in too great a hurry to -come into the world of mortals, and has not yet been freed from all -contingent calamities. I had better take it away with me, and three -years hence you shall have it again. If, however, you insist on -keeping it, then your span of life will be shortened by three years, -that your terms of existence may harmonize together. Are you willing?" -Hsing said he was; whereupon the old man with his fingers closed up -three of the stone's grottoes, which yielded to his touch like mud. -When this was done, he turned to Hsing and told him that the grottoes -on that stone represented the years of his life; and then he took his -leave, firmly refusing to remain any longer, and not disclosing his -name. - -More than a year after this, Hsing had occasion to go away on -business, and in the night a thief broke in and carried off the stone, -taking nothing else at all. When Hsing came home, he was dreadfully -grieved, as if his whole object in life was gone; and made all -possible inquiries and efforts to get it back, but without the -slightest result. Some time passed away, when one day going into a -temple Hsing noticed a man selling stones, and amongst the rest he saw -his old friend. Of course he immediately wanted to regain possession -of it; but as the stone-seller would not consent, he shouldered the -stone and went off to the nearest mandarin. The stone-seller was then -asked what proof he could give that the stone was his; and he replied -that the number of grottoes was eighty-nine. Hsing inquired if that -was all he had to say, and when the other acknowledged that it was, he -himself told the magistrate what were the characters inscribed within, -also calling attention to the finger marks at the closed-up grottoes. -He therefore gained his case, and the mandarin would have bambooed the -stone-seller, had he not declared that he bought it in the market for -twenty ounces of silver,--whereupon he was dismissed. - -A high official next offered Hsing one hundred ounces of silver for -it; but he refused to sell it even for ten thousand, which so enraged -the would-be purchaser that he worked up a case against Hsing,[243] -and got him put in prison. Hsing was thereby compelled to pawn a great -deal of his property; and then the official sent some one to try if -the affair could not be managed through his son, to which Hsing, on -hearing of the attempt, steadily refused to consent, saying that he -and the stone could not be parted even in death. His wife, however, -and his son, laid their heads together, and sent the stone to the high -official, and Hsing only heard of it when he arrived home from the -prison. He cursed his wife and beat his son, and frequently tried to -make away with himself, though luckily his servants always managed to -prevent him from succeeding.[244] At night he dreamt that a -noble-looking personage appeared to him, and said, "My name is Shih -Ch'ing-hsü--(Stone from Heaven). Do not grieve. I purposely quitted -you for a year and more; but next year on the 20th of the eighth moon, -at dawn, come to the Hai-tai Gate and buy me back for two strings of -cash." Hsing was overjoyed at this dream, and carefully took down the -day mentioned. Meanwhile the stone was at the official's private -house; but as the cloud manifestations ceased, the stone was less and -less prized; and the following year when the official was disgraced -for maladministration and subsequently died, Hsing met some of his -servants at the Hai-tai Gate going off to sell the stone, and -purchased it back from them for two strings of cash. - -Hsing lived till he was eighty-nine; and then having prepared the -necessaries for his interment, bade his son bury the stone with -him,[245] which was accordingly done. Six months later robbers broke -into the vault[246] and made off with the stone, and his son tried in -vain to secure their capture; however, a few days afterwards, he was -travelling with his servants, when suddenly two men rushed forth -dripping with perspiration, and looking up into the air, acknowledged -their crime, saying, "Mr. Hsing, please don't torment us thus! We took -the stone, and sold it for only four ounces of silver." Hsing's son -and his servants then seized these men, and took them before the -magistrate, where they at once acknowledged their guilt. Asking what -had become of the stone, they said they had sold it to a member of the -magistrate's family; and when it was produced, that official took such -a fancy to it that he gave it to one of his servants and bade him -place it in the treasury. Thereupon the stone slipped out of the -servant's hand and broke into a hundred pieces, to the great -astonishment of all present. The magistrate now had the thieves -bambooed and sent them away; but Hsing's son picked up the broken -pieces of the stone, and buried them in his father's grave. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[242] In which Peking is situated. - -[243] A common form of revenge in China, and one which is easily -carried through when the prosecutor is a man of wealth and influence. - -[244] Another favourite method of revenging oneself upon an enemy, who -is in many cases held responsible for the death thus occasioned. Mr. -Alabaster told me an amusing story of a Chinese woman who deliberately -walked into a pond until the water reached her knees, and remained -there alternately putting her lips below the surface and threatening -in a loud voice to drown herself on the spot, as life had been made -unbearable by the presence of foreign barbarians. This was during the -Taiping rebellion. - -[245] Valuables of some kind or other are often placed in the coffins -of wealthy Chinese; and women are almost always provided with a -certain quantity of jewels with which to adorn themselves in the -realms below. - -[246] One of the most heinous offences in the Chinese Penal Code. - - - - -XLIII. - -THE QUARRELSOME BROTHERS. - - -At K'un-yang there lived a wealthy man named Tsêng. When he died, and -before he was put in the coffin, tears were seen to gush forth from -both eyes of the corpse, to the infinite amazement of his six sons. -His second son, T'i, otherwise called Yu-yü, who had gained for -himself the reputation of being a scholar, said it was a bad omen, and -warned his brothers to be careful and not give cause for sorrow to the -dead,--at which the others only laughed at him as an idiot. - -Tsêng's first wife and eldest son having been carried off by the -rebels when the latter was only seven or eight years old, he married a -second wife, by whom he had three sons, Hsiao, Chung, and Hsin; -besides three other sons by a concubine--namely, the above-mentioned -T'i, or Yu-yü, Jen, and Yi. Now the three by the second wife banded -themselves together against the three by the concubine, saying that -the latter were a base-born lot; and whenever a guest was present and -either of them happened to be in the room, Hsiao and his two brothers -would not take the slightest notice of them. This enraged Jen and Yi -very much, and they went to consult with Yu-yü as to how they should -avenge themselves for such slights. Yu-yü, however, tried every means -in his power to pacify them, and would not take part in any plot; and, -as they were much younger than he, they took his advice,[247] and did -nothing. - -Hsiao had a daughter, who died shortly after her marriage to a Mr. -Chou; and her father begged Yu-yü and his other brothers to go with -him and give his late daughter's mother-in-law a sound beating.[248] -Yu-yü would not hear of it for a moment; so Hsiao in a rage got his -brothers Chung and Hsin, with a lot of rowdies from the neighbourhood, -and went off and did it themselves, scattering the goods and chattels -of the family about, and smashing everything they could lay their -hands on. An action was immediately brought by the Chou family, and -Hsiao and his two brothers were thrown into prison by the angry -mandarin, who purposed sending the case before a higher tribunal. -Yu-yü, however, whose high character was well known to that official, -interceded for them, and himself went to the Chou family and tendered -the most humble apologies for what had occurred. The Chou family, out -of respect for Yu-yü, suffered the case to drop, and Hsiao regained -his liberty, though he did not evince the slightest gratitude for his -brother's exertions. Shortly after, Yu-yü's mother died; but Hsiao and -the other two refused to put on mourning for her, going on with their -usual feasting and drinking as if nothing had happened. Jen and Yi -were furious at this; but Yu-yü only observed, "What they do is their -own indecorous behaviour; it does not injure us." Then, again, when -the funeral was about to take place, Hsiao, Chung, and Hsin stood -before the door of the vault, and would not allow the others to bury -their mother there. So Yu-yü buried her alongside the principal grave. -Before long Hsiao's wife died, and Yu-yü told Jen and Yi to accompany -him to the house and condole with the widower; to which they both -objected, saying, "He would not wear mourning for our mother; shall we -do so for his wife?"[249] Ultimately Yu-yü had to go alone; and while -he was pouring forth his lamentations beside the bier, he heard Jen -and Yi playing drums and trumpets outside the door. Hsiao flew into a -tremendous passion, and went after them with his own two brothers to -give them a good thrashing. Yu-yü, too, seized a big stick and -accompanied them to the house where Jen and Yi were; whereupon Jen -made his escape; but as Yi was clambering over the wall, Yu-yü hit him -from behind and knocked him down. Hsiao and the others then set upon -him with their fists and sticks, and would never have stopped but that -Yu-yü interposed his body between them and made them desist. Hsiao was -very angry at this, and began to abuse Yu-yü, who said, "The -punishment was for want of decorum, for which death would be too -severe. I can neither connive at their bad behaviour, nor at your -cruelty. If your anger is not appeased, strike me." Hsiao now turned -his fury against Yu-yü, and being well seconded by his two brothers, -they beat Yu-yü until the neighbours separated them and put an end to -the row. Yu-yü at once proceeded to Hsiao's house to apologize for -what had occurred; but Hsiao drove him away, and would not let him -take part in the funeral ceremonies. Meanwhile, as Yi's wounds were -very severe, and he could neither eat nor drink, his brother Jen went -on his behalf to the magistrate, stating in the petition that the -accused had not worn mourning for their father's concubine. The -magistrate issued a warrant; and, besides causing the arrest of Hsiao, -Chung, and Hsin, he ordered Yu-yü to prosecute them as well. Yu-yü, -however, was so much cut about the head and face that he could not -appear in court, but he wrote out a petition, in which he begged that -the case might be quashed; and this the magistrate consented to do. Yi -soon got better, the feeling of hatred and resentment increasing in -the family day by day; while Jen and Yi, who were younger than the -others, complained to Yu-yü of their recent punishment, saying, "The -relationship of elder and younger brothers exists for others, why not -for us?" "Ah," replied Yu-yü, "that is what I might well say; not -you." Yu-yü then tried to persuade them to forget the past; but, not -succeeding in his attempt, he shut up his house, and went off with his -wife to live somewhere else, about twenty miles away. Now, although -when Yu-yü was among them he did not help the two younger ones, yet -his presence acted as some restraint upon Hsiao and the other two; but -now that he was gone their conduct was beyond all bounds. They sought -out Jen and Yi in their own houses, and not only reviled them, but -abused the memory of their dead mother, against which Jen and Yi could -only retaliate by keeping the door shut against them. However, they -determined to do them some injury, and carried knives about with them -wherever they went for that purpose. - -One day the eldest brother, Ch'êng, who had been carried off by the -rebels, returned with his wife; and, after three days' deliberation, -Hsiao and the other two determined that, as he had been so long -separated from the family, he had no further claims upon them for -house-room, &c. Jen and Yi were secretly delighted at this result, and -at once inviting Ch'êng to stay with them, sent news of his arrival to -Yu-yü, who came back directly, and agreed with the others to hand over -a share of the property to their elder brother. Hsiao and his clique -were much enraged at this purchase of Ch'êng's good will, and, -hurrying to their brothers' houses, assailed them with every possible -kind of abuse. Ch'êng, who had long been accustomed to scenes of -violence among the rebels, now got into a great passion, and cried -out, "When I came home none of you would give me a place to live in. -Only these younger ones recognised the ties of blood,[250] and you -would punish them for so doing. Do you think to drive me away?" -Thereupon he threw a stone at Hsiao and knocked him down; and Jen and -Yi rushed out with clubs and gave the three of them a severe -thrashing. Ch'êng did not wait for them to lay a plaint, but set off -to the magistrate on the spot, and preferred a charge against his -three brothers. The magistrate, as before, sent for Yu-yü to ask his -opinion, and Yu-yü had no alternative but to go, entering the yamên -with downcast head, his tears flowing in silence all the while. The -magistrate inquired of him how the matter stood; to which he replied -only by begging His Honour to hear the case; which the magistrate -accordingly did, deciding that the whole of the property was to be -divided equally among the seven brothers. Thenceforth Jen and Yi -became more and more attached to Ch'êng; and one day, in conversation, -they happened to tell him the story of their mother's funeral. Ch'êng -was exceedingly angry, and declared that such behaviour was that of -brute beasts, proposing at the same time that the vault should be -opened and that she should be re-buried in the proper place. Jen and -Yi went off and told this to Yu-yü, who immediately came and begged -Ch'êng to desist from his scheme; to which, however, he paid no -attention, and fixed a day for her interment in the family vault. He -then built a hut near by, and, with a knife lopping the branches off -the trees, informed the brothers that any of them who did not appear -at the funeral in the usual mourning would be treated by him in a -manner similar to the trees. So they were all obliged to go, and the -obsequies were conducted in a fitting manner. The brothers were now at -peace together, Ch'êng keeping them in first-rate order, and always -treating Hsiao, Chung, and Hsin with much more severity than the -others. To Yu-yü he shewed a marked deference, and, whenever he was in -a rage, would always be appeased by a word from him. Hsiao, too, was -always going to Yu-yü to complain of the treatment he received at -Ch'êng's hands when he did anything that Ch'êng disapproved of; and -then, if Yu-yü quietly reproved him, he would be dissatisfied, so that -at last Yu-yü could stand it no longer, and again went away and took a -house at a considerable distance, where he remained almost entirely -cut off from the others. By the time two years had passed away Ch'êng -had completely succeeded in establishing harmony amongst them, and -quarrels were of rare occurrence. Hsiao was then forty-six years old, -and had five sons; Chi-yeh and Chi-tê, the first and third, by his -wife; Chi-kung and Chi-chi, the second and fourth, by a concubine; -and Chi-tsu, by a slave. They were all grown up, and exactly imitated -their father's former behaviour, banding themselves together one -against the other, and so on, without their father being able to make -them behave better. Chi-tsu had no brothers of his own, and, being the -youngest, the others bullied him dreadfully; until at length, being on -a visit to his wife's family, who lived not far from Yu-yü's house, he -went slightly out of his way to call and see his uncle. There he found -his three cousins living peaceably together and pursuing their -studies, and was so pleased that he remained with them some time, and -said not a word as to returning home. His uncle urged him to go back, -but he entreated to be allowed to stay; and then his uncle told him it -was not that he grudged his daily food: it was because his father and -mother did not know where he was. Chi-tsu accordingly went home, and a -few months afterwards, when he and his wife were on the point of -starting to congratulate his wife's mother on the anniversary of her -birthday, he explained to his father that he should not come home -again. When his father asked him why not, he partly divulged his -reasons for going; whereupon his father said he was afraid his uncle -would bear malice for what happened in the past, and that he would not -be able to remain there long. "Father," replied Chi-tsu, "uncle Yu-yü -is a good and virtuous man." He set out with his wife, and when they -arrived Yu-yü gave them separate quarters, and made Chi-tsu rank as -one of his own sons, making him join the eldest, Chi-san, in his -studies. Chi-tsu was a clever fellow, and now enrolled himself as a -resident of the place where his uncle lived.[251] - -Meanwhile, his brothers went on quarrelling among themselves as usual; -and one day Chi-kung, enraged at an insult offered to his mother, -killed Chi-yeh. He was immediately thrown into prison, where he was -severely bambooed, and in a few days he died. Chi-yeh's wife, whose -maiden name was Fêng, now spent the days of mourning in cursing her -husband's murderer; and when Chi-kung's wife heard this, she flew into -a towering passion, and said to her, "If your husband is dead, mine -isn't alive." She then drew a knife and killed her, completing the -tragedy by herself committing suicide in a well. - -Mr. Fêng, the father of the murdered woman, was very much distressed -at his daughter's untimely end; and, taking with him several members -of the family with arms concealed under their clothes, they proceeded -to Hsiao's house, and there gave his wife a most terrific beating. It -was now Ch'êng's turn to be angry. "The members of my family are dying -like sheep," cried he; "what do you mean by this, Mr. Fêng?" He then -rushed out upon them with a roar, accompanied by all his own brothers -and their sons; and the Fêng family was utterly routed. Seizing old -Fêng himself, Ch'êng cut off both his ears; and when his son tried to -rescue him, Chi-chi ran up and broke both his legs with an iron -crowbar. Every one of the Fêng family was badly wounded, and thus -dispersed, leaving old Fêng's son lying in the middle of the road. The -others not knowing what to do with him, Ch'êng took him under his arm, -and, having thrown him down in the Fêng village, returned home, giving -orders to Chi-chi to go immediately to the authorities and enter their -plaint the first.[252] - -The Fêng family had, however, anticipated them, and all the Tsêngs -were accordingly thrown into prison, except Chung, who managed to -escape. He ran away to the place where Yu-yü lived, and was pacing -backwards and forwards before the door, afraid lest his brother should -not have forgiven past offences, when suddenly Yu-yü, with his son and -nephew, arrived, on their return from the examination. "What do you -want, my brother?" asked Yu-yü; whereupon Chung prostrated himself at -the roadside, and then Yu-yü, seizing his hand, led him within to make -further inquiries. "Alas! alas!" cried Yu-yü, when he had heard the -story, "I knew that some dreadful calamity would be the result of all -this wicked behaviour. But why have you come hither? I have been -absent so long that I am no more acquainted with the local -authorities; and if I now went to ask a favour of them, I should -probably only be insulted for my pains. However, if none of the Fêng -family die of their wounds, and if we three may chance to be -successful in our examination, something may perhaps be done to -mitigate this calamity."[253] Yu-yü then kept Chung to dinner, and at -night he shared their room, which kind treatment made him at once -grateful and repentant. By the end of ten days he was so struck with -the behaviour of the father, sons, uncle, nephew, and cousins, one -toward the other, that he burst into tears, and said, "Now I know how -badly I behaved in days gone by." His uncle was overjoyed at his -repentance, and sympathised with his feelings, when suddenly it was -announced that Yu-yü and his son had both passed the examination for -master's degree, and that Chi-tsu was _proximé accessit_. This -delighted them all very much. They did not, however, attend the -Fu-t'ai's congratulatory feast,[254] but went off first to worship at -the tombs of their ancestors. - -Now, at the time of the Ming dynasty a man who had taken his master's -degree was a very considerable personage,[255] and the Fêngs -accordingly began to draw in their horns. Yu-yü, too, met them -half-way. He got a friend to convey to them presents of food and money -to help them in recovering from their injuries, and thus the -prosecution was withdrawn. Then all his brothers implored him with -tears in their eyes to return home, and, after burning incense with -them,[256] and making them enter into a bond with him that by-gones -should be by-gones, he acceded to their request. Chi-tsu, however, -would not leave his uncle; and Hsiao himself said to Yu-yü, "I don't -deserve such a son as that. Keep him, and teach him as you have done -hitherto, and let him be as one of your own children; but if at some -future time he succeeds in his examination, then I will beg you to -return him to me." Yu-yü consented to this; and three years afterwards -Chi-tsu did take his master's degree, upon which he sent him back to -his own family. - -Both husband and wife were very loth to leave their uncle's house, and -they had hardly been at home three days before one of their children, -only three years old, ran away and went back, returning to his -great-uncle's as often as he was recaptured. This induced Hsiao to -remove to the next house to Yu-yü's, and, by opening a door between -the two, they made one establishment of the whole. Ch'êng was now -getting old, and the family affairs devolved entirely upon Yu-yü, who -managed things so well that their reputation for filial piety and -fraternal love was soon spread far and wide. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[247] Deference to elder brothers is held by the Chinese to be second -only in importance to filial piety. - -[248] In a volume of _Chinese Sketches_, published by me in 1876, -occur (p. 129) the following words:--"Occasionally a young wife is -driven to commit suicide by the harshness of her mother-in-law, but -this is of rare occurrence, as the consequences are terrible to the -family of the guilty woman. The blood-relatives of the deceased repair -to the chamber of death, and in the injured victim's hand they place a -broom. They then support the corpse round the room, making its dead -arm move the broom from side to side, and thus sweep away wealth, -happiness, and longevity, from the accursed place for ever." - -[249] A wife being an infinitely less important personage than a -mother in the Chinese social scale. - -[250] Literally, of hand and foot, to the mutual dependence of which -that of brothers is frequently likened by the Chinese. - -[251] Any permanent change of residence must be notified to the -District Magistrate, who keeps a running census of all persons within -his jurisdiction. - -[252] To be thus beforehand with one's adversary is regarded as _primâ -facie_ evidence of being in the right. - -[253] By means of the _status_ which a graduate of the second degree -would necessarily have. - -[254] A sham entertainment given by the Fu-t'ai, or governor, to all -the successful candidates. I say _sham_, because the whole thing is -merely nominal; a certain amount of food is contracted for, but there -is never anything fit to eat, most of the money being embezzled by the -underlings to whose management the banquet is entrusted. - -[255] Much more so than at present. - -[256] Thereby invoking the Gods as witnesses. A common method of -making up a quarrel in China is to send the aggrieved party an olive -and a piece of red paper in token that peace is restored. Why the -_olive_ should be specially employed I have in vain tried to -ascertain. - - - - -XLIV. - -THE YOUNG GENTLEMAN WHO COULDN'T SPELL.[257] - - -At Chia-p'ing there lived a certain young gentleman of considerable -talent and very prepossessing appearance. When seventeen years of age -he went up for his bachelor's degree; and as he was passing the door -of a house, he saw within a pretty-looking girl, who not only riveted -his gaze, but also smiled and nodded her head at him. Quite pleased at -this, he approached the young lady and began to talk, she, meanwhile, -inquiring of him where he lived, and if alone or otherwise. He assured -her he was quite by himself; and then she said, "Well, I will come and -see you, but you mustn't let any one know." The young gentleman -agreed, and when he got home he sent all the servants to another part -of the house, and by-and-by the young lady arrived. She said her name -was Wên-chi, and that her admiration for her host's noble bearing had -made her visit him, unknown to her mistress. "And gladly," added she, -"would I be your handmaid for life." Our hero was delighted, and -proposed to purchase her from the mistress she mentioned; and from -this time she was in the habit of coming in every other day or so. On -one occasion it was raining hard, and, after hanging up her wet cloak -upon a peg, she took off her shoes, and bade the young gentleman clean -them for her. He noticed that they were newly embroidered with all the -colours of the rainbow, but utterly spoilt by the soaking rain; and -was just saying what a pity it was, when the young lady cried out, "I -should never have asked you to do such menial work except to show my -love for you." All this time the rain was falling fast outside, and -Wên-chi now repeated the following line:-- - - "A nipping wind and chilly rain fill the river and the city." - -"There," said she, "cap that." The young gentleman replied that he -could not, as he did not even understand what it meant. "Oh, really," -retorted the young lady, "if you're not more of a scholar than that, I -shall begin to think very little of you." She then told him he had -better practice making verses, and he promised he would do so. - -By degrees Miss Wên-chi's frequent visits attracted the notice of the -servants, as also of a brother-in-law named Sung, who was likewise a -gentleman of position; and the latter begged our hero to be allowed -to have a peep at her. He was told in reply that the young lady had -strictly forbidden that any one should see her; however, he concealed -himself in the servants' quarters, and when she arrived he looked at -her through the window. Almost beside himself, he now opened the door; -whereupon Wên-chi jumping up, vaulted over the wall and disappeared. -Sung was really smitten with her, and went off to her mistress to try -and arrange for her purchase; but when he mentioned Wên-chi's name, he -was informed that they had once had such a girl, who had died several -years previously. In great amazement Sung went back and told his -brother-in-law, and he now knew that his beloved Wên-chi was a -disembodied spirit. So when she came again he asked her if it was so; -to which she replied, "It is; but as you wanted a nice wife and I a -handsome husband, I thought we should be a suitable pair. What matters -it that one is a mortal and the other a spirit?" The young gentleman -thoroughly coincided in her view of the case; and when his examination -was over, and he was homeward bound, Wên-chi accompanied him, -invisible to others and visible to him alone. Arriving at his parents' -house, he installed her in the library; and the day she went to pay -the customary bride's visit to her father and mother,[258] he told his -own mother the whole story. She and his father were greatly alarmed, -and ordered him to have no more to do with her; but he would not -listen to this, and then his parents tried by all kinds of devices to -get rid of the girl, none of which met with any success. - -One day our hero had left upon the table some written instructions for -one of the servants, wherein he had made a number of mistakes in -spelling, such as _paper_ for _pepper_, _jinjer_ for _ginger_, and so -on; and when Wên-chi saw this, she wrote at the foot:-- - - "Paper for pepper do I see? - Jinjer for ginger can it be? - Of such a husband I'm afraid; - I'd rather be a servant-maid." - -She then said to the young gentleman, "Imagining you to be a man of -culture, I hid my blushes and sought you out the first.[259] Alas, -your qualifications are on the outside; should I not thus be a -laughing-stock to all?" She then disappeared, at which the young -gentleman was much hurt; but not knowing to what she alluded, he gave -the instructions to his servant, and so made himself the butt of all -who heard the story. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[257] Of course there is no such thing as spelling, in our sense of -the term, in Chinese. But characters are frequently written with too -many or too few strokes, and may thus be said to be incorrectly spelt. - -[258] A ceremonial visit made on the third day after marriage. - -[259] Contrary to all Chinese notions of modesty and etiquette. - - - - -XLV. - -THE TIGER GUEST. - - -A young man named Kung, a native of Min-chou, on his way to the -examination at Hsi-ngan, rested awhile in an inn, and ordered some -wine to drink. Just then a very tall and noble-looking stranger walked -in, and, seating himself by the side of Kung, entered into -conversation with him. Kung offered him a cup of wine, which the -stranger did not refuse; saying, at the same time, that his name was -Miao. But he was a rough, coarse fellow; and Kung, therefore, when the -wine was finished, did not call for any more. Miao then rose, and -observing that Kung did not appreciate a man of his capacity, went out -into the market to buy some, returning shortly with a huge bowl full. -Kung declined the proffered wine; but Miao, seizing his arm to -persuade him, gripped it so painfully that Kung was forced to drink a -few more cups, Miao himself swilling away as hard as he could go out -of a soup-plate. "I am not good at entertaining people," cried Miao, -at length; "pray go on or stop just as you please." Kung accordingly -put together his things and went off; but he had not gone more than a -few miles when his horse was taken ill, and lay down in the road. -While he was waiting there with all his heavy baggage, revolving in -his mind what he should do, up came Mr. Miao; who, when he heard what -was the matter, took off his coat and handed it to the servant, and -lifting up the horse, carried it off on his back to the nearest inn, -which was about six or seven miles distant. Arriving there he put the -animal in the stable, and before long Kung and his servants arrived -too. Kung was much astonished at Mr. Miao's feat; and, believing him -to be superhuman, began to treat him with the utmost deference, -ordering both wine and food to be procured for their refreshment. "My -appetite," remarked Miao, "is one that you could not easily satisfy. -Let us stick to wine." So they finished another stoup together, and -then Miao got up and took his leave, saying, "It will be some time -before your horse is well; I cannot wait for you." He then went away. - -After the examination several friends of Kung's invited him to join -them in a picnic to the Flowery Hill; and just as they were all -feasting and laughing together, lo! Mr. Miao walked up. In one hand he -held a large flagon, and in the other a ham, both of which he laid -down on the ground before them. "Hearing," said he, "that you -gentlemen were coming here, I have tacked myself on to you, like a fly -to a horse's tail."[260] Kung and his friends then rose and received -him with the usual ceremonies, after which they all sat down -promiscuously.[261] By-and-by, when the wine had gone round pretty -freely, some one proposed capping verses; whereupon Miao cried out, -"Oh, we're very jolly drinking like this; what's the use of making -oneself uncomfortable?" The others, however, would not listen to him, -and agreed that as a forfeit a huge goblet of wine should be drunk by -any defaulter. "Let us rather make death the penalty," said Miao; to -which they replied, laughing, that such a punishment was a trifle too -severe; and then Miao retorted that if it was not to be death, even a -rough fellow like himself might be able to join. A Mr. Chin, who was -sitting at the top of the line, then began:-- - - "From the hill-top high, wide extends the gaze--" - -upon which Miao immediately carried on with - - "Redly gleams the sword o'er the shattered vase."[262] - -The next gentleman thought for a long time, during which Miao was -helping himself to wine; and by-and-by they had all capped the verse, -but so wretchedly that Miao called out, "Oh, come! if we aren't to be -fined for these,[263] we had better abstain from making any more." As -none of them would agree to this, Miao could stand it no longer, and -roared like a dragon till the hills and valleys echoed again. He then -went down on his hands and knees, and jumped about like a lion, which -utterly confused the poets, and put an end to their lucubrations. The -wine had now been round a good many times, and being half tipsy each -began to repeat to the other the verses he had handed in at the recent -examination,[264] all at the same time indulging in any amount of -mutual flattery. This so disgusted Miao that he drew Kung aside to -have a game at "guess-fingers;"[265] but as they went on droning away -all the same, he at length cried out, "Do stop your rubbish, fit only -for your own wives,[266] and not for general company." The others were -much abashed at this, and so angry were they at Miao's rudeness that -they went on repeating all the louder. Miao then threw himself on the -ground in a passion, and with a roar changed into a tiger, immediately -springing upon the company, and killing them all except Kung and Mr. -Chin. He then ran off roaring loudly. Now this Mr. Chin succeeded in -taking his master's degree; and three years afterwards, happening to -revisit the Flowery Hill, he beheld a Mr. Chi, one of those very -gentlemen who had previously been killed by the tiger. In great alarm -he was making off, when Chi seized his bridle and would not let him -proceed. So he got down from his horse, and inquired what was the -matter; to which Chi replied, "I am now the slave of Miao, and have to -endure bitter toil for him. He must kill some one else before I can be -set free.[267] Three days hence a man, arrayed in the robes and cap -of a scholar, should be eaten by the tiger at the foot of the -Ts'ang-lung Hill. Do you on that day take some gentleman thither, and -thus help your old friend." Chin was too frightened to say much, but -promising that he would do so, rode away home. He then began to -consider the matter over with himself, and, regarding it as a plot, he -determined to break his engagement, and let his friend remain the -tiger's devil. He chanced, however, to repeat the story to a Mr. -Chiang who was a relative of his, and one of the local scholars; and -as this gentleman had a grudge against another scholar, named Yu, who -had come out equal with him at the examination, he made up his mind to -destroy him. So he invited Yu to accompany him on that day to the -place in question, mentioning that he himself should appear in undress -only. Yu could not make out the reason for this; but when he reached -the spot there he found all kinds of wine and food ready for his -entertainment. Now that very day the Prefect had come to the hill; and -being a friend of the Chiang family, and hearing that Chiang was -below, sent for him to come up. Chiang did not dare to appear before -him in undress, and borrowed Yu's clothes and hat; but he had no -sooner got them on than out rushed the tiger and carried him away in -its mouth. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[260] Alluding to a well-known expression which occurs in the -_Historical Record_, and is often used in the sense of deriving -advantage from connection with some influential person. - -[261] Without any regard to precedence, which plays quite as important -a part at a Chinese as at a western dinner-party. In China, however, -the most honoured guest sits at (what may be called) the head of the -table, the host at the foot. I say "what may be called," as Chinese -dining-tables are almost invariably square, and position alone -determines which is the head and which the foot. They are usually made -to accommodate eight persons; hence the fancy name "eight-angel -table," in allusion to the eight famous angels, or Immortals, of the -Taoist religion. (See No. V., note 48.) Occasionally, round tables are -used; especially in cases where the party consists of some such number -as ten. - -[262] It is almost impossible to give in translation the true spirit -of a Chinese antithetical couplet. There are so many points to be -brought out, each word of the second line being in opposition both in -tone and sense to a corresponding word in the first, that anything -beyond a rough rendering of the idea conveyed would be superfluous in -a work like this. Suffice it to say that Miao has here successfully -capped the verse given; and the more so because he has introduced, -through the medium of "sword" and "shattered vase," an allusion to a -classical story in which a certain Wang Tun, when drunk with wine, -beat time on a vase with his sword, and smashed the lip. - -[263] This is the _vel ego vel Cluvienus_ style of satire, his own -verse having been particularly good. - -[264] Many candidates, successful or otherwise, have their verses and -essays printed, and circulate them among an admiring circle of -friends. - -[265] Accurately described in Tylor's _Primitive Culture_, Vol. I., p. -75:--"Each player throws out a hand, and the sum of all the fingers -shown has to be called, the successful caller scoring a point; -practically each calls the total before he sees his adversary's hand." -The insertion of the word "simultaneously" after "called" would -improve this description. This game is so noisy that the Hong-kong -authorities have forbidden it, except within certain authorised -limits, between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.--Ordinance No. 2 of -1872. - -[266] This delicate stroke is of itself sufficient to prove the truth -of the oft-quoted Chinese saying, that all between the Four Seas are -brothers. - -[267] The "substitution" theory by which disembodied spirits are -enabled to find their way back to the world of mortals. A very -interesting and important example of this belief occurs in a later -story (No. CVII.), for which place I reserve further comments. - - - - -XLVI. - -THE SISTERS. - - -His Excellency the Grand Secretary Mao came from an obscure family in -the district of Yeh, his father being only a poor cow-herd. At the -same place there resided a wealthy gentleman, named Chang, who owned a -burial-ground in the neighbourhood; and some one informed him that -while passing by he had heard sounds of wrangling from within the -grave, and voices saying, "Make haste and go away; do not disturb His -Excellency's home." Chang did not much believe this; but subsequently -he had several dreams in which he was told that the burial-ground in -question really belonged to the Mao family, and that he had no right -whatever to it. From this moment the affairs of his house began to go -wrong;[268] and at length he listened to the remonstrances of friends -and removed his dead elsewhere. - -One day Mao's father, the cow-herd, was out near this burial-ground, -when, a storm of rain coming on, he took refuge in the now empty -grave, while the rain came down harder than ever, and by-and-by -flooded the whole place and drowned the old man. The Grand Secretary -was then a mere boy, and his mother went off to Chang to beg a piece -of ground wherein to bury her dead husband. When Chang heard her name -he was greatly astonished; and on going to look at the spot where the -old man was drowned, found that it was exactly at the proper place for -the coffin. More than ever amazed, he gave orders that the body should -be buried there in the old grave, and also bade Mao's mother bring her -son to see him. When the funeral was over, she went with Mao to Mr. -Chang's house, to thank him for his kindness; and so pleased was he -with the boy that he kept him to be educated, ranking him as one of -his own sons. He also said he would give him his eldest daughter as a -wife, an offer which Mao's mother hardly dared accept; but Mrs. Chang -said that the thing was settled and couldn't be altered, so then she -was obliged to consent. The young lady, however, had a great contempt -for Mao, and made no effort to disguise her feelings; and if any one -spoke to her of him, she would put her fingers in her ears, declaring -she would die sooner than marry the cow-boy. On the day appointed for -the wedding, the bridegroom arrived, and was feasted within, while -outside the door a handsome chair was in waiting to convey away the -bride, who all this time was standing crying in a corner, wiping her -eyes with her sleeve, and absolutely refusing to dress. Just then the -bridegroom sent in to say he was going,[269] and the drums and -trumpets struck up the wedding march, at which the bride's tears only -fell the faster as her hair hung dishevelled down her back. Her father -managed to detain Mao awhile, and went in to urge his daughter to make -haste, she weeping bitterly as if she did not hear what he was saying. -He now got into a rage, which only made her cry the louder; and in the -middle of it all a servant came to say the bridegroom wished to take -his leave. The father ran out and said his daughter wasn't quite -ready, begging Mao to wait a little longer; and then hurried back -again to the bride. Thus they went on for some time, backwards and -forwards, until at last things began to look serious, for the young -lady obstinately refused to yield; and Mr. Chang was ready to commit -suicide for want of anything better. Just then his second daughter was -standing by upbraiding her elder sister for her disobedience, when -suddenly the latter turned round in a rage, and cried out, "So you are -imitating the rest of them, you little minx; why don't you go and -marry him yourself?" "My father did not betroth me to Mr. Mao," -answered she, "but if he had I should not require you to persuade me -to accept him." Her father was delighted with this reply, and at once -went off and consulted with his wife as to whether they could venture -to substitute the second for the elder; and then her mother came and -said to her, "That bad girl there won't obey her parent's commands; we -wish, therefore, to put you in her place: will you consent to this -arrangement?" The younger sister readily agreed, saying that had they -told her to marry a beggar she would not have dared to refuse, and -that she had not such a low opinion of Mr. Mao as all that. Her father -and mother rejoiced exceedingly at receiving this reply; and dressing -her up in her sister's clothes, put her in the bridal chair and sent -her off. She proved an excellent wife, and lived in harmony with her -husband; but she was troubled with a disease of the hair, which caused -Mr. Mao some annoyance. Later on, she told him how she had changed -places with her sister, and this made him think more highly of her -than before. Soon after Mao took his bachelor's degree, and then set -off to present himself as a candidate for the master's degree. On the -way he passed by an inn, the landlord of which had dreamt the night -before that a spirit appeared to him and said, "To-morrow Mr. Mao, -first on the list, will come. Some day he will extricate you from a -difficulty." Accordingly the landlord got up early, and took especial -note of all guests who came from the eastward, until at last Mao -himself arrived. The landlord was very glad to see him, and provided -him with the best of everything, refusing to take any payment for it -all, but telling what he had dreamt the night before. Mao now began to -give himself airs; and, reflecting that his wife's want of hair would -make him look ridiculous, he determined that as soon as he attained to -rank and power he would find another spouse. But alas! when the -successful list of candidates was published, Mao's name was not among -them; and he retraced his steps with a heavy heart, and by another -road, so as to avoid meeting the innkeeper. Three years afterwards he -went up again, and the landlord received him with precisely the same -attentions as on the previous occasion; upon which Mao said to him, -"Your former words did not come true; I am now ashamed to put you to -so much trouble." "Ah," replied the landlord, "you meant to get rid of -your wife, and the Ruler of the world below struck out your name.[270] -My dream couldn't have been false." In great astonishment, Mao asked -what he meant by these words; and then he learnt that after his -departure the landlord had had a second dream informing him of the -above facts. Mao was much alarmed at what he heard, and remained as -motionless as a wooden image, until the landlord said to him, "You, -Sir, as a scholar, should have more self-respect, and you will -certainly take the highest place." By-and-by when the list came out, -Mao was the first of all; and almost simultaneously his wife's hair -began to grow quite thick, making her much better-looking than she had -hitherto been. - -Now her elder sister had married a rich young fellow of good family, -who lived in the neighbourhood, which made the young lady more -contemptuous than ever; but he was so extravagant and so idle that -their property was soon gone, and they were positively in want of -food. Hearing, too, of Mr. Mao's success at the examination, she was -overwhelmed with shame and vexation, and avoided even meeting her -sister in the street. Just then her husband died and left her -destitute; and about the same time Mao took his doctor's degree, which -so aggravated her feelings that, in a passion, she became a nun. -Subsequently, when Mao rose to be a high officer of state, she sent a -novice to his yamên to try and get a subscription out of him for the -temple; and Mao's wife, who gave several pieces of silk and other -things, secretly inserted a sum of money among them. The novice, not -knowing this, reported what she had received to the elder sister, who -cried out in a passion, "I wanted money to buy food with; of what use -are these things to me?" So she bade the novice take them back; and -when Mao and his wife saw her return, they suspected what had -happened, and opening the parcel found the money still there. They now -understood why the presents had been refused; and taking the money, -Mao said to the novice, "If one hundred ounces of silver is too much -luck for your mistress to secure, of course she could never have -secured a high official, such as I am now, for her husband." He then -took fifty ounces, and giving them to the novice, sent her away, -adding, "Hand this to your mistress, I'm afraid more would be too much -for her."[271] The novice returned and repeated all that had been -said; and then the elder sister sighed to think what a failure her -life had been, and how she had rejected the worthy to accept the -worthless. After this, the innkeeper got into trouble about a case of -murder, and was imprisoned; but Mao exerted his influence, and -obtained the man's pardon. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[268] Such is the dominant belief regarding the due selection of an -auspicious site, whether for a house or grave; and with this -superstition deeply ingrained in the minds of the people, it is easy -to understand the hold on the public mind possessed by the -pseudo-scientific professors of Fêng-Shui, or the geomantic art. - -[269] The bridegroom leads off the procession, and the bride follows -shortly afterwards in an elaborately-gilt sedan-chair, closed in on -all sides so that the occupant cannot be seen. - -[270] Here again we have the common Chinese belief that fate is fate -only within certain limits, and is always liable to be altered at the -will of heaven. - -[271] This is another curious phase of Chinese superstition, namely, -that each individual is so constituted by nature as to be able to -absorb only a given quantity of good fortune and no more, any -superfluity of luck doing actual harm to the person on whom it falls. - - - - -XLVII. - -FOREIGN[272] PRIESTS. - - -The Buddhist priest, T'i-k'ung, relates that when he was at -Ch'ing-chou he saw two foreign priests of very extraordinary -appearance. They wore rings in their ears, were dressed in yellow -cloth, and had curly hair and beards. They said they had come from the -countries of the west; and hearing that the Governor of the district -was a devoted follower of Buddha, they went to visit him. The Governor -sent a couple of servants to escort them to the monastery of the -place, where the abbot, Ling-p'ei, did not receive them very -cordially; but the secular manager, seeing that they were not ordinary -individuals, entertained them and kept them there for the night. Some -one asked if there were many strange men in the west, and what magical -arts were practised by the Lohans;[273] whereupon one of them laughed, -and putting forth his hand from his sleeve, showed a small pagoda, -fully a foot in height, and beautifully carved, standing upon the -palm. Now very high up in the wall there was a niche; and the priest -threw the pagoda up to it, when lo! it stood there firm and straight. -After a few moments the pagoda began to incline to one side, and a -glory, as from a relic of some saint, was diffused throughout the -room. The other priest then bared his arms, and stretched out his left -until it was five or six feet in length, at the same time shortening -his right arm until it dwindled to nothing. He then stretched out the -latter until it was as long as his left arm. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[272] The word here used is _fan_, generally translated "barbarian." - -[273] The disciples of Shâkyamuni Buddha. Same as _Arhans_. - - - - -XLVIII. - -THE SELF-PUNISHED MURDERER. - - -Mr. Li took his doctor's degree late in life.[274] On the 28th of the -9th moon of the 4th year of K'ang Hsi,[275] he killed his wife. The -neighbours reported the murder to the officials, and the high -authorities instructed the district magistrate to investigate the -case. At this juncture Mr. Li was standing at the door of his -residence; and snatching a butcher's knife from a stall hard by, he -rushed into the Ch'êng-huang[276] temple, where, mounting the -theatrical stage,[277] he threw himself on his knees, and spoke as -follows:--"The spirit here will punish me. I am not to be prosecuted -by evil men who, from party motives, confuse right and wrong. The -spirit moves me to cut off an ear." Thereupon he cut off his left ear -and threw it down from the stage. He then said the spirit was going to -fine him a hand for cheating people out of their money; and he -forthwith chopped off his left hand. Lastly, he cried out that he was -to be punished severely for all his many crimes; and immediately cut -his own throat. The Viceroy subsequently received the Imperial -permission to deprive him of his rank[278] and bring him to trial; but -he was then being punished by a higher power in the realms of darkness -below. See the _Peking Gazette_.[279] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[274] There is no limit as to age in the competitive examinations of -China. The _San-tz[)u]-Ching_ records the case of a man who graduated at -the mature age of eighty-two. - -[275] In 1665, that is between fourteen and fifteen years previous to -the completion of the _Liao Chai_. - -[276] See No. I., note 36. - -[277] Religion and the drama work hand in hand in China. - -[278] Always the first step in the prosecution of a graduate. In this -case, the accused was also an official. - -[279] Of what date, our author does not say, or it would be curious to -try and hunt up the official record of this case as it appeared in the -government organ of the day. The unfortunate man was in all -probability insane. - - - - -XLIX. - -THE MASTER THIEF. - - -Before his rebellion,[280] Prince Wu frequently told his soldiers that -if any one of them could catch a tiger unaided he would give him a -handsome pension and the title of the Tiger Daunter. In his camp there -was a man named Pao-chu, as strong and agile as a monkey; and once -when a new tower was being built, the wooden framework having only -just been set up, Pao-chu walked along the eaves, and finally got up -on to the very tip-top beam, where he ran backwards and forwards -several times. He then jumped down, alighting safely on his feet. - -Now Prince Wu had a favourite concubine, who was a skilful player on -the guitar; and the nuts of the instrument she used were of warm -jade,[281] so that when played upon there was a general feeling of -warmth throughout the room. The young lady was extremely careful of -this treasure, and never produced it for any one to see unless on -receipt of the Prince's written order. One night, in the middle of a -banquet, a guest begged to be allowed to see this wonderful guitar; -but the Prince, being in a lazy mood, said it should be exhibited to -him on the following day. Pao-chu, who was standing by, then observed -that he could get it without troubling the Prince to write an order. -Some one was therefore sent off beforehand to instruct all the -officials to be on the watch, and then the Prince told Pao-chu he -might go; and after scaling numerous walls the latter found himself -near the lady's room. Lamps were burning brightly within; the doors -were bolted and barred, and it was impossible to effect an entrance. -Under the verandah, however, was a cockatoo fast asleep on its perch; -and Pao-chu first mewing several times like a cat, followed it up by -imitating the voice of the bird, and cried out as though in distress, -"The cat! the cat!" He then heard the concubine call to one of the -slave girls, and bid her go rescue the cockatoo which was being -killed; and, hiding himself in a dark corner, he saw a girl come forth -with a light in her hand. She had barely got outside the door when he -rushed in, and there he saw the lady sitting with the guitar on a -table before her. Seizing the instrument he turned and fled; upon -which the concubine shrieked out, "Thieves! thieves!" And the guard, -seeing a man making off with the guitar, at once started in pursuit. -Arrows fell round Pao-chu like drops of rain, but he climbed up one of -a number of huge ash trees growing there, and from its top leaped on -to the top of the next, and so on, until he had reached the -furthermost tree, when he jumped on to the roof of a house, and from -that to another, more as if he were flying than anything else. In a -few minutes he had disappeared, and before long presented himself -suddenly at the banquet-table with the guitar in his hand, the -entrance-gate having been securely barred all the time, and not a dog -or a cock aroused. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[280] A.D. 1675. His full name was Wu San-kuei. - -[281] Such is the literal translation of a term which I presume to be -the name of some particular kind of jade, which is ordinarily -distinguished from the imitation article by its comparative -_coldness_. - - - - -L. - -A FLOOD. - - -In the twenty-first year of K'ang Hsi[282] there was a severe drought, -not a green blade appearing in the parched ground all through the -spring and well into the summer. On the 13th of the 6th moon a little -rain fell, and people began to plant their rice. On the 18th there was -a heavy fall, and beans were sown. - -Now at a certain village there was an old man, who, noticing two -bullocks fighting on the hills, told the villagers that a great flood -was at hand, and forthwith removed with his family to another part of -the country. The villagers all laughed at him; but before very long -rain began to fall in torrents, lasting all through the night, until -the water was several feet deep, and carrying away the houses. Among -the others was a man who, neglecting to save his two children, with -his wife assisted his aged mother to reach a place of safety, from -which they looked down at their old home, now only an expanse of -water, without hope of ever seeing the children again. When the flood -had subsided, they went back, to find the whole place a complete ruin; -but in their own house they discovered the two boys playing and -laughing on the bed as if nothing had happened. Some one remarked that -this was a reward for the filial piety of the parents. It happened on -the 20th of the 6th moon.[283] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[282] A.D. 1682; that is, three years after the date of our author's -preface. See _Introduction_. - -[283] A curious note here follows in the original, not however from -the pen of the great commentator, I Shih-shih:--"In 1696 a severe -earthquake occurred at P'ing-yang, and out of seventeen or eighteen -cities destroyed, only one room remained uninjured--a room inhabited -by a certain filial son. And thus, when in the crash of a collapsing -universe, filial piety is specially marked out for protection, who -shall say that God Almighty does not know black from white?" - - - - -LI. - -DEATH BY LAUGHING. - - -A Mr. Sun Ching-hsia, a marshal of undergraduates,[284] told me that -in his village there was a certain man who had been killed by the -rebels when they passed through the place. The man's head was left -hanging down on his chest; and as soon as the rebels had gone, his -servants secured the body and were about to bury it. Hearing, however, -a sound of breathing, they looked more closely, and found that the -windpipe was not wholly severed; and, setting his head in its proper -place, they carried him back home. In twenty-four hours he began to -moan; and by dint of carefully feeding him with a spoon, within six -months he had quite recovered. - -Some ten years afterwards he was chatting with a few friends, when one -of them made a joke which called forth loud applause from the others. -Our hero, too, clapped his hands; but, as he was bending backwards and -forwards with laughter, the seam on his neck split open, and down fell -his head with a gush of blood. His friends now found that he was -quite dead, and his father immediately commenced an action against the -joker;[285] but a sum of money was subscribed by those present and -given to the father, who buried his son and stopped further -proceedings. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[284] Or "Director of Studies." - -[285] The Chinese distinguish five degrees of homicide, of which -accidental homicide is one (see _Penal Code_, Book VI.) Thus, if a gun -goes off of itself in a man's hand and kills a bystander, the holder -of the gun is guilty of homicide; but were the same gun lying on a -table, it would be regarded as the will of Heaven. Similarly, a man is -held responsible for any death caused by an animal belonging to him; -though in such cases the affair can usually be hushed up by a money -payment, no notice being taken of crimes in general unless at the -instigation of a prosecutor, at whose will the case may be -subsequently withdrawn. Where the circumstances are purely accidental, -the law admits of a money compensation. - - - - -LII. - -PLAYING AT HANGING. - - -A number of wild young fellows were one day out walking when they saw -a young lady approach, riding on a pony.[286] One of them said to the -others, "I'll back myself to make that girl laugh," and a supper was -at once staked by both sides on the result. Our hero then ran out in -front of the pony, and kept on shouting "I'm going to die! I'm going -to die!" at the same time pulling out from over the top of a wall a -stalk of millet, to which he attached his own waistband, and tying the -latter round his neck, made a pretence of hanging himself. The young -lady did laugh as she passed by, to the great amusement of the -assembled company; but as when she was already some distance off their -friend did not move, the others laughed louder than ever. However, on -going up to him they saw that his tongue protruded, and that his eyes -were glazed; he was, in fact, quite dead. Was it not strange that a -man should be able to hang himself on a millet stalk?[287] It is a -good warning against practical joking. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[286] Women in China ride _à califourchon_. - -[287] Which, although tolerably stout and strong, is hardly capable of -sustaining a man's weight. - - - - -LIII. - -THE RAT WIFE. - - -Hsi Shan was a native of Kao-mi, and a trader by occupation. He -frequently slept at a place called Mêng-i. One day he was delayed on -the road by rain, and when he arrived at his usual quarters it was -already late in the night. He knocked at all the doors, but no one -answered; and he was walking backwards and forwards in the piazza when -suddenly a door flew open and an old man came out. He invited the -traveller to enter, an invitation to which Hsi Shan gladly responded; -and, tying up his mule, he went in. The place was totally unfurnished; -and the old man began by saying that it was only out of compassion -that he had asked him in, as his house was not an inn. "There are only -three or four of us," added he; "and my wife and daughter are fast -asleep. We have some of yesterday's food, which I will get ready for -you; you must not object to its being cold." He then went within, and -shortly afterwards returned with a low couch, which he placed on the -ground, begging his guest to be seated, at the same time hurrying back -for a low table, and soon for a number of other things, until at last -Hsi Shan was quite uncomfortable, and entreated his host to rest -himself awhile. By-and-by a young lady came out, bringing some wine; -upon which the old man said, "Oh, our A-ch'ien has got up." She was -about sixteen or seventeen, a slender and pretty-looking girl; and as -Hsi Shan had an unmarried brother, he began to think directly that she -would do for him. So he inquired of the old man his name and address, -to which the latter replied that his name was Ku, and that his -children had all died save this one daughter. "I didn't like to wake -her just now, but I suppose my wife told her to get up." Hsi Shan then -asked the name of his son-in-law, and was informed that the young lady -was not yet engaged,--at which he was secretly very much pleased. A -tray of food was now brought in, evidently the remains from the day -before; and when he had finished eating, Hsi Shan began respectfully -to address the old man as follows:--"I am only a poor wayfarer, but I -shall never forget the kindness with which you have treated me. Let me -presume upon it, and submit to your consideration a plan I have in my -head. My younger brother, San-lang, is seventeen years old. He is a -student, and by no means unsteady or dull. May I hope that you will -unite our families together, and not think it presumption on my part?" -"I, too, am but a temporary sojourner," replied the old man, -rejoicing; "and if you will only let me have a part of your house, I -shall be very glad to come and live with you." Hsi Shan consented to -this, and got up and thanked him for the promise of his daughter; upon -which the old man set to work to make him comfortable for the night, -and then went away. At cock-crow he was outside, calling his guest to -come and have a wash; and when Hsi Shan had packed up ready to go, he -offered to pay for his night's entertainment. This, however, the old -man refused, saying, "I could hardly charge a stranger anything for a -single meal; how much less could I take money from my intended -son-in-law?" They then separated, and in about a month Hsi Shan -returned; but when he was a short distance from the village he met an -old woman with a young lady, both dressed in deep mourning. As they -approached he began to suspect it was A-ch'ien; and the young lady, -after turning round to look at him, pulled the old woman's sleeve, and -whispered something in her ear, which Hsi Shan himself did not hear. -The old woman stopped immediately, and asked if she was addressing Mr. -Hsi; and when informed that she was, she said mournfully, "Alas! my -husband has been killed by the falling of a wall. We are going to bury -him to-day. There is no one at home; but please wait here, and we will -be back by-and-by." They then disappeared among the trees; and, -returning after a short absence, they walked along together in the -dusk of the evening. The old woman complained bitterly of their lonely -and helpless state, and Hsi Shan himself was moved to compassion by -the sight of her tears. She told him that the people of the -neighbourhood were a bad lot, and that if he thought of marrying the -poor widow's daughter, he had better lose no time in doing so. Hsi -Shan said he was willing; and when they reached the house the old -woman, after lighting the lamp and setting food before him, proceeded -to speak as follows:--"Knowing, Sir, that you would shortly arrive, we -sold all our grain except about twenty piculs. We cannot take this -with us so far; but a mile or so to the north of the village, at the -first house you come to, there lives a man named T'an Erh-ch'üan, who -often buys grain from me. Don't think it too much trouble to oblige me -by taking a sack with you on your mule and proceeding thither at once. -Tell Mr. T'an that the old lady of the southern village has several -piculs of grain which she wishes to sell in order to get money for a -journey, and beg him to send some animals to carry it." The old woman -then gave him a sack of grain; and Hsi Shan, whipping up his mule, was -soon at the place; and, knocking at the door, a great fat fellow came -out, to whom he told his errand. Emptying the sack he had brought, he -went back himself first; and before long a couple of men arrived -leading five mules. The old woman took them into the granary, which -was a cellar below ground, and Hsi Shan, going down himself, handed up -the bags to the mother and daughter, who passed them on from one to -the other. In a little while the men had got a load, with which they -went off, returning altogether four times before all the grain was -exhausted. They then paid the old woman, who kept one man and two -mules, and, packing up her things, set off towards the east. After -travelling some seven miles day began to break; and by-and-by they -reached a market town, where the old woman hired animals and sent back -T'an's servant. When they arrived at Hsi Shan's home he related the -whole story to his parents, who were very pleased at what had -happened, and provided separate apartments for the old lady, at the -same time engaging a fortune-teller to fix on a lucky day for -A-ch'ien's marriage with their son San-lang. The old woman prepared a -handsome trousseau; and as for A-ch'ien herself, she spoke but little, -seldom losing her temper, and if any one addressed her she would only -reply with a smile. She employed all her time in spinning, and thus -became a general favourite with all alike. "Tell your brother," said -she to San-lang, "that when he happens to pass our old residence he -will do well not to make any mention of my mother and myself." - -In three or four years' time the Hsi family had made plenty of money, -and San-lang had taken his bachelor's degree, when one day Hsi Shan -happened to pass a night with the people who lived next door to the -house where he had met A-ch'ien. After telling them the story of his -having had nowhere to sleep, and taking refuge with the old man and -woman, his host said to him, "You must make a mistake, Sir; the house -you allude to belongs to my uncle, but was abandoned three years ago -in consequence of its being haunted. It has now been uninhabited for a -long time. What old man and woman can have entertained you there?" Hsi -Shan was very much astonished at this, but did not put much faith in -what he heard; meanwhile his host continued, "For ten years no one -dared enter the house; however, one day the back wall fell down, and -my uncle, going to look at it, found, half-buried underneath the -ruins, a large rat, almost as big as a cat. It was still moving, and -my uncle went off to call for assistance, but when he got back the rat -had disappeared. Everyone suspected some supernatural agency to be at -work, though on returning to the spot ten days afterwards nothing was -to be either heard or seen; and about a year subsequently the place -was inhabited once more." Hsi Shan was more than ever amazed at what -he now heard, and on reaching home told the family what had occurred; -for he feared that his brother's wife was not a human being, and -became rather anxious about him. San-lang himself continued to be much -attached to A-ch'ien; but by-and-by the other members of the family -let A-ch'ien perceive that they had suspicions about her. So one night -she complained to San-lang, saying, "I have been a good wife to you -for some years: now I have become an object of contempt. I pray you -give me my divorce,[288] and seek for yourself some worthier mate." -She then burst into a flood of tears; whereupon San-lang said, "You -should know my feelings by this time. Ever since you entered the -house the family has prospered; and that prosperity is entirely due to -you. Who can say it is not so?" "I know full well," replied A-ch'ien, -"what you feel; still there are the others, and I do not wish to share -the fate of an autumn fan."[289] At length San-lang succeeded in -pacifying her; but Hsi Shan could not dismiss the subject from his -thoughts, and gave out that he was going to get a first-rate mouser, -with a view to testing A-ch'ien. She did not seem very frightened at -this, though evidently ill at ease; and one night she told San-lang -that her mother was not very well, and that he needn't come to bid her -good night as usual. In the morning mother and daughter had -disappeared; at which San-lang was greatly alarmed, and sent out to -look for them in every direction. No traces of the fugitives could be -discovered, and San-lang was overwhelmed with grief, unable either to -eat or to sleep. His father and brother thought it was a lucky thing -for him, and advised him to console himself with another wife. This, -however, he refused to do; until, about a year afterwards, nothing -more having been heard of A-ch'ien, he could not resist their -importunities any longer, and bought himself a concubine. But he never -ceased to think of A-ch'ien; and some years later, when the prosperity -of the family was on the wane, they all began to regret her loss. - -Now San-lang had a step-brother, named Lan, who, when travelling to -Chiao-chou on business, passed a night at the house of a relative -named Lu. He noticed that during the night sounds of weeping and -lamentation proceeded from their next-door neighbours, but he did not -inquire the reason of it; however, on his way back he heard the same -sounds, and then asked what was the cause of such demonstrations. Mr. -Lu told him that a few years ago an old widow and her daughter had -come there to live, and that the mother had died about a month -previously, leaving her child quite alone in the world. Lan inquired -what her name was, and Mr. Lu said it was Ku; "But," added he, "the -door is closely barred, and as they never had any communication with -the village, I know nothing of their antecedents." "It's my -sister-in-law," cried Lan, in amazement, and at once proceeded to -knock at the door of the house. Some one came to the front door, and -said, in a voice that betokened recent weeping, "Who's there? There -are no men in this house."[290] Lan looked through a crack, and saw -that the young lady really was his sister-in-law; so he called out, -"Sister, open the door. I am your step-brother A-sui." A-ch'ien -immediately opened the door and asked him in, and recounted to him the -whole story of her troubles. "Your husband," said Lan, "is always -thinking of you. For a trifling difference you need hardly have run -away so far from him." He then proposed to hire a vehicle and take her -home; but A-ch'ien replied, "I came hither with my mother to hide -because I was held in contempt, and should make myself ridiculous by -now returning thus. If I am to go back, my elder brother Hsi Shan must -no longer live with us; otherwise, I will assuredly poison myself." -Lan then went home and told San-lang, who set off and travelled all -night until he reached the place where A-ch'ien was. Husband and wife -were overjoyed to meet again, and the following day San-lang notified -the landlord of the house where A-ch'ien had been living. Now this -landlord had long desired to secure A-ch'ien as a concubine for -himself; and, after making no claim for rent for several years, he -began to hint as much to her mother. The old lady, however, refused -flatly; but shortly afterwards she died, and then the landlord thought -that he might be able to succeed. At this juncture San-lang arrived, -and the landlord sought to hamper him by putting in his claim for -rent; and, as San-lang was anything but well off at the moment, it -really did annoy him very much. A-ch'ien here came to the rescue, -showing San-lang a large quantity of grain she had in the house, and -bidding him use it to settle accounts with the landlord. The latter -declared he could not accept grain, but must be paid in silver; -whereupon A-ch'ien sighed and said it was all her unfortunate self -that had brought this upon them, at the same time telling San-lang of -the landlord's former proposition. San-lang was very angry, and was -about to take out a summons against him, when Mr. Lu interposed, and, -by selling the grain in the neighbourhood, managed to collect -sufficient money to pay off the rent. San-lang and his wife then -returned home; and the former, having explained the circumstances to -his parents, separated his household from that of his brother. -A-ch'ien now proceeded to build, with her own money, a granary, which -was a matter of some astonishment to the family, there not being a -hundredweight of grain in the place. But in about a year the granary -was full,[291] and before very long San-lang was a rich man, Hsi Shan -remaining as poor as before. Accordingly, A-ch'ien persuaded her -husband's parents to come and live with them, and made frequent -presents of money to the elder brother; so that her husband said, -"Well, at any rate, you bear no malice." "Your brother's behaviour," -replied she, "was from his regard for you. Had it not been for him, -you and I would never have met." After this there were no more -supernatural manifestations. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[288] The Chinese acknowledge seven just causes for putting away a -wife. (1) Bad behaviour towards the husband's father and mother. (2) -Adultery. (3) Jealousy. (4) Garrulity. (5) Theft. (6) Disease. (7) -Barrenness. The right of divorce may not, however, be enforced if the -husband's father and mother have died since the marriage, as thus it -would be inferred that the wife had served them well up to the time of -their death; or if the husband has recently risen to wealth and power -(hence the saying, "The wife of my poverty shall not go down from my -hall"); or thirdly, if the wife's parents and brothers are dead, and -she has no home in which she can seek shelter. - -[289] This elegant simile is taken from a song ascribed to Pan -Chieh-yü, a favourite of the Emperor Ch'êng Ti of the Han dynasty, -written when her influence with the Son of Heaven began to wane. I -venture to reproduce it here. - - "O fair white silk, fresh from the weaver's loom; - Clear as the frost, bright as the winter's snow! - See! friendship fashions out of thee a fan, - Round as the round moon shines in heaven above. - At home, abroad, a close companion thou, - Stirring at every move the grateful gale. - And yet I fear, ah, me! that autumn chills, - Cooling the dying summer's torrid rage, - Will see thee laid neglected on the shelf, - All thought of by-gone days, like them, by-gone." - -[290] Signifying that it would be impossible for him to enter. - -[291] The result of A-ch'ien's depredations as a rat. - - - - -LIV. - -THE MAN WHO WAS THROWN DOWN A WELL. - - -Mr. Tai, of An-ch'ing, was a wild fellow when young. One day as he was -returning home tipsy,[292] he met by the way a dead cousin of his -named Chi; and having, in his drunken state, quite forgotten that his -cousin was dead, he asked him where he was going. "I am already a -disembodied spirit," replied Chi; "don't you remember?" Tai was a -little disturbed at this; but, being under the influence of liquor, -he was not frightened, and inquired of his cousin what he was doing in -the realms below. "I am employed as scribe," said Chi, "in the court -of the Great King." "Then you must know all about our happiness and -misfortunes to come," cried Tai. "It is my business," answered his -cousin, "so of course I know. But I see such an enormous mass that, -unless of special reference to myself or family, I take no notice of -any of it. Three days ago, by the way, I saw your name in the -register." Tai immediately asked what there was about himself, and his -cousin replied, "I will not deceive you; your name was put down for a -dark and dismal hell." Tai was dreadfully alarmed, and at the same -time sobered, and entreated his cousin to assist him in some way. "You -may try," said Chi, "what merit will do for you as a means of -mitigating your punishment; but the register of your sins is as thick -as my finger, and nothing short of the most deserving acts will be of -any avail. What can a poor fellow like myself do for you? Were you to -perform one good act every day, you would not complete the necessary -total under a year and more, and it is now too late for that. But -henceforth amend your ways, and there may still be a chance of escape -for you." When Tai heard these words he prostrated himself on the -ground, imploring his cousin to help him; but, on raising his head, -Chi had disappeared; he therefore returned sorrowfully home, and set -to work to cleanse his heart and order his behaviour. - -Now Tai's next door neighbour had long suspected him of paying too -much attention to his wife; and one day meeting Tai in the fields -shortly after the events narrated above, he inveigled him into -inspecting a dry well, and then pushed him down. The well was many -feet deep, and the man felt certain that Tai was killed; however, in -the middle of the night he came round, and sitting up at the bottom, -he began to shout for assistance, but could not make any one hear him. -On the following day, the neighbour, fearing that Tai might possibly -have recovered consciousness, went to listen at the mouth of the well; -and hearing him cry out for help, began to throw down a quantity of -stones. Tai took refuge in a cave at the side, and did not dare utter -another sound; but his enemy knew he was not dead, and forthwith -filled the well almost up to the top with earth. In the cave it was as -dark as pitch, exactly like the Infernal Regions; and not being able -to get anything to eat or drink, Tai gave up all hopes of life. He -crawled on his hands and knees further into the cave, but was -prevented by water from going further than a few paces, and returned -to take up his position at the old spot. At first he felt hungry; -by-and-by, however, this sensation passed away; and then reflecting -that there, at the bottom of a well, he could hardly perform any good -action, he passed his time in calling loudly on the name of -Buddha.[293] Before long he saw a number of Will-o'-the-Wisps -flitting over the water and illuminating the gloom of the cave; and -immediately prayed to them, saying, "O Will-o'-the-Wisps, I have heard -that ye are the shades of wronged and injured people. I have not long -to live, and am without hope of escape; still I would gladly relieve -the monotony of my situation by exchanging a few words with you." -Thereupon, all the Wills came flitting across the water to him; and -among them was a man of about half the ordinary size. Tai asked him -whence he came; to which he replied, "This is an old coal-mine. The -proprietor, in working the coal, disturbed the position of some -graves;[294] and Mr. Lung-fei flooded the mine and drowned forty-three -workmen. We are the shades of those men." He further said he did not -know who Mr. Lung-fei was, except that he was secretary to the City -God, and that in compassion for the misfortunes of the innocent -workmen, he was in the habit of sending them a quantity of gruel every -three or four days. "But the cold water," added he, "soaks into our -bones, and there is but small chance of ever getting them removed. If, -Sir, you some day return to the world above, I pray you fish up our -decaying bones and bury them in some public burying-ground. You will -thus earn for yourself boundless gratitude in the realms below." Tai -promised that if he had the luck to escape he would do as they wished; -"but how," cried he, "situated as I am, can I ever hope to look again -upon the light of day?" He then began to teach the Wills to say their -prayers, making for them beads[295] out of bits of mud, and repeating -to them the liturgies of Buddha. He could not tell night from morning; -he slept when he felt tired, and when he waked he sat up. Suddenly, he -perceived in the distance the light of lamps, at which the shades all -rejoiced, and said, "It is Mr. Lung-fei with our food." They then -invited Tai to go with them; and when he said he couldn't because of -the water, they bore him along over it so that he hardly seemed to -walk. After twisting and turning about for nearly a quarter of a mile, -he reached a place at which the Wills bade him walk by himself; and -then he appeared to mount a flight of steps, at the top of which he -found himself in an apartment lighted by a candle as thick round as -one's arm. Not having seen the light of fire for some time, he was -overjoyed and walked in; but observing an old man in a scholar's dress -and cap seated in the post of honour, he stopped, not liking to -advance further. But the old man had already caught sight of him, and -asked him how he, a living man, had come there. Tai threw himself on -the ground at his feet, and told him all; whereupon the old man cried -out, "My great-grandson!" He then bade him get up; and offering him a -seat, explained that his own name was Tai Ch'ien, and that he was -otherwise known as Lung-fei. He said, moreover, that in days gone by a -worthless grandson of his named T'ang, had associated himself with a -lot of scoundrels and sunk a well near his grave, disturbing the peace -of his everlasting night; and that therefore he had flooded the place -with salt water and drowned them. He then inquired as to the general -condition of the family at that time. - -Now Tai was a descendant of one of five brothers, from the eldest of -whom T'ang himself was also descended; and an influential man of the -place had bribed T'ang to open a mine[296] alongside the family grave. -His brothers were afraid to interfere; and by-and-by the water rose -and drowned all the workmen; whereupon actions for damages were -commenced by the relatives of the deceased,[297] and T'ang and his -friend were reduced to poverty, and T'ang's descendants to absolute -destitution. Tai was a son of one of T'ang's brothers, and having -heard this story from his seniors, now repeated it to the old man. -"How could they be otherwise than unfortunate," cried the latter, -"with such an unfilial progenitor? But since you have come hither, you -must on no account neglect your studies." The old man then provided -him with food and wine, and spreading a volume of essays according to -the old style before him, bade him study it most carefully. He also -gave him themes for composition, and corrected his essays as if he had -been his tutor. The candle remained always burning in the room, never -needing to be snuffed and never decreasing. When he was tired he went -to sleep, but he never knew day from night. The old man occasionally -went out, leaving a boy to attend to his great-grandson's wants. It -seemed that several years passed away thus, but Tai had no troubles of -any kind to annoy him. He had no other book except the volume of -essays, one hundred in all, which he read through more than four -thousand times. One day the old man said to him, "Your term of -expiation is nearly completed, and you will be able to return to the -world above. My grave is near the coal-mine, and the grosser breeze -plays upon my bones. Remember to remove them to Tung-yüan." Tai -promised he would see to this; and then the old man summoned all the -shades together and instructed them to escort Tai back to the place -where they had found him. The shades now bowed one after the other, -and begged Tai to think of them as well, while Tai himself was quite -at a loss to guess how he was going to get out. - -Meanwhile, Tai's family had searched for him everywhere, and his -mother had brought his case to the notice of the officials, thereby -implicating a large number of persons, but without getting any trace -of the missing man. Three or four years passed away and there was a -change of magistrate; in consequence of which the search was relaxed, -and Tai's wife, not being happy where she was, married another -husband. Just then an inhabitant of the place set about repairing the -old well and found Tai's body in the cave at the bottom. Touching it, -he found it was not dead, and at once gave information to the family. -Tai was promptly conveyed home, and within a day he could tell his own -story. - -Since he had been down the well, the neighbour who pushed him in had -beaten his own wife to death; and his father-in-law having brought an -action against him, he had been in confinement for more than a year -while the case was being investigated.[298] When released he was a -mere bag of bones;[299] and then hearing that Tai had come back to -life, he was terribly alarmed and fled away. The family tried to -persuade Tai to take proceedings against him, but this he would not -do, alleging that what had befallen him was a proper punishment for -his own bad behaviour, and had nothing to do with the neighbour. Upon -this, the said neighbour ventured to return; and when the water in the -well had dried up, Tai hired men to go down and collect the bones, -which he put in coffins and buried all together in one place. He next -hunted up Mr. Lung-fei's name in the family tables of genealogy, and -proceeded to sacrifice all kinds of nice things at his tomb. By-and-by -the Literary Chancellor[300] heard this strange story, and was also -very pleased with Tai's compositions; accordingly, Tai passed -successfully through his examinations, and, having taken his master's -degree, returned home and reburied Mr. Lung-fei at Tung-yüan, -repairing thither regularly every spring without fail.[301] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[292] I have already discussed the subject of drunkenness in China -(_Chinese Sketches_, pp. 113, 114), and shall not return to it here, -further than to quote a single sentence, to which I adhere as firmly -now as when the book in question was published:--"Who ever sees in -China a tipsy man reeling about a crowded thoroughfare, or lying with -his head in a ditch by the side of some country road?" - -It is not, however, generally known that the Chinese, with their usual -quaintness, distinguish between five kinds of drunkenness, different -people being differently affected, according to the physical -constitution of each. Wine may fly (1) to the heart, and produce -maudlin emotions; or (2) to the liver, and incite to pugnacity; or (3) -to the stomach, and cause drowsiness, accompanied by a flushing of the -face; or (4) to the lungs, and induce hilarity; or (5) to the kidneys, -and excite desire. - -[293] "The very name of Buddha, if pronounced with a devout heart -1,000 or 5,000 times, will effectually dispel all harassing thoughts, -all fightings within and fears without."--_Eitel._ - -[294] A religious and social offence of the deepest dye, sure to -entail punishment in the world to come, even if the perpetrator -escapes detection in this life. - -[295] The Buddhist rosary consists of 108 beads, which number is the -same as that of the compartments in the _Phrabat_ or sacred footprint -of Buddha. - -[296] It here occurred to me that the word hitherto translated "well" -should have been "shaft;" but the commentator refers expressly to the -_Tso Chuan_, where the phrase for "a dry well," as first used, is so -explained. We must accordingly fall back on the supposition that our -author has committed a trifling slip. - -[297] See No. LI., note 285. - -[298] That is, as to whether or not there were extenuating -circumstances, in which case no punishment would be inflicted. - -[299] Such is the invariable result of confinement in a Chinese -prison, unless the prisoner has the wherewithal to purchase food. - -[300] The provincial examiner for the degree of bachelor. - -[301] To worship at his tomb. - - - - -LV. - -THE VIRTUOUS DAUGHTER-IN-LAW. - - -An Ta-ch'êng was a Chung-ch'ing man. His father, who had gained the -master's degree, died early; and his brother Erh-ch'êng was a mere -boy. He himself had married a wife from the Ch'ên family, whose name -was Shan-hu; and this young lady had much to put up with from the -violent and malicious disposition of her husband's mother.[302] -However, she never complained; and every morning dressed herself up -smart, and went in to pay her respects to the old lady. Once when -Ta-ch'êng was ill, his mother abused Shan-hu for dressing so nicely; -whereupon Shan-hu went back and changed her clothes; but even then -Mrs. An was not satisfied, and began to tear her own hair with rage. -Ta-ch'êng, who was a very filial son, at once gave his wife a beating, -and this put an end to the scene. From that moment his mother hated -her more than ever, and although she was everything that a -daughter-in-law could be, would never exchange a word with her. -Ta-ch'êng then treated her in much the same way, that his mother might -see he would have nothing to do with her; still the old lady wasn't -pleased, and was always blaming Shan-hu for every trifle that -occurred. "A wife," cried Ta-ch'êng "is taken to wait upon her -mother-in-law. This state of things hardly looks like the wife doing -her duty." So he bade Shan-hu begone,[303] and sent an old -maid-servant to see her home: but when Shan-hu got outside the -village-gate, she burst into tears, and said, "How can a girl who has -failed in her duties as a wife ever dare to look her parents in the -face? I had better die." Thereupon she drew a pair of scissors and -stabbed herself in the throat, covering herself immediately with -blood. The servant prevented any further mischief, and supported her -to the house of her husband's aunt, who was a widow living by herself, -and who made Shan-hu stay with her. The servant went back and told -Ta-ch'êng, and he bade her say nothing to any one, for fear his mother -should hear of it. In a few days Shan-hu's wound was healed, and -Ta-ch'êng went off to ask his aunt to send her away. His aunt invited -him in, but he declined, demanding loudly that Shan-hu should be -turned out; and in a few moments Shan-hu herself came forth, and -inquired what she had done. Ta-ch'êng said she had failed in her duty -towards his mother; whereupon Shan-hu hung her head and made no -answer, while tears of blood[304] trickled from her eyes and stained -her dress all over. Ta-ch'êng was much touched by this spectacle, and -went away without saying any more; but before long his mother heard -all about it, and, hurrying off to the aunt's, began abusing her -roundly. This the aunt would not stand, and said it was all the fault -of her own bad temper, adding, "The girl has already left you, and has -nothing more to do with the family. Miss Ch'ên is staying with me, not -your daughter-in-law; so you had better mind your own business." This -made Mrs. An furious; but she was at a loss for an answer, and, seeing -that the aunt was firm, she went off home abashed and in tears. - -Shan-hu herself was very much upset, and determined to seek shelter -elsewhere, finally taking up her abode with Mrs. An's elder sister, a -lady of sixty odd years of age, whose son had died, leaving his wife -and child to his mother's care. This Mrs. Yü was extremely fond of -Shan-hu; and when she heard the facts of the case, said it was all her -sister's horrid disposition, and proposed to send Shan-hu back. The -latter, however, would not hear of this, and they continued to live -together like mother and daughter; neither would Shan-hu accept the -invitation of her two brothers to return home and marry some one else, -but remained there with Mrs. Yü, earning enough to live upon by -spinning and such work. - -Ever since Shan-hu had been sent away, Ta-ch'êng's mother had been -endeavouring to get him another wife; but the fame of her temper had -spread far and wide, and no one would entertain her proposals. In -three or four years Erh-ch'êng had grown up, and he was married first -to a young lady named Tsang-ku, whose temper turned out to be -something fearful, and far more ungovernable even than her -mother-in-law's. When the latter only looked angry, Tsang-ku was -already at the shrieking stage; and Erh-ch'êng, being of a very meek -disposition, dared not side with either. Thus it came about that Mrs. -An began to be in mortal fear of Tsang-ku; and whenever her -daughter-in-law was in a rage she would try and turn off her anger -with a smile. She seemed never to be able to please Tsang-ku, who in -her turn worked her mother-in-law like a slave, Ta-ch'êng himself not -venturing to interfere, but only assisting his mother in washing the -dishes and sweeping the floor. Mother and son would often go to some -secluded spot, and there in secret tell their griefs to one another; -but before long Mrs. An was stretched upon a sick bed with nobody to -attend to her except Ta-ch'êng. He watched her day and night without -sleeping, until both eyes were red and inflamed; and then when he went -to summon the younger son to take his place, Tsang-ku told him to -leave the house. Ta-ch'êng now went off to inform Mrs. Yü, hoping that -she would come and assist; and he had hardly finished his tale of woe -before Shan-hu walked in. In great confusion at seeing her, he would -have left immediately had not Shan-hu held out her arms across the door; -whereupon he bolted underneath them and escaped. He did not dare tell -his mother, and shortly afterwards Mrs. Yü arrived, to the great joy -of Ta-ch'êng's mother, who made her stay in the house. Every day -something nice was sent for Mrs. Yü, and even when she told the -servants that there was no occasion for it, she having all she wanted -at her sister's, the things still came as usual. However, she kept -none of them for herself, but gave what came to the invalid, who -gradually began to improve. Mrs. Yü's grandson also used to come by -his mother's orders, and inquire after the sick lady's health, besides -bringing a packet of cakes and so on for her. "Ah, me!" cried Mrs. An, -"what a good daughter-in-law you have got, to be sure. What have you -done to her?" "What sort of a person was the one you sent away?" asked -her sister in reply. "She wasn't as bad as some one I know of," said -Mrs. An, "though not so good as yours." "When she was here you had but -little to do," replied Mrs. Yü; "and when you were angry she took no -notice of it. How was she not as good?" Mrs. An then burst into tears, -and saying how sorry she was, asked if Shan-hu had married again; to -which Mrs. Yü replied that she did not know, but would make inquiries. -In a few more days the patient was quite well, and Mrs. Yü proposed to -return; her sister, however, begged her to stay, and declared she -should die if she didn't. Mrs. Yü then advised that Erh-ch'êng and his -wife should live in a separate house, and Erh-ch'êng spoke about it -to his wife; but she would not agree, and abused both Ta-ch'êng and -his mother alike. It ended by Ta-ch'êng giving up a large share of the -property, and ultimately Tsang-ku consented, and a deed of separation -was drawn up. Mrs. Yü then went away, returning next day with a -sedan-chair to carry her sister back; and no sooner had the latter put -her foot inside Mrs. Yü's door, than she asked to see the -daughter-in-law, whom she immediately began to praise very highly. -"Ah," said Mrs. Yü, "she's a good girl, with her little faults like -the rest of us; but your daughter-in-law is just as good, though you -are not aware of it." "Alas!" replied her sister, "I must have been as -senseless as a statue not to have seen what she was." "I wonder what -Shan-hu, whom you turned out of doors, says of you," rejoined Mrs. Yü. -"Why, swears at me, of course," answered Mrs. An. "If you examine -yourself honestly and find nothing which should make people swear at -you, is it at all likely you would be sworn at?" asked Mrs. Yü. "Well, -all people are fallible," replied the other, "and as I know she is not -perfect, I conclude she would naturally swear at me." "If a person has -just cause for resentment, and yet does not indulge that resentment, -such behaviour should meet with a grateful acknowledgment; or if any -one has just cause for leaving another and yet does not do so, such -behaviour should entitle them to kind treatment. Now, all the things -that were sent when you were ill, and all the various little -attentions, did not come from my daughter-in-law but from yours." -Mrs. An was amazed at hearing this, and asked for some explanation; -whereupon Mrs. Yü continued, "Shan-hu has been living here for a long -time. Everything she sent to you was bought with money earned by her -spinning, and that, too, continued late into the night." Mrs. An here -burst into tears, and begged to be allowed to see Shan-hu, who came in -at Mrs. Yü's summons, and threw herself on the ground at her -mother-in-law's feet. Mrs. An was much abashed, and beat her head with -shame; but Mrs. Yü made it all up between them, and they became mother -and daughter as at first. In about ten days they went home, and, as -their property was not enough to support them, Ta-ch'êng had to work -with his pen while his wife did the same with her needle. Erh-ch'êng -was quite well off, but his brother would not apply to him, neither -did he himself offer to help them. Tsang-ku, too, would have nothing -to do with her sister-in-law, because she had been divorced; and -Shan-hu in her turn, knowing what Tsang-ku's temper was, made no great -efforts to be friendly. So the two brothers lived apart;[305] and when -Tsang-ku was in one of her outrageous moods, all the others would stop -their ears, till at length there was only her husband and the servants -upon whom to vent her spleen. One day a maid-servant of hers -committed suicide, and the father of the girl brought an action -against Tsang-ku for having caused her death. Erh-ch'êng went off to -the mandarin's to take her place as defendant, but only got a good -beating for his pains, as the magistrate insisted that Tsang-ku -herself should appear, and answer to the charge, in spite of all her -friends could do. The consequence was she had her fingers -squeezed[306] until the flesh was entirely taken off; and the -magistrate, being a grasping man, a very severe fine was inflicted as -well. Erh-ch'êng had now to mortgage his property before he could -raise enough money to get Tsang-ku released; but before long the -mortgagee threatened to foreclose, and he was obliged to enter into -negotiations for the sale of it to an old gentleman of the village -named Jen. Now Mr. Jen, knowing that half the property had belonged to -Ta-ch'êng, said the deed of sale must be signed by the elder brother -as well; however, when Ta-ch'êng reached his house, the old man cried -out, "I am Mr. An, M.A., who is this Jen that he should buy my -property?" Then, looking at Ta-ch'êng, he added, "The filial piety of -you and your wife has obtained for me in the realms below this -interview;" upon which Ta-ch'êng said, "O father, since you have this -power, help my younger brother." "The unfilial son and the vixenish -daughter-in-law," said the old man, "deserve no pity. Go home and -quickly buy back our ancestral property." "We have barely enough to -live upon," replied Ta-ch'êng; "where, then, shall we find the -necessary money?" "Beneath the crape myrtle-tree,"[307] answered his -father, "you will find a store of silver, which you may take and use -for this purpose." Ta-ch'êng would have questioned him further, but -the old gentleman said no more, recovering consciousness shortly -afterwards[308] without knowing a word of what had happened. Ta-ch'êng -went back and told his brother, who did not altogether believe the -story; Tsang-ku, however, hurried off with a number of men, and had -soon dug a hole four or five feet deep, at the bottom of which they -found a quantity of bricks and stones, but no gold. She then gave up -the idea and returned home, Ta-ch'êng having meanwhile warned his -mother and wife not to go near the place while she was digging. When -Tsang-ku left, Mrs. An went herself to have a look, and seeing only -bricks and earth mingled together, she, too, retraced her steps. -Shan-hu was the next to go, and she found the hole full of silver -bullion; and then Ta-ch'êng repaired to the spot and saw that there -was no mistake about it. Not thinking it right to apply this heir-loom -to his own private use, he now summoned Erh-ch'êng to share it; and -having obtained twice as much as was necessary to redeem the estate, -the brothers returned to their homes. Erh-ch'êng and Tsang-ku opened -their half together, when lo! the bag was full of tiles and rubbish. -They at once suspected Ta-ch'êng of deceiving them, and Erh-ch'êng ran -off to see how things were going at his brother's. He arrived just as -Ta-ch'êng was spreading the silver on the table, and with his mother -and wife rejoicing over their acquisition; and when he had told them -what had occurred, Ta-ch'êng expressed much sympathy for him, and at -once presented him with his own half of the treasure. Erh-ch'êng was -delighted, and paid off the mortgage on the land, feeling very -grateful to his brother for such kindness. Tsang-ku, however, declared -it was a proof that Ta-ch'êng had been cheating him; "for how, -otherwise," argued she, "can you understand a man sharing anything -with another, and then resigning his own half?" - -Erh-ch'êng himself did not know what to think of it; but next day the -mortgagee sent to say that the money paid in was all imitation silver, -and that he was about to lay the case before the authorities. Husband -and wife were greatly alarmed at this, and Tsang-ku exclaimed, "Well, -I never thought your brother was as bad as this. He's simply trying to -take your life." Erh-ch'êng himself was in a terrible fright, and -hurried off to the mortgagee to entreat for mercy; but as the latter -was extremely angry and would hear of no compromise, Erh-ch'êng was -obliged to make over the property to him to dispose of himself. The -money was then returned, and when he got home he found that two lumps -had been cut through, shewing merely an outside layer of silver, about -as thick as an onion-leaf, covering nothing but copper within. -Tsang-ku and Erh-ch'êng then agreed to keep the broken pieces -themselves, but send the rest back to Ta-ch'êng, with a message, -saying that they were deeply indebted to him for all his kindness, and -that they had ventured to retain two of the lumps of silver out of -compliment to the giver; also that Ta-ch'êng might consider himself -the owner of the mortgaged land, which he could redeem or not as he -pleased. Ta-ch'êng, who did not perceive the intention in all this, -refused to accept the land; however, Erh-ch'êng entreated him to do -so, and at last he consented. When he came to weigh the money, he -found it was five ounces short, and therefore bade Shan-hu pawn -something from her jewel-box to make up the amount, with which he -proceeded to pay off the mortgage. The mortgagee, suspecting it was -the same money that had been offered him by Erh-ch'êng, cut the pieces -in halves, and saw that it was all silver of the purest quality. -Accordingly he accepted it in liquidation of his claim, and handed the -mortgage back to Ta-ch'êng. Meanwhile, Erh-ch'êng had been expecting -some catastrophe; but when he found that the mortgaged land had been -redeemed, he did not know what to make of it. Tsang-ku thought that at -the time of the digging Ta-ch'êng had concealed the genuine silver, -and immediately rushed off to his house, and began to revile them all -round. Ta-ch'êng now understood why they had sent him back the money; -and Shan-hu laughed and said, "The property is safe; why, then, this -anger?" Thereupon she made Ta-ch'êng hand over the deeds to Tsang-ku. - -One night after this Erh-ch'êng's father appeared to him in a dream, -and reproached him, saying, "Unfilial son, unfraternal brother, your -hour is at hand. Wherefore usurp rights that do not belong to you?" In -the morning Erh-ch'êng told Tsang-ku of his dream, and proposed to -return the property to his brother; but she only laughed at him for a -fool. Just then the eldest of his two sons, a boy of seven, died of -small-pox, and this frightened Tsang-ku so that she agreed to restore -the deeds. Ta-ch'êng would not accept them; and now the second child, -a boy of three, died also; whereupon Tsang-ku seized the deeds, and -threw them into her brother-in-law's house. Spring was over, but the -land was in a terribly neglected state; so Ta-ch'êng set to work and -put it in order again. From this moment Tsang-ku was a changed woman -towards her mother- and sister-in-law; and when, six months later, -Mrs. An died, she was so grieved that she refused to take any -nourishment. "Alas!" cried she, "that my mother-in-law has died thus -early, and prevented me from waiting upon her. Heaven will not allow -me to retrieve my past errors." Tsang-ku had thirteen children,[309] -but as none of them lived, they were obliged to adopt one of -Ta-ch'êng's,[310] who, with his wife, lived to a good old age, and had -three sons, two of whom took their doctor's degree. People said this -was a reward for filial piety and brotherly love. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[302] See No. XLIII., note 248. - -[303] See No. LIII., note 288. - -[304] Such is the Chinese idiom for what we should call "bitter" -tears. This phrase is constantly employed in the notices of the death -of a parent sent round to friends and relatives. - -[305] A disgraceful state of things, in the eyes of the Chinese. See -the paraphrase of the _Sacred Edict_, Maxim 1. - -[306] An illegal form of punishment, under the present dynasty, which -authorizes only _bambooing_ of two kinds, each of five degrees of -severity; _banishment_, of three degrees of duration; _transportation_ -for life, of three degrees of distance; and _death_, of two kinds, -namely, by strangulation and decapitation. That torture is -occasionally resorted to by the officers of the Chinese Empire is an -indisputable fact; that it is commonly employed by the whole body of -mandarins could only be averred by those who have not had the -opportunities or the desire to discover the actual truth. - -[307] _Lagerstroemia indica._ - -[308] That is, old Mr. Jen's body had been possessed by the -disembodied spirit of Ta-ch'êng's father. - -[309] Five is considered a large number for an ordinary Chinese woman. - -[310] In order to leave some one behind to look after their graves and -perform the duties of ancestral worship. No one can well refuse to -give a son to be adopted by a childless brother. - - - - -LVI. - -DR. TSÊNG'S DREAM. - - -There was a Fohkien gentleman named Tsêng, who had just taken his -doctor's degree. One day he was out walking with several other -recently-elected doctors, when they heard that at a temple hard by -there lived an astrologer, and accordingly the party proceeded thither -to get their fortunes told. They went in and sat down, and the -astrologer made some very complimentary remarks to Tsêng, at which he -fanned himself and smiled, saying, "Have I any chance of ever wearing -the dragon robes and the jade girdle?"[311] The astrologer[312] -immediately put on a serious face, and replied that he would be a -Secretary of State during twenty years of national tranquillity. -Thereupon Tsêng was much pleased, and began to give himself greater -airs than ever. A slight rain coming on, they sought shelter in the -priest's quarters, where they found an old bonze, with sunken eyes and -a big nose, sitting upon a mat. He took no notice of the strangers, -who, after having bowed to him, stretched themselves upon the couches -to chat, not forgetting to congratulate Tsêng upon the destiny which -had been foretold him. Tsêng, too, seemed to think the thing was a -matter of certainty, and mentioned the names of several friends he -intended to advance, amongst others the old family butler. Roars of -laughter greeted this announcement, mingled with the patter-patter of -the increasing rain outside. Tsêng then curled himself up for a nap, -when suddenly in walked two officials bearing a commission under the -Great Seal appointing Tsêng to the Grand Secretariat. As soon as Tsêng -understood their errand, he rushed off at once to pay his respects to -the Emperor, who graciously detained him some time in conversation, -and then issued instructions that the promotion and dismissal of all -officers below the third grade[313] should be vested in Tsêng alone. -He was next presented with the dragon robes, the jade girdle, and a -horse from the imperial stables, after which he performed the -_ko-t'ow_[314] before His Majesty and took his leave. He then went -home, but it was no longer the old home of his youth. Painted beams, -carved pillars, and a general profusion of luxury and elegance, made -him wonder where on earth he was; until, nervously stroking his -beard, he ventured to call out in a low tone. Immediately the -responses of numberless attendants echoed through the place like -thunder. Presents of costly food were sent to him by all the grandees, -and his gate was absolutely blocked up by the crowds of retainers who -were constantly coming and going. When Privy Councillors came to -see him, he would rush out in haste to receive them; when -Under-Secretaries of State visited him, he made them a polite bow; but -to all below these he would hardly vouchsafe a word. The Governor of -Shansi sent him twelve singing-girls, two of whom, Ni-ni and Fairy, he -made his favourites. All day long he had nothing to do but find -amusement as best he could, until he bethought himself that formerly a -man named Wang had often assisted him with money. Thereupon he -memorialized the Throne and obtained official employment for him. Then -he recollected that there was another man to whom he owed a -long-standing grudge. He at once caused this man, who was in the -Government service, to be impeached and stripped of his rank and -dignities. Thus he squared accounts with both. One day when out in his -chair a drunken man bumped against one of his tablet-bearers.[315] -Tsêng had him seized and sent in to the mayor's yamên, where he died -under the bamboo. Owners of land adjoining his would make him a -present of the richest portions, fearing the consequences if they did -not do so; and thus he became very wealthy, almost on a par with the -State itself. By-and-by, Ni-ni and Fairy died, and Tsêng was -overwhelmed with grief. Suddenly he remembered that in former years he -had seen a beautiful girl whom he wished to purchase as a concubine, -but want of money had then prevented him from carrying out his -intention. Now there was no longer that difficulty; and accordingly he -sent off two trusty servants to get the girl by force. In a short time -she arrived, when he found that she had grown more beautiful than -ever; and so his cup of happiness was full. But years rolled on, and -gradually his fellow-officials became estranged, Tsêng taking no -notice of their behaviour, until at last one of them impeached him to -the Throne in a long and bitter memorial. Happily, however, the -Emperor still regarded him with favour, and for some time kept the -memorial by him unanswered. Then followed a joint memorial from the -whole of the Privy Council, including those who had once thronged his -doors, and had falsely called him their dear father. The Imperial -rescript to this document was "Banishment to Yunnan,"[316] his son, -who was Governor of P'ing-yang, being also implicated in his guilt. -When Tsêng heard the news, he was overcome with fear; but an armed -guard was already at his gate, and the lictors were forcing their way -into his innermost apartments. They tore off his robe and official -hat, and bound him and his wife with cords. Then they collected -together in the hall his gold, his silver, and bank-notes,[317] to the -value of many hundred thousands of taels. His pearls, and jade, and -precious stones filled many bushel baskets. His curtains, and screens, -and beds, and other articles of furniture were brought out by -thousands; while the swaddling-clothes of his infant boy and the shoes -of his little girl were lying littered about the steps. It was a sad -sight for Tsêng; but a worse blow was that of his concubine carried -off almost lifeless before his eyes, himself not daring to utter a -word. Then all the apartments, store-rooms, and treasuries were sealed -up; and, with a volley of curses, the soldiers bade Tsêng begone, and -proceeded to leave the place, dragging Tsêng with them. The husband -and wife prayed that they might be allowed some old cart, but this -favour was denied them. After about ten _li_, Tsêng's wife could -barely walk, her feet being swollen and sore. Tsêng helped her along -as best he could, but another ten _li_ reduced him to a state of -abject fatigue. By-and-by they saw before them a great mountain, the -summit of which was lost in the clouds; and, fearing they should be -made to ascend it, Tsêng and his wife stood still and began to weep. -The lictors, however, clamoured round them, and would permit of no -rest. The sun was rapidly sinking, and there was no place at hand -where they could obtain shelter for the night. So they continued on -their weary way until about half-way up the hill, when his wife's -strength was quite exhausted, and she sat down by the roadside. Tsêng, -too, halted to rest in spite of the soldiers and their abuse; but they -had hardly stopped a moment before down came a band of robbers upon -them, each with a sharp knife in his hand. The soldiers immediately -took to their heels, and Tsêng fell on his knees before the robbers, -saying, "I am a poor criminal going into banishment, and have nothing -to give you. I pray you spare my life." But the robbers sternly -replied, "We are all the victims of your crimes, and now we want your -wicked head." Then Tsêng began to revile them, saying, "Dogs! though I -am under sentence of banishment, I am still an officer of the State." -But the robbers cursed him again, flourishing a sword over his neck, -and the next thing he heard was the noise of his own head as it fell -with a thud to the ground. At the same instant two devils stepped -forward and seized him each by one hand, compelling him to go with -them. After a little while they arrived at a great city where there -was a hideously ugly king sitting upon a throne judging between good -and evil. Tsêng crawled before him on his hands and knees to receive -sentence, and the king, after turning over a few pages of his -register, thundered out, "The punishment of a traitor who has brought -misfortune on his country: the cauldron of boiling oil!" To this ten -thousand devils responded with a cry like a clap of thunder, and one -huge monster led Tsêng down alongside the cauldron, which was seven -feet in height, and surrounded on all sides by blazing fuel, so that -it was of a glowing red heat. Tsêng shrieked for mercy, but it was all -up with him, for the devil seized him by the hair and the small of his -back and pitched him headlong in. Down he fell with a splash, and rose -and sank with the bubbling of the oil, which ate through his flesh -into his very vitals. He longed to die, but death would not come to -him. After about half-an-hour's boiling, a devil took him out on a -pitchfork and threw him down before the Infernal King, who again -consulted his note-book, and said, "You relied on your position to -treat others with contumely and injustice, for which you must suffer -on the Sword-Hill." Again he was led away by devils to a large hill -thickly studded with sharp swords, their points upwards like the -shoots of bamboo, with here and there the remains of many miserable -wretches who had suffered before him. Tsêng again cried for mercy and -crouched upon the ground; but a devil bored into him with a poisoned -awl until he screamed with pain. He was then seized and flung up high -into the air, falling down right on the sword points, to his most -frightful agony. This was repeated several times until he was almost -hacked to pieces. He was then brought once more before the king, who -asked what was the amount of his peculations while on earth. -Immediately an accountant came forward with an abacus, and said that -the whole sum was 3,210,000 taels, whereupon the king replied, "Let -him drink that amount." Forthwith the devils piled up a great heap of -gold and silver, and, when they had melted it in a huge crucible, -began pouring it into Tsêng's mouth. The pain was excruciating as the -molten metal ran down his throat into his vitals; but since in life he -had never been able to get enough of the dross, it was determined he -should feel no lack of it then. He was half-a-day drinking it, and -then the king ordered him away to be born again as a woman[318] in -Kan-chou. A few steps brought them to a huge frame, where on an iron -axle revolved a mighty wheel many hundred _yojanas_[319] in -circumference, and shining with a brilliant light. The devils flogged -Tsêng on to the wheel, and he shut his eyes as he stepped up. Then -whiz--and away he went, feet foremost, round with the wheel, until he -felt himself tumble off and a cold thrill ran through him, when he -opened his eyes and found he was changed into a girl. He saw his -father and mother in rags and tatters, and in one corner a beggar's -bowl and a staff,[320] and understood the calamity that had befallen -him. Day after day he begged about the streets, and his inside rumbled -for want of food; he had no clothes to his back. At fourteen years of -age he was sold to a gentleman as concubine; and then, though food and -clothes were not wanting, he had to put up with the scoldings and -floggings of the wife, who one day burnt him with a hot iron.[321] -Luckily the gentleman took a fancy to him and treated him well, which -kindness Tsêng repaid by an irreproachable fidelity. It happened, -however, that on one occasion when they were chatting together, -burglars broke into the house and killed the gentleman, Tsêng having -escaped by hiding himself under the bed. Thereupon he was immediately -charged by the wife with murder, and on being taken before the -authorities was sentenced to die the "lingering death."[322] This -sentence was at once carried out with tortures more horrible than any -in all the Courts of Purgatory, in the middle of which Tsêng heard one -of his companions call out, "Hullo, there! you've got the nightmare." -Tsêng got up and rubbed his eyes, and his friends said, "It's quite -late in the day, and we're all very hungry." But the old priest -smiled, and asked him if the prophecy as to his future rank was true -or not. Tsêng bowed and begged him to explain; whereupon the old -priest said, "For those who cultivate virtue, a lily will grow up even -in the fiery pit."[323] Tsêng had gone thither full of pride and -vainglory; he went home an altered man. From that day he thought no -more of becoming a Secretary of State, but retired into the hills, and -I know not what became of him after that. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[311] That is, of rising to the highest offices of State. - -[312] The Chinese term used throughout is "star-man." - -[313] Chinese official life is divided into nine grades. - -[314] Prostrating himself three times, and knocking his head on the -ground thrice at each prostration. - -[315] The _retinue_ of a high mandarin is composed as follows:--First, -gong-bearers, then bannermen, tablet-bearers (on which tablets are -inscribed the titles of the official), a large red umbrella, mounted -attendants, a box containing a change of clothes, bearers of regalia, -a second gong, a small umbrella or sunshade, a large wooden fan, -executioners, lictors from hell, who wear tall hats; a mace (called a -"golden melon"), bamboos for "bambooing," incense-bearers, more -attendants, and now the great man himself, followed by a body-guard of -soldiers and a few personal attendants, amounting in all to nearly one -hundred persons, many of whom are mere street-rowdies or beggars, -hired at a trifling outlay when required to join what might otherwise -be an imposing procession. The scanty _retinues_ of foreign officials -in China still continue to excite the scorn of the populace, who love -to compare the rag-tag and bob-tail magnificence of their own -functionaries with the modest show even of H.B.M.'s Minister at -Peking. - -[316] A land journey of about three months, ending in a region which -the Chinese have always regarded as semi-barbarous. - -[317] This use of paper money in China is said to date from A.D. 1236; -that is, during the reign of the Mongol Emperor, Ogdai Khan. - -[318] This contingency is much dreaded by the Chinese. - -[319] A _yojana_ has been variously estimated at from five to nine -English miles. - -[320] The _patra_ and _khakkharam_ of the _bikshu_ or Buddhist -mendicant. - -[321] It is not considered quite correct to take a concubine unless -the wife is childless, in which case it is held that the proposition -to do so, and thus secure the much-desired posterity, should emanate -from the wife herself. On page 41 of Vol. XIII., of this author, we -read, "and if at thirty years of age you have no children, then sell -your hair-pins and other ornaments, and buy a concubine for your -husband. For the childless state is a hard one to bear;" or, as Victor -Hugo puts it in his _Légende des Siècles_, there is nothing so sad as -"la maison sans enfants." - -[322] This is the celebrated form of death, reserved for parricide and -similar awful crimes, about which so much has been written. Strictly -speaking, the malefactor should be literally chopped to pieces in -order to prolong his agonies; but the sentence is now rarely, if ever, -carried out in its extreme sense. A few gashes are made upon the -wretched victim's body, and he is soon put out of his misery by -decapitation. As a matter of fact, this death is not enumerated among -the _Five Punishments_ authorized by the Penal Code of the present -dynasty. See No. LV., note 306. - -[323] Alluding to a well-known Buddhist miracle in which a _bikshu_ -was to be thrown into a cauldron of boiling water in a fiery pit, when -suddenly a lotus-flower came forth, the fire was extinguished, and the -water became cold. - - - - -LVII. - -THE COUNTRY OF THE CANNIBALS.[324] - - -At Chiao-chou[325] there lived a man named Hsü, who gained his living -by trading across the sea. On one occasion he was carried far out of -his course by a violent tempest, and reached a country of high hills -and dense jungle,[326] where, after making fast his boat and taking -provisions with him, he landed, hoping to meet with some of the -inhabitants. He then saw that the rocks were covered with large holes, -like the cells of bees; and, hearing the sound of voices from within, -he stopped in front of one of them and peeped in. To his infinite -horror he beheld two hideous beings, with thick rows of horrid fangs, -and eyes that glared like lamps, engaged in tearing to pieces and -devouring some raw deer's flesh; and, turning round, he would have -fled instantly from the spot, had not the cave-men already espied -him; and, leaving their food, they seized him and dragged him in. -Thereupon ensued a chattering between them, resembling the noise of -birds or beasts,[327] and they proceeded to pull off Hsü's clothes as -if about to eat him; but Hsü, who was frightened almost to death, -offered them the food he had in his wallet, which they ate up with -great relish, and looked inside for more. Hsü waved his hand to shew -it was all finished, and then they angrily seized him again; at which -he cried out, "I have a saucepan in my boat, and can cook you some." -The cave-men did not understand what he said; but, by dint of -gesticulating freely, they at length seemed to have an idea of what he -meant; and, having taken him down to the shore to fetch the saucepan, -they returned with him to the cave, where he lighted a fire and cooked -the remainder of the deer, with the flavour of which they appeared to -be mightily pleased. At night they rolled a big stone to the mouth of -the cave,[328] fearing lest he should try to escape; and Hsü himself -lay down at a distance from them in doubt as to whether his life would -be spared. At daybreak the cave-men went out, leaving the entrance -blocked, and by-and-by came back with a deer, which they gave to Hsü -to cook. Hsü flayed the carcase, and from a remote corner of the cave -took some water and prepared a large quantity, which was no sooner -ready than several other cave-men arrived to join in the feast. When -they had finished all there was, they made signs that Hsü's saucepan -was too small; and three or four days afterwards they brought him a -large one of the same shape as those in common use amongst men, -subsequently furnishing him with constant supplies of wolf and -deer,[329] of which they always invited him to partake. By degrees -they began to treat him kindly, and not to shut him up when they went -out; and Hsü, too, gradually learnt to understand, and even to speak, -a little of their language, which pleased them so much that they -finally gave him a cave-woman for his wife. Hsü was horribly afraid of -her; but, as she treated him with great consideration, always -reserving tit-bits of food for him, they lived very happily together. -One day all the cave-people got up early in the morning, and, having -adorned themselves with strings of fine pearls, they went forth as if -to meet some honoured guest, giving orders to Hsü to cook an extra -quantity of meat that day. "It is the birthday of our King," said -Hsü's wife to him; and then, running out, she informed the other -cave-people that her husband had no pearls. So each gave five from -his own string, and Hsü's wife added ten to these, making in all -fifty, which she threaded on a hempen fibre and hung around his neck, -each pearl being worth over an hundred ounces of silver. Then they -went away, and as soon as Hsü had finished his cooking, his wife -appeared and invited him to come and receive the King. So off they -went to a huge cavern, covering about a mow[330] of ground, in which -was a huge stone, smoothed away at the top like a table, with stone -seats at the four sides. At the upper end was a dais, over which was -spread a leopard's skin, the other seats having only deer-skins; and -within the cavern some twenty or thirty cave-men ranged themselves on -the seats. After a short interval a great wind began to stir up the -dust, and they all rushed out to a creature very much resembling -themselves, which hurried into the cave, and, squatting down -cross-legged, cocked its head and looked about like a cormorant. The -other cave-men then filed in and took up their positions right and -left of the dais, where they stood gazing up at the King with their -arms folded before them in the form of a cross. The King counted them -one by one, and asked if they were all present; and when they replied -in the affirmative, he looked at Hsü and inquired who he was. -Thereupon Hsü's wife stepped forward and said he was her husband, and -the others all loudly extolled his skill in cookery, two of them -running out and bringing back some cooked meat, which they set before -the King. His Majesty swallowed it by handfuls, and found it so nice -that he gave orders to be supplied regularly; and then, turning to -Hsü, he asked him why his string of beads[331] was so short. "He has -but recently arrived among us," replied the cave-men, "and hasn't got -a complete set;" upon which the King drew ten pearls from the string -round his own neck and bestowed them upon Hsü. Each was as big as the -top of one's finger, and as round as a bullet; and Hsü's wife threaded -them for him and hung them round his neck. Hsü himself crossed his -arms and thanked the King in the language of the country, after which -His Majesty went off in a gust of wind as rapidly as a bird can fly, -and the cave-men sat down and finished what was left of the banquet. -Four years afterwards Hsü's wife gave birth to a triplet of two boys -and one girl, all of whom were ordinary human beings, and not at all -like the mother; at which the other cave-people were delighted, and -would often play with them and caress them.[332] Three years passed -away, and the children could walk about, after which their father -taught them to speak his own tongue; and in their early babblings -their human origin was manifested. The boys, as mere children, could -climb about on the mountains as easily as though walking upon a level -road; and between them and their father there grew up a mutual feeling -of attachment. One day the mother had gone out with the girl and one -of the boys, and was absent for a long time. A strong north wind was -blowing, and Hsü, filled with thoughts of his old home, led his other -son down with him to the beach, where lay the boat in which he had -formerly reached this country. He then proposed to the boy that they -should go away together; and, having explained to him that they could -not inform his mother, father and son stepped on board, and, after a -voyage of only twenty-four hours, arrived safely at Chiao-chou. On -reaching home Hsü found that his wife had married again; so he sold -two of his pearls for an enormous sum of money,[333] and set up a -splendid establishment. His son was called Piao, and at fourteen or -fifteen years of age the boy could lift a weight of three thousand -catties[334] (4,000 lbs.). He was extremely fond of athletics of all -kinds, and thus attracted the notice of the Commander-in-Chief, who -gave him a commission as sub-lieutenant. Just at that time there -happened to be some trouble on the frontier, and young Piao, having -covered himself with glory, was made a colonel at the age of eighteen. - -About that time another merchant was driven by stress of weather to -the country of the cave-men, and had hardly stepped ashore before he -observed a young man whom he knew at once to be of Chinese origin. The -young man asked him whence he came, and finally took him into a cave -hid away in a dark valley and concealed by the dense jungle. There he -bade him remain, and in a little while he returned with some deer's -flesh, which he gave the merchant to eat, saying at the same time that -his own father was a Chiao-chou man. The merchant now knew that the -young man was Hsü's son, he himself being acquainted with Hsü as a -trader in the same line of business. "Why, he's an old friend of -mine," cried the latter; "his other son is now a colonel." The young -man did not know what was meant by a _colonel_, so the merchant told -him it was the title of a Chinese mandarin. "And what is a -_mandarin_?" asked the youth. "A mandarin," replied the merchant, "is -one who goes out with a chair and horses; who at home sits upon a dais -in the hall; whose summons is answered by a hundred voices; who is -looked at only with sidelong eyes, and in whose presence all people -stand aslant;--this is to be a mandarin." The young man was deeply -touched at this recital, and at length the merchant said to him, -"Since your honoured father is at Chiao-chou, why do you remain here?" -"Indeed," replied the youth, "I have often indulged the same feeling; -but my mother is not a Chinese woman, and, apart from the difference -of her language and appearance, I fear that if the other cave-people -found it out they would do us some mischief." He then took his leave, -being in rather a disturbed state of mind, and bade the merchant wait -until the wind should prove favourable,[335] when he promised to come -and see him off, and charge him with a letter to his father and -brother. Six months the merchant remained in that cave, occasionally -taking a peep at the cave-people passing backwards and forwards, but -not daring to leave his retreat. As soon as the monsoon set in the -young man arrived and urged him to hurry away, begging him, also, not -to forget the letter to his father. So the merchant sailed away and -soon reached Chiao-chou, where he visited the colonel and told him the -whole story. Piao was much affected, and wished to go in search of -those members of the family; but his father feared the dangers he -would encounter, and advised him not to think of such a thing. -However, Piao was not to be deterred; and having imparted his scheme -to the commander-in-chief, he took with him two soldiers and set off. -Adverse winds prevailed at that time, and they beat about for half a -moon, until they were out of sight of all land, could not see a foot -before them, and had completely lost their reckoning. Just then a -mighty sea arose and capsized their boat, tossing Piao into the -water, where he floated about for some time at the will of the waves, -until suddenly somebody dragged him out and carried him into a house. -Then he saw that his rescuer was to all appearances a cave-man, and -accordingly he addressed him in the cave-people's language, and told -him whither he himself was bound. "It is my native place," replied the -cave-man, in astonishment; "but you will excuse my saying that you are -now 8,000 _li_ out of your course. This is the way to the country of -the Poisonous Dragons, and not your route at all." He then went off to -find a boat for Piao, and, himself swimming in the water behind, -pushed it along like an arrow from a bow, so quickly that by the next -day they had traversed the whole distance. On the shore Piao observed -a young man walking up and down and evidently watching him; and, -knowing that no human beings dwelt there, he guessed at once that he -was his brother. Approaching more closely, he saw that he was right; -and, seizing the young man's hand, he asked after his mother and -sister. On hearing that they were well, he would have gone directly to -see them; but the younger one begged him not to do so, and ran away -himself to fetch them. Meanwhile, Piao turned to thank the cave-man -who had brought him there, but he, too, had disappeared. In a few -minutes his mother and sister arrived, and, on seeing Piao, they could -not restrain their tears. Piao then laid his scheme before them, and -when they said they feared people would ill-treat them, he replied, -"In China I hold a high position, and people will not dare to shew -you disrespect." Thus they determined to go. The wind, however, was -against them, and mother and son were at a loss what to do, when -suddenly the sail bellied out towards the south, and a rustling sound -was heard. "Heaven helps us, my mother!" cried Piao, full of joy; and, -hurrying on board at once, in three days they had reached their -destination. As they landed the people fled right and left in fear, -Piao having divided his own clothes amongst the party; and when they -arrived at the house, and his mother saw Hsü, she began to rate him -soundly for running away without her. Hsü hastened to acknowledge his -error, and then all the family and servants were introduced to her, -each one being in mortal dread of such a singular personage. Piao now -bade his mother learn to talk Chinese, and gave her any quantity of -fine clothes and rich meats, to the infinite delight of the old lady. -She and her daughter both dressed in man's clothes, and by the end of -a few months were able to understand what was said to them. The -brother, named Pao [Leopard], and the sister, Yeh [Night], were both -clever enough, and immensely strong into the bargain. Piao was ashamed -that Pao could not read, and set to work to teach him; and the -youngster was so quick that he learnt the sacred books[336] and -histories by merely reading them once over. However, he would not -enter upon a literary career, loving better to draw a strong bow or -ride a spirited horse, and finally taking the highest military -degree. He married the daughter of a post-captain; but his sister had -some trouble in getting a husband, because of her being the child of a -cave-woman. At length a serjeant, named Yüan, who was under her -brother's command, was forced to take her as his wife. She could draw -a hundred-catty bow, and shoot birds at a hundred paces without ever -missing. Whenever Yüan went to battle she went with him; and his -subsequent rise to high rank was chiefly due to her. At thirty-four -years of age Pao got a command; and in his great battles his mother, -clad in armour and grasping a spear, would fight by his side, to the -terror of all their adversaries; and when he himself received the -dignity of an hereditary title, he memorialized the Throne to grant -his mother the title of "lady." - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[324] The Chinese term--here translated "Cannibals"--is a meaningless -imitation by two Chinese characters of the Sanscrit _yakcha_, or -certain demons who feed upon human flesh. - -[325] Hué, the capital of Cochin-China. - -[326] The island of Hainan, inhabited as it was in earlier times by a -race of savages, is the most likely source of the following marvellous -adventures. - -[327] To which sounds the languages of the west have been more than -once likened by the Chinese. It is only fair, however, to the lettered -classes to state that they have a similar contempt for their own local -dialects; regarding _Mandarin_ as the only form of speech worthy to be -employed by men. - -[328] The occasional analogies to the story of the Cyclops must be -evident to all readers. - -[329] The animal here mentioned is the plain brown deer, or _Rusa -Swinhoii_, of Formosa, in which island I should prefer to believe, but -for the great distance from Hué, that the scenes here narrated took -place. - -[330] About one sixth of an acre. On old title-deeds of landed -property in China may still be seen measurements calculated according -to the amount of grain that could be sown thereon. - -[331] The king here uses the words "ku-t'u-tz[)u]," which are probably -intended by the author to be an imitation of a term in the savage -tongue. - -[332] Fondness for children is specially a trait of Chinese character; -and a single baby would do far more to ensure the safety of a foreign -traveller in China than all the usual paraphernalia of pocket-pistols -and revolvers. - -[333] Literally, "a million of taels," the word used being the -Buddhist term _chao_. - -[334] Here again we have 100 _chün_, one _chün_ being equal to about -40 _lbs._ Chinese weights, measures, distances, numbers, &c., are -often very loosely employed; and it is probable that not more than 100 -_catties_, say 133 _lbs._, is here meant. - -[335] That is, until the change of the monsoon from S.W. to N.E. - -[336] See No. XLI., note 237. - - - - -LVIII. - -FOOT-BALL ON THE TUNG-T'ING LAKE. - - -Wang Shih-hsiu was a native of Lu-chou, and such a lusty fellow that -he could pick up a stone mortar.[337] Father and son were both good -foot-ball players; but when the former was about forty years of age he -was drowned while crossing the Money Pool.[338] Some eight or nine -years later our hero happened to be on his way to Hunan; and anchoring -in the Tung-t'ing lake, watched the moon rising in the east and -illuminating the water into a bright sheet of light. While he was thus -engaged, lo! from out of the lake emerged five men, bringing with them -a large mat which they spread on the surface of the water so as to -cover about six yards square. Wine and food were then arranged upon -it, and Wang heard the sound of the dishes knocking together, but it -was a dull, soft sound, not at all like that of ordinary crockery. -Three of the men sat down on the mat and the other two waited upon -them. One of the former was dressed in yellow, the other two in white, -and each wore a black turban. Their demeanour as they sat there side -by side was grave and dignified; in appearance they resembled three of -the ancients, but by the fitful beams of the moon Wang was unable to -see very clearly what they were like. The attendants wore black serge -dresses, and one of them seemed to be a boy, while the other was many -years older. Wang now heard the man in the yellow dress say, "This is -truly a fine moonlight night for a drinking-bout;" to which one of his -companions replied, "It quite reminds me of the night when Prince -Kuang-li feasted at Pear-blossom Island."[339] The three then pledged -each other in bumping goblets, talking all the time in such a low tone -that Wang could not hear what they were saying. The boatmen kept -themselves concealed, crouching down at the bottom of the boat; but -Wang looked hard at the attendants, the elder of whom bore a striking -resemblance to his father, though he spoke in quite a different tone -of voice. When it was drawing towards midnight, one of them proposed a -game at ball; and in a moment the boy disappeared in the water, to -return immediately with a huge ball--quite an armful in -fact--apparently full of quicksilver, and lustrous within and without. -All now rose up, and the man in the yellow dress bade the old -attendant join them in the game. The ball was kicked up some ten or -fifteen feet in the air, and was quite dazzling in its brilliancy; but -once, when it had gone up with a whish-h-h-h, it fell at some distance -off, right in the very middle of Wang's boat. The occasion was -irresistible, and Wang, exerting all his strength, kicked the ball -with all his might. It seemed unusually light and soft to the touch, -and his foot broke right through. Away went the ball to a good height, -pouring forth a stream of light like a rainbow from the hole Wang had -made, and making as it fell a curve like that of a comet rushing -across the sky. Down it glided into the water, where it fizzed a -moment and then went out. "Ho, there!" cried out the players in anger, -"what living creature is that who dares thus to interrupt our sport?" -"Well kicked--indeed!" said the old man, "that's a favourite drop-kick -of my own." At this, one of the two in white clothes began to abuse -him saying, "What! you old baggage, when we are all so annoyed in this -manner, are you to come forward and make a joke of it? Go at once with -the boy and bring back to us this practical joker, or your own back -will have a taste of the stick." Wang was of course unable to flee; -however, he was not a bit afraid, and grasping a sword stood there in -the middle of the boat. In a moment, the old man and boy arrived, also -armed, and then Wang knew that the former was really his father, and -called out to him at once, "Father, I am your son." The old man was -greatly alarmed, but father and son forgot their troubles in the joy -of meeting once again. Meanwhile, the boy went back, and Wang's -father bade him hide, or they would all be lost. The words were hardly -out of his mouth when the three men jumped on board the boat. Their -faces were black as pitch, their eyes as big as pomegranates, and they -at once proceeded to seize the old man. Wang struggled hard with them, -and managing to get the boat free from her moorings, he seized his -sword and cut off one of his adversaries' arms. The arm dropped down -and the man in the yellow dress ran away; whereupon one of those in -white rushed at Wang who immediately cut off his head, and he fell -into the water with a splash, at which the third disappeared. Wang and -his father were now anxious to get away, when suddenly a great mouth -arose from the lake, as big and as deep as a well, and against which -they could hear the noise of the water when it struck. This mouth blew -forth a violent gust of wind, and in a moment the waves were mountains -high and all the boats on the lake were tossing about. The boatmen -were terrified, but Wang seized one of two huge stones there were on -board for use as anchors,[340] about 130 lbs. in weight, and threw it -into the water, which immediately began to subside; and then he threw -in the other one, upon which the wind dropped, and the lake became -calm again. Wang thought his father was a disembodied spirit, but the -old man said, "I never died. There were nineteen of us drowned in the -river, all of whom were eaten by the fish-goblins except myself: I was -saved because I could play foot-ball. Those you saw got into trouble -with the Dragon King, and were sent here. They were all marine -creatures, and the ball they were playing with was a fish-bladder." -Father and son were overjoyed at meeting again, and at once proceeded -on their way. In the morning they found in the boat a huge fin--the -arm that Wang had cut off the night before. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[337] Used for pounding rice. - -[338] A fancy name for the Tung-t'ing lake. See No. XXXVIII., note -226. - -[339] The commentator declares himself unable to trace this allusion. - -[340] These are bound in between several sharp-pointed stakes and -serve their purpose very well in the inland waters of China. - - - - -LIX. - -THE THUNDER GOD. - - -Lê Yün-hao and Hsia P'ing-tz[)u] lived as boys in the same village, and -when they grew up read with the same tutor, becoming the firmest of -friends. Hsia was a clever fellow, and had acquired some reputation -even at the early age of ten. Lê was not a bit envious, but rather -looked up to him, and Hsia in return helped his friend very much with -his studies, so that he, too, made considerable progress. This -increased Hsia's fame, though try as he would he could never succeed -at the public examinations, and by-and-by he sickened and died. His -family was so poor they could not find money for his burial, whereupon -Lê came forward and paid all expenses, besides taking care of his -widow and children. - -Every peck or bushel he would share with them, the widow trusting -entirely to his support; and thus he acquired a good name in the -village, though not being a rich man himself he soon ran through all -his own property. "Alas!" cried he, "where talents like Hsia's failed, -can I expect to succeed? Wealth and rank are matters of destiny, and -my present career will only end by my dying like a dog in a ditch. I -must try something else." So he gave up book-learning and went into -trade, and in six months he had a trifle of money in hand. - -One day when he was resting at an inn in Nanking, he saw a great big -fellow walk in and seat himself at no great distance in a very -melancholy mood. Lê asked him if he was hungry, and on receiving no -answer, pushed some food over towards him. The stranger immediately -set to feeding himself by handfuls, and in no time the whole had -disappeared. Lê ordered another supply, but that was quickly disposed -of in like manner; and then he told the landlord to bring a shoulder -of pork and a quantity of boiled dumplings. Thus, after eating enough -for half a dozen, his appetite was appeased and he turned to thank his -benefactor, saying, "For three years I haven't had such a meal." "And -why should a fine fellow like you be in such a state of destitution?" -inquired Lê; to which the other only replied, "The judgments of heaven -may not be discussed." Being asked where he lived, the stranger -replied, "On land I have no home, on the water no boat; at dawn in the -village, at night in the city." Lê then prepared to depart; but his -friend would not leave him, declaring that he was in imminent danger, -and that he could not forget the late kindness Lê had shewn him. So -they went along together, and on the way Lê invited the other to eat -with him; but this he refused, saying that he only took food -occasionally. Lê marvelled more than ever at this; and next day when -they were on the river a great storm arose and capsized all their -boats, Lê himself being thrown into the water with the others. -Suddenly the gale abated and the stranger bore Lê on his back to -another boat, plunging at once into the water and bringing back the -lost vessel, upon which he placed Lê and bade him remain quietly -there. He then returned once more, this time carrying in his arms a -part of the cargo, which he replaced in the vessel, and so he went on -until it was all restored. Lê thanked him, saying, "It was enough to -save my life; but you have added to this the restoration of my goods." -Nothing, in fact, had been lost, and now Lê began to regard the -stranger as something more than human. The latter here wished to take -his leave, but Lê pressed him so much to stay that at last he -consented to remain. Then Lê remarked that after all he had lost a -gold pin, and immediately the stranger plunged into the water again, -rising at length to the surface with the missing article in his mouth, -and presenting it to Lê with the remark that he was delighted to be -able to fulfil his commands. The people on the river were all much -astonished at what they saw; meanwhile Lê went home with his friend, -and there they lived together, the big man only eating once in ten or -twelve days, but then displaying an enormous appetite. One day he -spoke of going away, to which Lê would by no means consent; and as it -was just then about to rain and thunder, he asked him to tell him what -the clouds were like, and what thunder was, also how he could get up -to the sky and have a look, so as to set his mind at rest on the -subject. "Would you like to have a ramble among the clouds?" asked -the stranger, as Lê was lying down to take a nap; on awaking from -which he felt himself spinning along through the air, and not at all -as if he was lying on a bed. Opening his eyes he saw he was among the -clouds, and around him was a fleecy atmosphere. Jumping up in great -alarm, he felt giddy as if he had been at sea, and underneath his feet -he found a soft, yielding substance, unlike the earth. Above him were -the stars, and this made him think he was dreaming; but looking up he -saw that they were set in the sky like seeds in the cup of a lily, -varying from the size of the biggest bowl to that of a small basin. On -raising his hand he discovered that the large stars were all tightly -fixed; but he managed to pick a small one, which he concealed in his -sleeve; and then, parting the clouds beneath him, he looked through -and saw the sea glittering like silver below. Large cities appeared no -bigger than beans--just at this moment, however, he bethought himself -that if his foot were to slip, what a tremendous fall he would have. -He now beheld two dragons writhing their way along, and drawing a cart -with a huge vat in it, each movement of their tails sounding like the -crack of a bullock-driver's whip. The vat was full of water, and -numbers of men were employed in ladling it out and sprinkling it on -the clouds. These men were astonished at seeing Lê; however, a big -fellow among them called out, "All right, he's my friend," and then -they gave him a ladle to help them throw the water out. Now it -happened to be a very dry season, and when Lê got hold of the ladle he -took good care to throw the water so that it should all fall on and -around his own home. The stranger then told him that he was the God of -Thunder,[341] and that he had just returned from a three years' -punishment inflicted on him in consequence of some neglect of his in -the matter of rain. He added that they must now part; and taking the -long rope which had been used as reins for the cart, bade Lê grip it -tightly, that he might be let down to earth. Lê was afraid of this, -but on being told there was no danger he did so, and in a moment -whish-h-h-h-h--away he went and found himself safe and sound on _terra -firma_. He discovered that he had descended outside his native -village, and then the rope was drawn up into the clouds and he saw it -no more. The drought had been excessive; for three or four miles round -very little rain had fallen, though in Lê's own village the -water-courses were all full. On reaching home he took the star out of -his sleeve, and put it on the table. It was dull-looking like an -ordinary stone; but at night it became very brilliant and lighted up -the whole house. This made him value it highly, and he stored it -carefully away, bringing it out only when he had guests, to light them -at their wine. It was always thus dazzlingly bright, until one evening -when his wife was sitting with him doing her hair, the star began to -diminish in brilliancy, and to flit about like a fire-fly. Mrs. Lê sat -gaping with astonishment, when all of a sudden it flitted into her -mouth and ran down her throat. She tried to cough it up but couldn't, -to the very great amazement of her husband. That night Lê dreamt that -his old friend Hsia appeared before him and said, "I am the Shao-wei -star. Your friendship is still cherished by me, and now you have -brought me back from the sky. Truly our destinies are knitted -together, and I will repay your kindness by becoming your son." Now Lê -was thirty years of age but without sons; however, after this dream -his wife bore him a male child, and they called his name Star. He was -extraordinarily clever, and at sixteen years of age took his master's -degree. - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[341] This deity is believed to be constantly on the look-out for -wicked people, aided by the Goddess of Lightning, who flashes a mirror -on to whomsoever the God wishes to strike. "_The thief eats -thunderbolts_," means that he will bring down vengeance from Heaven on -himself. Tylor's _Primitive Culture_, Vol. I., p. 88. - - - - -LX. - -THE GAMBLER'S TALISMAN. - - -A Taoist priest, called Han, lived at the T'ien-ch'i temple, in our -district city. His knowledge of the black art was very extensive, and -the neighbours all regarded him as an Immortal.[342] My late father -was on intimate terms with him, and whenever he went into the city -invariably paid him a visit. One day, on such an occasion, he was -proceeding thither in company with my late uncle, when suddenly they -met Han on the road. Handing them the key of the door, he begged them -to go on and wait awhile for him, promising to be there shortly -himself. Following out these instructions they repaired to the temple, -but on unlocking the door there was Han sitting inside--a feat which -he subsequently performed several times. - -Now a relative of mine, who was terribly given to gambling, also knew -this priest, having been introduced to him by my father. And once this -relative, meeting with a Buddhist priest from the T'ien-fo temple, -addicted like himself to the vice of gambling, played with him until -he had lost everything, even going so far as to pledge the whole of -his property, which he lost in a single night. Happening to call in -upon Han as he was going back, the latter noticed his exceedingly -dejected appearance, and the rambling answers he gave, and asked him -what was the matter. On hearing the story of his losses, Han only -laughed, and said, "That's what always overtakes the gambler, sooner -or later; if, however, you will break yourself of the habit, I will -get your money back for you." "Ah," cried the other, "if you will only -do that, you may break my head with a pestle when you catch me -gambling again." So Han gave him a talismanic formula, written out on -a piece of paper, to put in his girdle, bidding him only win back what -he had lost, and not attempt to get a fraction more. He also handed -him 1000 _cash_, on condition that this sum should be repaid from his -winnings, and off went my relative delighted. The Buddhist, however, -turned up his nose at the smallness of his means, and said it wasn't -worth his while to stake so little; but at last he was persuaded into -having one throw for the whole lot. They then began, the priest -leading off with a fair throw, to which his opponent replied by a -better; whereupon the priest doubled his stake, and my relative won -again, going on and on until the latter's good luck had brought him -back all that he had previously lost. He thought, however, that he -couldn't do better than just win a few more strings of cash, and -accordingly went on; but gradually his luck turned, and on looking -into his girdle he found that the talisman was gone. In a great fright -he jumped up, and went off with his winnings to the temple, where he -reckoned up that after deducting Han's loan, and adding what he had -lost towards the end, he had exactly the amount originally his. With -shame in his face he turned to thank Han, mentioning at the same time -the loss of the talisman; at which Han only laughed, and said, "That -has got back before you. I told you not to be over-greedy, and as you -didn't heed me, I took the talisman away."[343] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[342] See No. V., note 48. - -[343] Gambling is the great Chinese vice, far exceeding in its ill -effects all that opium has ever done to demoralize the country. Public -gaming-houses are strictly forbidden by law, but their existence is -winked at by a too venal executive. _Fantan_ is the favourite game. It -consists in staking on the remainder of an unknown number of cash, -after the heap has been divided by four, namely whether it will be -three, two, one, or nothing; with other variations of a more -complicated nature. - - - - -LXI. - -THE HUSBAND PUNISHED. - - -Ching Hsing, of Wên-têng, was a young fellow of some literary -reputation, who lived next door to a Mr. Ch'ên, their studios being -separated only by a low wall. One evening Ch'ên was crossing a piece -of waste ground when he heard a young girl crying among some -pine-trees hard by. He approached, and saw a girdle hanging from one -of the branches, as if its owner was just on the point of hanging -herself. Ch'ên asked her what was the matter, and then she brushed -away her tears, and said, "My mother has gone away and left me in -charge of my brother-in-law; but he's a scamp, and won't continue to -take care of me; and now there is nothing left for me but to die." -Hereupon the girl began crying again, and Ch'ên untied the girdle and -bade her go and find herself a husband; to which she said there was -very little chance of that; and then Ch'ên offered to take her to his -own home--an offer which she very gladly accepted. Soon after they -arrived, his neighbour Ching thought he heard a noise, and jumped over -the wall to have a peep, when lo and behold! at the door of Ch'ên's -house stood this young lady, who immediately ran away into the garden -on seeing Ching. The two young men pursued her, but without success, -and were obliged to return each to his own room, Ching being greatly -astonished to find the same girl now standing at his door. On -addressing the young lady, she told him that his neighbour's destiny -was too poor a one for her,[344] and that she came from Shantung, and -that her name was Ch'i A-hsia. She finally agreed to take up her -residence with Ching; but after a few days, finding that a great -number of his friends were constantly calling, she declared it was too -noisy a place for her, and that she would only visit him in the -evening. This she continued to do for a few days, telling him in reply -to his inquiries that her home was not very far off. One evening, -however, she remarked that their present _liaison_ was not very -creditable to either; that her father was a mandarin on the western -frontier, and that she was about to set out with her mother to join -him; begging him meanwhile to make a formal request for the -celebration of their nuptials, in order to prevent them from being -thus separated. She further said that they started in ten days or so, -and then Ching began to reflect that if he married her she would have -to take her place in the family, and that would make his first wife -jealous; so he determined to get rid of the latter, and when she came -in he began to abuse her right and left. His wife bore it as long as -she could, but at length cried out it were better she should die; upon -which Ching advised her not to bring trouble on them all like that, -but to go back to her own home. He then drove her away, his wife -asking all the time what she had done to be sent away like this after -ten years of blameless life with him.[345] Ching, however, paid no -heed to her entreaties, and when he had got rid of her he set to work -at once to get the house whitewashed and made generally clean, himself -being on the tip-toe of expectation for the arrival of Miss A-hsia. -But he waited and waited, and no A-hsia came; she seemed gone like a -stone dropped into the sea. Meanwhile emissaries came from his late -wife's family begging him to take her back; and when he flatly -refused, she married a gentleman of position named Hsia, whose -property adjoined Ching's, and who had long been at feud with him in -consequence, as is usual in such cases. This made Ching furious, but -he still hoped that A-hsia would come, and tried to console himself in -this way. Yet more than a year passed away and still no signs of her, -until one day, at the festival of the Sea Spirits, he saw among the -crowds of girls passing in and out one who very much resembled A-hsia. -Ching moved towards her, following her as she threaded her way through -the crowd as far as the temple gate, where he lost sight of her -altogether, to his great mortification and regret. Another six months -passed away, when one day he met a young lady dressed in red, -accompanied by an old man-servant, and riding on a black mule. It was -A-hsia. So he asked the old man the name of his young mistress, and -learnt from him that she was the second wife of a gentleman named -Chêng, having been married to him about a fortnight previously. Ching -now thought she could not be A-hsia, but just then the young lady, -hearing them talking, turned her head, and Ching saw that he was -right. And now, finding that she had actually married another man, he -was overwhelmed with rage, and cried out in a loud voice, "A-hsia! -A-hsia! why did you break faith?" The servant here objected to his -mistress being thus addressed by a stranger, and was squaring up to -Ching, when A-hsia bade him desist; and, raising her veil, replied, -"And you, faithless one, how do you dare meet my gaze?" "You are the -faithless one," said Ching, "not I." "To be faithless to your wife is -worse than being faithless to me," rejoined A-hsia; "if you behaved -like that to her, how should I have been treated at your hands? -Because of the fair fame of your ancestors, and the honours gained by -them, I was willing to ally myself with you; but now that you have -discarded your wife, your thread of official advancement has been cut -short in the realms below, and Mr. Ch'ên is to take the place that -should have been yours at the head of the examination list. As for -myself, I am now part of the Chêng family; think no more of me." Ching -hung his head and could make no reply; and A-hsia whipped up her mule -and disappeared from his sight, leaving him to return home -disconsolate. At the forthcoming examination, everything turned out as -she had predicted; Mr. Ch'ên was at the top of the list, and he -himself was thrown out. It was clear that his luck was gone. At forty -he had no wife, and was so poor that he was glad to pick up a meal -where he could. One day he called on Mr. Chêng, who treated him well -and kept him there for the night; and while there Chêng's second wife -saw him, and asked her husband if his guest's name wasn't Ching. "It -is," said he, "how could you guess that?" "Well," replied she, "before -I married you, I took refuge in his house, and he was then very kind -to me. Although he has now sunk low, yet his ancestors' influence on -the family fortunes is not yet exhausted;[346] besides he is an old -acquaintance of yours, and you should try and do something for him." -Chêng consented, and having first given him a new suit of clothes, -kept him in the house several days. At night a slave-girl came to him -with twenty ounces of silver for him, and Mrs. Chêng, who was outside -the window, said, "This is a trifling return for your past kindness to -me. Go and get yourself a good wife. The family luck is not yet -exhausted, but will descend to your sons and grandchildren. Do not -behave like this again, and so shorten your term of life." Ching -thanked her and went home, using ten ounces of silver to procure a -concubine from a neighbouring family, who was very ugly and -ill-tempered. However, she bore him a son, and he by-and-by graduated -as doctor. Mr. Chêng became Vice-President of the Board of Civil -Office,[347] and at his death A-hsia attended the funeral; but when -they opened her chair on its return home, she was gone, and then -people knew for the first time that she was not mortal flesh and -blood. Alas! for the perversity of mankind, rejecting the old and -craving for the new?[348] And then when they come back to the familiar -nest, the birds have all flown. Thus does heaven punish such people. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[344] See No. XLVI., note 271. - -[345] See No. LIII., note 288. - -[346] The virtuous conduct of any individual will result not only in -happiness and prosperity to himself, but a certain quantity of these -will descend to his posterity, unless, as in the present case, there -is one among them whose personal wickedness neutralizes any benefits -that would otherwise accrue therefrom. Here we have an instance where -the crimes of a descendant still left a balance of good fortune -surviving from the accumulated virtue of generations. - -[347] One of the six departments of State administration. - -[348] This seems a curious charge to bring against a people who for a -stolid and bigoted conservatism have rarely, if ever, been equalled. -Mencius, however, uttered one golden sentence which might be brought -to bear upon the occasionally foolish opposition of the Chinese to -measures of proved advantage to the commonwealth. "Live," said the -Sage, "in harmony with the age in which you are born." - - - - -LXII. - -THE MARRIAGE LOTTERY. - - -A certain labourer's son, named Ma T'ien-jung, lost his wife when he -was only about twenty years of age, and was too poor to take another. -One day when out hoeing in the fields, he beheld a nice-looking young -lady leave the path and come tripping across the furrows towards him. -Her face was well painted,[349] and she had altogether such a refined -look that Ma concluded she must have lost her way, and began to make -some playful remarks in consequence. "You go along home," cried the -young lady, "and I'll be with you by-and-by." Ma doubted this rather -extraordinary promise, but she vowed and declared she would not break -her word; and then Ma went off, telling her that his front door faced -the north, etc., etc. In the evening the young lady arrived, and then -Ma saw that her hands and face were covered with fine hair, which made -him suspect at once she was a fox. She did not deny the accusation; -and accordingly Ma said to her, "If you really are one of those -wonderful creatures you will be able to get me anything I want; and I -should be much obliged if you would begin by giving me some money to -relieve my poverty." The young lady said she would; and next evening -when she came again, Ma asked her where the money was. "Dear me!" -replied she, "I quite forgot it." When she was going away, Ma reminded -her of what he wanted, but on the following evening she made precisely -the same excuse, promising to bring it another day. A few nights -afterwards Ma asked her once more for the money, and then she drew -from her sleeve two pieces of silver, each weighing about five or six -ounces. They were both of fine quality, with turned-up edges,[350] and -Ma was very pleased and stored them away in a cupboard. Some months -after this, he happened to require some money for use, and took out -these pieces; but the person to whom he showed them said they were -only pewter, and easily bit off a portion of one of them with his -teeth. Ma was much alarmed, and put the pieces away directly; taking -the opportunity when evening came of abusing the young lady roundly. -"It's all your bad luck," retorted she; "real gold would be too much -for your inferior destiny."[351] There was an end of that; but Ma went -on to say, "I always heard that fox-girls were of surpassing beauty; -how is it you are not?" "Oh," replied the young lady, "we always adapt -ourselves to our company. Now you haven't the luck of an ounce of -silver to call your own; and what would you do, for instance, with a -beautiful princess?[352] My beauty may not be good enough for the -aristocracy; but among your big-footed, burden-carrying rustics,[353] -why it may safely be called 'surpassing.'" - -A few months passed away, and then one day the young lady came and -gave Ma three ounces of silver, saying, "You have often asked me for -money, but in consequence of your weak luck I have always refrained -from giving you any. Now, however, your marriage is at hand, and I -here give you the cost of a wife, which you may also regard as a -parting gift from me." Ma replied that he wasn't engaged, to which the -young lady answered that in a few days a go-between would visit him to -arrange the affair. "And what will she be like?" asked Ma. "Why, as -your aspirations are for 'surpassing' beauty," replied the young lady, -"of course she will be possessed of surpassing beauty." "I hardly -expect that," said Ma; "at any rate three ounces of silver will not be -enough to get a wife." "Marriages," explained the young lady, "are -made in the moon;[354] mortals have nothing to do with them." "And why -must you be going away like this?" inquired Ma. "Because," answered -she, "we go on shilly-shallying from day to day, and month to month, -and nothing ever comes of it. I had better get you another wife and -have done with you." Then when morning came, she departed, giving Ma a -pinch of yellow powder, saying, "In case you are ill after we are -separated, this will cure you." Next day, sure enough, a go-between -did come, and Ma at once asked what the proposed bride was like; to -which the former replied that she was very passable-looking. Four or -five ounces of silver was fixed as the marriage present, Ma making no -difficulty on that score, but declaring he must have a peep at the -young lady.[355] The go-between said she was a respectable girl, and -would never allow herself to be seen; however it was arranged that -they should go to the house together, and await a good opportunity. So -off they went, Ma remaining outside while the go-between went in, -returning in a little while to tell him it was all right. "A relative -of mine lives in the same court, and just now I saw the young lady -sitting in the hall. We have only got to pretend we are going to see -my relative, and you will be able to get a glimpse of her." Ma -consented, and they accordingly passed through the hall, where he saw -the young lady sitting down with her head bent forward while some one -was scratching her back. She seemed to be all that the go-between had -said; but when they came to discuss the money, it appeared the young -lady only wanted one or two ounces of silver, just to buy herself a -few clothes, etc., at which Ma was delighted, and gave the go-between -a present for her trouble, which just finished up the three ounces his -fox-friend had provided. An auspicious day was chosen, and the young -lady came over to his house; when lo! she was hump-backed and -pigeon-breasted, with a short neck like a tortoise, and boat-shaped -feet, full ten inches long. The meaning of his fox-friend's remarks -then flashed upon him. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[349] Only slave-girls and women of the poorer classes, and old women, -omit this very important part of a Chinese lady's toilet. - -[350] Alluding probably to the shape of the "shoe" or ingot of silver. - -[351] See No. XLVI., note 271. - -[352] Literally, "One who would make wild geese alight and fish dive -down for shame;" or, as the next line from the same poem has it, "a -beauty which would obscure the moon and put flowers to the blush." - -[353] Slave-girls do not have their feet compressed. - -[354] Wherein resides an old gentleman who ties together with a red -cord the feet of those destined to become man and wife. From this bond -there is no escape, no matter what distance may separate the affianced -pair. The first go-between, Ku Ts'ê, was originally seen, on ice, -arranging matches with some one below:-- - - "Marriage is not a trifling thing-- - The Book and the Vermilion String! - On ice by moonlight may be seen - The wedded couples' go-between." - - --_A Thousand Character Essay for Girls._ - -Hence the common phrase "to do the ice (business)," _i.e._, to arrange -a marriage. - -[355] This proceeding is highly improper, but is winked at in a large -majority of Chinese betrothals. - - -END OF VOL. I. - - -THOS. DE LA RUE AND CO., PRINTERS, BUNHILL ROW, LONDON. - - - - - 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. - - - - -STRANGE STORIES - -FROM A - -CHINESE STUDIO. - - - - -LXIII. - -THE LO-CH'A COUNTRY AND THE SEA-MARKET.[356] - - -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,[357] 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[358] 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,[359] 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[360] 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.[361] 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,[362] 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.[363] 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[364] 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."[365] 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.[366] 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[367] lives solitary in the moon, and -Chih Nü[368] 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;[369] -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.[370] -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,[371] 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: - -[356] The term "sea-market" is generally understood in the sense of -_mirage_, or some similar phenomenon. - -[357] A famous General who played a leading part in the wars of the -Three Kingdoms. See No. XCIII., note 482. - -[358] A hit at the hypocrisy of the age. - -[359] Shewing that hypocrisy is bad policy in the long run. - -[360] The tears of Chinese mermaids are said to be pearls. - -[361] See No. XIX., note 135. - -[362] 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." - -[363] This all-important point in a Chinese marriage ceremony is the -equivalent of our own "signing in the vestry." - -[364] Literally, "if you have no one to cook your food." - -[365] "Dragon Palace" and "Happy Sea," respectively. - -[366] Alluding to an old legend of a letter conveyed by a bird. - -[367] See No. V., note 49. - -[368] 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. - -[369] These are of course only the equivalents of the Chinese names in -the text. - -[370] To keep off the much-dreaded wind, which disturbs the rest of the -departed. - -[371] For which a very high price is obtained in China. - - - - -LXIV. - -THE FIGHTING CRICKET. - - -During the reign of Hsüan Tê,[372] 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[373] 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[374] 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.[375] 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: - -[372] Of the Ming dynasty; reigned A.D. 1426-1436. - -[373] 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. - -[374] A favourite Chinese expression, signifying the absence of food. - -[375] 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],[376] 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: - -[376] 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,[377] 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.[378] -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,[379] 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,[380] 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.[381] 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,[382] 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.[383] 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: - -[377] 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?" - -[378] 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. - -[379] 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. - -[380] See No. VIII., note 63. - -[381] - - "... Move these eyes? - ... Here are severed lips." - - --_Merchant of Venice_, Act iii., sc. 2. - -[382] See No. LIII., note 288. - -[383] 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,[384] 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: - -[384] 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.[385] - - -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: - -[385] 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[386] 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.[387] Thinking by this that they were approaching the ladies' -apartments,[388] 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[389] -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[390]--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.[391] -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,[392] 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[393] him. Liang, at first, thought it -must be the party of some high official, and wondered at the scarcity -of attendants;[394] 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,[395] 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.[396] 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,[397] 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;[398] 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: - -[386] 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. - -[387] Literally, in the utter absence of anybody. - -[388] 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. - -[389] Literally, "bald"--_i.e._, without the usual width and -ornamentation of a Chinese lady's sleeve. - -[390] 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_. - -[391] Probably of felt or some such material, to prevent the young lady -from slipping as she stood, not sat, in the swing. - -[392] 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. - -[393] 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." - -[394] 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. - -[395] Generally known as the "cut-wave God." - -[396] 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. - -[397 See No. LIV., note 292. - -[398] 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,[399] 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,[400] and then, seizing a girdle, began to measure the size of her -waist[401] 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."[402] 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: - -[399] 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. - -[400] See No. LXII., note 349. - -[401] See No. LXIX., note 390. - -[402] 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,[403] he accidentally met him at -Pao-t'u-ch'üan.[404] 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,[405] 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,[406] his eyes closed, and a -servant-boy standing by with a chowry.[407] 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."[408] 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: - -[403] 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. - -[404] The name of a place. - -[405] 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_. - -[406] There is a room in most Buddhist temples specially devoted to -this purpose. - -[407] The Buddhist emblem of cleanliness; generally a yak's tail, and -commonly used as a fly-brush. - -[408] 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[409] 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;[410] 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,[411] 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;[412] 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,[413] 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."[414] 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.[415] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[409] Literally, "had been allotted the post of Nan-fu magistrate," -such appointments being always determined by drawing lots. - -[410] 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. - -[411] 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. - -[412] Such, indeed, is the case at the present day in China, and -elsewhere. - -[413] See No. VII., note 54. - -[414] 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. - -[415] 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[416] 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.[417] 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[418] 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[419] in the following year, out of gratitude for his noble -behaviour. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[416] See No. LXIV., note 373. - -[417] 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. - -[418] See No. I., note 39. - -[419] See No. LXVIII., note 385. The circumstances which led to this -marriage would certainly be considered "exceptional." - - - - -LXXIV. - -A RIP VAN WINKLE.[420] - - -[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.[421]] - -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:[422] 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,[423] 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.][424] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[420] 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. - -[421] See No. IV., note 46. - -[422] Borrowed from Buddhism. - -[423] 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. - -[424] 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,[425] -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."[426] 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: - -[425] See _Appendix_ A. - -[426] 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.[427] Before long he found himself there, and, directing -his steps towards the prison, found his father lying outside[428] 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.[429] 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.[430] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[427] The Infernal Regions are supposed to be pretty much a counterpart -of the world above, except in the matter of light. - -[428] 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. - -[429] 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." - -[430] 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,[431] -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.[432] 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.[433] His ophthalmia, however, was quite cured; and when -he shut his eyes again he could see nothing. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[431] 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. - -[432] Name of a celebrated play. - -[433] 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[434] 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: - -[434] 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,[435] 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: - -[435] 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[436] 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."][437] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[436] See No. II., note 42. - -[437] 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.[438] 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[439] 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;[440] -and, if so, how could a virtuous official be visited with this dire -calamity?"] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[438] 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. - -[439] 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. - -[440] 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.[441] - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[441] The "sea-serpent" in this case was probably nothing more or less -than some meteoric phenomenon. - - - - -LXXXIII. - -THE MAGIC MIRROR.[442] - - -"... 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: - -[442] 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,[443] 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[444] 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.[445] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[443] 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. - -[444] 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. - -[445] 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.[446] 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.[447] 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,[448] 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,[449] 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."[450] - -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,[451] 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;[452] 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.[453] 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[454] 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[455] 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.[456] 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.[457] 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.[458] 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[459] and stayed at Ch'ên's house, his son was -thirteen years old, and had already matriculated as a candidate for -literary honours. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[446] 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. - -[447] 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. - -[448] The whole point of the story hinges on this. - -[449] Beside which lived Hsi Shih, the famous beauty of the fifth -century after Christ. - -[450] 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. - -[451] 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. - -[452] The examination, which lasts nine days, has been going on all -this time. - -[453] That is, his own body, into which Ch'u's spirit had temporarily -passed, his own occupying, meanwhile, the body of his friend. - -[454] That is, for being born again, the sole hope and ambition of a -disembodied shade. - -[455] See No. LXXI., note 403. - -[456] See No. LXI., note 346. - -[457] His own spirit in Ch'u's body had met her in a disembodied -state. - -[458] 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. - -[459] 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.[460] 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[461] 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,[462] 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.[463] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[460] 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. - -[461] 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. - -[462] See No. VI., note 52. - -[463] 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_,[464] while -two of the others support her, one on each side. All this time she is -chattering unintelligible sentences,[465] 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[466] 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.[467] - -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.[468] In her hand she holds a long spear, with which -she mounts the couch[469] and postures in an extraordinary manner, the -animal she rides snorting or roaring fiercely all the time. Some call -her Kuan Ti,[470] 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: - -[464] 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. - -[465] Speaking in the unknown tongue, like the Irvingites and others. - -[466] 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. - -[467] 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. - -[468] The arrangement being that of the hobby-horse of by-gone days. - -[469] 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. - -[470] See No. LXXIII., note 418. 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.[471] - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[471] 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.[472] 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: - -[472] Of whom I can learn nothing. - - - - -XCII. - -SMELLING ESSAYS.[473] - - -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_."[474] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[473] 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. - -[474] 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,[475] 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,"[476] 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,[477] 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[478] 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,[479] 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[480] 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.[481] - 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.[482] - 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.[483] - 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.[484] - 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."[485] 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.[486] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[475] This would be regarded as a very meritorious act by the Chinese. - -[476] The Byron of China. - -[477] Chinese wine--or, more correctly, _spirits_--is always taken -hot; hence the term wine-kettle, which frequently occurs in these -pages. - -[478] The Magistrate; who is supposed to be towards the people what a -father is to his children. - -[479] 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. - -[480] 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. - -[481] 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. - -[482] 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 357), 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. - -[483] Alluding to the story of a young man who went in search of his -missing father. - -[484] 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. - -[485] 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. - -[486] 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]."[487] - -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."[488] - -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,[489] 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.[490] 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[491] 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.[492] 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: - -[487] From a poem by Wang Wei, a noted poet of the T'ang dynasty. The -second line is not given in the text. - -[488] 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. - -[489] 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 736.) - -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. - -[490] 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. - -[491] 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. - -[492] 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.[493] - - -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.[494] 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.[495] 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: - -[493] This story is a sequel to the last. - -[494] The surnames would in this case be different, and no obstacle -could be offered on that score. See No. XV., note 109. - -[495] 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.[496] 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,[497] a white rabbit ran in, whereupon the girl jumped up and -said, "The doctor[498] 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: - -[496] 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. - -[497] 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. - -[498] 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[499] 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,[500] 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.[501] 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;[502] but Kung-sun only laughed at his objection, and -reminded him that money[503] 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[504] and go buy large -quantities of paper ingots,[505] 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,[506] 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,[507] 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,[508] 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!"[509] -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?"[510] 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[511] 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![512] -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."[513] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[499] 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. - -[500] Kung-sun is an example of a Chinese double surname. - -[501] 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. - -[502] Which fact would disqualify him from taking the post. - -[503] Literally, "Square hole." A common name for the Chinese cash. -See No. II., note 42. - -[504] 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. - -[505] 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." - -[506] See No. VII., note 54. In this case the reference is to a -similar Board in the Infernal Regions. - -[507] These would be sure to sneer at him behind his back. - -[508] A compliment usually paid to an in-coming official. - -[509] See No. I., note 39. - -[510] 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. - -[511] See No. LXXVII., note 431. - -[512] 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. - -[513] 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[514] 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.[515] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[514] The Yang-tsze: sometimes spoken of as the Long River. - -[515] 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).[516] 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: - -[516] Here again we have a play upon words similar to that in the last -story. - - - - -C. - -THE DUTCH CARPET. - - -Formerly, when the Dutch[517] 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.[518] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[517] 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. - -[518] 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,[519] 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: - -[519] 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.[520] Some years afterwards he returned, -dressed in the Taoist garb, and carrying his praying-mat[521] 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: - -[520] 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. - -[521] 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,[522] 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: - -[522] 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.[523] -It was the time of the Spring festival,[524] 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,[525] 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,[526] who probably got it from this source.[527] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[523] It is worth noting that the author professes actually to have -witnessed the following extraordinary scene. - -[524] The vernal equinox, which would fall on or about the 20th of -March. - -[525] 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. - -[526] 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. - -[527] 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.[528] "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: - -[528] See No. LXXI., note 408. - - - - -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,"[529] 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,[530] 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.[531] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[529] 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. - -[530] The duties of Coroner belong to the office of a District -Magistrate in China. - -[531] 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.[532] 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.[533] 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.[534] 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,[535] 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.[536] 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: - -[532] See No. XLV., note 267. - -[533] 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. - -[534] 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. - -[535] See No. XCVII., note 505. - -[536] 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[537] 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,[538] pointing out to -him the Knife Hill,[539] 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.[540] "Nor," added they, "will -he escape this torment unless he repents him of his misdeeds." When -Chang came round,[541] 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,[542] and devoted himself entirely to -religious exercises. In a fortnight he was well, and was known ever -afterwards as a most exemplary priest. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[537] 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. - -[538] Literally, the "nine dark places," which will remind readers of -Dante of the nine "bolgie" of the _Inferno_. - -[539] 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. - -[540] A crime by no means unknown to the clergy of China. - -[541] That is, when the lictors had returned his soul to its tenement. - -[542] 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,[543] 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:[544] 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: - -[543] In A.D. 1621. - -[544] 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."[545] - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[545] 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."[546] 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: - -[546] Note 533 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.[547] 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[548] 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,[549] and unlicensed dealers in salt, and, for the dirtiest -work of all, he is going to take musicians."[550] - -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.[551] 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[552] 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.[553] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[547] 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. - -[548] The Styx. - -[549] 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. - -[550] The allusion is to women, of a not very respectable class. - -[551] No Chinese magistrate would be found to pass sentence upon a man -who stole food under stress of hunger. - -[552] His own village. - -[553] 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[554] 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,[555] and rich and poor were subscribing as much as -each could afford, he alone gave nothing.[556] 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[557] 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,"[558] 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[559] 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.[560] 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: - -[554] The chief supporters of superstition in China. - -[555] See No. I., note 39. - -[556] 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. - -[557] 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. - -[558] 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. - -[559] 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. - -[560] 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;[561] 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,[562] 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[563] 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,[564] 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: - -[561] It is considered a serious breach of Chinese etiquette to accept -invitations without returning the compliment at an early date. - -[562] 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. - -[563] See No. XCIII., note 477. - -[564] 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,[565] one went to -the Wu-t'ai hill, while the other hung up his staff[566] 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.[567] 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[568] -is paved with yellow gold, that Kuan-yin and Wên-shu[569] 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: - -[565] That is, missionaries from India. - -[566] See No. LVI., note 320. - -[567] 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. - -[568] This may almost be said to have been the belief of the Arabs at -the date of the composition of "The Arabian Nights." - -[569] 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.[570] 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[571] 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: - -[570] See No. XLVIII., note 277. - -[571] 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[572] 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[573] covered with a fine ash-dust, so that at any rate -his footsteps would be seen and the servants could strike just above -them.[574] 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: - -[572] The perfect man, according to the Confucian standard. - -[573] 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. - -[574] 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[575] 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[576] in -his accounts. - -Under the Ming dynasty, there was a certain Censor,[577] 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,[578] 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: - -[575] 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. - -[576] 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. - -[577] See No. XXXII., note 197. - -[578] 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[579] 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[580] 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: - -[579] 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. - -[580] 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.[581] 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,[582] 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.[583] 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.[584] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[581] See No. XL., note 233, and No. XCIV., note 489. - -[582] See No. I., note 39. - -[583] See No. LXIX., note 38. - -[584] 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.[585] 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;[586] and, secondly, that people shouldn't take things they see -by the wayside.[587] Quadrupeds don't usually fly. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[585] See No. VI., note 51. - -[586] 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. - -[587] 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.[588] 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[589] 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: - -[588] 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. - -[589] 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."[590] "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,[591] 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_[592] an efficacious remedy, that is if you -don't keep it a secret for your private use."[593] 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,[594] -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: - -[590] 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.] - -[591] See No. X., note 79. - -[592] _Radix robiniæ amaræ._ - -[593] 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. - -[594] 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[595] -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.[596] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[595] The ordinary "wine" of China is a spirit distilled from rice. -See No. XCIII., note 477. - -[596] 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,[597] 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,[598] 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;[599] 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: - -[597] In an entry on torture (see No. LXXIII., note 417), 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." - -[598] 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. - -[599] 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.[600] 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: - -[600] 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.[601] - -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: - -[601] See No. XCVIII., note 514. - - - - -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,[602] 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.[603] 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: - -[602] This corresponds to our ceremony of laying the foundation stone, -except that one commemorates the beginning, the other the completion, -of a new building. - -[603] 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_.[604] One day--it was the 9th of the 9th moon, -when everybody goes up high[605]--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.[606] 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,[607] in which state -he has already passed seven years. And now that the Phoenix Tower[608] -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."[609] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[604] 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." - -[605] 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. - -[606] See No. XXVI., note 180. - -[607] 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. - -[608] An imaginary building in the Infernal Regions. - -[609] 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.[610] When -the uncle died all the property passed accordingly to his nephew, who -thereupon broke faith as to his part of the contract.[611] 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: - -[610] See No. LV., note 310; and No. XCIV., note 492. - -[611] 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,[612] 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,[613] 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,[614] 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?"[615] 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: - -[612] 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. - -[613] See No. I., note 36. - -[614] See No. LVI., note 317; and No. XCVII., note 505. - -[615] 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;[616] 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."[617] 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[618] 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.[619] 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: - -[616] 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. - -[617] See No. LXI., note 346. - -[618] See No. LXIV., note 373. - -[619] 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.[620] Jumping from his -mule,[621] 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.[622] 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: - -[620] "In various savage superstitions the minute resemblance of soul -to body is forcibly stated."--_Myths and Myth-makers_, by John Fiske, -p. 228. - -[621] 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. - -[622] By becoming his son and behaving badly to him. See No. CX., note -545, 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,[623] 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.[624] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[623] See No. CXXXI., note 605. - -[624] 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,[625] 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[626] 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: - -[625] See No. XXIII., note 152. - -[626] 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;[627] 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[628] 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,[629] 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: - -[627] The Chinese never cut the tails of their horses or mules. - -[628] One of the feudal Governors of by-gone days. - -[629] 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;[630] 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,[631] 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[632] 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;[633] 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.[634] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[630] Advertisements of these professors of physiognomy are to be seen -in every Chinese city. - -[631] In order to make some show for the public eye. - -[632] See No. LXIV., note 373. - -[633] 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. - -[634] 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[635] 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[636] 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.[637] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[635] This would be exactly at the hottest season. - -[636] The _Jupiter Pluvius_ of the neighbourhood. - -[637] 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.[638] - - -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,[639] 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.[640] 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.[641] 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'[642] 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.[643] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[638] 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. - -[639] 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. - -[640] That is, by means of the planchette-table. - -[641] Our author was here evidently thinking of his own unlucky fate. - -[642] See No. CXXXI., note 607. - -[643] See No. LXXV., note 426. - - - - -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;[644] 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: - -[644] 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,[645] 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: - -[645] 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."[646] - - -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;[647] 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: - -[646] A satirical remark of Mencius (Book I.), used by the sage when -combating the visionary projects of a monarch of antiquity. - -[647] 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[648] 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: - -[648] 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.[649] 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;[650] -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.[651] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[649] 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. - -[650] 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 414. - -[651] 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[652] 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.[653] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[652] 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. - -[653] 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.[654] - - -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[655] 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[656] 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,[657] Heaven will surely punish me. Oh, -if you would save me, give away one hundred coffins[658] 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,[659] -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: - -[654] 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. - -[655] See No. XXII., note 143. - -[656] These are used, together with a heavy wooden _bâton_, by the -Chinese washerman, the effect being most disastrous to a European -wardrobe. - -[657] For thus interfering with the appointments of Destiny. - -[658] 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. - -[659] 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,[660] 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.[661] 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[662] 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.[663] 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,[664] 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_,[665] 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[666] 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: - -[660] See No. XIV., note 97. - -[661] See No. LIV., note 293. - -[662] The God of Literature. - -[663] See No. LXXVII., note 431. - -[664] See No. XXVI., note 182. - -[665] A fleshy protuberance on the head, which is the distinguishing -mark of a Buddha. - -[666] 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.[667] - - -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[668] on the subject, and understood the -principles of the science. When Mr. Sung died, his two sons set up -separate establishments,[669] 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: - -[667] 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." - -[668] As a rule, only the daughters of wealthy families receive any -education to speak of. - -[669] 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,[670] 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.[671] 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[672] like this before -breakfast! - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[670] 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. - -[671] It was only his soul that had left the house. - -[672] 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."[673] 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!"[674] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[673] See No. CXXIII., note 589. - -[674] 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[675] 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.[676] 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: - -[675] 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. - -[676] 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,[677] 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.[678] "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."[679] 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: - -[677] See No. LXXIII., note 471. - -[678] 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." - -[679] See No. LXVIII., note 385. - - - - -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.[680] - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[680] 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.[681] - - -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: - -[681] 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[682] 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: - -[682] 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.[683] 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,[684] 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: - -[683] 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. - -[684] 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,[685] 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_[686] (_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;[687] -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.[688] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[685] See No. I., note 36. - -[686] 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 439. - -[687] "Boat-men" is the solution of the last two lines of the enigma. - -[688] 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,[689] 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,[690] 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,[691] lay down and died. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[689] 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. - -[690] 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. - -[691] 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.[692] 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.[693] 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: - -[692] See No. LXXIII., note 417. - -[693] 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[694] 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: - -[694] 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[695] 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,[696] 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,[697] 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.[698] 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,[699] 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,[700] saying to themselves that when a man dies there is an -end of him, that when he has lost his skin[701] 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[702] 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[703]--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[704] 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.[705] - -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.[706] 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,[707] far to the west near the -murky road which leads to the Yellow Springs.[708] 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[709] 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,[710] -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,[711] vainly striving to procure a substitute.[712] -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;[713] 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;[714] 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;[715] 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;[716] wives and concubines who -slight their marital lords; those who fail in their duties as acting -sons,[717] 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;[718] 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,[719] -utter base coin, get deeply in debt, sell doctored[720] silks and -satins, scrape[721] 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[722] 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;[723] 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,[724] 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,[725] 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[726] 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.[727] 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[728] 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.[729] 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,[730] 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,[731] 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;[732] who steal the gold from the inside[733] 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;[734] 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,[735] the Sun and Moon and -Seven Stars, the Royal Mother and the God of Longevity on the same -article,[736] or representations of any of the Immortals; those who -embroider the Svastika[737] 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[738] 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[739] and certain other -nauseous articles,[740] 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[741] 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,[742] -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.[743] 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[744] 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[745] 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.[746] - -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[747] 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_[748] 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,[749] 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,[750] 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.[751] - -The regulations provide that all beasts, birds, fishes, and insects, -whether biped, quadruped, or otherwise, shall after death become -_chien_,[752] 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,[753] 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,[754] and that rather than be -born again amongst men they would prefer to enter the ranks of hungry -devils.[755] 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[756] 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;[757] 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.[758] Yet they all rush on to birth like an infatuated or drunken -crowd; and again, in their early childhood, hanker after the forbidden -flavours.[759] 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: - -[695] The _Yü Li_ or _Divine Panorama_. - -[696] The Divine Ruler, immediately below God himself. - -[697] See No. XXVI., note 182. - -[698] See _Author's Own Record_ (in _Introduction_), note 28. - -[699] The three worst of the Six Paths. - -[700] That the state of one life is the result of behaviour in a -previous existence. - -[701] _Lit._--the skin purse (of his bones). - -[702] Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. - -[703] Violent deaths are regarded with horror by the Chinese. They -hold that a truly virtuous man always dies either of illness or old -age. - -[704] 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. - -[705] The Supreme Ruler. - -[706] See No. I., note 36. - -[707] Supposed to be the gate of the Infernal Regions. - -[708] Hades. - -[709] Literally, "ten armfuls." - -[710] To Heaven, Earth, sovereign, and relatives. - -[711] Held to be a great relief to the spirits of the dead. - -[712] 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. - -[713] 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. - -[714] 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. - -[715] 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. - -[716] Do their duty as men and women. - -[717] 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. - -[718] As taxes. - -[719] 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. - -[720] That is, with a false gloss on them. - -[721] In order to raise to nap and give an appearance of strength and -goodness. - -[722] 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. - -[723] 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. - -[724] 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. - -[725] Popularly known as the Chinese Pluto. The Indian _Yama_. - -[726] The celebrated "See-one's-home Terrace." - -[727] Regarded by the Chinese with intense disgust. - -[728] Father's, mother's, and wife's families. - -[729] 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. - -[730] 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. - -[731] If this is done in Winter or Spring the Spirits of the Hearth -and Threshold are liable to catch cold. - -[732] I presume because God sits with his face to the south. - -[733] 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. - -[734] 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. - -[735] 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. - -[736] 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. - -[737] The symbol on Buddha's heart; more commonly known to the western -world as Thor's Hammer. - -[738] Emblems of Imperial dignity. - -[739] Supposed to confer immortality. - -[740] Unfit for translation. - -[741] This is ingeniously expressed, as if _mothers_ were the prime -movers in such unnatural acts. - -[742] 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. - -[743] Bones are used in glazing porcelain, to give a higher finish. - -[744] 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. - -[745] To warm them. - -[746] When they are born again on earth. - -[747] Heart, lungs, spleen, liver, and kidneys. - -[748] Many millions of years. - -[749] 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_." - -[750] He who "turns the wheel;" a _chakravartti raja_. - -[751] The capital city of the Infernal Regions. - -[752] The ghosts of dead people are believed to be liable to death. -The ghost of a ghost is called _chien_. - -[753] On the "Three Systems." See note 702, _Appendix_. - -[754] Women are considered in China to be far more revengeful than -men. - -[755] See _Author's Own Record_ (in _Introduction_), note 28. - -[756] While in Purgatory. - -[757] It was mentioned above that the rewards for virtue would be -continued to a man's sons and grandsons. - -[758] That is, go to heaven. - -[759] 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. 156 492 - " ii. 272 611 - - Adulteration ii. 332 675 - - Age of graduates i. 345 274 - - Age to marry i. 113 112 - - Alchemy i. 65 83 - " ii. 313 654 - - Alms'-bowl i. 246 211 - " i. 395 320 - - Amusements, Literary i. 215 186 - - Anatomy, Chinese ii. 253 590 - - "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. 212 545 - " " ii. 281 622 - - Bambooing i. 55 76 - - Banquets, Theatrical Entertainments during ii. 54 396 - - Beadles ii. 17 373 - - Beauty, Chinese ii. 123 449 - - Beggars i. 246 212 - - Betrothals i. 108 108 - " i. 193 165 - " i. 227 195 - - Bikshu i. 395 320 - - Blowing into meat ii. 306 647 - - Blue China Epoch ii. 303 645 - - 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. 322 669 - - Brown deer of Formosa i. 399 329 - - Buddha, Repeating the name of i. 367 293 - - "Bull's hide" trick, The ii. 180 518 - - Burials i. 197 171 - - Burying stray bones, &c. ii. 147 485 - - - Caligraphy ii. 174 512 - - Capping verses i. 332 262 - " " ii. 57 399 - - Cash i. 6 42 - " ii. 171 503 - - Cat and dog Restaurant ii. 308 649 - - Catalepsy i. 4 40 - " ii. 73 410 - - 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. 221 557 - - Chowry ii. 71 407 - - Clay-image makers ii. 276 616 - - Clepsydra i. 49 70 - - "Climbing trees to catch fish" ii. 305 646 - - Coffins i. 102 104 - " i. 197 172 - " deposited in Temples i. 237 203 - " for poor people ii. 316 658 - " Sleeping in ii. 354 691 - - Concubines i. 395 321 - - Confucius, Descendants of i. 33 61 - - Conservatism i. 427 348 - - Contemplation, Priestly ii. 71 406 - - Coroners ii. 196 530 - - Counting cattle, Method of ii. 255 594 - - Cow-herd and the Lady i. 27 55 - - Cricket-fighting i. 75 85 - - Crows, Feeding the i. 279 229 - - Cumquats ii. 301 644 - - 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. 78 414 - - Degrees, The three i. 1 37 - - Devils, Good and bad ii. 201 534 - - Dice ii. 145 480 - - Divorce i. 360 288 - - Doctors ii. 293 634 - - Dogs, Chinese ii. 309 651 - - Dolphin, Fresh-water ii. 43 386 - - _Double-entendres_ ii. 176 515 - - Dragon-boat festival ii. 168 497 - - Dragons ii. 112 439 - " ii. 349 686 - - Dreams ii. 250 586 - - Dwarfs i. 224 193 - - Drunkenness i. 30 59 - " i. 365 292 - " ii. 30 378 - - - Eating ii. 111 438 - - Education i. 297 237 - " ii. 322 668 - - Elixir of Immortality i. 19 49 - " " ii. 168 498 - - Examinations, Competitive i. 195 168 - " " ii. 64 403 - " " ii. 91 426 - - Eye, Pupils of the i. 8 43 - - - Fa Hsien's journey ii. 232 567 - - Fabulous Lion ii. 343 682 - - Facing the South ii. 103 431 - - 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. 322 667 - - Feudal Governor ii. 287 628 - - "_Fiancé_," Death of a i. 99 101 - - Figure-head ii. 54 395 - - Fire-wells ii. 238 575 - - Flageolets i. 28 58 - - Folk-lore in the North and South ii. 329 674 - - Fondness for children i. 401 332 - - Foot-binding i. 192 161 - - Fortune-tellers i. 47 68 - - Foundries, Iron ii. 216 549 - - Four Books, The i. 297 237 - - Four Seas, The ii. 116 444 - - Fox influence i. 32 60 - - Foxes, Soothsayers possessed by ii. 358 694 - - - Gambling i. 421 343 - - Ganges, The ii. 28 377 - - Gates of a city shut at night ii. 262 598 - - 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. 233 571 - - Go-betweens i. 187 157 - " ii. 154 490 - - God of War, The i. 2 39 - - "Golden lilies" i. 188 159 - - "Golden Orchid" Societies i. 196 170 - - Gongs ii. 105 433 - - 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. 267 602 - - Greed ii. 74 411 - - - 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. 250 587 - - "Hsi-yüan-lu," The i. 98 100 - - "Hu," The name i. 89 90 - - Hué i. 397 325 - - Human life, Value of ii. 338 678 - - Hungry devils ii. 270 607 - - - Immortality i. 157 139 - - Immortals, Record of the ii. 88 423 - - Imperial mandates ii. 240 578 - - Impressment i. 220 190 - - Infernal Regions ii. 95 427 - " " ii. 354 690 - - Inheritance, Law of ii. 345 683 - - Initiation of a Priest ii. 69 405 - - Inner apartments i. 53 74 - " " i. 252 215 - " " ii. 46 388 - - - Jelly-fish ii. 332 676 - - Judas tree ii. 151 488 - - Judges ii. 96 429 - - Jugglers ii. 189 527 - - - Khakkharam, The i. 395 320 - - Kangs ii. 133 469 - - Keeping secret professional knowledge ii. 255 593 - - Kidnapping i. 183 154 - - Kite-flying Festival ii. 268 605 - - Knife Hill, The ii. 205 539 - - Kot'ow, The i. 388 314 - - K'u-ts'an ii. 255 592 - - Kuan-yin i. 241 208 - - - Lanterns, Feast of i. 99 102 - - Li T'ai-poh ii. 144 476 - - Lictors ii. 205 537 - - Lighting the Eyes ii. 224 558 - - Lingering death, The i. 396 322 - - Literary chancellor ii. 284 626 - - Literati, The ii. 36 384 - - Literature, God of ii. 320 662 - - Liu Ch'üan and the melon ii. 351 689 - - Living Lictors of Purgatory, The i. 207 180 - - Loans ii. 171 501 - - Locusts ii. 242 579 - - Lohans ii. 321 666 - - Long Robes ii. 273 612 - - Lots, Drawing ii. 73 409 - - Love-matches i. 115 113 - - Lucifer Matches ii. 120 447 - - Lunatics ii. 30 378 - - Lü Tung-pin ii. 296 639 - - - 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. 292 633 - - Memorial tablet, Inking ii. 224 558 - - Mercy, The Goddess of i. 241 208 - - Messengers of good tidings ii. 252 589 - - Milky way, The i. 152 135 - - Miracles i. 396 323 - - "Mirror and Listen" trick ii. 251 588 - - Misappropriation of funds ii. 224 559 - - 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. 242 580 - - Murders i. 230 198 - - - Names, Family i. 92 93 - " Personal ii. 132 466 - - Night, Divisions of the i. 215 187 - - Nine grades of official life i. 388 313 - - Nunneries i. 262 221 - - - Oath of confederation ii. 146 482 - - Oblivion, Potion of ii. 207 544 - - Official corruption ii. 79 415 - " responsibility i. 232 199 - - Officials i. 237 202 - - Old age ii. 31 379 - - Olive, the sign of peace i. 324 256 - - - Paper men i. 49 71 - " money i. 391 317 - " " ii. 172 505 - - Pao Shu i. 166 143 - - Patra, The i. 395 320 - " " i. 246 211 - - Pawn-shops i. 198 173 - - Persia ii. 25 376 - - Phoenix Tower ii. 270 608 - - Physiognomy, Professors of ii. 290 630 - - Planchette ii. 295 638 - - Playing _wei-ch'i_ for money ii. 271 609 - - Poetical proficiency i. 33 62 - - Police system i. 221 191 - - Politeness ii. 203 536 - - Poor scholars i. 160 142 - - Pope of the Taoists i. 118 114 - - Porterage ii. 181 519 - - Posthumous Honours i. 305 241 - - Praying for good or bad weather ii. 294 637 - - Praying-mat ii. 183 521 - - Precedence at table i. 332 261 - - Predestination i. 48 69 - " i. 156 138 - - Primogeniture i. 203 179 - - Prisoners in China i. 372 299 - " " ii. 96 428 - " " ii. 261 597 - - P'u-hsien, God of Action ii. 232 569 - - Pulse, The i. 39 64 - - Punishments i. 381 306 - - Pupils taken by priests ii. 119 446 - - Purgatory, Capital of ii. 238 575 - - - Quail-fighting i. 75 85 - - Quail's Tail, A i. 209 183 - - - Rebel, The first ii. 52 392 - - Red-garment figure, The i. 19 50 - - Red-haired barbarians ii. 179 517 - - Relationship, Test of ii. 278 619 - - Religion and the drama i. 345 277 - - Resemblance between soul and body ii. 280 620 - - Retinues of mandarins i. 389 315 - " " ii. 174 510 - " " ii. 175 513 - - Returning invitations ii. 227 561 - - Revenge i. 310, 243, - 311 244 - " for adultery i. 62 81 - - Reward of filial piety i. 351 283 - - Rising when spoken to ii. 280 621 - - Roc, The ii. 341 680 - - Rosary, The Buddhist i. 369 295 - - Royal Mother, The ii. 187 525 - - Rulers of animal and vegetable kingdoms i. 292 235 - - Running water ii. 110 437 - - - Sacred edict, The i. 203 179 - - Sale of children i. 183 154 - " degrees ii. 170 499 - - Salt monopoly ii. 215 547 - - "Same-year men" i. 136 128 - - Saving life ii. 200 533 - " " ii. 214 546 - - Scribbling and carving names ii. 123 451 - - Sea-serpent, The ii. 113 441 - - Secret societies i. 196 170 - - Sections of Purgatory, The nine ii. 205 538 - - Senses, The five i. 259 220 - - Separation of sexes ii. 167 496 - - Shaking hands i. 287 233 - " " ii. 151 489 - - Sham entertainment i. 323 254 - - Shampooing ii. 53 393 - - "Shang-yang" brings rain ii. 131 464 - - "Shoes" of silver i. 148 133 - - Short weights ii. 325 670 - - Shun, The Emperor i. 37 63 - - Shun Chih, The Emperor ii. 184 522 - - 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. 47 390 - - Sons i. 64 82 - - Spirit calling i. 189 160 - " entering another's body ii. 24 375 - - Spirits, Disembodied i. 79 87 - " " i. 119 115 - " " i. 123 119 - " " i. 157 139 - - Spiritualistic _séances_ ii. 133 467 - - Sponge, A i. 248 213 - - Spring festival ii. 186 524 - - Squeezes i. 219 189 - - Staff of Buddhist priests, The i. 395 320 - - Stealing, Pardonable ii. 217 551 - - Strong rooms ii. 172 504 - - Styx, The ii. 216 548 - - Subscriptions ii. 220 556 - - Substantiality of ghosts i. 239 205 - " " ii. 236 574 - - Substitution theory i. 334 267 - - Suicide i. 311 244 - " Meritorious ii. 142 475 - - 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. 286 627 - - Taking life i. 79 88 - - Talking when born i. 243 210 - - Tao i. 14 46 - - Taot'ai ii. 229 562 - - Tartar general ii. 128 461 - - Temples, Repairs to ii. 127 460 - - Theatricals i. 218 188 - - Threshing-floors ii. 236 573 - - Thunder, God of i. 43 65 - " " ii. 112 440 - - Ting P'u-lang ii. 109 435 - - Titles of Nobility i. 305 241 - - Torture ii. 81 417 - " Supply of instruments of ii. 238 576 - - Tree worship ii. 72 408 - - 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. 287 629 - - - Ulysses, A Chinese i. 91 91 - - Ushnisha, The ii. 320 665 - - - Valuables in coffins i. 311 245 - - Verdict i. 56 78 - - Visiting the tutor ii. 126 458 - - Vital spots on the body ii. 356 693 - - - Wang Wei, The poet ii. 149 487 - - Washing-blocks ii. 315 656 - - Watchmen i. 51 72 - - Wedding-presents i. 28 57 - - Wei-ch'i ii. 268 604 - - Wên-shu, the God of Wisdom ii. 232 569 - - White Lily sect ii. 189 526 - - Widowers ii. 183 520 - - Widows ii. 39 385 - - Windows i. 61 79 - - Wine ii. 259, 595, - 260 596 - - Wine-cup upside down, Turning the i. 264 224 - - Wine taken hot ii. 144 477 - - Witnesses in a court of justice ii. 156 491 - - Women ride astride i. 354 286 - - Wooden fish, The ii. 195 529 - - Works of supererogation i. 426 346 - - Worldly-mindedness ii. 312 653 - - Wu Wang i. 278 228 - - - Yamên i. 2 38 - - Yang Ta-hung ii. 310 652 - - Yang-tsze, The ii. 176 514 - - 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. 164 495 - - - - -_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 printed in two volumes, of which this is a combination. - -Italic text is denoted by _underscores_. [)u] represents u breve. -In footnote 55, Greek letters are denoted by their English names. - -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 46, 'old' changed to 'odd' (presenting a very odd -appearance). - -Footnote 109, 'Marriages' changed to 'Marriage' (Marriage between persons -of the same surname is forbidden). - -Footnote 267, 'CVI' changed to 'CVII.' (later story (No. CVII.),). - -Footnote 427, 'excepting' changed to 'except' (except in the matter of -light). - -Footnote 447, 'of' added (first quarter of the present century). - -Footnote 479, 'denôuement' changed to 'dénouement' (important to the -_dénouement_ of the story). - -Footnote 495, 'dénoûement' changed to 'dénouement' (The _dénouement_ -of the _Yü-chiao-li_). - -Footnote 527, 'Ibu' changed to 'Ibn' (Ibn Batuta writes as follows). - -Footnote 679, 'LXVII.' changed to 'LXVIII.' (See No. LXVIII.). - -Page i-36, 'villanous' changed to 'villainous' (he writes a villainous -hand). - -Page i-86, 'dare' changed to 'dared' (nobody dared go near her). - -Page i-306, 'grottos' changed to 'grottoes' (from each of the holes or -grottoes on the stone). - -Page i-378, 'Shan' changed to 'Shan-hu' (Shan-hu held out her arms). - -Page i-408, 'watching' changed to 'watched' (watched the moon rising in -the east). - -Page i-411, 'bid' changed to 'bade' (Wang's father bade him hide). - -Page ii-19, 'of' added (a number of curious stones). - -Page ii-65, 'be' changed to 'he' (but he soon reflected). - -Page ii-145, 'sung' changed to 'sang' (whereupon he sang the following -lines). - -Page ii-198, 'he' changed to 'be' (that he would be only too happy). - -Page ii-208, 'according' changed to 'accordingly' (accordingly, when -the King was looking). - -Page ii-254, 'Ch'êng' changed to 'Ch'ên' (This frightened Ch'ên). - -Page ii-255, 'Ch'êng' changed to 'Ch'ên' (Ch'ên himself was a -cattle-farmer). - -Page ii-286, 'servants' changed to 'servant' (rode away, telling his -servant). - -Page ii-287, 'a Mr. Ts'ui' changed to 'Mr. Ts'ui' (who lived next door -to Mr. Ts'ui). - -Page ii-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 -(Volumes I and II), by Songling Pu - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STRANGE STORIES *** - -***** This file should be named 43629-8.txt or 43629-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/3/6/2/43629/ - -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) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, -set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to -copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to -protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project -Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you -charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you -do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the -rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose -such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and -research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do -practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is -subject to the trademark license, especially commercial -redistribution. - - - -*** START: FULL LICENSE *** - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project -Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at -http://gutenberg.org/license). - - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy -all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. -If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the -terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or -entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement -and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" -or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the -collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an -individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are -located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from -copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative -works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg -are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project -Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by -freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of -this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with -the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by -keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project -Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in -a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check -the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement -before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or -creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project -Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning -the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United -States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate -access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently -whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, -copied or distributed: - -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 - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived -from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is -posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied -and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees -or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work -with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the -work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 -through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the -Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or -1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional -terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked -to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the -permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any -word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or -distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than -"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version -posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), -you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a -copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon -request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other -form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided -that - -- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is - owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he - has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the - Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments - must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you - prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax - returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and - sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the - address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to - the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." - -- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or - destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium - and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of - Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any - money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days - of receipt of the work. - -- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set -forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from -both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael -Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the -Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm -collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain -"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or -corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual -property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a -computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by -your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with -your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with -the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a -refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity -providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to -receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy -is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further -opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER -WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO -WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. -If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the -law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be -interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by -the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any -provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance -with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, -promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, -harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, -that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do -or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm -work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any -Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. - - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers -including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists -because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from -people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. -To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation -and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 -and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. - - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive -Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at -http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent -permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. -Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered -throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at -809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email -business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact -information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official -page at http://pglaf.org - -For additional contact information: - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To -SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any -particular state visit http://pglaf.org - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. -To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate - - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm -concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared -with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project -Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. - - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. -unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily -keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. - - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: - - http://www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/43629-8.zip b/43629-8.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 03782d4..0000000 --- a/43629-8.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/43629-h/43629-h.htm b/43629-h/43629-h.htm index 6a9f1e8..7471529 100644 --- a/43629-h/43629-h.htm +++ b/43629-h/43629-h.htm @@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en"> <head> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8"/> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8"/> <title>Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio, by Herbert A. Giles—A Project Gutenberg eBook</title> @@ -724,48 +724,7 @@ abbr{ </head> <body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio -(Volumes I and II), 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 (Volumes I and II) - -Author: Songling Pu - -Translator: Herbert A. Giles - -Release Date: September 3, 2013 [EBook #43629] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STRANGE STORIES *** - - - - -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 43629 ***</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> @@ -31577,388 +31536,6 @@ to Mr. Ts‘ui).</p> hit her across the neck’.</p> </div> - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio -(Volumes I and II), by Songling Pu - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STRANGE STORIES *** - -***** This file should be named 43629-h.htm or 43629-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/3/6/2/43629/ - -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) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, -set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to -copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to -protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project -Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you -charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you -do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the -rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose -such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and -research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do -practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is -subject to the trademark license, especially commercial -redistribution. - - - -*** START: FULL LICENSE *** - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project -Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at -http://gutenberg.org/license). - - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy -all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. -If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the -terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or -entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement -and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" -or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the -collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an -individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are -located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from -copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative -works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg -are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project -Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by -freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of -this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with -the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by -keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project -Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in -a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check -the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement -before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or -creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project -Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning -the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United -States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate -access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently -whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, -copied or distributed: - -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 - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived -from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is -posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied -and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees -or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work -with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the -work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 -through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the -Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or -1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional -terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked -to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the -permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any -word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or -distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than -"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version -posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), -you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a -copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon -request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other -form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided -that - -- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is - owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he - has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the - Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments - must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you - prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax - returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and - sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the - address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to - the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." - -- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or - destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium - and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of - Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any - money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days - of receipt of the work. - -- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set -forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from -both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael -Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the -Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm -collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain -"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or -corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual -property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a -computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by -your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with -your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with -the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a -refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity -providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to -receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy -is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further -opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER -WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO -WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. -If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the -law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be -interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by -the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any -provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance -with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, -promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, -harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, -that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do -or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm -work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any -Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. - - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers -including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists -because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from -people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. -To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation -and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 -and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. - - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive -Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at -http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent -permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. -Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered -throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at -809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email -business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact -information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official -page at http://pglaf.org - -For additional contact information: - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To -SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any -particular state visit http://pglaf.org - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. -To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate - - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm -concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared -with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project -Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. - - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. -unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily -keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. - - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: - - http://www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. - - -</pre> - +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43629 ***</div> </body> </html> diff --git a/43629.txt b/43629.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 42b509c..0000000 --- a/43629.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,22670 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio -(Volumes I and II), 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 (Volumes I and II) - -Author: Songling Pu - -Translator: Herbert A. Giles - -Release Date: September 3, 2013 [EBook #43629] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STRANGE STORIES *** - - - - -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. I. - - LONDON: - THOS. DE LA RUE & CO. - 110, BUNHILL ROW. - - 1880. - - - - - PRINTED BY - THOMAS DE LA RUE AND CO., BUNHILL ROW, - LONDON. - - - - - TO MY WIFE AND OUR CHILDREN: - - _BERTRAM_, - - _LIONEL_, - - _VALENTINE_, - - _LANCELOT_. - - - - -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 - - - - -INTRODUCTION. - - -I.--PERSONAL.--The public has, perhaps, a right to be made acquainted -with the title under which I, an unknown writer, come forward as the -translator of a difficult Chinese work. In the spring of 1867 I began -the study of Chinese at H.B.M.'s Legation, Peking, under an implied -promise, in a despatch from the then Secretary of State for Foreign -Affairs, that successful efforts would be rewarded by proportionately -rapid advancement in the service of which I was a member. Then -followed a long novitiate of utterly uninteresting and, indeed, most -repellent labour,--inseparable, however, from the acquisition of this -language, which throughout its early stages demands more from sheer -memory than from the exercise of any other intellectual faculty. At -length, in the spring of 1877, while acting as Vice-Consul at Canton, -I commenced the translation of the work here offered to the English -reader. For such a task I had flattered myself into the belief that I -possessed two of the requisite qualifications: an accurate knowledge -of the grammatical structure of the language, and an extensive insight -into the manners, customs, superstitions, and general social life of -the Chinese. I had been variously stationed at Peking, Tientsin, -Takow, and Taiwan Fu (in Formosa), Ningpo, Hankow, Swatow, and Canton, -from the latter of which I was transferred--when my task was still -only half finished--to Amoy. I had travelled beyond the Great Wall -into Mongolia; and I had made the journey overland from Swatow to -Canton, a distance of five hundred miles; besides which, in addition -to my study of the language, my daily object in life had always been -to familiarise myself as much as possible with Chinese sympathies and -habits of thought. With these advantages, and by the interesting -nature of the subject-matter, I hoped to be able on the one hand to -arouse a somewhat deeper interest than is usually taken in the affairs -of China; and, on the other, to correct at any rate some of the -erroneous views, too frequently palmed off by inefficient and -disingenuous workers, and too readily accepted as fact. And I would -here draw attention to one most important point; namely, that although -a great number of books have been published about China and the -Chinese, there are extremely few in which the information is conveyed -at first hand; in other words, in which the Chinese are allowed to -speak for themselves.[1] Hence, perhaps, it may be that in an -accurately-compiled work such as Tylor's _Primitive Culture_, -allusions to the religious rites and ceremonies of nearly one-third of -the human race are condensed within the limits of barely a dozen short -passages. Hence, too, it undoubtedly is that many Chinese customs are -ridiculed and condemned by turns, simply because the medium through -which they have been conveyed has produced a distorted image. Much of -what the Chinese do actually believe and practise in their religious -and social life will be found in this volume, in the _ipsissima verba_ -of a highly-educated scholar writing about his fellow-countrymen and -his native land; while for the notes with which I have essayed to make -the picture more suggestive and more acceptable to the European eye, -I claim only so much authority as is due to the opinion of one -qualified observer who can have no possible motive in deviating ever -so slightly from what his own personal experience has taught him to -regard as the truth. - - -II.--BIOGRAPHICAL.--The barest skeleton of a biography is all that can -be formed from the very scanty materials which remain to mark the -career of a writer whose work has been for the best part of two -centuries as familiar throughout the length and breadth of China as -are the tales of the "Arabian Nights" in all English-speaking -communities. The author of "Strange Stories" was a native of Tzu-chou, -in the province of Shan-tung. His family name was P'u; his particular -name was Sung-ling; and the designation or literary epithet by which, -in accordance with Chinese usage, he was commonly known among his -friends, was Liu-hsien, or "Last of the Immortals." A further fancy -name, given to him probably by some enthusiastic admirer, was -Liu Ch'uean, or "Willow Spring;" but he is now familiarly spoken of -simply as P'u Sung-ling. We are unacquainted with the years of his -birth or death; however, by the aid of a meagre entry in the _History -of Tzue-chou_ it is possible to make a pretty good guess at the date -of the former event. For we are there told that P'u Sung-ling -successfully competed for the lowest or bachelor's degree before he -had reached the age of twenty; and that in 1651 he was in the position -of a graduate of ten years' standing, having failed in the interim to -take the second, or master's, degree. To this failure, due, as we are -informed in the history above quoted, to his neglect of the beaten -track of academic study, we owe the existence of his great work; not, -indeed, his only production, though the one _par excellence_ by which, -as Confucius said of his own "Spring and Autumn," men will know him. -All else that we have on record of P'u Sung-ling, besides the fact -that he lived in close companionship with several eminent scholars of -the day, is gathered from his own words, written when, in 1679, he -laid down his pen upon the completion of a task which was to raise him -within a short period to a foremost rank in the Chinese world of -letters. Of that record I here append a close translation, accompanied -by such notes as are absolutely necessary to make it intelligible to -non-students of Chinese. - -AUTHOR'S OWN RECORD. - - "'Clad in wistaria, girdled with ivy;'[2] thus sang San-lue[3] in - his _Dissipation of Grief_.[4] Of ox-headed devils and serpent - Gods,[5] he of the long-nails[6] never wearied to tell. Each - interprets in his own way the music of heaven;[7] and whether it - be discord or not, depends upon antecedent causes.[8] As for me, I - cannot, with my poor autumn fire-fly's light, match myself against - the hobgoblins of the age.[9] I am but the dust in the sunbeam, a - fit laughing-stock for devils.[10] For my talents are not those of - Yue Pao,[11] elegant explorer of the records of the Gods; I am - rather animated by the Spirit of Su Tung-p'o,[12] who loved to - hear men speak of the supernatural. I get people to commit what - they tell me to writing, and subsequently I dress it up in the - form of a story; and thus in the lapse of time my friends from all - quarters have supplied me with quantities of material, which, from - my habit of collecting, has grown into a vast pile.[13] - - "Human beings, I would point out, are not beyond the pale of fixed - laws, and yet there are more remarkable phenomena in their midst - than in the country of those who crop their hair;[14] antiquity is - unrolled before us, and many tales are to be found therein - stranger than that of the nation of Flying Heads.[15] - 'Irrepressible bursts, and luxurious ease,'[16]--such was always - his enthusiastic strain. 'For ever indulging in liberal - thought,'[17]--thus he spoke openly without restraint. Were men - like these to open my book, I should be a laughing-stock to them - indeed. At the cross-roads[18] men will not listen to me, and yet - I have some knowledge of the three states of existence[19] spoken - of beneath the cliff;[20] neither should the words I utter be set - aside because of him that utters them.[21] When the bow[22] was - hung at my father's door, he dreamed that a sickly-looking - Buddhist priest, but half-covered by his stole, entered the - chamber. On one of his breasts was a round piece of plaster like - a _cash_;[23] and my father, waking from sleep, found that I, just - born, had a similar black patch on my body. As a child, I was thin - and constantly ailing, and unable to hold my own in the battle of - life. Our home was chill and desolate as a monastery; and working - there for my livelihood with my pen,[24] I was as poor as a priest - with his alms-bowl.[25] Often and often I put my hand to my - head[26] and exclaimed, 'Surely he who sat with his face to the - wall[27] was myself in a previous state of existence;' and thus I - referred my non-success in this life to the influence of a destiny - surviving from the last. I have been tossed hither and thither in - the direction of the ruling wind, like a flower falling in filthy - places; but the six paths[28] of transmigration are inscrutable - indeed, and I have no right to complain. As it is, midnight finds - me with an expiring lamp, while the wind whistles mournfully - without; and over my cheerless table I piece together my - tales,[29] vainly hoping to produce a sequel to the _Infernal - Regions_.[30] With a bumper I stimulate my pen, yet I only succeed - thereby in 'venting my excited feelings,'[31] and as I thus commit - my thoughts to writing, truly I am an object worthy of - commiseration. Alas! I am but the bird that, dreading the winter - frost, finds no shelter in the tree: the autumn insect that chirps - to the moon, and hugs the door for warmth. For where are they who - know me?[32] They are 'in the bosky grove, and at the frontier - pass'[33]--wrapped in an impenetrable gloom!" - -From the above curious document the reader will gain some insight into -the abstruse, but at the same time marvellously beautiful, style of -this gifted writer. The whole essay--for such it is, and among the -most perfect of its kind--is intended chiefly as a satire upon the -scholarship of the age; scholarship which had turned the author back -to the disappointment of a private life, himself conscious all the -time of the inward fire that had been lent him by heaven. It is the -key-note to his own subsequent career, spent in the retirement of -home, in the society of books and friends; as also to the numerous -uncomplimentary allusions which occur in all his stories relating to -official life. Whether or not the world at large has been a gainer by -this instance of the fallibility of competitive examinations has been -already decided in the affirmative by the millions of P'u Sung-ling's -own countrymen, who for the past two hundred years have more than made -up to him by a posthumous and enduring reverence for the loss of those -earthly and ephemeral honours which he seems to have coveted so much. - - -III.--BIBLIOGRAPHICAL.--_Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio_, known -to the Chinese as the _Liao-Chai-Chih-I_, or more familiarly, the -_Liao-Chai_, has hardly been mentioned by a single foreigner without -some inaccuracy on the part of the writer concerned. For instance, the -late Mr. Mayers states in his _Chinese Reader's Manual_, p. 176, that -this work was composed "circa A.D. 1710," the fact being that the -collection was actually completed in 1679, as we know by the date -attached to the "Author's Own Record" given above. It is consequently -two centuries, almost to the day, since the first appearance of a book -destined to a popularity which the lapse of time seems wholly unable -to diminish; and the present may fairly be considered a fitting epoch -for its first presentation to the English reader in an English dress. -I should mention, however, that the _Liao-Chai_ was originally, and -for many years, circulated in manuscript only. P'u Sung-ling, as we -are told in a colophon by his grandson to the first edition, was too -poor to meet the heavy expense of block-cutting; and it was not until -as late as 1740, when the author must have been already for some time -a denizen of the dark land he so much loved to describe, that his -aforesaid grandson printed and published the collection now so -universally famous. Since then many editions have been laid before the -Chinese public, the best of which is that by Tan Ming-lun, a Salt -Commissioner, who flourished during the reign of Tao Kuang, and who in -1842 produced, at his own expense, an excellent edition in sixteen -small octavo volumes of about 160 pages each. And as various editions -will occasionally be found to contain various readings, I would here -warn students of Chinese who wish to compare my rendering with the -text, that it is from the edition of Tan Ming-lun, collated with that -of Yue Chi, published in 1766, that this translation has been made. -Many have been the commentaries and disquisitions upon the meaning of -obscure passages and the general scope of this work; to say nothing of -the prefaces with which the several editions have been ushered into -the world. Of the latter, I have selected one specimen, from which the -reader will be able to form a tolerably accurate opinion as to the -true nature of these always singular and usually difficult -compositions. Here it is:-- - -T'ANG MENG LAI'S PREFACE. - - "The common saying, 'He regards a camel as a horse with a swelled - back,' trivial of itself, may be used in illustration of greater - matters. Men are wont to attribute an existence only to such - things as they daily see with their own eyes, and they marvel at - whatsoever, appearing before them at one instant, vanishes at the - next. And yet it is not at the sprouting and falling of foliage, - or at the metamorphosis of insects that they marvel, but only at - the manifestations of the supernatural world; though of a truth, - the whistling of the wind and the movement of streams, with - nothing to set the one in motion or give sound to the other, might - well be ranked among extraordinary phenomena. We are accustomed to - these, and therefore do not note them. We marvel at devils and - foxes: we do not marvel at man. But who is it that causes a man to - move and to speak?--to which question comes the ready answer of - each individual so questioned, '_I_ do.' This 'I do,' however, is - merely a personal consciousness of the facts under discussion. - For a man can see with his eyes, but he cannot see what it is that - makes him see; he can hear with his ears, but he cannot hear what - it is that makes him hear; how, then, is it possible for him to - understand the rationale of things he can neither see nor hear. - Whatever has come within the bounds of their own ocular or - auricular experience men regard as proved to be actually existing; - and only such things.[34] But this term 'experience' may be - understood in various senses. For instance, people speak of - something which has certain attributes as _form_, and of something - else which has certain other attributes as _substance_; ignorant - as they are that form and substance are to be found existing - without those particular attributes. Things which are thus - constituted are inappreciable, indeed, by our ears and eyes; but - we cannot argue that therefore they do not exist. Some persons can - see a mosquito's eye, while to others even a mountain is - invisible; some can hear the sound of ants battling together, - while others again fail to catch the roar of a thunder-peal. - Powers of seeing and hearing vary; there should be no reckless - imputations of blindness. According to the schoolmen, man at his - death is dispersed like wind or fire, the origin and end of his - vitality being alike unknown; and as those who have seen strange - phenomena are few, the number of those who marvel at them is - proportionately great, and the 'horse with a swelled back' - parallel is very widely applicable. And ever quoting the fact that - Confucius would have nothing to say on these topics, these - schoolmen half discredit such works as the _Ch'i-chieh-chih-kuai_ - and the _Yue-ch'u-chi-i_,[35] ignorant that the Sage's - unwillingness to speak had reference only to persons of an - inferior mental calibre; for his own _Spring and Autumn_ can - hardly be said to be devoid of all allusions of the kind. Now P'u - Liu-hsien devoted himself in his youth to the marvellous, and as - he grew older was specially remarkable for his comprehension - thereof; and being moreover a most elegant writer, he occupied his - leisure in recording whatever came to his knowledge of a - particularly marvellous nature. A volume of these compositions of - his formerly fell into my hands, and was constantly borrowed by - friends; now, I have another volume, and of what I read only about - three-tenths was known to me before. What there is, should be - sufficient to open the eyes of those schoolmen, though I much fear - it will be like talking of ice to a butterfly. Personally, I - disbelieve in the irregularity of natural phenomena, and regard as - evil spirits only those who injure their neighbours. For eclipses, - falling stars, the flight of herons, the nest of a mina, talking - stones, and the combats of dragons, can hardly be classed as - irregular; while the phenomena of nature occurring out of season, - wars, rebellions, and so forth, may certainly be relegated to the - category of evil. In my opinion the morality of P'u Liu-hsien's - work is of a very high standard, its object being distinctly to - glorify virtue and to censure vice, and as a book calculated to - elevate mankind may be safely placed side by side with the - philosophical treatises of Yang Hsiung which Huan Tan declared to - be so worthy of a wide circulation." - -With regard to the meaning of the Chinese words _Liao-Chai-Chih-I_, -this title has received indifferent treatment at the hands of -different writers. Dr. Williams chose to render it by "Pastimes of the -Study," and Mr. Mayers by "The Record of Marvels, or Tales of the -Genii;" neither of which is sufficiently near to be regarded in the -light of a translation. Taken literally and in order, these words -stand for "Liao--library--record--strange," "Liao" being simply a -fanciful name given by our author to his private library or studio. An -apocryphal anecdote traces the origin of this selection to a remark -once made by himself with reference to his failure for the second -degree. "Alas!" he is reported to have said, "I shall now have no -resource (_Liao_) for my old age;" and accordingly he so named his -study, meaning that in his pen he would seek that resource which fate -had denied to him as an official. For this untranslatable "Liao" I -have ventured to substitute "Chinese," as indicating more clearly the -nature of what is to follow. No such title as "Tales of the Genii" -fully expresses the scope of this work, which embraces alike weird -stories of Taoist devilry and magic, marvellous accounts of impossible -countries beyond the sea, simple scenes of Chinese every-day life, and -notices of extraordinary natural phenomena. Indeed, the author once -had it in contemplation to publish only the more imaginative of the -tales in the present collection under the title of "Devil and Fox -Stories;" but from this scheme he was ultimately dissuaded by his -friends, the result being the heterogeneous mass which is more aptly -described by the title I have given to this volume. In a similar -manner, I too had originally determined to publish a full and complete -translation of the whole of these sixteen volumes; but on a closer -acquaintance many of the stories turned out to be quite unsuitable for -the age in which we live, forcibly recalling the coarseness of our own -writers of fiction in the last century. Others again were utterly -pointless, or mere repetitions in a slightly altered form. Of the -whole, I therefore selected one hundred and sixty-four of the best and -most characteristic stories, of which eight had previously been -published by Mr. Allen in the _China Review_, one by Mr. Mayers in -_Notes and Queries on China and Japan_, two by myself in the columns -of the _Celestial Empire_, and four by Dr. Williams in a now forgotten -handbook of Chinese. The remaining one hundred and forty-nine have -never before, to my knowledge, been translated into English. To those, -however, who can enjoy the _Liao-Chai_ in the original text, the -distinctions between the various stories of felicity in plot, -originality, and so on, are far less sharply defined, so impressed as -each competent reader must be by the incomparable style in which even -the meanest is arrayed. For in this respect, as important now in -Chinese eyes as it was with ourselves in days not long gone by, the -author of the _Liao-Chai_ and the rejected candidate succeeded in -founding a school of his own, in which he has since been followed by -hosts of servile imitators with more or less success. Terseness is -pushed to its extreme limits; each particle that can be safely -dispensed with is scrupulously eliminated; and every here and there -some new and original combination invests perhaps a single word with a -force it could never have possessed except under the hands of a -perfect master of his art. Add to the above, copious allusions and -adaptations from a course of reading which would seem to have been -co-extensive with the whole range of Chinese literature, a wealth of -metaphor and an artistic use of figures generally to which only the -_chef-d'oeuvres_ of Carlyle form an adequate parallel; and the result -is a work which for purity and beauty of style is now universally -accepted in China as the best and most perfect model. Sometimes the -story runs along plainly and smoothly enough; but the next moment we -may be plunged into pages of abstruse text, the meaning of which is so -involved in quotations from and allusions to the poetry or history of -the past three thousand years as to be recoverable only after diligent -perusal of the commentary and much searching in other works of -reference. In illustration of the popularity of this book, Mr. Mayers -once stated that "the porter at his gate, the boatman at his mid-day -rest, the chair-coolie at his stand, no less than the man of letters -among his books, may be seen poring with delight over the -elegantly-narrated marvels of the _Liao-Chai_;" but he would doubtless -have withdrawn this judgment in later years, with the work lying open -before him. Ever since I have been in China, I have made a point of -never, when feasible, passing by a reading Chinaman without asking -permission to glance at the volume in his hand; and at my various -stations in China I have always kept up a borrowing acquaintance with -the libraries of my private or official servants; but I can safely -affirm that I have not once detected the _Liao-Chai_ in the hands of -an ill-educated man. Mr. Mayers made, perhaps, a happier hit when he -observed that "fairy-tales told in the style of the _Anatomy of -Melancholy_ would scarcely be a popular book in Great Britain;" though -except in some particular points of contact, the styles of these two -writers could scarcely claim even the most distant of relationships. - -Such, then, is the setting of this collection of _Strange Stories from -a Chinese Studio_, many of which contain, in addition to the -advantages of style and plot, a very excellent moral. The intention of -most of them is, in the actual words of T'ang Meng-lai, "to glorify -virtue and to censure vice,"--always, it must be borne in mind, -according to the Chinese and not to a European interpretation of these -terms. As an addition to our knowledge of the folk-lore of China, and -as an _apercu_ of the manners, customs, and social life of that vast -Empire, my translation of the _Liao-Chai_ may not be wholly devoid of -interest. The amusement and instruction I have myself derived from the -task thus voluntarily imposed has already more than repaid me for the -pains I have been at to put this work before the English public in a -pleasing and available form. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[1] "How can a statement as to customs, myths, beliefs, &c., of a -savage tribe, be treated as evidence, where it depends on the -testimony of some traveller or missionary, who may be a superficial -observer, more or less ignorant of the native language, a careless -retailer of unsifted talk, a man prejudiced or even wilfully -deceitful?"--TYLOR'S _Primitive Culture_, Vol. I., p. 9. - -[2] Said of the bogies of the hills, in allusion to their _clothes_. -Here quoted with reference to the official classes, in ridicule of the -title under which they hold posts which, from a literary point of -view, they are totally unfit to occupy. - -[3] A celebrated statesman (B.C. 314) who, having lost his master's -favour by the intrigues of a rival, finally drowned himself in -despair. The Annual Dragon Festival is said by some to be a "search" -for his body. - -[4] A poem addressed by San-lue to his Prince, after his disgrace. Its -non-success was the immediate cause of his death. - -[5] That is, of the supernatural generally. - -[6] A poet of the T'ang Dynasty whose eyebrows met, whose nails were -very long, and who could write very fast. - -[7] "You know the music of earth," said the Taoist sage, Chuang-tz[)u]; -"but you have not heard the music of heaven." - -[8] That is, to the operation of some influence surviving from a -previous existence. - -[9] This is another hit at the ruling classes. Chi K'ang, a celebrated -musician and alchemist (A.D. 223-262), was sitting one night alone, -playing upon his lute, when suddenly a man with a tiny face walked in, -and began to stare hard at him, the stranger's face enlarging all the -time. "I'm not going to match myself against a devil!" cried the -musician, after a few moments, and instantly blew out the light. - -[10] When Liu Chuean, Governor of Wu-ling, determined to relieve his -poverty by trade, he saw a devil standing by his side, laughing and -rubbing his hands for glee. "Poverty and wealth are matters of -destiny," said Liu Chuean; "But to be laughed at by a devil----," and -accordingly he desisted from his intention. - -[11] A writer who flourished in the early part of the fourth century, -and composed a work in thirty books entitled _Supernatural -Researches_. - -[12] The famous poet, statesman, and essayist, who flourished A.D. -1036-1101. - -[13] "And his friends had the habit of jotting down for his unfailing -delight anything quaint or comic that they came across."--_The World_ -on Charles Dickens: 24th July 1878. - -[14] It is related in the _Historical Record_ that when T'ai Po and Yue -Chung visited the southern savages they saw men with tattooed bodies -and short hair. - -[15] A fabulous community, placed by geographers to the west of the -Dragon city--wherever that may be. So called because the heads of the -men are in the habit of leaving their bodies, and flying down to -marshy places to feed on worms and crabs. A red ring is seen the night -before the flight encircling the neck of the man whose head is about -to fly. At daylight the head returns. - -[16] A quotation from the admired works of Wang Po, a brilliant -scholar and poet, who was drowned at the early age of twenty-eight, -A.D. 675. - -[17] I have hitherto failed in all attempts to identify this -quotation. - -[18] The cross-road of the "Five Fathers" is here mentioned, which the -commentator tells us is merely the name of the place. - -[19] The past, present, and future life, of the Buddhist system of -metempsychosis. - -[20] A certain man, who was staying at a temple, dreamt that an old -priest appeared to him beneath a jade-stone cliff, and, pointing to a -stick of burning incense, said to him, "That incense represents a vow -to be fulfilled; but I say unto you, that ere its smoke shall have -curled away, your three states of existence will have been already -accomplished." The meaning is that time on earth is as nothing to the -Gods. - -[21] This remark occurs in the fifteenth of the Confucian Gospels, -section 22. - -[22] The birth of a boy was formerly signalled by hanging a bow at the -door; that of a girl, by displaying a small towel--indicative of the -parts that each would hereafter play in the drama of life. - -[23] See note 42 to No. II. - -[24] Literally, "ploughing with my pen." - -[25] The _patra_ or bowl, used by Buddhist mendicants, in imitation of -the celebrated alms-dish of Shakyamuni Buddha. - -[26] Literally, "scratched my head," as is often done by the Chinese -in perplexity or doubt. - -[27] Alluding to the priest Dharma-nandi, who came from India to -China, and tried to convert the Emperor Wu Ti of the Liang Dynasty; -but, failing in his attempt, he retired full of mortification to a -temple at Sung-shan, where he sat for nine years before a rock, until -his own image was imprinted thereon. - -[28] The six _gati_ or conditions of existence, namely: angels, men, -demons, hungry devils, brute beasts, and tortured sinners. - -[29] Literally, "putting together the pieces under the forelegs (of -foxes) to make robes." This part of the fox-skin is the most valuable -for making fur clothes. - -[30] The work of a well-known writer, named Lin I-ch'ing, who -flourished during the Sung Dynasty. - -[31] Alluding to an essay by Han Fei, a philosopher of the third -century B.C., in which he laments the iniquity of the age in general, -and the corruption of officials in particular. He finally committed -suicide in prison, where he had been cast by the intrigues of a rival -minister. - -[32] Confucius (_Gospel_ xiv., sec. 37) said, "Alas! there is no one -who knows me (to be what I am)." - -[33] The great poet Tu Fu (A.D. 712-770) dreamt that his greater -predecessor, Li T'ai-po (A.D. 699-762) appeared to him, "coming when -the maple-grove was in darkness, and returning while the frontier-pass -was still obscured;"--that is, at night, when no one could see him; -the meaning being that he never came at all, and that those "who know -me (P'u Sung-ling)" are equally non-existent. - -[34] "Thus, since countless things exist that the senses _can_ take -account of, it is evident that nothing exists that the senses can -_not_ take account of."--The "Professor" in W. H. Mallock's _New Paul -and Virginia_. - -This passage recalls another curious classification by the great -Chinese philosopher Han Wen-kung. "There are some things which possess -form but are devoid of sound, as for instance jade and stones; others -have sound but are without form, such as wind and thunder; others -again have both form and sound, such as men and animals; and lastly, -there is a class devoid of both, namely, _devils and spirits_." - -[35] I have never seen any of these works, but I believe they treat, -as implied by their titles, chiefly of the supernatural world. - - - - -STRANGE STORIES - -FROM A - -CHINESE STUDIO. - - - - -I. - -EXAMINATION FOR THE POST OF GUARDIAN ANGEL.[36] - - -My eldest sister's husband's grandfather, named Sung Tao, was a -graduate.[37] One day, while lying down from indisposition, an -official messenger arrived, bringing the usual notification in his -hand and leading a horse with a white forehead, to summon him to the -examination for his master's degree. Mr. Sung here remarked that the -Grand Examiner had not yet come, and asked why there should be this -hurry. The messenger did not reply to this, but pressed so earnestly -that at length Mr. Sung roused himself, and getting upon the horse -rode with him. The way seemed strange, and by-and-by they reached a -city which resembled the capital of a prince. They then entered the -Prefect's _yamen_,[38] the apartments of which were beautifully -decorated; and there they found some ten officials sitting at the -upper end, all strangers to Mr. Sung, with the exception of one whom -he recognised to be the God of War.[39] In the verandah were two -tables and two stools, and at the end of one of the former a candidate -was already seated, so Mr. Sung sat down alongside of him. On the -table were writing materials for each, and suddenly down flew a piece -of paper with a theme on it, consisting of the following eight -words:--"One man, two men; by intention, without intention." When Mr. -Sung had finished his essay, he took it into the hall. It contained -the following passage: "Those who are virtuous by intention, though -virtuous, shall not be rewarded. Those who are wicked without -intention, though wicked, shall receive no punishment." The presiding -deities praised this sentiment very much, and calling Mr. Sung to come -forward, said to him, "A Guardian Angel is wanted in Honan. Go you and -take up the appointment." Mr. Sung no sooner heard this than he bowed -his head and wept, saying, "Unworthy though I am of the honour you -have conferred upon me, I should not venture to decline it but that my -aged mother has reached her seventh decade, and there is no one now to -take care of her. I pray you let me wait until she has fulfilled her -destiny, when I will hold myself at your disposal." Thereupon one of -the deities, who seemed to be the chief, gave instructions to search -out his mother's term of life, and a long-bearded attendant forthwith -brought in the Book of Fate. On turning it over, he declared that she -still had nine years to live; and then a consultation was held among -the deities, in the middle of which the God of War said, "Very well. -Let Mr. graduate Chang take the post, and be relieved in nine years' -time." Then, turning to Mr. Sung, he continued, "You ought to proceed -without delay to your post; but as a reward for your filial piety, you -are granted a furlough of nine years. At the expiration of that time -you will receive another summons." He next addressed a few kind words -to Mr. Chang; and the two candidates, having made their _kotow_, went -away together. Grasping Mr. Sung's hand, his companion, who gave -"Chang Ch'i of Ch'ang-shan" as his name and address, accompanied him -beyond the city walls and gave him a stanza of poetry at parting. I -cannot recollect it all, but in it occurred this couplet:-- - - "With wine and flowers we chase the hours, - In one eternal spring: - No moon, no light, to cheer the night-- - Thyself that ray must bring." - -Mr. Sung here left him and rode on, and before very long reached his -own home; here he awaked as if from a dream, and found that he had -been dead three days,[40] when his mother, hearing a groan in the -coffin, ran to it and helped him out. It was some time before he could -speak, and then he at once inquired about Ch'ang-shan, where, as it -turned out, a graduate named Chang had died that very day. - -Nine years afterwards, Mr. Sung's mother, in accordance with fate, -passed from this life; and when the funeral obsequies were over, her -son, having first purified himself, entered into his chamber and died -also. Now his wife's family lived within the city, near the western -gate; and all of a sudden they beheld Mr. Sung, accompanied by -numerous chariots and horses with carved trappings and red-tasselled -bits, enter into the hall, make an obeisance, and depart. They were -very much disconcerted at this, not knowing that he had become a -spirit, and rushed out into the village to make inquiries, when they -heard he was already dead. Mr. Sung had an account of his adventure -written by himself; but unfortunately after the insurrection it was -not to be found. This is only an outline of the story. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[36] The tutelar deity of every Chinese city. - -[37] That is, he had taken the first or bachelor's degree. I shall not -hesitate to use strictly English equivalents for all kinds of Chinese -terms. The three degrees are literally, (1) Cultivated Talent, (2) -Raised Man, and (3) Promoted Scholar. - -[38] The official residence of a mandarin above a certain rank. - -[39] The Chinese Mars. A celebrated warrior, named Kuan Yue, who lived -about the beginning of the third century of our era. He was raised -after death to the rank of a God, and now plays a leading part in the -Chinese Pantheon. - -[40] Catalepsy, which is the explanation of many a story in this -collection, would appear to be of very common occurrence amongst the -Chinese. Such, however, is not the case; in which statement I am borne -out by my friend, Dr. Manson, of Amoy, who, after many years' practice -among the natives of that port, and also of Formosa, informs me that -he has never even heard of a single instance of this strange -complaint. - - - - -II. - -THE TALKING PUPILS. - - -At Ch'ang-ngan there lived a scholar, named Fang Tung, who though by -no means destitute of ability was a very unprincipled rake, and in the -habit of following and speaking to any woman he might chance to meet. -The day before the spring festival of Clear Weather,[41] he was -strolling about outside the city when he saw a small carriage with red -curtains and an embroidered awning, followed by a crowd of -waiting-maids on horseback, one of whom was exceedingly pretty, and -riding on a small palfrey. Going closer to get a better view, Mr. Fang -noticed that the carriage curtain was partly open, and inside he -beheld a beautifully dressed girl of about sixteen, lovely beyond -anything he had ever seen. Dazzled by the sight, he could not take his -eyes off her; and, now before, now behind, he followed the carriage -for many a mile. By-and-by he heard the young lady call out to her -maid, and, when the latter came alongside, say to her, "Let down the -screen for me. Who is this rude fellow that keeps on staring so?" The -maid accordingly let down the screen, and looking angrily at Mr. Fang, -said to him, "This is the bride of the Seventh Prince in the City of -Immortals going home to see her parents, and no village girl that you -should stare at her thus." Then taking a handful of dust, she threw it -at him and blinded him. He rubbed his eyes and looked round, but the -carriage and horses were gone. This frightened him, and he went off -home, feeling very uncomfortable about the eyes. He sent for a doctor -to examine his eyes, and on the pupils was found a small film, which -had increased by next morning, the eyes watering incessantly all the -time. The film went on growing, and in a few days was as thick as a -cash.[42] On the right pupil there came a kind of spiral, and as no -medicine was of any avail, the sufferer gave himself up to grief and -wished for death. He then bethought himself of repenting of his -misdeeds, and hearing that the _Kuang-ming_ sutra could relieve -misery, he got a copy and hired a man to teach it to him. At first it -was very tedious work, but by degrees he became more composed, and -spent every evening in a posture of devotion, telling his beads. At -the end of a year he had arrived at a state of perfect calm, when one -day he heard a small voice, about as loud as a fly's, calling out from -his left eye:--"It's horridly dark in here." To this he heard a reply -from the right eye, saying, "Let us go out for a stroll, and cheer -ourselves up a bit." Then he felt a wriggling in his nose which made -it itch, just as if something was going out of each of the nostrils; -and after a while he felt it again as if going the other way. -Afterwards he heard a voice from one eye say, "I hadn't seen the -garden for a long time: the epidendrums are all withered and dead." -Now Mr. Fang was very fond of these epidendrums, of which he had -planted a great number, and had been accustomed to water them himself; -but since the loss of his sight he had never even alluded to them. -Hearing, however, these words, he at once asked his wife why she had -let the epidendrums die. She inquired how he knew they were dead, and -when he told her she went out to see, and found them actually withered -away. They were both very much astonished at this, and his wife -proceeded to conceal herself in the room. She then observed two tiny -people, no bigger than a bean, come down from her husband's nose and -run out of the door, where she lost sight of them. In a little while -they came back and flew up to his face, like bees or beetles seeking -their nests. This went on for some days, until Mr. Fang heard from the -left eye, "This roundabout road is not at all convenient. It would be -as well for us to make a door." To this the right eye answered, "My -wall is too thick; it wouldn't be at all an easy job." "I'll try and -open mine," said the left eye, "and then it will do for both of us." -Whereupon Mr. Fang felt a pain in his left eye as if something was -being split, and in a moment he found he could see the tables and -chairs in the room. He was delighted at this and told his wife, who -examined his eye and discovered an opening in the film, through which -she could see the black pupil shining out beneath, the eyeball itself -looking like a cracked pepper-corn. By next morning the film had -disappeared, and when his eye was closely examined it was observed to -contain two pupils. The spiral on the right eye remained as before; -and then they knew that the two pupils had taken up their abode in one -eye. Further, although Mr. Fang was still blind of one eye, the sight -of the other was better than that of the two together. From this time -he was more careful of his behaviour, and acquired in his part of the -country the reputation of a virtuous man.[43] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[41] One of the twenty-four solar terms. It falls on or about the 5th -of April, and is the special time for worshipping at the family tombs. - -[42] The common European name for the only Chinese coin, about twenty -of which go to a penny. Each has a square hole in the middle, for the -convenience of stringing them together; hence the expression "strings -of cash." - -[43] The belief that the human eye contains a tiny being of the human -shape is universal in China. It originated, of course, from the -reflection of oneself that is seen on looking into the pupil of -anybody's eye, or even, with the aid of a mirror, into one's own. - - - - -III. - -THE PAINTED WALL. - - -A Kiang-si gentleman, named Meng Lung-t'an, was lodging at the capital -with a Mr. Chu, M.A., when one day chance led them to a certain -monastery, within which they found no spacious halls or meditation -chambers, but only an old priest in _deshabille_. On observing the -visitors, he arranged his dress and went forward to meet them, leading -them round and showing whatever there was to be seen. In the chapel -they saw an image of Chih Kung, and the walls on either side were -beautifully painted with life-like representations of men and things. -On the east side were pictured a number of fairies, among whom was a -young girl whose maiden tresses were not yet confined by the matron's -knot. She was picking flowers and gently smiling, while her cherry -lips seemed about to move, and the moisture of her eyes to overflow. -Mr. Chu gazed at her for a long time without taking his eyes off, -until at last he became unconscious of anything but the thoughts that -were engrossing him. Then, suddenly, he felt himself floating in the -air, as if riding on a cloud, and found himself passing through the -wall,[44] where halls and pavilions stretched away one after another, -unlike the abodes of mortals. Here an old priest was preaching the Law -of Buddha, surrounded by a large crowd of listeners. Mr. Chu mingled -with the throng, and after a few moments perceived a gentle tug at his -sleeve. Turning round, he saw the young girl above-mentioned, who -walked laughing away. Mr. Chu at once followed her, and passing a -winding balustrade arrived at a small apartment beyond which he dared -not venture further. But the young lady, looking back, waved the -flowers she had in her hand as though beckoning him to come on. He -accordingly entered and found nobody else within. Then they fell on -their knees and worshipped heaven and earth together,[45] and rose up -as man and wife, after which the bride went away, bidding Mr. Chu keep -quiet until she came back. This went on for a couple of days, when the -young lady's companions began to smell a rat and discovered Mr. Chu's -hiding-place. Thereupon they all laughed and said, "My dear, you are -now a married woman, and should leave off that maidenly _coiffure_." -So they gave her the proper hair-pins and head ornaments, and bade her -go bind her hair, at which she blushed very much but said nothing. -Then one of them cried out, "My sisters, let us be off. Two's -company, more's none." At this they all giggled again and went away. - -Mr. Chu found his wife very much improved by the alteration in the -style of her hair. The high top-knot and the coronet of pendants were -very becoming to her. But suddenly they heard a sound like the -tramping of heavy-soled boots, accompanied by the clanking of chains -and the noise of angry discussion. The bride jumped up in a fright, -and she and Mr. Chu peeped out. They saw a man clad in golden armour, -with a face as black as jet, carrying in his hand chains and whips, -and surrounded by all the girls. He asked, "Are you all here?" "All," -they replied. "If," said he, "any mortal is here concealed amongst -you, denounce him at once, and lay not up sorrow for yourselves." Here -they all answered as before that there was no one. The man then made a -movement as if he would search the place, upon which the bride was -dreadfully alarmed, and her face turned the colour of ashes. In her -terror she said to Mr. Chu, "Hide yourself under the bed," and opening -a small lattice in the wall, disappeared herself. Mr. Chu in his -concealment hardly dared to draw his breath; and in a little while he -heard the boots tramp into the room and out again, the sound of the -voices getting gradually fainter and fainter in the distance. This -reassured him, but he still heard the voices of people going backwards -and forwards outside; and having been a long time in a cramped -position, his ears began to sing as if there was a locust in them, -and his eyes to burn like fire. It was almost unbearable; however, he -remained quietly awaiting the return of the young lady without giving -a thought to the why and wherefore of his present position. - -Meanwhile, Meng Lung-t'an had noticed the sudden disappearance of his -friend, and thinking something was wrong, asked the priest where he -was. "He has gone to hear the preaching of the Law," replied the -priest. "Where?" said Mr. Meng. "Oh, not very far," was the answer. -Then with his finger the old priest tapped the wall and called out, -"Friend Chu! what makes you stay away so long?" At this, the likeness -of Mr. Chu was figured upon the wall, with his ear inclined in the -attitude of one listening. The priest added, "Your friend here has -been waiting for you some time;" and immediately Mr. Chu descended -from the wall, standing transfixed like a block of wood, with starting -eyeballs and trembling legs. Mr. Meng was much terrified, and asked -him quietly what was the matter. Now the matter was that while -concealed under the bed he had heard a noise resembling thunder and -had rushed out to see what it was. - -Here they all noticed that the young lady on the wall with the -maiden's tresses had changed the style of her _coiffure_ to that of a -married woman. Mr. Chu was greatly astonished at this and asked the -old priest the reason. - -He replied, "Visions have their origin in those who see them: what -explanation can I give?" This answer was very unsatisfactory to Mr. -Chu; neither did his friend, who was rather frightened, know what to -make of it all; so they descended the temple steps and went away. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[44] Which will doubtless remind the reader of _Alice through the -Looking-glass, and what she saw there_. - -[45] The all-important item of a Chinese marriage ceremony; amounting, -in fact, to calling God to witness the contract. - - - - -IV. - -PLANTING A PEAR-TREE. - - -A countryman was one day selling his pears in the market. They were -unusually sweet and fine flavoured, and the price he asked was high. A -Taoist[46] priest in rags and tatters stopped at the barrow and -begged one of them. The countryman told him to go away, but as he did -not do so he began to curse and swear at him. The priest said, "You -have several hundred pears on your barrow; I ask for a single one, the -loss of which, Sir, you would not feel. Why then get angry?" The -lookers-on told the countryman to give him an inferior one and let him -go, but this he obstinately refused to do. Thereupon the beadle of the -place, finding the commotion too great, purchased a pear and handed it -to the priest. The latter received it with a bow and turning to the -crowd said, "We who have left our homes and given up all that is dear -to us[47] are at a loss to understand selfish niggardly conduct in -others. Now I have some exquisite pears which I shall do myself the -honour to put before you." Here somebody asked, "Since you have pears -yourself, why don't you eat those?" "Because," replied the priest, "I -wanted one of these pips to grow them from." So saying, he munched up -the pear; and when he had finished took a pip in his hand, unstrapped -a pick from his back, and proceeded to make a hole in the ground, -several inches deep, wherein he deposited the pip, filling in the -earth as before. He then asked the bystanders for a little hot water -to water it with, and one among them who loved a joke fetched him some -boiling water from a neighbouring shop. The priest poured this over -the place where he had made the hole, and every eye was fixed upon him -when sprouts were seen shooting up, and gradually growing larger and -larger. By-and-by, there was a tree with branches sparsely covered -with leaves; then flowers, and last of all fine, large, sweet-smelling -pears hanging in great profusion. These the priest picked and handed -round to the assembled crowd until all were gone, when he took his -pick and hacked away for a long time at the tree, finally cutting it -down. This he shouldered, leaves and all, and sauntered quietly away. -Now, from the very beginning, our friend the countryman had been -amongst the crowd, straining his neck to see what was going on, and -forgetting all about his business. At the departure of the priest he -turned round and discovered that every one of his pears was gone. He -then knew that those the old fellow had been giving away so freely -were really his own pears. Looking more closely at the barrow he also -found that one of the handles was missing, evidently having been newly -cut off. Boiling with rage, he set out in pursuit of the priest, and -just as he turned the corner he saw the lost barrow-handle lying under -the wall, being in fact the very pear-tree that the priest had cut -down. But there were no traces of the priest--much to the amusement of -the crowd in the market-place. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[46] That is, of the religion of _Tao_, or, as it is sometimes called, -_Rationalism_. It was founded some six centuries before the Christian -era by a man named Lao-tz[)u], "Old boy," who was said to have been born -with white hair and a beard. Originally a pure system of metaphysics, -it is now but a shadow of its former self, and is corrupted by the -grossest forms of superstition borrowed from Buddhism, which has in -its turn adopted many of the forms and beliefs of Taoism, so that the -two religions are hardly distinguishable one from the other. - -"What seemed to me the most singular circumstance connected with the -matter, was the presence of half-a-dozen Taoist priests, who joined in -all the ceremonies, doing everything that the Buddhist priests did, -and presenting a very odd appearance, with their top-knots and cues, -among their closely shaven Buddhist brethren. It seemed strange that -the worship of Sakyamuni by celibate Buddhist priests, with shaved -heads, into which holes were duly burned at their initiation, should -be participated in by married Taoist priests, whose heads are not -wholly shaven, and have never been burned."--_Initiation of Buddhist -Priests at Kooshan_, by S. L. B. - -Taoist priests are credited with a knowledge of alchemy and the black -art in general. - -[47] A celibate priesthood belongs properly to Buddhism, and is not a -doctrine of the Taoist church. - - - - -V. - -THE TAOIST PRIEST OF LAO-SHAN. - - -There lived in our village a Mr. Wang, the seventh son in an old -family. This gentleman had a _penchant_ for the Taoist religion; and -hearing that at Lao-shan there were plenty of Immortals,[48] -shouldered his knapsack and went off for a tour thither. Ascending a -peak of the mountain he reached a secluded monastery where he found a -priest sitting on a rush mat, with long hair flowing over his neck, -and a pleasant expression on his face. Making a low bow, Wang -addressed him thus:--"Mysterious indeed is the doctrine: I pray you, -Sir, instruct me therein." "Delicately-nurtured and wanting in energy -as you are," replied the priest, "I fear you could not support the -fatigue." "Try me," said Wang. So when the disciples, who were very -many in number, collected together at dusk, Wang joined them in making -obeisance to the priest, and remained with them in the monastery. Very -early next morning the priest summoned Wang, and giving him a hatchet -sent him out with the others to cut firewood. Wang respectfully -obeyed, continuing to work for over a month until his hands and feet -were so swollen and blistered that he secretly meditated returning -home. One evening when he came back he found two strangers sitting -drinking with his master. It being already dark, and no lamp or -candles having been brought in, the old priest took some scissors and -cut out a circular piece of paper like a mirror, which he proceeded to -stick against the wall. Immediately it became a dazzling moon, by the -light of which you could have seen a hair or a beard of corn. The -disciples all came crowding round to wait upon them, but one of the -strangers said, "On a festive occasion like this we ought all to enjoy -ourselves together." Accordingly he took a kettle of wine from the -table and presented it to the disciples, bidding them drink each his -fill; whereupon our friend Wang began to wonder how seven or eight of -them could all be served out of a single kettle. The disciples, too, -rushed about in search of cups, each struggling to get the first drink -for fear the wine should be exhausted. Nevertheless, all the -candidates failed to empty the kettle, at which they were very much -astonished, when suddenly one of the strangers said, "You have given -us a fine bright moon; but it's dull work drinking by ourselves. Why -not call Ch'ang-ngo[49] to join us?" He then seized a chop-stick and -threw it into the moon, whereupon a lovely girl stepped forth from its -beams. At first she was only a foot high, but on reaching the ground -lengthened to the ordinary size of women. She had a slender waist and -a beautiful neck, and went most gracefully through the Red Garment -figure.[50] When this was finished she sang the following words:-- - - "Ye fairies! ye fairies! I'm coming back soon, - Too lonely and cold is my home in the moon." - -Her voice was clear and well sustained, ringing like the notes of a -flageolet, and when she had concluded her song she pirouetted round -and jumped up on the table, where, with every eye fixed in -astonishment upon her, she once more became a chop-stick. The three -friends laughed loudly, and one of them said, "We are very jolly -to-night, but I have hardly room for any more wine. Will you drink a -parting glass with me in the palace of the moon?" They then took up -the table and walked into the moon where they could be seen drinking -so plainly, that their eyebrows and beards appeared like reflections -in a looking-glass. By-and-by the moon became obscured; and when the -disciples brought a lighted candle they found the priest sitting in -the dark alone. The viands, however, were still upon the table and the -mirror-like piece of paper on the wall. "Have you all had enough to -drink?" asked the priest; to which they answered that they had. "In -that case," said he, "you had better get to bed, so as not to be -behindhand with your wood-cutting in the morning." So they all went -off, and among them Wang, who was delighted at what he had seen, and -thought no more of returning home. But after a time he could not stand -it any longer; and as the priest taught him no magical arts he -determined not to wait, but went to him and said, "Sir, I travelled -many long miles for the benefit of your instruction. If you will not -teach me the secret of Immortality, let me at any rate learn some -trifling trick, and thus soothe my cravings for a knowledge of your -art. I have now been here two or three months, doing nothing but chop -firewood, out in the morning and back at night, work to which I was -never accustomed in my own home." "Did I not tell you," replied the -priest, "that you would never support the fatigue? To-morrow I will -start you on your way home." "Sir," said Wang, "I have worked for you -a long time. Teach me some small art, that my coming here may not have -been wholly in vain." "What art?" asked the priest. "Well," answered -Wang, "I have noticed that whenever you walk about anywhere, walls and -so on are no obstacle to you. Teach me this, and I'll be satisfied." -The priest laughingly assented, and taught Wang a formula which he -bade him recite. When he had done so he told him to walk through the -wall; but Wang, seeing the wall in front of him, didn't like to walk -at it. As, however, the priest bade him try, he walked quietly up to -it and was there stopped. The priest here called out, "Don't go so -slowly. Put your head down and rush at it." So Wang stepped back a few -paces and went at it full speed; and the wall yielding to him as he -passed, in a moment he found himself outside. Delighted at this, he -went in to thank the priest, who told him to be careful in the use of -his power, or otherwise there would be no response, handing him at the -same time some money for his expenses on the way. When Wang got home, -he went about bragging of his Taoist friends and his contempt for -walls in general; but as his wife disbelieved his story, he set about -going through the performance as before. Stepping back from the wall, -he rushed at it full speed with his head down; but coming in contact -with the hard bricks, finished up in a heap on the floor. His wife -picked him up and found he had a bump on his forehead as big as a -large egg, at which she roared with laughter; but Wang was overwhelmed -with rage and shame, and cursed the old priest for his base -ingratitude. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[48] The "angels" of Taoism--immortality in a happy land being the -reward held out for a life on earth in accordance with the doctrines -of Tao, for which, as Mr. Chalmers says, "three terms suggest -themselves--the Way, Reason, and the _Word_; but they are all liable -to objection." - -Taoist priests are believed by some to possess an elixir of -immortality in the form of a precious liquor; others again hold that -the elixir consists solely in a virtuous conduct of life. - -[49] The beautiful wife of a legendary chieftain, named Hou I, who -flourished about 2,500 B.C. She is said to have stolen from her -husband the elixir of immortality, and to have fled with it to the -moon. - -[50] The name of a celebrated _pas seul_ of antiquity. - - - - -VI. - -THE BUDDHIST PRIEST OF CH'ANG-CH'ING. - - -At Ch'ang-ch'ing there lived a Buddhist priest of exceptional virtue -and purity of conduct, who, though over eighty years of age, was still -hale and hearty. One day he fell down and could not move; and when the -other priests rushed to help him up, they found he was already gone. -The old priest was himself unconscious of death, and his soul flew -away to the borders of the province of Honan. Now it chanced that the -scion of an old family residing in Honan, had gone out that very day -with some ten or a dozen followers to hunt the hare with falcons;[51] -but his horse having run away with him he fell off and was killed. -Just at that moment the soul of the priest came by and entered into -the body, which thereupon gradually recovered consciousness. The -servants crowded round to ask him how he felt, when opening his eyes -wide, he cried out, "How did I get here?" They assisted him to rise, -and led him into the house, where all his ladies came to see him and -inquire how he did. In great amazement he said, "I am a Buddhist -priest. How came I hither?" His servants thought he was wandering, and -tried to recall him by pulling his ears. As for himself, he could make -nothing of it, and closing his eyes refrained from saying anything -further. For food, he would only eat rice, refusing all wine and meat; -and avoided the society of his wives.[52] After some days he felt -inclined for a stroll, at which all his family were delighted; but no -sooner had he got outside and stopped for a little rest than he was -besieged by servants begging him to take their accounts as usual. -However, he pleaded illness and want of strength, and no more was -said. He then took occasion to ask if they knew the district of -Ch'ang-ch'ing, and on being answered in the affirmative expressed his -intention of going thither for a trip, as he felt dull and had nothing -particular to do, bidding them at the same time look after his affairs -at home. They tried to dissuade him from this on the ground of his -having but recently risen from a sick bed; but he paid no heed to -their remonstrances, and on the very next day set out. Arriving in the -Ch'ang-ch'ing district, he found everything unchanged; and without -being put to the necessity of asking the road, made his way straight -to the monastery. His former disciples received him with every token -of respect as an honoured visitor; and in reply to his question as to -where the old priest was, they informed him that their worthy teacher -had been dead for some time. On asking to be shewn his grave, they led -him to a spot where there was a solitary mound some three feet high, -over which the grass was not yet green. Not one of them knew his -motives for visiting this place; and by-and-by he ordered his horse, -saying to the disciples, "Your master was a virtuous priest. Carefully -preserve whatever relics of him you may have, and keep them from -injury." They all promised to do this, and he then set off on his way -home. When he arrived there, he fell into a listless state and took -no interest in his family affairs. So much so, that after a few -months he ran away and went straight to his former home at the -monastery, telling the disciples that he was their old master. This -they refused to believe, and laughed among themselves at his -pretensions; but he told them the whole story, and recalled many -incidents of his previous life among them, until at last they were -convinced. He then occupied his old bed and went through the same -daily routine as before, paying no attention to the repeated -entreaties of his family, who came with carriages and horses to beg -him to return. - -About a year subsequently, his wife sent one of the servants with -splendid presents of gold and silk, all of which he refused with the -exception of a single linen robe. And whenever any of his old friends -passed this monastery, they always went to pay him their respects, -finding him quiet, dignified, and pure. He was then barely thirty, -though he had been a priest for more than eighty years.[53] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[51] This form of sport may still be seen in the north of China. A -hare being started, two Chinese greyhounds (which are very slow) are -slipped from their leash in pursuit. But, as the hare would easily run -straight away from them, a falcon is released almost simultaneously. -The latter soars to a considerable height, and then swoops down on the -hare, striking it a violent blow with the "pounce," or claw. This -partially stuns the hare, and allows the dogs to regain lost ground, -by which time the hare is ready once more, and off they go again. The -chase is ended by the hare getting to earth in a fox's burrow, or -being ultimately overtaken by the dogs. In the latter case the heart -and liver are cut out on the spot, and given to the falcon; otherwise -he would hunt no more that day. Two falcons are often released, one -shortly after the other. They wear hoods, which are removed at the -moment of flying, and are attached by a slip-string from one leg to -the falconer's wrist. During the night previous to a day's hunting, -they are not allowed to sleep. Each falconer lies down with one falcon -on his left wrist, and keeps up an incessant tapping with the other on -the bird's head. This is done to make them fierce. Should the quarry -escape, a hare's skin is thrown down, by which means the falcons are -secured, and made ready for a further flight. Occasionally, but -rarely, the falcon misses its blow at the hare, with the result of a -broken or injured "arm." - -[52] Abstinence from wine and meat, and celibacy, are among the most -important dogmas of the Buddhist church, as specially applied to its -priesthood. At the door of every Buddhist monastery may be seen a -notice that "No wine or meat may enter here!" Even the laity are not -supposed to drink wine. - -[53] Having renewed his youth by assuming the body of the young man -into which his soul had entered. - - - - -VII. - -THE MARRIAGE OF THE FOX'S DAUGHTER. - - -A president of the Board of Civil Office,[54] named Yin, and a native -of Li-ch'eng, when a young man, was very badly off, but was endowed -with considerable physical courage. Now in his part of the country -there was a large establishment, covering several acres, with an -unbroken succession of pavilions and verandahs, and belonging to one -of the old county families; but because ghosts and apparitions were -frequently seen there, the place had for a long time remained -untenanted, and was overgrown with grass and weeds, no one venturing -to enter in even in broad daylight. One evening when Yin was carousing -with some fellow-students, one of them jokingly said, "If anybody will -pass a night in the haunted house, the rest of us will stand him a -dinner." Mr. Yin jumped up at this, and cried out, "What is there -difficult in that?" So, taking with him a sleeping-mat, he proceeded -thither, escorted by all his companions as far as the door, where -they laughed and said, "We will wait here a little while. In case you -see anything, shout out to us at once." "If there are any goblins or -foxes," replied Yin, "I'll catch them for you." He then went in, and -found the paths obliterated by long grass, which had sprung up, -mingled with weeds of various kinds. It was just the time of the new -moon, and by its feeble light he was able to make out the door of the -house. Feeling his way, he walked on until he reached the back -pavilion, and then went up on to the Moon Terrace, which was such a -pleasant spot that he determined to stop there. Gazing westwards, he -sat for a long time looking at the moon--a single thread of light -embracing in its horns the peak of a hill--without hearing anything at -all unusual; so, laughing to himself at the nonsense people talked, he -spread his mat upon the floor, put a stone under his head for a -pillow, and lay down to sleep. He had watched the Cow-herd and the -Lady[55] until they were just disappearing, and was on the point of -dropping off, when suddenly he heard footsteps down below coming up -the stairs. Pretending to be asleep, he saw a servant enter, carrying -in his hand a lotus-shaped lantern,[56] who, on observing Mr. Yin, -rushed back in a fright, and said to someone behind, "There is a -stranger here!" The person spoken to asked who it was, but the servant -did not know; and then up came an old gentleman, who, after examining -Mr. Yin closely, said, "It's the future President: he's as drunk as -can be. We needn't mind him; besides, he's a good fellow, and won't -give us any trouble." So they walked in and opened all the doors; and -by-and-by there were a great many other people moving about, and -quantities of lamps were lighted, till the place was as light as day. -About this time Mr. Yin slightly changed his position, and sneezed; -upon which the old man, perceiving that he was awake, came forward and -fell down on his knees, saying, "Sir, I have a daughter who is to be -married this very night. It was not anticipated that Your Honour would -be here. I pray, therefore, that we may be excused." Mr. Yin got up -and raised the old man, regretting that, in his ignorance of the -festive occasion, he had brought with him no present.[57] "Ah, Sir," -replied the old man, "your very presence here will ward off all -noxious influences; and that is quite enough for us." He then begged -Mr. Yin to assist in doing the honours, and thus double the obligation -already conferred. Mr. Yin readily assented, and went inside to look -at the gorgeous arrangements they had made. He was here met by a lady, -apparently about forty years of age, whom the old gentleman introduced -as his wife; and he had hardly made his bow when he heard the sound of -flageolets,[58] and someone came hurrying in, saying, "He has come!" -The old gentleman flew out to meet this personage, and Mr. Yin also -stood up, awaiting his arrival. In no long time, a bevy of people with -gauze lanterns ushered in the bridegroom himself, who seemed to be -about seventeen or eighteen years old, and of a most refined and -prepossessing appearance. The old gentleman bade him pay his respects -first to their worthy guest; and upon his looking towards Mr. Yin, -that gentleman came forward to welcome him on behalf of the host. Then -followed ceremonies between the old man and his son-in-law; and when -these were over, they all sat down to supper. Hosts of waiting-maids -brought in profuse quantities of wine and meats, with bowls and cups -of jade or gold, till the table glittered again. And when the wine had -gone round several times, the old gentleman told one of the maids to -summon the bride. This she did, but some time passed and no bride -came. So the old man rose and drew aside the curtain, pressing the -young lady to come forth; whereupon a number of women escorted out the -bride, whose ornaments went _tinkle tinkle_ as she walked along, sweet -perfumes being all the time diffused around. Her father told her to -make the proper salutation, after which she went and sat by her -mother. Mr. Yin took a glance at her, and saw that she wore on her -head beautiful ornaments made of kingfisher's feathers, her beauty -quite surpassing anything he had ever seen. All this time they had -been drinking their wine out of golden goblets big enough to hold -several pints, when it flashed across him that one of these goblets -would be a capital thing to carry back to his companions in evidence -of what he had seen. So he secreted it in his sleeve, and, pretending -to be tipsy,[59] leaned forward with his head upon the table as if -going off to sleep. "The gentleman is drunk," said the guests; and -by-and-by Mr. Yin heard the bridegroom take his leave, and there was a -general trooping downstairs to the tune of a wedding march. When they -were all gone the old gentleman collected the goblets, one of which -was missing, though they hunted high and low to find it. Someone -mentioned the sleeping guest; but the old gentleman stopped him at -once for fear Mr. Yin should hear, and before long silence reigned -throughout. Mr. Yin then arose. It was dark, and he had no light; but -he could detect the lingering smell of the food, and the place was -filled with the fumes of wine. Faint streaks of light now appearing in -the east, he began quietly to make a move, having first satisfied -himself that the goblet was still in his sleeve. Arriving at the door, -he found his friends already there; for they had been afraid he might -come out after they left, and go in again early in the morning. When -he produced the goblet they were all lost in astonishment; and on -hearing his story, they were fain to believe it, well knowing that a -poor student like Yin was not likely to have such a valuable piece of -plate in his possession. - -Later on Mr. Yin took his doctor's degree, and was appointed -magistrate over the district of Fei-ch'iu, where there was an -old-established family of the name of Chu. The head of the family -asked him to a banquet in honour of his arrival, and ordered the -servants to bring in the large goblets. After some delay a slave-girl -came and whispered something to her master which seemed to make him -very angry. Then the goblets were brought in, and Mr. Yin was invited -to drink. He now found that these goblets were of precisely the same -shape and pattern as the one he had at home, and at once begged his -host to tell him where he had had these made. "Well," said Mr. Chu, -"there should be eight of them. An ancestor of mine had them made, -when he was a minister at the capital, by an experienced artificer. -They have been handed down in our family from generation to -generation, and have now been carefully laid by for some time; but I -thought we would have them out to-day as a compliment to your Honour. -However, there are only seven to be found. None of the servants can -have touched them, for the old seals of ten years ago are still upon -the box, unbroken. I don't know what to make of it." Mr. Yin laughed, -and said, "It must have flown away! Still, it is a pity to lose an -heir-loom of that kind; and as I have a very similar one at home, I -shall take upon myself to send it to you." When the banquet was over, -Mr. Yin went home, and taking out his own goblet, sent it off to Mr. -Chu. The latter was somewhat surprised to find that it was identical -with his own, and hurried away to thank the magistrate for his gift, -asking him at the same time how it had come into his possession. Mr. -Yin told him the whole story, which proves conclusively that although -a fox may obtain possession of a thing, even at a distance of many -hundred miles, he will not venture to keep it altogether.[60] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[54] One of the "Six Boards" at the capital, equivalent to our own War -Office, Board of Works, etc. - -[55] The Chinese names for two stars: beta-gamma Aquila and alpha Lyra. - -[56] Lanterns very prettily made to resemble all kinds of flowers are -to be seen at the Chinese New Year. - -[57] This is, as with us, obligatory on all friends invited to a -marriage. - -[58] The accompaniment of all weddings and funerals in China. - -[59] The soberest people in the world, amongst whom anything like -sottishness is comparatively unknown, think it no disgrace, but rather -complimentary, to get pleasantly tipsy on all festive occasions; and -people who are physically unable to do so, frequently go so far as to -hire substitutes to drink for them. Mandarins especially suffer very -much from the custom of being obliged to "take wine" with a large -number of guests. For further on this subject, see No. LIV., note 292. - -[60] The wedding-party was, of course, composed entirely of foxes; -this animal being believed by the Chinese to be capable of appearing -at will under the human form, and of doing either good or evil to its -friends or foes. These facts will be prominently brought out in -several of the stories to follow. - - - - -VIII. - -MISS CHIAO-NO. - - -K'ung Hsueeh-li was a descendant of Confucius.[61] He was a man of -considerable ability, and an excellent poet.[62] A fellow-student, to -whom he was much attached, became magistrate at T'ien-t'ai, and sent -for K'ung to join him. Unfortunately, just before K'ung arrived his -friend died, and he found himself without the means of returning home; -so he took up his abode in a Buddhist monastery, where he was employed -in transcribing for the priests. Several hundred paces to the west of -this monastery there was a house belonging to a Mr. Shan, a gentleman -who had known better days, but who had spent all his money in a heavy -law-suit; and then, as his family was a small one, had gone away to -live in the country and left his house vacant. One day there was a -heavy fall of snow which kept visitors away from the monastery; and -K'ung, finding it dull, went out. As he was passing by the door of the -house above-mentioned, a young man of very elegant appearance came -forth, who, the moment he saw K'ung, ran up to him, and with a bow, -entered into conversation, asking him to be pleased to walk in. K'ung -was much taken with the young man, and followed him inside. The rooms -were not particularly large, but adorned throughout with embroidered -curtains, and from the walls hung scrolls and drawings by celebrated -masters. On the table lay a book, the title of which was, "Jottings -from Paradise;" and turning over its leaves, K'ung found therein many -strange things. He did not ask the young man his name, presuming that -as he lived in the Shan family mansion, he was necessarily the owner -of the place. The young man, however, inquired what he was doing in -that part of the country, and expressed great sympathy with his -misfortunes, recommending him to set about taking pupils. "Alas!" said -K'ung, "who will play the Maecenas to a distressed wayfarer like -myself?" "If," replied the young man, "you would condescend so far, I -for my part would gladly seek instruction at your hands." K'ung was -much gratified at this, but said he dared not arrogate to himself the -position of teacher, and begged merely to be considered as the young -man's friend. He then asked him why the house had been shut up for so -long; to which the young man replied, "This is the Shan family -mansion. It has been closed all this time because of the owner's -removal into the country. My surname is Huang-fu, and my home is in -Shen-si; but as our house has been burnt down in a great fire, we have -put up here for a while." Thus Mr. K'ung found out that his name was -not Shan. That evening they spent in laughing and talking together, -and K'ung remained there for the night. In the morning a lad came in -to light the fire; and the young man, rising first, went into the -private part of the house. Mr. K'ung was sitting up with the -bed-clothes still huddled round him, when the lad looked in and said, -"Master's coming!" So he jumped up with a start, and in came an old -man with a silvery beard, who began to thank him, saying, "I am very -much obliged to you for your condescension in becoming my son's tutor. -At present he writes a villainous hand; and I can only hope you will -not allow the ties of friendship to interfere with discipline." -Thereupon, he presented Mr. K'ung with an embroidered suit of clothes, -a sable hat, and a set of shoes and stockings; and when the latter had -washed and dressed himself he called for wine and food. K'ung could -not make out what the valances of the chairs and tables were made of: -they were so very bright-coloured and dazzling. By-and-by, when the -wine had circulated several times, the old gentleman picked up his -walking-stick and took his leave. After breakfast, the young man -handed in his theme, which turned out to be written in an archaic -style, and not at all after the modern fashion of essay-writing. K'ung -asked him why he had done this, to which the young man replied that he -did not contemplate competing at the public examinations. In the -evening they had another drinking-bout, but it was agreed that there -should be no more of it after that night. The young man then called -the boy and told him to see if his father was asleep or not; adding, -that if he was, he might quietly summon Miss Perfume. The boy went -off, first taking a guitar out of a very pretty case; and in a few -minutes in came a very nice-looking young girl. The young man bade -her play the _Death of Shun_;[63] and seizing an ivory plectrum she -swept the chords, pouring forth a vocal melody of exquisite sweetness -and pathos. He then gave her a goblet of wine to drink, and it was -midnight before they parted. Next morning they got up early and -settled down to work. The young man proved an apt scholar; he could -remember what he had once read, and at the end of two or three months -had made astonishing progress. Then they agreed that every five days -they would indulge in a symposium, and that Miss Perfume should always -be of the party. One night when the wine had gone into K'ung's head, -he seemed to be lost in a reverie; whereupon his young friend, who -knew what was the matter with him, said, "This girl was brought up by -my father. I know you find it lonely, and I have long been looking out -for a nice wife for you." "Let her only resemble Miss Perfume," said -K'ung, "and she will do." "Your experience," said the young man, -laughing, "is but limited, and, consequently, anything is a surprise -to you. If Miss Perfume is your _beau ideal_, why it will not be -difficult to satisfy you." - -Some six months had passed away, when one day Mr. K'ung took it into -his head that he would like to go out for a stroll in the country. The -entrance, however, was carefully closed; and on asking the reason, the -young man told him that his father wished to receive no guests for -fear of causing interruption to his studies. So K'ung thought no more -about it; and by-and-by, when the heat of summer came on, they moved -their study to a pavilion in the garden. At this time Mr. K'ung had a -swelling on the chest about as big as a peach, which, in a single -night, increased to the size of a bowl. There he lay groaning with the -pain, while his pupil waited upon him day and night. He slept badly -and took hardly any food; and in a few days the place got so much -worse that he could neither eat nor drink. The old gentleman also came -in, and he and his son lamented over him together. Then the young man -said, "I was thinking last night that my sister, Chiao-no, would be -able to cure Mr. K'ung, and accordingly I sent over to my -grandmother's asking her to come. She ought to be here by now." At -that moment a servant entered and announced Miss Chiao-no, who had -come with her cousin, having been at her aunt's house. Her father and -brother ran out to meet her, and then brought her in to see Mr. K'ung. -She was between thirteen and fourteen years old, and had beautiful -eyes with a very intelligent expression in them, and a most graceful -figure besides. No sooner had Mr. K'ung beheld this lovely creature -than he quite forgot to groan, and began to brighten up. Meanwhile the -young man was saying, "This respected friend of mine is the same to -me as a brother. Try, sister, to cure him." Miss Chiao-no immediately -dismissed her blushes, and rolling up her long sleeves approached the -bed to feel his pulse.[64] As she was grasping his wrist, K'ung became -conscious of a perfume more delicate than that of the epidendrum; and -then she laughed, saying, "This illness was to be expected; for the -heart is touched. Though it is severe, a cure can be effected; but, as -there is already a swelling, not without using the knife." Then she -drew from her arm a gold bracelet which she pressed down upon the -suffering spot, until by degrees the swelling rose within the bracelet -and overtopped it by an inch and more, the outlying parts that were -inflamed also passing under, and thus very considerably reducing the -extent of the tumour. With one hand she opened her robe and took out a -knife with an edge as keen as paper, and pressing the bracelet down -all the time with the other, proceeded to cut lightly round near the -root of the swelling. The dark blood gushed forth, and stained the bed -and the mat; but Mr. K'ung was delighted to be near such a -beauty,--not only felt no pain, but would willingly have continued the -operation that she might sit by him a little longer. In a few moments -the whole thing was removed, and the place looked like the knot on a -tree where a branch has been cut away. Here Miss Chiao-no called for -water to wash the wound, and from between her lips she took a red pill -as big as a bullet, which she laid upon the flesh, and, after drawing -the skin together, passed round and round the place. The first turn -felt like the searing of a hot iron; the second like a gentle itching; -and at the third he experienced a sensation of lightness and coolness -which penetrated into his very bones and marrow. The young lady then -returned the pill to her mouth, and said, "He is cured," hurrying away -as fast as she could. Mr. K'ung jumped up to thank her, and found that -his complaint had quite disappeared. Her beauty, however, had made -such an impression on him that his troubles were hardly at an end. -From this moment he gave up his books, and took no interest in -anything. This state of things was soon noticed by the young man, who -said to him, "My brother, I have found a fine match for you." "Who is -it to be?" asked K'ung. "Oh, one of the family," replied his friend. -Thereupon Mr. K'ung remained some time lost in thought, and at length -said, "Please don't!" Then turning his face to the wall, he repeated -these lines:-- - - "Speak not of lakes and streams to him who once has seen the sea; - The clouds that circle Wu's peak are the only clouds for me." - -The young man guessed to whom he was alluding, and replied, "My father -has a very high opinion of your talents, and would gladly receive you -into the family, but that he has only one daughter, and she is much -too young. My cousin, Ah-sung, however, is seventeen years old, and -not at all a bad-looking girl. If you doubt my word, you can wait in -the verandah until she takes her daily walk in the garden, and thus -judge for yourself." This Mr. K'ung acceded to, and accordingly saw -Miss Chiao-no come out with a lovely girl--her black eyebrows -beautifully arched, and her tiny feet encased in phoenix-shaped -shoes--as like one another as they well could be. He was of course -delighted, and begged the young man to arrange all preliminaries; and -the very next day his friend came to tell him that the affair was -finally settled. A portion of the house was given up to the bride and -bridegroom, and the marriage was celebrated with plenty of music and -hosts of guests, more like a fairy wedding than anything else. Mr. -K'ung was very happy, and began to think that the position of Paradise -had been wrongly laid down, until one day the young man came to him -and said, "For the trouble you have been at in teaching me, I shall -ever remain your debtor. At the present moment, the Shan family -law-suit has been brought to a termination, and they wish to resume -possession of their house immediately. We therefore propose returning -to Shen-si, and as it is unlikely that you and I will ever meet again, -I feel very sorrowful at the prospect of parting." Mr. K'ung replied -that he would go too, but the young man advised him to return to his -old home. This, he observed, was no easy matter; upon which the young -man said, "Don't let that trouble you: I will see you safe there." -By-and-by his father came in with Mr. K'ung's wife, and presented Mr. -K'ung with one hundred ounces of gold; and then the young man gave the -husband and wife each one of his hands to grasp, bidding them shut -their eyes. The next instant they were floating away in the air, with -the wind whizzing in their ears. In a little while he said, "You have -arrived," and opening his eyes, K'ung beheld his former home. Then he -knew that the young man was not a human being. Joyfully he knocked at -the old door, and his mother was astonished to see him arrive with -such a nice wife. They were all rejoicing together, when he turned -round and found that his friend had disappeared. His wife attended on -her mother-in-law with great devotion, and acquired a reputation both -for virtue and beauty, which was spread round far and near. Some time -passed away, and then Mr. K'ung took his doctor's degree, and was -appointed Governor of the Gaol in Yen-ngan. He proceeded to his post -with his wife only, the journey being too long for his mother, and -by-and-by a son was born. Then he got into trouble by being too honest -an official, and threw up his appointment; but had not the wherewithal -to get home again. One day when out hunting he met a handsome young -man riding on a nice horse, and seeing that he was staring very hard -looked closely at him. It was young Huang-fu. So they drew bridle, and -fell to laughing and crying by turns,--the young man then inviting -K'ung to go along with him. They rode on together until they had -reached a village thickly shaded with trees, so that the sun and sky -were invisible overhead, and entered into a most elaborately-decorated -mansion, such as might belong to an old-established family. K'ung -asked after Miss Chiao-no, and heard that she was married; also that -his own mother-in-law was dead, at which tidings he was greatly moved. -Next day he went back and returned again with his wife. Chiao-no also -joined them, and taking up K'ung's child played with it, saying, "Your -mother played us truant." Mr. K'ung did not forget to thank her for -her former kindness to him, to which she replied, "You're a great man -now. Though the wound has healed, haven't you forgotten the pain yet?" -Her husband, too, came to pay his respects, returning with her on the -following morning. One day the young Huang-fu seemed troubled in -spirit, and said to Mr. K'ung, "A great calamity is impending. Can you -help us?" Mr. K'ung did not know what he was alluding to, but readily -promised his assistance. The young man then ran out and summoned the -whole family to worship in the ancestral hall, at which Mr. K'ung was -alarmed, and asked what it all meant. "You know," answered the young -man, "I am not a man but a fox. To-day we shall be attacked by -thunder;[65] and if only you will aid us in our trouble, we may still -hope to escape. If you are unwilling, take your child and go, that you -may not be involved with us." Mr. K'ung protested he would live or die -with them, and so the young man placed him with a sword at the door, -bidding him remain quiet there in spite of all the thunder. He did as -he was told, and soon saw black clouds obscuring the light until it -was all as dark as pitch. Looking round, he could see that the house -had disappeared, and that its place was occupied by a huge mound and a -bottomless pit. In the midst of his terror, a fearful peal was heard -which shook the very hills, accompanied by a violent wind and driving -rain. Old trees were torn up, and Mr. K'ung became both dazed and -deaf. Yet he stood firm until he saw in a dense black column of smoke -a horrid thing with a sharp beak and long claws, with which it -snatched some one from the hole, and was disappearing up with the -smoke. In an instant K'ung knew by her clothes and shoes that the -victim was no other than Chiao-no, and instantly jumping up he struck -the devil violently with his sword, and cut it down. Immediately the -mountains were riven, and a sharp peal of thunder laid K'ung dead upon -the ground. Then the clouds cleared away, and Chiao-no gradually came -round, to find K'ung dead at her feet. She burst out crying at the -sight, and declared that she would not live since K'ung had died for -her. K'ung's wife also came out, and they bore the body inside. -Chiao-no then made Ah-sung hold her husband's head, while her brother -prised open his teeth with a hair-pin, and she herself arranged his -jaw. She next put a red pill into his mouth, and bending down breathed -into him. The pill went along with the current of air, and presently -there was a gurgle in his throat, and he came round. Seeing all the -family about him, he was disturbed as if waking from a dream. However -they were all united together, and fear gave place to joy; but Mr. -K'ung objected to live in that out-of-the-way place, and proposed that -they should return with him to his native village. To this they were -only too pleased to assent--all except Chiao-no; and when Mr. K'ung -invited her husband, Mr. Wu, as well, she said she feared her father -and mother-in-law would not like to lose the children. They had tried -all day to persuade her, but without success, when suddenly in rushed -one of the Wu family's servants, dripping with perspiration and quite -out of breath. They asked what was the matter, and the servant replied -that the Wu family had been visited by a calamity on the very same -day, and had every one perished. Chiao-no cried very bitterly at this, -and could not be comforted; but now there was nothing to prevent them -from all returning together. Mr. K'ung went into the city for a few -days on business, and then they set to work packing-up night and day. -On arriving at their destination, separate apartments were allotted to -young Mr. Huang-fu, and these he kept carefully shut up, only opening -the door to Mr. K'ung and his wife. - -Mr. K'ung amused himself with the young man and his sister Chiao-no, -filling up the time with chess,[66] wine, conversation, and good -cheer, as if they had been one family. His little boy, Huan, grew up -to be a handsome young man, with a fox-like _penchant_ for roaming -about; and it was generally known that he was actually the son of a -fox. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[61] Lineal descendants of Confucius are to be found at this day near -their founder's mausoleum in Shantung. The head of the family is a -hereditary _kung_ or "duke," and each member enjoys a share of the -revenues with which the family has been endowed, in well-merited -recognition of the undying influence of China's greatest sage. - -[62] More or less proficiency in the art of poetry is an absolutely -essential qualification for all who present themselves at the great -competitive tests by which successful candidates are admitted to -Chinese official life. [See _Appendix_ A.] The following anecdote is -given by the London correspondent of the _Leeds Mercury_:-- - -"The new Chinese ambassador in this country is a man of considerable -literary ability, and perhaps one of the few diplomatists since the -days of Matthew Prior (Lord Lytton alone excepted) who has achieved -distinction as a poet. Shortly after his arrival in this country, he -expressed a wish to become acquainted with the principal English -poets, and as Mr. Browning is more accessible and more a man of the -world than the Poet Laureate, an arrangement was made the other day by -which the two should be brought in contact with one another. After the -mutual courtesies, Mr. Browning having learnt that His Excellency was -also a poet, expressed a desire to know how much he had published. -"Only three or four volumes," was the reply, through the interpreter. -"Then," said Mr. Browning, "I am a greater offender than His -Excellency, and unequal to him in self-restraint. What kind of poetry -does His Excellency write: pastoral, humorous, epic or what?" There -was a pause for a short time. At length the interpreter said that His -Excellency thought his poetry would be better described as the -"enigmatic." "Surely," replied Mr. Browning, "there ought then to be -the deepest sympathy between us, for that is just the criticism which -is brought against my own works; and I believe it to be a just one."" - -[63] One of the two celebrated but legendary rulers of China in the -golden ages of antiquity. Yao--who died B.C. 2258--nominated as his -successor a young and virtuous husbandman named Shun, giving him both -his daughters in marriage. At the death of Shun, these ladies are said -to have wept so much that their tears literally drenched the bamboos -which grew beside their husband's grave; and the speckled bamboo is -now commonly known as the bamboo of Shun's wives. - -[64] Volumes have been written by Chinese doctors on the subject of -the pulse. They profess to distinguish as many as twenty-four -different kinds, among which is one well known to our own -practitioners--namely, the "thready" pulse; they, moreover, make a -point of feeling the pulses of _both_ wrists. - -[65] The Chinese believe that wicked people are struck by the God of -Thunder, and killed in punishment for some hidden crime. They regard -lightning merely as an arrangement by which the God is enabled to see -his victim. - -[66] Chinese "chess" is similar to, but not identical with, our game. -The board is divided by a river, and the king is confined to a small -square of moves on his own territory. The game _par excellence_ in -China is _wei-ch'i_, an account of which I contributed to the _Temple -Bar_ Magazine for January, 1877. - - - - -IX. - -MAGICAL ARTS. - - -A certain Mr. Yue was a spirited young fellow, fond of boxing and -trials of strength. He was able to take two kettles and swing them -round about with the speed of the wind. Now, during the reign of -Ch'ung Cheng,[67] when up for the final examination at the capital, -his servant became seriously ill. Much troubled at this, he applied to -a necromancer in the market-place[68] who was skilful at determining -the various leases of life allotted to men. Before he had uttered a -word, the necromancer asked him, saying, "Is it not about your -servant, Sir, that you would consult me?" Mr. Yue was startled at this, -and replied that it was. "The sick man," continued the necromancer, -"will come to no harm; you, Sir, are the one in danger." Mr. Yue then -begged him to cast his nativity, which he proceeded to do, finally -saying to Mr. Yue, "You have but three days to live!" Dreadfully -frightened, he remained some time in a state of stupefaction, when the -necromancer quietly observed that he possessed the power of averting -this calamity by magic, and would exert it for the sum of ten ounces -of silver. But Mr. Yue reflected that Life and Death are already -fixed,[69] and he didn't see how magic could save him. So he refused, -and was just going away, whereupon the necromancer said, "You grudge -this trifling outlay. I hope you will not repent it." Mr. Yue's friends -also urged him to pay the money, advising him rather to empty his -purse than not secure the necromancer's compassion. Mr. Yue, however, -would not hear of it and the three days slipped quickly away. Then he -sat down calmly in his inn to see what was going to happen. Nothing -did happen all day, and at night he shut his door and trimmed the -lamp; then, with a sword at his side, he awaited the approach of -death. - -By-and-by, the clepsydra[70] shewed that two hours had already gone -without bringing him any nearer to dissolution; and he was thinking -about lying down, when he heard a scratching at the window, and then -saw a tiny little man creep through, carrying a spear on his shoulder, -who, on reaching the ground, shot up to the ordinary height. Mr. Yue -seized his sword and at once struck at it; but only succeeded in -cutting the air. His visitor instantly shrunk down small again, and -made an attempt to escape through the crevice of the window; but Yue -redoubled his blows and at last brought him to the ground. Lighting -the lamp, he found only a paper man,[71] cut right through the middle. -This made him afraid to sleep, and he sat up watching, until in a -little time he saw a horrid hobgoblin creep through the same place. No -sooner did it touch the ground than he assailed it lustily with his -sword, at length cutting it in half. Seeing, however, that both halves -kept on wriggling about, and fearing that it might get up again, he -went on hacking at it. Every blow told, giving forth a hard sound, and -when he came to examine his work, he found a clay image all knocked to -pieces. Upon this he moved his seat near to the window, and kept his -eye fixed upon the crack. After some time, he heard a noise like a -bull bellowing outside the window, and something pushed against the -window-frame with such force as to make the whole house tremble and -seem about to fall. Mr. Yue, fearing he should be buried under the -ruins, thought he could not do better than fight outside; so he -accordingly burst open the door with a crash and rushed out. There he -found a huge devil, as tall as the house, and he saw by the dim light -of the moon that its face was as black as coal. Its eyes shot forth -yellow fire: it had nothing either upon its shoulders or feet; but -held a bow in its hand and had some arrows at its waist. Mr. Yue was -terrified; and the devil discharged an arrow at him which he struck to -the ground with his sword. On Mr. Yue preparing to strike, the devil -let off another arrow which the former avoided by jumping aside, the -arrow quivering in the wall beyond with a smart crack. The devil here -got very angry, and drawing his sword flourished it like a whirlwind, -aiming a tremendous blow at Mr. Yue. Mr. Yue ducked, and the whole force -of the blow fell upon the stone wall of the house, cutting it right in -two. Mr. Yue then ran out from between the devil's legs, and began -hacking at its back--whack!--whack! The devil now became furious, and -roared like thunder, turning round to get another blow at his -assailant. But Mr. Yue again ran between his legs, the devil's sword -merely cutting off a piece of his coat. Once more he hacked -away--whack!--whack!--and at length the devil came tumbling down flat. -Mr. Yue cut at him right and left, each blow resounding like the -watchman's wooden gong;[72] and then, bringing a light, he found it -was a wooden image about as tall as a man. The bow and arrows were -still there, the latter attached to its waist. Its carved and painted -features were most hideous to behold; and wherever Mr. Yue had struck -it with his sword, there was blood. Mr. Yue sat with the light in his -hand till morning, when he awaked to the fact that all these devils -had been sent by the necromancer in order to kill him, and so evidence -his own magical power. The next day, after having told the story far -and wide, he went with some others to the place where the necromancer -had his stall; but the latter, seeing them coming, vanished in the -twinkling of an eye. Some one observed that the blood of a dog would -reveal a person who had made himself invisible, and Mr. Yue immediately -procured some and went back with it. The necromancer disappeared as -before, but on the spot where he had been standing they quickly threw -down the dog's blood. Thereupon they saw his head and face all smeared -over with the blood, his eyes glaring like a devil's; and at once -seizing him, they handed him over to the authorities, by whom he was -put to death. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[67] The last emperor of the Ming dynasty. Began to reign A.D. 1628. - -[68] The trade of fortune-teller is one of the most flourishing in -China. A large majority of the candidates who are unsuccessful at the -public examinations devote their energies in this direction; and in -every Chinese city there are regular establishments whither the -superstitious people repair to consult the oracle on every imaginable -subject; not to mention hosts of itinerant soothsayers, both in town -and country, whose stock-in-trade consists of a trestle-table, pen, -ink, and paper, and a few other mysterious implements of their art. -The nature of the response, favourable or otherwise, is determined by -an inspection of the year, month, day and hour at which the applicant -was born, taken in combination with other particulars referring to the -question at issue. - -[69] A firm belief in predestination is an important characteristic of -the Chinese mind. "All is destiny" is a phrase daily in the mouth of -every man, woman, and child, in the empire. Confucius himself, we are -told, objected to discourse to his disciples upon this topic; but it -is evident from many passages in the _Lun Yue_, or _Confucian Gospels_, -[Book VI. ch. 8., Book XIV. ch. 38, &c.] that he believed in a certain -pre-arrangement of human affairs, against which all efforts would be -unavailing. - -[70] An appliance of very ancient date in China, now superseded by -cheap clocks and watches. A large clepsydra, consisting of four copper -jars standing on steps one above the other, is still, however, to be -seen in the city of Canton, and is in excellent working order, the -night-watches being determined by reference to its indicator in the -lower jar. By its aid, coils of "joss-stick," or pastille, are -regulated to burn so many hours, and are sold to the poor, who use -them both for the purpose of guiding their extremely vague notions of -time, and for the oft-recurring tobacco-pipe. - -[71] "Paper men" are a source of great dread to the people at large. -During the year 1876 whole provinces were convulsed by the belief that -some such superstitious agency was at work to deprive innocent persons -of their tails; and the so-called "Pope" of the Taoist religion even -went so far as to publish a charm against the machinations of the -unseen. It ran as follows:--"Ye who urge filthy devils to spy out the -people!--the Master's spirits are at hand and will soon discover you. -With this charm anyone may travel by sunlight, moonlight, or starlight -all over the earth." At one time popular excitement ran so high that -serious consequences were anticipated; and the mandarins in the -affected districts found it quite as much as they could do to prevent -lynch-law being carried out on harmless strangers who were unlucky -enough to give rise to the slightest suspicion. - -Taoist priests are generally credited with the power of cutting out -human, animal, or other figures, of infusing vitality into them on the -spot, and of employing them for purposes of good or evil. - -[72] Watchmen in China, when on their nightly rounds, keep up an -incessant beating on what, for want of a better term, we have called a -wooden gong. The object is to let thieves know they are awake and on -the look-out. - - - - -X. - -JOINING THE IMMORTALS. - - -A Mr. Chou, of Wen-teng, had in his youth been fellow-student with a -Mr. Ch'eng, and a firm friendship was the result. The latter was poor, -and depended very much upon Chou, who was the elder of the two. He -called Chou's wife his "sister," and had the run of the house just as -if he was one of the family. Now this wife happening to die in -child-bed, Chou married another named Wang; but as she was quite a -young girl, Ch'eng did not seek to be introduced.[73] One day her -younger brother came to visit her, and was being entertained in the -"inner" apartments[74] when Ch'eng chanced to call. The servant -announced his arrival, and Chou bade him ask Mr. Ch'eng in. But Ch'eng -would not enter, and took his leave. Thereupon Chou caused the -entertainment to be moved into the public part of the house, and, -sending after Ch'eng, succeeded in bringing him back. They had hardly -sat down before some one came in to say that a former servant of the -establishment had been severely beaten at the magistrate's yamen; the -facts of the case being that a cow-boy of the Huang family connected -with the Board of Rites had driven his cattle across the Chou family's -land, and that words had arisen between the two servants in -consequence; upon which the Huang family's servant had complained to -his master, who had seized the other and had sent him in to the -magistrate's, where he had been bambooed. When Mr. Chou found out what -the matter was, he was exceedingly angry, and said, "How dares this -pig-boy fellow behave thus? Why, only a generation ago his master was -my father's servant! He emerges a little from his obscurity, and -immediately thinks himself I don't know what!" Swelling with rage, he -rose to go in quest of Huang, but Ch'eng held him back, saying, "The -age is corrupt: there is no distinction between right and wrong. -Besides, the officials of the day are half of them thieves, and you -will only get yourself into hot water." Chou, however, would not -listen to him; and it was only when tears were added to remonstrances -that he consented to let the matter drop. But his anger did not cease, -and he lay tossing and turning all night. In the morning he said to -his family, "I can stand the insults of Mr. Huang; but the magistrate -is an officer of the Government, and not the servant of influential -people. If there is a case of any kind, he should hear both plaintiff -and defendant, and not act like a dog, biting anybody he is set upon. -I will bring an action against the cow-boy, and see what the -magistrate will do to him." As his family rather egged him on, he -accordingly proceeded to the magistrate's and entered a formal plaint; -but that functionary tore up his petition, and would have nothing to -do with it. This roused Chou's anger, and he told the magistrate -plainly what he thought of him, in return for which contempt of court -he was at once seized and bound. During the forenoon Mr. Ch'eng called -at his house, where he learnt that Chou had gone into the city to -prosecute the cow-boy, and immediately hurried after him with a view -to stop proceedings. But his friend was already in the gaol, and all -he could do was to stamp his foot in anger. Now it happened that three -pirates had just been caught; and the magistrate and Huang, putting -their heads together, bribed these fellows to say that Chou was one of -their gang, whereupon the higher authorities were petitioned to -deprive him of his status as a graduate,[75] and the magistrate then -had him most unmercifully bambooed.[76] Mr. Ch'eng gained admittance -to the gaol, and, after a painful interview, proposed that a petition -should be presented direct to the Throne. "Alas!" cried Chou, "here -am I bound and guarded, like a bird in a cage. I have indeed a young -brother, but it is as much as he can do to provide me with food." Then -Ch'eng stepped forward, saying, "I will perform this service. Of what -use are friends who will not assist in the hour of trouble?" So away -he went, and Chou's son provided him with money to defray his -expenses. After a long journey he arrived at the capital, where he -found himself quite at a loss as to how he should get the petition -presented. However, hearing that the Emperor was about to set out on a -hunting tour, he concealed himself in the market-place, and when His -Majesty passed by, prostrated himself on the ground with loud cries -and gesticulations. The Emperor received his petition, and sent it to -the Board of Punishments,[77] desiring to be furnished with a report -on the case. It was then more than ten months since the beginning of -the affair, and Chou, who had been made to confess[78] to this false -charge, was already under sentence of death; so that the officers of -the Board were very much alarmed when they received the Imperial -instructions, and set to work to re-hear the case in person. Huang was -also much alarmed, and devised a plan for killing Mr. Chou by bribing -the gaolers to stop his food and drink; so that when his brother -brought provisions he was rudely thrust back and prevented from -taking them in. Mr. Ch'eng complained of this to the Viceroy of the -province, who investigated the matter himself, and found that Chou was -in the last stage of starvation, for which the gaolers were bambooed -to death. Terrified out of his wits, Huang, by dint of bribing -heavily, succeeded in absconding and escaping a just punishment for -his crimes. The magistrate, however, was banished for perversion of -the law, and Chou was permitted to return home, his affection for -Ch'eng being now very much increased. But ever after the prosecution -and his friend's captivity, Mr. Ch'eng took a dismal view of human -affairs, and one day invited Chou to retire with him from the world. -The latter, who was deeply attached to his young wife, threw cold -water on the proposition, and Mr. Ch'eng pursued the subject no -farther, though his own mind was fully made up. Not seeing him for -some days afterwards, Mr. Chou sent to inquire about him at his house; -but there they all thought he was at Chou's, neither family, in fact, -having seen anything of him. This looked suspicious, and Chou, aware -of his peculiarity, sent off people to look for him, bidding them -search all the temples and monasteries in the neighbourhood. He also -from time to time supplied Ch'eng's son with money and other -necessaries. - -Eight or nine years had passed away when suddenly Ch'eng re-appeared, -clad in a yellow cap and stole, and wearing the expression of a Taoist -priest. Chou was delighted, and seized his arm, saying, "Where have -you been?--letting me search for you all over the place." "The -solitary cloud and the wild crane," replied Ch'eng, laughing, "have no -fixed place of abode. Since we last met my equanimity has happily been -restored." Chou then ordered wine, and they chatted together on what -had taken place in the interval. He also tried to persuade Ch'eng to -detach himself from the Taoist persuasion, but the latter only smiled -and answered nothing. "It is absurd!" argued Chou. "Why cast aside -your wife and child as you would an old pair of shoes?" "Not so," -answered Ch'eng; "a man may wish to cast aside his son, but how can he -do so?" Chou asked where he lived, to which he replied, "In the Great -Pure Mansion on Mount Lao." They then retired to sleep on the same -bed; and by-and-by Chou dreamt that Ch'eng was lying on his chest so -that he could not breathe. In a fright he asked him what he was doing, -but got no answer; and then he waked up with a start. Calling to -Ch'eng and receiving no reply, he sat up and stretched out his hand to -touch him. The latter, however, had vanished, he knew not whither. -When he got calm, he found he was lying at Ch'eng's end of the bed, -which rather startled him. "I was not tipsy last night," reflected he; -"how could I have got over here?" He next called his servants, and -when they came and struck a light, lo! he was Ch'eng. Now Chou had had -a beard, so he put up his hand to feel for it, but found only a few -straggling hairs. He then seized a mirror to look at himself, and -cried out in alarm: "If this is Mr. Ch'eng, where on earth am I?" By -this time he was wide awake, and knew that Ch'eng had employed magic -to induce him to retire from the world. He was on the point of -entering the ladies' apartments; but his brother, not recognising who -he was, stopped him, and would not let him go in; and as he himself -was unable to prove his own identity, he ordered his horse that he -might go in search of Ch'eng. After some days' journey he arrived at -Mount Lao; and, as his horse went along at a good rate, the servant -could not keep up with him. By-and-by he rested awhile under a tree, -and saw a great number of Taoist priests going backwards and forwards, -and among them was one who stared fixedly at him. So he inquired of -him where he should find Ch'eng; whereat the priest laughed and said, -"I know the name. He is probably in the Great Pure Mansion." When he -had given this answer he went on his way, Chou following him with his -eyes about a stone's throw, until he saw him speak with some one else, -and, after saying a few words, proceed onwards as before. The person -whom he had spoken with came on to where Chou was, and turned out to -be a fellow-townsman of his. He was much surprised at meeting Chou, -and said, "I haven't seen you for some years. They told me you had -gone to Mount Lao to be a Taoist priest. How is it you are still -amusing yourself among mortals?" Chou told him who he really was; upon -which the other replied, "Why, I thought the gentleman I just met was -you! He has only just left me, and can't have got very far." "Is it -possible," cried Chou, "that I didn't know my own face?" Just then -the servant came up, and away they went full speed, but could not -discover the object of their search. All around them was a vast -desert, and they were at a loss whether to go on or to return. But -Chou reflected that he had no longer any home to receive him, and -determined to carry out his design to the bitter end; but as the road -was dangerous for riding, he gave his horse to the servant, and bade -him go back. On he went cautiously by himself, until he spied a boy -sitting by the wayside alone. He hurried up to him and asked the boy -to direct him where he could find Mr. Ch'eng. "I am one of his -disciples," replied the lad; and, shouldering Chou's bundle, started -off to shew the way. They journeyed on together, taking their food by -the light of the stars, and sleeping in the open air, until, after -many miles of road, they arrived in three days at their destination. -But this Great Pure locality was not like that generally spoken of in -the world. Though as late as the middle of the tenth moon, there was a -great profusion of flowers along the road, quite unlike the beginning -of winter. The lad went in and announced the arrival of a stranger, -whereupon Mr. Ch'eng came out, and Chou recognised his own features. -Ch'eng grasped his hand and led him inside, where he prepared wine and -food, and they began to converse together. Chou noticed many birds of -strange plumage, so tame that they were not afraid of him; and these -from time to time would alight on the table and sing with voices like -Pan-pipes. He was very much astonished at all this, but a love of -mundane pleasures had eaten into his soul, and he had no intention of -stopping. On the ground were two rush-mats, upon which Ch'eng invited -his friend to sit down with him. Then about midnight a serene calm -stole over him; and while he was dozing off for a moment, he seemed to -change places with Ch'eng. Suspecting what had happened, he put his -hand up to his chin, and found it covered with a beard as before. At -dawn he was anxious to return home, but Ch'eng pressed him to stay; -and when three days had gone by Ch'eng said to him, "I pray you take a -little rest now: to-morrow I will set you on your way." Chou had -barely closed his eyelids before he heard Ch'eng call out, "Everything -is ready for starting!" So he got up and followed him along a road -other than that by which he had come, and in a very short time he saw -his home in the distance. In spite of Chou's entreaties, Ch'eng would -not accompany him so far, but made Chou go, waiting himself by the -roadside. So the latter went alone, and when he reached his house, -knocked at the door. Receiving no answer, he determined to get over -the wall, when he found that his body was as light as a leaf, and with -one spring he was over. In the same manner he passed several inner -walls, until he reached the ladies' apartments, where he saw by the -still burning lamp that the inmates had not yet retired for the night. -Hearing people talking within, he licked a hole in the paper -window[79] and peeped through, and saw his wife sitting drinking with -a most disreputable-looking fellow. Bursting with rage, his first -impulse was to surprise them in the act; but seeing there were two -against one, he stole away and let himself out by the entrance-gate, -hurrying off to Ch'eng, to whom he related what he had seen, and -finally begged his assistance. Ch'eng willingly went along with him; -and when they reached the room, Chou seized a big stone and hammered -loudly at the door. All was then confusion inside, so Chou hammered -again, upon which the door was barricaded more strongly than before. -Here Ch'eng came forward with his sword,[80] and burst the door open -with a crash. Chou rushed in, and the man inside rushed out; but -Ch'eng was there, and with his sword cut his arm right off. Chou -rudely seized his wife, and asked what it all meant; to which she -replied that the man was a friend who sometimes came to take a cup of -wine with them. Thereupon Chou borrowed Ch'eng's sword and cut off her -head,[81] hanging up the trunk on a tree in the court-yard. He then -went back with Ch'eng. By-and-by he awaked and found himself on the -bed, at which he was somewhat disturbed, and said, "I have had a -strangely-confused dream, which has given me a fright." "My brother," -replied Ch'eng, smiling, "you look upon dreams as realities: you -mistake realities for dreams." Chou asked what he meant by these -words; and then Ch'eng shewed him his sword besmeared with blood. Chou -was terrified, and sought to destroy himself; but all at once it -occurred to him that Ch'eng might be deceiving him again. Ch'eng -divined his suspicions, and made haste at once to see him home. In a -little while they arrived at the village-gate, and then Ch'eng said, -"Was it not here that, sword in hand, I awaited you that night? I -cannot look upon the unclean spot. I pray you go on, and let me stay -here. If you do not return by the afternoon, I will depart alone." -Chou then approached his house, which he found all shut up as if no -one was living there; so he went into his brother's. - -The latter, when he beheld Chou, began to weep bitterly, saying, -"After your departure, thieves broke into the house and killed my -sister-in-law, hanging her body upon a tree. Alas! alas! The murderers -have not yet been caught." Chou then told him the whole story of his -dream, and begged him to stop further proceedings; at all of which his -brother was perfectly lost in astonishment. Chou then asked after his -son, and his brother told the nurse to bring him in; whereupon the -former said, "Upon this infant are centered the hopes of our -race.[82] Tend him well; for I am going to bid adieu to the world." He -then took his leave, his brother following him all the time with tears -in his eyes to induce him to remain. But he heeded him not; and when -they reached the village-gate his brother saw him go away with Ch'eng. -From afar he looked back and said, "Forbear, and be happy!" His -brother would have replied; but here Ch'eng whisked his sleeve, and -they disappeared. The brother remained there for some time, and then -went back overwhelmed with grief. He was an unpractical man, and -before many years were over all the property was gone and the family -reduced to poverty. Chou's son, who was growing up, was thus unable to -secure the services of a tutor, and had no one but his uncle to teach -him. One morning, on going into the school-room, the uncle found a -letter lying on his desk addressed to himself in his brother's -handwriting. There was, however, nothing in it but a finger-nail about -four inches in length. Surprised at this, he laid the nail down on the -ink-slab while he went out to ask whence the letter had come. This no -one knew; but when he went back he found that the ink-stone had been -changed into a piece of shining yellow gold. More than ever -astonished, he tried the nail on copper and iron things, all of which -were likewise turned to gold. He thus became very rich, sharing his -wealth with Chou's son; and it was bruited about that the two families -possessed the secret of transmutation.[83] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[73] This is a characteristic touch. Only the most intimate of friends -ever see each other's wives. - -[74] Where the women of the family live, and into which no stranger -ever penetrates. Among other names by which a Chinese husband speaks -of his wife, a very common one is "the inner [wo]man." - -[75] Until which he would be safe, by virtue of his degree, from the -degrading penalty of the bamboo. - -[76] This is the instrument commonly used for flogging criminals in -China, and consists of a strip of split bamboo planed down smooth. -Strictly speaking there are two kinds, the _heavy_ and the _light_; -the former is now hardly if ever used. Until the reign of K'ang Hsi -all strokes were given across the back; but that humane Emperor -removed the _locus operandi_ lower down, "for fear of injuring the -liver or the lungs." - -[77] See No. VII., note 54. - -[78] It is a principle of Chinese jurisprudence that no sentence can -be passed until the prisoner has confessed his guilt--a principle, -however, not unfrequently set aside in practice. - -[79] Wooden frames covered with a semi-transparent paper are used all -over the northern provinces of China; in the south, oyster-shells, cut -square and planed down thin, are inserted tile-fashion in the long -narrow spaces of a wooden frame made to receive them, and used for the -same purpose. But glass is gradually finding its way into the houses -of the well-to-do, large quantities being made at Canton and exported -to various parts of the empire. - -[80] Every Taoist priest has a magic sword, corresponding to our -"magician's wand." - -[81] In China, a man has the right to slay his adulterous wife, but he -must slay her paramour also; both or neither. Otherwise, he lays -himself open to a prosecution for murder. The act completed, he is -further bound to proceed at once to the magistrate of the district and -report what he has done. - -[82] The importance of male offspring in Chinese social life is hardly -to be expressed in words. To the son is confided the task of -worshipping at the ancestral tombs, the care of the ancestral tablets, -and the due performance of all rites and ceremonies connected with the -departed dead. No Chinaman will die, if he can help it, without -leaving a son behind him. If his wife is childless he will buy a -concubine; and we are told on page 41, vol. xiii., of the _Liao Chai_, -that a good wife, "who at thirty years of age has not borne a child -should forthwith pawn her jewellery and purchase a concubine for her -husband; for to be without a son is hard indeed!" Another and a common -resource is to adopt a nephew; and sometimes a boy is bought from -starving parents, or from a professional kidnapper. Should a little -boy die, no matter how young, his parents do not permit even him to be -without the good offices of a son. They adopt some other child on his -behalf; and when the latter grows up it becomes his duty to perform -the proper ceremonies at his baby father's tomb. Girls do not enjoy -the luxury of this sham posterity. They are quietly buried in a hole -near the family vault, and their disembodied spirits are left to -wander about in the realms below uncared for and unappeased. Every -mother, however, shares in the ancestral worship, and her name is -recorded on the tombstone, side by side with that of her husband. -Hence it is that Chinese tombstones are always to the memory either of -a father or of a mother, or of both, with occasionally the addition of -the grandfather and grandmother, and sometimes even that of the -generation preceding. - -[83] The belief that a knowledge of alchemy is obtainable by leading -the life of a pure and perfect Taoist, is one of the numerous -additions in later ages to this ancient form of religion. See No. IV., -note 46. - - - - -XI. - -THE FIGHTING QUAILS. - - -Wang Ch'eng belonged to an old family in P'ing-yuean, but was such an -idle fellow that his property gradually disappeared, until at length -all he had left was an old tumble-down house. His wife and he slept -under a coarse hempen coverlet, and the former was far from sparing of -her reproaches. At the time of which we are speaking the weather was -unbearably hot; and Wang went to pass the night with many other of his -fellow-villagers in a pavilion which stood among some dilapidated -buildings belonging to a family named Chou. With the first streaks of -dawn his comrades departed; but Wang slept well on till about nine -o'clock, when he got up and proceeded leisurely home. All at once he -saw in the grass a gold hair-pin; and taking it up to look at it, -found engraved thereon in small characters--"The property of the -Imperial family." Now Wang's own grandfather had married into the -Imperial family,[84] and consequently he had formerly possessed many -similar articles; but while he was thinking it over up came an old -woman in search of the hair-pin, which Wang, who though poor was -honest, at once produced and handed to her. The old woman was -delighted, and thanked Wang very much for his goodness, observing that -the pin was not worth much in itself, but was a relic of her departed -husband. Wang asked what her husband had been; to which she replied, -"His name was Wang Chien-chih, and he was connected by marriage with -the Imperial family." "My own grandfather!" cried Wang, in great -surprise; "how could you have known him?" "You, then," said the old -woman, "are his grandson. I am a fox, and many years ago I was married -to your grandfather; but when he died I retired from the world. -Passing by here I lost my hair-pin, which destiny conveyed into your -hands." Wang had heard of his grandfather's fox-wife, and believing -therefore the old woman's story, invited her to return with him, which -she did. Wang called his wife out to receive her; but when she came in -rags and tatters, with unkempt hair and dirty face, the old woman -sighed, and said, "Alas! Alas! has Wang Chien-chih's grandson come to -this?" Then looking at the broken, smokeless stove, she added, "How, -under these circumstances, have you managed even to support life?" -Here Wang's wife told the tale of their poverty, with much sobbing and -tears; whereupon the old woman gave her the hair-pin, bidding her go -pawn it, and with the proceeds buy some food, saying that in three -days she would visit them again. Wang pressed her to stay, but she -said, "You can't even keep your wife alive; what would it benefit you -to have me also dependent on you?" So she went away, and then Wang -told his wife who she was, at which his wife felt very much alarmed; -but Wang was so loud in her praises, that finally his wife consented -to treat her with all proper respect. In three days she returned as -agreed, and, producing some money, sent out for a hundred-weight of -rice and a hundred-weight of corn. She passed the night with them, -sleeping with Mrs. Wang, who was at first rather frightened, but who -soon laid aside her suspicions when she found that the old lady meant -so well towards them. Next day, the latter addressed Wang, saying, "My -grandson, you must not be so lazy. You should try to make a little -money in some way or other." Wang replied that he had no capital; upon -which the old lady said, "When your grandfather was alive, he allowed -me to take what money I liked; but not being a mortal, I had no use -for it, and consequently did not draw largely upon him. I have, -however, saved from my pin-money the sum of forty ounces of silver, -which has long been lying idle for want of an investment. Take it, and -buy summer cloth, which you may carry to the capital and re-sell at a -profit." So Wang bought some fifty pieces of summer cloth; and the old -lady made him get ready, calculating that in six or seven days he -would reach the capital. She also warned him, saying, - - "Be neither lazy nor slow-- - For if a day too long you wait, - Repentance comes a day too late." - -Wang promised all obedience, and packed up his goods and went off. On -the road he was overtaken by a rain-storm which soaked him through to -the skin; and as he was not accustomed to be out in bad weather, it -was altogether too much for him. He accordingly sought shelter in an -inn, but the rain went on steadily till night, running over the eaves -of the house like so many ropes. Next morning the roads were in a -horrible state; and Wang, watching the passers-by slipping about in -the slush, unable to see any path, dared not face it all, and remained -until noon, when it began to dry up a little. Just then, however, the -clouds closed over again, and down came the rain in torrents, causing -him to stay another night before he could go on. When he was nearing -the capital, he heard to his great joy that summer cloth was at a -premium; and on arrival proceeded at once to take up his quarters at -an inn. There the landlord said it was a pity he had come so late, as -communications with the south having been only recently opened, the -supply of summer cloth had been small; and there being a great demand -for it among the wealthy families of the metropolis, its price had -gone up to three times the usual figure. "But," he added, "two days -ago several large consignments arrived, and the price went down again, -so that the late comers have lost their market." Poor Wang was thus -left in the lurch, and as every day more summer cloth came in, the -value of it fell in a corresponding ratio. Wang would not part with -his at a loss, and held on for some ten days, when his expenses for -board and lodging were added to his present distress. The landlord -urged him to sell even at a loss, and turn his attention to something -else, which he ultimately did, losing over ten ounces of silver on his -venture. Next day he rose in the morning to depart, but on looking in -his purse found all his money gone. He rushed away to tell the -landlord, who, however, could do nothing for him. Some one then -advised him to take out a summons and make the landlord reimburse him; -but he only sighed, and said, "It is my destiny, and no fault of the -landlord's." Thereupon the landlord was very grateful to him, and gave -him five ounces of silver to enable him to go home. He did not care, -however, to face his grandmother empty-handed, and remained in a very -undecided state, until suddenly he saw a quail-catcher winning heaps -of money by fighting his birds, and selling them at over 100 _cash_ -a-piece. He then determined to lay out his five ounces of silver in -quails, and pay back the landlord out of the profits. The latter -approved very highly of this plan, and not only agreed to lend him a -room but also to charge him little or nothing for his board. So Wang -went off rejoicing, and bought two large baskets of quails, with which -he returned to the city, to the great satisfaction of the landlord -who advised him to lose no time in disposing of them. All that night -it poured in torrents, and the next morning the streets were like -rivers, the rain still continuing to fall. Wang waited for it to clear -up, but several days passed and still there were no signs of fine -weather. He then went to look at his quails, some of which he found -dead and others dying. He was much alarmed at this, but was quite at a -loss what to do; and by the next day a lot more had died, so that only -a few were left, which he fed all together in one basket. The day -after this he went again to look at them, and lo! there remained but a -single quail. With tears in his eyes he told the landlord what had -happened, and he, too, was much affected. Wang then reflected that he -had no money left to carry him home, and that he could not do better -than cease to live. But the landlord spoke to him and soothed him, and -they went together to look at the quail. "This is a fine bird," said -the landlord, "and it strikes me that it has simply killed the others. -Now, as you have got nothing to do, just set to work and train it; and -if it is good for anything, why you'll be able to make a living out of -it." Wang did as he was told; and when the bird was trained, the -landlord bade him take it into the street and gamble for something to -eat. This, too, he did, and his quail won every main; whereupon the -landlord gave him some money to bet with the young fellows of the -neighbourhood. Everything turned out favourably, and by the end of six -months he had saved twenty ounces of silver, so that he became quite -easy in his mind and looked upon the quail as a dispensation of his -destiny. - -Now one of the princes was passionately fond of quail-fighting, and -always at the Feast of Lanterns anybody who owned quails might go and -fight them in the palace against the prince's birds. The landlord -therefore said to Wang, "Here is a chance of enriching yourself by a -single stroke; only I can't say what your luck will do for you." He -then explained to him what it was, and away they went together, the -landlord saying, "If you lose, burst out into lamentations; but if you -are lucky enough to win, and the prince wishes, as he will, to buy -your bird, don't consent. If he presses you very much watch for a nod -from me before you agree." This settled, they proceeded to the palace -where they found crowds of quail-fighters already on the ground; and -then the prince came forth, heralds proclaiming to the multitude that -any who wished to fight their birds might come up. Some man at once -stepped forward, and the prince gave orders for the quails to be -released; but at the first strike the stranger's quail was knocked out -of time. The prince smiled, and by-and-by won several more mains, -until at last the landlord said, "Now's our time," and went up -together with Wang. The Prince looked at their bird and said, "It has -a fierce-looking eye and strong feathers. We must be careful what we -are doing." So he commanded his servants to bring out Iron Beak to -oppose Wang's bird; but, after a couple of strikes, the prince's quail -was signally defeated. He sent for a better bird, but that shared the -same fate; and then he cried out, "Bring the Jade Bird from the -palace!" In a little time it arrived, with pure white feathers like an -egret, and an unusually martial appearance. Wang was much alarmed, and -falling on his knees prayed to be excused this main, saying, "Your -highness's bird is too good. I fear lest mine should be wounded, and -my livelihood be taken from me." But the Prince laughed and said, "Go -on. If your quail is killed I will make it up to you handsomely." Wang -then released his bird and the prince's quail rushed at it at once; -but when the Jade bird was close by, Wang's quail awaited its coming -head down and full of rage. The former made a violent peck at its -adversary, and then sprung up to swoop down on it. Thus they went on -up and down, backwards and forwards, until at length they got hold of -each other, and the prince's bird was beginning to show signs of -exhaustion. This enraged it all the more, and it fought more violently -than ever; but soon a perfect snowstorm of feathers began to fall, -and, with drooping wings, the Jade bird made its escape. The -spectators were much moved by the result; and the prince himself, -taking up Wang's bird, examined it closely from beak to claws, finally -asking if it was for sale. "My sole dependence," replied Wang, "is -upon this bird. I would rather not part with it." "But," said the -prince, "if I give you as much as the capital, say of an ordinary -tradesman, will not that tempt you?" Wang thought some time, and then -answered, "I would rather not sell my bird; but as your highness has -taken a fancy to it I will only ask enough to find me in food and -clothes." "How much do you want?" inquired the prince; to which Wang -replied that he would take a thousand ounces of silver. "You fool!" -cried the Prince; "do you think your bird is such a jewel as all -that?" "If your highness," said Wang, "does not think the bird a -jewel, I value it more than that stone which was priced at fifteen -cities." "How so?" asked the prince. "Why," said Wang, "I take my bird -every day into the market-place. It there wins for me several ounces -of silver, which I exchange for rice; and my family, over ten in -number, has nothing to fear from either cold or hunger. What jewel -could do that?" "You shall not lose anything," replied the prince; "I -will give you two hundred ounces." But Wang would not consent, and -then the prince added another hundred; whereupon Wang looked at the -landlord, who, however, made no sign. Wang then offered to take nine -hundred; but the prince ridiculed the idea of paying such a price for -a quail, and Wang was preparing to take his leave with the bird, when -the prince called him back, saying, "Here! here! I will give you six -hundred. Take it or leave it as you please." Wang here looked at the -landlord, and the landlord remained motionless as before. However, -Wang was satisfied himself with this offer, and being afraid of -missing his chance, said to his friend, "If I get this price for it I -shall be quite content. If we go on haggling and finally come to no -terms, that will be a very poor end to it all." So he took the -prince's offer, and the latter, overjoyed, caused the money to be -handed to him. Wang then returned with his earnings; but the landlord -said to him, "What did I say to you? You were in too much of a hurry -to sell. Another minute, and you would have got eight hundred." When -Wang got back he threw the money on the table and told the landlord to -take what he liked; but the latter would not, and it was only after -some pressing that he would accept payment for Wang's board. Wang then -packed up and went home, where he told his story and produced his -silver to the great delight of all of them. The old lady counselled -the purchase of a quantity of land, the building of a house, and the -purchase of implements; and in a very short time they became a wealthy -family. The old lady always got up early in the morning and made Wang -attend to the farm, his wife to her spinning; and rated them soundly -at any signs of laziness. The husband and wife henceforth lived in -peace, and no longer abused each other, until at the expiration of -three years the old lady declared her intention of bidding them adieu. -They both tried to stop her, and with the aid of tears succeeded in -persuading her; but the next day she had disappeared.[85] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[84] The direct issue of the Emperors of the present dynasty and their -descendants in the male line for ever are entitled to wear a yellow -girdle in token of their relationship to the Imperial family, each -generation becoming a degree lower in rank, but always retaining this -distinctive badge. Members of the collateral branches wear a red -girdle, and are commonly known as _gioros_. With the lapse of two -hundred and fifty years, the wearers of these badges have become -numerous, and in many cases disreputable; and they are now to be found -even among the lowest dregs of Chinese social life. - -[85] Quail fighting is not so common now in China as it appears to -have been formerly. Cricket-fighting is, however, a very favourite -form of gambling, large quantities of these insects being caught every -year for this purpose, and considerable sums frequently staked on the -result of a contest between two champions. - - - - -XII. - -THE PAINTED SKIN. - - -At T'ai-yuean there lived a man named Wang. One morning he was out -walking when he met a young lady carrying a bundle and hurrying along -by herself. As she moved along with some difficulty,[86] Wang -quickened his pace and caught her up, and found she was a pretty girl -of about sixteen. Much smitten he inquired whither she was going so -early, and no one with her. "A traveller like you," replied the girl, -"cannot alleviate my distress; why trouble yourself to ask?" "What -distress is it?" said Wang; "I'm sure I'll do anything I can for you." -"My parents," answered she, "loved money, and they sold me as -concubine into a rich family, where the wife was very jealous, and -beat and abused me morning and night. It was more than I could stand, -so I have run away." Wang asked her where she was going; to which she -replied that a runaway had no fixed place of abode. "My house," said -Wang, "is at no great distance; what do you say to coming there?" She -joyfully acquiesced; and Wang, taking up her bundle, led the way to -his house. Finding no one there, she asked Wang where his family were; -to which he replied that that was only the library. "And a very nice -place, too," said she; "but if you are kind enough to wish to save my -life, you mustn't let it be known that I am here." Wang promised he -would not divulge her secret, and so she remained there for some days -without anyone knowing anything about it. He then told his wife, and -she, fearing the girl might belong to some influential family, advised -him to send her away. This, however, he would not consent to do; when -one day, going into the town, he met a Taoist priest, who looked at -him in astonishment, and asked him what he had met. "I have met -nothing," replied Wang. "Why," said the priest, "you are bewitched; -what do you mean by not having met anything?" But Wang insisted that -it was so, and the priest walked away, saying, "The fool! Some people -don't seem to know when death is at hand." This startled Wang, who at -first thought of the girl; but then he reflected that a pretty young -thing as she was couldn't well be a witch, and began to suspect that -the priest merely wanted to do a stroke of business. When he returned, -the library door was shut, and he couldn't get in, which made him -suspect that something was wrong; and so he climbed over the wall, -where he found the door of the inner room shut too. Softly creeping -up, he looked through the window and saw a hideous devil, with a green -face and jagged teeth like a saw, spreading a human skin upon the bed -and painting it with a paint-brush. The devil then threw aside the -brush, and giving the skin a shake out, just as you would a coat, -threw it over its shoulders, when, lo! it was the girl. Terrified at -this, Wang hurried away with his head down in search of the priest who -had gone he knew not whither; subsequently finding him in the fields, -where he threw himself on his knees and begged the priest to save him. -"As to driving her away," said the priest, "the creature must be in -great distress to be seeking a substitute for herself;[87] besides, I -could hardly endure to injure a living thing."[88] However, he gave -Wang a fly-brush, and bade him hang it at the door of the bedroom, -agreeing to meet again at the Ch'ing-ti temple. Wang went home, but -did not dare enter the library; so he hung up the brush at the bedroom -door, and before long heard a sound of footsteps outside. Not daring -to move, he made his wife peep out; and she saw the girl standing -looking at the brush, afraid to pass it. She then ground her teeth and -went away; but in a little while came back, and began cursing, saying, -"You priest, you won't frighten me. Do you think I am going to give up -what is already in my grasp?" Thereupon, she tore the brush to pieces, -and bursting open the door, walked straight up to the bed, where she -ripped open Wang and tore out his heart, with which she went away. -Wang's wife screamed out, and the servant came in with a light; but -Wang was already dead and presented a most miserable spectacle. His -wife, who was in an agony of fright, hardly dared cry for fear of -making a noise; and next day she sent Wang's brother to see the -priest. The latter got into a great rage, and cried out, "Was it for -this that I had compassion on you, devil that you are?" proceeding at -once with Wang's brother to the house, from which the girl had -disappeared without anyone knowing whither she had gone. But the -priest, raising his head, looked all round, and said, "Luckily she's -not far off." He then asked who lived in the apartments on the south -side, to which Wang's brother replied that he did; whereupon the -priest declared that there she would be found. Wang's brother was -horribly frightened and said he did not think so; and then the priest -asked him if any stranger had been to the house. To this he answered -that he had been out to the Ch'ing-ti temple and couldn't possibly -say; but he went off to inquire, and in a little while came back and -reported that an old woman had sought service with them as a -maid-of-all-work, and had been engaged by his wife. "That is she," -said the priest, as Wang's brother added she was still there; and they -all set out to go to the house together. Then the priest took his -wooden sword, and standing in the middle of the court-yard, shouted -out, "Base-born fiend, give me back my fly-brush!" Meanwhile the new -maid-of-all-work was in a great state of alarm, and tried to get away -by the door; but the priest struck her and down she fell flat, the -human skin dropped off, and she became a hideous devil. There she lay -grunting like a pig, until the priest grasped his wooden sword and -struck off her head. She then became a dense column of smoke curling -up from the ground, when the priest took an uncorked gourd and threw -it right into the midst of the smoke. A sucking noise was heard, and -the whole column was drawn into the gourd; after which the priest -corked it up closely and put it in his pouch.[89] The skin, too, which -was complete even to the eyebrows, eyes, hands, and feet, he also -rolled up as if it had been a scroll, and was on the point of leaving -with it, when Wang's wife stopped him, and with tears entreated him to -bring her husband to life. The priest said he was unable to do that; -but Wang's wife flung herself at his feet, and with loud lamentations -implored his assistance. For some time he remained immersed in -thought, and then replied, "My power is not equal to what you ask. I -myself cannot raise the dead; but I will direct you to some one who -can, and if you apply to him properly you will succeed." Wang's wife -asked the priest who it was; to which he replied, "There is a maniac -in the town who passes his time grovelling in the dirt. Go, prostrate -yourself before him, and beg him to help you. If he insults you, shew -no sign of anger." Wang's brother knew the man to whom he alluded, and -accordingly bade the priest adieu, and proceeded thither with his -sister-in-law. - -They found the destitute creature raving away by the road side, so -filthy that it was all they could do to go near him. Wang's wife -approached him on her knees; at which the maniac leered at her, and -cried out, "Do you love me, my beauty?" Wang's wife told him what she -had come for, but he only laughed and said, "You can get plenty of -other husbands. Why raise the dead one to life?" But Wang's wife -entreated him to help her; whereupon he observed, "It's very strange: -people apply to me to raise their dead as if I was king of the -infernal regions." He then gave Wang's wife a thrashing with his -staff, which she bore without a murmur, and before a gradually -increasing crowd of spectators. After this he produced a loathsome -pill which he told her she must swallow, but here she broke down and -was quite unable to do so. However, she did manage it at last, and -then the maniac crying out, "How you do love me!" got up and went away -without taking any more notice of her. They followed him into a temple -with loud supplications, but he had disappeared, and every effort to -find him was unsuccessful. Overcome with rage and shame, Wang's wife -went home, where she mourned bitterly over her dead husband, -grievously repenting the steps she had taken, and wishing only to die. -She then bethought herself of preparing the corpse, near which none of -the servants would venture; and set to work to close up the frightful -wound of which he died. - -While thus employed, interrupted from time to time by her sobs, she -felt a rising lump in her throat, which by-and-by came out with a pop -and fell straight into the dead man's wound. Looking closely at it, -she saw it was a human heart; and then it began as it were to throb, -emitting a warm vapour like smoke. Much excited, she at once closed -the flesh over it, and held the sides of the wound together with all -her might. Very soon, however, she got tired, and finding the vapour -escaping from the crevices, she tore up a piece of silk and bound it -round, at the same time bringing back circulation by rubbing the body -and covering it up with clothes. In the night, she removed the -coverings, and found that breath was coming from the nose; and by -next morning her husband was alive again, though disturbed in mind as -if awaking from a dream and feeling a pain in his heart. Where he had -been wounded, there was a cicatrix about as big as a cash, which soon -after disappeared. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[86] Impeded, of course, by her small feet. This practice is said to -have originated about A.D. 970, with Yao Niang, the concubine of the -pretender Li Yue, who wished to make her feet like the "new moon." The -Manchu or Tartar ladies have not adopted this custom, and therefore -the empresses of modern times have feet of the natural size; neither -is it in force among the Hakkas or hill-tribes of China and Formosa. -The practice was forbidden in 1664 by the Manchu Emperor, K'ang Hsi; -but popular feeling was so strong on the subject that four years -afterwards the prohibition was withdrawn. Protestant missionaries are -now making a dead set at this shameful custom, but so far with very -indifferent success; as parents who do not cramp the feet of their -daughters would experience no small difficulty in finding husbands for -them when they grow up. Besides, the gait of a young lady hobbling -along, as we should say, seems to be much admired by the other sex. -The following seven reasons why this custom still keeps its hold upon -the Chinese mind emanate from a native convert:-- - -"1st.--If a girl's feet are not bound, people say she is not like a -woman but like a man; they laugh at her, calling her names, and her -parents are ashamed of her. - -"2nd.--Girls are like flowers, like the willow. It is very important -that their feet should be bound short so that they can walk -beautifully, with mincing steps, swaying gracefully, thus showing they -are persons of respectability. People praise them. If not bound short, -they say the mother has not trained her daughter carefully. She goes -from house to house with noisy steps, and is called names. Therefore -careful persons bind short. - -"3rd.--One of a good family does not wish to marry a woman with long -feet. She is commiserated because her feet are not perfect. If -betrothed, and the size of her feet is not discovered till after -marriage, her husband and mother-in-law are displeased, her -sisters-in-law laugh at her, and she herself is sad. - -"4th.--The large footed has to do rough work, does not sit in a sedan -when she goes out, walks in the streets barefooted, has no red -clothes, does not eat the best food. She is wetted by the rain, tanned -by the sun, blown upon by the wind. If unwilling to do all the rough -work of the house she is called 'gormandizing and lazy.' Perhaps she -decides to go out as a servant. She has no fame and honour. To escape -all this her parents bind her feet. - -"5th.--There _are_ those with unbound feet who do no heavy work, wear -gay clothing, ride in a sedan, call others to wait upon them. Although -so fine they are low and mean. If a girl's feet are unbound, she -cannot be distinguished from one of these. - -"6th.--Girls are like gold, like gems. They ought to stay in their own -house. If their feet are not bound they go here and go there with -unfitting associates; they have no good name. They are like defective -gems that are rejected. - -"7th.--Parents are covetous. They think small feet are pleasing and -will command a high price for a bride."--_On Foot-Binding_, by Miss S. -Woolston. - -[87] The disembodied spirits of the Chinese _Inferno_ are permitted, -under certain conditions of time and good conduct, to appropriate to -themselves the vitality of some human being, who, as it were, -exchanges places with the so-called "devil." The devil does not, -however, reappear as the mortal whose life it has become possessed of, -but is merely born again into the world; the idea being that the -amount of life on earth is a constant quantity, and cannot be -increased or diminished, reminding one in a way of the great modern -doctrine of the conservation of energy. This curious belief has an -important bearing that will be brought out in a subsequent story. - -[88] Here again is a Taoist priest quoting the Buddhist commandment, -"Thou shalt not take life." The Buddhist laity in China, who do not -hesitate to take life for the purposes of food, salve their -consciences from time to time by buying birds, fishes, &c., and -letting them go, in the hope that such acts will be set down on the -credit side of their record of good and evil. - -[89] This recalls the celebrated story of the fisherman in the -_Arabian Nights_. - - - - -XIII. - -THE TRADER'S SON. - - -In the province of Hunan there dwelt a man who was engaged in trading -abroad; and his wife, who lived alone, dreamt one night that some one -was in her room. Waking up, she looked about, and discovered a small -creature which on examination she knew to be a fox; but in a moment -the thing had disappeared, although the door had not been opened. The -next evening she asked the cook-maid to come and keep her company; as -also her own son, a boy of ten, who was accustomed to sleep elsewhere. -Towards the middle of the night, when the cook and the boy were fast -asleep, back came the fox; and the cook was waked up by hearing her -mistress muttering something as if she had nightmare. The former then -called out, and the fox ran away; but from that moment the trader's -wife was not quite herself. When night came she dared not blow out the -candle, and bade her son be sure and not sleep too soundly. Later on, -her son and the old woman having taken a nap as they leant against the -wall, suddenly waked up and found her gone. They waited some time, but -she did not return, and the cook was too frightened to go and look -after her; so her son took a light, and at length found her fast -asleep in another room. She didn't seem aware that anything particular -had happened, but she became queerer and queerer every day, and -wouldn't have either her son or the cook to keep her company any more. -Her son, however, made a point of running at once into his mother's -room if he heard any unusual sounds; and though his mother always -abused him for his pains, he paid no attention to what she said. At -the same time, the more people urged him on to keep a sharp look-out, -the more eccentric were his mother's ways. One day she played at being -a mason, and piled up stones upon the window-sill, in spite of all -that was said to her; and if anyone took away a stone, she threw -herself on the ground, and cried like a child, so that nobody dared go -near her. In a few days she had got both windows blocked up and the -light excluded; and then she set to filling up the chinks with mud. -She worked hard all day without minding the trouble, and when it was -finished she smoothed it off with the kitchen chopper. Everyone who -saw her was disgusted with such antics, and would take no notice of -her. At night her son darkened his lamp, and, with a knife concealed -on his person, sat waiting for his mother to mutter. As soon as she -began he uncovered his light, and, blocking up the doorway, shouted -out at the top of his voice. Nothing, however, happened, and he moved -from the door a little way, when suddenly out rushed something like a -fox, which was disappearing through the door, when he made a quick -movement and cut off about two inches of its tail, from which the warm -blood was still dripping as he brought the light to bear upon it. His -mother hereupon cursed and reviled him, but he pretended not to hear -her, regretting only as he went to bed that he hadn't hit the brute -fair. But he consoled himself by thinking that although he hadn't -killed it outright, he had done enough to prevent it coming again. On -the morrow he followed the tracks of blood over the wall and into the -garden of a family named Ho; and that night, to his great joy, the fox -did not reappear. His mother was meanwhile prostrate, with hardly any -life in her, and in the midst of it all his father came home. The boy -told him what had happened, at which he was much alarmed, and sent for -a doctor to attend his wife; but she only threw the medicine away, and -cursed and swore horribly. So they secretly mixed the medicine with -her tea and soup, and in a few days she began to get better, to the -inexpressible delight of both her husband and son. One night, however, -her husband woke up and found her gone; and after searching for her -with the aid of his son, they discovered her sleeping in another room. -From that time she became more eccentric than ever, and was always -being found in strange places, cursing those who tried to remove her. -Her husband was at his wits' end. It was no use keeping the door -locked, for it opened of itself at her approach; and he had called in -any number of magicians to exorcise the fox, but without obtaining the -slightest result. One evening her son concealed himself in the Ho -family garden, and lay down in the long grass with a view to detecting -the fox's retreat. As the moon rose he heard the sound of voices, and, -pushing aside the grass, saw two people drinking, with a long-bearded -servant pouring out their wine, dressed in an old dark-brown coat. -They were whispering together, and he could not make out what they -said; but by-and-by he heard one of them remark, "Get some white wine -for to-morrow," and then they went away, leaving the long-bearded -servant alone. The latter then threw off his coat, and lay down to -sleep on the stones; whereupon the trader's son eyed him carefully, -and saw that he was like a man in every respect except that he had a -tail. The boy would then have gone home; but he was afraid the fox -might hear him, and accordingly remained where he was till near dawn, -when he saw the other two come back, one at a time, and then they all -disappeared among the bushes. On reaching home his father asked him -where he had been, and he replied that he had stopped the night with -the Ho family. He then accompanied his father to the town, where he -saw hanging up at a hat-shop a fox's tail, and finally, after much -coaxing, succeeded in making his father buy it for him. While the -latter was engaged in a shop, his son, who was playing about beside -him, availed himself of a moment when his father was not looking and -stole some money from him, and went off and bought a quantity of white -wine, which he left in charge of the wine-merchant. Now an uncle of -his, who was a sportsman by trade, lived in the city, and thither he -next betook himself. His uncle was out, but his aunt was there, and -inquired after the health of his mother. "She has been better the last -few days," replied he; "but she is now very much upset by a rat having -gnawed a dress of hers, and has sent me to ask for some poison." His -aunt opened the cupboard and gave him about the tenth of an ounce in a -piece of paper, which he thought was very little; so, when his aunt -had gone to get him something to eat, he took the opportunity of being -alone, opened the packet, and abstracted a large handful. Hiding this -in his coat, he ran to tell his aunt that she needn't prepare anything -for him, as his father was waiting in the market, and he couldn't stop -to eat it. He then went off; and having quietly dropped the poison -into the wine he had bought, went sauntering about the town. At -nightfall he returned home, and told his father that he had been at -his uncle's. This he continued to do for some time, until one day he -saw amongst the crowd his long-bearded friend. Marking him closely, he -followed him, and at length entered into conversation, asking him -where he lived. "I live at Pei-ts'un," said he; "where do you live?" -"I," replied the trader's son, falsely, "live in a hole on the -hill-side." The long-bearded man was considerably startled at his -answer, but much more so when he added, "We've lived there for -generations: haven't _you_?" The other then asked his name, to which -the boy replied, "My name is Hu.[90] I saw you with two gentlemen in -the Ho family garden, and haven't forgotten you." Questioning him more -fully, the long-bearded man was still in a half-and-half state of -belief and doubt, when the trader's son opened his coat a little bit, -and showed him the end of the tail he had bought, saying, "The like -of us can mix with ordinary people, but unfortunately we can never get -rid of this." The long-bearded man then asked him what he was doing -there, to which he answered that his father had sent him to buy wine; -whereupon the former remarked that that was exactly what he had come -for, and the boy then inquired if he had bought it yet or not. "We are -poor," replied the stranger, "and as a rule I prefer to steal it." "A -difficult and dangerous job," observed the boy. "I have my master's -instructions to get some," said the other, "and what am I to do?" The -boy then asked him who his masters were, to which he replied that they -were the two brothers the boy had seen that night. "One of them has -bewitched a lady named Wang; and the other, the wife of a trader who -lives near. The son of the last-mentioned lady is a violent fellow, -and cut off my master's tail, so that he was laid up for ten days. But -he is putting her under spells again now." He was then going away, -saying he should never get his wine; but the boy said to him, "It's -much easier to buy than steal. I have some at the wine-shop there -which I will give to you. My purse isn't empty, and I can buy some -more." The long-bearded man hardly knew how to thank him; but the boy -said, "We're all one family. Don't mention such a trifle. When I have -time I'll come and take a drink with you." So they went off together -to the wine-shop, where the boy gave him the wine and they then -separated. That night his mother slept quietly and had no fits, and -the boy knew that something must have happened. He then told his -father, and they went to see if there were any results; when lo! they -found both foxes stretched out dead in the arbour. One of the foxes -was lying on the grass, and out of its mouth blood was still -trickling. The wine-bottle was there; and on shaking it they heard -that some was left. Then his father asked him why he had kept it all -so secret; to which the boy replied that foxes were very sagacious, -and would have been sure to scent the plot. Thereupon his father was -mightily pleased, and said he was a perfect Ulysses[91] for cunning. -They then carried the foxes home, and saw on the tail of one of them -the scar of a knife-wound. From that time they were left in peace; but -the trader's wife became very thin, and though her reason returned, -she shortly afterwards died of consumption. The other lady, Mrs. Wang, -began to get better as soon as the foxes had been killed; and as to -the boy, he was taught riding and archery[92] by his proud parent, and -subsequently rose to high rank in the army. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[90] _Hu_ is the sound of the character for "fox;" it is also the -sound of quite a different character, which is used as a surname. - -[91] The name of the Chinese type was Ch'en P'ing. See Mayer's -_Reader's Manual_, No. 102. - -[92] At the date at which we are writing skill in archery is still _de -rigueur_ for all Manchus, and for those who would rise in the Chinese -army. Only the other day the progressive Governor-General of the Two -Kiang, Shen Pao-chen, memorialised the Throne with a view to the -abandonment of this effete and useless form of military drill, and -received a direct snub for his pains. Two hundred odd years ago, when -the Manchus were establishing their power, the dexterity of their -bowmen doubtless stood them in good stead; though if we are to judge -of their skill then by the ordinary practice of to-day, as seen on any -Chinese parade-ground, they could never have been more than very -third-rate archers after all. - - - - -XIV. - -JUDGE LU. - - -At Ling-yang there lived a man named Chu Erh-tan, whose literary -designation[93] was Hsiao-ming. He was a fine manly fellow, but an -egregious dunce, though he tried hard to learn. One day he was taking -wine with a number of fellow-students, when one of them said to him, -by way of a joke, "People credit you with plenty of pluck. Now, if you -will go in the middle of the night to the Chamber of Horrors,[94] and -bring back the Infernal Judge from the left-hand porch, we'll all -stand you a dinner." For at Ling-yang there was a representation of -the Ten Courts of Purgatory, with the Gods and devils carved in wood, -and almost life-like in appearance; and in the eastern vestibule there -was a full-length image of the Judge with a green face, and a red -beard, and a hideous expression in his features. Sometimes sounds of -examination under the whip were heard to issue during the night from -both porches, and persons who went in found their hair standing on end -from fear; so the other young men thought it would be a capital test -for Mr. Chu. Thereupon Chu smiled, and rising from his seat went -straight off to the temple; and before many minutes had elapsed they -heard him shouting outside, "His Excellency has arrived!" At this they -all got up, and in came Chu with the image on his back, which he -proceeded to deposit on the table, and then poured out a triple -libation in its honour. His comrades who were watching what he did, -felt ill at ease, and did not like to resume their seats; so they -begged him to carry the Judge back again. But he first poured some -wine upon the ground, invoking the image as follows:--"I am only a -fool-hardy, illiterate fellow: I pray Your Excellency excuse me. My -house is close by, and whenever Your Excellency feels so disposed I -shall be glad to take a cup of wine with you in a friendly way." He -then carried the Judge back, and the next day his friends gave him the -promised dinner, from which he went home half-tipsy in the evening. -But not feeling that he had had enough, he brightened up his lamp, and -helped himself to another cup of wine, when suddenly the bamboo -curtain was drawn aside, and in walked the Judge. Mr. Chu got up and -said, "Oh, dear! Your Excellency has come to cut off my head for my -rudeness the other night." The Judge parted his thick beard, and -smiling, replied, "Nothing of the kind. You kindly invited me last -night to visit you; and as I have leisure this evening, here I am." -Chu was delighted at this, and made his guest sit down, while he -himself wiped the cups and lighted a fire.[95] "It's warm weather," -said the Judge; "let's drink the wine cold." Chu obeyed, and putting -the bottle on the table, went out to tell his servants to get some -supper. His wife was much alarmed when she heard who was there, and -begged him not to go back; but he only waited until the things were -ready, and then returned with them. They drank out of each other's -cups,[96] and by-and-by Chu asked the name of his guest. "My name is -Lu," replied the Judge; "I have no other names." They then conversed -on literary subjects, one capping the other's quotation as echo -responds to sound. The Judge then asked Chu if he understood -composition; to which he answered that he could just tell good from -bad; whereupon the former repeated a little infernal poetry which was -not very different from that of mortals. He was a deep drinker, and -took off ten goblets at a draught; but Chu who had been at it all day, -soon got dead drunk and fell fast asleep with his head on the table. -When he waked up the candle had burnt out and day was beginning to -break, his guest having already departed; and from this time the Judge -was in the habit of dropping in pretty often, until a close friendship -sprang up between them. Sometimes the latter would pass the night at -the house, and Chu would show him his essays, all of which the Judge -scored and underlined as being good for nothing. One night Chu got -tipsy and went to bed first, leaving the Judge drinking by himself. In -his drunken sleep he seemed to feel a pain in his stomach, and waking -up he saw that the Judge, who was standing by the side of the bed, had -opened him, and was carefully arranging his inside. "What harm have I -done you?" cried Chu, "that you should thus seek to destroy me?" -"Don't be afraid," replied the Judge, laughing, "I am only providing -you with a more intelligent heart."[97] He then quietly put back Chu's -viscera, and closed up the opening, securing it with a bandage tied -tightly round his waist. There was no blood on the bed, and all Chu -felt was a slight numbness in his inside. Here he observed the Judge -place a piece of flesh upon the table, and asked him what it was. -"Your heart," said the latter, "which wasn't at all good at -composition, the proper orifice being stuffed up.[98] I have now -provided you with a better one, which I procured from Hades, and I am -keeping yours to put in its place."[99] He then opened the door and -took his leave. In the morning Chu undid the bandage, and looked at -his waist, the wound on which had quite healed up, leaving only a red -seam. From that moment he became an apt scholar, and found his memory -much improved; so much so, that a few days afterwards he showed an -essay to the Judge for which he was very much commended. "However," -said the latter, "your success will be limited to the master's degree. -You won't get beyond that." "When shall I take it?" asked Chu. "This -year," replied the Judge. And so it turned out. Chu passed first on -the list for the bachelor's degree, and then among the first five for -the master's degree. His old comrades, who had been accustomed to make -a laughing-stock of him, were now astonished to find him a full blown -M.A., and when they learned how it had come about, they begged Chu to -speak to the Judge on their behalf. The Judge promised to assist them, -and they made all ready to receive him; but when in the evening he did -come, they were so frightened at his red beard and flashing eyes that -their teeth chattered in their heads, and one by one they stole away. -Chu then took the Judge home with him to have a cup together, and when -the wine had mounted well into his head, he said, "I am deeply -grateful to Your Excellency's former kindness in arranging my inside; -but there is still another favour I venture to ask which possibly may -be granted." The Judge asked him what it was; and Chu replied, "If you -can change a person's inside, you surely could also change his face. -Now my wife is not at all a bad figure, but she is very ugly. I pray -Your Excellency try the knife upon her." The Judge laughed, and said -he would do so, only it would be necessary to give him a little time. -Some days subsequently, the Judge knocked at Chu's door towards the -middle of the night; whereupon the latter jumped up and invited him -in. Lighting a candle, it was evident that the Judge had something -under his coat, and in answer to Chu's inquiries, he said, "It's what -you asked me for. I have had great trouble in procuring it." He then -produced the head of a nice-looking young girl, and presented it to -Chu, who found the blood on the neck was still warm. "We must make -haste," said the Judge, "and take care not to wake the fowls or -dogs."[100] Chu was afraid his wife's door might be bolted; but the -Judge laid his hand on it and it opened at once. Chu then led him to -the bed where his wife was lying asleep on her side; and the Judge, -giving Chu the head to hold, drew from his boot a steel blade shaped -like the handle of a spoon. He laid this across the lady's neck, which -he cut through as if it had been a melon, and the head fell over the -back of the pillow. Seizing the head he had brought with him, he now -fitted it on carefully and accurately, and pressing it down to make it -stick, bolstered the lady up with pillows placed on either side. When -all was finished, he bade Chu put his wife's old head away, and then -took his leave. Soon after Mrs. Chu waked up, and perceived a curious -sensation about her neck, and a scaly feeling about the jaws. Putting -her hand to her face, she found flakes of dry blood; and much -frightened called a maid-servant to bring water to wash it off. The -maid-servant was also greatly alarmed at the appearance of her face, -and proceeded to wash off the blood, which coloured a whole basin of -water; but when she saw her mistress's new face she was almost -frightened to death. Mrs. Chu took a mirror to look at herself, and -was staring at herself in utter astonishment, when her husband came in -and explained what had taken place. On examining her more closely, Chu -saw that she had a well-featured pleasant face, of a medium order of -beauty; and when he came to look at her neck, he found a red seam all -round, with the parts above and below of a different coloured flesh. -Now the daughter of an official named Wu was a very nice-looking girl -who, though nineteen years of age, had not yet been married, two -gentlemen who were engaged to her having died before the day.[101] At -the Feast of Lanterns,[102] this young lady happened to visit the -Chamber of Horrors, whence she was followed home by a burglar, who -that night broke into the house and killed her. Hearing a noise, her -mother told the servant to go and see what was the matter; and the -murder being thus discovered, every member of the family got up. They -placed the body in the hall, with the head alongside, and gave -themselves up to weeping and wailing the livelong night. Next morning, -when they removed the coverings, the corpse was there but the head had -disappeared. The waiting-maids were accordingly flogged for neglect of -duty, and consequent loss of the head, and Mr. Wu brought the matter -to the notice of the Prefect. This officer took very energetic -measures, but for three days no clue could be obtained; and then the -story of the changed head in the Chu family gradually reached Mr. Wu's -ears. Suspecting something, he sent an old woman to make inquiries; -and she at once recognised her late young mistress's features, and -went back and reported to her master. Thereupon Mr. Wu, unable to make -out why the body should have been left, imagined that Chu had slain -his daughter by magical arts, and at once proceeded to the house to -find out the truth of the matter; but Chu told him that his wife's -head had been changed in her sleep, and that he knew nothing about it, -adding that it was unjust to accuse him of the murder. Mr. Wu refused -to believe this, and took proceedings against him; but as all the -servants told the same story, the Prefect was unable to convict him. -Chu returned home and took counsel with the Judge, who told him there -would be no difficulty, it being merely necessary to make the murdered -girl herself speak. That night Mr. Wu dreamt that his daughter came -and said to him, "I was killed by Yang Ta-nien, of Su-ch'i. Mr. Chu -had nothing to do with it; but desiring a better-looking face for his -wife, Judge Lu gave him mine, and thus my body is dead while my head -still lives. Bear Chu no malice." When he awaked, he told his wife, -who had dreamt the same dream; and thereupon he communicated these -facts to the officials. Subsequently, a man of that name was captured, -who confessed under the bamboo that he had committed the crime; so Mr. -Wu went off to Chu's house, and asked to be allowed to see his wife, -regarding Chu from that time as his son-in-law. Mrs. Chu's old head -was fitted on to the young lady's body, and the two parts were buried -together. - -Subsequent to these events Mr. Chu tried three times for his doctor's -degree, but each time without success, and at last he gave up the idea -of entering into official life. Then when thirty years had passed -away, Judge Lu appeared to him one night, and said, "My friend, you -cannot live for ever. Your hour will come in five days' time." Chu -asked the Judge if he could not save him; to which he replied, "The -decrees of Heaven cannot be altered to suit the purposes of mortals. -Besides, to an intelligent man life and death are much the same.[103] -Why necessarily regard life as a boon and death as a misfortune?" Chu -could make no reply to this, and forthwith proceeded to order his -coffin and shroud;[104] and then, dressing himself in his -grave-clothes, yielded up the ghost. Next day, as his wife was weeping -over his bier, in he walked at the front door, to her very great -alarm. "I am now a disembodied spirit," said Chu to her, "though not -different from what I was in life; and I have been thinking much of -the widow and orphan I left behind." His wife, hearing this, wept till -the tears ran down her face, Chu all the time doing his best to -comfort her. "I have heard tell," said she, "of dead bodies returning -to life; and since your vital spark is not extinct, why does it not -resume the flesh?" "The ordinances of Heaven," replied her husband, -"may not be disobeyed." His wife here asked him what he was doing in -the infernal regions; and he said that Judge Lu had got him an -appointment as Registrar, with a certain rank attached, and that he -was not at all uncomfortable. Mrs. Chu was proceeding to inquire -further, when he interrupted her, saying, "The Judge has come with me; -get some wine ready and something to eat." He then hurried out, and -his wife did as he had told her, hearing them laughing and drinking in -the guest chamber just like old times come back again. About midnight -she peeped in, and found that they had both disappeared; but they came -back once in every two or three days, often spending the night, and -managing the family affairs as usual. Chu's son was named Wei, and was -about five years old; and whenever his father came he would take the -little boy upon his knee. When he was about eight years of age, Chu -began to teach him to read; and the boy was so clever that by the time -he was nine he could actually compose. At fifteen he took his -bachelor's degree, without knowing all this time that he had no -father. From that date Chu's visits became less frequent, occurring -not more than once or so in a month; until one night he told his wife -that they were never to meet again. In reply to her inquiry as to -whither he was going, he said he had been appointed to a far-off post, -where press of business and distance would combine to prevent him from -visiting them any more. The mother and son clung to him, sobbing -bitterly; but he said, "Do not act thus. The boy is now a man, and can -look after your affairs. The dearest friends must part some day." -Then, turning to his son, he added, "Be an honourable man, and take -care of the property. Ten years hence we shall meet again." With this -he bade them farewell, and went away. - -Later on, when Wei was twenty-two years of age, he took his doctor's -degree, and was appointed to conduct the sacrifices at the Imperial -tombs. On his way thither he fell in with a retinue of an official, -proceeding along with all the proper insignia,[105] and, looking -carefully at the individual sitting in the carriage, he was astonished -to find that it was his own father. Alighting from his horse, he -prostrated himself with tears at the side of the road; whereupon his -father stopped and said, "You are well spoken of. I now take leave of -this world." Wei remained on the ground, not daring to rise; and his -father, urging on his carriage, hurried away without saying any more. -But when he had gone a short distance, he looked back, and unloosing a -sword from his waist, sent it as a present to his son, shouting out to -him, "Wear this and you will succeed." Wei tried to follow him; but, -in an instant, carriage, retinue, and horses, had vanished with the -speed of wind. For a long time his son gave himself up to grief, and -then seizing the sword began to examine it closely. It was of -exquisite workmanship, and on the blade was engraved this -legend:--"_Be bold, but cautious; round in disposition, square in -action._"[106] Wei subsequently rose to high honours, and had five -sons named Ch'en, Ch'ien, Wu, Hun, and Shen. One night he dreamt that -his father told him to give the sword to Hun, which he accordingly -did; and Hun rose to be a Viceroy of great administrative ability. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[93] Every Chinese man and woman inherits a family name or surname. A -woman takes her husband's surname, followed in official documents by -her maiden name. Children usually have a pet name given to them soon -after birth, which is dropped after a few years. Then there is the -_ming_ or name, which once given is unchangeable, and by which the -various members of a family are distinguished. But only the father and -mother and certain other relatives are allowed to use this. Friends -call each other by their literary designations or "book-names," which -are given generally by the teacher to whom the boy's education is -first entrusted. Brothers and sisters and others have all kinds of -nick-names as with us. Dogs and cats are called by such names as -"Blackey," "Whitey," "Yellowy," "Jewel," "Pearly," &c., &c. Junks are -christened "Large Profits," "Abounding Wealth," "Favourite of -Fortune," &c., &c. Places are often named after some striking -geographical feature; _e.g._, _Hankow_--"mouth of the Han river," -_i.e._, its point of junction with the Yang-tsze; or they have fancy -names, such as _Fuhkien_--"happily established;" _Tientsin_--"Heaven's -ford;" or names implying a special distinction, such as -_Nanking_--"southern capital;" _Shan-tung_--"east of the mountains," -&c. - -[94] The name given by foreigners in China to the imitation of the ten -torture-chambers of purgatory, as seen in every _Ch'eng-huang_ or -municipal temple. The various figures of the devil-lictors and the -tortured sinners are made either of clay or wood, and painted in very -bright colours; and in each chamber is depicted some specimen of the -horrible tortures that wicked people will undergo in the world to -come. I have given in the _Appendix_ a translation of the -"_Yue-li-ch'ao_," a celebrated Taoist work on this subject, which -should at any rate be glanced at by persons who would understand the -drift of some of these stories. - -[95] To heat the wine, which is almost invariably taken hot. - -[96] In token of their mutual good feeling. - -[97] The Chinese as a nation believe to this day that the heart is the -seat of the intellect and the emotions. - -[98] The heart itself is supposed to be pierced by a number of "eyes," -which pass right through; and in physical and mental health these -passages are believed to be clear. - -[99] See No. XII., note 87. - -[100] The _Hsi-yuean-lu_, a well-known work on Chinese medical -jurisprudence, and an _officially-authorised book_, while giving an -absurd antidote against a poison that never existed [see my _Chinese -Sketches_, p. 190], gravely insists that it is to be prepared at -certain dates only, "in some place quite away from women, fowls, and -dogs." - -[101] It was almost a wonder that she got a second _fiance_, few -people caring to affiance their sons in a family where such a -catastrophe has once occurred. The death of an engaged girl is a -matter of much less importance, but is productive of a very curious -ceremony. Her betrothed goes to the house where she is lying dead and -steps over the coffin containing her body, returning home with a pair -of the girl's shoes. He thus severs all connection with her, and her -spirit cannot haunt him as it otherwise most certainly would. - -[102] Held annually on the 15th of the first Chinese month--_i.e._, at -the first full moon of the year, when coloured lanterns are hung at -every door. It was originally a ceremonial worship in the temple of -the First Cause, and dates from about the time of the Han dynasty, or -nearly two thousand years ago. - -[103] It was John Stuart Mill who pointed out that the fear of death -is due to "the illusion of imagination, which makes one conceive -oneself as if one were alive and feeling oneself dead" (_The Utility -of Religion_). - -[104] "Boards of old age" and "Clothes of old age sold here" are -common shop-signs in every Chinese city; death and burial being -always, if possible, spoken of euphemistically in some such terms as -these. A dutiful son provides, when he can afford it, decent coffins -for his father and mother. They are generally stored in the house, -sometimes in a neighbouring temple; and the old people take pleasure -in seeing that their funeral obsequies are properly provided for, -though the subject is never raised in conversation. Chinese coffins -are beautifully made; and when the body has been in for a day or two, -a candle is closely applied to the seams all round to make sure it is -air-tight,--any crack, however fine, being easily detected by the -flickering of the flame in the escaping gas. Thus bodies may be kept -unburied for a long time, until the geomancer has selected an -auspicious site for the grave. - -[105] Gongs, red umbrellas, men carrying boards on which the officer's -titles are inscribed in large characters, a huge wooden fan, &c., &c. - -[106] "Be like a cash" [see No. II., note 42] is a not uncommon saying -among the Chinese, the explanation of which rests upon the fact that a -cash is "round in shape and convenient for use," which words are -pronounced identically with a corresponding number of words meaning -"round in disposition, square in action." It is, in fact, a play on -words. - - - - -XV. - -MISS YING-NING; OR, THE LAUGHING GIRL. - - -At Lo-tien, in the province of Shantung, there lived a youth named -Wang Tz[)u]-fu, who had been left an orphan when quite young. He was a -clever boy, and took his bachelor's degree at the age of fourteen, -being quite his mother's pet, and not allowed by her to stray far away -from home. One young lady to whom he had been betrothed having -unhappily died, he was still in search of a wife when, on the occasion -of the Feast of Lanterns, his cousin Wu asked him to come along for a -stroll. But they had hardly got beyond the village before one of his -uncle's servants caught them up and told Wu he was wanted. The latter -accordingly went back; but Wang, seeing plenty of nice girls about and -being in high spirits himself, proceeded on alone. Amongst others, he -noticed a young lady with her maid. She had just picked a sprig of -plum-blossom, and was the prettiest girl he had ever heard of--a -perfect bunch of smiles. He stared and stared at her quite regardless -of appearances; and when she had passed by, she said to her maid, -"That young fellow has a wicked look in his eyes." As she was walking -away, laughing and talking, the flower dropped out of her hand; and -Wang, picking it up, stood there disconsolate as if he had lost his -wits. He then went home in a very melancholy mood; and, putting the -flower under his pillow, lay down to sleep. He would neither talk nor -eat; and his mother became very anxious about him, and called in the -aid of the priests.[107] By degrees, he fell off in flesh and got very -thin; and the doctor felt his pulse and gave him medicines to bring -out the disease. Occasionally, he seemed bewildered in his mind, but -in spite of all his mother's inquiries would give no clue as to the -cause of his malady. One day when his cousin Wu came to the house, -Wang's mother told him to try and find out what was the matter; and -the former, approaching the bed, gradually and quietly led up to the -point in question. Wang, who had wept bitterly at the sight of his -cousin, now repeated to him the whole story, begging him to lend some -assistance in the matter. "How foolish you are, cousin," cried Wu; -"there will be no difficulty at all, I'll make inquiries for you. The -girl herself can't belong to a very aristocratic family to be walking -alone in the country. If she's not already engaged, I have no doubt we -can arrange the affair; and even if she is unwilling, an extra outlay -will easily bring her round.[108] You make haste and get well: I'll -see to it all." Wang's features relaxed when he heard these words; and -Wu left him to tell his mother how the case stood, immediately setting -on foot inquiries as to the whereabouts of the girl. All his efforts, -however, proved fruitless, to the great disappointment of Wang's -mother; for since his cousin's visit Wang's colour and appetite had -returned. In a few days Wu called again, and in answer to Wang's -questions falsely told him that the affair was settled. "Who do you -think the young lady is?" said he. "Why, a cousin of ours, who is only -waiting to be betrothed; and though you two are a little near,[109] I -daresay the circumstances of the case will be allowed to overrule this -objection." Wang was overjoyed, and asked where she lived; so Wu had -to tell another lie, and say, "On the south-west hills, about ten -miles from here." Wang begged him again and again to do his best for -him, and Wu undertook to get the betrothal satisfactorily arranged. He -then took leave of his cousin, who from this moment was rapidly -restored to health. Wang drew the flower from underneath his pillow, -and found that, though dried up, the leaves had not fallen away. He -often sat playing with this flower and thinking of the young lady; but -by-and-by, as Wu did not reappear, he wrote a letter and asked him to -come. Wu pleaded other engagements, being unwilling to go; at which -Wang got in a rage and quite lost his good spirits; so that his -mother, fearing a relapse, proposed to him a speedy betrothal in -another quarter. Wang shook his head at this, and sat day after day -waiting for Wu, until his patience was thoroughly exhausted. He then -reflected that ten miles was no great distance, and that there was no -particular reason for asking anybody's aid; so, concealing the flower -in his sleeve, he went off in a huff by himself without letting it be -known. Having no opportunity of asking the way, he made straight for -the hills; and after about ten miles walking found himself right in -the midst of them, enjoying their exquisite verdure, but meeting no -one, and with nothing better than mountain paths to guide him. Away -down in the valley below, almost buried under a densely luxuriant -growth of trees and flowers, he espied a small hamlet, and began to -descend the hill and make his way thither. He found very few houses, -and all built of rushes, but otherwise pleasant enough to look at. -Before the door of one, which stood at the northern end of the -village, were a number of graceful willow trees, and inside the wall -plenty of peach and apricot trees, with tufts of bamboo between them, -and birds chirping on the branches. As it was a private house he did -not venture to go in, but sat down to rest himself on a huge smooth -stone opposite the front door. By-and-by he heard a girl's voice from -within calling out Hsiao-jung; and, noticing that it was a sweet-toned -voice, set himself to listen, when a young lady passed with a bunch of -apricot-flowers in her hand, and occupied in putting hair-pins into -her downcast head. As soon as she raised her face she saw Wang, and -stopped putting in hair-pins; then, smothering a laugh, picked a few -flowers and ran in. Wang perceived to his intense delight that she was -none other than his heroine of the Feast of Lanterns; but recollecting -that he had no right to follow her in, was on the point of calling -after her as his cousin. There was no one, however, in the street, and -he was afraid lest he might have made a mistake; neither was there -anybody at the door of whom he could make inquiries. So he remained -there in a very restless state till the sun was well down in the west, -and his hopes were almost at an end, forgetting all about food and -drink. He then saw the young lady peep through the door, apparently -very much astonished to find him still there; and in a few minutes out -came an old woman leaning on a stick, who said to him, "Whence do you -come, Sir? I hear you have been here ever since morning. What is it -you want? Aren't you hungry?" Wang got up, and making a bow, replied -that he was in search of some relatives of his; but the old woman was -deaf and didn't catch what he said, so he had to shout it out again at -the top of his voice. She asked him what their names were, but he was -unable to tell her; at which she laughed and said, "It is a funny -thing to look for people when you don't know their names. I am afraid -you are an unpractical gentleman. You had better come in and have -something to eat; we'll give you a bed and you can go back to-morrow -and find out the names of the people you are in quest of." Now Wang -was just beginning to get hungry, and, besides, this would bring him -nearer to the young lady; so he readily accepted and followed the old -woman in. They walked along a paved path banked on both sides with -hibiscus, the leaves of which were scattered about on the ground; and -passing through another door, entered a court-yard full of trained -creepers and other flowers. The old woman showed Wang into a small -room with beautifully white walls and a branch of a crab-apple tree -coming through the window, the furniture being also nice and clean. -They had hardly sat down when it was clear that some one was taking a -peep through the window; whereupon the old woman cried out, -"Hsiao-jung! make haste and get dinner," and a maid from outside -immediately answered "Yes, ma'am." Meanwhile, Wang had been explaining -who he was; and then the old lady said, "Was your maternal grandfather -named Wu?" "He was," replied Wang. "Well, I never!" cried the old -woman, "he was my uncle, and your mother and I are cousins. But in -consequence of our poverty, and having no sons, we have kept quite to -ourselves, and you have grown to be a man without my knowing you." "I -came here," said Wang, "about my cousin, but in the hurry I forgot -your name." "My name is Ch'in," replied the old lady; "I have no son: -only a girl, the child of a concubine, who, after my husband's death, -married again[110] and left her daughter with me. She's a clever girl, -but has had very little education; full of fun and ignorant of the -sorrows of life. I'll send for her by-and-by to make your -acquaintance." The maid then brought in the dinner--a large dish full -of choice morsels of fowl--and the old woman pressed him to eat. When -they had finished, and the things were taken away, the old woman said, -"Call Miss Ning," and the maid went off to do so. After some time -there was a giggling at the door, and the old woman cried out, -"Ying-ning! your cousin is here." There was then a great tittering as -the maid pushed her in, stopping her mouth all the time to try and -keep from laughing. "Don't you know better than to behave like that?" -asked the old woman, "and before a stranger, too." So Ying-ning -controlled her feelings, and Wang made her a bow, the old woman -saying, "Mr. Wang is your cousin: you have never seen him before. -Isn't that funny?" Wang asked how old his cousin was, but the old -woman didn't hear him, and he had to say it again, which sent -Ying-ning off into another fit of laughter. "I told you," observed the -old woman, "she hadn't much education; now you see it. She is sixteen -years old, and as foolish as a baby." "One year younger than I am," -remarked Wang. "Oh, you're seventeen are you? Then you were born in -the year ----, under the sign of the horse."[111] Wang nodded assent, -and then the old woman asked who his wife was, to which Wang replied -that he had none. "What! a clever, handsome young fellow of seventeen -not yet engaged?[112] Ying-ning is not engaged either: you two would -make a nice pair if it wasn't for the relationship." Wang said -nothing, but looked hard at his cousin; and just then the maid -whispered to her, "It is the fellow with the wicked eyes! He's at his -old game." Ying-ning laughed, and proposed to the maid that they should -go and see if the peaches were in blossom or not; and off they went -together, the former with her sleeve stuffed into her mouth until she -got outside, where she burst into a hearty fit of laughing. The old -woman gave orders for a bed to be got ready for Wang, saying to him, -"It's not often we meet: you must spend a few days with us now you are -here, and then we'll send you home. If you are at all dull, there's a -garden behind where you can amuse yourself, and books for you to -read." So next day Wang strolled into the garden, which was of -moderate size, with a well-kept lawn and plenty of trees and flowers. -There was also an arbour consisting of three posts with a thatched -roof, quite shut in on all sides by the luxurious vegetation. Pushing -his way among the flowers, Wang heard a noise from one of the trees, -and looking up saw Ying-ning, who at once burst out laughing and -nearly fell down. "Don't! don't!" cried Wang, "you'll fall!" Then -Ying-ning came down, giggling all the time, until, when she was near -the ground, she missed her hold, and tumbled down with a run. This -stopped her merriment, and Wang picked her up, gently squeezing her -hand as he did so. Ying-ning began laughing again, and was obliged to -lean against a tree for support, it being some time before she was -able to stop. Wang waited till she had finished, and then drew the -flower out of his sleeve and handed it to her. "It's dead," said she; -"why do you keep it?" "You dropped it, cousin, at the Feast of -Lanterns," replied Wang, "and so I kept it." She then asked him what -was his object in keeping it, to which he answered, "To show my love, -and that I have not forgotten you. Since that day when we met, I have -been very ill from thinking so much of you, and am quite changed from -what I was. But now that it is my unexpected good fortune to meet you, -I pray you have pity on me." "You needn't make such a fuss about a -trifle," replied she, "and with your own relatives, too. I'll give -orders to supply you with a whole basketful of flowers when you go -away." Wang told her she did not understand, and when she asked what -it was she didn't understand, he said, "I didn't care for the flower -itself; it was the person who picked the flower." "Of course," -answered she, "everybody cares for their relations; you needn't have -told me that." "I wasn't talking about ordinary relations," said Wang, -"but about husbands and wives." "What's the difference?" asked -Ying-ning. "Why," replied Wang, "husband and wife are always -together." "Just what I shouldn't like," cried she, "to be always with -anybody."[113] At this juncture up came the maid, and Wang slipped -quietly away. By-and-by they all met again in the house, and the old -woman asked Ying-ning where they had been; whereupon she said they had -been talking in the garden. "Dinner has been ready a long time. I -can't think what you have had to say all this while," grumbled the old -woman. "My cousin," answered Ying-ning, "has been talking to me about -husbands and wives." Wang was much disconcerted, and made a sign to -her to be quiet, so she smiled and said no more; and the old woman -luckily did not catch her words, and asked her to repeat them. Wang -immediately put her off with something else, and whispered to -Ying-ning that she had done very wrong. The latter did not see that; -and when Wang told her that what he had said was private, answered him -that she had no secrets from her old mother. "Besides," added she, -"what harm can there be in talking on such a common topic as husbands -and wives?" Wang was angry with her for being so dull, but there was -no help for it; and by the time dinner was over he found some of his -mother's servants had come in search of him, bringing a couple of -donkeys with them. It appeared that his mother, alarmed at his -non-appearance, had made strict search for him in the village; and -when unable to discover any traces of him, had gone off to the Wu -family to consult. There her nephew, who recollected what he had -previously said to young Wang, advised that a search should be -instituted in the direction of the hills; and accordingly the servants -had been to all the villages on the way until they had at length -recognised him as he was coming out of the door. Wang went in and told -the old woman, begging that he might be allowed to take Ying-ning with -him. "I have had the idea in my head for several days," replied the -old woman, overjoyed; "but I am a feeble old thing myself, and -couldn't travel so far. If, however, you will take charge of my girl -and introduce her to her aunt, I shall be very pleased." So she called -Ying-ning, who came up laughing as usual; whereupon the old woman -rebuked her, saying, "What makes you always laugh so? You would be a -very good girl but for that silly habit. Now, here's your cousin, who -wants to take you away with him. Make haste and pack up." The servants -who had come for Wang were then provided with refreshment, and the old -woman bade them both farewell, telling Ying-ning that her aunt was -quite well enough off to maintain her, and that she had better not -come back. She also advised her not to neglect her studies, and to be -very attentive to her elders, adding that she might ask her aunt to -provide her with a good husband. Wang and Ying-ning then took their -leave; and when they reached the brow of the hill, they looked back -and could just discern the old woman leaning against the door and -gazing towards the north. On arriving at Wang's home, his mother, -seeing a nice-looking young girl with him, asked in astonishment who -she might be; and Wang at once told her the whole story. "But that was -all an invention of your cousin Wu's," cried his mother; "I haven't -got a sister, and consequently I can't have such a niece." Ying-ning -here observed, "I am not the daughter of the old woman; my father was -named Ch'in and died when I was a little baby, so that I can't -remember anything." "I _had_ a sister," said Wang's mother, "who -actually did marry a Mr. Ch'in, but she died many years ago, and can't -be still living, of course." However, on inquiring as to facial -appearance and characteristic marks, Wang's mother was obliged to -acknowledge the identity, wondering at the same time how her sister -could be alive when she had died many years before. Just then in came -Wu, and Ying-ning retired within; and when he heard the story, -remained some time lost in astonishment, and then said, "Is this young -lady's name Ying-ning?" Wang replied that it was, and asked Wu how he -came to know it. "Mr. Ch'in," answered he, "after his wife's death was -bewitched by a fox, and subsequently died. The fox had a daughter -named Ying-ning, as was well known to all the family; and when Mr. -Ch'in died, as the fox still frequented the place, the Taoist -Pope[114] was called in to exorcise it. The fox then went away, taking -Ying-ning with it, and now here she is." While they were thus -discussing, peals of laughter were heard coming from within, and Mrs. -Wang took occasion to remark what a foolish girl she was. Wu begged to -be introduced, and Mrs. Wang went in to fetch her, finding her in an -uncontrollable fit of laughter, which she subdued only with great -difficulty, and by turning her face to the wall. By-and-by she went -out; but, after making a bow, ran back and burst out laughing again to -the great discomfiture of all the ladies. Wang then said he would go -and find out for them all about Ying-ning and her queer story, so as -to be able to arrange the marriage; but when he reached the spot -indicated, village and houses had all vanished, and nothing was to be -seen except hill-flowers scattered about here and there. Wu -recollected that Mrs. Ch'in had been buried at no great distance from -that spot; he found, however, that the grave had disappeared, and he -was no longer able to determine its position. Not knowing what to make -of it all, he returned home, and then Mrs. Wang told him she thought -the girl must be a disembodied spirit. Ying-ning shewed no signs of -alarm at this remark; neither did she cry at all when Mrs. Wang began -to condole with her on no longer having a home. She only laughed in -her usual silly way, and fairly puzzled them all. Sharing Miss Wang's -room, she now began to take her part in the duties of a daughter of -the family; and as for needlework, they had rarely seen anything like -hers for fineness. But she could not get over that trick of laughing, -which, by the way, never interfered with her good looks, and -consequently rather amused people than otherwise, amongst others a -young married lady who lived next door. Wang's mother fixed an -auspicious day for the wedding, but still feeling suspicious about -Ying-ning, was always secretly watching her. Finding, however, that -she had a proper shadow,[115] and that there was nothing -extraordinary in her behaviour, she had her dressed up when the day -came, in all the finery of a bride; and would have made her perform -the usual ceremonies, only Ying-ning laughed so much she was unable to -kneel down.[116] They were accordingly obliged to excuse her, but Wang -began to fear that such a foolish girl would never be able to keep the -family counsel. Luckily, she was very reticent and did not indulge in -gossip; and moreover, when Mrs. Wang was in trouble or out of temper, -Ying-ning could always bring her round with a laugh. The -maid-servants, too, if they expected a whipping for anything, would -always ask her to be present when they appeared before their mistress, -and thus they often escaped punishment. Ying-ning had a perfect -passion for flowers. She got all she could out of her relations, and -even secretly pawned her jewels to buy rare specimens; and by the end -of a few months the whole place was one mass of flowers. Behind the -house there was one especial tree[117] which belonged to the -neighbours on that side; but Ying-ning was always climbing up and -picking the flowers, for which Mrs. Wang rebuked her severely, though -without any result. One day the owner saw her, and gazed at her some -time in rapt astonishment; however, she didn't move, deigning only to -laugh. The gentleman was much smitten with her; and when she smilingly -descended the wall on her own side, pointing all the time with her -finger to a spot hard by, he thought she was making an assignation. So -he presented himself at nightfall at the same place, and sure enough -Ying-ning was there. Seizing her hand, to tell his passion, he found -that he was grasping only a log of wood which stood against the wall; -and the next thing he knew was that a scorpion had stung him violently -on the finger. There was an end of his romance, except that he died of -the wound during the night, and his family at once commenced an action -against Wang for having a witch-wife. The magistrate happened to be a -great admirer of Wang's talent, and knew him to be an accomplished -scholar; he therefore refused to grant the summons, and ordered the -prosecutor to be bambooed for false accusation.[118] Wang interposed -and got him off this punishment, and returned home himself. His mother -then scolded Ying-ning well, saying, "I knew your too playful -disposition would some day bring sorrow upon you. But for our -intelligent magistrate we should have been in a nice mess. Any -ordinary hawk-like official would have had you publicly interrogated -in court; and then how could your husband ever have held up his head -again?" Ying-ning looked grave and did not laugh this time; and Mrs. -Wang continued, "There's no harm in laughing as long as it is -seasonable laughter;" but from that moment Ying-ning laughed no more, -no matter what people did to make her, though at the same time her -expression was by no means gloomy. One evening she went in tears to -her husband, who wanted to know what was the matter. "I couldn't tell -you before," said she, sobbing; "we had known each other such a short -time. But now that you and your mother have been so kind to me, I will -keep nothing from you, but tell you all. I am the daughter of a fox. -When my mother went away she put me in the charge of the disembodied -spirit of an old woman, with whom I remained for a period of over ten -years. I have no brothers: only you to whom I can look. And now my -foster-mother is lying on the hill-side with no one to bury her and -appease her discontented shade. If not too much, I would ask you to do -this, that her spirit may be at rest, and know that it was not -neglected by her whom she brought up." Wang consented, but said he -feared they would not be able to find her grave; on which Ying-ning -said there was no danger of that, and accordingly they set forth -together. When they arrived, Ying-ning pointed out the tomb in a -lonely spot amidst a thicket of brambles, and there they found the old -woman's bones. Ying-ning wept bitterly, and then they proceeded to -carry her remains home with them, subsequently interring them in the -Ch'in family vault. That night Wang dreamt that the old woman came to -thank him, and when he waked he told Ying-ning, who said that she had -seen her also, and had been warned by her not to frighten Mr. Wang. -Her husband asked why she had not detained the old lady; but Ying-ning -replied, "She is a disembodied spirit, and would be ill at ease for -any time surrounded by so much life."[119] Wang then enquired after -Hsiao-jung, and his wife said, "She was a fox too, and a very clever -one. My foster-mother kept her to wait on me, and she was always -getting fruit and cakes for me, so that I have a friendship for her -and shall never forget her. My foster-mother told me yesterday she was -married." - -After this, whenever the great fast-day[120] came round, husband and -wife went off without fail to worship at the Ch'in family tomb; and by -the time a year had passed she gave birth to a son, who wasn't a bit -afraid of strangers, but laughed at everybody, and in fact took very -much after his mother. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[107] Sickness being supposed to result from evil influences, -witchcraft, &c., just as often as from more natural causes. - -[108] The rule which guides betrothals in China is that "the doors -should be opposite"--_i.e._, that the families of the bride and -bridegroom should be of equal position in the social scale. Any -unpleasantness about the value of the marriage presents, and so on, is -thereby avoided. - -[109] Marriage between persons of the same surname is forbidden by -law, for such are held to be blood relations, descended lineally from -the original couple of that name. Inasmuch, however, as the line of -descent is traced through the male branches only, a man may marry his -cousins on the maternal side without let or hindrance except that of -sentiment, which is sufficiently strong to keep these alliances down -to a minimum. - -[110] A very unjustifiable proceeding in Chinese eyes, unless driven -to it by actual poverty. - -[111] The Chinese years are distinguished by the names of twelve -animals--namely, rat, ox, tiger, hare, dragon, serpent, horse, sheep, -monkey, cock, dog, and boar. To the common question, "What is your -honourable age?" the reply is frequently, "I was born under the ----;" -and the hearer by a short mental calculation can tell at once how old -the speaker is, granting, of course, the impossibility of making an -error of so much as twelve years. - -[112] Parents in China like to get their sons married as early as -possible, in the hope of seeing themselves surrounded by grandsons, -and the family name in no danger of extinction. Girls are generally -married at from fifteen to seventeen. - -[113] This scene should for ever disabuse people of the notion that -there is no such thing as "making love" among the Chinese. That the -passion is just as much a disease in China as it is with us will be -abundantly evident from several subsequent stories; though by those -who have lived and mixed with the Chinese people, no such confirmation -will be needed. I have even heard it gravely asserted by an educated -native that not a few of his countrymen had "died for love" of the -beautiful Miss Lin, the charming but fictitious heroine of _The Dream -of the Red Chamber_. - -Play-goers can here hardly fail to notice a very striking similarity -to the close of the first act of Mr. W. S. Gilbert's "Sweethearts." - -[114] The semi-divine head of the Taoist religion, sometimes called -the Master of Heaven. In his body is supposed to reside the soul of a -celebrated Taoist, an ancestor of his, who actually discovered the -elixir of life and became an immortal some eighteen hundred years ago. -At death, the precious soul above-mentioned will take up its abode in -the body of some youthful member of the family to be hereinafter -revealed. Meanwhile, the present Pope makes a very respectable income -from the sale of charms, by working miracles, and so forth; and only -about two years ago he visited Shanghai, where he was interviewed by -several foreigners. - -[115] Disembodied spirits are supposed to have no shadow, and but very -little appetite. There are also certain occasions on which they cannot -stand the smell of sulphur. Fiske, in his _Myths and Myth-makers_ -(page 230) says, "Almost universally, ghosts, however impervious to -thrust of sword or shot of pistol, can eat and drink like Squire -Westerns." - -[116] See No. III., note 45. - -[117] The _Mu-hsiang_ or _Costus amarus_. - -[118] Strictly in accordance with Chinese criminal law. - -[119] These disembodied spirits are unable to stand for any length of -time the light and life of this upper world, darkness and death being -as it were necessary to their existence and comfort. - -[120] The day before the annual spring festival. - - - - -XVI. - -THE MAGIC SWORD. - - -Ning Lai-ch'en was a Chekiang man, and a good-natured, honourable -fellow, fond of telling people that he had only loved once. Happening -to go to Chinhua, he took shelter in a temple to the north of the -city; very nice as far as ornamentation went, but overgrown with grass -taller than a man's head, and evidently not much frequented. On either -side were the priest's apartments, the doors of which were ajar, with -the exception of a small room on the south side, where the lock had a -new appearance. In the east corner he espied a group of bamboos, -growing over a large pool of water-lilies in flower; and, being much -pleased with the quiet of the place, determined to remain; more -especially as, the Grand Examiner being in the town, all lodgings had -gone up in price. So he roamed about waiting till the priests should -return; and in the evening, a gentleman came and opened the door on -the south side. Ning quickly made up to him, and with a bow informed -him of his design. "There is no one here whose permission you need -ask," replied the stranger; "I am only lodging here, and if you don't -object to the loneliness, I shall be very pleased to have the benefit -of your society." Ning was delighted, and made himself a straw bed, -and put up a board for a table, as if he intended to remain some time; -and that night, by the beams of the clear bright moon, they sat -together in the verandah and talked. The stranger's name was Yen -Ch'ih-hsia, and Ning thought he was a student up for the provincial -examination, only his dialect was not that of a Chekiang man. On being -asked, he said he came from Shensi; and there was an air of -straightforwardness about all his remarks. By-and-by, when their -conversation was exhausted, they bade each other good night and went -to bed; but Ning, being in a strange place, was quite unable to sleep; -and soon he heard sounds of voices from the room on the north side. -Getting up, he peeped through a window, and saw, in a small court-yard -the other side of a low wall, a woman of about forty with an old -maid-servant in a long faded gown, humped-backed and feeble-looking. -They were chatting by the light of the moon; and the mistress said, -"Why doesn't Hsiao-ch'ien come?" "She ought to be here by now," -replied the other. "She isn't offended with you; is she?" asked the -lady. "Not that I know of," answered the old servant; "but she seems -to want to give trouble." "Such people don't deserve to be treated -well," said the other; and she had hardly uttered these words when up -came a young girl of seventeen or eighteen, and very nice looking. The -old servant laughed, and said, "Don't talk of people behind their -backs. We were just mentioning you as you came without our hearing -you; but fortunately we were saying nothing bad about you. And, as far -as that goes," added she, "if I were a young fellow why I should -certainly fall in love with you." "If _you_ don't praise me," replied -the girl, "I'm sure I don't know who will;" and then the lady and the -girl said something together, and Mr. Ning, thinking they were the -family next door, turned round to sleep without paying further -attention to them. In a little while no sound was to be heard; but, as -he was dropping off to sleep, he perceived that somebody was in the -room. Jumping up in great haste, he found it was the young lady he had -just seen; and detecting at once that she was going to attempt to -bewitch him, sternly bade her begone. She then produced a lump of gold -which he threw away, and told her to go after it or he would call his -friend. So she had no alternative but to go, muttering something about -his heart being like iron or stone. Next day, a young candidate for -the examination came and lodged in the east room with his servant. He, -however, was killed that very night, and his servant the night after; -the corpses of both shewing a small hole in the sole of the foot as if -bored by an awl, and from which a little blood came. No one knew who -had committed these murders, and when Mr. Yen came home, Ning asked -him what he thought about it. Yen replied that it was the work of -devils, but Ning was a brave fellow, and that didn't frighten him -much. In the middle of the night Hsiao-ch'ien appeared to him again, -and said, "I have seen many men, but none with a steel cold heart like -yours. You are an upright man, and I will not attempt to deceive you. -I, Hsiao-ch'ien, whose family name is Nieh, died when only eighteen, -and was buried alongside of this temple. A devil then took possession -of me, and employed me to bewitch people by my beauty, contrary to my -inclination. There is now nothing left in this temple to slay, and I -fear that imps will be employed to kill you." Ning was very frightened -at this, and asked her what he should do. "Sleep in the same room with -Mr. Yen," replied she. "What!" asked he, "cannot the spirits trouble -Yen?" "He is a strange man," she answered, "and they don't like going -near him." Ning then inquired how the spirits worked. "I bewitch -people," said Hsiao-ch'ien, "and then they bore a hole in the foot -which renders the victim senseless, and proceed to draw off the blood, -which the devils drink. Another method is to tempt people by false -gold, the bones of some horrid demon; and if they receive it, their -hearts and livers will be torn out. Either method is used according to -circumstances." Ning thanked her, and asked when he ought to be -prepared; to which she replied, "To-morrow night." At parting she -wept, and said, "I am about to sink into the great sea, with no -friendly shore at hand. But your sense of duty is boundless, and you -can save me. If you will collect my bones and bury them in some quiet -spot, I shall not again be subject to these misfortunes." Ning said he -would do so, and asked where she lay buried. "At the foot of the -aspen-tree on which there is a bird's nest," replied she; and passing -out of the door, disappeared. The next day Ning was afraid that Yen -might be going away somewhere, and went over early to invite him -across. Wine and food were produced towards noon; and Ning, who took -care not to lose sight of Yen, then asked him to remain there for the -night. Yen declined, on the ground that he liked being by himself; but -Ning wouldn't hear any excuses, and carried all Yen's things to his -own room, so that he had no alternative but to consent. However, he -warned Ning, saying, "I know you are a gentleman and a man of honour. -If you see anything you don't quite understand, I pray you not to be -too inquisitive; don't pry into my boxes, or it may be the worse for -both of us." Ning promised to attend to what he said, and by-and-by -they both lay down to sleep; and Yen, having placed his boxes on the -window-sill, was soon snoring loudly. Ning himself could not sleep; -and after some time he saw a figure moving stealthily outside, at -length approaching the window to peep through. It's eyes flashed like -lightning, and Ning in a terrible fright was just upon the point of -calling Yen, when something flew out of one of the boxes like a strip -of white silk, and dashing against the window-sill returned at once to -the box, disappearing very much like lightning. Yen heard the noise -and got up, Ning all the time pretending to be asleep in order to -watch what happened. The former then opened the box, and took out -something which he smelt and examined by the light of the moon. It -was dazzlingly white like crystal, and about two inches in length by -the width of an onion leaf in breadth. He then wrapped it up carefully -and put it back in the broken box, saying, "A bold-faced devil that, -to come so near my box;" upon which he went back to bed; but Ning, who -was lost in astonishment, arose and asked him what it all meant, -telling at the same time what he himself had seen. "As you and I are -good friends," replied Yen, "I won't make any secret of it. The fact -is I am a Taoist priest. But for the window-sill the devil would have -been killed; as it is, he is badly wounded." Ning asked him what it -was he had there wrapped up, and he told him it was his sword,[121] on -which he had smelt the presence of the devil. At Ning's request he -produced the weapon, a bright little miniature of a sword; and from -that time Ning held his friend in higher esteem than ever. - -Next day he found traces of blood outside the window which led round -to the north of the temple; and there among a number of graves he -discovered the aspen-tree with the bird's nest at its summit. He then -fulfilled his promise and prepared to go home, Yen giving him a -farewell banquet, and presenting him with an old leather case which he -said contained a sword, and would keep at a distance from him all -devils and bogies. Ning then wished to learn a little of Yen's art; -but the latter replied that although he might accomplish this easily -enough, being as he was an upright man, yet he was well off in life, -and not in a condition where it would be of any advantage to him. Ning -then pretending he had to go and bury his sister, collected -Hsiao-ch'ien's bones, and, having wrapped them up in grave-clothes, -hired a boat, and set off on his way home. On his arrival, as his -library looked towards the open country, he made a grave hard by and -buried the bones there, sacrificing, and invoking Hsiao-ch'ien as -follows:--"In pity for your lonely ghost, I have placed your remains -near my humble cottage, where we shall be near each other, and no -devil will dare annoy you. I pray you reject not my sacrifice, poor -though it be." After this, he was proceeding home when he suddenly -heard himself addressed from behind, the voice asking him not to -hurry; and turning round he beheld Hsiao-ch'ien, who thanked him, -saying, "Were I to die ten times for you I could not discharge my -debt. Let me go home with you and wait upon your father and mother; -you will not repent it." Looking closely at her, he observed that she -had a beautiful complexion, and feet as small as bamboo shoots,[122] -being altogether much prettier now that he came to see her by -daylight. So they went together to his home, and bidding her wait -awhile, Ning ran in to tell his mother, to the very great surprise of -the old lady. Now Ning's wife had been ill for a long time, and his -mother advised him not to say a word about it to her for fear of -frightening her; in the middle of which in rushed Hsiao-ch'ien, and -threw herself on the ground before them. "This is the young lady," -said Ning; whereupon his mother in some alarm turned her attention to -Hsiao-ch'ien, who cried out, "A lonely orphan, without brother or -sister, the object of your son's kindness and compassion, begs to be -allowed to give her poor services as some return for favours shewn." -Ning's mother, seeing that she was a nice pleasant-looking girl, began -to lose fear of her, and replied, "Madam, the preference you shew for -my son is highly pleasing to an old body like myself; but this is the -only hope of our family, and I hardly dare agree to his taking a -devil-wife." "I have but one motive in what I ask," answered -Hsiao-ch'ien, "and if you have no faith in disembodied people, then -let me regard him as my brother, and live under your protection, -serving you like a daughter." Ning's mother could not resist her -straightforward manner, and Hsiao-ch'ien asked to be allowed to see -Ning's wife, but this was denied on the plea that the lady was ill. -Hsiao-ch'ien then went into the kitchen and got ready the dinner, -running about the place as if she had lived there all her life. Ning's -mother was, however, much afraid of her, and would not let her sleep -in the house; so Hsiao-ch'ien went to the library, and was just -entering when suddenly she fell back a few steps, and began walking -hurriedly backwards and forwards in front of the door. Ning seeing -this, called out and asked her what it meant; to which she replied, -"The presence of that sword frightens me, and that is why I could not -accompany you on your way home." Ning at once understood her, and hung -up the sword-case in another place; whereupon she entered, lighted a -candle, and sat down. For some time she did not speak: at length -asking Ning if he studied at night or not--"For," said she, "when I -was little I used to repeat the Leng-yen _sutra_; but now I have -forgotten more than half, and, therefore, I should like to borrow a -copy, and when you are at leisure in the evening you might hear me." -Ning said he would, and they sat silently there for some time, after -which Hsiao-ch'ien went away and took up her quarters elsewhere. -Morning and night she waited on Ning's mother, bringing water for her -to wash in, occupying herself with household matters, and endeavouring -to please her in every way. In the evening before she went to bed, she -would always go in and repeat a little of the _sutra_, and leave as -soon as she thought Ning was getting sleepy. Now the illness of Ning's -wife had given his mother a great deal of extra trouble--more, in -fact, than she was equal to; but ever since Hsiao-ch'ien's arrival all -this was changed, and Ning's mother felt kindly disposed to the girl -in consequence, gradually growing to regard her almost as her own -child, and forgetting quite that she was a spirit. Accordingly, she -didn't make her leave the house at night; and Hsiao-ch'ien, who being -a devil had not tasted meat or drink since her arrival,[123] now -began at the end of six months to take a little thin gruel. Mother and -son alike became very fond of her, and henceforth never mentioned what -she really was; neither were strangers able to detect the fact. -By-and-by, Ning's wife died, and his mother secretly wished him to -espouse Hsiao-ch'ien, though she rather dreaded any unfortunate -consequences that might arise. This Hsiao-ch'ien perceived, and -seizing an opportunity said to Ning's mother, "I have been with you -now more than a year, and you ought to know something of my -disposition. Because I was unwilling to injure travellers I followed -your son hither. There was no other motive; and, as your son has shewn -himself one of the best of men, I would now remain with him for three -years in order that he may obtain for me some mark of Imperial -approbation[124] which will do me honour in the realms below." Ning's -mother knew that she meant no evil, but hesitated to put the family -hopes of a posterity into jeopardy. Hsiao-ch'ien, however, reassured -her by saying that Ning would have three sons, and that the line would -not be interrupted by his marrying her. On the strength of this the -marriage was arranged to the great joy of Ning, a feast prepared, and -friends and relatives invited; and when in response to a call the -bride herself came forth in her gay wedding-dress, the beholders took -her rather for a fairy than for a devil. After this, numbers of -congratulatory presents were given by the various female members of -the family, who vied with one another in making her acquaintance; and -these Hsiao-ch'ien returned by gifts of paintings of flowers, done by -herself, in which she was very skilful, the receivers being extremely -proud of such marks of her friendship. One day she was leaning at the -window in a despondent mood, when suddenly she asked where the -sword-case was. "Oh," replied Ning, "as you seemed afraid of it, I -moved it elsewhere." "I have now been so long under the influence of -surrounding life,"[125] said Hsiao-ch'ien, "that I shan't be afraid of -it any more. Let us hang it on the bed." "Why so?" asked Ning. "For the -last three days," explained she, "I have been much agitated in mind; -and I fear that the devil at the temple, angry at my escape, may come -suddenly and carry me off." So Ning brought the sword-case, and -Hsiao-ch'ien, after examining it closely, remarked, "This is where the -magician puts people. I wonder how many were slain before it got old -and worn out as it is now. Even now when I look at it my flesh -creeps." The case was then hung up, and next day removed to over the -door. At night they sat up and watched, Hsiao-ch'ien warning Ning not -to go to sleep; and suddenly something fell down flop like a bird. -Hsiao-ch'ien in a fright got behind the curtain; but Ning looked at -the thing, and found it was an imp of darkness, with glaring eyes and -a bloody mouth, coming straight to the door. Stealthily creeping up it -made a grab at the sword-case, and seemed about to tear it in pieces, -when bang!--the sword-case became as big as a wardrobe, and from it a -devil protruded part of his body and dragged the imp in. Nothing more -was heard, and the sword-case resumed its original size. Ning was -greatly alarmed, but Hsiao-ch'ien came out rejoicing, and said, -"There's an end of my troubles." In the sword-case they found only a -few quarts of clear water; nothing else. - -After these events Ning took his doctor's degree and Hsiao-ch'ien bore -him a son. He then took a concubine, and had one more son by each, all -of whom became in time distinguished men. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[121] See No. X., note 80. - -[122] Which, well cooked, are a very good substitute for asparagus. - -[123] See note 115 to the last story. - -[124] Such as are from time to time bestowed upon virtuous widows and -wives, filial sons and daughters, and others. These consist of some -laudatory scroll or tablet, and are much prized by the family of the -recipient. - -[125] See note 119 to last story. - - - - -XVII. - -THE _SHUI-MANG_ PLANT. - - -The _shui-mang_[126] is a poisonous herb. It is a creeper, like the -bean, and has a similar red flower. Those who eat of it die, and -become _shui-mang_ devils, tradition asserting that such devils are -unable to be born again unless they can find some one else who has -also eaten of this poison to take their place.[127] These _shui-mang_ -devils abound in the province of Hunan, where, by the way, the phrase -"same-year man" is applied to those born in the same year, who -exchange visits and call each other brother, their children addressing -the father's "brother" as uncle. This has now become a regular custom -there.[128] - -A young man named Chu was on his way to visit a same-year friend of -his, when he was overtaken by a violent thirst. Suddenly he came upon -an old woman sitting by the roadside under a shed and distributing -tea gratis,[129] and immediately walked up to her to get a drink. She -invited him into the shed, and presented him with a bowl of tea in a -very cordial spirit; but the smell of it did not seem like the smell -of ordinary tea, and he would not drink it, rising up to go away. The -old woman stopped him, and called out, "San-niang! bring some good -tea." Immediately a young girl came from behind the shed, carrying in -her hands a pot of tea. She was about fourteen or fifteen years old, -and of very fascinating appearance, with glittering rings and -bracelets on her fingers and arms. As Chu received the cup from her -his reason fled; and drinking down the tea she gave him, the flavour -of which was unlike any other kind, he proceeded to ask for more. -Then, watching for a moment when the old woman's back was turned, he -seized her wrist and drew a ring from her finger. The girl blushed and -smiled; and Chu, more and more inflamed, asked her where she lived. -"Come again this evening," replied she, "and you'll find me here." Chu -begged for a handful of her tea, which he stowed away with the ring, -and took his leave. Arriving at his destination, he felt a pain in his -heart, which he at once attributed to the tea, telling his friend -what had occurred. "Alas! you are undone," cried the other; "they were -_shui-mang_ devils. My father died in the same way, and we were unable -to save him. There is no help for you." Chu was terribly frightened, -and produced the handful of tea, which his friend at once pronounced -to be leaves of the _shui-mang_ plant. He then shewed him the ring, -and told him what the girl had said; whereupon his friend, after some -reflection, said, "She must be San-niang, of the K'ou family." "How -could you know her name?" asked Chu, hearing his friend use the same -words as the old woman. "Oh," replied he, "there was a nice-looking -girl of that name who died some years ago from eating of the same -herb. She is doubtless the girl you saw." Here some one observed that -if the person so entrapped by a devil only knew its name, and could -procure an old pair of its shoes, he might save himself by boiling -them in water and drinking the liquor as medicine. Chu's friend -thereupon rushed off at once to the K'ou family, and implored them to -give him an old pair of their daughter's shoes; but they, not wishing -to prevent their daughter from finding a substitute in Chu, flatly -refused his request. So he went back in anger and told Chu, who ground -his teeth with rage, saying, "If I die, she shall not obtain her -transmigration thereby." His friend then sent him home; and just as he -reached the door he fell down dead. Chu's mother wept bitterly over -his corpse, which was in due course interred; and he left behind one -little boy barely a year old. His wife did not remain a widow, but in -six months married again and went away, putting Chu's son under the -care of his grandmother, who was quite unequal to any toil, and did -nothing but weep morning and night. One day she was carrying her -grandson about in her arms, crying bitterly all the time, when -suddenly in walked Chu. His mother, much alarmed, brushed away her -tears, and asked him what it meant. "Mother," replied he, "down in the -realms below I heard you weeping. I am therefore come to tend you. -Although a departed spirit, I have a wife, who has likewise come to -share your toil. Therefore do not grieve." His mother inquired who his -wife was, to which he replied, "When the K'ou family sat still and -left me to my fate I was greatly incensed against them; and after -death I sought for San-niang, not knowing where she was. I have -recently seen my old same-year friend, and he told me where she was. -She had come to life again in the person of the baby-daughter of a -high official named Jen; but I went thither and dragged her spirit -back. She is now my wife, and we get on extremely well together." A -very pretty and well-dressed young lady here entered, and made -obeisance to Chu's mother, Chu saying, "This is San-niang, of the K'ou -family;" and although not a living being, Mrs. Chu at once took a -great fancy to her. Chu sent her off to help in the work of the house, -and, in spite of not being accustomed to this sort of thing, she was -so obedient to her mother-in-law as to excite the compassion of all. -The two then took up their quarters in Chu's old apartments, and there -they continued to remain. - -Meanwhile San-niang asked Chu's mother to let the K'ou family know; -and this she did, notwithstanding some objections raised by her son. -Mr. and Mrs. K'ou were much astonished at the news, and, ordering -their carriage, proceeded at once to Chu's house. There they found -their daughter, and parents and child fell into each other's arms. -San-niang entreated them to dry their tears; but her mother, noticing -the poverty of Chu's household, was unable to restrain her feelings. -"We are already spirits," cried San-niang; "what matters poverty to -us? Besides, I am very well treated here, and am altogether as happy -as I can be." They then asked her who the old woman was; to which she -replied, "Her name was Ni. She was mortified at being too ugly to -entrap people herself, and got me to assist her. She has now been born -again at a soy-shop in the city." Then, looking at her husband, she -added, "Come, since you are the son-in-law, pay the proper respect to -my father and mother, or what shall I think of you?" Chu made his -obeisance, and San-niang went into the kitchen to get food ready for -them, at which her mother became very melancholy, and went away home, -whence she sent a couple of maid-servants, a hundred ounces of silver, -and rolls of cloth and silk, besides making occasional presents of -food and wine, so that Chu's mother lived in comparative comfort. -San-niang also went from time to time to see her parents, but would -never stay very long, pleading that she was wanted at home, and such -excuses; and if the old people attempted to keep her, she simply went -off by herself. Her father built a nice house for Chu with all kinds -of luxuries in it; but Chu never once entered his father-in-law's -door. - -Subsequently a man of the village who had eaten _shui-mang_, and had -died in consequence, came back to life, to the great astonishment of -everybody. However, Chu explained it, saying, "I brought him back to -life. He was the victim of a man named Li Chiu; but I drove off Li's -spirit when it came to make the other take his place." Chu's mother -then asked her son why he did not get a substitute for himself; to -which he replied, "I do not like to do this. I am anxious to put an -end to, rather than take advantage of, such a system. Besides, I am -very happy waiting on you, and have no wish to be born again." From -that time all persons who had poisoned themselves with _shui-mang_ -were in the habit of feasting Chu and obtaining his assistance in -their trouble. But in ten years' time his mother died, and he and his -wife gave themselves up to sorrow, and would see no one, bidding their -little boy put on mourning, beat his breast, and perform the proper -ceremonies. Two years after Chu had buried his mother, his son married -the granddaughter of a high official named Jen. This gentleman had had -a daughter by a concubine, who had died when only a few months old; -and now, hearing the strange story of Chu's wife, came to call on her -and arrange the marriage. He then gave his granddaughter to Chu's son, -and a free intercourse was maintained between the two families. -However, one day Chu said to his son, "Because I have been of service -to my generation, God has appointed me Keeper of the Dragons; and I -am now about to proceed to my post." Thereupon four horses appeared in -the court-yard, drawing a carriage with yellow hangings, the flanks of -the horses being covered with scale-like trappings. Husband and wife -came forth in full dress, and took their seats, and, while son and -daughter-in-law were weeping their adieus, disappeared from view. That -very day the K'ou family saw their daughter arrive, and, bidding them -farewell, she told them the same story. The old people would have kept -her, but she said, "My husband is already on his way," and, leaving -the house, parted from them for ever. Chu's son was named Ngo, and his -literary name was Li-ch'en. He begged San-niang's bones from the K'ou -family, and buried them by the side of his father's. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[126] Probably the _Illicium religiosum_ is meant. - -[127] See No. XII., note 87. - -[128] The common application of the term "same-year-men," is to -persons who have graduated at the same time. - -[129] This is by no means an uncommon form of charity. During the -temporary distress at Canton, in the summer of 1877, large tubs of -gruel were to be seen standing at convenient points, ready for any -poor person who might wish to stay his hunger. It is thus, and by -similar acts of benevolence, such as building bridges, repairing -roads, etc., etc., that the wealthy Chinaman strives to maintain an -advantageous balance in his record of good and evil. - - - - -XVIII. - -LITTLE CHU. - - -A man named Li Hua dwelt at Ch'ang-chou. He was very well off, and -about fifty years of age, but he had no sons; only one daughter, named -Hsiao-hui, a pretty child on whom her parents doted. When she was -fourteen she had a severe illness and died, leaving their home -desolate and depriving them of their chief pleasure in life. Mr. Li -then bought a concubine, and she by-and-by bore him a son, who was -perfectly idolised, and called Chu, or the Pearl. This boy grew up to -be a fine manly fellow, though so extremely stupid that when five or -six years old he didn't know pulse from corn, and could hardly talk -plainly. His father, however, loved him dearly, and did not observe -his faults. - -Now it chanced that a one-eyed priest came to collect alms in the -town, and he seemed to know so much about everybody's private affairs -that the people all looked upon him as superhuman. He himself declared -he had control over life, death, happiness, and misfortune; and -consequently no one dared refuse him whatever sum he chose to ask of -them. From Li he demanded one hundred ounces of silver, but was -offered only ten, which he refused to receive. This sum was increased -to thirty ounces, whereupon the priest looked sternly at Li and said, -"I must have one hundred; not a fraction less." Li now got angry, and -went away without giving him any, the priest, too, rising up in a rage -and shouting after him, "I hope you won't repent." Shortly after these -events little Chu fell sick, and crawled about the bed scratching the -mat, his face being of an ashen paleness. This frightened his father, -who hurried off with eighty ounces of silver, and begged the priest to -accept them. "A large sum like this is no trifling matter to earn," -said the priest, smiling; "but what can a poor recluse like myself do -for you?" So Li went home, to find that little Chu was already dead; -and this worked him into such a state that he immediately laid a -complaint before the magistrate. The priest was accordingly summoned -and interrogated; but the magistrate wouldn't accept his defence, and -ordered him to be bambooed. The blows sounded as if falling on -leather, upon which the magistrate commanded his lictors to search -him; and from about his person they drew forth two wooden men, a small -coffin, and five small flags. The magistrate here flew into a passion, -and made certain mystic signs with his fingers, which when the priest -saw he was frightened, and began to excuse himself; but the magistrate -would not listen to him, and had him bambooed to death. Li thanked him -for his kindness, and, taking his leave, proceeded home. In the -evening, after dusk, he was sitting alone with his wife, when suddenly -in popped a little boy, who said, "Pa! why did you hurry on so fast? -I couldn't catch you up." Looking at him more closely, they saw that -he was about seven or eight years old, and Mr. Li, in some alarm, was -on the point of questioning him, when he disappeared, re-appearing -again like smoke, and, curling round and round, got upon the bed. Li -pushed him off, and he fell down without making any sound, crying out, -"Pa! why do you do this?" and in a moment he was on the bed again. Li -was frightened, and ran away with his wife, the boy calling after -them, "Pa! Ma! boo-oo-oo." They went into the next room, bolting the -door after them; but there was the little boy at their heels again. Li -asked him what he wanted, to which he replied, "I belong to Su-chou; -my name is Chan; at six years of age I was left an orphan; my brother -and his wife couldn't bear me, so they sent me to live at my maternal -grandfather's. One day, when playing outside, a wicked priest killed -me by his black art underneath a mulberry-tree, and made of me an evil -spirit, dooming me to everlasting devildom without hope of -transmigration. Happily you exposed him; and I would now remain with -you as your son." "The paths of men and devils," replied Li, "lie in -different directions. How can we remain together?" "Give me only a -tiny room," cried the boy, "a bed, a mattress, and a cup of cold gruel -every day. I ask for nothing more." So Li agreed, to the great delight -of the boy, who slept by himself in another part of the house, coming -in the morning and walking in and out like any ordinary person. -Hearing Li's concubine crying bitterly, he asked how long little Chu -had been dead, and she told him seven days. "It's cold weather now," -said he, "and the body can't have decomposed. Have the grave opened, -and let me see it; if not too far gone, I can bring him to life -again." Li was only too pleased, and went off with the boy; and when -they opened the grave they found the body in perfect preservation; but -while Li was controlling his emotions, lo! the boy had vanished from -his sight. Wondering very much at this, he took little Chu's body -home, and had hardly laid it on the bed when he noticed the eyes move. -Little Chu then called for some broth, which put him into a -perspiration, and then he got up. They were all overjoyed to see him -come to life again; and, what is more, he was much brighter and -cleverer than before. At night, however, he lay perfectly stiff and -rigid, without shewing any signs of life; and, as he didn't move when -they turned him over and over, they were much frightened, and thought -he had died again. But towards daybreak he awaked as if from a dream, -and in reply to their questions said that when he was with the wicked -priest there was another boy named Ko-tz[)u];[130] and that the day -before, when he had been unable to catch up his father, it was because -he had stayed behind to bid adieu to Ko-tz[)u]; that Ko-tz[)u] was now the -son of an official in Purgatory named Chiang, and very comfortably -settled; and that he had invited him (Chan) to go and play with him -that evening, and had sent him back on a white-nosed horse. His mother -then asked him if he had seen little Chu in Purgatory; to which he -replied, "Little Chu has already been born again. He and our father -here had not really the destiny of father and son. Little Chu was -merely a man named Yen Tz[)u]-fang, from Chin-ling, who had come to -reclaim an old debt."[131] Now Mr. Li had formerly traded to -Chin-ling, and actually owed money for goods to a Mr. Yen; but he had -died, and no one else knew anything about it, so that he was now -greatly alarmed when he heard this story. His mother next asked (the -quasi) little Chu if he had seen his sister, Hsiao-hui; and he said he -had not, promising to go again and inquire about her. A few days -afterwards he told his mother that Hsiao-hui was very happy in -Purgatory, being married to a son of one of the Judges; and that she -had any quantity of jewels,[132] and crowds of attendants when she -went abroad. "Why doesn't she come home to see her parents?" asked his -mother. "Well," replied the boy, "dead people, you know, haven't got -any flesh or bones; however, if you can only remind them of something -that happened in their past lives, their feelings are at once touched. -So yesterday I managed, through Mr. Chiang, to get an interview with -Hsiao-hui; and we sat together on a coral couch, and I spoke to her -of her father and mother at home, all of which she listened to as if -she was asleep. I then remarked, 'Sister, when you were alive you were -very fond of embroidering double-stemmed flowers; and once you cut -your finger with the scissors, and the blood ran over the silk, but -you brought it into the picture as a crimson cloud. Your mother has -that picture still, hanging at the head of her bed, a perpetual -souvenir of you. Sister, have you forgotten this?' Then she burst into -tears, and promised to ask her husband to let her come and visit you." -His mother asked when she would arrive; but he said he could not tell. -However, one day he ran in and cried out, "Mother, Hsiao-hui has come, -with a splendid equipage and a train of servants; we had better get -plenty of wine ready." In a few moments he came in again, saying, -"Here is my sister," at the same time asking her to take a seat and -rest. He then wept; but none of those present saw anything at all. -By-and-by he went out and burnt a quantity of paper money[133] and -made offerings of wine outside the door, returning shortly and saying -he had sent away her attendants for a while. Hsiao-hui then asked if -the green coverlet, a small portion of which had been burnt by a -candle, was still in existence. "It is," replied her mother, and, -going to a box, she at once produced the coverlet. "Hsiao-hui would -like a bed made up for her in her old room," said her (quasi) brother; -"she wants to rest awhile, and will talk with you again in the -morning." - -Now their next-door neighbour, named Chao, had a daughter who was -formerly a great friend of Hsiao-hui's, and that night she dreamt that -Hsiao-hui appeared with a turban on her head and a red mantle over her -shoulders, and that they talked and laughed together precisely as in -days gone by. "I am now a spirit," said Hsiao-hui, "and my father and -mother can no more see me than if I was far separated from them. Dear -sister, I would borrow your body, from which to speak to them. You -need fear nothing." On the morrow when Miss Chao met her mother, she -fell on the ground before her and remained some time in a state of -unconsciousness, at length saying, "Madam, it is many years since we -met; your hair has become very white." "The girl's mad," said her -mother, in alarm; and, thinking something had gone wrong, proceeded to -follow her out of the door. Miss Chao went straight to Li's house, and -there with tears embraced Mrs. Li, who did not know what to make of it -all. "Yesterday," said Miss Chao, "when I came back, I was unhappily -unable to speak with you. Unfilial wretch that I was, to die before -you, and leave you to mourn my loss. How can I redeem such behaviour?" -Her mother thereupon began to understand the scene, and, weeping, -said to her, "I have heard that you hold an honourable position, and -this is a great comfort to me; but, living as you do in the palace of -a Judge, how is it you are able to get away?" "My husband," replied -she, "is very kind; and his parents treat me with all possible -consideration. I experience no harsh treatment at their hands." Here -Miss Chao rested her cheek upon her hand, exactly as Hsiao-hui had -been wont to do when she was alive; and at that moment in came her -brother to say that her attendants were ready to return. "I must go," -said she, rising up and weeping bitterly all the time; after which she -fell down, and remained some time unconscious as before. - -Shortly after these events Mr. Li became dangerously ill, and no -medicines were of any avail, so that his son feared they would not be -able to save his life. Two devils sat at the head of his bed, one -holding an iron staff, the other a nettle-hemp rope four or five feet -in length. Day and night his son implored them to go, but they would -not move; and Mrs. Li in sorrow began to prepare the funeral -clothes.[134] Towards evening her son entered and cried out, -"Strangers and women, leave the room! My sister's husband is coming to -see his father-in-law." He then clapped his hands, and burst out -laughing. "What is the matter?" asked his mother. "I am laughing," -answered he, "because when the two devils heard my sister's husband -was coming, they both ran under the bed, like terrapins, drawing in -their heads." By-and-by, looking at nothing, he began to talk about the -weather, and ask his sister's husband how he did, and then he clapped -his hands, and said, "I begged the two devils to go, but they would -not; it's all right now." After this he went out to the door and -returned, saying, "My sister's husband has gone. He took away the two -devils tied to his horse. My father ought to get better now. Besides, -Hsiao-hui's husband said he would speak to the Judge, and obtain a -hundred years' lease of life both for you and my father." The whole -family rejoiced exceedingly at this, and, when night came, Mr. Li was -better, and in a few days quite well again. A tutor was engaged for -(the quasi) little Chu, who shewed himself an apt pupil, and at -eighteen years of age took his bachelor's degree. He could also see -things of the other world; and when anyone in the village was ill, he -pointed out where the devils were, and burnt them out with fire, so -that everybody got well. However, before long he himself became very -ill, and his flesh turned green and purple; whereupon he said, "The -devils afflict me thus because I let out their secrets. Henceforth I -shall never divulge them again." - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[130] It may be necessary here to remind the reader that Chan's spirit -is speaking from Chu's body. - -[131] We shall come by and by to a story illustrative of this -extraordinary belief. - -[132] The _summum bonum_ of many a Chinese woman. - -[133] Chinese silver, called sycee (from the Cantonese _sai see_ "fine -silk;" because, if pure, it may be drawn out under the application of -heat into fine silk threads), is cast in the form of "shoes," weighing -from one to one hundred ounces. Paper imitations of these are burnt -for the use of the spirits in the world below. The sharp edges of a -"shoe" of sycee are caused by the mould containing the molten silver -being gently shaken until the metal has set, with a view to secure -uniform fineness throughout the lump. - -[134] Death is regarded as a summons from the authorities of -Purgatory; lictors are sent to arrest the doomed man, armed with a -written warrant similar to those issued on earth from a magistrate's -yamen. - - - - -XIX. - -MISS QUARTA HU. - - -Mr. Shang was a native of T'ai-shan, and lived quietly with his books -alone. One autumn night when the Silver River[135] was unusually -distinct and the moon shining brightly in the sky, he was walking up -and down under the shade, with his thoughts wandering somewhat at -random, when lo! a young girl leaped over the wall, and, smiling, -asked him, "What are you thinking about, Sir, all so deeply?" Shang -looked at her, and seeing that she had a pretty face, asked her to -walk in. She then told him her name was Hu,[136] and that she was -called Tertia; but when he wanted to know where she lived, she laughed -and would not say. So he did not inquire any further; and by degrees -they struck up a friendship, and Miss Tertia used to come and chat -with him every evening. He was so smitten that he could hardly take -his eyes off her, and at last she said to him, "What _are_ you -looking at?" "At you," cried he, "my lovely rose, my beautiful peach. -I could gaze at you all night long." "If you think so much of poor -me," answered she, "I don't know where your wits would be if you saw -my sister Quarta." Mr. Shang said he was sorry he didn't know her, and -begged that he might be introduced; so next night Miss Tertia brought -her sister, who turned out to be a young damsel of about fifteen, with -a face delicately powdered and resembling the lily, or like an -apricot-flower seen through mist; and altogether as pretty a girl as -he had ever seen. Mr. Shang was charmed with her, and inviting them -in, began to laugh and talk with the elder, while Miss Quarta sat -playing with her girdle, and keeping her eyes on the ground. By-and-by -Miss Tertia got up and said she was going, whereupon her sister rose -to take leave also; but Mr. Shang asked her not to be in a hurry, and -requested the elder to assist in persuading her. "You needn't hurry," -said she to Miss Quarta; and accordingly the latter remained chatting -with Mr. Shang without reserve, and finally told him she was a fox. -However, Mr. Shang was so occupied with her beauty, that he didn't pay -any heed to that; but she added, "And my sister is very dangerous; she -has already killed three people. Any one bewitched by her has no -chance of escape. Happily, you have bestowed your affections on me, -and I shall not allow you to be destroyed. You must break off your -acquaintance with her at once." Mr. Shang was very frightened, and -implored her to help him; to which she replied, "Although a fox, I am -skilled in the arts of the Immortals;[137] I will write out a charm -for you which you must paste on the door, and thus you will keep her -away." So she wrote down the charm, and in the morning when her sister -came and saw it, she fell back, crying out, "Ungrateful minx! you've -thrown me up for him, have you? You two being destined for each other, -what have I done that you should treat me thus?" She then went away; -and a few days afterwards Miss Quarta said she too would have to be -absent for a day, so Shang went out for a walk by himself, and -suddenly beheld a very nice-looking young lady emerge from the shade -of an old oak that was growing on the hill-side. "Why so dreadfully -pensive?" said she to him; "those Hu girls can never bring you a -single cent." She then presented Shang with some money, and bade him -go on ahead and buy some good wine, adding, "I'll bring something to -eat with me, and we'll have a jolly time of it." Shang took the money -and went home, doing as the young lady had told him; and by-and-by in -she herself came, and threw on the table a roast chicken and a -shoulder of salt pork, which she at once proceeded to cut up. They now -set to work to enjoy themselves, and had hardly finished when they -heard some one coming in, and the next minute in walked Miss Tertia -and her sister. The strange young lady didn't know where to hide, and -managed to lose her shoes; but the other two began to revile her, -saying, "Out upon you, base fox; what are you doing here?" They then -chased her away after some trouble, and Shang began to excuse himself -to them, until at last they all became friends again as before. - -One day, however, a Shensi man arrived, riding on a donkey, and coming -to the door said, "I have long been in search of these evil spirits: -now I have got them." Shang's father thought the man's remark rather -strange, and asked him whence he had come. "Across much land and sea," -replied he; "for eight or nine months out of every year I am absent -from my native place. These devils killed my brother with their -poison, alas! alas! and I have sworn to exterminate them; but I have -travelled many miles without being able to find them. They are now in -your house, and if you do not cut them off, you will die even as my -brother." Now Shang and the young ladies had kept their -acquaintanceship very dark; but his father and mother had guessed that -something was up, and, much alarmed, bade the Shensi man walk in and -perform his exorcisms. The latter then produced two bottles which he -placed upon the ground, and proceeded to mutter a number of charms and -cabalistic formulae; whereupon four wreaths of smoke passed two by two -into each bottle. "I have the whole family," cried he, in an ecstasy -of delight; as he proceeded to tie down the mouths of the bottles with -pig's bladder, sealing them with the utmost care. Shang's father was -likewise very pleased, and kept his guest to dinner; but the young man -himself was sadly dejected, and approaching the bottles unperceived, -bent his ear to listen. "Ungrateful man," said Miss Quarta from -within, "to sit there and make no effort to save me." This was more -than Shang could stand, and he immediately broke the seal, but found -that he couldn't untie the knot. "Not so," cried Miss Quarta; "merely -lay down the flag that now stands on the altar, and with a pin prick -the bladder, and I can get out." Shang did as she bade him, and in a -moment a thin streak of white smoke issued forth from the hole and -disappeared in the clouds. When the Shensi man came out, and saw the -flag lying on the ground, he started violently, and cried out, -"Escaped! This must be your doing, young Sir." He then shook the -bottle and listened, finally exclaiming, "Luckily only one has got -away. She was fated not to die, and may therefore be pardoned."[138] -Thereupon he took the bottles and went his way. - -Some years afterwards Shang was one day superintending his reapers -cutting the corn, when he descried Miss Quarta at a distance, sitting -under a tree. He approached, and she took his hand, saying, "Ten years -have rolled away since last we met. Since then I have gained the -prize of immortality;[139] but I thought that perhaps you had not -quite forgotten me, and so I came to see you once more." Shang wished -her to return home with him; to which she replied, "I am no longer -what I was that I should mingle in the affairs of mortals. We shall -meet again." And as she said this, she disappeared; but twenty years -later, when Shang was one day alone, Miss Quarta walked in. Shang was -overjoyed, and began to address her; but she answered him, saying, "My -name is already enrolled in the Register of the Immortals, and I have -no right to return to earth. However, out of gratitude to you I -determined to announce to you the date of your dissolution that you -might put your affairs in order. Fear nothing; I will see you safely -through to the happy land." She then departed, and on the day named -Shang actually died. A relative of a friend of mine, Mr. Li Wen-yue, -frequently met the above-mentioned Mr. Shang.[140] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[135] The Milky Way is known to the Chinese under this -name--unquestionably a more poetical one than our own. - -[136] See No. XIII., note 90. - -[137] That is, of the Taoists. See No. IV., note 46. - -[138] Predestination _after the event_ is, luckily for China, the form -of this superstition which really appeals to her all-practical -children. Not a larger percentage than with ourselves allow belief in -an irremediable destiny to divert their efforts one moment from the -object in view; though thousands upon thousands are ready enough to -acknowledge the "will of heaven" in any national or individual -calamities that may befall. See No. IX., note 69. - -[139] Any disembodied spirit whose conduct for a certain term of years -is quite satisfactory is competent to obtain this reward. Thus, -instead of being born again on earth, perhaps as an animal, they -become angels or good spirits, and live for ever in heaven in a state -of supreme beatitude. - -[140] Our author occasionally ends up with a remark of this kind; and -these have undoubtedly had their weight with his too credulous -countrymen. - - - - -XX. - -MR. CHU, THE CONSIDERATE HUSBAND. - - -At the village of Chu in Chi-yang, there was a man named Chu, who died -at the age of fifty and odd years. His family at once proceeded to put -on their mourning robes, when suddenly they heard the dead man cry -out. Rushing up to the coffin, they found that he had come to life -again; and began, full of joy, to ask him all about it. But the old -gentleman replied only to his wife, saying, "When I died I did not -expect to come back. However, by the time I had got a few miles on my -way, I thought of the poor old body I was leaving behind me, dependent -for everything on others, and with no more enjoyment of life. So I -made up my mind to return, and take you away with me." The bystanders -thought this was only the disconnected talk of a man who had just -regained consciousness, and attached no importance to it; but the old -man repeated it, and then his wife said, "It's all very well, but you -have only just come to life; how can you go and die again directly?" -"It is extremely simple," replied her husband; "you go and pack up -everything ready." The old lady laughed and did nothing; upon which -Mr. Chu urged her again to prepare, and then left the house. In a -short time he returned, and his wife pretended that she had done what -he wanted. "Then you had better dress," said he; but Mrs. Chu did not -move until he pressed her again and again, after which she did not -like to cross him, and by-and-by came out all fully equipped. The -other ladies of the family were laughing on the sly, when Mr. Chu laid -his head upon the pillow, and told his wife to do likewise. "It's too -ridiculous," she was beginning to say, when Mr. Chu banged the bed -with his hand, and cried out, "What is there to laugh at in dying?" -upon which the various members of the family, seeing the old gentleman -was in a rage, begged her to gratify his whim. Mrs. Chu then lay down -alongside of her husband, to the infinite amusement of the spectators; -but it was soon noticed that the old lady had ceased to smile, and -by-and-by her two eyes closed. For a long time not a sound was heard, -as if she was fast asleep; and when some of those present approached -to touch her, they found she was as cold as ice, and no longer -breathing; then, turning to her husband, they perceived that he also -had passed away. - -This story was fully related by a younger sister-in-law of Mr. Chu's, -who, in the twenty-first year of the reign K'ang Hsi,[141] was -employed in the house of a high official named Pi. - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[141] A.D. 1682. - - - - -XXI. - -THE MAGNANIMOUS GIRL. - - -At Chin-ling there lived a young man named Ku, who had considerable -ability but was very poor; and having an old mother, he was very loth -to leave home. So he employed himself in writing or painting[142] for -people, and gave his mother the proceeds, going on thus till he was -twenty-five years of age without taking a wife. Opposite to their -house was another building, which had long been untenanted; and one -day an old woman and a young girl came to occupy it, but there being -no gentleman with them young Ku did not make any inquiries as to who -they were or whence they hailed. Shortly afterwards it chanced that -just as Ku was entering the house he observed a young lady come out of -his mother's door. She was about eighteen or nineteen, very clever -and refined looking, and altogether such a girl as one rarely sets -eyes on; and when she noticed Mr. Ku, she did not run away, but seemed -quite self-possessed. "It was the young lady over the way; she came to -borrow my scissors and measure," said his mother, "and she told me -that there was only her mother and herself. They don't seem to belong -to the lower classes. I asked her why she didn't get married, to which -she replied that her mother was old. I must go and call on her -to-morrow, and find out how the land lies. If she doesn't expect too -much, you could take care of her mother for her." So next day Ku's -mother went, and found that the girl's mother was deaf, and that they -were evidently poor, apparently not having a day's food in the house. -Ku's mother asked what their employment was, and the old lady said -they trusted for food to her daughter's ten fingers. She then threw -out some hints about uniting the two families, to which the old lady -seemed to agree; but, on consultation with her daughter, the latter -would not consent. Mrs. Ku returned home and told her son, saying, -"Perhaps she thinks we are too poor. She doesn't speak or laugh, is -very nice-looking, and as pure as snow; truly no ordinary girl." There -ended that; until one day, as Ku was sitting in his study, up came a -very agreeable young fellow, who said he was from a neighbouring -village, and engaged Ku to draw a picture for him. The two youths soon -struck up a firm friendship and met constantly, when it happened that -the stranger chanced to see the young lady of over the way. "Who is -that?" said he, following her with his eyes. Ku told him, and then he -said, "She is certainly pretty, but rather stern in her appearance." -By-and-by Ku went in, and his mother told him the girl had come to beg -a little rice, as they had had nothing to eat all day. "She's a good -daughter," said his mother, "and I'm very sorry for her. We must try -and help them a little." Ku thereupon shouldered a peck of rice, and, -knocking at their door, presented it with his mother's compliments. -The young lady received the rice but said nothing; and then she got -into the habit of coming over and helping Ku's mother with her work -and household affairs, almost as if she had been her daughter-in-law, -for which Ku was very grateful to her, and whenever he had anything -nice he always sent some of it in to her mother, though the young lady -herself never once took the trouble to thank him. So things went on -until Ku's mother got an abscess on her leg, and lay writhing in agony -day and night. Then the young lady devoted herself to the invalid, -waiting on her and giving her medicine with such care and attention -that at last the sick woman cried out, "Oh, that I could secure such a -daughter-in-law as you, to see this old body into its grave!" The -young lady soothed her, and replied, "Your son is a hundred times more -filial than I, a poor widow's only daughter." "But even a filial son -makes a bad nurse," answered the patient; "besides, I am now drawing -towards the evening of my life, when my body will be exposed to the -mists and the dews, and I am vexed in spirit about our ancestral -worship and the continuance of our line." As she was speaking Ku -walked in; and his mother, weeping, said, "I am deeply indebted to -this young lady; do not forget to repay her goodness." Ku made a low -bow, but the young lady said, "Sir, when you were kind to my mother, I -did not thank you; why, then, thank me?" Ku thereupon became more than -ever attached to her; but could never get her to depart in the -slightest degree from her cold demeanour towards himself. One day, -however, he managed to squeeze her hand, upon which she told him never -to do so again; and then for some time he neither saw nor heard -anything of her. She had conceived a violent dislike to the young -stranger above-mentioned; and one evening when he was sitting talking -with Ku, the young lady reappeared. After a while she got angry at -something he said, and drew from her robe a glittering knife about a -foot long. The young man, seeing her do this, ran out in a fright and -she after him, only to find that he had vanished. She then threw her -dagger up into the air, and whish! a streak of light like a rainbow, -and something came tumbling down with a flop. Ku got a light, and ran -to see what it was; and lo! there lay a white fox, head in one place -and body in another. "There is your _friend_," cried the girl; "I knew -he would cause me to destroy him sooner or later." Ku dragged it into -the house, and said, "Let us wait till to-morrow to talk it over; we -shall then be more calm." Next day the young lady arrived, and Ku -inquired about her knowledge of the black art; but she told Ku not to -trouble himself about such affairs, and to keep it secret or it might -be prejudicial to his happiness. Ku then entreated her to consent to -their union, to which she replied that she had already been as it were -a daughter-in-law to his mother, and there was no need to push the -thing further. "Is it because I am poor?" asked Ku. "Well, I am not -rich," answered she, "but the fact is I had rather not." She then took -her leave, and the next evening when Ku went across to their house to -try once more to persuade her, the young lady had disappeared, and was -never seen again. - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[142] The usual occupation of poor scholars who are ashamed to go into -trade, and who have not enterprise enough to start as doctors or -fortune-tellers. Besides painting pictures and fans, and illustrating -books, these men write fancy scrolls in the various ornamental styles -so much prized by the Chinese; they keep accounts for people, and -write or read business and private letters for the illiterate masses. - - - - -XXII. - -THE BOON-COMPANION. - - -Once upon a time there was a young man named Ch'e, who was not -particularly well off, but at the same time very fond of his wine; so -much so, that without his three stoups of liquor every night, he was -quite unable to sleep, and bottles were seldom absent from the head of -his bed. One night he had waked up and was turning over and over, when -he fancied some one was in the bed with him; but then, thinking it was -only the clothes which had slipped off, he put out his hand to feel, -and, lo! he touched something silky like a cat, only larger. Striking -a light, he found it was a fox, lying in a drunken sleep like a dog; -and then looking at his wine bottle he saw that it had been emptied. -"A boon-companion," said he, laughing, as he avoided startling the -animal, and covering it up, lay down to sleep with his arm across it, -and the candle alight so as to see what transformation it might -undergo. About midnight, the fox stretched itself, and Ch'e cried, -"Well, to be sure, you've had a nice sleep!" He then drew off the -clothes, and beheld an elegant young man in a scholar's dress; but the -young man jumped up, and making a low obeisance, returned his host -many thanks for not cutting off his head. "Oh," replied Ch'e, "I am -not averse to liquor myself; in fact they say I'm too much given to -it. You shall play Pythias to my Damon;[143] and if you have no -objection, we'll be a pair of bottle-and-glass chums." So they lay -down and went to sleep again, Ch'e urging the young man to visit him -often, and saying that they must have faith in each other. The fox -agreed to this, but when Ch'e awoke in the morning his bedfellow had -already disappeared. So he prepared a goblet of first-rate wine in -expectation of his friend's arrival, and at nightfall sure enough he -came. They then sat together drinking, and the fox cracked so many -jokes that Ch'e said he regretted he had not known him before. "And -truly I don't know how to repay your kindness," replied the former, -"in preparing all this nice wine for me." "Oh," said Ch'e, "what's a -pint or so of wine?--nothing worth speaking of." "Well," rejoined the -fox, "you are only a poor scholar, and money isn't so easily to be -got. I must try if I can't secure a little wine capital for you." Next -evening when he arrived, he said to Ch'e, "Two miles down towards the -south-east you will find some silver lying by the wayside. Go early in -the morning and get it." So on the morrow Ch'e set off and actually -obtained two lumps of silver with which he bought some choice morsels -to help them out with their wine that evening. The fox now told him -that there was a vault in his back-yard which he ought to open; and -when he did so, he found therein more than a hundred strings of -cash.[144] "Now then," cried Ch'e, delighted, "I shall have no more -anxiety about funds for buying wine with all this in my purse." "Ah," -replied the fox, "the water in a puddle is not inexhaustible. I must -do something further for you." Some days afterwards the fox said to -Ch'e, "Buckwheat is very cheap in the market just now. Something is to -be done in this line." Accordingly, Ch'e bought over forty tons, and -thereby incurred general ridicule; but by-and-by there was a bad -drought and all kinds of grain and beans were spoilt. Only buckwheat -would grow, and Ch'e sold off his stock at a profit of one thousand -per cent. His wealth thus began to increase; he bought two hundred -acres of rich land, and always planted his crops, corn, millet, or -what not, upon the advice of the fox secretly given him beforehand. -The fox looked on Ch'e's wife as a sister, and on Ch'e's children as -his own; but when, subsequently, Ch'e died, it never came to the house -again. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[143] Kuan Chung and Pao Shu are the Chinese types of friendship. They -were two statesmen of considerable ability, who flourished in the -seventh century B.C. - -[144] Say about L10. See No. II., note 42. - - - - -XXIII. - -MISS LIEN-HSIANG. - - -There was a young man named Sang Tz[)u]-ming, a native of I-chou, who had -been left an orphan when quite young. He lived near the Saffron -market, and kept himself very much to himself, only going out twice a -day for his meals to a neighbour's close by, and sitting quietly at -home all the rest of his time. One day the said neighbour called, and -asked him in joke if he wasn't afraid of devil-foxes, so much alone as -he was. "Oh," replied Sang, laughing, "what has the superior man[145] -to fear from devil-foxes. If they come as men, I have here a sharp -sword for them; and if as women, why, I shall open the door and ask -them to walk in." The neighbour went away, and having arranged with a -friend of his, they got a young lady of their acquaintance to climb -over Sang's wall with the help of a ladder, and knock at the door. -Sang peeped through, and called out, "Who's there?" to which the girl -answered, "A devil!" and frightened Sang so dreadfully that his teeth -chattered in his head. The girl then ran away, and next morning when -his neighbour came to see him, Sang told him what had happened, and -said he meant to go back to his native place. The neighbour then -clapped his hands, and said to Sang, "Why didn't you ask her in?" -Whereupon Sang perceived that he had been tricked, and went on quietly -again as before. - -Some six months afterwards, a young lady knocked at his door; and -Sang, thinking his friends were at their old tricks, opened it at -once, and asked her to walk in. She did so; and he beheld to his -astonishment a perfect Helen for beauty.[146] Asking her whence she -came, she replied that her name was Lien-hsiang, and that she lived -not very far off, adding that she had long been anxious to make his -acquaintance. After that she used to drop in every now and again for a -chat; but one evening when Sang was sitting alone expecting her, -another young lady suddenly walked in. Thinking it was Lien-hsiang, -Sang got up to meet her, but found that the new-comer was somebody -else. She was about fifteen or sixteen years of age, wore very full -sleeves, and dressed her hair after the fashion of unmarried girls, -being otherwise very stylish-looking and refined, and apparently -hesitating whether to go on or go back. Sang, in a great state of -alarm, took her for a fox; but the young lady said, "My name is Li, -and I am of a respectable family. Hearing of your virtue and talent, I -hope to be accorded the honour of your acquaintance." Sang laughed, -and took her by the hand, which he found was as cold as ice; and when -he asked the reason, she told him that she had always been delicate, -and that it was very chilly outside. She then remarked that she -intended to visit him pretty frequently, and hoped it would not -inconvenience him; so he explained that no one came to see him except -another young lady, and that not very often. "When she comes, I'll -go," replied the young lady, "and only drop in when she's not here." -She then gave him an embroidered slipper, saying that she had worn it, -and that whenever he shook it she would know that he wanted to see -her, cautioning him at the same time never to shake it before -strangers. Taking it in his hand he beheld a very tiny little shoe -almost as fine pointed as an awl, with which he was much pleased; and -next evening, when nobody was present, he produced the shoe and shook -it, whereupon the young lady immediately walked in. Henceforth, -whenever he brought it out, the young lady responded to his wishes and -appeared before him. This seemed so strange that at last he asked her -to give him some explanation; but she only laughed, and said it was -mere coincidence. One evening after this Lien-hsiang came, and said in -alarm to Sang, "Whatever has made you look so melancholy?" Sang -replied that he did not know, and by-and-by she took her leave, -saying, they would not meet again for some ten days. During this -period Miss Li visited Sang every day, and on one occasion asked him -where his other friend was. Sang told her; and then she laughed and -said, "What is your opinion of me as compared with Lien-hsiang?" "You -are both of you perfection," replied he, "but you are a little -_colder_ of the two." Miss Li didn't much like this, and cried out, -"_Both of us perfection_ is what you say to _me_. Then she must be a -downright Cynthia,[147] and I am no match for her." Somewhat out of -temper, she reckoned that Lien-hsiang's ten days had expired, and said -she would have a peep at her, making Sang promise to keep it all -secret. The next evening Lien-hsiang came, and while they were talking -she suddenly exclaimed, "Oh, dear! how much worse you seem to have -become in the last ten days. You must have encountered something bad." -Sang asked her why so; to which she answered, "First of all your -appearance; and then your pulse is very thready.[148] You've got the -devil-disease." - -The following evening when Miss Li came, Sang asked her what she -thought of Lien-hsiang. "Oh," said she, "there's no question about her -beauty; but she's a fox. When she went away I followed her to her hole -on the hill side." Sang, however, attributed this remark to jealousy, -and took no notice of it; but the next evening when Lien-hsiang came, -he observed, "I don't believe it myself, but some one has told me you -are a fox." Lien-hsiang asked who had said so, to which Sang replied -that he was only joking; and then she begged him to explain what -difference there was between a fox and an ordinary person. "Well," -answered Sang, "foxes frighten people to death, and, therefore, they -are very much dreaded." "Don't you believe that!" cried Lien-hsiang; -"and now tell me who has been saying this of me." Sang declared at -first that it was only a joke of his, but by-and-by yielded to her -instances, and let out the whole story. "Of course I saw how changed -you were," said Lien-hsiang; "she is surely not a human being to be -able to cause such a rapid alteration in you. Say nothing, to-morrow -I'll watch her as she watched me." The following evening Miss Li came -in; and they had hardly interchanged half-a-dozen sentences when a -cough was heard outside the window, and Miss Li ran away. Lien-hsiang -then entered and said to Sang, "You are lost! She is a devil, and if -you do not at once forbid her coming here, you will soon be on the -road to the other world." "All jealousy," thought Sang, saying -nothing, as Lien-hsiang continued, "I know that you don't like to be -rude to her; but I, for my part, cannot see you sacrificed, and -to-morrow I will bring you some medicine to expel the poison from your -system. Happily, the disease has not yet taken firm hold of you, and -in ten days you will be well again." The next evening she produced a -knife and chopped up some medicine for Sang, which made him feel much -better; but, although he was very grateful to her, he still persisted -in disbelieving that he had the devil-disease. After some days he -recovered and Lien-hsiang left him, warning him to have no more to do -with Miss Li. Sang pretended that he would follow her advice, and -closed the door and trimmed his lamp. He then took out the slipper, -and on shaking it Miss Li appeared, somewhat cross at having been kept -away for several days. "She merely attended on me these few nights -while I was ill," said Sang; "don't be angry." At this Miss Li -brightened up a little; but by-and-by Sang told her that people said -she was a devil. "It's that nasty fox," cried Miss Li, after a pause, -"putting these things into your head. If you don't break with her, I -won't come here again." She then began to sob and cry, and Sang had -some trouble in pacifying her. Next evening Lien-hsiang came and found -out that Miss Li had been there again; whereupon she was very angry -with Sang, and told him he would certainly die. "Why need you be so -jealous?" said Sang, laughing; at which she only got more enraged, and -replied, "When you were nearly dying the other day and I saved you, if -I had not been jealous, where would you have been now?" Sang pretended -he was only joking, and said that Miss Li had told him his recent -illness was entirely owing to the machinations of a fox; to which she -replied, "It's true enough what you say, only you don't see _whose_ -machinations. However, if any thing happens to you, I should never -clear myself even had I a hundred mouths; we will, therefore, part. A -hundred days hence I shall see you on your bed." Sang could not -persuade her to stay, and away she went; and from that time Miss Li -became a regular visitor. - -Two months passed away, and Sang began to experience a feeling of -great lassitude, which he tried at first to shake off, but by-and-by -he became very thin, and could only take thick gruel. He then thought -about going back to his native place; however, he could not bear to -leave Miss Li, and in a few more days he was so weak that he was -unable to get up. His friend next door, seeing how ill he was, daily -sent in his boy with food and drink; and now Sang began for the first -time to suspect Miss Li. So he said to her, "I am sorry I didn't -listen to Lien-hsiang before I got as bad as this." He then closed his -eyes and kept them shut for some time; and when he opened them again -Miss Li had disappeared. Their acquaintanceship was thus at an end, -and Sang lay all emaciated as he was upon his bed in his solitary room -longing for the return of Lien-hsiang. One day, while he was still -thinking about her, some one drew aside the screen and walked in. It -was Lien-hsiang; and approaching the bed she said with a smile, "Was I -then talking such nonsense?" Sang struggled a long time to speak; and, -at length, confessing he had been wrong, implored her to save him. -"When the disease has reached such a pitch as this," replied -Lien-hsiang, "there is very little to be done. I merely came to bid -you farewell, and to clear up your doubts about my jealousy." In great -tribulation, Sang asked her to take something she would find under -his pillow and destroy it; and she accordingly drew forth the slipper, -which she proceeded to examine by the light of the lamp, turning it -over and over. All at once Miss Li walked in, but when she saw -Lien-hsiang she turned back as though she would run away, which -Lien-hsiang instantly prevented by placing herself in the doorway. -Sang then began to reproach her, and Miss Li could make no reply; -whereupon Lien-hsiang said, "At last we meet. Formerly you attributed -this gentleman's illness to me; what have you to say now?" Miss Li -bent her head in acknowledgment of her guilt, and Lien-hsiang -continued, "How is it that a nice girl like you can thus turn love -into hate?" Here Miss Li threw herself on the ground in a flood of -tears and begged for mercy; and Lien-hsiang, raising her up, inquired -of her as to her past life. "I am a daughter of a petty official named -Li, and I died young, leaving the web of my destiny incomplete, like -the silkworm that perishes in the spring. To be the partner of this -gentleman was my ardent wish; but I had never any intention of causing -his death." "I have heard," remarked Lien-hsiang, "that the advantage -devils obtain by killing people is that their victims are ever with -them after death. Is this so?" "It is not," replied Miss Li; "the -companionship of two devils gives no pleasure to either. Were it -otherwise, I should not have wanted for friends in the realms below. -But tell me, how do foxes manage not to kill people?" "You allude to -such foxes as suck the breath out of people?" replied Lien-hsiang; "I -am not of that class. Some foxes are harmless; no devils are,[149] -because of the dominance of the _yin_[150] in their compositions." -Sang now knew that these two girls were really a fox and a devil; -however, from being long accustomed to their society, he was not in -the least alarmed. His breathing had dwindled to a mere thread, and at -length he uttered a cry of pain. Lien-hsiang looked round and said, -"How shall we cure him?" upon which Miss Li blushed deeply and drew -back; and then Lien-hsiang added, "If he does get well, I'm afraid you -will be dreadfully jealous." Miss Li drew herself up, and replied, -"Could a physician be found to wipe away the wrong I have done to this -gentleman, I would bury my head in the ground. How should I look the -world in the face?" Lien-hsiang here opened a bag and drew forth some -drugs, saying, "I have been looking forward to this day. When I left -this gentleman I proceeded to gather my simples, as it would take -three months for the medicine to be got ready; but then, should the -poison have brought anyone even to death's door, this medicine is able -to call him back. The only condition is that it be administered by the -very hand which wrought the ill." Miss Li did as she was told and put -the pills Lien-hsiang gave her one after another into Sang's mouth. -They burnt his inside like fire; but soon vitality began to return, -and Lien-hsiang cried out, "He is cured!" Just at this moment Miss Li -heard the cock crow and vanished,[151] Lien-hsiang remaining behind in -attendance on the invalid, who was unable to feed himself. She bolted -the outside door and pretended that Sang had returned to his native -place, so as to prevent visitors from calling. Day and night she took -care of him, and every evening Miss Li came in to render assistance, -regarding Lien-hsiang as an elder sister, and being treated by her -with great consideration and kindness. Three months afterwards Sang -was as strong and well as ever he had been, and then for several -evenings Miss Li ceased to visit them, only staying a few moments when -she did come, and seeming very uneasy in her mind. One evening Sang -ran after her and carried her back in his arms, finding her no heavier -than so much straw; and then, being obliged to stay, she curled -herself up and lay down, to all appearance in a state of -unconsciousness, and by-and-by she was gone. For many days they heard -nothing of her, and Sang was so anxious that she should come back that -he often took out her slipper and shook it. "I don't wonder at your -missing her," said Lien-hsiang, "I do myself very much indeed." -"Formerly," observed Sang, "when I shook the slipper she invariably -came. I thought it very strange, but I never suspected her of being a -devil. And now, alas! all I can do is to sit and think about her with -this slipper in my hand." He then burst into a flood of tears. - -Now a young lady named Yen-erh, belonging to the wealthy Chang family, -and about fifteen years of age, had died suddenly, without any -apparent cause, and had come to life again in the night, when she got -up and wished to go out. They barred the door and would not hear of -her doing so; upon which she said, "I am the spirit daughter of a -petty magistrate. A Mr. Sang has been very kind to me, and I have left -my slipper at his house. I am really a spirit; what is the use of -keeping me in?" There being some reason for what she said, they asked -her why she had come there; but she only looked up and down without -being able to give any explanation. Some one here observed, that Mr. -Sang had already gone home, but the young lady utterly refused to -believe them. The family was much disturbed at all this; and when -Sang's neighbour heard the story, he jumped over the wall, and peeping -through beheld Sang sitting there chatting with a pretty-looking girl. -As he went in, there was some commotion, during which Sang's visitor -had disappeared, and when his neighbour asked the meaning of it all, -Sang replied, laughing, "Why, I told you if any ladies came I should -ask them in." His friend then repeated what Miss Yen-erh had said; and -Sang, unbolting his door, was about to go and have a peep at her, but -unfortunately had no means of so doing. Meanwhile Mrs. Chang, hearing -that he had not gone away, was more lost in astonishment than ever, -and sent an old woman-servant to get back the slipper. Sang -immediately gave it to her, and Miss Yen-erh was delighted to recover -it, though when she came to try it on it was too small for her by a -good inch. In considerable alarm, she seized a mirror to look at -herself; and suddenly became aware that she had come to life again in -some one else's body. She therefore told all to her mother, and -finally succeeded in convincing her, crying all the time because she -was so changed for the worse as regarded personal appearance from what -she had been before. And whenever she happened to see Lien-hsiang, she -was very much disconcerted, declaring that she had been much better -off as a devil than now as a human being. She would sit and weep over -the slipper, no one being able to comfort her; and finally, covering -herself up with bed-clothes, she lay all stark and stiff, positively -refusing to take any nourishment. Her body swelled up, and for seven -days she refused all food, but did not die; and then the swelling -began to subside, and an intense hunger to come upon her which made -her once more think about eating. Then she was troubled with a severe -irritation, and her skin peeled entirely away; and when she got up in -the morning, she found that the shoes had fallen off. On trying to put -them on again, she discovered that they did not fit her any longer; -and then she went back to her former pair which were now exactly of -the right size and shape. In an ecstasy of joy, she grasped her -mirror, and saw that her features had also changed back to what they -had formerly been; so she washed and dressed herself and went in to -visit her mother. Every one who met her was much astonished; and when -Lien-hsiang heard the strange story, she tried to persuade Mr. Sang to -make her an offer of marriage. But the young lady was rich and Sang -was poor, and he did not see his way clearly. However, on Mrs. Chang's -birthday, when she completed her cycle of sixty-one years,[152] Sang -went along with the others to wish her many happy returns of the day; -and when the old lady knew who was coming, she bade Yen-erh take a -peep at him from behind the curtain. Sang arrived last of all; and -immediately out rushed Miss Yen-erh and seized his sleeve, and said -she would go back with him. Her mother scolded her well for this, and -she ran in abashed; but Sang, who had looked at her closely, began to -weep, and threw himself at the feet of Mrs. Chang who raised him up -without saying anything unkind. Sang then took his leave, and got his -uncle to act as medium between them; the result being that an -auspicious day was fixed upon for the wedding. At the appointed time -Sang proceeded to the house to fetch her; and when he returned he -found that, instead of his former poor-looking furniture, beautiful -carpets were laid down from the very door, and thousands of coloured -lanterns were hung about in elegant designs. Lien-hsiang assisted the -bride to enter, and took off her veil, finding her the same bright -girl as ever. She also joined them while drinking the wedding -cup,[153] and inquired of her friend as to her recent transmigration; -and Yen-erh related as follows:--"Overwhelmed with grief, I began to -shrink from myself as some unclean thing; and, after separating from -you that day, I would not return any more to my grave. So I wandered -about at random, and whenever I saw a living being, I envied its happy -state. By day I remained among trees and shrubs, but at night I used -to roam about anywhere. And once I came to the house of the Chang -family, where, seeing a young girl lying upon the bed, I took -possession of her mortal coil, unknowing that she would be restored to -life again." When Lien-hsiang heard this she was for some time lost in -thought; and a month or two afterwards became very ill. She refused -all medical aid and gradually got worse and worse, to the great grief -of Mr. Sang and his wife, who stood weeping at her bedside. Suddenly -she opened her eyes, and said, "You wish to live; I am willing to die. -If fate so ordains it, we shall meet again ten years hence." As she -uttered these words, her spirit passed away, and all that remained was -the dead body of a fox. Sang, however, insisted on burying it with all -the proper ceremonies. - -Now his wife had no children; but one day a servant came in and said, -"There is an old woman outside who has got a little girl for sale." -Sang's wife gave orders that she should be shown in; and no sooner had -she set eyes on the girl than she cried out, "Why, she's the image of -Lien-hsiang!" Sang then looked at her, and found to his astonishment -that she was really very like his old friend. The old woman said she -was fourteen years old; and when asked what her price was, declared -that her only wish was to get the girl comfortably settled, and -enough to keep herself alive, and ensure not being thrown out into the -kennel at death. So Sang gave a good price for her;[154] and his wife, -taking the girl's hand, led her into a room by themselves. Then, -chucking her under the chin, she asked her, smiling, "Do you know me?" -The girl said she did not; after which she told Mrs. Sang that her -name was Wei, and that her father, who had been a pickle-merchant at -Hsue-ch'eng, had died three years before. Mrs. Sang then calculated -that Lien-hsiang had been dead just ten years; and, looking at the -girl, who resembled her so exactly in every trait, at length patted -her on the head, saying, "Ah, my sister, you promised to visit us -again in ten years, and you have not played us false." The girl here -seemed to wake up as if from a dream, and, uttering an exclamation of -surprise, fixed a steady gaze upon Sang's wife. Sang himself laughed, -and said, "Just like the return of an old familiar swallow." "Now I -understand," cried the girl, in tears; "I recollect my mother saying -that when I was born I was able to speak; and that, thinking it an -inauspicious manifestation, they gave me dog's blood to drink, so that -I should forget all about my previous state of existence.[155] Is it -all a dream, or are you not the Miss Li who was so ashamed of being a -devil?" Thus they chatted of their existence in a former life, with -alternate tears and smiles; but when it came to the day for -worshipping at the tombs, Yen-erh explained that she and her husband -were in the habit of annually visiting and mourning over her grave. -The girl replied that she would accompany them; and when they got -there they found the whole place in disorder, and the coffin wood all -warped. "Lien-hsiang and I," said Yen-erh to her husband, "have been -attached to each other in two states of existence. Let us not be -separated, but bury my bones here with hers." Sang consented, and -opening Miss Li's tomb, took out the bones and buried them with those -of Lien-hsiang, while friends and relatives, who had heard the strange -story, gathered round the grave in gala dress to the number of many -hundreds. - -I learnt the above when travelling through I-chou, where I was -detained at an inn by rain, and read a biography of Mr. Sang written -by a comrade of his named Wang Tz[)u]-chang. It was lent me by a Mr. Liu -Tz[)u]-ching, a relative of Sang's, and was quite a long account. This is -merely an outline of it. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[145] The term constantly employed by Confucius to denote the man of -perfect probity, learning, and refinement. The nearest, if not an -exact, translation would be "gentleman." - -[146] Literally, "a young lady whose beauty would overthrow a -kingdom," in allusion to an old story which it is not necessary to -reproduce here. - -[147] The Lady of the Moon. See No. V., note 49. - -[148] See No. VIII., note 64. - -[149] Miss Lien-hsiang was here speaking without book, as will be seen -in a story later on. - -[150] The female principle. In a properly-constituted human being the -male and female principles are harmoniously combined. Nothing short of -a small volume would place this subject, the basis of Chinese -metaphysics, in a clear light before the uninitiated reader. Broadly -speaking, the _yin_ and the _yang_ are the two primeval forces from -the interaction of which all things have been evolved. - -[151] - - "_Ber._--It was about to speak, when the cock crew. - - _Hor._--And then it started like a guilty thing - Upon a fearful summons. I have heard, - The cock, that is the trumpet to the morn, - Doth with his lofty and shrill-sounding throat - Awake the God of Day; and, at his warning, - Whether in sea or fire, in earth or air, - The extravagant and erring spirit hies - To his confine." - - _Hamlet._ - -[152] "From time immemorial, the Chinese have employed a combination -of two sets of characters, numbering ten and twelve respectively, to -form a cycle of sixty terms for the purpose of chronological notation. -The period at which this cycle was invented is a subject upon which -complete uncertainty prevails, but there is little doubt that it first -came into use as a method of reckoning years after the reform of the -calendar in B.C. 104."--Mayers' _Reader's Manual_. - -The birthday on which any person completes his cycle is considered a -very auspicious occasion. The second emperor of the present dynasty, -K'ang Hsi, completed a cycle in his _reign_, with one year to spare; -and his grandson, Ch'ien Lung (or Kien Lung) fell short of this only -by a single year, dying in the same cyclical period as that in which -he had ascended the throne. - -[153] Bride and bridegroom drink wine together out of two cups joined -by a red string, typical of that imaginary bond which is believed to -unite the destinies of husband and wife long before they have set eyes -on each other. Popular tradition assigns to an old man who lives in -the moon the arrangement of all matches among mortals; hence the -common Chinese expression, "Marriages are made in the moon." - -[154] The bill of sale always handed to the purchaser of a child in -China, as a proof that the child is his _bona fide_ property and has -not been kidnapped, is by a pleasant fiction called a "deed of gift," -the amount paid over to the seller being therein denominated "ginger -and vinegar money," or compensation for the expense of rearing and -educating up to the date of sale. This phrase originates from the fact -that a dose of ginger and vinegar is administered to every Chinese -woman immediately after the delivery of her child. - -We may here add that the value of male children to those who have no -heirs, and of female children to those who want servants, has fostered -a regular kidnapping trade, which is carried on with great activity in -some parts of China, albeit the penalty on discovery is instant -decapitation. Some years ago I was present in the streets of Tientsin -when a kidnapper was seized by the infuriated mob, and within two -hours I heard that the man had been summarily executed. - -[155] The power of recalling events which have occurred in a previous -life will be enlarged upon in several stories to come. - - - - -XXIV. - -MISS A-PAO; OR, PERSEVERANCE REWARDED. - - -In the province of Kuang-si there lived a scholar of some reputation, -named Sun Tz[)u]-ch'u. He was born with six fingers, and such a simple -fellow was he that he readily believed any nonsense he was told. Very -shy with the fair sex, the sight of a woman was enough to send him -flying in the opposite direction; and once when he was inveigled into -a room where there were some young ladies, he blushed down to his neck -and the perspiration dripped off him like falling pearls. His -companions laughed heartily at his discomfiture, and told fine stories -of what a noodle he looked, so that he got the nickname of Silly Sun. - -In the town where our hero resided, there was a rich trader whose -wealth equalled that of any prince or nobleman, and whose connections -were all highly aristocratic.[156] He had a daughter, A-pao, of great -beauty, for whom he was seeking a husband; and the young men of -position in the neighbourhood were vying with each other to obtain her -hand, but none of them met with the father's approval. Now Silly Sun -had recently lost his wife; and some one in joke persuaded him to try -his luck and send in an application. Sun, who had no idea of his own -shortcomings, proceeded at once to follow this advice; but the father, -though he knew him to be an accomplished scholar, rejected his suit on -the ground of poverty. As the go-between[157] was leaving the house, -she chanced to meet A-pao, and related to her the object of her visit. -"Tell him," cried A-pao, laughing, "that if he'll cut off his extra -finger, I'll marry him." The old woman reported this to Sun, who -replied, "That is not very difficult;" and, seizing a chopper, cut the -finger clean off. The wound was extremely painful and he lost so much -blood that he nearly died, it being many days before he was about -again. He then sought out the go-between, and bade her inform Miss -A-pao, which she did; and A-pao was taken rather aback, but she told -the old woman to go once more and bid him cut off the "silly" from -his reputation. Sun got much excited when he heard this, and denied -that he was silly; however, as he was unable to prove it to the young -lady herself, he began to think that probably her beauty was -over-stated, and that she was giving herself great airs. So he ceased -to trouble himself about her until the following spring festival,[158] -when it was customary for both men and women to be seen abroad, and -the young rips of the place would stroll about in groups and pass -their remarks on all and sundry. Sun's friends urged him to join them -in their expedition, and one of them asked him with a smile if he did -not wish to look out for a suitable mate. Sun knew they were chaffing -him, but he thought he should like to see the girl that had made such -a fool of him, and was only too pleased to accompany them. They soon -perceived a young lady resting herself under a tree, with a throng of -young fellows crowding round her, and they immediately determined that -she must be A-pao, as in fact they found she was. Possessed of -peerless beauty, the ring of her admirers gradually increased, till at -last she rose up to go. The excitement among the young men was -intense; they criticised her face and discussed her feet,[159] Sun -only remaining silent; and when they had passed on to something else, -there they saw Sun rooted like an imbecile to the same spot. As he -made no answer when spoken to, they dragged him along with them, -saying, "Has your spirit run away after A-pao?" He made no reply to -this either; but they thought nothing of that, knowing his usual -strangeness of manner, so by dint of pushing and pulling they managed -to get him home. There he threw himself on the bed and did not get up -again for the rest of the day, lying in a state of unconsciousness -just as if he were drunk. He did not wake when called; and his people, -thinking that his spirit had fled, went about in the fields calling -out to it to return.[160] However, he shewed no signs of improvement; -and when they shook him, and asked him what was the matter, he only -answered in a sleepy kind of voice, "I am at A-pao's house;" but to -further questions he would not make any reply, and left his family in -a state of keen suspense. - -Now when Silly Sun had seen the young lady get up to go, he could not -bear to part with her, and found himself first following and then -walking along by her side without anyone saying anything to him. Thus -he went back with her to her home, and there he remained for three -days, longing to run home and get something to eat, but unfortunately -not knowing the way. By that time Sun had hardly a breath left in -him; and his friends, fearing that he was going to die, sent to beg of -the rich trader that he would allow a search to be made for Sun's -spirit in his house. The trader laughed and said, "He wasn't in the -habit of coming here, so he could hardly have left his spirit behind -him;" but he yielded to the entreaties of Sun's family, and permitted -the search to be made. Thereupon a magician proceeded to the house, -taking with him an old suit of Sun's clothes and some grass matting; -and when Miss A-pao heard the reason for which he had come, she -simplified matters very much by leading the magician straight to her -own room. The magician summoned the spirit in due form, and went back -towards Sun's house. By the time he had reached the door, Sun groaned -and recovered consciousness; and he was then able to describe all the -articles of toilette and furniture in A-pao's room without making a -single mistake. A-pao was amazed when the story was repeated to her, -and could not help feeling kindly towards him on account of the depth -of his passion. Sun himself, when he got well enough to leave his bed, -would often sit in a state of abstraction as if he had lost his wits; -and he was for ever scheming to try and have another glimpse at A-pao. - -One day he heard that she intended to worship at the Shui-yueeh temple -on the 8th of the fourth moon, that day being the Wash-Buddha -festival; and he set off early in the morning to wait for her at the -roadside. He was nearly blind with straining his eyes, and the sun was -already past noontide before the young lady arrived; but when she saw -from her carriage a gentleman standing there, she drew aside the -screen and had a good stare at him. Sun followed her in a great state -of excitement, upon which she bade one of her maids to go and ask his -name. Sun told her who he was, his perturbation all the time -increasing; and when the carriage drove on he returned home. Again he -became very ill, and lay on his bed unconscious, without taking any -food, occasionally calling on A-pao by name, at the same time abusing -his spirit for not having been able to follow her as before. Just at -this juncture a parrot that had been long with the family died; and a -child, playing with the body, laid it upon the bed. Sun then reflected -that if he was only a parrot one flap of his wings would bring him -into the presence of A-pao; and while occupied with these thoughts, -lo! the dead body moved and the parrot flew away. It flew straight to -A-pao's room, at which she was delighted; and catching it, tied a -string to its leg, and fed it upon hemp-seed. "Dear sister," cried the -bird, "do not tie me by the leg: I am Sun Tz[)u]-ch'u." In great alarm -A-pao untied the string, but the parrot did not fly away. "Alas!" said -she, "your love has engraved itself upon my heart; but now you are no -longer a man, how shall we ever be united together?" "To be near your -dear self," replied the parrot, "is all I care about." The parrot then -refused to take food from anyone else, and kept close to Miss A-pao -wherever she went, day and night alike. At the expiration of three -days, A-pao, who had grown very fond of her parrot, secretly sent some -one to ask how Mr. Sun was; but he had already been dead three days, -though the part over his heart had not grown cold. "Oh! come to life -again as a man," cried the young lady, "and I swear to be yours for -ever." "You are surely not in earnest," said the parrot, "are you?" -Miss A-pao declared she was, and the parrot, cocking its head aside, -remained some time as if absorbed in thought. By-and-by A-pao took off -her shoes to bind her feet a little tighter;[161] and the parrot, -making a rapid grab at one, flew off with it in its beak. She called -loudly after it to come back, but in a moment it was out of sight; so -she next sent a servant to inquire if there was any news of Mr. Sun, -and then learnt that he had come round again, the parrot having flown -in with an embroidered shoe and dropped down dead on the ground. Also, -that directly he regained consciousness he asked for the shoe, of -which his people knew nothing; at which moment her servant had -arrived, and demanded to know from him where it was. "It was given to -me by Miss A-pao as a pledge of faith," replied Sun; "I beg you will -tell her I have not forgotten her promise." A-pao was greatly -astonished at this, and instructed her maid to divulge the whole -affair to her mother, who, when she had made some inquiries, observed -that Sun was well known as a clever fellow, but was desperately poor, -and "to get such a son-in-law after all our trouble would give our -aristocratic friends the laugh against us."[162] However, A-pao -pleaded that with the shoe there as a proof against her, she would not -marry anybody else; and, ultimately, her father and mother gave their -consent. This was immediately announced to Mr. Sun, whose illness -rapidly disappeared in consequence. A-pao's father would have had Sun -come and live with them;[163] but the young lady objected, on the -score that a son-in-law should not remain long at a time with the -family of his wife,[164] and that as he was poor he would lower -himself still more by doing so. "I have accepted him," added she, "and -I shall gladly reside in his humble cottage, and share his poor fare -without complaint." The marriage was then celebrated, and bride and -bridegroom met as if for the first time in their lives.[165] The dowry -A-pao brought with her somewhat raised their pecuniary position, and -gave them a certain amount of comfort; but Sun himself stuck only to -his books, and knew nothing about managing affairs in general. Luckily -his wife was clever in that respect, and did not bother him with such -things; so much so that by the end of three years they were -comparatively well off, when Sun suddenly fell ill and died. Mrs. Sun -was inconsolable, and refused either to sleep or take nourishment, -being deaf to all entreaties on the subject; and before long, taking -advantage of the night, she hanged herself.[166] Her maid, hearing a -noise, ran in and cut her down just in time: but she still steadily -refused all food. Three days passed away, and the friends and -relatives of Sun came to attend his funeral, when suddenly they heard -a sigh proceeding forth from the coffin. The coffin was then opened -and they found that Sun had come to life again. He told them that he -had been before the Great Judge, who, as a reward for his upright and -honourable life, had conferred upon him an official appointment. "At -this moment," said Sun, "it was reported that my wife was close at -hand,[167] but the Judge, referring to the register, observed that her -time had not yet come. They told him she had taken no food for three -days; and then the Judge, looking at me, said that as a recompense for -her wifely virtues she should be permitted to return to life. -Thereupon he gave orders to his attendants to put to the horses and -see us safely back." From that hour Sun gradually improved, and the -next year went up for his master's degree. All his old companions -chaffed him exceedingly before the examination, and gave him seven -themes on out-of-the-way subjects, telling him privately that they had -been surreptitiously obtained from the examiners. Sun believed them as -usual, and worked at them day and night until he was perfect, his -comrades all the time enjoying a good laugh against him. However, when -the day came it was found that the examiners, fearing lest the themes -they had chosen in an ordinary way should have been dishonestly made -public,[168] took a set of fresh ones quite out of the common run--in -fact, on the very subjects Sun's companions had given to him. -Consequently, he came out at the head of the list; and the next year, -after taking his doctor's degree, he was entered among the Han-lin -Academicians.[169] The Emperor, too, happening to hear of his curious -adventures, sent for him and made him repeat his story; subsequently, -summoning A-pao and making her some very costly presents. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[156] There is nothing in China like an aristocracy of birth. Any man -may raise himself from the lowest level to the highest; and as long as -he and his family keep themselves there, they may be considered -aristocratic. Wealth has nothing to do with the question; official -rank and literary tastes, separate or combined, these constitute a -man's title to the esteem of his fellows. Trade is looked upon as -ignoble and debasing; and friendly intercourse between merchants and -officials, the two great social divisions, is so rare as to be almost -unknown. - -[157] The medium, without whose good offices no marriage can be -arranged. Generally, but not always, a woman. - -This system of go-betweens is not confined to matrimonial engagements. -No servant ever offers himself for a place; he invariably employs some -one to introduce him. So also in mercantile transactions the broker -almost invariably appears upon the scene. - -[158] See No. II., note 41. - -[159] The so-called "golden lilies" always come in for a large share -of criticism. See No. XII., note 86. This term originated with an -emperor who reigned in the fifth century, when, in ecstasies at the -graceful dancing of a concubine upon a stage ornamented with lilies, -he cried out, "Every footstep makes a lily grow." - -[160] A common custom; _e.g._ in the case of a little child lying -dangerously ill, its mother will go outside the door into the garden -or field, and call out its name several times, in the hope of bringing -back the wandering spirit. - -[161] This process must be regularly gone through night and morning, -otherwise the bandages become loose, and the gait of the walker -unsteady. - -[162] I have explained before that any great disparity of means is -considered an obstacle to a matrimonial alliance between two families. - -[163] This is a not unusual arrangement in cases where there are other -sons in the bridegroom's family, but none in that of the bride's, -especially if the advantage of wealth is on the side of the latter. - -[164] Such is the Chinese rule, adopted simply with a view to the -preservation of harmony. - -[165] They are supposed never to see each other before the -wedding-day; but, after careful investigation of the subject, I have -come to the conclusion that certainly in seven cases out of ten, the -intended bridegroom secretly procures a sight of his future wife. I am -now speaking of the higher classes; among the poor, both sexes mix -almost as freely as with us. - -[166] This would still be considered a creditable act on the part of a -Chinese widow. It is, however, of exceedingly rare occurrence. - -[167] Being nearly dead from hanging. - -[168] This is occasionally done, great influence or a heavy bribe -being brought to bear upon the Examiners, of whom there are only -two for the Master's degree, and the second of these, or -Assistant-Examiner, holds but a subordinate position. See _Appendix_ -A, and No. LXXV., note 426. - -[169] Admission to the Han-lin, or Chinese National Academy, is the -highest honour obtainable by a scholar. Its members are employed in -drawing up Government documents, histories, etc. - - - - -XXV. - -JEN HSIU. - - -Jen Chien-chih was a native of Yue-t'ai, and a dealer in rugs and furs. -One day he set off for Shensi, taking with him every penny he could -scrape together; and on the road he met a man who told him that his -name was Shen Chu-t'ing, and his native place Su-ch'ien. These two -soon became firm friends, and entered into a masonic bond[170] with -each other, journeying on together by the same stages until they -reached their destination. By-and-by Mr. Jen fell sick, and his -companion had to nurse him, which he did with the utmost attention, -but for ten days he gradually got worse and worse, and at length said -to Shen, "My family is very poor. Eight mouths depend upon my -exertions for food; and now, alas! I am about to die, far from my own -home. You and I are brothers. At this distance there is no one else to -whom I can look. Now in my purse you will find two hundred ounces of -silver. Take half, and when you have defrayed my funeral expenses, use -the balance for your return journey; and give the other half to my -family, that they may be able to send for my coffin.[171] If, however, -you will take my mortal remains with you home to my native place, -these expenses need not be incurred." He then, with the aid of a -pillow, wrote a letter, which he handed to Shen, and that evening he -died. Thereupon Shen purchased a cheap coffin[172] for some five or -six ounces of silver; and, as the landlord kept urging him to take -away the body, he said he would go out and seek for a temple where it -might be temporarily deposited. But he ran away and never went back -to the inn; and it was more than a year before Jen's family knew what -had taken place. His son was just about seventeen years of age, and -had recently been reading with a tutor; but now his books were laid -aside, and he proposed to go in search of his father's body. His -mother said he was too young; and it was only when he declared he -would rather not live than stay at home, that with the aid of the -pawn-shop[173] enough money was raised to start him on his way. An old -servant accompanied him, and it was six months before they returned -and performed the last ceremonies over Jen's remains. The family was -thus reduced to absolute destitution; but happily young Hsiu was a -clever fellow, and when the days of mourning[174] were over, took his -bachelor's degree. On the other hand, he was somewhat wild and very -fond of gambling; and although his mother strictly prohibited such -diversions, all her prohibitions were in vain. By-and-by the Grand -Examiner arrived, and Hsiu came out in the fourth class. His mother -was extremely angry, and refused to take food, which brought young -Hsiu to his senses, and he promised her faithfully he would never -gamble again. From that day he shut himself up, and the following year -took a first class degree, coming out among the "senior" -graduates.[175] His mother now advised him to take pupils, but his -reputation as a disorderly fellow stuck to him, and no one would -entrust their sons to his care. - -Just then an uncle of his, named Chang, was about to start with -merchandise for the capital, and recommended that Hsiu should go along -with him, promising himself to pay all expenses, an offer which Hsiu -was only too pleased to accept. When they reached Lin-ch'ing, they -anchored outside the Custom House, where they found a great number of -salt-junks, in fact a perfect forest of masts; and what with the noise -of the water and the people it was quite impossible to sleep. -Besides, as the row was beginning to subside, the clear rattle of dice -from a neighbouring boat fell upon Hsiu's ear, and before long he was -itching to be back again at his old games. Listening to hear if all -around him were sound asleep, he drew forth a string of cash that he -had brought with him, and thought he would just go across and try his -luck. So he got up quietly with his money, and was on the point of -going, when he suddenly recollected his mother's injunctions, and at -once tying his purse-strings laid himself down to sleep. He was far -too excited, however, to close his eyes; and after a while got up -again and re-opened his purse. This he did three times, until at last -it was too much for him, and off he went with his money. Crossing over -into the boat whence the sounds proceeded, he beheld two persons -engaged in gambling for high stakes; so throwing his money on the -table, he begged to be allowed to join. The others readily consented, -and they began to play, Hsiu winning so rapidly that soon one of the -strangers had no money left, and was obliged to get the proprietor of -the boat to change a large piece of silver for him, proceeding to lay -down as much as several ounces of silver for a single stake. - -As the play was in full swing another man walked in, who after -watching for some time at length got the proprietor to change another -lump of silver for him of one hundred ounces in weight, and also asked -to be allowed to join. Now Hsiu's uncle, waking up in the middle of -the night, and finding his nephew gone, and hearing the sound of -dice-throwing hard by, knew at once where he was, and immediately -followed him to the boat with a view of bringing him back. Finding, -however, that Hsiu was a heavy winner, he said nothing to him, only -carrying off a portion of his winnings to their own boat and making -the others of his party get up and help him to fetch the rest, even -then leaving behind a large sum for Hsiu to go on with. By-and-by the -three strangers had lost all their ready money, and there wasn't a -farthing left in the boat: upon which one of them proposed to play for -lumps of silver, but Hsiu said he never went so high as that. This -made them a little quarrelsome, Hsiu's uncle all the time trying to -get him away; and the proprietor of the boat, who had only his own -commission in view, managed to borrow some hundred strings of cash -from another boat, and started them all again. Hsiu soon took this out -of them; and, as day was beginning to dawn and the Custom House was -about to open, he went off with his winnings back to his own boat. - -The proprietor of the gambling-boat now found that the lumps of silver -which he had changed for his customers were nothing more than so much -tinsel, and rushing off in a great state of alarm to Hsiu's boat, told -him what had happened and asked him to make it good; but when he -discovered he was speaking to the son of his former travelling -companion, Jen Chien-chih, he hung his head and slunk away covered -with shame. For the proprietor of that boat was no other than Shen -Chu-t'ing, of whom Hsiu had heard when he was in Shensi; now, -however, that with supernatural aid[176] the wrongs of his father had -been avenged, he determined to pursue the man no further. So going -into partnership with his uncle, they proceeded north together; and by -the end of the year their capital had increased five-fold. Hsiu then -purchased the status of _chien-sheng_,[177] and by further careful -investment of his money ultimately became the richest man in that part -of the country. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[170] Besides the numerous secret societies so much dreaded by the -Government, membership of which is punishable by death, very intimate -friends are in the habit of adopting each other as sworn brothers, -bound to stand by one another in cases of danger and difficulty, to -the last drop of blood. The bond is cemented by an oath, accompanied -by such ceremonies as fancy may at the moment dictate. The most -curious of all, however, are the so-called "Golden Orchid" societies, -the members of which are young girls, who have sworn never to enter -into the matrimonial state. To such an extent have these sisterhoods -spread in the Kuang-tung Province, that the authorities have been -compelled to prohibit them under severe penalties. - -[171] A Chinaman loves to be buried alongside of his ancestors, and -poor families are often put to great straits to pay this last tribute -of respect and affection to the deceased. At all large cities are to -be found temporary burial grounds, where the bodies of strangers are -deposited until their relatives can come to carry them away. Large -freights of dead bodies are annually brought back to China from -California, Queensland, and other parts to which the Chinese are in -the habit of emigrating, to the great profit of the steamer-companies -concerned. Coffins are also used as a means of smuggling, respect for -the dead being so great that they are only opened under the very -strongest suspicion. - -[172] See No. XIV., note 104. The price of an elaborate Chinese coffin -goes as high as L100 or L150. - -[173] The never-failing resource of an impecunious Chinaman who has -any property whatever bearing an exchange value. The pawn-shop proper -is a licensed institution, where three per cent. _per month_ is -charged on all loans, all pledges being redeemable within sixteen -months. It is generally a very high brick structure, towering far -above the surrounding houses, with the deposits neatly packed up in -paper and arranged on the shelves of a huge wooden skeleton-like -frame, that completely fills the interior of the building, on the top -of which are ranged buckets of water in case of fire, and a quantity -of huge stones to throw down on any thieves who may be daring enough -to attempt to scale the wall. [In Peking, houses are not allowed to be -built above a certain height, as during the long summer months ladies -are in the habit of sitting to spin or sew in their courtyards, very -lightly clad.] Pawning goods in China is not held to be so disgraceful -as with us; in fact, most people, at the beginning of the hot weather, -pawn their furs and winter clothes, these being so much more carefully -looked after there than they might be at home. - -[174] Nominally of three years'--really of twenty-eight -months'--duration. - -[175] These are entitled to receive from Government a small allowance -of rice, besides being permitted to exercise certain petty functions, -for which a certain charge is authorized. See _Appendix_ A. - -[176] One of the strangers was the disembodied spirit of Hsiu's -father, helping his son to take vengeance on the wicked Shen. - -[177] An intermediate step between the first and second degrees, to -which certain privileges are attached. - - - - -XXVI. - -THE LOST BROTHER. - - -In Honan there lived a man named Chang, who originally belonged to -Shantung. His wife had been seized and carried off by the soldiery -during the period when Ching Nan's troops were overrunning the latter -province;[178] and as he was frequently in Honan on business, he -finally settled there and married a Honan wife, by whom he had a son -named Na. By-and-by this wife died, and he took another, who bore him -a son named Ch'eng. The last-mentioned lady was from the Niu family, -and a very malicious woman. So jealous was she of Na, that she treated -him like a slave or a beast of the field, giving him only the coarsest -food, and making him cut a large bundle of wood every day, in default -of which she would beat and abuse him in a most shameful manner. On -the other hand she secretly reserved all the tit-bits for Ch'eng, and -also sent him to school. As Ch'eng grew up, and began to understand -the meaning of filial piety and fraternal love,[179] he could not bear -to see this treatment of his elder brother, and spoke privately to -his mother about it; but she would pay no heed to what he said. - -One day, when Na was on the hills performing his task, a violent storm -came on, and he took shelter under a cliff. However, by the time it -was over the sun had set, and he began to feel very hungry. So, -shouldering his bundle, he wended his way home, where his step-mother, -displeased with the small quantity of wood he had brought, refused to -give him anything to eat. Quite overcome with hunger, Na went in and -lay down; and when Ch'eng came back from school, and saw the state he -was in, he asked him if he was ill. Na replied that he was only -hungry, and then told his brother the whole story; whereupon Ch'eng -coloured up and went away, returning shortly with some cakes, which he -offered to Na. "Where did you get them?" asked the latter. "Oh," -replied Ch'eng, "I stole some flour and got a neighbour's wife to make -them for me. Eat away, and don't talk." Na ate them up; but begged his -brother not to do this again, as he might get himself into trouble. "I -shan't die," added he, "if I only get one meal a-day." "You are not -strong," rejoined Ch'eng, "and shouldn't cut so much wood as you do." - -Next day, after breakfast, Ch'eng slipped away to the hills, and -arrived at the place where Na was occupied with his usual task, to the -great astonishment of the latter, who inquired what he was going to -do. "To help you cut wood," replied Ch'eng. "And who sent you?" asked -his brother. "No one," said he; "I came of my own accord." "Ah," cried -Na, "you can't do this work; and even if you can you must not. Run -along home again." Ch'eng, however, remained, aiding his brother with -his hands and feet alone, but declaring that on the morrow he would -bring an axe. Na tried to stop him, and found that he had already hurt -his finger and worn his shoes into holes; so he began to cry, and -said, "If you don't go home directly, I'll kill myself with my axe." -Ch'eng then went away, his brother seeing him half-way home, and going -back to finish his work by himself. He also called in the evening at -Ch'eng's school, and told the master his brother was a delicate boy, -and should not be allowed to go on the hills, where, he said, there -were fierce tigers and wolves. The master replied that he didn't know -where Ch'eng had been all the morning, but that he had caned him for -playing truant. Na further pointed out to Ch'eng that by not doing as -he had told him, he had let himself in for a beating. Ch'eng laughed, -and said he hadn't been beaten; and the very next day off he went -again, and this time with a hatchet. "I told you not to come," cried -Na, much alarmed; "why have you done so?" Ch'eng made no reply, but -set to work chopping wood with such energy that the perspiration -poured down his face; and when he had cut about a bundle he went away -without saying a word. The master caned him again, and then Ch'eng -told him how the matter stood, at which the former became full of -admiration for his pupil's kind behaviour, and no longer prevented him -from going. His brother, however, frequently urged him not to come, -though without the slightest success; and one day, when they went with -a number of others to cut wood, a tiger rushed down from the hills -upon them. The wood-cutters hid themselves, in the greatest -consternation; and the tiger, seizing Ch'eng, ran off with him in his -mouth. Ch'eng's weight caused the tiger to move slowly; and Na, -rushing after them, hacked away at the tiger's flanks with his axe. -The pain only made the tiger hurry off, and in a few minutes they were -out of sight. Overwhelmed with grief, Na went back to his comrades, -who tried to soothe him; but he said, "My brother was no ordinary -brother, and, besides, he died for me; why, then, should I live?" -Here, seizing his hatchet, he made a great chop at his own neck, upon -which his companions prevented him from doing himself any more -mischief. The wound, however, was over an inch deep, and blood was -flowing so copiously that Na became faint, and seemed at the point of -death. They then tore up their clothes, and, after having bandaged his -neck, proceeded to carry him home. His step-mother cried bitterly, and -cursed him, saying, "You have killed my son, and now you go and cut -your neck in this make-believe kind of way." "Don't be angry, mother," -replied Na; "I will not live now that my brother is dead." He then -threw himself on the bed; but the pain of his wound was so great he -could not sleep, and day and night he sat leaning against the wall in -tears. His father, fearing that he too would die, went every now and -then and gave him a little nourishment; but his wife cursed him so for -doing it, that at length Na refused all food, and in three days he -died. - -Now in the village where these events took place there was a magician -who was employed in certain devil-work among mortals,[180] and Na's -ghost, happening to fall in with him, related the story of its -previous sorrows, winding up by asking where his brother's ghost was. -The magician said he didn't know, but turned round with Na and shewed -him the way to a city where they saw an official servant coming out of -the city gates. The magician stopped him, and inquired if he could -tell them anything about Ch'eng; whereupon the man drew out a list -from a pouch at his side, and, after carefully examining it, replied -that among the male and female criminals within there was no one of -the name of Chang.[181] The magician here suggested that the name -might be on another list; but the man replied that he was in charge of -that road, and surely ought to know. Na, however, was not satisfied, -and persuaded the magician to enter the city, where they met many new -and old devils walking about, among whom were some Na had formerly -known in life. So he asked them if they could direct him to his -brother but none of them knew where he was; and suddenly there was a -great commotion, the devils on all sides crying out, "P'u-sa[182] has -come!" Then, looking up, Na beheld a most beautiful man descending -from above, encircled by rays of glory, which shot forth above and -below, lighting up all around him. "You are in luck's way, Sir," said -the magician to Na; "only once in many thousand years does P'u-sa -descend into hell and banish all suffering. He has come to-day." He -then made Na kneel, and all the devils began with clasped hands to -sing songs of praise to P'u-sa for his compassion in releasing them -from their misery, shaking the very earth with the sound. P'u-sa -himself, seizing a willow-branch, sprinkled them all with holy water; -and when this was done the clouds and glory melted away, and he -vanished from their sight. Na, who had felt the holy water fall upon -his neck, now became conscious that the axe-wound was no longer -painful; and the magician then proceeded to lead him back, not -quitting him until within sight of the village gate. In fact, Na had -been in a trance for two days, and when he recovered he told them all -that he had seen, asserting positively that Ch'eng was not dead. His -mother, however, looked upon the story as a make-up, and never ceased -reviling him; and, as he had no means of proving his innocence, and -his neck was now quite healed, he got up from the bed and said to his -father, "I am going away to seek for my brother throughout the -universe; if I do not find him, never expect to see me again, but I -pray you regard me as dead." His father drew him aside and wept -bitterly. However, he would not interfere with his son's design, and -Na accordingly set off. Whenever he came to a large town or populous -place he used to ask for news of Ch'eng; and by-and-by, when his money -was all spent, he begged his way on foot. A year had passed away -before he reached Nanking, and his clothes were all in tatters as -ragged as a quail's tail,[183] when suddenly he met some ten or a -dozen horsemen, and drew away to the roadside. Among them was a -gentleman of about forty, who appeared to be a mandarin, with numerous -lusty attendants and fiery steeds accompanying him before and behind. -One young man on a small palfrey, whom Na took to be the mandarin's -son, and at whom, of course, he did not venture to stare, eyed him -closely for some time, and at length stopped his steed, and, jumping -off, cried out, "Are you not my brother?" Na then raised his head, and -found that Ch'eng stood before him. Grasping each other's hands, the -brothers burst into tears, and at length Ch'eng said, "My brother, how -is it you have strayed so far as this?" Na told him the -circumstances, at which he was much affected; and Ch'eng's companions, -jumping off their horses to see what was the matter, went off and -informed the mandarin. The latter ordered one of them to give up his -horse to Na, and thus they rode together back to the mandarin's house. -Ch'eng then told his brother how the tiger had carried him away, and -how he had been thrown down in the road, where he had passed a whole -night; also how the mandarin, Mr. Chang,[184] on his return from the -capital, had seen him there, and, observing that he was no -common-looking youth, had set to work and brought him round again. -Also how he had said to Mr. Chang that his home was a great way off, -and how Mr. Chang had taken him to his own home, and finally cured him -of his wounds; when, having no son of his own, he had adopted him. And -now, happening to be out with his father, he had caught sight of his -brother. As he was speaking Mr. Chang walked in, and Na thanked him -very heartily for all his kindness; Ch'eng, meanwhile, going into the -inner apartments to get some clothes for his brother. Wine and food -was placed on the table; and while they were chatting together the -mandarin asked Na about the number of their family in Honan. "There is -only my father," replied Na, "and he is a Shantung man who came to -live in Honan." "Why, I am a Shantung man too," rejoined Mr. Chang; -"what is the name of your father's native place?" "I have heard that -it was in the Tung-ch'ang district," replied Na. "Then we are from the -same place," cried the mandarin. "Why did your father go away to -Honan?" "His first wife," said Na, "was carried off by soldiers, and -my father lost everything he possessed; so, being in the habit of -trading to Honan, he determined to settle down there for good." The -mandarin then asked what his father's other name was, and when he -heard, he sat some time staring at Na, and at length hurried away -within. In a few moments out came an old lady, and when they had all -bowed to her, she asked Na if he was Chang Ping-chih's grandson. On -his replying in the affirmative, the old lady wept, and, turning to -Mr. Chang, said, "These two are your younger brothers." And then she -explained to Na and Ch'eng as follows:--"Three years after my marriage -with your father, I was carried off to the north and made a -slave[185] in a mandarin's family. Six months afterwards your elder -brother here was born, and in another six months the mandarin died. -Your elder brother being his heir, he received this appointment, which -he is now resigning. I have often thought of my native place, and have -not unfrequently sent people to inquire about my husband, giving them -the full particulars as to name and clan; but I could never hear -anything of him. How should I know that he had gone to Honan?" Then, -addressing Mr. Chang, she continued, "That was rather a mistake of -yours, adopting your own brother." "He never told me anything about -Shantung," replied Mr. Chang; "I suppose he was too young to remember -the story; and I only looked at the difference between our ages." For -he, the elder of the brothers, was forty-one; Ch'eng, the younger, -being only sixteen; and Na, twenty years of age. Mr. Chang was very -glad to get two young brothers; and when he heard the tale of their -separation, proposed that they should all go back to their father. -Mrs. Chang was afraid her husband would not care to receive her back -again; but her eldest son said, "We will cast our lot together; all or -none. How can there be a country where fathers are not valued?" They -then sold their house and packed up, and were soon on the way to -Honan. When they arrived, Ch'eng went in first to tell his father, -whose third wife had died since Na left, and who now was a desolate -old widower, left alone with only his own shadow. He was overjoyed to -see Ch'eng again, and, looking fondly at his son, burst into a flood -of tears. Ch'eng told him his mother and brothers were outside, and -the old man was then perfectly transfixed with astonishment, unable -either to laugh or to cry. Mr. Chang next appeared, followed by his -mother; and the two old people wept in each other's arms, the late -solitary widower hardly knowing what to make of the crowd of men and -women-servants that suddenly filled his house. Here Ch'eng, not seeing -his own mother, asked where she was; and when he heard she was dead, -he fainted away, and did not come round for a good half-hour. Mr. -Chang found the money for building a fine house, and engaged a tutor -for his two brothers. Horses pranced in the stables, and servants -chattered in the hall--it was quite a large establishment. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[178] A.D. 1400 - -[179] The first of the sixteen maxims which form the so-called Sacred -Edict, embodies these two all-important family ties. The doctrine of -primogeniture is carried so far in China as to put every younger -brother in a subordinate position to every elder brother. All -property, however, of whatever kind, is equally divided among the -sons. [The Sacred Edict was delivered by the great Emperor K'ang Hsi, -and should be publicly read and explained in every city of the Empire -on the first and fifteenth of each month.] - -[180] Ordinary devils being unable to stand for any length of time the -light and life of the upper world, the souls of certain persons are -often temporarily employed in this work by the authorities of -Purgatory, their bodies remaining meanwhile in a trance or cataleptic -fit. - -[181] Their family name. - -[182] The Chinese corrupted form of Bodhisatva. Now widely employed to -designate any deity of any kind. - -[183] The usual similitude for a Chinese tatterdemalion. - -[184] The surnames Chang, Wang, and Li, correspond in China to our -Brown, Jones, and Robinson. - -[185] Slavery, under a modified form, exists in China at the present -day. All parents, having absolute power over their children, are at -liberty to sell them as servants or slaves to their wealthier -neighbours. This is not an infrequent occurrence in times of distress, -the children even going so far as to voluntarily sell themselves, and -exposing themselves in some public thoroughfare, with a notice affixed -to a kind of arrow on their backs, stating that they are for sale, and -the amount required from the purchaser. This I have seen with my own -eyes. The chief source, however, from which the supply of slaves is -kept up is kidnapping. [See No. XXIII., note 154.] As to the condition -of the slaves themselves, it is by no means an unhappy one. Their -master has nominally the power of life and death over them, but no -Chinaman would ever dream of availing himself of this dangerous -prerogative. They are generally well fed, and fairly well clothed, -being rarely beaten, for fear they should run away, and either be lost -altogether or entail much expense to secure their capture. The girls -do not have their feet compressed; hence they are infinitely more -useful than small-footed women; and, on reaching a marriageable age, -their masters are bound to provide them with husbands. They live on -terms of easy familiarity with the whole household; and, ignorant of -the meaning and value of liberty, seem quite contented with a lot -which places them beyond the reach of hunger and cold. Slaves take the -surnames of their masters, and the children of slaves are likewise -slaves. Manumission is not uncommon; and Chinese history furnishes -more than one example of a quondam slave attaining to the highest -offices of State. - - - - -XXVII. - -THE THREE GENII. - - -There was a certain scholar who, passing through Su-ch'ien on his way -to Nanking, where he was going to try for his master's degree, -happened to fall in with three other gentlemen, all graduates like -himself, and was so charmed with their unusual refinement that he -purchased a quantity of wine, and begged them to join him in drinking -it. While thus pleasantly employed, his three friends told him their -names. One was Chieh Ch'in-heng; the second, Ch'ang Feng-lin; and the -other, Ma Hsi-ch'ih. They drank away and enjoyed themselves very much, -until evening had crept upon them unperceived, when Chieh said, "Here -we, who ought to have been playing the host, have been feasting at a -stranger's expense. This is not right. But, come, my house is close -by; I will provide you with a bed." Ch'ang and Ma got up, and, taking -our hero by the arm, bade his servant come along with them. When they -reached a hill to the north of the village, there before them was a -house and grounds, with a stream of clear water in front of the door, -all the apartments within being beautifully clean and nice. Chieh then -gave orders to light the lamps and see after his visitor's servant; -whereupon Ma observed, "Of old it was customary to set intellectual -refreshments before one's friends; let us not miss the opportunity of -this lovely evening, but decide on four themes, one for each of us; -and then, when we have finished our essays, we can set to work on the -wine."[186] To this the others readily agreed; and each wrote down a -theme and threw it on the table. These were next divided amongst them -as they sat, and before the second watch[187] was over the essays were -all completed and handed round for general inspection; and our scholar -was so struck with the elegance and vigour of those by his three -friends, that he ran off a copy of them and put it in his pocket. The -host then produced some excellent wine, which was drunk by them in -such bumpers that soon they were all tolerably tipsy. The other two -now took their leave; but Chieh led the scholar into another room, -where, so overcome was he with wine, that he went to bed in his boots -and clothes. - -The sun was high in the heavens when our hero awaked, and, looking -round, he saw no house or grounds, only a dell on the hill-side, in -which he and his servant had been sleeping. In great alarm he called -out to the servant, who also got up, and then they found a hole with a -rill of water trickling down before it. Much astonished at all this, -he felt in his pocket, and there, sure enough, was the paper on which -he had copied the three essays of his friends. On descending the hill -and making inquiries, he found that he had been to the Grotto of the -Three Genii--namely, Crab, Snake, and Frog, three very wonderful -beings, who often came out for a stroll, and were occasionally visible -to mortal eyes. Subsequently, when our hero entered the examination -hall, lo! the three themes set were those of the Three Genii, and he -came out at the top of the list. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[186] No Chinese wine-party is complete without more or less amusement -of a literary character. Capping verses, composing impromptu odes on -persons or places, giving historical and mythological allusions, are -among the ordinary diversions of this kind. - -[187] The Chinese night lasts from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m., and is divided -into five watches of two hours each, which are subdivided into five -"beats" of the watchman's wooden tom-tom. - - - - -XXVIII. - -THE SINGING FROGS. - - -Wang Tz[)u]-sun told me that when he was at the capital he saw a man in -the street who gave the following performance:--He had a wooden box, -divided by partitions into twelve holes, in each of which was a frog; -and whenever he tapped any one of these frogs on the head with a tiny -wand, the frog so touched would immediately begin to sing. Some one -gave him a piece of silver, and then he tapped the frogs all round, -just as if he was striking a gong; whereupon they all sang together, -with their _Do_, _Re_, _Mi_, _Fa_, in perfect time and harmony. - - - - -XXIX. - -THE PERFORMING MICE. - - -Mr. Wang also told me that there was a man at Ch'ang-an who made his -living by exhibiting performing mice. He had a pouch on his back in -which he kept some ten of these little animals; and whenever he got -among a number of people he would fix a little frame on his back, -exactly resembling a stage. Then beating a drum he would sing some old -theatrical melody, at the first sounds of which the mice would issue -forth from the pouch, and then, with masks on their faces, and arrayed -in various costumes, they would climb up his back on to the stage, -where standing on their hind-legs they would go through a performance -portraying the various emotions of joy and anger, exactly like human -actors of either sex.[188] - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[188] The _roles_ of women are always played in China by men, dressed -up so perfectly, small feet and all, as to be quite undistinguishable -from real women. - - - - -XXX. - -THE TIGER OF CHAO-CH'ENG. - - -At Chao-ch'eng there lived an old woman more than seventy years of -age, who had an only son. One day he went up to the hills and was -eaten by a tiger, at which his mother was so overwhelmed with grief -that she hardly wished to live. With tears and lamentations she ran -and told her story to the magistrate of the place, who laughed and -asked her how she thought the law could be brought to bear on a tiger. -But the old woman would not be comforted, and at length the magistrate -lost his temper and bade her begone. Of this, however, she took no -notice; and then the magistrate, in compassion for her great age and -unwilling to resort to extremities, promised her that he would have -the tiger arrested. Even then she would not go until the warrant had -been actually issued; so the magistrate, at a loss what to do, asked -his attendants which of them would undertake the job.[189] Upon this -one of them, Li Neng, who happened to be gloriously drunk, stepped -forward and said that he would; whereupon the warrant was immediately -issued and the old woman went away. When our friend, Li Neng, got -sober, he was sorry for what he had done; but reflecting that the -whole thing was a mere trick of his master's to get rid of the old -woman's importunities, did not trouble himself much about it, handing -in the warrant as if the arrest had been made. "Not so," cried the -magistrate, "you said you could do this, and now I shall not let you -off." Li Neng was at his wits' end, and begged that he might be -allowed to impress the hunters of the district.[190] This was -conceded; so collecting together these men, he proceeded to spend day -and night among the hills in the hope of catching a tiger, and thus -making a show of having fulfilled his duty. - -A month passed away, during which he received several hundred blows -with the bamboo,[191] and at length, in despair, he betook himself to -the Ch'eng-huang temple in the eastern suburb, where, falling on his -knees, he prayed and wept by turns. By-and-by a tiger walked in, and -Li Neng, in a great fright, thought he was going to be eaten alive. -But the tiger took no notice of anything, remaining seated in the -doorway. Li Neng then addressed the animal as follows:--"O tiger, if -thou didst slay that old woman's son, suffer me to bind thee with this -cord;" and, drawing a rope from his pocket, threw it over the animal's -neck. The tiger drooped its ears, and allowing itself to be bound, -followed Li Neng to the magistrate's office. The latter then asked it, -saying, "Did you eat the old woman's son?" to which the tiger replied -by nodding its head; whereupon the magistrate rejoined, "That -murderers should suffer death has ever been the law.[192] Besides, -this old woman had but one son, and by killing him you took from her -the sole support of her declining years. But if now you will be as a -son to her, your crime shall be pardoned." The tiger again nodded -assent, and accordingly the magistrate gave orders that he should be -released, at which the old woman was highly incensed, thinking that -the tiger ought to have paid with its life for the destruction of her -son. - -Next morning, however, when she opened the door of her cottage, there -lay a dead deer before it; and the old woman, by selling the flesh and -skin, was able to purchase food. From that day this became a common -event, and sometimes the tiger would even bring her money and -valuables, so that she became quite rich, and was much better cared -for than she had been even by her own son. Consequently, she became -very well-disposed to the tiger, which often came and slept in the -verandah, remaining for a whole day at a time, and giving no cause of -fear either to man or beast. In a few years the old woman died, upon -which the tiger walked in and roared its lamentations in the hall. -However, with all the money she had saved, she was able to have a -splendid funeral; and while her relatives were standing round the -grave, out rushed a tiger, and sent them all running away in fear. But -the tiger merely went up to the mound, and, after roaring like a -thunder-peal, disappeared again. Then the people of that place built a -shrine in honour of the Faithful Tiger, and it remains there to this -day. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[189] All underlings (and we might add overlings) in China being -unpaid, it behoves them to make what they can out of the opportunities -afforded. In most _yamens_, the various warrants and such documents -are distributed to the runners in turn, who squeeze the victims thus -handed over to them. For a small bribe they will go back and report -"not at home;" for a larger one "has absconded," and so on. - -Gatekeepers charge a fee on every petition that passes through their -hands; gaolers, for a consideration and with proper security, allow -their prisoners to be at large until wanted; clerks take bribes to use -their influence, honestly or dishonestly, with the magistrate who is -to try the case; and all the servants share equally in the gratuities -given by anyone to whom their master may send presents. The amount, -whatever it may be, is enclosed in a red envelope and addressed to the -sender of the present, with the words "Instead of tea," in large -characters; the meaning being that the refreshments which should have -been set before the servants who brought the gifts have been commuted -by a money payment. This money is put into a general fund and equally -divided at stated periods. - -All Government officers holding a post, from the highest to the -lowest, are entitled to a nominal, and what would be a quite -inadequate, salary; but no one ever sees this. It is customary to -refuse acceptance of it on some such grounds as want of merit, and -refund it to the Imperial Treasury. - -[190] Anybody is liable to be "impressed" at any moment for the -service of the Government. Boat owners, sedan-chair and coolie -proprietors, especially dread the frequent and heavy calls that are -made upon them for assistance, the remuneration they receive being in -all cases insufficient to defray mere working expenses. But inasmuch -as Chinese officials may not seize any men, or boats, or carts, -holding passes to show that they are in the employ of a foreign -merchant, a lively trade in such documents has sprung up in certain -parts of China between the dishonest of the native and foreign -commercial circles. - -[191] Constables, detectives, and others, are liable to be bambooed at -intervals, generally of three or five days, until the mission on which -they are engaged has been successfully accomplished. In cases of theft -and non-restoration of the stolen property within a given time, the -detectives or constables employed may be required to make it good. - -[192] Extended by the Chinese to certain cases of simple man -slaughter. - - - - -XXXI. - -A DWARF. - - -In the reign of K'ang Hsi, there was a magician who carried about with -him a wooden box, in which he had a dwarf not much more than a foot in -height. When people gave him money he would open the box and bid the -little creature come out. The dwarf would then sing a song and go in -again. Arriving one day at Yeh, the magistrate there seized the box, -and taking it into his yamen asked the dwarf whence he came. At first -he dared not reply, but on being pressed told the magistrate -everything. He said he belonged to a respectable family, and that once -when returning home from school he was stupified by the magician, who -gave him some drug which made his limbs shrink, and then took him -about to exhibit to people. The magistrate was very angry and had the -magician beheaded, himself taking charge of the dwarf. He was -subsequently very anxious to get him cured, but unable to obtain the -proper prescription.[193] - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[193] The Cantonese believe the following to be the usual -process:--"Young children are bought or stolen at a tender age and -placed in a _ch'ing_, or vase with a narrow neck, and having in this -case a moveable bottom. In this receptacle the unfortunate little -wretches are kept for years in a sitting posture, their heads outside, -being all the while carefully tended and fed.... When the child has -reached the age of twenty or over, he or she is taken away to some -distant place and 'discovered' in the woods as a wild man or -woman."--_China Mail_, 15th May, 1878. - - - - -XXXII. - -HSIANG-JU'S MISFORTUNES. - - -At Kuang-p'ing there lived an old man named Feng, who had an only son -called Hsiang-ju. Both of them were graduates; and the father was very -particular and strict, though the family had long been poor. Mrs. Feng -and Hsiang-ju's wife had died one shortly after the other, so that the -father and son were obliged to do their household work for themselves. - -One night Hsiang-ju was sitting out in the moonlight, when suddenly a -young lady from next door got on the wall to have a look at him. He -saw she was very pretty, and as he approached her she began to laugh. -He then beckoned to her with his hand; but she did not move either to -come or to go away. At length, however, she accepted the invitation, -and descended the ladder that he had placed for her. In reply to -Hsiang-ju's inquiries, the young lady said her name was Hung-yue, and -that she lived next door; so Hsiang-ju, who was much taken with her -beauty, begged her to come over frequently and have a chat. To this -she readily assented, and continued to do so for several months, until -one evening old Mr. Feng, hearing sounds of talking and laughing in -his son's room, got up and looked in. Seeing Miss Hung-yue, he was -exceedingly angry, and called his son out, saying, "You -good-for-nothing fellow! poor as we are, why aren't you at your books, -instead of wasting your time like this? A pretty thing for the -neighbours to hear of!--and even if they don't hear of it, somebody -else will, and shorten your life accordingly."[194] Hsiang-ju fell on -his knees, and with tears implored forgiveness; whereupon his father -turned to the young lady, and said, "A girl who behaves like this -disgraces others as well as herself; and if people find this out, we -shan't be the only ones to suffer." The old man then went back to bed -in a rage, and Miss Hung-yue, weeping bitterly, said to Hsiang-ju, -"Your father's reproaches have overwhelmed me with shame. Our -friendship is now at an end." "I could say nothing," replied he, "as -long as my father was here; but if you have any consideration for me, -I pray you think nothing of his remarks." Miss Hung-yue protested, -however, that they could meet no more, and then Hsiang-ju also burst -into tears. "Do not weep," cried she, "our friendship was an -impossible one, and time must sooner or later have put an end to these -visits. Meanwhile, I hear there is a very good match to be made in the -neighbourhood." Hsiang-ju replied that he was poor; but Miss Hung-yue -told him to meet her again the following evening, when she would -endeavour to do something for him. At the appointed time she arrived, -and, producing forty ounces of silver, presented them to Hsiang-ju; -telling him that at a village some distance off there was a Miss Wei, -eighteen years of age, who was not yet married because of the -exorbitant demands of her parents, but that a little extra outlay -would secure for him the young lady's hand. Miss Hung-yue then bade him -farewell, and Hsiang-ju went off to inform his father, expressing a -desire to go and make inquiries, but saying nothing about the forty -ounces. His father, thinking that they were not sufficiently well off, -urged him not to go; however, by dint of argument, he finally -persuaded the old man that, at any rate, there was no harm in trying. -So he borrowed horses and attendants, and set off to the house of Mr. -Wei, who was a man of considerable property; and when he got there he -asked Mr. Wei to come outside and accord him a few minutes' -conversation. Now the latter knew that Hsiang-ju belonged to a very -good family; and when he saw all the retinue that Hsiang-ju had -brought with him, he inwardly consented to the match, though he was -afraid that perhaps his would-be son-in-law might not be as liberal as -he would like. Hsiang-ju soon perceived what Mr. Wei's feelings were, -and emptied his purse on the table, at which Mr. Wei was delighted, -and begged a neighbour to allow the marriage contract to be drawn up -in his house.[195] Hsiang-ju then went in to pay his respects to Mrs. -Wei, whom he found in a small, miserable room, with Miss Wei hiding -behind her. Still he was pleased to see that, in spite of her homely -toilette, the young lady herself was very nice-looking; and, while he -was being entertained in the neighbour's house, the old lady said, "It -will not be necessary for you, Sir, to come and fetch our daughter. As -soon as we have made up a small trousseau for her, we will send her -along to you."[196] Hsiang-ju then agreed with them upon a day for the -wedding, and went home and informed his father, pretending that the -Wei family only asked for respectability, and did not care about -money. His father was overjoyed to hear this; and when the day came, -the young lady herself arrived. She proved to be a thrifty housekeeper -and an obedient wife, so that she and her husband got along capitally -together. In two years she had a son, who was called Fu-erh. And once, -on the occasion of the great spring festival, she was on her way to -the family tombs, with her boy in her arms, when she chanced to meet a -man named Sung, who was one of the gentry of the neighbourhood. This -Mr. Sung had been a Censor,[197] but had purchased his retirement, and -was now leading a private life, characterised by many overbearing and -violent acts. He was returning from his visit to the graves of his -ancestors when he saw Hsiang-ju's wife, and, attracted by her beauty, -found out who she was; and imagining that, as her husband was a poor -scholar, he might easily be induced for a consideration to part with -the lady, sent one of his servants to find out how the land lay. When -Hsiang-ju heard what was wanted, he was very angry; but, reflecting on -the power of his adversary, controlled his passion, and passed the -thing off with a laugh. His father, however, to whom he repeated what -had occurred, got into a violent rage, and, rushing out, flung his -arms about, and called Mr. Sung every name he could lay his tongue to. -Mr. Sung's emissary slunk off and went home; and then a number of men -were sent by the enraged Sung, and these burst into the house and gave -old Feng and his son a most tremendous beating. In the middle of the -hubbub Hsiang-ju's wife ran in, and, throwing her child down on the -bed, tore her hair and shrieked for help. Sung's attendants -immediately surrounded her and carried her off, while there lay her -husband and his father, wounded on the ground and the baby squalling -on the bed. The neighbours, pitying their wretched condition, helped -them up on to the couches, and by the next day Hsiang-ju could walk -with a stick; however, his father's anger was not to be appeased, and, -after spitting a quantity of blood, he died. Hsiang-ju wept bitterly -at this, and, taking his child in his arms, used every means to bring -the offenders to justice, but without the slightest success. He then -heard that his wife had put an end to her own existence, and with this -his cup of misery was full. Unable to get his wrongs redressed, he -often meditated assassinating Sung in the open street,[198] but was -deterred from attempting this by the number of his retainers and the -fear of leaving his son with no one to protect him. Day and night he -mourned over his lot, and his eyelids were never closed in sleep, when -suddenly in walked a personage of striking appearance to condole with -him on his losses. The stranger's face was covered with a huge curly -beard; and Hsiang-ju, not knowing who he was, begged him to take a -seat, and was about to ask whence he came, when all at once he began, -"Sir! have you forgotten your father's death, your wife's disgrace?" -Thereupon Hsiang-ju, suspecting him to be a spy from the Sung family, -made some evasive reply, which so irritated the stranger that he -roared out, "I thought you were a man; but now I know that you are a -worthless, contemptible wretch." Hsiang-ju fell on his knees and -implored the stranger to forgive him, saying, "I was afraid it was a -trick of Sung's: I will speak frankly to you. For days I have lain, as -it were, upon thorns, my mouth filled with gall, restrained only by -pity for this little one and fear of breaking our ancestral line. -Generous friend, will you take care of my child if I fall?" "That," -replied the stranger, "is the business of women; I cannot undertake -it. But what you wish others to do for you, do yourself; and that -which you would do yourself, I will do for you." When Hsiang-ju heard -these words he knocked his head upon the ground; but the stranger took -no more notice of him, and walked out. Following him to the door, -Hsiang-ju asked his name, to which he replied, "If I cannot help you I -shall not wish to have your reproaches; if I do help you, I shall not -wish to have your gratitude." The stranger then disappeared, and -Hsiang-ju, having a presentiment that some misfortune was about to -happen, fled away with his child. - -When night came, and the members of the Sung family were wrapped in -sleep, some one found his way into their house and slew the ex-Censor -and his two sons, besides a maid-servant and one of the ladies. -Information was at once given to the authorities; and as the Sung -family had no doubt that the murderer was Hsiang-ju, the magistrate, -who was greatly alarmed,[199] sent out lictors to arrest him. -Hsiang-ju, however, was nowhere to be found, a fact which tended to -confirm the suspicions of the Sung family; and they, too, despatched a -number of servants to aid the mandarin in effecting his capture. -Towards evening the lictors and others reached a hill, and, hearing a -child cry, made for the sound, and thus secured the object of their -search, whom they bound and led away. As the child went on crying -louder than ever, they took it from him and threw it down by the -wayside, thereby nearly causing Hsiang-ju to die of grief and rage. On -being brought before the magistrate he was asked why he had killed -these people; to which he replied that he was falsely accused, "For," -said he, "they died in the night, whereas I had gone away in the -daytime. Besides," added he, "how, with a crying baby in my arms, -could I scale walls and kill people?" "If you didn't kill people," -cried the magistrate, "why did you run away?" Hsiang had no answer to -make to this, and he was accordingly ordered to prison; whereupon he -wept and said, "I can die without regret; but what has my child done -that he, too, should be punished?" "You," replied the magistrate, -"have slain the children of others; how can you complain if your child -meets the same fate?" Hsiang-ju was then stripped of his degree[200] -and subjected to all kinds of indignities, but they were unable to -wring a confession from his lips;[201] and that very night, as the -magistrate lay down, he heard a sharp noise of something striking the -bed, and, jumping up in a fright, found, by the light of a candle, a -small, keen blade sticking in the wood at the head of his couch so -tightly that it could not be drawn out. Terribly alarmed at this, the -magistrate walked round the room with a spear over his shoulder, but -without finding anything; and then, reflecting that nothing more was -to be feared from Sung, who was dead, as well as his two sons, he -laid Hsiang-ju's case before the higher authorities, and obtained for -him an acquittal. Hsiang-ju was released and went home. His cupboard, -however, was empty, and there was nothing except his own shadow within -the four walls of his house. Happily, his neighbours took pity on him -and supplied him with food; and whenever he thought upon the vengeance -that had been wreaked, his countenance assumed an expression of joy; -but as often as his misfortunes and the extinction of his family came -into his mind, his tears would begin to flow. And when he remembered -the poverty of his life and the end of his ancestral line, he would -seek out some solitary spot, and there burst into an ungovernable fit -of grief. Thus things went on for about six months, when the search -after the murderer began to be relaxed; and then Hsiang-ju petitioned -for the recovery of his wife's bones, which he took home with him and -buried. His sorrows made him wish to die, and he lay tossing about on -the bed without any object in life, when suddenly he heard somebody -knock at the door. Keeping quiet to listen, he distinguished the sound -of a voice outside talking with a child; and, getting up to look, he -perceived a young lady, who said to him, "Your great wrongs are all -redressed, and now, luckily, you have nothing to ail you." The voice -seemed familiar to him, but he could not at the moment recall where he -had heard it; so he lighted a candle, and Miss Hung-yue stood before -him. She was leading a small, happy-looking child by the hand; and -after she and Hsiang-ju had expressed their mutual satisfaction at -meeting once more, Miss Hung-yue pushed the boy forward, saying, "Have -you forgotten your father?" The boy clung to her dress, and looked -shyly at Hsiang-ju, who, on examining him closely, found that he was -Fu-erh. "Where did he come from?" asked his father, in astonishment, -not unmingled with tears. "I will tell you all," replied Miss Hung-yue. -"I was only deceiving you when I said I belonged to a neighbouring -family. I am really a fox, and, happening to go out one evening, I -heard a child crying in a ditch. I took him home and brought him up; -and, now that your troubles are over, I return him to you, that father -and son may be together." Hsiang-ju wiped away his tears and thanked -her heartily; but Fu-erh kept close to Miss Hung-yue, whom he had come -to regard as a mother, and did not seem to recognise his father again. -Before day-break Miss Hung-yue said she must go away; but Hsiang-ju -fell upon his knees and entreated her to stop, until at last she said -she was only joking, adding that, in a new establishment like theirs, -it would be a case of early to rise and late to bed. She then set to -work cutting fuel and sweeping it up, toiling hard as if she had been -a man, which made Hsiang-ju regret that he was too poor to have all -this done for her. However, she bade him mind his books, and not -trouble himself about the state of their affairs, as they were not -likely to die of hunger. She also produced some money, and bought -implements for spinning, besides renting a few acres of land and -hiring labourers to till them. Day by day she would shoulder her hoe -and work in the fields, or employ herself in mending the roof, so -that her fame as a good wife spread abroad, and the neighbours were -more than ever pleased to help them. In half-a-year's time their home -was like that of a well-to-do family, with plenty of servants about; -but one day Hsiang-ju said to Miss Hung-yue, "With all that you have -accomplished on my behalf, there is still one thing left undone." On -her asking him what it was, he continued: "The examination for -master's degree is at hand, and I have not yet recovered the -bachelor's degree of which I was stripped." "Ah," replied she, "some -time back I had your name replaced upon the list; had I waited for you -to tell me, it would have been too late." Hsiang-ju marvelled very -much at this, and accordingly took his master's degree. He was then -thirty-six years of age, the master of broad lands and fine houses; -and Miss Hung-yue, who looked delicate enough to be blown away by the -wind, and yet worked harder than an ordinary labourer's wife, keeping -her hands smooth and nice in spite of winter weather, gave herself out -to be thirty-eight, though no one took her to be much more than -twenty. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[194] Meaning that it would become known to the Arbiter of life and -death in the world below, who would punish him by shortening his -appointed term of years. See _The Wei-ch'i Devil_, No. CXXXI. - -[195] One important preliminary consists in the exchange of the four -pairs of characters which denote the year, month, day, and hour of the -births of the contracting parties. It remains for a geomancer to -determine whether these are in harmony or not; and a very simple -expedient for backing out of a proposed alliance is to bribe him to -declare that the nativities of the young couple could not be happily -brought together. - -[196] The bridegroom invariably fetches the bride from her father's -house, conveying her to his home in a handsomely-gilt red sedan-chair, -closed in on all sides, and accompanied by a band of music. - -[197] The Censorate is a body of fifty-six officials, whose duty it is -to bring matters to the notice of the Emperor which might otherwise -have escaped attention; to take exception to any acts, including those -of His Majesty himself, calculated to interfere with the welfare of -the people; and to impeach, as occasion may require, the high -provincial authorities, whose position, but for this wholesome check, -would be almost unassailable. Censors are popularly termed the "ears -and eyes" of the monarch. - -[198] In the _Book of Rites_ (I. Pt. i. v. 10), which dates, in its -present form, only from the first century B.C., occurs this passage, -"With the slayer of his father, a man may not live under the same -heaven;" and in the _Family Sayings_ (Bk. X. _ab init._), a work which -professes, though on quite insufficient authority, to record a number -of the conversations and apophthegms of Confucius not given in the -_Lun-yue_, or Confucian Gospels, we find the following course laid down -for a man whose father has been murdered:--"He must sleep upon a grass -mat, with his shield for his pillow; he must decline to take office; -he must not live under the same heaven (with the murderer). When he -meets him in the court or in the market-place, he must not return for -a weapon, but engage him there and then;" being always careful, as the -commentator observes, to carry a weapon about with him. Sir John Davis -and Dr. Legge agree in stigmatizing this as "one of the objectionable -principles of Confucius." It must, however, be admitted that (1) a -patched-up work which appeared as we have it now from two to three -centuries after Confucius's death, and (2) a confessedly apocryphal -work such as the _Family Sayings_, are hardly sufficient grounds for -affixing to the fair fame of China's great Sage the positive -inculcation of a dangerous principle of blood-vengeance like that I -have just quoted. - -[199] The Chinese theory being that every official is responsible for -the peace and well-being of the district committed to his charge, and -even liable to punishment for occurrences over which he could not -possibly have had any control. - -[200] See No. X., note 75. - -[201] See No. X., note 78. - - - - -XXXIII. - -CHANG'S TRANSFORMATION. - - -Chang Yue-tan, of Chao-yuan, was a wild fellow, who pursued his studies -at the Hsiao temple. Now it chanced that the magistrate of the -district, Mr. Tseng of San-han, had a daughter who was very fond of -hunting, and that one day young Chang met her in the fields, and was -much struck with her great beauty. She was dressed in an embroidered -sable jacket, and rode about on a small palfrey, for all the world -like a girl in a picture. Chang went home with the young lady still in -his thoughts, his heart being deeply touched; but he soon after heard, -to his infinite sorrow and dismay, that Miss Tseng had died suddenly. -Their own home being at a distance,[202] her father deposited the -coffin in a temple;[203] the very temple, in fact, where her lover was -residing. Accordingly Chang paid to her remains the same respect he -would have offered to a god; he burnt incense every morning, and -poured out libations at every meal, always accompanied by the -following invocation:--"I had hardly seen you when your spirit became -ever present to me in my dreams. But you passed suddenly away; and -now, near as we are together, we are as far apart as if separated by -hills and rivers. Alas! alas! In life you were under the control of -your parents; now, however, there is nothing to restrain you, and with -your supernatural power, I should be hearing the rustle of your robe -as you approach to ease the sorrow of my heart." Day and night he -prayed thus, and when some six months had passed away, and he was one -night trimming his lamp to read, he raised his head and saw a young -lady standing, all smiles, before him. Rising up, he inquired who she -was; to which his visitor replied, "Grateful to you for your love of -me, I was unable to resist the temptation of coming to thank you -myself." Chang then offered her a seat, and they sat together chatting -for some time. From this date the young lady used to come in every -evening, and on one occasion said to Chang, "I was formerly very fond -of riding and archery, shooting the musk and slaying the deer; it is a -great sorrow to me to be deprived of these pleasures by death. If you -have any friendly feelings towards me, I pray you recite for me the -Diamond _sutra_[204] five thousand and forty-eight times, and I will -never forget your kindness." Chang did as he was asked, getting up -every night and telling his beads before the coffin, until the -occasion of a certain festival, when he wished to go home to his -parents, and take the young lady with him. Miss Tseng said she was -afraid her feet were too tender to walk far; but Chang offered to -carry her, to which she laughingly assented. It was just like carrying -a child, she was so light;[205] and by degrees Chang got so accustomed -to taking her about with him, that when he went up for his examination -she went in too.[206] The only thing was she could not travel except -at night. Later on, Chang would have gone up for his master's degree, -but the young lady told him it was of no use to try, for it was not -destined that he should pass; and accordingly he desisted from his -intention. Four or five years afterwards, Miss Tseng's father resigned -his appointment, and so poor was he that he could not afford to pay -for the removal of his daughter's coffin, but wanted to bury it -economically where it was. Unfortunately, he had no ground of his own, -and then Chang came forward and said that a friend of his had a piece -of waste land near the temple, and that he might bury it there. Mr. -Tseng was very glad to accept, and Chang kindly assisted him with the -funeral,--for what reason the former was quite unable to guess. One -night after this, as Miss Tseng was sitting by Chang's side, her -father having already returned home, she burst into a flood of tears, -and said, "For five years we have been good friends; we must now part. -I can never repay your goodness to me." Chang was alarmed, and asked -her what she meant; to which she replied, "Your sympathy has told for -me in the realms below. The sum of my _sutras_ is complete, and to-day -I am to be born again in the family of a high official, Mr. Lu, of -Ho-pei. If you do not forget the present time, meet me there in -fifteen years from now, on the 16th of the 8th moon." "Alas!" cried -Chang, "I am already over thirty, and in fifteen years more I shall be -drawing near the wood.[207] What good will our meeting do?" "I can be -your servant," replied Miss Tseng, "and so make some return to you. -But come, escort me a few miles on my way; the road is beset with -brambles, and I shall have some trouble with my dress." So Chang -carried her as before, until they reached a high road, where they -found a number of carriages and horses, the latter with one or two -riders on the backs of each, and three or four, or even more persons, -in every carriage. But there was one richly-decorated carriage, with -embroidered curtains and red awnings, in which sat only one old woman, -who, when she saw Miss Tseng, called out, "Ah, there you are." "Here I -am," replied Miss Tseng; and then she turned to Chang and said, "We -must part here; do not forget what I told you." Chang promised he -would remember; and then the old woman helped her up into the -carriage, round went the wheels, off went the attendants, and they -were gone. Sorrowfully Chang wended his way home, and there wrote upon -the wall the date mentioned by Miss Tseng; after which, bethinking -himself of the efficacy of prayer, he took to reciting _sutras_ more -energetically than ever. By-and-by he dreamed that an angel appeared -to him, and said, "The bent of your mind is excellent indeed, but you -must visit the Southern Sea."[208] Asking how far off the Southern Sea -was, the angel informed him it was close by; and then waking up, and -understanding what was required of him, he fixed his sole thoughts on -Buddha, and lived a purer life than before. In three years' time his -two sons, Ming and Cheng, came out very high on the list at the -examination for the second degree, in spite of which worldly successes -Chang continued to lead his usual holy life. Then one night he dreamed -that another angel led him among beautiful halls and palaces, where he -saw a personage sitting down who resembled Buddha himself. This -personage said to him, "My son, your virtue is a matter of great joy; -unhappily your term of life is short, and I have, therefore, made an -appeal to God[209] on your behalf." Chang prostrated himself, and -knocked his head upon the ground; upon which he was commanded to rise, -and was served with tea, fragrant as the epidendrum. A boy was next -instructed to take him to bathe in a pool, the water of which was so -exquisitely clear that he could count the fishes swimming about -therein. He found it warm as he walked in, and scented like the leaves -of the lotus-flower; and gradually the water got deeper and deeper, -until he went down altogether and passed through with his head under -water. He then waked up in a fright; but from this moment he became -more robust and his sight improved. As he stroked his beard the white -hairs all came out, and by-and-by the black ones too; the wrinkles on -his face were smoothed away, and in a few months he had the beardless -face of a boy of fifteen or sixteen. He also grew very fond of playing -about like other boys, and would sometimes tumble head over heels, and -be picked up by his sons. Soon afterwards his wife died of old age, -and his sons begged him to marry again into some good family; but he -said he should be obliged to go to Ho-pei first; and then, calculating -his dates, found that the appointed time had arrived. So he ordered -his horses and servants, and set off for Ho-pei, where he discovered -that there actually was a high official named Lu. Now Mr. Lu had a -daughter, who when born was able to talk,[210] and became very clever -and beautiful as she grew up. She was the idol of her parents, and had -been asked in marriage by many suitors, but would not accept any of -them; and when her father and mother inquired her motives for refusal, -she told them the story of her engagement in her former life. "Silly -child," said they, reckoning up the time, and laughing at her; "that -Mr. Chang would now be about fifty years of age, a changed and feeble -old man. Even if he is still alive, his hair will be white and his -teeth gone." But their daughter would not listen to them; and, finding -her so obstinate in her determination, they instructed the doorkeeper -to admit no strangers until the appointed time should have passed, -that thus her expectations might be brought to naught. Before long, -Chang arrived, but the doorkeeper would not let him in, and he went -back to his inn in great distress, not knowing what to do. He then -took to walking about the fields, and secretly making inquiries -concerning the family. Meanwhile Miss Tseng thought that he had broken -his engagement, and refused all food, giving herself up to tears -alone. Her mother argued that he was probably dead, or in any case -that the breach of engagement was no fault of her daughter's; to none -of which, however, would Miss Tseng listen, lying where she was the -livelong day. Mr. Lu now became anxious about her, and determined to -see what manner of man this Chang might be; so, on the plea of taking -a walk, he went out to meet him in the fields, and to his astonishment -found quite a young man. They sat down together on some leaves, and -after chatting awhile Mr. Lu was so charmed with his young friend's -bearing that he invited him to his house. No sooner had they arrived, -than Mr. Lu begged Chang to excuse him a moment, and ran in first to -tell his daughter, who exerted herself to get up and take a peep at -the stranger. Finding, however, that he was not the Chang she had -formerly known, she burst into tears and crept back to bed, upbraiding -her parents for trying to deceive her thus. Her father declared he was -no other than Chang, but his daughter replied only with tears; and -then he went back very much upset to his guest, whom he treated with -great want of courtesy. Chang asked him if he was not the Mr. Lu, of -such and such a position, to which he replied in a vacant kind of way -that he was, looking the other way all the time and paying no -attention to Chang. The latter did not approve of this behaviour, and -accordingly took his leave; and in a few days Miss Tseng had cried -herself to death. Chang then dreamed that she appeared to him, and -said, "Was it you after all that I saw? You were so changed in age and -appearance that when I looked upon your face I did not know you. I -have already died from grief; but if you make haste to the little -street shrine and summon my spirit back, I may still recover. Be not -late!" Chang then waked, and immediately made inquiries at Mr. Lu's -house, when he found that the young lady had been dead two days. -Telling her father his dream, they went forth to summon the spirit -back; and on opening the shroud, and throwing themselves with -lamentations over the corpse, a noise was heard in the young lady's -throat, and her cherry lips parted. They moved her on to a bed, and -soon she began to moan, to the great joy of Mr. Lu, who took Chang out -of the room and, over a bumper of wine, asked some questions about his -family. He was glad to find that Chang was a suitable match for his -daughter, and an auspicious day was fixed for the wedding. In a -fortnight the event came off, the bride being escorted to Chang's -house by her father, who remained with them six months before going -home again. They were a youthful pair, and people who didn't know the -story mistook Chang's son and daughter-in-law for his father and -mother. A year later Mr. Lu died; and his son, a mere child, having -been badly wounded by some scoundrels, and the family property being -almost gone, Chang made him come and live with them, and be one of -their own family. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[202] No man being allowed to hold office within a radius of 500 _li_, -or nearly 200 miles, from his native place. - -[203] This is a very common custom all over China. - -[204] Of all the Buddhist _sutras_, this is perhaps the favourite with -the Chinese. - -[205] Contrary to the German notion that the spirit of the dead -mother, coming back at night to suckle the child she has left behind, -makes an impress on the bed alongside the baby. - -[206] Being, of course, invisible to all except himself. - -[207] A very ancient expression, signifying "the grave," the word -"wood" being used by synecdoche for "coffin." - -[208] The supposed residence of Kuan-yin, the Chinese Goddess of -Mercy, she who "hears prayers" and is the giver of children. - -[209] The great Supreme Ruler, who is supposed to have absolute sway -over the various other deities of the Chinese Pantheon. - -[210] Generally spoken of as an inauspicious phenomenon. - - - - -XXXIV. - -A TAOIST PRIEST. - - -Once upon a time there was a Mr. Han, who belonged to a wealthy -family, and was fond of entertaining people. A man named Hsue, of the -same town, frequently joined him over the bottle; and on one occasion -when they were together a Taoist priest came to the door with his -alms-bowl[211] in his hand. The servants threw him some money and -food, but the priest would not accept them, neither would he go away; -and at length they would take no more notice of him. Mr. Han heard the -noise of the priest knocking his bowl[212] going on for a long time, -and asked his servants what was the matter; and they had hardly told -him when the priest himself walked in. Mr. Han begged him to be -seated; whereupon the priest bowed to both gentlemen and took his -seat. On making the usual inquiries, they found that he lived at an -old tumble-down temple to the east of the town, and Mr. Han expressed -regret at not having heard sooner of his arrival, so that he might -have shown him the proper hospitality of a resident. The priest said -that he had only recently arrived, and had no friends in the place; -but hearing that Mr. Han was a jovial fellow, he had been very anxious -to take a glass with him. Mr. Han then ordered wine, and the priest -soon distinguished himself as a hard drinker; Mr. Hsue treating him all -the time with a certain amount of disrespect in consequence of his -shabby appearance, while Mr. Han made allowances for him as being a -traveller. When he had drunk over twenty large cups of wine, the -priest took his leave, returning subsequently whenever any -jollification was going on, no matter whether it was eating or -drinking. Even Han began now to tire a little of him; and on one -occasion Hsue said to him in raillery, "Good priest, you seem to like -being a guest; why don't you play the host sometimes for a change?" -"Ah," replied the priest, "I am much the same as yourself--a mouth -carried between a couple of shoulders."[213] This put Hsue to shame, -and he had no answer to make; so the priest continued, "But although -that is so, I have been revolving the question with myself for some -time, and when we do meet I shall do my best to repay your kindness -with a cup of my own poor wine." When they had finished drinking, the -priest said he hoped he should have the pleasure of their company the -following day at noon; and at the appointed time the two friends went -together, not expecting, however, to find anything ready for them. But -the priest was waiting for them in the street; and passing through a -handsome court-yard, they beheld long suites of elegant apartments -stretching away before them. In great astonishment, they remarked to -the priest that they had not visited this temple for some time, and -asked when it had been thus repaired; to which he replied that the -work had been only lately completed. They then went inside, and there -was a magnificently-decorated apartment, such as would not be found -even in the houses of the wealthy. This made them begin to feel more -respect for their host; and no sooner had they sat down than wine and -food were served by a number of boys, all about sixteen years of age, -and dressed in embroidered coats, with red shoes. The wine and the -eatables were delicious, and very nicely served; and when the dinner -was taken away, a course of rare fruits was put on the table, the -names of all of which it would be impossible to mention. They were -arranged in dishes of crystal and jade, the brilliancy of which -lighted up the surrounding furniture; and the goblets in which the -wine was poured were of glass,[214] and more than a foot in -circumference. The priest here cried out, "Call the Shih sisters," -whereupon one of the boys went out, and in a few moments two elegant -young ladies walked in. The first was tall and slim like a willow -wand; the other was short and very young, both being exceedingly -pretty girls. Being told to sing while the company were drinking, the -younger beat time and sang a song, while the elder accompanied her on -the flageolet. They acquitted themselves admirably; and, when the song -was over, the priest holding his goblet bottom upwards in the air, -challenged his guests to follow his example, bidding his servants pour -out more wine all round. He then turned to the girls, and remarked -that they had not danced for a long time, asking if they were still -able to do so; upon which a carpet was spread by one of the boys, and -the two young ladies proceeded to dance, their long robes waving about -and perfuming the air around. The dance concluded, they leant against -a painted screen, while the two guests gradually became more and more -confused, and were at last irrecoverably drunk. The priest took no -notice of them; but when he had finished drinking, he got up and said, -"Pray, go on with your wine; I am going to rest awhile, and will -return by-and-by." He then went away, and lay down on a splendid couch -at the other end of the room; at which Hsue was very angry, and shouted -out, "Priest, you are a rude fellow," at the same time making towards -him with a view of rousing him up. The priest then ran out, and Han -and Hsue lay down to sleep, one at each end of the room, on -elaborately-carved couches covered with beautiful mattresses. When -they woke up, they found themselves lying in the road, Mr. Hsue with -his head in a dirty drain. Hard by were a couple of rush huts; but -everything else was gone. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[211] This is the Buddhist _patra_, which modern writers have come to -regard as an instrumental part of the Taoist religion. See No. IV., -note 46. - -[212] To call attention to his presence. Beggars in China accomplish -their purpose more effectually by beating a gong in the shop where -they ask for alms so loudly as to prevent the shopkeeper from hearing -his customers speak; or they vary the performance by swinging about -some dead animal tied to the end of a stick. Mendicity not being -prohibited in China, there results a system of black mail payable by -every householder to a beggars' guild, and this frees them from the -visits of the beggars of their own particular district; many, however, -do not subscribe, but take their chance in the struggle as to who will -tire out the other first, the shopkeeper, who has all to lose, being -careful to stop short of anything like manual violence, which would -forthwith bring down upon him the myrmidons of the law, and subject -him to innumerable "squeezes." - -[213] _Sc._ a "sponge." - -[214] Said to have been introduced into China from the west by a -eunuch named San-pao during the Ming dynasty. - - - - -XXXV. - -THE FIGHT WITH THE FOXES. - - -In the province of Chih-li, there was a wealthy family in want of a -tutor. One day a graduate presented himself at the door, and was asked -by the master of the house to walk in; and he conversed so pleasantly -that in a short time it was clear to both sides that they were -mutually pleased with each other. The tutor said his name was Hu; and -when the usual present had been made to him, he was forthwith provided -with apartments, and entered very energetically upon his duties, -proving himself a scholar of no mean order. He was, however, very fond -of roaming, and generally came back in the middle of the night, not -troubling himself to knock if the door was locked but suddenly -appearing on the inside. It was therefore suspected that he was a fox, -though as his intentions seemed to be harmless, he was treated -extremely well, and not with any want of courtesy as if he had been -something uncanny. By-and-by he discovered that his master had a -daughter,[215] and being desirous of securing the match was always -dropping hints to that effect, which his master, on the other hand, -invariably pretended not to understand. One day he went off for a -holiday, and on the next day a stranger called; who, tying a black -mule at the door, accepted the invitation of the master to take a seat -within. He was about fifty years of age, very neat and clean in his -dress, and gentlemanly in his manners. When they were seated, the -stranger began by saying that he was come with proposals of marriage -on behalf of Mr. Hu; to which his host, after some consideration, -replied that he and Mr. Hu got along excellently well as friends, and -there was no object in bringing about a closer connection. "Besides," -added he, "my daughter is already betrothed, and I beg you, therefore, -to ask Mr. Hu to excuse me." The stranger said he was quite sure the -young lady was not engaged, and inquired what might be the objection -to the match: but it was all of no avail, until at length he remarked, -"Mr. Hu is of a good family; I see no reason why you should have such -an aversion to him." "Well, then," replied the other, "I will tell you -what it is. We don't like his _species_." The stranger here got very -angry, and his host also lost his temper, so that they came to high -words, and were already on the way to blows, when the latter bade his -servants give the stranger a beating and turn him out. The stranger -then retired, leaving his mule behind him; and when they drew near to -look at it they found a huge creature with black hair, drooping ears, -and a long tail. They tried to lead it away, but it would not move; -and on giving it a shove with the hand from behind, it toppled over -and was discovered to be only of straw. In consequence of the angry -words that had been said, the master of the house felt sure that there -would be an attempt at revenge, and accordingly made all preparations; -and sure enough the next day a whole host of fox-soldiers arrived, -some on horseback, some on foot, some with spears, and others with -cross-bows, men and horses trampling along with an indescribable din. -The family were afraid to leave the house, and the foxes shouted out -to set the place on fire, at which the inmates were dreadfully -alarmed; but just then one of the bravest of them rushed forth with a -number of the servants to engage the foxes. Stones and arrows flew -about in all directions, and many on both sides were wounded; at -length, however, the foxes drew off leaving their swords on the field. -These glittered like frost or snow, but when picked up turned out to -be only millet-stalks. "Is this all their cunning?" cried their -adversary, laughing, at the same time making still more careful -preparations in case the foxes should come again. Next day they were -deliberating together, when suddenly a giant descended upon them from -the sky. He was over ten feet in height by several feet in breadth, -and brandished a sword as broad as half a door; but they attacked him -so vigorously with arrows and stones that he was soon stretched dead -upon the ground, when they saw that he was made of grass. Our friends -now began to make light of their fox-foes, and as they saw nothing -more of them for three days their precautions were somewhat relaxed. -The foxes, however, soon reappeared, armed with bows and arrows, and -succeeded in shooting the master of the house in the back, -disappearing when he summoned his servants and proceeded to attack -them. Then, drawing the arrow from his back, he found it was a long -thorn; and thus the foxes went on for a month or so, coming and going, -and making it necessary to take precautions, though not really -inflicting any serious injury. This annoyed the master of the family -very much, until one day Mr. Hu[216] himself appeared with a troop of -soldiers at his back, and he immediately went out to meet him. Mr. Hu -withdrew among his men, but the master called to him to come forth, -and then asked him what he had done that soldiers should be thus -brought against his family. The foxes were now on the point of -discharging their arrows; Mr. Hu, however, stopped them; whereupon he -and his old master shook hands, and the latter invited him to walk -into his old room. Wine being served, his host observed, "You, Mr. Hu, -are a man of intelligence, and I trust you will make allowances for -me. Friends as we were, I should naturally have been glad to form a -connection with you; your carriages, however, horses, houses, etc., -are not those of ordinary mortals; and even had my daughter consented, -you must know the thing would have been impossible, she being still a -great deal too young." Mr. Hu was somewhat disconcerted at this, but -his host continued, "It's of no consequence; we can still be friends -as before, and if you do not despise us earthly creatures, there is my -son whom you have taught; he is fifteen years old, and I should be -proud to see him connected with you if such an arrangement should be -feasible." Mr. Hu was delighted, and said, "I have a daughter one year -younger than your son; she is neither ugly nor stupid. How would she -do?" His host got up and made a low bow, which Mr. Hu forthwith -returned, and they then became the best of friends, forgetting all -about the former unpleasantness. Wine was given to Mr. Hu's -attendants, and every one was made happy. The host now inquired where -Mr. Hu lived, that the ceremony of pouring out a libation to the -geese[217] might be performed; but Mr. Hu said this would not be -necessary, and remained drinking till night, when he went away again. -From this time there was no more trouble; and a year passed without -any news of Mr. Hu, so that it seemed as if he wished to get out of -his bargain. The family, however, went on waiting, and in six months -more Mr. Hu reappeared, when, after a few general remarks, he declared -that his daughter was ready, and requested that an auspicious day -might be fixed for her to come to her husband's home. This being -arranged, the young lady arrived with a retinue of sedan-chairs, and -horses, and a beautiful trousseau that nearly filled a room.[218] She -was unusually respectful to her father and mother in-law, and the -former was much pleased with the match. Her father and a younger -brother of his had escorted her to the house, and conversing away in a -most refined style they sat drinking till daybreak before they went -away. The bride herself had the gift of foreknowing whether the -harvest would be good or bad, and her advice was always taken in such -matters. Mr. Hu and his brother, and also their mother, often came to -visit her in her new home, and were then very frequently seen by -people. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[215] The women's apartments being quite separate from the rest of a -Chinese house, male visitors consequently know nothing about their -inhabitants. - -[216] See No. XIII., note 90. - -[217] A very ancient custom in China, originating in a belief that -these birds never mate a second time. The libation is made on the -occasion of the bridegroom fetching his bride from her father's house. - -[218] A Chinese trousseau, in addition to clothes and jewels, consists -of tables and chairs, and all kinds of house furniture and ornaments. - - - - -XXXVI. - -THE KING. - - -A certain Governor of Hu-nan despatched a magistrate to the capital in -charge of treasure to the amount of six hundred thousand ounces of -silver. On the road the magistrate encountered a violent storm of -rain, which so delayed him that night came on before he was able to -reach the next station. He therefore took refuge in an old temple; -but, when morning came, he was horrified to find that the treasure had -disappeared. Unable to fix the guilt on any one, he returned forthwith -to the Governor and told him the whole story. The latter, however, -refused to believe what the magistrate said, and would have had him -severely punished, but that each and all of his attendants stoutly -corroborated his statements; and accordingly he bade him return and -endeavour to find the missing silver. When the magistrate got back to -the temple, he met an extraordinary-looking blind man, who informed -him that he could read people's thoughts, and further went on to say -that the magistrate had come there on a matter of money. The latter -replied that it was so, and recounted the misfortune that had -overtaken him; whereupon the blind man called for sedan-chairs, and -told the magistrate to follow and see for himself, which he -accordingly did, accompanied by all his retinue. If the blind man said -east, they went east; or if north, north; journeying along for five -days until far among the hills, where they beheld a large city with a -great number of inhabitants. They entered the gates and proceeded on -for a short distance, when suddenly the blind man cried, "Stop!" and, -alighting from his chair, pointed to a lofty door facing the west, at -which he told the magistrate to knock and make what inquiries were -necessary. He then bowed and took his leave, and the magistrate obeyed -his instructions, whereupon a man came out in reply to his summons. He -was dressed in the fashion of the Han dynasty,[219] and did not say -what his name was; but as soon as the magistrate informed him -wherefore he had come, he replied that if the latter would wait a few -days he himself would assist him in the matter. The man then conducted -the magistrate within, and giving him a room to himself, provided him -regularly with food and drink. One day he chanced to stroll away to -the back of the building, and there found a beautiful garden with -dense avenues of pine-trees and smooth lawns of fine grass. After -wandering about for some time among the arbours and ornamental -buildings, the magistrate came to a lofty kiosque, and mounted the -steps, when he saw hanging on the wall before him a number of human -skins, each with its eyes, nose, ears, mouth, and heart.[220] -Horrified at this, he beat a hasty retreat to his quarters, convinced -that he was about to leave his own skin in this out-of-the-way place, -and giving himself up for lost. He reflected, however, that he should -probably gain nothing by trying to escape, and made up his mind to -wait; and on the following day the same man came to fetch him, saying -he could now have an audience. The magistrate replied that he was -ready; and his conductor then mounted a fiery steed, leaving the other -to follow on foot. By-and-by they reached a door like that leading -into a Viceroy's _yamen_, where stood on either side crowds of -official servants, preserving the utmost silence and decorum. The man -here dismounted and led the magistrate inside; and after passing -through another door they came into the presence of a king, who wore a -cap decorated with pearls, and an embroidered sash, and sat facing the -south. The magistrate rushed forward and prostrated himself on the -ground; upon which the king asked him if he was the Hu-nan official -who had been charged with the conveyance of treasure. On his answering -in the affirmative, the king said, "The money is all here; it's a mere -trifle, but I have no objection to receive it as a present from the -Governor." The magistrate here burst into tears, and declared that -his term of grace had already expired: that he would be punished if he -went back thus, especially as he would have no evidence to adduce in -substantiation of his story. "That is easy enough," replied the king, -and put into his hands a thick letter, which he bade him give to the -Governor, assuring him that this would prevent him from getting into -any trouble. He also provided him with an escort; and the magistrate, -who dared not argue the point further, sorrowfully accepted the letter -and took his departure. The road he travelled along was not that by -which he had come; and when the hills ended, his escort left him and -went back. In a few days more he reached Ch'ang-sha, and respectfully -informed the Governor of what had taken place; but the Governor -thought he was telling more lies, and in a great rage bade the -attendants bind him hand and foot. The magistrate then drew the letter -forth from his coat; and when the Governor broke the seal and saw its -contents, his face turned deadly pale. He gave orders for the -magistrate to be unbound, remarking that the loss of the treasure was -of no importance, and that the magistrate was free to go. Instructions -were next issued that the amount was to be made up in some way or -other and forwarded to the capital; and meanwhile the Governor fell -sick and died. - -Now this Governor had had a wife of whom he was dotingly fond; and one -morning when they waked up, lo! all her hair was gone. The whole -establishment was in dismay, no one knowing what to make of such an -occurrence. But the letter above-mentioned contained that hair, -accompanied by the following words:--"Ever since you first entered -into public life your career has been one of peculation and avarice. -The six hundred thousand ounces of silver are safely stored in my -treasury. Make good this sum from your own accumulated extortions. The -officer you charged with the treasure is innocent; he must not be -wrongly punished. On a former occasion I took your wife's hair as a -gentle warning. If now you disobey my injunctions, it will not be long -before I have your head. Herewith I return the hair as an evidence of -what I say." When the Governor was dead, his family divulged the -contents of the letter; and some of his subordinates sent men to -search for the city, but they only found range upon range of -inaccessible mountains, with nothing like a road or path. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[219] Which ended some sixteen hundred years ago. - -[220] Corresponding with our five "senses," the heart taking the place -of the brain, and being regarded by Chinese doctors as the seat not -only of intelligence and the passions, but also of all sensation. - - - - -XXXVII. - -ENGAGED TO A NUN. - - -At I-ling, in Hupei, there lived a young man named Chen Yue, the son of -a graduate. He was a good scholar and a handsome fellow, and had made -a reputation for himself even before he arrived at manhood. When quite -a boy, a physiognomist had predicted that he would marry a Taoist nun; -but his parents regarded it only as a joke, and made several attempts -to get him a different kind of wife. Their efforts, however, had not -hitherto proved successful, the difficulty being to find a suitable -match. - -Now his maternal grandmother lived at Huang-kang; and on one occasion, -when young Chen was paying her a visit, he heard some one say that of -the four Yuens at Huang-chou the youngest had no peer. This remark -referred to some very nice-looking nuns who lived in a temple[221] a -few miles from his grandmother's house; and accordingly Chen secretly -set off to see them, and, knocking at the door, was very cordially -received by the four ladies, who were persons of considerable -refinement. The youngest was a girl of incomparable beauty, and Chen -could not keep his eyes off her, until at last she put her hand up to -her face and looked the other way. Her companions now going out of the -room to get tea for their visitor, Chen availed himself of the -opportunity to ask the young lady's name; to which she replied that -she was called Yuen-ch'i, and that her surname was Ch'en. "How -extraordinary!" cried Chen; "and mine is P'an."[222] This made her -blush very much, and she bent her head down and made no answer; -by-and-by rising up and going away. The tea then came in, accompanied -by some nice fruit, and the nuns began telling him their names. One -was Pai Yuen-shen, and thirty odd years of age; another was Sheng -Yuen-mien, just twenty; and the third was Liang Yuen-tung, twenty-four -or five years old, but the junior in point of religious standing.[223] -Yuen-ch'i did not re-appear, and at length Chen grew anxious to see her -again, and asked where she was. Miss Pai told him her sister was -afraid of strangers, and Chen then got up and took his leave in spite -of their efforts to detain him. "If you want to see Yuen-ch'i you had -better come again to-morrow," said Miss Pai; and Chen, who went home -thinking of nothing but Yuen-ch'i, did return to the temple on the -following day. All the nuns were there except Yuen-ch'i, but he hardly -liked to begin by inquiring after her; and then they pressed him to -stay and take dinner with them, accepting no excuses, Miss Pai herself -setting food and chop-sticks before him, and urging him to eat. When -he asked where Yuen-ch'i was, they said she would come directly; but -evening gradually drew on and Chen rose to go home. Thereupon they all -entreated him to stay, promising that if he did so they would make -Yuen-ch'i come in. Chen then agreed to remain; the lamps were lighted, -and wine was freely served round, until at last he said he was so -tipsy he couldn't take any more. "Three bumpers more," cried Miss Pai, -"and then we will send for Yuen-ch'i." So Chen drank off his three -cups, whereupon Miss Liang said he must also drink three with her, -which he did, turning his wine-cup down on the table[224] and -declaring that he would have no more. "The gentleman won't condescend -to drink with us," said Miss Pai to Miss Liang, "so you had better -call in Yuen-ch'i, and tell the fair Eloisa that her Abelard is -awaiting her." In a few moments Miss Liang came back and told Chen -that Yuen-ch'i would not appear; upon which he went off in a huff, -without saying a word to either of them, and for several days did not -go near the place again. He could not, however, forget Yuen-ch'i, and -was always hanging about on the watch, until one afternoon he observed -Miss Pai go out, at which he was delighted, for he wasn't much afraid -of Miss Liang, and at once ran up to the temple and knocked at the -door. Yuen-mien answered his knock, and from her he discovered that -Miss Liang had also gone out on business. He then asked for Yuen-ch'i, -and Yuen-mien led him into another court-yard, where she called out, -"Yuen-ch'i! here's a visitor." At this the door of the room was -immediately slammed, and Yuen-mien laughed and told Chen she had locked -herself in. Chen was on the point of saying something, when Yuen-mien -moved away, and a voice was heard from the other side of the window, -"They all declare I'm setting my cap at you, Sir; and if you come here -again, I cannot answer for my safety. I do not wish to remain a nun, -and if I could only meet with a gentleman like you, Mr. P'an, I would -be a handmaid to him all the days of my life." Chen offered his hand -and heart to the young lady on the spot; but she reminded him that her -education for the priesthood had not been accomplished without -expense, "and if you truly love me," added she, "bring twenty ounces -of silver wherewith to purchase my freedom. I will wait for you three -years with the utmost fidelity." Chen assented to this, and was about -to tell her who he really was, when Yuen-mien returned and they all -went out together, Chen now bidding them farewell and going back to -his grandmother's. After this he always had Yuen-ch'i in his thoughts, -and wanted very much to get another interview with her and be near -her once again, but at this juncture he heard that his father was -dangerously ill, and promptly set off on his way home, travelling day -and night. His father died, and his mother who then ruled the -household was such a severe person that he dared not tell her what was -nearest to his heart. Meanwhile he scraped together all the money he -could; and refused all proposals of marriage on the score of being in -mourning for his father.[225] His mother, however, insisted on his -taking a wife; and he then told her that when he was with his -grandmother at Huang-kang, an arrangement had been made that he was to -marry a Miss Ch'en, to which he himself was quite ready to accede; and -that now, although his father's death had stopped all communications -on the subject, he could hardly do better than pay a visit to his -grandmother and see how matters stood, promising that if the affair -was not actually settled he would obey his mother's commands. His -mother consented to this, and off he started with the money he had -saved; but when he reached Huang-kang and went off to the temple, he -found the place desolate and no longer what it had been. Entering in, -he saw only one old priestess employed in cooking her food; and on -making inquiries of her, she told him that the Abbess had died in the -previous year, and that the four nuns had gone away in different -directions. According to her, Yuen-ch'i was living in the northern -quarter of the city, and thither he proceeded forthwith; but after -asking for her at all the temples in the neighbourhood, he could get -no news of her, and returned sorrowfully home, pretending to his -mother that his uncle had said Mr. Ch'en had gone away, and that as -soon as he came back they would send a servant to let him know. - -Some months after these events, Chen's mother went on a visit to her -own home, and mentioned this story in conversation with her old -mother, who, to her astonishment, knew nothing at all about it, but -suggested that Chen and his uncle must have concocted the thing -together. Luckily, however, for Chen his uncle was away at that time, -and they had no means of getting at the real truth. Meanwhile, Chen's -mother went away to the Lily Hill to fulfil a vow she had made, and -remained all night at an inn at the foot of the hill. That evening the -landlord knocked at her door and ushered in a young priestess to share -the room. The girl said her name was Yuen-ch'i; and when she heard that -Chen's mother lived at I-ling, she went and sat by her side, and -poured out to her a long tale of tribulation, finishing up by saying -that she had a cousin named P'an, at I-ling, and begging Chen's mother -to send some one to tell him where she would be found. "Every day I -suffer," added she, "and each day seems like a year. Tell him to come -quickly, or I may be gone." Chen's mother inquired what his other name -might be, but she said she did not know; to which the old lady replied -that it was of no consequence, as, being a graduate, it would be easy -to find him out. Early in the morning Chen's mother bade the girl -farewell, the latter again begging her not to forget; and when she -reached home she told Chen what had occurred. Chen threw himself on -his knees, and told his mother that he was the P'an to whom the young -lady alluded; and after hearing how the engagement had come about, his -mother was exceedingly angry, and said, "Undutiful boy! how will you -face your relations with a nun for a wife?" Chen hung his head and -made no reply; but shortly afterwards when he went up for his -examination, he presented himself at the address given by -Yuen-ch'i--only, however, to find that the young lady had gone away a -fortnight before. He then returned home and fell into a bad state of -health, when his grandmother died and his mother set off to assist at -her funeral. On her way back she missed the right road and reached the -house of some people named Ching, who turned out to be cousins of -hers. They invited her in, and there she saw a young girl of about -eighteen sitting in the parlour, and as great a beauty as she had ever -set eyes on. Now, as she was always thinking of making a good match -for her son, and curing him of his settled melancholy, she asked who -the young lady might be; and they told her that her name was -Wang,--that she was a connection of their own, and that her father and -mother being dead, she was staying temporarily with them. Chen's -mother inquired the name of Miss Wang's betrothed, but they said she -was not engaged; and then taking her hand, she entered into -conversation, and was very much charmed with her. Passing the night -there, Chen's mother took her cousin into her confidence, and the -latter agreed that it would be a capital match; "but," added she, -"this young lady is somewhat ambitious, or she would hardly have -remained single so long. We must think about it." Meanwhile, Chen's -mother and Miss Wang got on so extremely well together that they were -already on the terms of mother and daughter; and Miss Wang was invited -to accompany her home. This invitation she readily accepted, and next -day they went back; Chen's mother, who wished to see her son free from -his present trouble, bidding one of the servants tell him that she had -brought home a nice wife for him; Chen did not believe this; but on -peeping through the window beheld a young lady much prettier even than -Yuen-ch'i herself. He now began to reflect that the three years agreed -upon had already expired; that Yuen-ch'i had gone no one knew whither, -and had probably by this time found another husband; so he had no -difficulty in entertaining the thought of marrying this young lady, -and soon regained his health. His mother then caused the young people -to meet, and be introduced to one another; saying to Miss Wang, when -her son had left the room, "Did you guess why I invited you to come -home with me?" "I did," replied the young lady, "but I don't think you -guessed what was _my_ object in coming. Some years ago I was betrothed -to a Mr. P'an, of I-ling. I have heard nothing of him for a long time. -If he has found another wife I will be your daughter-in-law; if not, I -will ever regard you as my own mother, and endeavour to repay you for -your kindness to me." "As there is an actual engagement," replied -Chen's mother, "I will say no more; but when I was at the Lily Hill -there was a Taoist nun inquiring after this Mr. P'an, and now you -again, though, as a matter of fact, there is no Mr. P'an in I-ling at -all." "What!" cried Miss Wang, "are you that lady I met? I am the -person who inquired for Mr. P'an." "If that is so," replied Chen's -mother with a smile, "then your Mr. P'an is not far off." "Where is -he?" said she; and then Chen's mother bade a maid-servant lead her out -to her son and ask him. "Is your name Yuen-ch'i?" said Chen, in great -astonishment; and when the young lady asked him how he knew it, he -told her the whole story of his pretending to be a Mr. P'an. But when -Yuen-ch'i found out to whom she was talking, she was abashed, and went -back and told his mother, who inquired how she came to have two names. -"My real name is Wang," replied the young lady; "but the old Abbess, -being very fond of me, made me take her own name." Chen's mother was -overjoyed at all this, and an auspicious day was immediately fixed for -the celebration of their marriage. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[221] These nunneries, of which there are plenty in China, are well -worth visiting, and may be freely entered by both sexes. Sometimes -there are as many as a hundred nuns living together in one temple, and -to all appearances devoting their lives to religious exercises; -report, however, tells many tales of broken vows, and makes sad havoc -generally with the reputation of these fair vestals. - -[222] In corresponding English, this would be:--The young lady said -her name was Eloisa. "How funny!" cried Chen, "and mine is Abelard." - -[223] That is, she was the last to take the vows. - -[224] The usual signal that a person does not wish to take any more -wine. - -[225] This would carry him well on into the third of the years during -which Yuen-ch'i had promised to wait for him. - - - - -XXXVIII. - -THE YOUNG LADY OF THE TUNG-T'ING LAKE. - - -The spirits of the Tung-t'ing lake[226] are very much in the habit of -borrowing boats. Sometimes the cable of an empty junk will cast itself -off, and away goes the vessel over the waves to the sound of music in -the air above. The boatmen crouch down in one corner and hide their -faces, not daring to look up until the trip is over and they are once -more at their old anchorage. - -Now a certain Mr. Lin, returning home after having failed at the -examination for Master's degree, was lying down very tipsy on the deck -of his boat, when suddenly strains of music and singing began to be -heard. The boatmen shook Mr. Lin, but failing to rouse him, ran down -and hid themselves in the hold below. Then some one came and lifted -him up, letting him drop again on to the deck, where he was allowed to -remain in the same drunken sleep as before. By-and-by the noise of -the various instruments became almost deafening, and Lin, partially -waking up, smelt a delicious odour of perfumes filling the air around -him. Opening his eyes, he saw that the boat was crowded with a number -of beautiful girls; and knowing that something strange was going on, -he pretended to be fast asleep. There was then a call for Chih-ch'eng, -upon which a young waiting-maid came forward and stood quite close to -Mr. Lin's head. Her stockings were the colour of the kingfisher's -wing, and her feet encased in tiny purple shoes, no bigger than one's -finger. Much smitten with this young lady, he took hold of her -stocking with his teeth, causing her, the next time she moved, to fall -forward flat on her face. Some one, evidently in authority, asked what -was the matter; and when he heard the explanation, was very angry, and -gave orders to take off Mr. Lin's head. Soldiers now came and bound -Lin, and on getting up he beheld a man sitting with his face to the -south, and dressed in the garments of a king. "Sire," cried Lin, as he -was being led away, "the king of the Tung-t'ing lake was a mortal -named Lin; your servant's name is Lin also. His Majesty was a -disappointed candidate; your servant is one too. His Majesty met the -Dragon Lady, and was made immortal; your servant has played a trick -upon this girl, and he is to die. Why this inequality of fortunes?" -When the king heard this, he bade them bring him back, and asked him, -saying, "Are you, then, a disappointed candidate?" Lin said he was; -whereupon the king handed him writing materials, and ordered him to -compose an ode upon a lady's head-dress. Some time passed before Lin, -who was a scholar of some repute in his own neighbourhood, had done -more than sit thinking about what he should write; and at length the -king upbraided him, saying, "Come, come, a man of your reputation -should not take so long." "Sire," replied Lin, laying down his pen, -"it took ten years to complete the Songs of the Three Kingdoms; -whereby it may be known that the value of compositions depends more -upon the labour given to them than the speed with which they are -written." The king laughed and waited patiently from early morning -till noon, when a copy of the verses was put into his hand, with which -he declared himself very pleased. He now commanded that Lin should be -served with wine; and shortly after there followed a collation of all -kinds of curious dishes, in the middle of which an officer came in and -reported that the register of people to be drowned had been made up. -"How many in all?" asked the king. "Two hundred and twenty-eight," was -the reply; and then the king inquired who had been deputed to carry it -out; whereupon he was informed that the generals Mao and Nan had been -appointed to do the work. Lin here rose to take leave, and the king -presented him with ten ounces of pure gold and a crystal square,[227] -telling him that it would preserve him from any danger he might -encounter on the lake. At this moment the king's retinue and horses -ranged themselves in proper order upon the surface of the lake; and -His Majesty, stepping from the boat into his sedan-chair, disappeared -from view. - -When everything had been quiet for a long time, the boatmen emerged -from the hold, and proceeded to shape their course northwards. The -wind, however, was against them, and they were unable to make any -headway; when all of a sudden an iron cat appeared floating on the top -of the water. "General Mao has come," cried the boatmen, in great -alarm; and they and all the passengers on board fell down on their -faces. Immediately afterwards a great wooden beam stood up from the -lake, nodding itself backwards and forwards, which the boatmen, more -frightened than ever, said was General Nan. Before long a tremendous -sea was raging, the sun was darkened in the heavens, and every vessel -in sight was capsized. But Mr. Lin sat in the middle of the boat, with -the crystal square in his hand, and the mighty waves broke around -without doing them any harm. Thus were they saved, and Lin returned -home; and whenever he told his wonderful story he would assert that, -although unable to speak positively as to the facial beauty of the -young lady he had seen, he dared say that she had the most exquisite -pair of feet in the world. - -Subsequently, having occasion to visit the city of Wu-ch'ang, he heard -of an old woman who wished to sell her daughter, but was unwilling to -accept money, giving out that any one who had the fellow of a certain -crystal square in her possession should be at liberty to take the -girl. Lin thought this very strange; and taking his square with him -sought out the old woman, who was delighted to see him, and told her -daughter to come in. The young lady was about fifteen years of age, -and possessed of surpassing beauty; and after saying a few words of -greeting, she turned round and went within again. Lin's reason had -almost fled at the sight of this peerless girl, and he straightway -informed the old woman that he had such an article as she required, -but could not say whether it would match hers or not. So they compared -their squares together, and there was not a fraction of difference -between them, either in length or breadth. The old woman was -overjoyed, and inquiring where Lin lived, bade him go home and get a -bridal chair, leaving his square behind him as a pledge of his good -faith. This he refused to do; but the old woman laughed, and said, -"You are too cautious, Sir; do you think I should run away for a -square?" Lin was thus constrained to leave it behind him, and hurrying -away for a chair, made the best of his way back. When, however, he got -there, the old woman was gone. In great alarm he inquired of the -people who lived near as to her whereabouts; no one, however, knew; -and it being already late he returned disconsolately to his boat. On -the way, he met a chair coming towards him, and immediately the screen -was drawn aside, and a voice cried out, "Mr. Lin! why so late?" -Looking closely, he saw that it was the old woman, who, after asking -him if he hadn't suspected her of playing him false, told him that -just after he left she had had the offer of a chair; and knowing that -he, being only a stranger in the place, would have some trouble in -obtaining one, she had sent her daughter on to his boat. Lin then -begged she would return with him, to which she would not consent; and -accordingly, not fully trusting what she said, he hurried on himself -as fast as he could, and, jumping into the boat, found the young lady -already there. She rose to meet him with a smile, and then he was -astonished to see that her stockings were the colour of a kingfisher's -wing, her shoes purple, and her appearance generally like that of the -girl he had met on the Tung-t'ing lake. While he was still confused, -the young lady remarked, "You stare, Sir, as if you had never seen me -before!" but just then Lin noticed the tear in her stocking made by -his own teeth, and cried out in amazement, "What! are you -Chih-ch'eng?" The young lady laughed at this; whereupon Lin rose, and, -making her a profound bow, said, "If you are that divine creature, I -pray you tell me at once, and set my anxiety at rest." "Sir," replied -she, "I will tell you all. That personage you met on the boat was -actually the king of the Tung-t'ing lake. He was so pleased with your -talent that he wished to bestow me upon you; but, because I was a -great favourite with Her Majesty the Queen, he went back to consult -with her. I have now come at the Queen's own command." Lin was highly -pleased; and washing his hands, burnt incense, with his face towards -the lake, as if it were the Imperial Court, and then they went home -together. - -Subsequently, when Lin had occasion to go to Wu-ch'ang, his wife asked -to be allowed to avail herself of the opportunity to visit her -parents; and when they reached the lake, she drew a hair-pin from her -hair, and threw it into the water. Immediately a boat rose from the -lake, and Lin's wife, stepping into it, vanished from sight like a -bird on the wing. Lin remained waiting for her on the prow of his -vessel, at the spot where she had disappeared; and by-and-by, he -beheld a house-boat approach, from the window of which there flew a -beautiful bird which was no other than Chih-ch'eng. Then some one -handed out from the same window gold and silk, and precious things in -great abundance, all presents to them from the Queen. After this, -Chih-ch'eng went home regularly twice every year, and Lin soon became -a very rich man, the things he had being such as no one had ever -before seen or heard of. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[226] The celebrated lake in Hu-nan, round which has gathered so much -of the folk-lore of China. - -[227] The instrument used by masons is here meant. - - - - -XXXIX. - -THE MAN WHO WAS CHANGED INTO A CROW. - - -Mr. Yue Jung was a Hu-nan man. The person who told me his story did not -recollect from what department or district he came. His family was -very poor; and once, when returning home after failure at the -examination, he ran quite out of funds. Being ashamed to beg, and -feeling uncomfortably hungry, he turned to rest awhile in the Wu -Wang[228] temple, where he poured out all his sorrows at the feet of -the God. His prayers over, he was about to lie down in the outer -porch, when suddenly a man took him and led him into the presence of -Wu Wang; and then, falling on his knees, said, "Your Majesty, there is -a vacancy among the black-robes; the appointment might be bestowed on -this man." The King assented, and Yue received a suit of black clothes; -and when he had put these on he was changed into a crow, and flew -away. Outside he saw a number of fellow-crows collected together, and -immediately joined them, settling with them on the masts of the boats, -and imitating them in catching and eating the meat or cakes which the -passengers and boatmen on board threw up to them in the air.[229] In a -little while he was no longer hungry, and, soaring aloft, alighted on -the top of a tree quite satisfied with his change of condition. Two or -three days passed, and the King, now pitying his solitary state, -provided him with a very elegant mate, whose name was Chu-ch'ing, and -who took every opportunity of warning him when he exposed himself too -much in search of food. However, he did not pay much attention to -this, and one day a soldier shot him in the breast with a cross-bow; -but luckily Chu-ch'ing got away with him in her beak, and he was not -captured. This enraged the other crows very much, and with their wings -they flapped the water into such big waves that all the boats were -upset. Chu-ch'ing now procured food and fed her husband; but his wound -was a severe one, and by the end of the day he was dead--at which -moment he waked, as it were, from a dream, and found himself lying in -the temple. - -The people of the place had found Mr. Yue to all appearance dead; and -not knowing how he had come by his death, and finding that his body -was not quite cold, had set some one to watch him. They now learnt -what had happened to him, and making up a purse between them, sent him -away home. Three years afterwards he was passing by the same spot, -and went in to worship at the temple; also preparing a quantity of -food, and inviting the crows to come down and eat it. He then prayed, -saying, "If Chu-ch'ing is among you, let her remain." When the crows -had eaten the food they all flew away; and by-and-by Yue returned, -having succeeded in obtaining his master's degree. Again he visited Wu -Wang's temple, and sacrificed a calf as a feast for the crows; and -again he prayed as on the previous occasion. That night he slept on -the lake, and, just as the candles were lighted and he had sat down, -suddenly there was a noise as of birds settling, and lo! some twenty -beautiful young ladies stood before him. "Have you been quite well -since we parted?" asked one of them; to which Yue replied that he -should like to know whom he had the honour of addressing. "Don't you -remember Chu-ch'ing?" said the young lady; and then Yue was overjoyed, -and inquired how she had come. "I am now," replied Chu-ch'ing, "a -spirit of the Han river, and seldom go back to my old home; but in -consequence of what you did on two occasions, I have come to see you -once more." They then sat talking together like husband and wife -reunited after long absence, and Yue proposed that she should return -with him on his way south. Chu-ch'ing, however, said she must go west -again, and upon this point they could not come to any agreement. Next -morning, when Yue waked up, he found himself in a lofty room with two -large candles burning brightly, and no longer in his own boat. In -utter amazement he arose and asked where he was. "At Han-yang," -replied Chu-ch'ing; "my home is your home; why need you go south?" -By-and-by, when it got lighter, in came a number of serving-women with -wine, which they placed on a low table on the top of a broad couch; -and then husband and wife sat down to drink together. "Where are all -my servants?" asked Yue; and when he heard they were still on the boat, -he said he was afraid the boat people would not be able to wait. -"Never mind," replied Chu-ch'ing; "I have plenty of money, and I'll -help you to make it up to them." Yue therefore remained with her, -feasting and enjoying himself, and forgetting all about going home. As -for the boatmen, when they waked up and found themselves at Han-yang, -they were greatly astonished; and, seeing that the servants could find -no trace of their missing master, they wished to go about their own -business. They were unable, however, to undo the cable, and so they -all remained there together for more than a couple of months, by the -end of which time Mr. Yue became anxious to return home, and said to -Chu-ch'ing, "If I stay here, my family connections will be completely -severed. Besides, as we are husband and wife, it is only right that -you should pay a visit to my home." "That," replied Chu-ch'ing, "I -cannot do; and even were I able to go, you have a wife there already, -and where would you put me? It is better for me to stop where I am, -and thus you will have a second family." Yue said she would be so far -off that he could not always be dropping in; whereupon Chu-ch'ing -produced a black suit, and replied, "Here are your old clothes. -Whenever you want to see me, put these on and come, and on your -arrival I will take them off for you." She then prepared a parting -feast for her husband, at which he got very tipsy; and when he waked -up he was on board his boat again, and at his old anchorage on the -lake. The boatmen and his servants were all there, and they looked at -one another in mutual amazement; and when they asked Yue where he had -been, he hardly knew what to say. By the side of his pillow he -discovered a bundle in which were some new clothes Chu-ch'ing had -given him, shoes, stockings, &c.; and folded up with them was the suit -of black. In addition to these he found an embroidered belt for tying -round the waist, which was stuffed full of gold. He now started on his -way south, and, when he reached the end of his journey, dismissed the -boatmen with a handsome present. - -After being at home for some months, his thoughts reverted to -Han-yang; and, taking out the black clothes, he put them on, when -wings immediately grew from his ribs, and with a flap he was gone. In -about four hours he arrived at Han-yang, and, wheeling round and round -in the air, espied below him a solitary islet, on which stood a house, -and there he proceeded to alight. A maid-servant had already seen him -coming, and cried out, "Here's master!" and in a few moments out came -Chu-ch'ing, and bade the attendants take off Mr. Yue's feathers. They -were not long in setting him free, and then, hand in hand, he and -Chu-ch'ing went into the house together. "You have come at a happy -moment," said his wife, as they sat down to tell each other all the -news; and in three days' time she gave birth to a boy, whom they -called Han-ch'an, which means "born on the Han river." Three days -after the event all the river-nymphs came to congratulate them, and -brought many handsome presents. They were a charming band, not one -being over thirty years of age; and, going into the bedroom and -approaching the bed, each one pressed her thumb on the baby's nose, -saying, "Long life to thee, little one!" Yue asked who they all were, -and Chu-ch'ing told him they belonged to the same family of spirits as -herself; "And the two last of all," said she, "dressed in white like -the lily, are the nymphs who gave away their girdles at Hankow."[230] - -A few months passed away, and then Chu-ch'ing sent her husband back in -a boat to his old home. No sails or oars were used, but the boat sped -along of itself; and at the end of the river journey there were men -waiting with horses to convey him to his own door. After this he went -backwards and forwards very frequently; and in time Han-ch'an grew up -to be a fine boy, the apple of his father's eye. Unhappily his first -wife had no children, and she was extremely anxious to see Han-ch'an; -so Yue communicated this to Chu-ch'ing, who at once packed up a box and -sent him back with his father, on the understanding that he was to -return in three months. However, the other wife became quite as fond -of him as if he had been her own child, and ten months passed without -her being able to bear the thought of parting with him. But one day -Han-ch'an was taken violently ill, and died; upon which Yue's wife was -overwhelmed with grief, and wished to die too. Yue then set off for -Han-yang, to carry the tidings to Chu-ch'ing; and when he arrived, lo! -there was Han-ch'an, with his shoes and socks off, lying on the bed. -He was greatly rejoiced at this, and asked Chu-ch'ing what it all -meant. "Why," replied she, "the term agreed upon by us had long -expired, and, as I wanted my boy, I sent for him." Yue then told her -how much his other wife loved Han-ch'an, but Chu-ch'ing said she must -wait until there was another child, and then she should have him. -Later on Chu-ch'ing had twins, a boy and a girl, the former named -Han-sheng and the latter Yue-p'ei; whereupon Han-ch'an went back again -with his father, who, finding it inconvenient to be travelling -backwards and forwards three or four times in a year, removed with his -family to the city of Han-yang. At twelve years of age Han-ch'an took -his bachelor's degree; and his mother, thinking there was no girl -among mortals good enough for her son, sent for him to come home, that -she herself might find a wife for him, which she did in the person of -a Miss Chih-niang, who was the daughter of a spirit like herself. Yue's -first wife then died, and the three children all went to mourn her -loss, Han-ch'an remaining in Hu-nan after the funeral, but the other -two returning with their father, and not leaving their mother again. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[228] The guardian angel of crows. - -[229] In order to secure a favourable passage. The custom here -mentioned was actually practised at more than one temple on the river -Yang-tsze, and allusions to it will be found in more than one serious -work. - -[230] Alluding to a legend of a young man meeting two young ladies at -Hankow, each of whom wore a girdle adorned with a pearl as big as a -hen's egg. The young man begged them to give him these girdles, and -they did so; but the next moment they had vanished, and the girdles -too. - - - - -XL. - -THE FLOWER NYMPHS. - - -At the lower temple on Mount Lao the camellias[231] are twenty feet in -height, and many spans in circumference. The peonies are more than ten -feet high; and when the flowers are in bloom the effect is that of -gorgeous tapestry. - -There was a Mr. Huang, of Chiao-chow, who built himself a house at -that spot, for the purposes of study; and one day he saw from his -window a young lady dressed in white wandering about amongst the -flowers. Reflecting that she could not possibly belong to the -monastery,[232] he went out to meet her, but she had already -disappeared. After this he frequently observed her, and once hid -himself in a thick-foliaged bush, waiting for her to come. By-and-by -she appeared, bringing with her another young lady dressed in red, -who, as he noticed from his distant point of observation, was an -exceedingly good-looking girl. When they approached nearer, the young -lady in the red dress ran back, saying, "There is a man here!" -whereupon Mr. Huang jumped out upon them, and away they went in a -scare, with their skirts and long sleeves fluttering in the breeze, -and perfuming the air around. Huang pursued them as far as a low wall, -where they suddenly vanished from his gaze. In great distress at thus -losing the fair creatures, he took a pencil and wrote upon a tree the -following lines:-- - - "The pangs of love my heart enthrall - As I stand opposite this wall. - I dread some hateful tyrant's power, - With none to save you in that hour." - -Returning home he was absorbed in his own thoughts, when all at once -the young lady walked in, and he rose up joyfully to meet her. "I -thought you were a brigand," said his visitor, smiling; "you nearly -frightened me to death. I did not know you were a great scholar whose -acquaintance I now hope to have the honour of making." Mr. Huang asked -the young lady her name, &c., to which she replied, "My name is -Hsiang-yue, and I belong to P'ing-k'ang-hsiang; but a magician has -condemned me to remain on this hill much against my own inclination." -"Tell me his name," cried Huang, "and I'll soon set you free." "There -is no need for that," answered the young lady; "I suffer no injury -from him, and the place is not an inconvenient one for making the -acquaintance of such worthy gentlemen as yourself." Huang then -inquired who was the young lady in red, and she told him that her name -was Chiang-hsueeh, and that they were half-sisters; "and now," added -she, "I will sing you a song; but please don't laugh at me." She then -began as follows:-- - - "In pleasant company the hours fly fast, - And through the window daybreak peeps at last. - Ah, would that, like the swallow and his mate, - To live together were our happy fate." - -Huang here grasped her hand[233] and said, "Beauty without and -intellect within--enough to make a man love you and forget all about -death, regarding one day's absence like the separation of a thousand -years. I pray you come again whenever an opportunity may present -itself." From this time the young lady would frequently walk in to -have a chat, but would never bring her sister with her in spite of all -Mr. Huang's entreaties. Huang thought they weren't friends, but Hsiang -said her sister did not care for society in the same way that she -herself did, promising at the same time to try and persuade her to -come at some future day. One evening Hsiang-yue arrived in a melancholy -frame of mind, and told Huang that he was wanting more when he -couldn't even keep what he had got; "for to-morrow," said she, "we -part." Huang asked what she meant; and then wiping away her tears with -her sleeve, Hsiang-yue declared it was destiny, and that she couldn't -well tell him. "Your former prophecy," continued she, "has come too -true; and now it may well be said of me-- - - 'Fallen into the tyrant's power, - With none to save me in that hour.'" - -Huang again tried to question her, but she would tell him nothing; and -by-and-by she rose and took her leave. This seemed very strange; -however, next day a visitor came, who, after wandering round the -garden, was much taken with a white peony,[234] which he dug up and -carried away with him. Huang now awaked to the fact that Hsiang-yue was -a flower nymph, and became very disconsolate in consequence of what -had happened; but when he subsequently heard that the peony only -lived a few days after being taken away, he wept bitterly, and -composed an elegy in fifty stanzas, besides going daily to the hole -from which it had been taken, and watering the ground with his tears. -One day, as he was returning thence, he espied the young lady of the -red clothes also wiping away her tears alongside the hole, and -immediately walked back gently towards her. She did not run away, and -Huang, grasping her sleeve, joined with her in her lamentations. When -these were concluded he invited her to his house, and then she burst -out with a sigh, saying, "Alas! that the sister of my early years -should be thus suddenly taken from me. Hearing you, Sir, mourn as you -did, I have also been moved to tears. Those you shed have sunk down -deep to the realms below, and may perhaps succeed in restoring her to -us; but the sympathies of the dead are destroyed for ever, and how -then can she laugh and talk with us again?" "My luck is bad," said -Huang, "that I should injure those I love, neither can I have the good -fortune to draw towards me another such a beauty. But tell me, when I -often sent messages by Hsiang-yue to you, why did you not come?" "I -knew," replied she, "what nine young fellows out of ten are; but I did -not know what you were." She then took leave, Huang telling her how -dull he felt without Hsiang-yue, and begging her to come again. For -some days she did not appear; and Huang remained in a state of great -melancholy, tossing and turning on his bed and wetting the pillow with -his tears, until one night he got up, put on his clothes, and trimmed -the lamp; and having called for pen and ink, he composed the -following lines:-- - - "On my cottage roof the evening raindrops beat; - I draw the blind and near the window take my seat. - To my longing gaze no loved one appears; - Drip, drip, drip, drip: fast flow my tears." - -This he read aloud; and when he had finished, a voice outside said, -"You want some one to cap your verses there!" Listening attentively, -he knew it was Chiang-hsueeh; and opening the door he let her in. She -looked at his stanza, and added impromptu-- - - "She is no longer in the room; - A single lamp relieves the gloom; - One solitary man is there; - He and his shadow make a pair." - -As Huang read these words his tears fell fast; and then, turning to -Chiang-hsueeh, he upbraided her for not having been to see him. "I -can't come so often as Hsiang-yue did," replied she, "but only now and -then when you are very dull." After this she used to drop in -occasionally, and Huang said Hsiang-yue was his beloved wife, and she -his dear friend, always trying to find out every time she came which -flower in the garden she was, that he might bring her home with him, -and save her from the fate of Hsiang-yue. "The old earth should not be -disturbed," said she, "and it would not do any good to tell you. If -you couldn't keep your wife always with you, how will you be sure of -keeping a friend?" Huang, however, paid no heed to this, and seizing -her arm, led her out into the garden, where he stopped at every peony -and asked if this was the one; to which Chiang-hsueeh made no reply, -but only put her hand to her mouth and laughed. - -At New Year's time Huang went home, and a couple of months afterwards -he dreamt that Chiang-hsueeh came to tell him she was in great trouble, -begging him to hurry off as soon as possible to her rescue. When he -woke up, he thought his dream a very strange one; and ordering his -servant and horses to be ready, started at once for the hills. There -he found that the priests were about to build a new room; and finding -a camellia in the way, the contractor had given orders that it should -be cut down. Huang now understood his dream, and immediately took -steps to prevent the destruction of the flower. That night -Chiang-hsueeh came to thank him, and Huang laughed and said, "It serves -you right for not telling me which you were. Now I know you, and if -you don't come and see me, I'll get a firebrand and make it hot for -you." "That's just why I didn't tell you before," replied she. "The -presence of my dear friend," said Huang, after a pause, "makes me -think more of my lost wife. It is long since I have mourned for her. -Shall we go and bemoan her loss together?" So they went off and shed -many a tear on the spot where formerly Hsiang-yue had stood, until at -last Chiang-hsueeh wiped her eyes and said it was time to go. A few -evenings later Huang was sitting alone when suddenly Chiang-hsueeh -entered, her face radiant with smiles. "Good news!" cried she, "the -Flower-God,[235] moved by your tears, has granted Hsiang-yue a return -to life." Huang was overjoyed, and asked when she would come; to which -Chiang-hsueeh replied, that she could not say for certain, but that it -would not be long. "I came here on your account," said Huang; "don't -let me be duller than you can help." "All right," answered she, and -then went away, not returning for the next two evenings. Huang then -went into the garden and threw his arms around her plant, entreating -her to come and see him, though without eliciting any response. He -accordingly went back, and began twisting up a torch, when all at once -in she came, and snatching the torch out of his hand, threw it away, -saying, "You're a bad fellow, and I don't like you, and I shan't have -any more to do with you." However, Huang soon succeeded in pacifying -her, and by-and-by in walked Hsiang-yue herself. Huang now wept tears -of joy as he seized her hand, and drawing Chiang-hsueeh towards them, -the three friends mingled their tears together. They then sat down and -talked over the miseries of separation, Huang meanwhile noticing that -Hsiang-yue seemed to be unsubstantial, and that when he grasped her -hand his fingers seemed to close only on themselves, and not as in -the days gone by. This Hsiang-yue explained, saying, "When I was a -flower-nymph I had a body; but now I am only the disembodied spirit of -that flower. Do not regard me as a reality, but rather as an -apparition seen in a dream." "You have come at the nick of time," -cried Chiang-hsueeh; "your husband there was just getting troublesome." -Hsiang-yue now instructed Huang to take a little powdered white-berry, -and mixing it with some sulphur, to pour out a libation to her, -adding, "This day next year I will return your kindness." The young -ladies then went away, and next day Huang observed the shoots of a -young peony growing up where Hsiang-yue had once stood. So he made the -libation as she had told him, and had the plant very carefully tended, -even building a fence all round to protect it. Hsiang-yue came to thank -him for this, and he proposed that the plant should be removed to his -own home; but to this she would not agree, "for," said she, "I am not -very strong, and could not stand being transplanted. Besides, all -things have their appointed place; and as I was not originally -intended for your home, it might shorten my life to be sent there. We -can love each other very well here." Huang then asked why Chiang-hsueeh -did not come; to which Hsiang-yue replied that they must make her, and -proceeded with him into the garden, where, after picking a blade of -grass, she measured upwards from the roots of Chiang-hsueeh's plant to -a distance of four feet six inches, at which point she stopped, and -Huang began to scratch a mark on the place with his nails. At that -moment Chiang-hsueeh came from behind the plant, and in mock anger -cried out, "You hussy you! what do you aid that wretch for?" "Don't be -angry, my dear," said Hsiang-yue; "help me to amuse him for a year -only, and then you shan't be bothered any more." So they went on, -Huang watching the plant thrive, until by the spring it was over two -feet in height. He then went home, giving the priests a handsome -present, and bidding them take great care of it. Next year, in the -fourth moon, he returned and found upon the plant a bud just ready to -break; and as he was walking round, the stem shook violently as if it -would snap, and suddenly the bud opened into a flower as large as a -plate, disclosing a beautiful maiden within, sitting upon one of the -pistils, and only a few inches in height. In the twinkling of an eye -she had jumped out, and lo! it was Hsiang-yue. "Through the wind and -the rain I have waited for you," cried she; "why have you come so -late?" They then went into the house, where they found Chiang-hsueeh -already arrived, and sat down to enjoy themselves as they had done in -former times. Shortly afterwards Huang's wife died, and he took up his -abode at Mount Lao for good and all. The peonies were at that time as -large round as one's arm; and whenever Huang went to look at them, he -always said, "Some day my spirit will be there by your side;" to which -the two girls used to reply with a laugh, and say, "Mind you don't -forget." Ten years after these events, Huang became dangerously ill, -and his son, who had come to see him, was very much distressed about -him. "I am about to be born," cried his father; "I am not going to -die. Why do you weep?" He also told the priests that if later on they -should see a red shoot, with five leaves, thrusting itself forth -alongside of the peony, that would be himself. This was all he said, -and his son proceeded to convey him home, where he died immediately on -arrival. Next year a shoot did come up exactly as he had mentioned; -and the priests, struck by the coincidence, watered it and supplied it -with earth. In three years it was a tall plant, and a good span in -circumference, but without flowers. When the old priest died, the -others took no care of it; and as it did not flower they cut it down. -The white peony then faded and died; and before long the camellia was -dead too. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[231] The text has _nai-tung_ ("endure the winter"), for the -identification of which I am indebted to Mr. L. C. Hopkins, of H.M.'s -Consular service. - -[232] Women, of course, being excluded. - -[233] Although the Chinese do not "shake hands" in our sense of the -term, it is a sign of affection to seize the hand of a parting or -returning friend. "The Book of Rites," however, lays down the rule -that persons of opposite sexes should not, in passing things from one -to the other, _let their hands touch_; and the question was gravely -put to Mencius (Book IV.) as to whether a man might even pull his -drowning sister-in-law out of the water. Mencius replied that it was -indeed a general principle that a man should avoid touching a woman's -hand, but that he who could not make an exception in such a case would -be no better than a wolf. Neither, according to the Chinese rule, -should men and women hang their clothes on the same rack, which -reminds one of the French prude who would not allow male and female -authors to be ranged upon the same bookshelf. - -[234] The _Paeonia albiflora_. - -[235] The various subdivisions of the animal and vegetable kingdoms -are each believed by the Chinese to be under the sway of a ruler -holding his commission from and responsible to the one Supreme Power -or God, fully in accordance with the general scheme of supernatural -Government accepted in other and less civilized communities. - - - - -XLI. - -TA-NAN IN SEARCH OF HIS FATHER. - - -Hsi Ch'eng-lieh was a Ch'eng-tu man. He had a wife and a concubine, -the latter named Ho Chao-jung. His wife dying, he took a second by -name Shen, who bullied the concubine dreadfully, and by her constant -wrangling made his life perfectly unbearable, so that one day in a fit -of anger he ran away and left them. Shortly afterwards Ho gave birth -to a son, and called him Ta-nan; but as Hsi did not return, the wife -Shen turned them out of the house, making them a daily allowance of -food. By degrees Ta-nan became a big boy; and his mother, not daring -to ask for an increase of victuals, was obliged to earn a little money -by spinning. Meanwhile, Ta-nan, seeing all his companions go to school -and learn to read, told his mother he should like to go too; and -accordingly, as he was still very young, she sent him for a few days' -probation. He turned out to be so clever that he soon beat the other -boys; at which the master of the school was much pleased, and offered -to teach him for nothing.[236] His mother, therefore, sent him -regularly, making what trifling presents she could to the master; and -by the end of two or three years he had a first-rate knowledge of the -Sacred Books.[237] One day he came home and asked his mother, saying, -"All the fellows at our school get money from their fathers to buy -cakes. Why don't I?" "Wait till you are grown up," replied his -mother, "and I will explain it to you." "Why, mother," cried he, "I'm -only seven or eight years old. What a time it will be before I'm grown -up." "Whenever you pass the temple of the God of War on your way to -school," said his mother, "you should go in and pray awhile; that -would make you grow faster." Ta-nan believed she was serious; and -every day, going and coming, he went in and worshipped at that temple. -When his mother found this out, she asked him how soon he was praying -to be grown up; to which he replied that he only prayed that by the -following year he might be as big as if he were fifteen or sixteen -years old. His mother laughed; but Ta-nan went on, increasing in -wisdom and stature alike, until by the time he was ten, he looked -quite thirteen or fourteen, and his master was no longer able to -correct his essays. Then he said to his mother, "You promised me that -when I grew up you would tell me where my father is. Tell me now." -"By-and-by, by-and-by," replied his mother; so he waited another year, -and then pressed her so eagerly to tell him that she could no longer -refuse, and related to him the whole story. He heard her recital with -tears and lamentations, and expressed a wish to go in search of his -father; but his mother objected that he was too young, and also that -no one knew where his father was. Ta-nan said nothing; however, in the -middle of the day he did not come home as usual, and his mother at -once sent off to the school, where she found he had not shewn himself -since breakfast. In great alarm, and thinking that he had been playing -truant, she paid some people to go and hunt for him everywhere, but -was unable to obtain the slightest clue to his whereabouts. As to -Ta-nan himself, when he left the house he followed the road without -knowing whither he was going, until at length he met a man who was on -his way to K'uei-chou, and said his name was Ch'ien. Ta-nan begged of -him something to eat, and went along with him; Mr. Ch'ien even -procuring an animal for him to ride because he walked too slowly. The -expenses of the journey were all defrayed by Ch'ien; and when they -arrived at K'uei-chou they dined together, Ch'ien secretly putting -some drug in Ta-nan's food which soon reduced him to a state of -unconsciousness. Ch'ien then carried him off to a temple, and, -pretending that Ta-nan was his son, offered him to the priests[238] on -the plea that he had no money to continue his journey. The priests, -seeing what a nice-looking boy he was, were only too ready to buy him; -and when Ch'ien had got his money he went away. They then gave Ta-nan -a draught which brought him round; but as soon as the abbot heard of -the affair and saw Ta-nan himself, he would not allow them to keep -him, sending him away with a purse of money in his pocket. Ta-nan next -met a gentleman named Chiang, from Lu-chou, who was returning home -after having failed at the examination; and this Mr. Chiang was so -pleased with the story of his filial piety that he took him to his own -home at Lu-chou. There he remained for a month and more, asking -everybody he saw for news of his father, until one day he was told -that there was a man named Hsi among the Fokien traders. So he bade -good-by to Mr. Chiang, and set off for Fokien, his patron providing -him with clothes and shoes, and the people of the place making up a -subscription for him. On the road he met two traders in cotton cloth -who were going to Fu-ch'ing, and he joined their party; but they had -not travelled many stages before these men found out that he had -money, and taking him to a lonely spot, bound him hand and foot and -made off with all he had. Before long a Mr. Ch'en, of Yung-fu, -happened to pass by, and at once unbound him, and giving him a seat in -one of his own vehicles, carried him off home. This Mr. Ch'en was a -wealthy man, and in his house Ta-nan had opportunities of meeting with -traders from all quarters. He therefore begged them to aid him by -making inquiries about his father, himself remaining as a fellow -student with Mr. Ch'en's sons, and roaming the country no more, -neither hearing any news of his former and now distant home. - -Meanwhile, his mother, Ho, had lived alone for three or four years, -until the wife, Shen, wishing to reduce the expenses, tried to -persuade her to find another husband. As Ho was now supporting -herself, she steadfastly refused to do this; and then Shen sold her to -a Chung-ch'ing trader, who took her away with him. However, she so -frightened this man by hacking herself about with a knife, that when -the wounds were healed he was only too happy to get rid of her to a -trader from Yen-t'ing, who in his turn, after Ho had nearly -disembowelled herself, readily listened to her repeated cries that -she wished to become a nun. However, he persuaded her to hire herself -out as housekeeper to a friend of his, as a means of reimbursing -himself for his outlay in purchasing her; but no sooner had she set -eyes on the gentleman in question than she found it was her own -husband. For Hsi had given up the career of a scholar, and gone into -business; and as he had no wife, he was consequently in want of a -housekeeper. They were very glad to see each other again; and on -relating their several adventures, Hsi knew for the first time that he -had a son who had gone forth in search of his father. Hsi then asked -all the traders and commercial travellers to keep a look out for -Ta-nan, at the same time raising Ho from the status of concubine to -that of wife. In consequence, however, of the many hardships Ho had -gone through, her health was anything but good, and she was unable to -do the work of the house; so she advised her husband to buy a -concubine. This he was most unwilling to do, remembering too well the -former squabbling he had to endure; but ultimately he yielded, asked a -friend to buy for him an oldish woman--at any rate more than thirty -years of age. A few months afterwards his friend arrived, bringing -with him a person of about that age; and on looking closely at her, -Hsi saw that she was no other than his own wife Shen! - -Now this lady had lived by herself for a year and more when her -brother Pao advised her to marry again, which she accordingly agreed -to do. She was prevented, however, by the younger branches of the -family from selling the landed property; but she disposed of -everything else, and the proceeds passed into her brother's hands. -About that time a Pao-ning trader, hearing that she had plenty of -money, bribed her brother to marry her to himself; and afterwards, -finding that she was a disagreeable woman, took possession of -everything she had, and advertised her for sale. No one caring to buy -a woman of her age, and her master being on the eve of starting for -K'uei-chou, took her with him, finally getting rid of her to Hsi, who -was in the same line of business as himself. When she stood before her -former husband, she was overwhelmed with shame and fear, and had not a -word to say; but Hsi gathered an outline of what had happened from the -trader, and then said to her, "Your second marriage with this Pao-ning -gentleman was doubtless contracted after you had given up all hope of -seeing me again. It doesn't matter in the least, as now I am not in -search of a wife but only of a concubine. So you had better begin by -paying your respects to your mistress here, my wife Ho Chao-jung." -Shen was ashamed to do this: but Hsi reminded her of the time when she -had been in the wife's place, and in spite of all Ho's intercession -insisted that she should do so, stimulating her to obedience by the -smart application of a stick. Shen was therefore compelled to yield, -but at the same time she never tried to gain Ho's favour, and kept -away from her as much as possible. Ho, on the other hand, treated her -with great consideration, and never took her to task on the -performance of her duties; whilst Hsi himself, whenever he had a -dinner-party, made her wait at table, though Ho often entreated him -to hire a maid. - -Now the magistrate at Yen-t'ing was named Ch'en Tsung-ss[)u], and once -when Hsi had some trifling difficulty with one of the neighbours he -was further accused to this official of having forced his wife to -assume the position of concubine. The magistrate, however, refused to -take up the case, to the great satisfaction of Hsi and his wife, who -lauded him to the skies as a virtuous mandarin. A few nights after, at -rather a late hour, the servant knocked at the door, and called out, -"The magistrate has come!" Hsi jumped up in a hurry, and began looking -for his clothes and shoes; but the magistrate was already in the -bedroom without either of them understanding what it all meant: when -suddenly Ho, examining him closely, cried out, "It is my son!" She -then burst into tears, and the magistrate, throwing himself on the -ground, wept with his mother. It seemed he had taken the name of the -gentleman with whom he had lived, and had since entered upon an -official career. That on his way to the capital[239] he had made a -_detour_ and visited his old home, where he heard to his infinite -sorrow that both his mothers had married again; and that his -relatives, finding him already a man of position, had restored to him -the family property, of which he had left some one in charge in the -hope that his father might return. That then he had been appointed to -Yen-t'ing, but had wished to throw up the post and travel in search -of his father, from which design he had been dissuaded by Mr. Ch'en. -Also that he had met a fortune-teller from whom he had obtained the -following response to his inquiries:--"The lesser is the greater; the -younger is the elder. Seeking the cock, you find the hen; seeking one, -you get two. Your official life will be successful." Ch'en then took -up his appointment, but not finding his father he confined himself -entirely to a vegetable diet, and gave up the use of wine.[240] The -above-mentioned case had subsequently come under his notice, and -seeing the name Hsi, he quietly sent his private servant to find out, -and thus discovered that this Hsi was his father. At night-fall he set -off himself, and when he saw his mother he knew that the -fortune-teller had told him true. Bidding them all say nothing to -anybody about what had occurred, he provided money for the journey, -and sent them back home. On arriving there, they found the place newly -painted, and with their increased retinue of servants and horses, they -were quite a wealthy family. As to Shen when she found what a great -man Ta-nan had become, she put still more restraint upon herself; but -her brother Pao brought an action for the purpose of reinstating her -as wife. The presiding official happened to be a man of probity, and -delivered the following judgment:--"Greedy of gain you urged your -sister to re-marry. After she had driven Hsi away, she took two fresh -husbands. How have you the face to talk about reinstating her as -wife?" He thereupon ordered Pao to be severely bambooed, and from this -time there was no longer any doubt about Shen's _status_. She was the -lesser and Ho the greater; and yet in the matter of clothes and food -Ho shewed herself by no means grasping. Shen was at first afraid that -Ho would pay her out, and was consequently more than ever repentant; -and Hsi himself, letting by-gones be by-gones, gave orders that Shen -should be called _madam_ by all alike, though of course she was -excluded from any titles that might be gained for them by Ta-nan.[241] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[236] This is by no means uncommon. The debt of gratitude between -pupil and teacher is second only to that existing between child and -parent; and a successful student soon has it in his power to more than -repay any such act of kindness as that here mentioned. - -[237] Which form the unvarying curriculum of a Chinese education. -These are (1) the _Four Books_, consisting of the teachings of -Confucius and Mencius; and (2) the _Five Canons_ (in the -ecclesiastical sense of the word) or the Canons of Changes, History, -Poetry, the Record of Rites, and Spring and Autumn. The _Four Books_ -consist of:-- - -(1) The Book of Wisdom, attributed by Chu Hi to Confucius. It is a -disquisition upon virtue and the moral elevation of the people. - -(2) The _Chung Yung_, or Gospel of Tz[)u] Ss[)u] (the grandson of -Confucius) wherein the ruling motives of human conduct are traced from -their psychological source. - -(3) The Confucian Gospels, being discourses of the Sage with his -disciples on miscellaneous topics. - -(4) The Gospels of Mencius. - -_The Canon of Changes_ contains a fanciful system of philosophy based -upon the combinations of eight diagrams said to have been copied from -the lines on the back of a tortoise. Ascribed to B.C. 1150. - -_The Canon of History_ embraces a period extending from the middle of -the 24th century B.C. to B.C. 721. Was edited by Confucius from then -existing documents. - -_The Canon of Poetry_ is a collection of irregular lyrics in vogue -among the people many centuries before the Christian era. Collected -and arranged by Confucius. - -_The Record of Rites_ contains a number of rules for the performance -of ceremonies and guidance of individual conduct. - -_Spring and Autumn_ consists of the annals of the petty kingdom of Lu -from 722 to 484 B.C. Is the work of Confucius himself. - -[238] See No. XXIII., note 154. - -[239] To be presented to the Emperor before taking up his post. - -[240] Hoping thus to interest Buddha in his behalf. - -[241] In accordance with Chinese usage, by which titles of nobility -are often conferred upon the _dead_ parents of a distinguished son. - - - - -XLII. - -THE WONDERFUL STONE. - - -In the prefecture of Shun-t'ien[242] there lived a man named Hsing -Yuen-fei, who was an amateur mineralogist and would pay any price for a -good specimen. One day as he was fishing in the river, something -caught his net, and diving down he brought up a stone about a foot in -diameter, beautifully carved on all sides to resemble clustering hills -and peaks. He was quite as pleased with this as if he had found some -precious stone; and having had an elegant sandal-wood stand made for -it, he set his prize upon the table. Whenever it was about to rain, -clouds, which from a distance looked like new cotton wool, would come -forth from each of the holes or grottoes on the stone, and appear to -close them up. By-and-by an influential personage called at the house -and begged to see the stone, immediately seizing it and handing it -over to a lusty servant, at the same time whipping his horse and -riding away. Hsing was in despair; but all he could do was to mourn -the loss of his stone, and indulge his anger against the thief. -Meanwhile, the servant, who had carried off the stone on his back, -stopped to rest at a bridge; when all of a sudden his hand slipped and -the stone fell into the water. His master was extremely put out at -this, and gave him a sound beating; subsequently hiring several -divers, who tried every means in their power to recover the stone, but -were quite unable to find it. He then went away, having first -published a notice of reward, and by these means many were tempted to -seek for the stone. Soon after, Hsing himself came to the spot, and as -he mournfully approached the bank, lo! the water became clear, and he -could see the stone lying at the bottom. Taking off his clothes he -quickly jumped in and brought it out, together with the sandal-wood -stand which was still with it. He carried it off home, but being no -longer desirous of shewing it to people, he had an inner room cleaned -and put it in there. Some time afterwards an old man knocked at the -door and asked to be allowed to see the stone; whereupon Hsing replied -that he had lost it a long time ago. "Isn't that it in the inner -room?" said the old man, smiling. "Oh, walk in and see for yourself if -you don't believe me," answered Hsing; and the old man did walk in, -and there was the stone on the table. This took Hsing very much aback; -and the old man then laid his hand upon the stone and said, "This is -an old family relic of mine: I lost it many months since. How does it -come to be here? I pray you now restore it to me." Hsing didn't know -what to say, but declared he was the owner of the stone; upon which -the old man remarked, "If it is really yours, what evidence can you -bring to prove it?" Hsing made no reply; and the old man continued, -"To show you that I know this stone, I may mention that it has -altogether ninety-two grottoes, and that in the largest of these are -five words:-- - - 'A stone from Heaven above.'" - -Hsing looked and found that there were actually some small characters, -no larger than grains of rice, which by straining his eyes a little he -managed to read; also, that the number of grottoes was as the old man -had said. However, he would not give him the stone; and the old man -laughed, and asked, "Pray, what right have you to keep other people's -things?" He then bowed and went away, Hsing escorting him as far as -the door; but when he returned to the room, the stone had disappeared. -In a great fright, he ran after the old man, who had walked slowly and -was not far off, and seizing his sleeve entreated him to give back the -stone. "Do you think," said the latter, "that I could conceal a stone -a foot in diameter in my sleeve?" But Hsing knew that he must be -superhuman, and led him back to the house, where he threw himself on -his knees and begged that he might have the stone. "Is it yours or -mine?" asked the old man. "Of course it is yours," replied Hsing, -"though I hope you will consent to deny yourself the pleasure of -keeping it." "In that case," said the old man, "it is back again;" and -going into the inner room, they found the stone in its old place. -"The jewels of this world," observed Hsing's visitor, "should be given -to those who know how to take care of them. This stone can choose its -own master, and I am very pleased that it should remain with you; at -the same time I must inform you that it was in too great a hurry to -come into the world of mortals, and has not yet been freed from all -contingent calamities. I had better take it away with me, and three -years hence you shall have it again. If, however, you insist on -keeping it, then your span of life will be shortened by three years, -that your terms of existence may harmonize together. Are you willing?" -Hsing said he was; whereupon the old man with his fingers closed up -three of the stone's grottoes, which yielded to his touch like mud. -When this was done, he turned to Hsing and told him that the grottoes -on that stone represented the years of his life; and then he took his -leave, firmly refusing to remain any longer, and not disclosing his -name. - -More than a year after this, Hsing had occasion to go away on -business, and in the night a thief broke in and carried off the stone, -taking nothing else at all. When Hsing came home, he was dreadfully -grieved, as if his whole object in life was gone; and made all -possible inquiries and efforts to get it back, but without the -slightest result. Some time passed away, when one day going into a -temple Hsing noticed a man selling stones, and amongst the rest he saw -his old friend. Of course he immediately wanted to regain possession -of it; but as the stone-seller would not consent, he shouldered the -stone and went off to the nearest mandarin. The stone-seller was then -asked what proof he could give that the stone was his; and he replied -that the number of grottoes was eighty-nine. Hsing inquired if that -was all he had to say, and when the other acknowledged that it was, he -himself told the magistrate what were the characters inscribed within, -also calling attention to the finger marks at the closed-up grottoes. -He therefore gained his case, and the mandarin would have bambooed the -stone-seller, had he not declared that he bought it in the market for -twenty ounces of silver,--whereupon he was dismissed. - -A high official next offered Hsing one hundred ounces of silver for -it; but he refused to sell it even for ten thousand, which so enraged -the would-be purchaser that he worked up a case against Hsing,[243] -and got him put in prison. Hsing was thereby compelled to pawn a great -deal of his property; and then the official sent some one to try if -the affair could not be managed through his son, to which Hsing, on -hearing of the attempt, steadily refused to consent, saying that he -and the stone could not be parted even in death. His wife, however, -and his son, laid their heads together, and sent the stone to the high -official, and Hsing only heard of it when he arrived home from the -prison. He cursed his wife and beat his son, and frequently tried to -make away with himself, though luckily his servants always managed to -prevent him from succeeding.[244] At night he dreamt that a -noble-looking personage appeared to him, and said, "My name is Shih -Ch'ing-hsue--(Stone from Heaven). Do not grieve. I purposely quitted -you for a year and more; but next year on the 20th of the eighth moon, -at dawn, come to the Hai-tai Gate and buy me back for two strings of -cash." Hsing was overjoyed at this dream, and carefully took down the -day mentioned. Meanwhile the stone was at the official's private -house; but as the cloud manifestations ceased, the stone was less and -less prized; and the following year when the official was disgraced -for maladministration and subsequently died, Hsing met some of his -servants at the Hai-tai Gate going off to sell the stone, and -purchased it back from them for two strings of cash. - -Hsing lived till he was eighty-nine; and then having prepared the -necessaries for his interment, bade his son bury the stone with -him,[245] which was accordingly done. Six months later robbers broke -into the vault[246] and made off with the stone, and his son tried in -vain to secure their capture; however, a few days afterwards, he was -travelling with his servants, when suddenly two men rushed forth -dripping with perspiration, and looking up into the air, acknowledged -their crime, saying, "Mr. Hsing, please don't torment us thus! We took -the stone, and sold it for only four ounces of silver." Hsing's son -and his servants then seized these men, and took them before the -magistrate, where they at once acknowledged their guilt. Asking what -had become of the stone, they said they had sold it to a member of the -magistrate's family; and when it was produced, that official took such -a fancy to it that he gave it to one of his servants and bade him -place it in the treasury. Thereupon the stone slipped out of the -servant's hand and broke into a hundred pieces, to the great -astonishment of all present. The magistrate now had the thieves -bambooed and sent them away; but Hsing's son picked up the broken -pieces of the stone, and buried them in his father's grave. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[242] In which Peking is situated. - -[243] A common form of revenge in China, and one which is easily -carried through when the prosecutor is a man of wealth and influence. - -[244] Another favourite method of revenging oneself upon an enemy, who -is in many cases held responsible for the death thus occasioned. Mr. -Alabaster told me an amusing story of a Chinese woman who deliberately -walked into a pond until the water reached her knees, and remained -there alternately putting her lips below the surface and threatening -in a loud voice to drown herself on the spot, as life had been made -unbearable by the presence of foreign barbarians. This was during the -Taiping rebellion. - -[245] Valuables of some kind or other are often placed in the coffins -of wealthy Chinese; and women are almost always provided with a -certain quantity of jewels with which to adorn themselves in the -realms below. - -[246] One of the most heinous offences in the Chinese Penal Code. - - - - -XLIII. - -THE QUARRELSOME BROTHERS. - - -At K'un-yang there lived a wealthy man named Tseng. When he died, and -before he was put in the coffin, tears were seen to gush forth from -both eyes of the corpse, to the infinite amazement of his six sons. -His second son, T'i, otherwise called Yu-yue, who had gained for -himself the reputation of being a scholar, said it was a bad omen, and -warned his brothers to be careful and not give cause for sorrow to the -dead,--at which the others only laughed at him as an idiot. - -Tseng's first wife and eldest son having been carried off by the -rebels when the latter was only seven or eight years old, he married a -second wife, by whom he had three sons, Hsiao, Chung, and Hsin; -besides three other sons by a concubine--namely, the above-mentioned -T'i, or Yu-yue, Jen, and Yi. Now the three by the second wife banded -themselves together against the three by the concubine, saying that -the latter were a base-born lot; and whenever a guest was present and -either of them happened to be in the room, Hsiao and his two brothers -would not take the slightest notice of them. This enraged Jen and Yi -very much, and they went to consult with Yu-yue as to how they should -avenge themselves for such slights. Yu-yue, however, tried every means -in his power to pacify them, and would not take part in any plot; and, -as they were much younger than he, they took his advice,[247] and did -nothing. - -Hsiao had a daughter, who died shortly after her marriage to a Mr. -Chou; and her father begged Yu-yue and his other brothers to go with -him and give his late daughter's mother-in-law a sound beating.[248] -Yu-yue would not hear of it for a moment; so Hsiao in a rage got his -brothers Chung and Hsin, with a lot of rowdies from the neighbourhood, -and went off and did it themselves, scattering the goods and chattels -of the family about, and smashing everything they could lay their -hands on. An action was immediately brought by the Chou family, and -Hsiao and his two brothers were thrown into prison by the angry -mandarin, who purposed sending the case before a higher tribunal. -Yu-yue, however, whose high character was well known to that official, -interceded for them, and himself went to the Chou family and tendered -the most humble apologies for what had occurred. The Chou family, out -of respect for Yu-yue, suffered the case to drop, and Hsiao regained -his liberty, though he did not evince the slightest gratitude for his -brother's exertions. Shortly after, Yu-yue's mother died; but Hsiao and -the other two refused to put on mourning for her, going on with their -usual feasting and drinking as if nothing had happened. Jen and Yi -were furious at this; but Yu-yue only observed, "What they do is their -own indecorous behaviour; it does not injure us." Then, again, when -the funeral was about to take place, Hsiao, Chung, and Hsin stood -before the door of the vault, and would not allow the others to bury -their mother there. So Yu-yue buried her alongside the principal grave. -Before long Hsiao's wife died, and Yu-yue told Jen and Yi to accompany -him to the house and condole with the widower; to which they both -objected, saying, "He would not wear mourning for our mother; shall we -do so for his wife?"[249] Ultimately Yu-yue had to go alone; and while -he was pouring forth his lamentations beside the bier, he heard Jen -and Yi playing drums and trumpets outside the door. Hsiao flew into a -tremendous passion, and went after them with his own two brothers to -give them a good thrashing. Yu-yue, too, seized a big stick and -accompanied them to the house where Jen and Yi were; whereupon Jen -made his escape; but as Yi was clambering over the wall, Yu-yue hit him -from behind and knocked him down. Hsiao and the others then set upon -him with their fists and sticks, and would never have stopped but that -Yu-yue interposed his body between them and made them desist. Hsiao was -very angry at this, and began to abuse Yu-yue, who said, "The -punishment was for want of decorum, for which death would be too -severe. I can neither connive at their bad behaviour, nor at your -cruelty. If your anger is not appeased, strike me." Hsiao now turned -his fury against Yu-yue, and being well seconded by his two brothers, -they beat Yu-yue until the neighbours separated them and put an end to -the row. Yu-yue at once proceeded to Hsiao's house to apologize for -what had occurred; but Hsiao drove him away, and would not let him -take part in the funeral ceremonies. Meanwhile, as Yi's wounds were -very severe, and he could neither eat nor drink, his brother Jen went -on his behalf to the magistrate, stating in the petition that the -accused had not worn mourning for their father's concubine. The -magistrate issued a warrant; and, besides causing the arrest of Hsiao, -Chung, and Hsin, he ordered Yu-yue to prosecute them as well. Yu-yue, -however, was so much cut about the head and face that he could not -appear in court, but he wrote out a petition, in which he begged that -the case might be quashed; and this the magistrate consented to do. Yi -soon got better, the feeling of hatred and resentment increasing in -the family day by day; while Jen and Yi, who were younger than the -others, complained to Yu-yue of their recent punishment, saying, "The -relationship of elder and younger brothers exists for others, why not -for us?" "Ah," replied Yu-yue, "that is what I might well say; not -you." Yu-yue then tried to persuade them to forget the past; but, not -succeeding in his attempt, he shut up his house, and went off with his -wife to live somewhere else, about twenty miles away. Now, although -when Yu-yue was among them he did not help the two younger ones, yet -his presence acted as some restraint upon Hsiao and the other two; but -now that he was gone their conduct was beyond all bounds. They sought -out Jen and Yi in their own houses, and not only reviled them, but -abused the memory of their dead mother, against which Jen and Yi could -only retaliate by keeping the door shut against them. However, they -determined to do them some injury, and carried knives about with them -wherever they went for that purpose. - -One day the eldest brother, Ch'eng, who had been carried off by the -rebels, returned with his wife; and, after three days' deliberation, -Hsiao and the other two determined that, as he had been so long -separated from the family, he had no further claims upon them for -house-room, &c. Jen and Yi were secretly delighted at this result, and -at once inviting Ch'eng to stay with them, sent news of his arrival to -Yu-yue, who came back directly, and agreed with the others to hand over -a share of the property to their elder brother. Hsiao and his clique -were much enraged at this purchase of Ch'eng's good will, and, -hurrying to their brothers' houses, assailed them with every possible -kind of abuse. Ch'eng, who had long been accustomed to scenes of -violence among the rebels, now got into a great passion, and cried -out, "When I came home none of you would give me a place to live in. -Only these younger ones recognised the ties of blood,[250] and you -would punish them for so doing. Do you think to drive me away?" -Thereupon he threw a stone at Hsiao and knocked him down; and Jen and -Yi rushed out with clubs and gave the three of them a severe -thrashing. Ch'eng did not wait for them to lay a plaint, but set off -to the magistrate on the spot, and preferred a charge against his -three brothers. The magistrate, as before, sent for Yu-yue to ask his -opinion, and Yu-yue had no alternative but to go, entering the yamen -with downcast head, his tears flowing in silence all the while. The -magistrate inquired of him how the matter stood; to which he replied -only by begging His Honour to hear the case; which the magistrate -accordingly did, deciding that the whole of the property was to be -divided equally among the seven brothers. Thenceforth Jen and Yi -became more and more attached to Ch'eng; and one day, in conversation, -they happened to tell him the story of their mother's funeral. Ch'eng -was exceedingly angry, and declared that such behaviour was that of -brute beasts, proposing at the same time that the vault should be -opened and that she should be re-buried in the proper place. Jen and -Yi went off and told this to Yu-yue, who immediately came and begged -Ch'eng to desist from his scheme; to which, however, he paid no -attention, and fixed a day for her interment in the family vault. He -then built a hut near by, and, with a knife lopping the branches off -the trees, informed the brothers that any of them who did not appear -at the funeral in the usual mourning would be treated by him in a -manner similar to the trees. So they were all obliged to go, and the -obsequies were conducted in a fitting manner. The brothers were now at -peace together, Ch'eng keeping them in first-rate order, and always -treating Hsiao, Chung, and Hsin with much more severity than the -others. To Yu-yue he shewed a marked deference, and, whenever he was in -a rage, would always be appeased by a word from him. Hsiao, too, was -always going to Yu-yue to complain of the treatment he received at -Ch'eng's hands when he did anything that Ch'eng disapproved of; and -then, if Yu-yue quietly reproved him, he would be dissatisfied, so that -at last Yu-yue could stand it no longer, and again went away and took a -house at a considerable distance, where he remained almost entirely -cut off from the others. By the time two years had passed away Ch'eng -had completely succeeded in establishing harmony amongst them, and -quarrels were of rare occurrence. Hsiao was then forty-six years old, -and had five sons; Chi-yeh and Chi-te, the first and third, by his -wife; Chi-kung and Chi-chi, the second and fourth, by a concubine; -and Chi-tsu, by a slave. They were all grown up, and exactly imitated -their father's former behaviour, banding themselves together one -against the other, and so on, without their father being able to make -them behave better. Chi-tsu had no brothers of his own, and, being the -youngest, the others bullied him dreadfully; until at length, being on -a visit to his wife's family, who lived not far from Yu-yue's house, he -went slightly out of his way to call and see his uncle. There he found -his three cousins living peaceably together and pursuing their -studies, and was so pleased that he remained with them some time, and -said not a word as to returning home. His uncle urged him to go back, -but he entreated to be allowed to stay; and then his uncle told him it -was not that he grudged his daily food: it was because his father and -mother did not know where he was. Chi-tsu accordingly went home, and a -few months afterwards, when he and his wife were on the point of -starting to congratulate his wife's mother on the anniversary of her -birthday, he explained to his father that he should not come home -again. When his father asked him why not, he partly divulged his -reasons for going; whereupon his father said he was afraid his uncle -would bear malice for what happened in the past, and that he would not -be able to remain there long. "Father," replied Chi-tsu, "uncle Yu-yue -is a good and virtuous man." He set out with his wife, and when they -arrived Yu-yue gave them separate quarters, and made Chi-tsu rank as -one of his own sons, making him join the eldest, Chi-san, in his -studies. Chi-tsu was a clever fellow, and now enrolled himself as a -resident of the place where his uncle lived.[251] - -Meanwhile, his brothers went on quarrelling among themselves as usual; -and one day Chi-kung, enraged at an insult offered to his mother, -killed Chi-yeh. He was immediately thrown into prison, where he was -severely bambooed, and in a few days he died. Chi-yeh's wife, whose -maiden name was Feng, now spent the days of mourning in cursing her -husband's murderer; and when Chi-kung's wife heard this, she flew into -a towering passion, and said to her, "If your husband is dead, mine -isn't alive." She then drew a knife and killed her, completing the -tragedy by herself committing suicide in a well. - -Mr. Feng, the father of the murdered woman, was very much distressed -at his daughter's untimely end; and, taking with him several members -of the family with arms concealed under their clothes, they proceeded -to Hsiao's house, and there gave his wife a most terrific beating. It -was now Ch'eng's turn to be angry. "The members of my family are dying -like sheep," cried he; "what do you mean by this, Mr. Feng?" He then -rushed out upon them with a roar, accompanied by all his own brothers -and their sons; and the Feng family was utterly routed. Seizing old -Feng himself, Ch'eng cut off both his ears; and when his son tried to -rescue him, Chi-chi ran up and broke both his legs with an iron -crowbar. Every one of the Feng family was badly wounded, and thus -dispersed, leaving old Feng's son lying in the middle of the road. The -others not knowing what to do with him, Ch'eng took him under his arm, -and, having thrown him down in the Feng village, returned home, giving -orders to Chi-chi to go immediately to the authorities and enter their -plaint the first.[252] - -The Feng family had, however, anticipated them, and all the Tsengs -were accordingly thrown into prison, except Chung, who managed to -escape. He ran away to the place where Yu-yue lived, and was pacing -backwards and forwards before the door, afraid lest his brother should -not have forgiven past offences, when suddenly Yu-yue, with his son and -nephew, arrived, on their return from the examination. "What do you -want, my brother?" asked Yu-yue; whereupon Chung prostrated himself at -the roadside, and then Yu-yue, seizing his hand, led him within to make -further inquiries. "Alas! alas!" cried Yu-yue, when he had heard the -story, "I knew that some dreadful calamity would be the result of all -this wicked behaviour. But why have you come hither? I have been -absent so long that I am no more acquainted with the local -authorities; and if I now went to ask a favour of them, I should -probably only be insulted for my pains. However, if none of the Feng -family die of their wounds, and if we three may chance to be -successful in our examination, something may perhaps be done to -mitigate this calamity."[253] Yu-yue then kept Chung to dinner, and at -night he shared their room, which kind treatment made him at once -grateful and repentant. By the end of ten days he was so struck with -the behaviour of the father, sons, uncle, nephew, and cousins, one -toward the other, that he burst into tears, and said, "Now I know how -badly I behaved in days gone by." His uncle was overjoyed at his -repentance, and sympathised with his feelings, when suddenly it was -announced that Yu-yue and his son had both passed the examination for -master's degree, and that Chi-tsu was _proxime accessit_. This -delighted them all very much. They did not, however, attend the -Fu-t'ai's congratulatory feast,[254] but went off first to worship at -the tombs of their ancestors. - -Now, at the time of the Ming dynasty a man who had taken his master's -degree was a very considerable personage,[255] and the Fengs -accordingly began to draw in their horns. Yu-yue, too, met them -half-way. He got a friend to convey to them presents of food and money -to help them in recovering from their injuries, and thus the -prosecution was withdrawn. Then all his brothers implored him with -tears in their eyes to return home, and, after burning incense with -them,[256] and making them enter into a bond with him that by-gones -should be by-gones, he acceded to their request. Chi-tsu, however, -would not leave his uncle; and Hsiao himself said to Yu-yue, "I don't -deserve such a son as that. Keep him, and teach him as you have done -hitherto, and let him be as one of your own children; but if at some -future time he succeeds in his examination, then I will beg you to -return him to me." Yu-yue consented to this; and three years afterwards -Chi-tsu did take his master's degree, upon which he sent him back to -his own family. - -Both husband and wife were very loth to leave their uncle's house, and -they had hardly been at home three days before one of their children, -only three years old, ran away and went back, returning to his -great-uncle's as often as he was recaptured. This induced Hsiao to -remove to the next house to Yu-yue's, and, by opening a door between -the two, they made one establishment of the whole. Ch'eng was now -getting old, and the family affairs devolved entirely upon Yu-yue, who -managed things so well that their reputation for filial piety and -fraternal love was soon spread far and wide. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[247] Deference to elder brothers is held by the Chinese to be second -only in importance to filial piety. - -[248] In a volume of _Chinese Sketches_, published by me in 1876, -occur (p. 129) the following words:--"Occasionally a young wife is -driven to commit suicide by the harshness of her mother-in-law, but -this is of rare occurrence, as the consequences are terrible to the -family of the guilty woman. The blood-relatives of the deceased repair -to the chamber of death, and in the injured victim's hand they place a -broom. They then support the corpse round the room, making its dead -arm move the broom from side to side, and thus sweep away wealth, -happiness, and longevity, from the accursed place for ever." - -[249] A wife being an infinitely less important personage than a -mother in the Chinese social scale. - -[250] Literally, of hand and foot, to the mutual dependence of which -that of brothers is frequently likened by the Chinese. - -[251] Any permanent change of residence must be notified to the -District Magistrate, who keeps a running census of all persons within -his jurisdiction. - -[252] To be thus beforehand with one's adversary is regarded as _prima -facie_ evidence of being in the right. - -[253] By means of the _status_ which a graduate of the second degree -would necessarily have. - -[254] A sham entertainment given by the Fu-t'ai, or governor, to all -the successful candidates. I say _sham_, because the whole thing is -merely nominal; a certain amount of food is contracted for, but there -is never anything fit to eat, most of the money being embezzled by the -underlings to whose management the banquet is entrusted. - -[255] Much more so than at present. - -[256] Thereby invoking the Gods as witnesses. A common method of -making up a quarrel in China is to send the aggrieved party an olive -and a piece of red paper in token that peace is restored. Why the -_olive_ should be specially employed I have in vain tried to -ascertain. - - - - -XLIV. - -THE YOUNG GENTLEMAN WHO COULDN'T SPELL.[257] - - -At Chia-p'ing there lived a certain young gentleman of considerable -talent and very prepossessing appearance. When seventeen years of age -he went up for his bachelor's degree; and as he was passing the door -of a house, he saw within a pretty-looking girl, who not only riveted -his gaze, but also smiled and nodded her head at him. Quite pleased at -this, he approached the young lady and began to talk, she, meanwhile, -inquiring of him where he lived, and if alone or otherwise. He assured -her he was quite by himself; and then she said, "Well, I will come and -see you, but you mustn't let any one know." The young gentleman -agreed, and when he got home he sent all the servants to another part -of the house, and by-and-by the young lady arrived. She said her name -was Wen-chi, and that her admiration for her host's noble bearing had -made her visit him, unknown to her mistress. "And gladly," added she, -"would I be your handmaid for life." Our hero was delighted, and -proposed to purchase her from the mistress she mentioned; and from -this time she was in the habit of coming in every other day or so. On -one occasion it was raining hard, and, after hanging up her wet cloak -upon a peg, she took off her shoes, and bade the young gentleman clean -them for her. He noticed that they were newly embroidered with all the -colours of the rainbow, but utterly spoilt by the soaking rain; and -was just saying what a pity it was, when the young lady cried out, "I -should never have asked you to do such menial work except to show my -love for you." All this time the rain was falling fast outside, and -Wen-chi now repeated the following line:-- - - "A nipping wind and chilly rain fill the river and the city." - -"There," said she, "cap that." The young gentleman replied that he -could not, as he did not even understand what it meant. "Oh, really," -retorted the young lady, "if you're not more of a scholar than that, I -shall begin to think very little of you." She then told him he had -better practice making verses, and he promised he would do so. - -By degrees Miss Wen-chi's frequent visits attracted the notice of the -servants, as also of a brother-in-law named Sung, who was likewise a -gentleman of position; and the latter begged our hero to be allowed -to have a peep at her. He was told in reply that the young lady had -strictly forbidden that any one should see her; however, he concealed -himself in the servants' quarters, and when she arrived he looked at -her through the window. Almost beside himself, he now opened the door; -whereupon Wen-chi jumping up, vaulted over the wall and disappeared. -Sung was really smitten with her, and went off to her mistress to try -and arrange for her purchase; but when he mentioned Wen-chi's name, he -was informed that they had once had such a girl, who had died several -years previously. In great amazement Sung went back and told his -brother-in-law, and he now knew that his beloved Wen-chi was a -disembodied spirit. So when she came again he asked her if it was so; -to which she replied, "It is; but as you wanted a nice wife and I a -handsome husband, I thought we should be a suitable pair. What matters -it that one is a mortal and the other a spirit?" The young gentleman -thoroughly coincided in her view of the case; and when his examination -was over, and he was homeward bound, Wen-chi accompanied him, -invisible to others and visible to him alone. Arriving at his parents' -house, he installed her in the library; and the day she went to pay -the customary bride's visit to her father and mother,[258] he told his -own mother the whole story. She and his father were greatly alarmed, -and ordered him to have no more to do with her; but he would not -listen to this, and then his parents tried by all kinds of devices to -get rid of the girl, none of which met with any success. - -One day our hero had left upon the table some written instructions for -one of the servants, wherein he had made a number of mistakes in -spelling, such as _paper_ for _pepper_, _jinjer_ for _ginger_, and so -on; and when Wen-chi saw this, she wrote at the foot:-- - - "Paper for pepper do I see? - Jinjer for ginger can it be? - Of such a husband I'm afraid; - I'd rather be a servant-maid." - -She then said to the young gentleman, "Imagining you to be a man of -culture, I hid my blushes and sought you out the first.[259] Alas, -your qualifications are on the outside; should I not thus be a -laughing-stock to all?" She then disappeared, at which the young -gentleman was much hurt; but not knowing to what she alluded, he gave -the instructions to his servant, and so made himself the butt of all -who heard the story. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[257] Of course there is no such thing as spelling, in our sense of -the term, in Chinese. But characters are frequently written with too -many or too few strokes, and may thus be said to be incorrectly spelt. - -[258] A ceremonial visit made on the third day after marriage. - -[259] Contrary to all Chinese notions of modesty and etiquette. - - - - -XLV. - -THE TIGER GUEST. - - -A young man named Kung, a native of Min-chou, on his way to the -examination at Hsi-ngan, rested awhile in an inn, and ordered some -wine to drink. Just then a very tall and noble-looking stranger walked -in, and, seating himself by the side of Kung, entered into -conversation with him. Kung offered him a cup of wine, which the -stranger did not refuse; saying, at the same time, that his name was -Miao. But he was a rough, coarse fellow; and Kung, therefore, when the -wine was finished, did not call for any more. Miao then rose, and -observing that Kung did not appreciate a man of his capacity, went out -into the market to buy some, returning shortly with a huge bowl full. -Kung declined the proffered wine; but Miao, seizing his arm to -persuade him, gripped it so painfully that Kung was forced to drink a -few more cups, Miao himself swilling away as hard as he could go out -of a soup-plate. "I am not good at entertaining people," cried Miao, -at length; "pray go on or stop just as you please." Kung accordingly -put together his things and went off; but he had not gone more than a -few miles when his horse was taken ill, and lay down in the road. -While he was waiting there with all his heavy baggage, revolving in -his mind what he should do, up came Mr. Miao; who, when he heard what -was the matter, took off his coat and handed it to the servant, and -lifting up the horse, carried it off on his back to the nearest inn, -which was about six or seven miles distant. Arriving there he put the -animal in the stable, and before long Kung and his servants arrived -too. Kung was much astonished at Mr. Miao's feat; and, believing him -to be superhuman, began to treat him with the utmost deference, -ordering both wine and food to be procured for their refreshment. "My -appetite," remarked Miao, "is one that you could not easily satisfy. -Let us stick to wine." So they finished another stoup together, and -then Miao got up and took his leave, saying, "It will be some time -before your horse is well; I cannot wait for you." He then went away. - -After the examination several friends of Kung's invited him to join -them in a picnic to the Flowery Hill; and just as they were all -feasting and laughing together, lo! Mr. Miao walked up. In one hand he -held a large flagon, and in the other a ham, both of which he laid -down on the ground before them. "Hearing," said he, "that you -gentlemen were coming here, I have tacked myself on to you, like a fly -to a horse's tail."[260] Kung and his friends then rose and received -him with the usual ceremonies, after which they all sat down -promiscuously.[261] By-and-by, when the wine had gone round pretty -freely, some one proposed capping verses; whereupon Miao cried out, -"Oh, we're very jolly drinking like this; what's the use of making -oneself uncomfortable?" The others, however, would not listen to him, -and agreed that as a forfeit a huge goblet of wine should be drunk by -any defaulter. "Let us rather make death the penalty," said Miao; to -which they replied, laughing, that such a punishment was a trifle too -severe; and then Miao retorted that if it was not to be death, even a -rough fellow like himself might be able to join. A Mr. Chin, who was -sitting at the top of the line, then began:-- - - "From the hill-top high, wide extends the gaze--" - -upon which Miao immediately carried on with - - "Redly gleams the sword o'er the shattered vase."[262] - -The next gentleman thought for a long time, during which Miao was -helping himself to wine; and by-and-by they had all capped the verse, -but so wretchedly that Miao called out, "Oh, come! if we aren't to be -fined for these,[263] we had better abstain from making any more." As -none of them would agree to this, Miao could stand it no longer, and -roared like a dragon till the hills and valleys echoed again. He then -went down on his hands and knees, and jumped about like a lion, which -utterly confused the poets, and put an end to their lucubrations. The -wine had now been round a good many times, and being half tipsy each -began to repeat to the other the verses he had handed in at the recent -examination,[264] all at the same time indulging in any amount of -mutual flattery. This so disgusted Miao that he drew Kung aside to -have a game at "guess-fingers;"[265] but as they went on droning away -all the same, he at length cried out, "Do stop your rubbish, fit only -for your own wives,[266] and not for general company." The others were -much abashed at this, and so angry were they at Miao's rudeness that -they went on repeating all the louder. Miao then threw himself on the -ground in a passion, and with a roar changed into a tiger, immediately -springing upon the company, and killing them all except Kung and Mr. -Chin. He then ran off roaring loudly. Now this Mr. Chin succeeded in -taking his master's degree; and three years afterwards, happening to -revisit the Flowery Hill, he beheld a Mr. Chi, one of those very -gentlemen who had previously been killed by the tiger. In great alarm -he was making off, when Chi seized his bridle and would not let him -proceed. So he got down from his horse, and inquired what was the -matter; to which Chi replied, "I am now the slave of Miao, and have to -endure bitter toil for him. He must kill some one else before I can be -set free.[267] Three days hence a man, arrayed in the robes and cap -of a scholar, should be eaten by the tiger at the foot of the -Ts'ang-lung Hill. Do you on that day take some gentleman thither, and -thus help your old friend." Chin was too frightened to say much, but -promising that he would do so, rode away home. He then began to -consider the matter over with himself, and, regarding it as a plot, he -determined to break his engagement, and let his friend remain the -tiger's devil. He chanced, however, to repeat the story to a Mr. -Chiang who was a relative of his, and one of the local scholars; and -as this gentleman had a grudge against another scholar, named Yu, who -had come out equal with him at the examination, he made up his mind to -destroy him. So he invited Yu to accompany him on that day to the -place in question, mentioning that he himself should appear in undress -only. Yu could not make out the reason for this; but when he reached -the spot there he found all kinds of wine and food ready for his -entertainment. Now that very day the Prefect had come to the hill; and -being a friend of the Chiang family, and hearing that Chiang was -below, sent for him to come up. Chiang did not dare to appear before -him in undress, and borrowed Yu's clothes and hat; but he had no -sooner got them on than out rushed the tiger and carried him away in -its mouth. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[260] Alluding to a well-known expression which occurs in the -_Historical Record_, and is often used in the sense of deriving -advantage from connection with some influential person. - -[261] Without any regard to precedence, which plays quite as important -a part at a Chinese as at a western dinner-party. In China, however, -the most honoured guest sits at (what may be called) the head of the -table, the host at the foot. I say "what may be called," as Chinese -dining-tables are almost invariably square, and position alone -determines which is the head and which the foot. They are usually made -to accommodate eight persons; hence the fancy name "eight-angel -table," in allusion to the eight famous angels, or Immortals, of the -Taoist religion. (See No. V., note 48.) Occasionally, round tables are -used; especially in cases where the party consists of some such number -as ten. - -[262] It is almost impossible to give in translation the true spirit -of a Chinese antithetical couplet. There are so many points to be -brought out, each word of the second line being in opposition both in -tone and sense to a corresponding word in the first, that anything -beyond a rough rendering of the idea conveyed would be superfluous in -a work like this. Suffice it to say that Miao has here successfully -capped the verse given; and the more so because he has introduced, -through the medium of "sword" and "shattered vase," an allusion to a -classical story in which a certain Wang Tun, when drunk with wine, -beat time on a vase with his sword, and smashed the lip. - -[263] This is the _vel ego vel Cluvienus_ style of satire, his own -verse having been particularly good. - -[264] Many candidates, successful or otherwise, have their verses and -essays printed, and circulate them among an admiring circle of -friends. - -[265] Accurately described in Tylor's _Primitive Culture_, Vol. I., p. -75:--"Each player throws out a hand, and the sum of all the fingers -shown has to be called, the successful caller scoring a point; -practically each calls the total before he sees his adversary's hand." -The insertion of the word "simultaneously" after "called" would -improve this description. This game is so noisy that the Hong-kong -authorities have forbidden it, except within certain authorised -limits, between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.--Ordinance No. 2 of -1872. - -[266] This delicate stroke is of itself sufficient to prove the truth -of the oft-quoted Chinese saying, that all between the Four Seas are -brothers. - -[267] The "substitution" theory by which disembodied spirits are -enabled to find their way back to the world of mortals. A very -interesting and important example of this belief occurs in a later -story (No. CVII.), for which place I reserve further comments. - - - - -XLVI. - -THE SISTERS. - - -His Excellency the Grand Secretary Mao came from an obscure family in -the district of Yeh, his father being only a poor cow-herd. At the -same place there resided a wealthy gentleman, named Chang, who owned a -burial-ground in the neighbourhood; and some one informed him that -while passing by he had heard sounds of wrangling from within the -grave, and voices saying, "Make haste and go away; do not disturb His -Excellency's home." Chang did not much believe this; but subsequently -he had several dreams in which he was told that the burial-ground in -question really belonged to the Mao family, and that he had no right -whatever to it. From this moment the affairs of his house began to go -wrong;[268] and at length he listened to the remonstrances of friends -and removed his dead elsewhere. - -One day Mao's father, the cow-herd, was out near this burial-ground, -when, a storm of rain coming on, he took refuge in the now empty -grave, while the rain came down harder than ever, and by-and-by -flooded the whole place and drowned the old man. The Grand Secretary -was then a mere boy, and his mother went off to Chang to beg a piece -of ground wherein to bury her dead husband. When Chang heard her name -he was greatly astonished; and on going to look at the spot where the -old man was drowned, found that it was exactly at the proper place for -the coffin. More than ever amazed, he gave orders that the body should -be buried there in the old grave, and also bade Mao's mother bring her -son to see him. When the funeral was over, she went with Mao to Mr. -Chang's house, to thank him for his kindness; and so pleased was he -with the boy that he kept him to be educated, ranking him as one of -his own sons. He also said he would give him his eldest daughter as a -wife, an offer which Mao's mother hardly dared accept; but Mrs. Chang -said that the thing was settled and couldn't be altered, so then she -was obliged to consent. The young lady, however, had a great contempt -for Mao, and made no effort to disguise her feelings; and if any one -spoke to her of him, she would put her fingers in her ears, declaring -she would die sooner than marry the cow-boy. On the day appointed for -the wedding, the bridegroom arrived, and was feasted within, while -outside the door a handsome chair was in waiting to convey away the -bride, who all this time was standing crying in a corner, wiping her -eyes with her sleeve, and absolutely refusing to dress. Just then the -bridegroom sent in to say he was going,[269] and the drums and -trumpets struck up the wedding march, at which the bride's tears only -fell the faster as her hair hung dishevelled down her back. Her father -managed to detain Mao awhile, and went in to urge his daughter to make -haste, she weeping bitterly as if she did not hear what he was saying. -He now got into a rage, which only made her cry the louder; and in the -middle of it all a servant came to say the bridegroom wished to take -his leave. The father ran out and said his daughter wasn't quite -ready, begging Mao to wait a little longer; and then hurried back -again to the bride. Thus they went on for some time, backwards and -forwards, until at last things began to look serious, for the young -lady obstinately refused to yield; and Mr. Chang was ready to commit -suicide for want of anything better. Just then his second daughter was -standing by upbraiding her elder sister for her disobedience, when -suddenly the latter turned round in a rage, and cried out, "So you are -imitating the rest of them, you little minx; why don't you go and -marry him yourself?" "My father did not betroth me to Mr. Mao," -answered she, "but if he had I should not require you to persuade me -to accept him." Her father was delighted with this reply, and at once -went off and consulted with his wife as to whether they could venture -to substitute the second for the elder; and then her mother came and -said to her, "That bad girl there won't obey her parent's commands; we -wish, therefore, to put you in her place: will you consent to this -arrangement?" The younger sister readily agreed, saying that had they -told her to marry a beggar she would not have dared to refuse, and -that she had not such a low opinion of Mr. Mao as all that. Her father -and mother rejoiced exceedingly at receiving this reply; and dressing -her up in her sister's clothes, put her in the bridal chair and sent -her off. She proved an excellent wife, and lived in harmony with her -husband; but she was troubled with a disease of the hair, which caused -Mr. Mao some annoyance. Later on, she told him how she had changed -places with her sister, and this made him think more highly of her -than before. Soon after Mao took his bachelor's degree, and then set -off to present himself as a candidate for the master's degree. On the -way he passed by an inn, the landlord of which had dreamt the night -before that a spirit appeared to him and said, "To-morrow Mr. Mao, -first on the list, will come. Some day he will extricate you from a -difficulty." Accordingly the landlord got up early, and took especial -note of all guests who came from the eastward, until at last Mao -himself arrived. The landlord was very glad to see him, and provided -him with the best of everything, refusing to take any payment for it -all, but telling what he had dreamt the night before. Mao now began to -give himself airs; and, reflecting that his wife's want of hair would -make him look ridiculous, he determined that as soon as he attained to -rank and power he would find another spouse. But alas! when the -successful list of candidates was published, Mao's name was not among -them; and he retraced his steps with a heavy heart, and by another -road, so as to avoid meeting the innkeeper. Three years afterwards he -went up again, and the landlord received him with precisely the same -attentions as on the previous occasion; upon which Mao said to him, -"Your former words did not come true; I am now ashamed to put you to -so much trouble." "Ah," replied the landlord, "you meant to get rid of -your wife, and the Ruler of the world below struck out your name.[270] -My dream couldn't have been false." In great astonishment, Mao asked -what he meant by these words; and then he learnt that after his -departure the landlord had had a second dream informing him of the -above facts. Mao was much alarmed at what he heard, and remained as -motionless as a wooden image, until the landlord said to him, "You, -Sir, as a scholar, should have more self-respect, and you will -certainly take the highest place." By-and-by when the list came out, -Mao was the first of all; and almost simultaneously his wife's hair -began to grow quite thick, making her much better-looking than she had -hitherto been. - -Now her elder sister had married a rich young fellow of good family, -who lived in the neighbourhood, which made the young lady more -contemptuous than ever; but he was so extravagant and so idle that -their property was soon gone, and they were positively in want of -food. Hearing, too, of Mr. Mao's success at the examination, she was -overwhelmed with shame and vexation, and avoided even meeting her -sister in the street. Just then her husband died and left her -destitute; and about the same time Mao took his doctor's degree, which -so aggravated her feelings that, in a passion, she became a nun. -Subsequently, when Mao rose to be a high officer of state, she sent a -novice to his yamen to try and get a subscription out of him for the -temple; and Mao's wife, who gave several pieces of silk and other -things, secretly inserted a sum of money among them. The novice, not -knowing this, reported what she had received to the elder sister, who -cried out in a passion, "I wanted money to buy food with; of what use -are these things to me?" So she bade the novice take them back; and -when Mao and his wife saw her return, they suspected what had -happened, and opening the parcel found the money still there. They now -understood why the presents had been refused; and taking the money, -Mao said to the novice, "If one hundred ounces of silver is too much -luck for your mistress to secure, of course she could never have -secured a high official, such as I am now, for her husband." He then -took fifty ounces, and giving them to the novice, sent her away, -adding, "Hand this to your mistress, I'm afraid more would be too much -for her."[271] The novice returned and repeated all that had been -said; and then the elder sister sighed to think what a failure her -life had been, and how she had rejected the worthy to accept the -worthless. After this, the innkeeper got into trouble about a case of -murder, and was imprisoned; but Mao exerted his influence, and -obtained the man's pardon. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[268] Such is the dominant belief regarding the due selection of an -auspicious site, whether for a house or grave; and with this -superstition deeply ingrained in the minds of the people, it is easy -to understand the hold on the public mind possessed by the -pseudo-scientific professors of Feng-Shui, or the geomantic art. - -[269] The bridegroom leads off the procession, and the bride follows -shortly afterwards in an elaborately-gilt sedan-chair, closed in on -all sides so that the occupant cannot be seen. - -[270] Here again we have the common Chinese belief that fate is fate -only within certain limits, and is always liable to be altered at the -will of heaven. - -[271] This is another curious phase of Chinese superstition, namely, -that each individual is so constituted by nature as to be able to -absorb only a given quantity of good fortune and no more, any -superfluity of luck doing actual harm to the person on whom it falls. - - - - -XLVII. - -FOREIGN[272] PRIESTS. - - -The Buddhist priest, T'i-k'ung, relates that when he was at -Ch'ing-chou he saw two foreign priests of very extraordinary -appearance. They wore rings in their ears, were dressed in yellow -cloth, and had curly hair and beards. They said they had come from the -countries of the west; and hearing that the Governor of the district -was a devoted follower of Buddha, they went to visit him. The Governor -sent a couple of servants to escort them to the monastery of the -place, where the abbot, Ling-p'ei, did not receive them very -cordially; but the secular manager, seeing that they were not ordinary -individuals, entertained them and kept them there for the night. Some -one asked if there were many strange men in the west, and what magical -arts were practised by the Lohans;[273] whereupon one of them laughed, -and putting forth his hand from his sleeve, showed a small pagoda, -fully a foot in height, and beautifully carved, standing upon the -palm. Now very high up in the wall there was a niche; and the priest -threw the pagoda up to it, when lo! it stood there firm and straight. -After a few moments the pagoda began to incline to one side, and a -glory, as from a relic of some saint, was diffused throughout the -room. The other priest then bared his arms, and stretched out his left -until it was five or six feet in length, at the same time shortening -his right arm until it dwindled to nothing. He then stretched out the -latter until it was as long as his left arm. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[272] The word here used is _fan_, generally translated "barbarian." - -[273] The disciples of Shakyamuni Buddha. Same as _Arhans_. - - - - -XLVIII. - -THE SELF-PUNISHED MURDERER. - - -Mr. Li took his doctor's degree late in life.[274] On the 28th of the -9th moon of the 4th year of K'ang Hsi,[275] he killed his wife. The -neighbours reported the murder to the officials, and the high -authorities instructed the district magistrate to investigate the -case. At this juncture Mr. Li was standing at the door of his -residence; and snatching a butcher's knife from a stall hard by, he -rushed into the Ch'eng-huang[276] temple, where, mounting the -theatrical stage,[277] he threw himself on his knees, and spoke as -follows:--"The spirit here will punish me. I am not to be prosecuted -by evil men who, from party motives, confuse right and wrong. The -spirit moves me to cut off an ear." Thereupon he cut off his left ear -and threw it down from the stage. He then said the spirit was going to -fine him a hand for cheating people out of their money; and he -forthwith chopped off his left hand. Lastly, he cried out that he was -to be punished severely for all his many crimes; and immediately cut -his own throat. The Viceroy subsequently received the Imperial -permission to deprive him of his rank[278] and bring him to trial; but -he was then being punished by a higher power in the realms of darkness -below. See the _Peking Gazette_.[279] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[274] There is no limit as to age in the competitive examinations of -China. The _San-tz[)u]-Ching_ records the case of a man who graduated at -the mature age of eighty-two. - -[275] In 1665, that is between fourteen and fifteen years previous to -the completion of the _Liao Chai_. - -[276] See No. I., note 36. - -[277] Religion and the drama work hand in hand in China. - -[278] Always the first step in the prosecution of a graduate. In this -case, the accused was also an official. - -[279] Of what date, our author does not say, or it would be curious to -try and hunt up the official record of this case as it appeared in the -government organ of the day. The unfortunate man was in all -probability insane. - - - - -XLIX. - -THE MASTER THIEF. - - -Before his rebellion,[280] Prince Wu frequently told his soldiers that -if any one of them could catch a tiger unaided he would give him a -handsome pension and the title of the Tiger Daunter. In his camp there -was a man named Pao-chu, as strong and agile as a monkey; and once -when a new tower was being built, the wooden framework having only -just been set up, Pao-chu walked along the eaves, and finally got up -on to the very tip-top beam, where he ran backwards and forwards -several times. He then jumped down, alighting safely on his feet. - -Now Prince Wu had a favourite concubine, who was a skilful player on -the guitar; and the nuts of the instrument she used were of warm -jade,[281] so that when played upon there was a general feeling of -warmth throughout the room. The young lady was extremely careful of -this treasure, and never produced it for any one to see unless on -receipt of the Prince's written order. One night, in the middle of a -banquet, a guest begged to be allowed to see this wonderful guitar; -but the Prince, being in a lazy mood, said it should be exhibited to -him on the following day. Pao-chu, who was standing by, then observed -that he could get it without troubling the Prince to write an order. -Some one was therefore sent off beforehand to instruct all the -officials to be on the watch, and then the Prince told Pao-chu he -might go; and after scaling numerous walls the latter found himself -near the lady's room. Lamps were burning brightly within; the doors -were bolted and barred, and it was impossible to effect an entrance. -Under the verandah, however, was a cockatoo fast asleep on its perch; -and Pao-chu first mewing several times like a cat, followed it up by -imitating the voice of the bird, and cried out as though in distress, -"The cat! the cat!" He then heard the concubine call to one of the -slave girls, and bid her go rescue the cockatoo which was being -killed; and, hiding himself in a dark corner, he saw a girl come forth -with a light in her hand. She had barely got outside the door when he -rushed in, and there he saw the lady sitting with the guitar on a -table before her. Seizing the instrument he turned and fled; upon -which the concubine shrieked out, "Thieves! thieves!" And the guard, -seeing a man making off with the guitar, at once started in pursuit. -Arrows fell round Pao-chu like drops of rain, but he climbed up one of -a number of huge ash trees growing there, and from its top leaped on -to the top of the next, and so on, until he had reached the -furthermost tree, when he jumped on to the roof of a house, and from -that to another, more as if he were flying than anything else. In a -few minutes he had disappeared, and before long presented himself -suddenly at the banquet-table with the guitar in his hand, the -entrance-gate having been securely barred all the time, and not a dog -or a cock aroused. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[280] A.D. 1675. His full name was Wu San-kuei. - -[281] Such is the literal translation of a term which I presume to be -the name of some particular kind of jade, which is ordinarily -distinguished from the imitation article by its comparative -_coldness_. - - - - -L. - -A FLOOD. - - -In the twenty-first year of K'ang Hsi[282] there was a severe drought, -not a green blade appearing in the parched ground all through the -spring and well into the summer. On the 13th of the 6th moon a little -rain fell, and people began to plant their rice. On the 18th there was -a heavy fall, and beans were sown. - -Now at a certain village there was an old man, who, noticing two -bullocks fighting on the hills, told the villagers that a great flood -was at hand, and forthwith removed with his family to another part of -the country. The villagers all laughed at him; but before very long -rain began to fall in torrents, lasting all through the night, until -the water was several feet deep, and carrying away the houses. Among -the others was a man who, neglecting to save his two children, with -his wife assisted his aged mother to reach a place of safety, from -which they looked down at their old home, now only an expanse of -water, without hope of ever seeing the children again. When the flood -had subsided, they went back, to find the whole place a complete ruin; -but in their own house they discovered the two boys playing and -laughing on the bed as if nothing had happened. Some one remarked that -this was a reward for the filial piety of the parents. It happened on -the 20th of the 6th moon.[283] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[282] A.D. 1682; that is, three years after the date of our author's -preface. See _Introduction_. - -[283] A curious note here follows in the original, not however from -the pen of the great commentator, I Shih-shih:--"In 1696 a severe -earthquake occurred at P'ing-yang, and out of seventeen or eighteen -cities destroyed, only one room remained uninjured--a room inhabited -by a certain filial son. And thus, when in the crash of a collapsing -universe, filial piety is specially marked out for protection, who -shall say that God Almighty does not know black from white?" - - - - -LI. - -DEATH BY LAUGHING. - - -A Mr. Sun Ching-hsia, a marshal of undergraduates,[284] told me that -in his village there was a certain man who had been killed by the -rebels when they passed through the place. The man's head was left -hanging down on his chest; and as soon as the rebels had gone, his -servants secured the body and were about to bury it. Hearing, however, -a sound of breathing, they looked more closely, and found that the -windpipe was not wholly severed; and, setting his head in its proper -place, they carried him back home. In twenty-four hours he began to -moan; and by dint of carefully feeding him with a spoon, within six -months he had quite recovered. - -Some ten years afterwards he was chatting with a few friends, when one -of them made a joke which called forth loud applause from the others. -Our hero, too, clapped his hands; but, as he was bending backwards and -forwards with laughter, the seam on his neck split open, and down fell -his head with a gush of blood. His friends now found that he was -quite dead, and his father immediately commenced an action against the -joker;[285] but a sum of money was subscribed by those present and -given to the father, who buried his son and stopped further -proceedings. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[284] Or "Director of Studies." - -[285] The Chinese distinguish five degrees of homicide, of which -accidental homicide is one (see _Penal Code_, Book VI.) Thus, if a gun -goes off of itself in a man's hand and kills a bystander, the holder -of the gun is guilty of homicide; but were the same gun lying on a -table, it would be regarded as the will of Heaven. Similarly, a man is -held responsible for any death caused by an animal belonging to him; -though in such cases the affair can usually be hushed up by a money -payment, no notice being taken of crimes in general unless at the -instigation of a prosecutor, at whose will the case may be -subsequently withdrawn. Where the circumstances are purely accidental, -the law admits of a money compensation. - - - - -LII. - -PLAYING AT HANGING. - - -A number of wild young fellows were one day out walking when they saw -a young lady approach, riding on a pony.[286] One of them said to the -others, "I'll back myself to make that girl laugh," and a supper was -at once staked by both sides on the result. Our hero then ran out in -front of the pony, and kept on shouting "I'm going to die! I'm going -to die!" at the same time pulling out from over the top of a wall a -stalk of millet, to which he attached his own waistband, and tying the -latter round his neck, made a pretence of hanging himself. The young -lady did laugh as she passed by, to the great amusement of the -assembled company; but as when she was already some distance off their -friend did not move, the others laughed louder than ever. However, on -going up to him they saw that his tongue protruded, and that his eyes -were glazed; he was, in fact, quite dead. Was it not strange that a -man should be able to hang himself on a millet stalk?[287] It is a -good warning against practical joking. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[286] Women in China ride _a califourchon_. - -[287] Which, although tolerably stout and strong, is hardly capable of -sustaining a man's weight. - - - - -LIII. - -THE RAT WIFE. - - -Hsi Shan was a native of Kao-mi, and a trader by occupation. He -frequently slept at a place called Meng-i. One day he was delayed on -the road by rain, and when he arrived at his usual quarters it was -already late in the night. He knocked at all the doors, but no one -answered; and he was walking backwards and forwards in the piazza when -suddenly a door flew open and an old man came out. He invited the -traveller to enter, an invitation to which Hsi Shan gladly responded; -and, tying up his mule, he went in. The place was totally unfurnished; -and the old man began by saying that it was only out of compassion -that he had asked him in, as his house was not an inn. "There are only -three or four of us," added he; "and my wife and daughter are fast -asleep. We have some of yesterday's food, which I will get ready for -you; you must not object to its being cold." He then went within, and -shortly afterwards returned with a low couch, which he placed on the -ground, begging his guest to be seated, at the same time hurrying back -for a low table, and soon for a number of other things, until at last -Hsi Shan was quite uncomfortable, and entreated his host to rest -himself awhile. By-and-by a young lady came out, bringing some wine; -upon which the old man said, "Oh, our A-ch'ien has got up." She was -about sixteen or seventeen, a slender and pretty-looking girl; and as -Hsi Shan had an unmarried brother, he began to think directly that she -would do for him. So he inquired of the old man his name and address, -to which the latter replied that his name was Ku, and that his -children had all died save this one daughter. "I didn't like to wake -her just now, but I suppose my wife told her to get up." Hsi Shan then -asked the name of his son-in-law, and was informed that the young lady -was not yet engaged,--at which he was secretly very much pleased. A -tray of food was now brought in, evidently the remains from the day -before; and when he had finished eating, Hsi Shan began respectfully -to address the old man as follows:--"I am only a poor wayfarer, but I -shall never forget the kindness with which you have treated me. Let me -presume upon it, and submit to your consideration a plan I have in my -head. My younger brother, San-lang, is seventeen years old. He is a -student, and by no means unsteady or dull. May I hope that you will -unite our families together, and not think it presumption on my part?" -"I, too, am but a temporary sojourner," replied the old man, -rejoicing; "and if you will only let me have a part of your house, I -shall be very glad to come and live with you." Hsi Shan consented to -this, and got up and thanked him for the promise of his daughter; upon -which the old man set to work to make him comfortable for the night, -and then went away. At cock-crow he was outside, calling his guest to -come and have a wash; and when Hsi Shan had packed up ready to go, he -offered to pay for his night's entertainment. This, however, the old -man refused, saying, "I could hardly charge a stranger anything for a -single meal; how much less could I take money from my intended -son-in-law?" They then separated, and in about a month Hsi Shan -returned; but when he was a short distance from the village he met an -old woman with a young lady, both dressed in deep mourning. As they -approached he began to suspect it was A-ch'ien; and the young lady, -after turning round to look at him, pulled the old woman's sleeve, and -whispered something in her ear, which Hsi Shan himself did not hear. -The old woman stopped immediately, and asked if she was addressing Mr. -Hsi; and when informed that she was, she said mournfully, "Alas! my -husband has been killed by the falling of a wall. We are going to bury -him to-day. There is no one at home; but please wait here, and we will -be back by-and-by." They then disappeared among the trees; and, -returning after a short absence, they walked along together in the -dusk of the evening. The old woman complained bitterly of their lonely -and helpless state, and Hsi Shan himself was moved to compassion by -the sight of her tears. She told him that the people of the -neighbourhood were a bad lot, and that if he thought of marrying the -poor widow's daughter, he had better lose no time in doing so. Hsi -Shan said he was willing; and when they reached the house the old -woman, after lighting the lamp and setting food before him, proceeded -to speak as follows:--"Knowing, Sir, that you would shortly arrive, we -sold all our grain except about twenty piculs. We cannot take this -with us so far; but a mile or so to the north of the village, at the -first house you come to, there lives a man named T'an Erh-ch'uean, who -often buys grain from me. Don't think it too much trouble to oblige me -by taking a sack with you on your mule and proceeding thither at once. -Tell Mr. T'an that the old lady of the southern village has several -piculs of grain which she wishes to sell in order to get money for a -journey, and beg him to send some animals to carry it." The old woman -then gave him a sack of grain; and Hsi Shan, whipping up his mule, was -soon at the place; and, knocking at the door, a great fat fellow came -out, to whom he told his errand. Emptying the sack he had brought, he -went back himself first; and before long a couple of men arrived -leading five mules. The old woman took them into the granary, which -was a cellar below ground, and Hsi Shan, going down himself, handed up -the bags to the mother and daughter, who passed them on from one to -the other. In a little while the men had got a load, with which they -went off, returning altogether four times before all the grain was -exhausted. They then paid the old woman, who kept one man and two -mules, and, packing up her things, set off towards the east. After -travelling some seven miles day began to break; and by-and-by they -reached a market town, where the old woman hired animals and sent back -T'an's servant. When they arrived at Hsi Shan's home he related the -whole story to his parents, who were very pleased at what had -happened, and provided separate apartments for the old lady, at the -same time engaging a fortune-teller to fix on a lucky day for -A-ch'ien's marriage with their son San-lang. The old woman prepared a -handsome trousseau; and as for A-ch'ien herself, she spoke but little, -seldom losing her temper, and if any one addressed her she would only -reply with a smile. She employed all her time in spinning, and thus -became a general favourite with all alike. "Tell your brother," said -she to San-lang, "that when he happens to pass our old residence he -will do well not to make any mention of my mother and myself." - -In three or four years' time the Hsi family had made plenty of money, -and San-lang had taken his bachelor's degree, when one day Hsi Shan -happened to pass a night with the people who lived next door to the -house where he had met A-ch'ien. After telling them the story of his -having had nowhere to sleep, and taking refuge with the old man and -woman, his host said to him, "You must make a mistake, Sir; the house -you allude to belongs to my uncle, but was abandoned three years ago -in consequence of its being haunted. It has now been uninhabited for a -long time. What old man and woman can have entertained you there?" Hsi -Shan was very much astonished at this, but did not put much faith in -what he heard; meanwhile his host continued, "For ten years no one -dared enter the house; however, one day the back wall fell down, and -my uncle, going to look at it, found, half-buried underneath the -ruins, a large rat, almost as big as a cat. It was still moving, and -my uncle went off to call for assistance, but when he got back the rat -had disappeared. Everyone suspected some supernatural agency to be at -work, though on returning to the spot ten days afterwards nothing was -to be either heard or seen; and about a year subsequently the place -was inhabited once more." Hsi Shan was more than ever amazed at what -he now heard, and on reaching home told the family what had occurred; -for he feared that his brother's wife was not a human being, and -became rather anxious about him. San-lang himself continued to be much -attached to A-ch'ien; but by-and-by the other members of the family -let A-ch'ien perceive that they had suspicions about her. So one night -she complained to San-lang, saying, "I have been a good wife to you -for some years: now I have become an object of contempt. I pray you -give me my divorce,[288] and seek for yourself some worthier mate." -She then burst into a flood of tears; whereupon San-lang said, "You -should know my feelings by this time. Ever since you entered the -house the family has prospered; and that prosperity is entirely due to -you. Who can say it is not so?" "I know full well," replied A-ch'ien, -"what you feel; still there are the others, and I do not wish to share -the fate of an autumn fan."[289] At length San-lang succeeded in -pacifying her; but Hsi Shan could not dismiss the subject from his -thoughts, and gave out that he was going to get a first-rate mouser, -with a view to testing A-ch'ien. She did not seem very frightened at -this, though evidently ill at ease; and one night she told San-lang -that her mother was not very well, and that he needn't come to bid her -good night as usual. In the morning mother and daughter had -disappeared; at which San-lang was greatly alarmed, and sent out to -look for them in every direction. No traces of the fugitives could be -discovered, and San-lang was overwhelmed with grief, unable either to -eat or to sleep. His father and brother thought it was a lucky thing -for him, and advised him to console himself with another wife. This, -however, he refused to do; until, about a year afterwards, nothing -more having been heard of A-ch'ien, he could not resist their -importunities any longer, and bought himself a concubine. But he never -ceased to think of A-ch'ien; and some years later, when the prosperity -of the family was on the wane, they all began to regret her loss. - -Now San-lang had a step-brother, named Lan, who, when travelling to -Chiao-chou on business, passed a night at the house of a relative -named Lu. He noticed that during the night sounds of weeping and -lamentation proceeded from their next-door neighbours, but he did not -inquire the reason of it; however, on his way back he heard the same -sounds, and then asked what was the cause of such demonstrations. Mr. -Lu told him that a few years ago an old widow and her daughter had -come there to live, and that the mother had died about a month -previously, leaving her child quite alone in the world. Lan inquired -what her name was, and Mr. Lu said it was Ku; "But," added he, "the -door is closely barred, and as they never had any communication with -the village, I know nothing of their antecedents." "It's my -sister-in-law," cried Lan, in amazement, and at once proceeded to -knock at the door of the house. Some one came to the front door, and -said, in a voice that betokened recent weeping, "Who's there? There -are no men in this house."[290] Lan looked through a crack, and saw -that the young lady really was his sister-in-law; so he called out, -"Sister, open the door. I am your step-brother A-sui." A-ch'ien -immediately opened the door and asked him in, and recounted to him the -whole story of her troubles. "Your husband," said Lan, "is always -thinking of you. For a trifling difference you need hardly have run -away so far from him." He then proposed to hire a vehicle and take her -home; but A-ch'ien replied, "I came hither with my mother to hide -because I was held in contempt, and should make myself ridiculous by -now returning thus. If I am to go back, my elder brother Hsi Shan must -no longer live with us; otherwise, I will assuredly poison myself." -Lan then went home and told San-lang, who set off and travelled all -night until he reached the place where A-ch'ien was. Husband and wife -were overjoyed to meet again, and the following day San-lang notified -the landlord of the house where A-ch'ien had been living. Now this -landlord had long desired to secure A-ch'ien as a concubine for -himself; and, after making no claim for rent for several years, he -began to hint as much to her mother. The old lady, however, refused -flatly; but shortly afterwards she died, and then the landlord thought -that he might be able to succeed. At this juncture San-lang arrived, -and the landlord sought to hamper him by putting in his claim for -rent; and, as San-lang was anything but well off at the moment, it -really did annoy him very much. A-ch'ien here came to the rescue, -showing San-lang a large quantity of grain she had in the house, and -bidding him use it to settle accounts with the landlord. The latter -declared he could not accept grain, but must be paid in silver; -whereupon A-ch'ien sighed and said it was all her unfortunate self -that had brought this upon them, at the same time telling San-lang of -the landlord's former proposition. San-lang was very angry, and was -about to take out a summons against him, when Mr. Lu interposed, and, -by selling the grain in the neighbourhood, managed to collect -sufficient money to pay off the rent. San-lang and his wife then -returned home; and the former, having explained the circumstances to -his parents, separated his household from that of his brother. -A-ch'ien now proceeded to build, with her own money, a granary, which -was a matter of some astonishment to the family, there not being a -hundredweight of grain in the place. But in about a year the granary -was full,[291] and before very long San-lang was a rich man, Hsi Shan -remaining as poor as before. Accordingly, A-ch'ien persuaded her -husband's parents to come and live with them, and made frequent -presents of money to the elder brother; so that her husband said, -"Well, at any rate, you bear no malice." "Your brother's behaviour," -replied she, "was from his regard for you. Had it not been for him, -you and I would never have met." After this there were no more -supernatural manifestations. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[288] The Chinese acknowledge seven just causes for putting away a -wife. (1) Bad behaviour towards the husband's father and mother. (2) -Adultery. (3) Jealousy. (4) Garrulity. (5) Theft. (6) Disease. (7) -Barrenness. The right of divorce may not, however, be enforced if the -husband's father and mother have died since the marriage, as thus it -would be inferred that the wife had served them well up to the time of -their death; or if the husband has recently risen to wealth and power -(hence the saying, "The wife of my poverty shall not go down from my -hall"); or thirdly, if the wife's parents and brothers are dead, and -she has no home in which she can seek shelter. - -[289] This elegant simile is taken from a song ascribed to Pan -Chieh-yue, a favourite of the Emperor Ch'eng Ti of the Han dynasty, -written when her influence with the Son of Heaven began to wane. I -venture to reproduce it here. - - "O fair white silk, fresh from the weaver's loom; - Clear as the frost, bright as the winter's snow! - See! friendship fashions out of thee a fan, - Round as the round moon shines in heaven above. - At home, abroad, a close companion thou, - Stirring at every move the grateful gale. - And yet I fear, ah, me! that autumn chills, - Cooling the dying summer's torrid rage, - Will see thee laid neglected on the shelf, - All thought of by-gone days, like them, by-gone." - -[290] Signifying that it would be impossible for him to enter. - -[291] The result of A-ch'ien's depredations as a rat. - - - - -LIV. - -THE MAN WHO WAS THROWN DOWN A WELL. - - -Mr. Tai, of An-ch'ing, was a wild fellow when young. One day as he was -returning home tipsy,[292] he met by the way a dead cousin of his -named Chi; and having, in his drunken state, quite forgotten that his -cousin was dead, he asked him where he was going. "I am already a -disembodied spirit," replied Chi; "don't you remember?" Tai was a -little disturbed at this; but, being under the influence of liquor, -he was not frightened, and inquired of his cousin what he was doing in -the realms below. "I am employed as scribe," said Chi, "in the court -of the Great King." "Then you must know all about our happiness and -misfortunes to come," cried Tai. "It is my business," answered his -cousin, "so of course I know. But I see such an enormous mass that, -unless of special reference to myself or family, I take no notice of -any of it. Three days ago, by the way, I saw your name in the -register." Tai immediately asked what there was about himself, and his -cousin replied, "I will not deceive you; your name was put down for a -dark and dismal hell." Tai was dreadfully alarmed, and at the same -time sobered, and entreated his cousin to assist him in some way. "You -may try," said Chi, "what merit will do for you as a means of -mitigating your punishment; but the register of your sins is as thick -as my finger, and nothing short of the most deserving acts will be of -any avail. What can a poor fellow like myself do for you? Were you to -perform one good act every day, you would not complete the necessary -total under a year and more, and it is now too late for that. But -henceforth amend your ways, and there may still be a chance of escape -for you." When Tai heard these words he prostrated himself on the -ground, imploring his cousin to help him; but, on raising his head, -Chi had disappeared; he therefore returned sorrowfully home, and set -to work to cleanse his heart and order his behaviour. - -Now Tai's next door neighbour had long suspected him of paying too -much attention to his wife; and one day meeting Tai in the fields -shortly after the events narrated above, he inveigled him into -inspecting a dry well, and then pushed him down. The well was many -feet deep, and the man felt certain that Tai was killed; however, in -the middle of the night he came round, and sitting up at the bottom, -he began to shout for assistance, but could not make any one hear him. -On the following day, the neighbour, fearing that Tai might possibly -have recovered consciousness, went to listen at the mouth of the well; -and hearing him cry out for help, began to throw down a quantity of -stones. Tai took refuge in a cave at the side, and did not dare utter -another sound; but his enemy knew he was not dead, and forthwith -filled the well almost up to the top with earth. In the cave it was as -dark as pitch, exactly like the Infernal Regions; and not being able -to get anything to eat or drink, Tai gave up all hopes of life. He -crawled on his hands and knees further into the cave, but was -prevented by water from going further than a few paces, and returned -to take up his position at the old spot. At first he felt hungry; -by-and-by, however, this sensation passed away; and then reflecting -that there, at the bottom of a well, he could hardly perform any good -action, he passed his time in calling loudly on the name of -Buddha.[293] Before long he saw a number of Will-o'-the-Wisps -flitting over the water and illuminating the gloom of the cave; and -immediately prayed to them, saying, "O Will-o'-the-Wisps, I have heard -that ye are the shades of wronged and injured people. I have not long -to live, and am without hope of escape; still I would gladly relieve -the monotony of my situation by exchanging a few words with you." -Thereupon, all the Wills came flitting across the water to him; and -among them was a man of about half the ordinary size. Tai asked him -whence he came; to which he replied, "This is an old coal-mine. The -proprietor, in working the coal, disturbed the position of some -graves;[294] and Mr. Lung-fei flooded the mine and drowned forty-three -workmen. We are the shades of those men." He further said he did not -know who Mr. Lung-fei was, except that he was secretary to the City -God, and that in compassion for the misfortunes of the innocent -workmen, he was in the habit of sending them a quantity of gruel every -three or four days. "But the cold water," added he, "soaks into our -bones, and there is but small chance of ever getting them removed. If, -Sir, you some day return to the world above, I pray you fish up our -decaying bones and bury them in some public burying-ground. You will -thus earn for yourself boundless gratitude in the realms below." Tai -promised that if he had the luck to escape he would do as they wished; -"but how," cried he, "situated as I am, can I ever hope to look again -upon the light of day?" He then began to teach the Wills to say their -prayers, making for them beads[295] out of bits of mud, and repeating -to them the liturgies of Buddha. He could not tell night from morning; -he slept when he felt tired, and when he waked he sat up. Suddenly, he -perceived in the distance the light of lamps, at which the shades all -rejoiced, and said, "It is Mr. Lung-fei with our food." They then -invited Tai to go with them; and when he said he couldn't because of -the water, they bore him along over it so that he hardly seemed to -walk. After twisting and turning about for nearly a quarter of a mile, -he reached a place at which the Wills bade him walk by himself; and -then he appeared to mount a flight of steps, at the top of which he -found himself in an apartment lighted by a candle as thick round as -one's arm. Not having seen the light of fire for some time, he was -overjoyed and walked in; but observing an old man in a scholar's dress -and cap seated in the post of honour, he stopped, not liking to -advance further. But the old man had already caught sight of him, and -asked him how he, a living man, had come there. Tai threw himself on -the ground at his feet, and told him all; whereupon the old man cried -out, "My great-grandson!" He then bade him get up; and offering him a -seat, explained that his own name was Tai Ch'ien, and that he was -otherwise known as Lung-fei. He said, moreover, that in days gone by a -worthless grandson of his named T'ang, had associated himself with a -lot of scoundrels and sunk a well near his grave, disturbing the peace -of his everlasting night; and that therefore he had flooded the place -with salt water and drowned them. He then inquired as to the general -condition of the family at that time. - -Now Tai was a descendant of one of five brothers, from the eldest of -whom T'ang himself was also descended; and an influential man of the -place had bribed T'ang to open a mine[296] alongside the family grave. -His brothers were afraid to interfere; and by-and-by the water rose -and drowned all the workmen; whereupon actions for damages were -commenced by the relatives of the deceased,[297] and T'ang and his -friend were reduced to poverty, and T'ang's descendants to absolute -destitution. Tai was a son of one of T'ang's brothers, and having -heard this story from his seniors, now repeated it to the old man. -"How could they be otherwise than unfortunate," cried the latter, -"with such an unfilial progenitor? But since you have come hither, you -must on no account neglect your studies." The old man then provided -him with food and wine, and spreading a volume of essays according to -the old style before him, bade him study it most carefully. He also -gave him themes for composition, and corrected his essays as if he had -been his tutor. The candle remained always burning in the room, never -needing to be snuffed and never decreasing. When he was tired he went -to sleep, but he never knew day from night. The old man occasionally -went out, leaving a boy to attend to his great-grandson's wants. It -seemed that several years passed away thus, but Tai had no troubles of -any kind to annoy him. He had no other book except the volume of -essays, one hundred in all, which he read through more than four -thousand times. One day the old man said to him, "Your term of -expiation is nearly completed, and you will be able to return to the -world above. My grave is near the coal-mine, and the grosser breeze -plays upon my bones. Remember to remove them to Tung-yuean." Tai -promised he would see to this; and then the old man summoned all the -shades together and instructed them to escort Tai back to the place -where they had found him. The shades now bowed one after the other, -and begged Tai to think of them as well, while Tai himself was quite -at a loss to guess how he was going to get out. - -Meanwhile, Tai's family had searched for him everywhere, and his -mother had brought his case to the notice of the officials, thereby -implicating a large number of persons, but without getting any trace -of the missing man. Three or four years passed away and there was a -change of magistrate; in consequence of which the search was relaxed, -and Tai's wife, not being happy where she was, married another -husband. Just then an inhabitant of the place set about repairing the -old well and found Tai's body in the cave at the bottom. Touching it, -he found it was not dead, and at once gave information to the family. -Tai was promptly conveyed home, and within a day he could tell his own -story. - -Since he had been down the well, the neighbour who pushed him in had -beaten his own wife to death; and his father-in-law having brought an -action against him, he had been in confinement for more than a year -while the case was being investigated.[298] When released he was a -mere bag of bones;[299] and then hearing that Tai had come back to -life, he was terribly alarmed and fled away. The family tried to -persuade Tai to take proceedings against him, but this he would not -do, alleging that what had befallen him was a proper punishment for -his own bad behaviour, and had nothing to do with the neighbour. Upon -this, the said neighbour ventured to return; and when the water in the -well had dried up, Tai hired men to go down and collect the bones, -which he put in coffins and buried all together in one place. He next -hunted up Mr. Lung-fei's name in the family tables of genealogy, and -proceeded to sacrifice all kinds of nice things at his tomb. By-and-by -the Literary Chancellor[300] heard this strange story, and was also -very pleased with Tai's compositions; accordingly, Tai passed -successfully through his examinations, and, having taken his master's -degree, returned home and reburied Mr. Lung-fei at Tung-yuean, -repairing thither regularly every spring without fail.[301] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[292] I have already discussed the subject of drunkenness in China -(_Chinese Sketches_, pp. 113, 114), and shall not return to it here, -further than to quote a single sentence, to which I adhere as firmly -now as when the book in question was published:--"Who ever sees in -China a tipsy man reeling about a crowded thoroughfare, or lying with -his head in a ditch by the side of some country road?" - -It is not, however, generally known that the Chinese, with their usual -quaintness, distinguish between five kinds of drunkenness, different -people being differently affected, according to the physical -constitution of each. Wine may fly (1) to the heart, and produce -maudlin emotions; or (2) to the liver, and incite to pugnacity; or (3) -to the stomach, and cause drowsiness, accompanied by a flushing of the -face; or (4) to the lungs, and induce hilarity; or (5) to the kidneys, -and excite desire. - -[293] "The very name of Buddha, if pronounced with a devout heart -1,000 or 5,000 times, will effectually dispel all harassing thoughts, -all fightings within and fears without."--_Eitel._ - -[294] A religious and social offence of the deepest dye, sure to -entail punishment in the world to come, even if the perpetrator -escapes detection in this life. - -[295] The Buddhist rosary consists of 108 beads, which number is the -same as that of the compartments in the _Phrabat_ or sacred footprint -of Buddha. - -[296] It here occurred to me that the word hitherto translated "well" -should have been "shaft;" but the commentator refers expressly to the -_Tso Chuan_, where the phrase for "a dry well," as first used, is so -explained. We must accordingly fall back on the supposition that our -author has committed a trifling slip. - -[297] See No. LI., note 285. - -[298] That is, as to whether or not there were extenuating -circumstances, in which case no punishment would be inflicted. - -[299] Such is the invariable result of confinement in a Chinese -prison, unless the prisoner has the wherewithal to purchase food. - -[300] The provincial examiner for the degree of bachelor. - -[301] To worship at his tomb. - - - - -LV. - -THE VIRTUOUS DAUGHTER-IN-LAW. - - -An Ta-ch'eng was a Chung-ch'ing man. His father, who had gained the -master's degree, died early; and his brother Erh-ch'eng was a mere -boy. He himself had married a wife from the Ch'en family, whose name -was Shan-hu; and this young lady had much to put up with from the -violent and malicious disposition of her husband's mother.[302] -However, she never complained; and every morning dressed herself up -smart, and went in to pay her respects to the old lady. Once when -Ta-ch'eng was ill, his mother abused Shan-hu for dressing so nicely; -whereupon Shan-hu went back and changed her clothes; but even then -Mrs. An was not satisfied, and began to tear her own hair with rage. -Ta-ch'eng, who was a very filial son, at once gave his wife a beating, -and this put an end to the scene. From that moment his mother hated -her more than ever, and although she was everything that a -daughter-in-law could be, would never exchange a word with her. -Ta-ch'eng then treated her in much the same way, that his mother might -see he would have nothing to do with her; still the old lady wasn't -pleased, and was always blaming Shan-hu for every trifle that -occurred. "A wife," cried Ta-ch'eng "is taken to wait upon her -mother-in-law. This state of things hardly looks like the wife doing -her duty." So he bade Shan-hu begone,[303] and sent an old -maid-servant to see her home: but when Shan-hu got outside the -village-gate, she burst into tears, and said, "How can a girl who has -failed in her duties as a wife ever dare to look her parents in the -face? I had better die." Thereupon she drew a pair of scissors and -stabbed herself in the throat, covering herself immediately with -blood. The servant prevented any further mischief, and supported her -to the house of her husband's aunt, who was a widow living by herself, -and who made Shan-hu stay with her. The servant went back and told -Ta-ch'eng, and he bade her say nothing to any one, for fear his mother -should hear of it. In a few days Shan-hu's wound was healed, and -Ta-ch'eng went off to ask his aunt to send her away. His aunt invited -him in, but he declined, demanding loudly that Shan-hu should be -turned out; and in a few moments Shan-hu herself came forth, and -inquired what she had done. Ta-ch'eng said she had failed in her duty -towards his mother; whereupon Shan-hu hung her head and made no -answer, while tears of blood[304] trickled from her eyes and stained -her dress all over. Ta-ch'eng was much touched by this spectacle, and -went away without saying any more; but before long his mother heard -all about it, and, hurrying off to the aunt's, began abusing her -roundly. This the aunt would not stand, and said it was all the fault -of her own bad temper, adding, "The girl has already left you, and has -nothing more to do with the family. Miss Ch'en is staying with me, not -your daughter-in-law; so you had better mind your own business." This -made Mrs. An furious; but she was at a loss for an answer, and, seeing -that the aunt was firm, she went off home abashed and in tears. - -Shan-hu herself was very much upset, and determined to seek shelter -elsewhere, finally taking up her abode with Mrs. An's elder sister, a -lady of sixty odd years of age, whose son had died, leaving his wife -and child to his mother's care. This Mrs. Yue was extremely fond of -Shan-hu; and when she heard the facts of the case, said it was all her -sister's horrid disposition, and proposed to send Shan-hu back. The -latter, however, would not hear of this, and they continued to live -together like mother and daughter; neither would Shan-hu accept the -invitation of her two brothers to return home and marry some one else, -but remained there with Mrs. Yue, earning enough to live upon by -spinning and such work. - -Ever since Shan-hu had been sent away, Ta-ch'eng's mother had been -endeavouring to get him another wife; but the fame of her temper had -spread far and wide, and no one would entertain her proposals. In -three or four years Erh-ch'eng had grown up, and he was married first -to a young lady named Tsang-ku, whose temper turned out to be -something fearful, and far more ungovernable even than her -mother-in-law's. When the latter only looked angry, Tsang-ku was -already at the shrieking stage; and Erh-ch'eng, being of a very meek -disposition, dared not side with either. Thus it came about that Mrs. -An began to be in mortal fear of Tsang-ku; and whenever her -daughter-in-law was in a rage she would try and turn off her anger -with a smile. She seemed never to be able to please Tsang-ku, who in -her turn worked her mother-in-law like a slave, Ta-ch'eng himself not -venturing to interfere, but only assisting his mother in washing the -dishes and sweeping the floor. Mother and son would often go to some -secluded spot, and there in secret tell their griefs to one another; -but before long Mrs. An was stretched upon a sick bed with nobody to -attend to her except Ta-ch'eng. He watched her day and night without -sleeping, until both eyes were red and inflamed; and then when he went -to summon the younger son to take his place, Tsang-ku told him to -leave the house. Ta-ch'eng now went off to inform Mrs. Yue, hoping that -she would come and assist; and he had hardly finished his tale of woe -before Shan-hu walked in. In great confusion at seeing her, he would -have left immediately had not Shan-hu held out her arms across the door; -whereupon he bolted underneath them and escaped. He did not dare tell -his mother, and shortly afterwards Mrs. Yue arrived, to the great joy -of Ta-ch'eng's mother, who made her stay in the house. Every day -something nice was sent for Mrs. Yue, and even when she told the -servants that there was no occasion for it, she having all she wanted -at her sister's, the things still came as usual. However, she kept -none of them for herself, but gave what came to the invalid, who -gradually began to improve. Mrs. Yue's grandson also used to come by -his mother's orders, and inquire after the sick lady's health, besides -bringing a packet of cakes and so on for her. "Ah, me!" cried Mrs. An, -"what a good daughter-in-law you have got, to be sure. What have you -done to her?" "What sort of a person was the one you sent away?" asked -her sister in reply. "She wasn't as bad as some one I know of," said -Mrs. An, "though not so good as yours." "When she was here you had but -little to do," replied Mrs. Yue; "and when you were angry she took no -notice of it. How was she not as good?" Mrs. An then burst into tears, -and saying how sorry she was, asked if Shan-hu had married again; to -which Mrs. Yue replied that she did not know, but would make inquiries. -In a few more days the patient was quite well, and Mrs. Yue proposed to -return; her sister, however, begged her to stay, and declared she -should die if she didn't. Mrs. Yue then advised that Erh-ch'eng and his -wife should live in a separate house, and Erh-ch'eng spoke about it -to his wife; but she would not agree, and abused both Ta-ch'eng and -his mother alike. It ended by Ta-ch'eng giving up a large share of the -property, and ultimately Tsang-ku consented, and a deed of separation -was drawn up. Mrs. Yue then went away, returning next day with a -sedan-chair to carry her sister back; and no sooner had the latter put -her foot inside Mrs. Yue's door, than she asked to see the -daughter-in-law, whom she immediately began to praise very highly. -"Ah," said Mrs. Yue, "she's a good girl, with her little faults like -the rest of us; but your daughter-in-law is just as good, though you -are not aware of it." "Alas!" replied her sister, "I must have been as -senseless as a statue not to have seen what she was." "I wonder what -Shan-hu, whom you turned out of doors, says of you," rejoined Mrs. Yue. -"Why, swears at me, of course," answered Mrs. An. "If you examine -yourself honestly and find nothing which should make people swear at -you, is it at all likely you would be sworn at?" asked Mrs. Yue. "Well, -all people are fallible," replied the other, "and as I know she is not -perfect, I conclude she would naturally swear at me." "If a person has -just cause for resentment, and yet does not indulge that resentment, -such behaviour should meet with a grateful acknowledgment; or if any -one has just cause for leaving another and yet does not do so, such -behaviour should entitle them to kind treatment. Now, all the things -that were sent when you were ill, and all the various little -attentions, did not come from my daughter-in-law but from yours." -Mrs. An was amazed at hearing this, and asked for some explanation; -whereupon Mrs. Yue continued, "Shan-hu has been living here for a long -time. Everything she sent to you was bought with money earned by her -spinning, and that, too, continued late into the night." Mrs. An here -burst into tears, and begged to be allowed to see Shan-hu, who came in -at Mrs. Yue's summons, and threw herself on the ground at her -mother-in-law's feet. Mrs. An was much abashed, and beat her head with -shame; but Mrs. Yue made it all up between them, and they became mother -and daughter as at first. In about ten days they went home, and, as -their property was not enough to support them, Ta-ch'eng had to work -with his pen while his wife did the same with her needle. Erh-ch'eng -was quite well off, but his brother would not apply to him, neither -did he himself offer to help them. Tsang-ku, too, would have nothing -to do with her sister-in-law, because she had been divorced; and -Shan-hu in her turn, knowing what Tsang-ku's temper was, made no great -efforts to be friendly. So the two brothers lived apart;[305] and when -Tsang-ku was in one of her outrageous moods, all the others would stop -their ears, till at length there was only her husband and the servants -upon whom to vent her spleen. One day a maid-servant of hers -committed suicide, and the father of the girl brought an action -against Tsang-ku for having caused her death. Erh-ch'eng went off to -the mandarin's to take her place as defendant, but only got a good -beating for his pains, as the magistrate insisted that Tsang-ku -herself should appear, and answer to the charge, in spite of all her -friends could do. The consequence was she had her fingers -squeezed[306] until the flesh was entirely taken off; and the -magistrate, being a grasping man, a very severe fine was inflicted as -well. Erh-ch'eng had now to mortgage his property before he could -raise enough money to get Tsang-ku released; but before long the -mortgagee threatened to foreclose, and he was obliged to enter into -negotiations for the sale of it to an old gentleman of the village -named Jen. Now Mr. Jen, knowing that half the property had belonged to -Ta-ch'eng, said the deed of sale must be signed by the elder brother -as well; however, when Ta-ch'eng reached his house, the old man cried -out, "I am Mr. An, M.A., who is this Jen that he should buy my -property?" Then, looking at Ta-ch'eng, he added, "The filial piety of -you and your wife has obtained for me in the realms below this -interview;" upon which Ta-ch'eng said, "O father, since you have this -power, help my younger brother." "The unfilial son and the vixenish -daughter-in-law," said the old man, "deserve no pity. Go home and -quickly buy back our ancestral property." "We have barely enough to -live upon," replied Ta-ch'eng; "where, then, shall we find the -necessary money?" "Beneath the crape myrtle-tree,"[307] answered his -father, "you will find a store of silver, which you may take and use -for this purpose." Ta-ch'eng would have questioned him further, but -the old gentleman said no more, recovering consciousness shortly -afterwards[308] without knowing a word of what had happened. Ta-ch'eng -went back and told his brother, who did not altogether believe the -story; Tsang-ku, however, hurried off with a number of men, and had -soon dug a hole four or five feet deep, at the bottom of which they -found a quantity of bricks and stones, but no gold. She then gave up -the idea and returned home, Ta-ch'eng having meanwhile warned his -mother and wife not to go near the place while she was digging. When -Tsang-ku left, Mrs. An went herself to have a look, and seeing only -bricks and earth mingled together, she, too, retraced her steps. -Shan-hu was the next to go, and she found the hole full of silver -bullion; and then Ta-ch'eng repaired to the spot and saw that there -was no mistake about it. Not thinking it right to apply this heir-loom -to his own private use, he now summoned Erh-ch'eng to share it; and -having obtained twice as much as was necessary to redeem the estate, -the brothers returned to their homes. Erh-ch'eng and Tsang-ku opened -their half together, when lo! the bag was full of tiles and rubbish. -They at once suspected Ta-ch'eng of deceiving them, and Erh-ch'eng ran -off to see how things were going at his brother's. He arrived just as -Ta-ch'eng was spreading the silver on the table, and with his mother -and wife rejoicing over their acquisition; and when he had told them -what had occurred, Ta-ch'eng expressed much sympathy for him, and at -once presented him with his own half of the treasure. Erh-ch'eng was -delighted, and paid off the mortgage on the land, feeling very -grateful to his brother for such kindness. Tsang-ku, however, declared -it was a proof that Ta-ch'eng had been cheating him; "for how, -otherwise," argued she, "can you understand a man sharing anything -with another, and then resigning his own half?" - -Erh-ch'eng himself did not know what to think of it; but next day the -mortgagee sent to say that the money paid in was all imitation silver, -and that he was about to lay the case before the authorities. Husband -and wife were greatly alarmed at this, and Tsang-ku exclaimed, "Well, -I never thought your brother was as bad as this. He's simply trying to -take your life." Erh-ch'eng himself was in a terrible fright, and -hurried off to the mortgagee to entreat for mercy; but as the latter -was extremely angry and would hear of no compromise, Erh-ch'eng was -obliged to make over the property to him to dispose of himself. The -money was then returned, and when he got home he found that two lumps -had been cut through, shewing merely an outside layer of silver, about -as thick as an onion-leaf, covering nothing but copper within. -Tsang-ku and Erh-ch'eng then agreed to keep the broken pieces -themselves, but send the rest back to Ta-ch'eng, with a message, -saying that they were deeply indebted to him for all his kindness, and -that they had ventured to retain two of the lumps of silver out of -compliment to the giver; also that Ta-ch'eng might consider himself -the owner of the mortgaged land, which he could redeem or not as he -pleased. Ta-ch'eng, who did not perceive the intention in all this, -refused to accept the land; however, Erh-ch'eng entreated him to do -so, and at last he consented. When he came to weigh the money, he -found it was five ounces short, and therefore bade Shan-hu pawn -something from her jewel-box to make up the amount, with which he -proceeded to pay off the mortgage. The mortgagee, suspecting it was -the same money that had been offered him by Erh-ch'eng, cut the pieces -in halves, and saw that it was all silver of the purest quality. -Accordingly he accepted it in liquidation of his claim, and handed the -mortgage back to Ta-ch'eng. Meanwhile, Erh-ch'eng had been expecting -some catastrophe; but when he found that the mortgaged land had been -redeemed, he did not know what to make of it. Tsang-ku thought that at -the time of the digging Ta-ch'eng had concealed the genuine silver, -and immediately rushed off to his house, and began to revile them all -round. Ta-ch'eng now understood why they had sent him back the money; -and Shan-hu laughed and said, "The property is safe; why, then, this -anger?" Thereupon she made Ta-ch'eng hand over the deeds to Tsang-ku. - -One night after this Erh-ch'eng's father appeared to him in a dream, -and reproached him, saying, "Unfilial son, unfraternal brother, your -hour is at hand. Wherefore usurp rights that do not belong to you?" In -the morning Erh-ch'eng told Tsang-ku of his dream, and proposed to -return the property to his brother; but she only laughed at him for a -fool. Just then the eldest of his two sons, a boy of seven, died of -small-pox, and this frightened Tsang-ku so that she agreed to restore -the deeds. Ta-ch'eng would not accept them; and now the second child, -a boy of three, died also; whereupon Tsang-ku seized the deeds, and -threw them into her brother-in-law's house. Spring was over, but the -land was in a terribly neglected state; so Ta-ch'eng set to work and -put it in order again. From this moment Tsang-ku was a changed woman -towards her mother- and sister-in-law; and when, six months later, -Mrs. An died, she was so grieved that she refused to take any -nourishment. "Alas!" cried she, "that my mother-in-law has died thus -early, and prevented me from waiting upon her. Heaven will not allow -me to retrieve my past errors." Tsang-ku had thirteen children,[309] -but as none of them lived, they were obliged to adopt one of -Ta-ch'eng's,[310] who, with his wife, lived to a good old age, and had -three sons, two of whom took their doctor's degree. People said this -was a reward for filial piety and brotherly love. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[302] See No. XLIII., note 248. - -[303] See No. LIII., note 288. - -[304] Such is the Chinese idiom for what we should call "bitter" -tears. This phrase is constantly employed in the notices of the death -of a parent sent round to friends and relatives. - -[305] A disgraceful state of things, in the eyes of the Chinese. See -the paraphrase of the _Sacred Edict_, Maxim 1. - -[306] An illegal form of punishment, under the present dynasty, which -authorizes only _bambooing_ of two kinds, each of five degrees of -severity; _banishment_, of three degrees of duration; _transportation_ -for life, of three degrees of distance; and _death_, of two kinds, -namely, by strangulation and decapitation. That torture is -occasionally resorted to by the officers of the Chinese Empire is an -indisputable fact; that it is commonly employed by the whole body of -mandarins could only be averred by those who have not had the -opportunities or the desire to discover the actual truth. - -[307] _Lagerstroemia indica._ - -[308] That is, old Mr. Jen's body had been possessed by the -disembodied spirit of Ta-ch'eng's father. - -[309] Five is considered a large number for an ordinary Chinese woman. - -[310] In order to leave some one behind to look after their graves and -perform the duties of ancestral worship. No one can well refuse to -give a son to be adopted by a childless brother. - - - - -LVI. - -DR. TSENG'S DREAM. - - -There was a Fohkien gentleman named Tseng, who had just taken his -doctor's degree. One day he was out walking with several other -recently-elected doctors, when they heard that at a temple hard by -there lived an astrologer, and accordingly the party proceeded thither -to get their fortunes told. They went in and sat down, and the -astrologer made some very complimentary remarks to Tseng, at which he -fanned himself and smiled, saying, "Have I any chance of ever wearing -the dragon robes and the jade girdle?"[311] The astrologer[312] -immediately put on a serious face, and replied that he would be a -Secretary of State during twenty years of national tranquillity. -Thereupon Tseng was much pleased, and began to give himself greater -airs than ever. A slight rain coming on, they sought shelter in the -priest's quarters, where they found an old bonze, with sunken eyes and -a big nose, sitting upon a mat. He took no notice of the strangers, -who, after having bowed to him, stretched themselves upon the couches -to chat, not forgetting to congratulate Tseng upon the destiny which -had been foretold him. Tseng, too, seemed to think the thing was a -matter of certainty, and mentioned the names of several friends he -intended to advance, amongst others the old family butler. Roars of -laughter greeted this announcement, mingled with the patter-patter of -the increasing rain outside. Tseng then curled himself up for a nap, -when suddenly in walked two officials bearing a commission under the -Great Seal appointing Tseng to the Grand Secretariat. As soon as Tseng -understood their errand, he rushed off at once to pay his respects to -the Emperor, who graciously detained him some time in conversation, -and then issued instructions that the promotion and dismissal of all -officers below the third grade[313] should be vested in Tseng alone. -He was next presented with the dragon robes, the jade girdle, and a -horse from the imperial stables, after which he performed the -_ko-t'ow_[314] before His Majesty and took his leave. He then went -home, but it was no longer the old home of his youth. Painted beams, -carved pillars, and a general profusion of luxury and elegance, made -him wonder where on earth he was; until, nervously stroking his -beard, he ventured to call out in a low tone. Immediately the -responses of numberless attendants echoed through the place like -thunder. Presents of costly food were sent to him by all the grandees, -and his gate was absolutely blocked up by the crowds of retainers who -were constantly coming and going. When Privy Councillors came to -see him, he would rush out in haste to receive them; when -Under-Secretaries of State visited him, he made them a polite bow; but -to all below these he would hardly vouchsafe a word. The Governor of -Shansi sent him twelve singing-girls, two of whom, Ni-ni and Fairy, he -made his favourites. All day long he had nothing to do but find -amusement as best he could, until he bethought himself that formerly a -man named Wang had often assisted him with money. Thereupon he -memorialized the Throne and obtained official employment for him. Then -he recollected that there was another man to whom he owed a -long-standing grudge. He at once caused this man, who was in the -Government service, to be impeached and stripped of his rank and -dignities. Thus he squared accounts with both. One day when out in his -chair a drunken man bumped against one of his tablet-bearers.[315] -Tseng had him seized and sent in to the mayor's yamen, where he died -under the bamboo. Owners of land adjoining his would make him a -present of the richest portions, fearing the consequences if they did -not do so; and thus he became very wealthy, almost on a par with the -State itself. By-and-by, Ni-ni and Fairy died, and Tseng was -overwhelmed with grief. Suddenly he remembered that in former years he -had seen a beautiful girl whom he wished to purchase as a concubine, -but want of money had then prevented him from carrying out his -intention. Now there was no longer that difficulty; and accordingly he -sent off two trusty servants to get the girl by force. In a short time -she arrived, when he found that she had grown more beautiful than -ever; and so his cup of happiness was full. But years rolled on, and -gradually his fellow-officials became estranged, Tseng taking no -notice of their behaviour, until at last one of them impeached him to -the Throne in a long and bitter memorial. Happily, however, the -Emperor still regarded him with favour, and for some time kept the -memorial by him unanswered. Then followed a joint memorial from the -whole of the Privy Council, including those who had once thronged his -doors, and had falsely called him their dear father. The Imperial -rescript to this document was "Banishment to Yunnan,"[316] his son, -who was Governor of P'ing-yang, being also implicated in his guilt. -When Tseng heard the news, he was overcome with fear; but an armed -guard was already at his gate, and the lictors were forcing their way -into his innermost apartments. They tore off his robe and official -hat, and bound him and his wife with cords. Then they collected -together in the hall his gold, his silver, and bank-notes,[317] to the -value of many hundred thousands of taels. His pearls, and jade, and -precious stones filled many bushel baskets. His curtains, and screens, -and beds, and other articles of furniture were brought out by -thousands; while the swaddling-clothes of his infant boy and the shoes -of his little girl were lying littered about the steps. It was a sad -sight for Tseng; but a worse blow was that of his concubine carried -off almost lifeless before his eyes, himself not daring to utter a -word. Then all the apartments, store-rooms, and treasuries were sealed -up; and, with a volley of curses, the soldiers bade Tseng begone, and -proceeded to leave the place, dragging Tseng with them. The husband -and wife prayed that they might be allowed some old cart, but this -favour was denied them. After about ten _li_, Tseng's wife could -barely walk, her feet being swollen and sore. Tseng helped her along -as best he could, but another ten _li_ reduced him to a state of -abject fatigue. By-and-by they saw before them a great mountain, the -summit of which was lost in the clouds; and, fearing they should be -made to ascend it, Tseng and his wife stood still and began to weep. -The lictors, however, clamoured round them, and would permit of no -rest. The sun was rapidly sinking, and there was no place at hand -where they could obtain shelter for the night. So they continued on -their weary way until about half-way up the hill, when his wife's -strength was quite exhausted, and she sat down by the roadside. Tseng, -too, halted to rest in spite of the soldiers and their abuse; but they -had hardly stopped a moment before down came a band of robbers upon -them, each with a sharp knife in his hand. The soldiers immediately -took to their heels, and Tseng fell on his knees before the robbers, -saying, "I am a poor criminal going into banishment, and have nothing -to give you. I pray you spare my life." But the robbers sternly -replied, "We are all the victims of your crimes, and now we want your -wicked head." Then Tseng began to revile them, saying, "Dogs! though I -am under sentence of banishment, I am still an officer of the State." -But the robbers cursed him again, flourishing a sword over his neck, -and the next thing he heard was the noise of his own head as it fell -with a thud to the ground. At the same instant two devils stepped -forward and seized him each by one hand, compelling him to go with -them. After a little while they arrived at a great city where there -was a hideously ugly king sitting upon a throne judging between good -and evil. Tseng crawled before him on his hands and knees to receive -sentence, and the king, after turning over a few pages of his -register, thundered out, "The punishment of a traitor who has brought -misfortune on his country: the cauldron of boiling oil!" To this ten -thousand devils responded with a cry like a clap of thunder, and one -huge monster led Tseng down alongside the cauldron, which was seven -feet in height, and surrounded on all sides by blazing fuel, so that -it was of a glowing red heat. Tseng shrieked for mercy, but it was all -up with him, for the devil seized him by the hair and the small of his -back and pitched him headlong in. Down he fell with a splash, and rose -and sank with the bubbling of the oil, which ate through his flesh -into his very vitals. He longed to die, but death would not come to -him. After about half-an-hour's boiling, a devil took him out on a -pitchfork and threw him down before the Infernal King, who again -consulted his note-book, and said, "You relied on your position to -treat others with contumely and injustice, for which you must suffer -on the Sword-Hill." Again he was led away by devils to a large hill -thickly studded with sharp swords, their points upwards like the -shoots of bamboo, with here and there the remains of many miserable -wretches who had suffered before him. Tseng again cried for mercy and -crouched upon the ground; but a devil bored into him with a poisoned -awl until he screamed with pain. He was then seized and flung up high -into the air, falling down right on the sword points, to his most -frightful agony. This was repeated several times until he was almost -hacked to pieces. He was then brought once more before the king, who -asked what was the amount of his peculations while on earth. -Immediately an accountant came forward with an abacus, and said that -the whole sum was 3,210,000 taels, whereupon the king replied, "Let -him drink that amount." Forthwith the devils piled up a great heap of -gold and silver, and, when they had melted it in a huge crucible, -began pouring it into Tseng's mouth. The pain was excruciating as the -molten metal ran down his throat into his vitals; but since in life he -had never been able to get enough of the dross, it was determined he -should feel no lack of it then. He was half-a-day drinking it, and -then the king ordered him away to be born again as a woman[318] in -Kan-chou. A few steps brought them to a huge frame, where on an iron -axle revolved a mighty wheel many hundred _yojanas_[319] in -circumference, and shining with a brilliant light. The devils flogged -Tseng on to the wheel, and he shut his eyes as he stepped up. Then -whiz--and away he went, feet foremost, round with the wheel, until he -felt himself tumble off and a cold thrill ran through him, when he -opened his eyes and found he was changed into a girl. He saw his -father and mother in rags and tatters, and in one corner a beggar's -bowl and a staff,[320] and understood the calamity that had befallen -him. Day after day he begged about the streets, and his inside rumbled -for want of food; he had no clothes to his back. At fourteen years of -age he was sold to a gentleman as concubine; and then, though food and -clothes were not wanting, he had to put up with the scoldings and -floggings of the wife, who one day burnt him with a hot iron.[321] -Luckily the gentleman took a fancy to him and treated him well, which -kindness Tseng repaid by an irreproachable fidelity. It happened, -however, that on one occasion when they were chatting together, -burglars broke into the house and killed the gentleman, Tseng having -escaped by hiding himself under the bed. Thereupon he was immediately -charged by the wife with murder, and on being taken before the -authorities was sentenced to die the "lingering death."[322] This -sentence was at once carried out with tortures more horrible than any -in all the Courts of Purgatory, in the middle of which Tseng heard one -of his companions call out, "Hullo, there! you've got the nightmare." -Tseng got up and rubbed his eyes, and his friends said, "It's quite -late in the day, and we're all very hungry." But the old priest -smiled, and asked him if the prophecy as to his future rank was true -or not. Tseng bowed and begged him to explain; whereupon the old -priest said, "For those who cultivate virtue, a lily will grow up even -in the fiery pit."[323] Tseng had gone thither full of pride and -vainglory; he went home an altered man. From that day he thought no -more of becoming a Secretary of State, but retired into the hills, and -I know not what became of him after that. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[311] That is, of rising to the highest offices of State. - -[312] The Chinese term used throughout is "star-man." - -[313] Chinese official life is divided into nine grades. - -[314] Prostrating himself three times, and knocking his head on the -ground thrice at each prostration. - -[315] The _retinue_ of a high mandarin is composed as follows:--First, -gong-bearers, then bannermen, tablet-bearers (on which tablets are -inscribed the titles of the official), a large red umbrella, mounted -attendants, a box containing a change of clothes, bearers of regalia, -a second gong, a small umbrella or sunshade, a large wooden fan, -executioners, lictors from hell, who wear tall hats; a mace (called a -"golden melon"), bamboos for "bambooing," incense-bearers, more -attendants, and now the great man himself, followed by a body-guard of -soldiers and a few personal attendants, amounting in all to nearly one -hundred persons, many of whom are mere street-rowdies or beggars, -hired at a trifling outlay when required to join what might otherwise -be an imposing procession. The scanty _retinues_ of foreign officials -in China still continue to excite the scorn of the populace, who love -to compare the rag-tag and bob-tail magnificence of their own -functionaries with the modest show even of H.B.M.'s Minister at -Peking. - -[316] A land journey of about three months, ending in a region which -the Chinese have always regarded as semi-barbarous. - -[317] This use of paper money in China is said to date from A.D. 1236; -that is, during the reign of the Mongol Emperor, Ogdai Khan. - -[318] This contingency is much dreaded by the Chinese. - -[319] A _yojana_ has been variously estimated at from five to nine -English miles. - -[320] The _patra_ and _khakkharam_ of the _bikshu_ or Buddhist -mendicant. - -[321] It is not considered quite correct to take a concubine unless -the wife is childless, in which case it is held that the proposition -to do so, and thus secure the much-desired posterity, should emanate -from the wife herself. On page 41 of Vol. XIII., of this author, we -read, "and if at thirty years of age you have no children, then sell -your hair-pins and other ornaments, and buy a concubine for your -husband. For the childless state is a hard one to bear;" or, as Victor -Hugo puts it in his _Legende des Siecles_, there is nothing so sad as -"la maison sans enfants." - -[322] This is the celebrated form of death, reserved for parricide and -similar awful crimes, about which so much has been written. Strictly -speaking, the malefactor should be literally chopped to pieces in -order to prolong his agonies; but the sentence is now rarely, if ever, -carried out in its extreme sense. A few gashes are made upon the -wretched victim's body, and he is soon put out of his misery by -decapitation. As a matter of fact, this death is not enumerated among -the _Five Punishments_ authorized by the Penal Code of the present -dynasty. See No. LV., note 306. - -[323] Alluding to a well-known Buddhist miracle in which a _bikshu_ -was to be thrown into a cauldron of boiling water in a fiery pit, when -suddenly a lotus-flower came forth, the fire was extinguished, and the -water became cold. - - - - -LVII. - -THE COUNTRY OF THE CANNIBALS.[324] - - -At Chiao-chou[325] there lived a man named Hsue, who gained his living -by trading across the sea. On one occasion he was carried far out of -his course by a violent tempest, and reached a country of high hills -and dense jungle,[326] where, after making fast his boat and taking -provisions with him, he landed, hoping to meet with some of the -inhabitants. He then saw that the rocks were covered with large holes, -like the cells of bees; and, hearing the sound of voices from within, -he stopped in front of one of them and peeped in. To his infinite -horror he beheld two hideous beings, with thick rows of horrid fangs, -and eyes that glared like lamps, engaged in tearing to pieces and -devouring some raw deer's flesh; and, turning round, he would have -fled instantly from the spot, had not the cave-men already espied -him; and, leaving their food, they seized him and dragged him in. -Thereupon ensued a chattering between them, resembling the noise of -birds or beasts,[327] and they proceeded to pull off Hsue's clothes as -if about to eat him; but Hsue, who was frightened almost to death, -offered them the food he had in his wallet, which they ate up with -great relish, and looked inside for more. Hsue waved his hand to shew -it was all finished, and then they angrily seized him again; at which -he cried out, "I have a saucepan in my boat, and can cook you some." -The cave-men did not understand what he said; but, by dint of -gesticulating freely, they at length seemed to have an idea of what he -meant; and, having taken him down to the shore to fetch the saucepan, -they returned with him to the cave, where he lighted a fire and cooked -the remainder of the deer, with the flavour of which they appeared to -be mightily pleased. At night they rolled a big stone to the mouth of -the cave,[328] fearing lest he should try to escape; and Hsue himself -lay down at a distance from them in doubt as to whether his life would -be spared. At daybreak the cave-men went out, leaving the entrance -blocked, and by-and-by came back with a deer, which they gave to Hsue -to cook. Hsue flayed the carcase, and from a remote corner of the cave -took some water and prepared a large quantity, which was no sooner -ready than several other cave-men arrived to join in the feast. When -they had finished all there was, they made signs that Hsue's saucepan -was too small; and three or four days afterwards they brought him a -large one of the same shape as those in common use amongst men, -subsequently furnishing him with constant supplies of wolf and -deer,[329] of which they always invited him to partake. By degrees -they began to treat him kindly, and not to shut him up when they went -out; and Hsue, too, gradually learnt to understand, and even to speak, -a little of their language, which pleased them so much that they -finally gave him a cave-woman for his wife. Hsue was horribly afraid of -her; but, as she treated him with great consideration, always -reserving tit-bits of food for him, they lived very happily together. -One day all the cave-people got up early in the morning, and, having -adorned themselves with strings of fine pearls, they went forth as if -to meet some honoured guest, giving orders to Hsue to cook an extra -quantity of meat that day. "It is the birthday of our King," said -Hsue's wife to him; and then, running out, she informed the other -cave-people that her husband had no pearls. So each gave five from -his own string, and Hsue's wife added ten to these, making in all -fifty, which she threaded on a hempen fibre and hung around his neck, -each pearl being worth over an hundred ounces of silver. Then they -went away, and as soon as Hsue had finished his cooking, his wife -appeared and invited him to come and receive the King. So off they -went to a huge cavern, covering about a mow[330] of ground, in which -was a huge stone, smoothed away at the top like a table, with stone -seats at the four sides. At the upper end was a dais, over which was -spread a leopard's skin, the other seats having only deer-skins; and -within the cavern some twenty or thirty cave-men ranged themselves on -the seats. After a short interval a great wind began to stir up the -dust, and they all rushed out to a creature very much resembling -themselves, which hurried into the cave, and, squatting down -cross-legged, cocked its head and looked about like a cormorant. The -other cave-men then filed in and took up their positions right and -left of the dais, where they stood gazing up at the King with their -arms folded before them in the form of a cross. The King counted them -one by one, and asked if they were all present; and when they replied -in the affirmative, he looked at Hsue and inquired who he was. -Thereupon Hsue's wife stepped forward and said he was her husband, and -the others all loudly extolled his skill in cookery, two of them -running out and bringing back some cooked meat, which they set before -the King. His Majesty swallowed it by handfuls, and found it so nice -that he gave orders to be supplied regularly; and then, turning to -Hsue, he asked him why his string of beads[331] was so short. "He has -but recently arrived among us," replied the cave-men, "and hasn't got -a complete set;" upon which the King drew ten pearls from the string -round his own neck and bestowed them upon Hsue. Each was as big as the -top of one's finger, and as round as a bullet; and Hsue's wife threaded -them for him and hung them round his neck. Hsue himself crossed his -arms and thanked the King in the language of the country, after which -His Majesty went off in a gust of wind as rapidly as a bird can fly, -and the cave-men sat down and finished what was left of the banquet. -Four years afterwards Hsue's wife gave birth to a triplet of two boys -and one girl, all of whom were ordinary human beings, and not at all -like the mother; at which the other cave-people were delighted, and -would often play with them and caress them.[332] Three years passed -away, and the children could walk about, after which their father -taught them to speak his own tongue; and in their early babblings -their human origin was manifested. The boys, as mere children, could -climb about on the mountains as easily as though walking upon a level -road; and between them and their father there grew up a mutual feeling -of attachment. One day the mother had gone out with the girl and one -of the boys, and was absent for a long time. A strong north wind was -blowing, and Hsue, filled with thoughts of his old home, led his other -son down with him to the beach, where lay the boat in which he had -formerly reached this country. He then proposed to the boy that they -should go away together; and, having explained to him that they could -not inform his mother, father and son stepped on board, and, after a -voyage of only twenty-four hours, arrived safely at Chiao-chou. On -reaching home Hsue found that his wife had married again; so he sold -two of his pearls for an enormous sum of money,[333] and set up a -splendid establishment. His son was called Piao, and at fourteen or -fifteen years of age the boy could lift a weight of three thousand -catties[334] (4,000 lbs.). He was extremely fond of athletics of all -kinds, and thus attracted the notice of the Commander-in-Chief, who -gave him a commission as sub-lieutenant. Just at that time there -happened to be some trouble on the frontier, and young Piao, having -covered himself with glory, was made a colonel at the age of eighteen. - -About that time another merchant was driven by stress of weather to -the country of the cave-men, and had hardly stepped ashore before he -observed a young man whom he knew at once to be of Chinese origin. The -young man asked him whence he came, and finally took him into a cave -hid away in a dark valley and concealed by the dense jungle. There he -bade him remain, and in a little while he returned with some deer's -flesh, which he gave the merchant to eat, saying at the same time that -his own father was a Chiao-chou man. The merchant now knew that the -young man was Hsue's son, he himself being acquainted with Hsue as a -trader in the same line of business. "Why, he's an old friend of -mine," cried the latter; "his other son is now a colonel." The young -man did not know what was meant by a _colonel_, so the merchant told -him it was the title of a Chinese mandarin. "And what is a -_mandarin_?" asked the youth. "A mandarin," replied the merchant, "is -one who goes out with a chair and horses; who at home sits upon a dais -in the hall; whose summons is answered by a hundred voices; who is -looked at only with sidelong eyes, and in whose presence all people -stand aslant;--this is to be a mandarin." The young man was deeply -touched at this recital, and at length the merchant said to him, -"Since your honoured father is at Chiao-chou, why do you remain here?" -"Indeed," replied the youth, "I have often indulged the same feeling; -but my mother is not a Chinese woman, and, apart from the difference -of her language and appearance, I fear that if the other cave-people -found it out they would do us some mischief." He then took his leave, -being in rather a disturbed state of mind, and bade the merchant wait -until the wind should prove favourable,[335] when he promised to come -and see him off, and charge him with a letter to his father and -brother. Six months the merchant remained in that cave, occasionally -taking a peep at the cave-people passing backwards and forwards, but -not daring to leave his retreat. As soon as the monsoon set in the -young man arrived and urged him to hurry away, begging him, also, not -to forget the letter to his father. So the merchant sailed away and -soon reached Chiao-chou, where he visited the colonel and told him the -whole story. Piao was much affected, and wished to go in search of -those members of the family; but his father feared the dangers he -would encounter, and advised him not to think of such a thing. -However, Piao was not to be deterred; and having imparted his scheme -to the commander-in-chief, he took with him two soldiers and set off. -Adverse winds prevailed at that time, and they beat about for half a -moon, until they were out of sight of all land, could not see a foot -before them, and had completely lost their reckoning. Just then a -mighty sea arose and capsized their boat, tossing Piao into the -water, where he floated about for some time at the will of the waves, -until suddenly somebody dragged him out and carried him into a house. -Then he saw that his rescuer was to all appearances a cave-man, and -accordingly he addressed him in the cave-people's language, and told -him whither he himself was bound. "It is my native place," replied the -cave-man, in astonishment; "but you will excuse my saying that you are -now 8,000 _li_ out of your course. This is the way to the country of -the Poisonous Dragons, and not your route at all." He then went off to -find a boat for Piao, and, himself swimming in the water behind, -pushed it along like an arrow from a bow, so quickly that by the next -day they had traversed the whole distance. On the shore Piao observed -a young man walking up and down and evidently watching him; and, -knowing that no human beings dwelt there, he guessed at once that he -was his brother. Approaching more closely, he saw that he was right; -and, seizing the young man's hand, he asked after his mother and -sister. On hearing that they were well, he would have gone directly to -see them; but the younger one begged him not to do so, and ran away -himself to fetch them. Meanwhile, Piao turned to thank the cave-man -who had brought him there, but he, too, had disappeared. In a few -minutes his mother and sister arrived, and, on seeing Piao, they could -not restrain their tears. Piao then laid his scheme before them, and -when they said they feared people would ill-treat them, he replied, -"In China I hold a high position, and people will not dare to shew -you disrespect." Thus they determined to go. The wind, however, was -against them, and mother and son were at a loss what to do, when -suddenly the sail bellied out towards the south, and a rustling sound -was heard. "Heaven helps us, my mother!" cried Piao, full of joy; and, -hurrying on board at once, in three days they had reached their -destination. As they landed the people fled right and left in fear, -Piao having divided his own clothes amongst the party; and when they -arrived at the house, and his mother saw Hsue, she began to rate him -soundly for running away without her. Hsue hastened to acknowledge his -error, and then all the family and servants were introduced to her, -each one being in mortal dread of such a singular personage. Piao now -bade his mother learn to talk Chinese, and gave her any quantity of -fine clothes and rich meats, to the infinite delight of the old lady. -She and her daughter both dressed in man's clothes, and by the end of -a few months were able to understand what was said to them. The -brother, named Pao [Leopard], and the sister, Yeh [Night], were both -clever enough, and immensely strong into the bargain. Piao was ashamed -that Pao could not read, and set to work to teach him; and the -youngster was so quick that he learnt the sacred books[336] and -histories by merely reading them once over. However, he would not -enter upon a literary career, loving better to draw a strong bow or -ride a spirited horse, and finally taking the highest military -degree. He married the daughter of a post-captain; but his sister had -some trouble in getting a husband, because of her being the child of a -cave-woman. At length a serjeant, named Yuean, who was under her -brother's command, was forced to take her as his wife. She could draw -a hundred-catty bow, and shoot birds at a hundred paces without ever -missing. Whenever Yuean went to battle she went with him; and his -subsequent rise to high rank was chiefly due to her. At thirty-four -years of age Pao got a command; and in his great battles his mother, -clad in armour and grasping a spear, would fight by his side, to the -terror of all their adversaries; and when he himself received the -dignity of an hereditary title, he memorialized the Throne to grant -his mother the title of "lady." - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[324] The Chinese term--here translated "Cannibals"--is a meaningless -imitation by two Chinese characters of the Sanscrit _yakcha_, or -certain demons who feed upon human flesh. - -[325] Hue, the capital of Cochin-China. - -[326] The island of Hainan, inhabited as it was in earlier times by a -race of savages, is the most likely source of the following marvellous -adventures. - -[327] To which sounds the languages of the west have been more than -once likened by the Chinese. It is only fair, however, to the lettered -classes to state that they have a similar contempt for their own local -dialects; regarding _Mandarin_ as the only form of speech worthy to be -employed by men. - -[328] The occasional analogies to the story of the Cyclops must be -evident to all readers. - -[329] The animal here mentioned is the plain brown deer, or _Rusa -Swinhoii_, of Formosa, in which island I should prefer to believe, but -for the great distance from Hue, that the scenes here narrated took -place. - -[330] About one sixth of an acre. On old title-deeds of landed -property in China may still be seen measurements calculated according -to the amount of grain that could be sown thereon. - -[331] The king here uses the words "ku-t'u-tz[)u]," which are probably -intended by the author to be an imitation of a term in the savage -tongue. - -[332] Fondness for children is specially a trait of Chinese character; -and a single baby would do far more to ensure the safety of a foreign -traveller in China than all the usual paraphernalia of pocket-pistols -and revolvers. - -[333] Literally, "a million of taels," the word used being the -Buddhist term _chao_. - -[334] Here again we have 100 _chuen_, one _chuen_ being equal to about -40 _lbs._ Chinese weights, measures, distances, numbers, &c., are -often very loosely employed; and it is probable that not more than 100 -_catties_, say 133 _lbs._, is here meant. - -[335] That is, until the change of the monsoon from S.W. to N.E. - -[336] See No. XLI., note 237. - - - - -LVIII. - -FOOT-BALL ON THE TUNG-T'ING LAKE. - - -Wang Shih-hsiu was a native of Lu-chou, and such a lusty fellow that -he could pick up a stone mortar.[337] Father and son were both good -foot-ball players; but when the former was about forty years of age he -was drowned while crossing the Money Pool.[338] Some eight or nine -years later our hero happened to be on his way to Hunan; and anchoring -in the Tung-t'ing lake, watched the moon rising in the east and -illuminating the water into a bright sheet of light. While he was thus -engaged, lo! from out of the lake emerged five men, bringing with them -a large mat which they spread on the surface of the water so as to -cover about six yards square. Wine and food were then arranged upon -it, and Wang heard the sound of the dishes knocking together, but it -was a dull, soft sound, not at all like that of ordinary crockery. -Three of the men sat down on the mat and the other two waited upon -them. One of the former was dressed in yellow, the other two in white, -and each wore a black turban. Their demeanour as they sat there side -by side was grave and dignified; in appearance they resembled three of -the ancients, but by the fitful beams of the moon Wang was unable to -see very clearly what they were like. The attendants wore black serge -dresses, and one of them seemed to be a boy, while the other was many -years older. Wang now heard the man in the yellow dress say, "This is -truly a fine moonlight night for a drinking-bout;" to which one of his -companions replied, "It quite reminds me of the night when Prince -Kuang-li feasted at Pear-blossom Island."[339] The three then pledged -each other in bumping goblets, talking all the time in such a low tone -that Wang could not hear what they were saying. The boatmen kept -themselves concealed, crouching down at the bottom of the boat; but -Wang looked hard at the attendants, the elder of whom bore a striking -resemblance to his father, though he spoke in quite a different tone -of voice. When it was drawing towards midnight, one of them proposed a -game at ball; and in a moment the boy disappeared in the water, to -return immediately with a huge ball--quite an armful in -fact--apparently full of quicksilver, and lustrous within and without. -All now rose up, and the man in the yellow dress bade the old -attendant join them in the game. The ball was kicked up some ten or -fifteen feet in the air, and was quite dazzling in its brilliancy; but -once, when it had gone up with a whish-h-h-h, it fell at some distance -off, right in the very middle of Wang's boat. The occasion was -irresistible, and Wang, exerting all his strength, kicked the ball -with all his might. It seemed unusually light and soft to the touch, -and his foot broke right through. Away went the ball to a good height, -pouring forth a stream of light like a rainbow from the hole Wang had -made, and making as it fell a curve like that of a comet rushing -across the sky. Down it glided into the water, where it fizzed a -moment and then went out. "Ho, there!" cried out the players in anger, -"what living creature is that who dares thus to interrupt our sport?" -"Well kicked--indeed!" said the old man, "that's a favourite drop-kick -of my own." At this, one of the two in white clothes began to abuse -him saying, "What! you old baggage, when we are all so annoyed in this -manner, are you to come forward and make a joke of it? Go at once with -the boy and bring back to us this practical joker, or your own back -will have a taste of the stick." Wang was of course unable to flee; -however, he was not a bit afraid, and grasping a sword stood there in -the middle of the boat. In a moment, the old man and boy arrived, also -armed, and then Wang knew that the former was really his father, and -called out to him at once, "Father, I am your son." The old man was -greatly alarmed, but father and son forgot their troubles in the joy -of meeting once again. Meanwhile, the boy went back, and Wang's -father bade him hide, or they would all be lost. The words were hardly -out of his mouth when the three men jumped on board the boat. Their -faces were black as pitch, their eyes as big as pomegranates, and they -at once proceeded to seize the old man. Wang struggled hard with them, -and managing to get the boat free from her moorings, he seized his -sword and cut off one of his adversaries' arms. The arm dropped down -and the man in the yellow dress ran away; whereupon one of those in -white rushed at Wang who immediately cut off his head, and he fell -into the water with a splash, at which the third disappeared. Wang and -his father were now anxious to get away, when suddenly a great mouth -arose from the lake, as big and as deep as a well, and against which -they could hear the noise of the water when it struck. This mouth blew -forth a violent gust of wind, and in a moment the waves were mountains -high and all the boats on the lake were tossing about. The boatmen -were terrified, but Wang seized one of two huge stones there were on -board for use as anchors,[340] about 130 lbs. in weight, and threw it -into the water, which immediately began to subside; and then he threw -in the other one, upon which the wind dropped, and the lake became -calm again. Wang thought his father was a disembodied spirit, but the -old man said, "I never died. There were nineteen of us drowned in the -river, all of whom were eaten by the fish-goblins except myself: I was -saved because I could play foot-ball. Those you saw got into trouble -with the Dragon King, and were sent here. They were all marine -creatures, and the ball they were playing with was a fish-bladder." -Father and son were overjoyed at meeting again, and at once proceeded -on their way. In the morning they found in the boat a huge fin--the -arm that Wang had cut off the night before. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[337] Used for pounding rice. - -[338] A fancy name for the Tung-t'ing lake. See No. XXXVIII., note -226. - -[339] The commentator declares himself unable to trace this allusion. - -[340] These are bound in between several sharp-pointed stakes and -serve their purpose very well in the inland waters of China. - - - - -LIX. - -THE THUNDER GOD. - - -Le Yuen-hao and Hsia P'ing-tz[)u] lived as boys in the same village, and -when they grew up read with the same tutor, becoming the firmest of -friends. Hsia was a clever fellow, and had acquired some reputation -even at the early age of ten. Le was not a bit envious, but rather -looked up to him, and Hsia in return helped his friend very much with -his studies, so that he, too, made considerable progress. This -increased Hsia's fame, though try as he would he could never succeed -at the public examinations, and by-and-by he sickened and died. His -family was so poor they could not find money for his burial, whereupon -Le came forward and paid all expenses, besides taking care of his -widow and children. - -Every peck or bushel he would share with them, the widow trusting -entirely to his support; and thus he acquired a good name in the -village, though not being a rich man himself he soon ran through all -his own property. "Alas!" cried he, "where talents like Hsia's failed, -can I expect to succeed? Wealth and rank are matters of destiny, and -my present career will only end by my dying like a dog in a ditch. I -must try something else." So he gave up book-learning and went into -trade, and in six months he had a trifle of money in hand. - -One day when he was resting at an inn in Nanking, he saw a great big -fellow walk in and seat himself at no great distance in a very -melancholy mood. Le asked him if he was hungry, and on receiving no -answer, pushed some food over towards him. The stranger immediately -set to feeding himself by handfuls, and in no time the whole had -disappeared. Le ordered another supply, but that was quickly disposed -of in like manner; and then he told the landlord to bring a shoulder -of pork and a quantity of boiled dumplings. Thus, after eating enough -for half a dozen, his appetite was appeased and he turned to thank his -benefactor, saying, "For three years I haven't had such a meal." "And -why should a fine fellow like you be in such a state of destitution?" -inquired Le; to which the other only replied, "The judgments of heaven -may not be discussed." Being asked where he lived, the stranger -replied, "On land I have no home, on the water no boat; at dawn in the -village, at night in the city." Le then prepared to depart; but his -friend would not leave him, declaring that he was in imminent danger, -and that he could not forget the late kindness Le had shewn him. So -they went along together, and on the way Le invited the other to eat -with him; but this he refused, saying that he only took food -occasionally. Le marvelled more than ever at this; and next day when -they were on the river a great storm arose and capsized all their -boats, Le himself being thrown into the water with the others. -Suddenly the gale abated and the stranger bore Le on his back to -another boat, plunging at once into the water and bringing back the -lost vessel, upon which he placed Le and bade him remain quietly -there. He then returned once more, this time carrying in his arms a -part of the cargo, which he replaced in the vessel, and so he went on -until it was all restored. Le thanked him, saying, "It was enough to -save my life; but you have added to this the restoration of my goods." -Nothing, in fact, had been lost, and now Le began to regard the -stranger as something more than human. The latter here wished to take -his leave, but Le pressed him so much to stay that at last he -consented to remain. Then Le remarked that after all he had lost a -gold pin, and immediately the stranger plunged into the water again, -rising at length to the surface with the missing article in his mouth, -and presenting it to Le with the remark that he was delighted to be -able to fulfil his commands. The people on the river were all much -astonished at what they saw; meanwhile Le went home with his friend, -and there they lived together, the big man only eating once in ten or -twelve days, but then displaying an enormous appetite. One day he -spoke of going away, to which Le would by no means consent; and as it -was just then about to rain and thunder, he asked him to tell him what -the clouds were like, and what thunder was, also how he could get up -to the sky and have a look, so as to set his mind at rest on the -subject. "Would you like to have a ramble among the clouds?" asked -the stranger, as Le was lying down to take a nap; on awaking from -which he felt himself spinning along through the air, and not at all -as if he was lying on a bed. Opening his eyes he saw he was among the -clouds, and around him was a fleecy atmosphere. Jumping up in great -alarm, he felt giddy as if he had been at sea, and underneath his feet -he found a soft, yielding substance, unlike the earth. Above him were -the stars, and this made him think he was dreaming; but looking up he -saw that they were set in the sky like seeds in the cup of a lily, -varying from the size of the biggest bowl to that of a small basin. On -raising his hand he discovered that the large stars were all tightly -fixed; but he managed to pick a small one, which he concealed in his -sleeve; and then, parting the clouds beneath him, he looked through -and saw the sea glittering like silver below. Large cities appeared no -bigger than beans--just at this moment, however, he bethought himself -that if his foot were to slip, what a tremendous fall he would have. -He now beheld two dragons writhing their way along, and drawing a cart -with a huge vat in it, each movement of their tails sounding like the -crack of a bullock-driver's whip. The vat was full of water, and -numbers of men were employed in ladling it out and sprinkling it on -the clouds. These men were astonished at seeing Le; however, a big -fellow among them called out, "All right, he's my friend," and then -they gave him a ladle to help them throw the water out. Now it -happened to be a very dry season, and when Le got hold of the ladle he -took good care to throw the water so that it should all fall on and -around his own home. The stranger then told him that he was the God of -Thunder,[341] and that he had just returned from a three years' -punishment inflicted on him in consequence of some neglect of his in -the matter of rain. He added that they must now part; and taking the -long rope which had been used as reins for the cart, bade Le grip it -tightly, that he might be let down to earth. Le was afraid of this, -but on being told there was no danger he did so, and in a moment -whish-h-h-h-h--away he went and found himself safe and sound on _terra -firma_. He discovered that he had descended outside his native -village, and then the rope was drawn up into the clouds and he saw it -no more. The drought had been excessive; for three or four miles round -very little rain had fallen, though in Le's own village the -water-courses were all full. On reaching home he took the star out of -his sleeve, and put it on the table. It was dull-looking like an -ordinary stone; but at night it became very brilliant and lighted up -the whole house. This made him value it highly, and he stored it -carefully away, bringing it out only when he had guests, to light them -at their wine. It was always thus dazzlingly bright, until one evening -when his wife was sitting with him doing her hair, the star began to -diminish in brilliancy, and to flit about like a fire-fly. Mrs. Le sat -gaping with astonishment, when all of a sudden it flitted into her -mouth and ran down her throat. She tried to cough it up but couldn't, -to the very great amazement of her husband. That night Le dreamt that -his old friend Hsia appeared before him and said, "I am the Shao-wei -star. Your friendship is still cherished by me, and now you have -brought me back from the sky. Truly our destinies are knitted -together, and I will repay your kindness by becoming your son." Now Le -was thirty years of age but without sons; however, after this dream -his wife bore him a male child, and they called his name Star. He was -extraordinarily clever, and at sixteen years of age took his master's -degree. - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[341] This deity is believed to be constantly on the look-out for -wicked people, aided by the Goddess of Lightning, who flashes a mirror -on to whomsoever the God wishes to strike. "_The thief eats -thunderbolts_," means that he will bring down vengeance from Heaven on -himself. Tylor's _Primitive Culture_, Vol. I., p. 88. - - - - -LX. - -THE GAMBLER'S TALISMAN. - - -A Taoist priest, called Han, lived at the T'ien-ch'i temple, in our -district city. His knowledge of the black art was very extensive, and -the neighbours all regarded him as an Immortal.[342] My late father -was on intimate terms with him, and whenever he went into the city -invariably paid him a visit. One day, on such an occasion, he was -proceeding thither in company with my late uncle, when suddenly they -met Han on the road. Handing them the key of the door, he begged them -to go on and wait awhile for him, promising to be there shortly -himself. Following out these instructions they repaired to the temple, -but on unlocking the door there was Han sitting inside--a feat which -he subsequently performed several times. - -Now a relative of mine, who was terribly given to gambling, also knew -this priest, having been introduced to him by my father. And once this -relative, meeting with a Buddhist priest from the T'ien-fo temple, -addicted like himself to the vice of gambling, played with him until -he had lost everything, even going so far as to pledge the whole of -his property, which he lost in a single night. Happening to call in -upon Han as he was going back, the latter noticed his exceedingly -dejected appearance, and the rambling answers he gave, and asked him -what was the matter. On hearing the story of his losses, Han only -laughed, and said, "That's what always overtakes the gambler, sooner -or later; if, however, you will break yourself of the habit, I will -get your money back for you." "Ah," cried the other, "if you will only -do that, you may break my head with a pestle when you catch me -gambling again." So Han gave him a talismanic formula, written out on -a piece of paper, to put in his girdle, bidding him only win back what -he had lost, and not attempt to get a fraction more. He also handed -him 1000 _cash_, on condition that this sum should be repaid from his -winnings, and off went my relative delighted. The Buddhist, however, -turned up his nose at the smallness of his means, and said it wasn't -worth his while to stake so little; but at last he was persuaded into -having one throw for the whole lot. They then began, the priest -leading off with a fair throw, to which his opponent replied by a -better; whereupon the priest doubled his stake, and my relative won -again, going on and on until the latter's good luck had brought him -back all that he had previously lost. He thought, however, that he -couldn't do better than just win a few more strings of cash, and -accordingly went on; but gradually his luck turned, and on looking -into his girdle he found that the talisman was gone. In a great fright -he jumped up, and went off with his winnings to the temple, where he -reckoned up that after deducting Han's loan, and adding what he had -lost towards the end, he had exactly the amount originally his. With -shame in his face he turned to thank Han, mentioning at the same time -the loss of the talisman; at which Han only laughed, and said, "That -has got back before you. I told you not to be over-greedy, and as you -didn't heed me, I took the talisman away."[343] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[342] See No. V., note 48. - -[343] Gambling is the great Chinese vice, far exceeding in its ill -effects all that opium has ever done to demoralize the country. Public -gaming-houses are strictly forbidden by law, but their existence is -winked at by a too venal executive. _Fantan_ is the favourite game. It -consists in staking on the remainder of an unknown number of cash, -after the heap has been divided by four, namely whether it will be -three, two, one, or nothing; with other variations of a more -complicated nature. - - - - -LXI. - -THE HUSBAND PUNISHED. - - -Ching Hsing, of Wen-teng, was a young fellow of some literary -reputation, who lived next door to a Mr. Ch'en, their studios being -separated only by a low wall. One evening Ch'en was crossing a piece -of waste ground when he heard a young girl crying among some -pine-trees hard by. He approached, and saw a girdle hanging from one -of the branches, as if its owner was just on the point of hanging -herself. Ch'en asked her what was the matter, and then she brushed -away her tears, and said, "My mother has gone away and left me in -charge of my brother-in-law; but he's a scamp, and won't continue to -take care of me; and now there is nothing left for me but to die." -Hereupon the girl began crying again, and Ch'en untied the girdle and -bade her go and find herself a husband; to which she said there was -very little chance of that; and then Ch'en offered to take her to his -own home--an offer which she very gladly accepted. Soon after they -arrived, his neighbour Ching thought he heard a noise, and jumped over -the wall to have a peep, when lo and behold! at the door of Ch'en's -house stood this young lady, who immediately ran away into the garden -on seeing Ching. The two young men pursued her, but without success, -and were obliged to return each to his own room, Ching being greatly -astonished to find the same girl now standing at his door. On -addressing the young lady, she told him that his neighbour's destiny -was too poor a one for her,[344] and that she came from Shantung, and -that her name was Ch'i A-hsia. She finally agreed to take up her -residence with Ching; but after a few days, finding that a great -number of his friends were constantly calling, she declared it was too -noisy a place for her, and that she would only visit him in the -evening. This she continued to do for a few days, telling him in reply -to his inquiries that her home was not very far off. One evening, -however, she remarked that their present _liaison_ was not very -creditable to either; that her father was a mandarin on the western -frontier, and that she was about to set out with her mother to join -him; begging him meanwhile to make a formal request for the -celebration of their nuptials, in order to prevent them from being -thus separated. She further said that they started in ten days or so, -and then Ching began to reflect that if he married her she would have -to take her place in the family, and that would make his first wife -jealous; so he determined to get rid of the latter, and when she came -in he began to abuse her right and left. His wife bore it as long as -she could, but at length cried out it were better she should die; upon -which Ching advised her not to bring trouble on them all like that, -but to go back to her own home. He then drove her away, his wife -asking all the time what she had done to be sent away like this after -ten years of blameless life with him.[345] Ching, however, paid no -heed to her entreaties, and when he had got rid of her he set to work -at once to get the house whitewashed and made generally clean, himself -being on the tip-toe of expectation for the arrival of Miss A-hsia. -But he waited and waited, and no A-hsia came; she seemed gone like a -stone dropped into the sea. Meanwhile emissaries came from his late -wife's family begging him to take her back; and when he flatly -refused, she married a gentleman of position named Hsia, whose -property adjoined Ching's, and who had long been at feud with him in -consequence, as is usual in such cases. This made Ching furious, but -he still hoped that A-hsia would come, and tried to console himself in -this way. Yet more than a year passed away and still no signs of her, -until one day, at the festival of the Sea Spirits, he saw among the -crowds of girls passing in and out one who very much resembled A-hsia. -Ching moved towards her, following her as she threaded her way through -the crowd as far as the temple gate, where he lost sight of her -altogether, to his great mortification and regret. Another six months -passed away, when one day he met a young lady dressed in red, -accompanied by an old man-servant, and riding on a black mule. It was -A-hsia. So he asked the old man the name of his young mistress, and -learnt from him that she was the second wife of a gentleman named -Cheng, having been married to him about a fortnight previously. Ching -now thought she could not be A-hsia, but just then the young lady, -hearing them talking, turned her head, and Ching saw that he was -right. And now, finding that she had actually married another man, he -was overwhelmed with rage, and cried out in a loud voice, "A-hsia! -A-hsia! why did you break faith?" The servant here objected to his -mistress being thus addressed by a stranger, and was squaring up to -Ching, when A-hsia bade him desist; and, raising her veil, replied, -"And you, faithless one, how do you dare meet my gaze?" "You are the -faithless one," said Ching, "not I." "To be faithless to your wife is -worse than being faithless to me," rejoined A-hsia; "if you behaved -like that to her, how should I have been treated at your hands? -Because of the fair fame of your ancestors, and the honours gained by -them, I was willing to ally myself with you; but now that you have -discarded your wife, your thread of official advancement has been cut -short in the realms below, and Mr. Ch'en is to take the place that -should have been yours at the head of the examination list. As for -myself, I am now part of the Cheng family; think no more of me." Ching -hung his head and could make no reply; and A-hsia whipped up her mule -and disappeared from his sight, leaving him to return home -disconsolate. At the forthcoming examination, everything turned out as -she had predicted; Mr. Ch'en was at the top of the list, and he -himself was thrown out. It was clear that his luck was gone. At forty -he had no wife, and was so poor that he was glad to pick up a meal -where he could. One day he called on Mr. Cheng, who treated him well -and kept him there for the night; and while there Cheng's second wife -saw him, and asked her husband if his guest's name wasn't Ching. "It -is," said he, "how could you guess that?" "Well," replied she, "before -I married you, I took refuge in his house, and he was then very kind -to me. Although he has now sunk low, yet his ancestors' influence on -the family fortunes is not yet exhausted;[346] besides he is an old -acquaintance of yours, and you should try and do something for him." -Cheng consented, and having first given him a new suit of clothes, -kept him in the house several days. At night a slave-girl came to him -with twenty ounces of silver for him, and Mrs. Cheng, who was outside -the window, said, "This is a trifling return for your past kindness to -me. Go and get yourself a good wife. The family luck is not yet -exhausted, but will descend to your sons and grandchildren. Do not -behave like this again, and so shorten your term of life." Ching -thanked her and went home, using ten ounces of silver to procure a -concubine from a neighbouring family, who was very ugly and -ill-tempered. However, she bore him a son, and he by-and-by graduated -as doctor. Mr. Cheng became Vice-President of the Board of Civil -Office,[347] and at his death A-hsia attended the funeral; but when -they opened her chair on its return home, she was gone, and then -people knew for the first time that she was not mortal flesh and -blood. Alas! for the perversity of mankind, rejecting the old and -craving for the new?[348] And then when they come back to the familiar -nest, the birds have all flown. Thus does heaven punish such people. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[344] See No. XLVI., note 271. - -[345] See No. LIII., note 288. - -[346] The virtuous conduct of any individual will result not only in -happiness and prosperity to himself, but a certain quantity of these -will descend to his posterity, unless, as in the present case, there -is one among them whose personal wickedness neutralizes any benefits -that would otherwise accrue therefrom. Here we have an instance where -the crimes of a descendant still left a balance of good fortune -surviving from the accumulated virtue of generations. - -[347] One of the six departments of State administration. - -[348] This seems a curious charge to bring against a people who for a -stolid and bigoted conservatism have rarely, if ever, been equalled. -Mencius, however, uttered one golden sentence which might be brought -to bear upon the occasionally foolish opposition of the Chinese to -measures of proved advantage to the commonwealth. "Live," said the -Sage, "in harmony with the age in which you are born." - - - - -LXII. - -THE MARRIAGE LOTTERY. - - -A certain labourer's son, named Ma T'ien-jung, lost his wife when he -was only about twenty years of age, and was too poor to take another. -One day when out hoeing in the fields, he beheld a nice-looking young -lady leave the path and come tripping across the furrows towards him. -Her face was well painted,[349] and she had altogether such a refined -look that Ma concluded she must have lost her way, and began to make -some playful remarks in consequence. "You go along home," cried the -young lady, "and I'll be with you by-and-by." Ma doubted this rather -extraordinary promise, but she vowed and declared she would not break -her word; and then Ma went off, telling her that his front door faced -the north, etc., etc. In the evening the young lady arrived, and then -Ma saw that her hands and face were covered with fine hair, which made -him suspect at once she was a fox. She did not deny the accusation; -and accordingly Ma said to her, "If you really are one of those -wonderful creatures you will be able to get me anything I want; and I -should be much obliged if you would begin by giving me some money to -relieve my poverty." The young lady said she would; and next evening -when she came again, Ma asked her where the money was. "Dear me!" -replied she, "I quite forgot it." When she was going away, Ma reminded -her of what he wanted, but on the following evening she made precisely -the same excuse, promising to bring it another day. A few nights -afterwards Ma asked her once more for the money, and then she drew -from her sleeve two pieces of silver, each weighing about five or six -ounces. They were both of fine quality, with turned-up edges,[350] and -Ma was very pleased and stored them away in a cupboard. Some months -after this, he happened to require some money for use, and took out -these pieces; but the person to whom he showed them said they were -only pewter, and easily bit off a portion of one of them with his -teeth. Ma was much alarmed, and put the pieces away directly; taking -the opportunity when evening came of abusing the young lady roundly. -"It's all your bad luck," retorted she; "real gold would be too much -for your inferior destiny."[351] There was an end of that; but Ma went -on to say, "I always heard that fox-girls were of surpassing beauty; -how is it you are not?" "Oh," replied the young lady, "we always adapt -ourselves to our company. Now you haven't the luck of an ounce of -silver to call your own; and what would you do, for instance, with a -beautiful princess?[352] My beauty may not be good enough for the -aristocracy; but among your big-footed, burden-carrying rustics,[353] -why it may safely be called 'surpassing.'" - -A few months passed away, and then one day the young lady came and -gave Ma three ounces of silver, saying, "You have often asked me for -money, but in consequence of your weak luck I have always refrained -from giving you any. Now, however, your marriage is at hand, and I -here give you the cost of a wife, which you may also regard as a -parting gift from me." Ma replied that he wasn't engaged, to which the -young lady answered that in a few days a go-between would visit him to -arrange the affair. "And what will she be like?" asked Ma. "Why, as -your aspirations are for 'surpassing' beauty," replied the young lady, -"of course she will be possessed of surpassing beauty." "I hardly -expect that," said Ma; "at any rate three ounces of silver will not be -enough to get a wife." "Marriages," explained the young lady, "are -made in the moon;[354] mortals have nothing to do with them." "And why -must you be going away like this?" inquired Ma. "Because," answered -she, "we go on shilly-shallying from day to day, and month to month, -and nothing ever comes of it. I had better get you another wife and -have done with you." Then when morning came, she departed, giving Ma a -pinch of yellow powder, saying, "In case you are ill after we are -separated, this will cure you." Next day, sure enough, a go-between -did come, and Ma at once asked what the proposed bride was like; to -which the former replied that she was very passable-looking. Four or -five ounces of silver was fixed as the marriage present, Ma making no -difficulty on that score, but declaring he must have a peep at the -young lady.[355] The go-between said she was a respectable girl, and -would never allow herself to be seen; however it was arranged that -they should go to the house together, and await a good opportunity. So -off they went, Ma remaining outside while the go-between went in, -returning in a little while to tell him it was all right. "A relative -of mine lives in the same court, and just now I saw the young lady -sitting in the hall. We have only got to pretend we are going to see -my relative, and you will be able to get a glimpse of her." Ma -consented, and they accordingly passed through the hall, where he saw -the young lady sitting down with her head bent forward while some one -was scratching her back. She seemed to be all that the go-between had -said; but when they came to discuss the money, it appeared the young -lady only wanted one or two ounces of silver, just to buy herself a -few clothes, etc., at which Ma was delighted, and gave the go-between -a present for her trouble, which just finished up the three ounces his -fox-friend had provided. An auspicious day was chosen, and the young -lady came over to his house; when lo! she was hump-backed and -pigeon-breasted, with a short neck like a tortoise, and boat-shaped -feet, full ten inches long. The meaning of his fox-friend's remarks -then flashed upon him. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[349] Only slave-girls and women of the poorer classes, and old women, -omit this very important part of a Chinese lady's toilet. - -[350] Alluding probably to the shape of the "shoe" or ingot of silver. - -[351] See No. XLVI., note 271. - -[352] Literally, "One who would make wild geese alight and fish dive -down for shame;" or, as the next line from the same poem has it, "a -beauty which would obscure the moon and put flowers to the blush." - -[353] Slave-girls do not have their feet compressed. - -[354] Wherein resides an old gentleman who ties together with a red -cord the feet of those destined to become man and wife. From this bond -there is no escape, no matter what distance may separate the affianced -pair. The first go-between, Ku Ts'e, was originally seen, on ice, -arranging matches with some one below:-- - - "Marriage is not a trifling thing-- - The Book and the Vermilion String! - On ice by moonlight may be seen - The wedded couples' go-between." - - --_A Thousand Character Essay for Girls._ - -Hence the common phrase "to do the ice (business)," _i.e._, to arrange -a marriage. - -[355] This proceeding is highly improper, but is winked at in a large -majority of Chinese betrothals. - - -END OF VOL. I. - - -THOS. DE LA RUE AND CO., PRINTERS, BUNHILL ROW, LONDON. - - - - - 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. - - - - -STRANGE STORIES - -FROM A - -CHINESE STUDIO. - - - - -LXIII. - -THE LO-CH'A COUNTRY AND THE SEA-MARKET.[356] - - -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,[357] 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[358] 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,[359] 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[360] 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.[361] 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,[362] 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.[363] 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[364] 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."[365] 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.[366] 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[367] lives solitary in the moon, and -Chih Nue[368] 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;[369] -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.[370] -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,[371] 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: - -[356] The term "sea-market" is generally understood in the sense of -_mirage_, or some similar phenomenon. - -[357] A famous General who played a leading part in the wars of the -Three Kingdoms. See No. XCIII., note 482. - -[358] A hit at the hypocrisy of the age. - -[359] Shewing that hypocrisy is bad policy in the long run. - -[360] The tears of Chinese mermaids are said to be pearls. - -[361] See No. XIX., note 135. - -[362] 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." - -[363] This all-important point in a Chinese marriage ceremony is the -equivalent of our own "signing in the vestry." - -[364] Literally, "if you have no one to cook your food." - -[365] "Dragon Palace" and "Happy Sea," respectively. - -[366] Alluding to an old legend of a letter conveyed by a bird. - -[367] See No. V., note 49. - -[368] 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. - -[369] These are of course only the equivalents of the Chinese names in -the text. - -[370] To keep off the much-dreaded wind, which disturbs the rest of the -departed. - -[371] For which a very high price is obtained in China. - - - - -LXIV. - -THE FIGHTING CRICKET. - - -During the reign of Hsuean Te,[372] 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[373] 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[374] 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.[375] 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: - -[372] Of the Ming dynasty; reigned A.D. 1426-1436. - -[373] 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. - -[374] A favourite Chinese expression, signifying the absence of food. - -[375] 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],[376] 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: - -[376] 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,[377] 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.[378] -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,[379] 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,[380] 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.[381] 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,[382] 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.[383] 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: - -[377] 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?" - -[378] 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. - -[379] 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. - -[380] See No. VIII., note 63. - -[381] - - "... Move these eyes? - ... Here are severed lips." - - --_Merchant of Venice_, Act iii., sc. 2. - -[382] See No. LIII., note 288. - -[383] 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,[384] 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: - -[384] 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.[385] - - -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: - -[385] 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[386] 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.[387] Thinking by this that they were approaching the ladies' -apartments,[388] 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[389] -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[390]--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.[391] -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,[392] 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[393] him. Liang, at first, thought it -must be the party of some high official, and wondered at the scarcity -of attendants;[394] 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,[395] 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.[396] 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,[397] 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;[398] 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: - -[386] 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. - -[387] Literally, in the utter absence of anybody. - -[388] 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. - -[389] Literally, "bald"--_i.e._, without the usual width and -ornamentation of a Chinese lady's sleeve. - -[390] 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_. - -[391] Probably of felt or some such material, to prevent the young lady -from slipping as she stood, not sat, in the swing. - -[392] 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. - -[393] 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." - -[394] 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. - -[395] Generally known as the "cut-wave God." - -[396] 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. - -[397 See No. LIV., note 292. - -[398] 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,[399] 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,[400] and then, seizing a girdle, began to measure the size of her -waist[401] 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."[402] 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: - -[399] 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. - -[400] See No. LXII., note 349. - -[401] See No. LXIX., note 390. - -[402] 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,[403] he accidentally met him at -Pao-t'u-ch'uean.[404] 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,[405] 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,[406] his eyes closed, and a -servant-boy standing by with a chowry.[407] 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."[408] 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: - -[403] 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. - -[404] The name of a place. - -[405] 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_. - -[406] There is a room in most Buddhist temples specially devoted to -this purpose. - -[407] The Buddhist emblem of cleanliness; generally a yak's tail, and -commonly used as a fly-brush. - -[408] 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[409] 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;[410] 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,[411] 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;[412] 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,[413] 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."[414] 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.[415] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[409] Literally, "had been allotted the post of Nan-fu magistrate," -such appointments being always determined by drawing lots. - -[410] 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. - -[411] 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. - -[412] Such, indeed, is the case at the present day in China, and -elsewhere. - -[413] See No. VII., note 54. - -[414] 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. - -[415] 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[416] 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.[417] 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[418] 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[419] in the following year, out of gratitude for his noble -behaviour. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[416] See No. LXIV., note 373. - -[417] 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. - -[418] See No. I., note 39. - -[419] See No. LXVIII., note 385. The circumstances which led to this -marriage would certainly be considered "exceptional." - - - - -LXXIV. - -A RIP VAN WINKLE.[420] - - -[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.[421]] - -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:[422] 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,[423] 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.][424] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[420] 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. - -[421] See No. IV., note 46. - -[422] Borrowed from Buddhism. - -[423] 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. - -[424] 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,[425] -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."[426] 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: - -[425] See _Appendix_ A. - -[426] 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.[427] Before long he found himself there, and, directing -his steps towards the prison, found his father lying outside[428] 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.[429] 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.[430] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[427] The Infernal Regions are supposed to be pretty much a counterpart -of the world above, except in the matter of light. - -[428] 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. - -[429] 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." - -[430] 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,[431] -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.[432] 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.[433] His ophthalmia, however, was quite cured; and when -he shut his eyes again he could see nothing. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[431] 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. - -[432] Name of a celebrated play. - -[433] 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[434] 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: - -[434] 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,[435] 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: - -[435] 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[436] 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."][437] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[436] See No. II., note 42. - -[437] 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.[438] 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[439] 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;[440] -and, if so, how could a virtuous official be visited with this dire -calamity?"] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[438] 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. - -[439] 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. - -[440] 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.[441] - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[441] The "sea-serpent" in this case was probably nothing more or less -than some meteoric phenomenon. - - - - -LXXXIII. - -THE MAGIC MIRROR.[442] - - -"... 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: - -[442] 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,[443] 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[444] 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.[445] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[443] 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. - -[444] 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. - -[445] 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.[446] 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.[447] 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,[448] 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,[449] 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."[450] - -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,[451] 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;[452] 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.[453] 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[454] 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[455] 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.[456] 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.[457] 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.[458] 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[459] and stayed at Ch'en's house, his son was -thirteen years old, and had already matriculated as a candidate for -literary honours. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[446] 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. - -[447] 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. - -[448] The whole point of the story hinges on this. - -[449] Beside which lived Hsi Shih, the famous beauty of the fifth -century after Christ. - -[450] 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. - -[451] 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. - -[452] The examination, which lasts nine days, has been going on all -this time. - -[453] That is, his own body, into which Ch'u's spirit had temporarily -passed, his own occupying, meanwhile, the body of his friend. - -[454] That is, for being born again, the sole hope and ambition of a -disembodied shade. - -[455] See No. LXXI., note 403. - -[456] See No. LXI., note 346. - -[457] His own spirit in Ch'u's body had met her in a disembodied -state. - -[458] 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. - -[459] 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.[460] 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[461] 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,[462] 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.[463] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[460] 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. - -[461] 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. - -[462] See No. VI., note 52. - -[463] 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_,[464] while -two of the others support her, one on each side. All this time she is -chattering unintelligible sentences,[465] 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[466] 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.[467] - -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.[468] In her hand she holds a long spear, with which -she mounts the couch[469] and postures in an extraordinary manner, the -animal she rides snorting or roaring fiercely all the time. Some call -her Kuan Ti,[470] 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: - -[464] 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. - -[465] Speaking in the unknown tongue, like the Irvingites and others. - -[466] 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. - -[467] 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. - -[468] The arrangement being that of the hobby-horse of by-gone days. - -[469] 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. - -[470] See No. LXXIII., note 418. 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.[471] - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[471] 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.[472] 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: - -[472] Of whom I can learn nothing. - - - - -XCII. - -SMELLING ESSAYS.[473] - - -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_."[474] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[473] 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. - -[474] 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,[475] 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,"[476] 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,[477] 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[478] 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,[479] 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[480] 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.[481] - 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.[482] - 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.[483] - 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.[484] - 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."[485] 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.[486] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[475] This would be regarded as a very meritorious act by the Chinese. - -[476] The Byron of China. - -[477] Chinese wine--or, more correctly, _spirits_--is always taken -hot; hence the term wine-kettle, which frequently occurs in these -pages. - -[478] The Magistrate; who is supposed to be towards the people what a -father is to his children. - -[479] 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. - -[480] 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. - -[481] 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. - -[482] 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 357), 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. - -[483] Alluding to the story of a young man who went in search of his -missing father. - -[484] 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. - -[485] 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. - -[486] 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]."[487] - -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."[488] - -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,[489] 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.[490] 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[491] 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.[492] 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: - -[487] From a poem by Wang Wei, a noted poet of the T'ang dynasty. The -second line is not given in the text. - -[488] 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. - -[489] 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 736.) - -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. - -[490] 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. - -[491] 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. - -[492] 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.[493] - - -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.[494] 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.[495] 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: - -[493] This story is a sequel to the last. - -[494] The surnames would in this case be different, and no obstacle -could be offered on that score. See No. XV., note 109. - -[495] 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.[496] 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,[497] a white rabbit ran in, whereupon the girl jumped up and -said, "The doctor[498] 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: - -[496] 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. - -[497] 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. - -[498] 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[499] 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,[500] 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.[501] 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;[502] but Kung-sun only laughed at his objection, and -reminded him that money[503] 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[504] and go buy large -quantities of paper ingots,[505] 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,[506] 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,[507] 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,[508] 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!"[509] -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?"[510] 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[511] 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![512] -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."[513] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[499] 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. - -[500] Kung-sun is an example of a Chinese double surname. - -[501] 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. - -[502] Which fact would disqualify him from taking the post. - -[503] Literally, "Square hole." A common name for the Chinese cash. -See No. II., note 42. - -[504] 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. - -[505] 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." - -[506] See No. VII., note 54. In this case the reference is to a -similar Board in the Infernal Regions. - -[507] These would be sure to sneer at him behind his back. - -[508] A compliment usually paid to an in-coming official. - -[509] See No. I., note 39. - -[510] 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. - -[511] See No. LXXVII., note 431. - -[512] 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. - -[513] 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[514] 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.[515] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[514] The Yang-tsze: sometimes spoken of as the Long River. - -[515] 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).[516] 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: - -[516] Here again we have a play upon words similar to that in the last -story. - - - - -C. - -THE DUTCH CARPET. - - -Formerly, when the Dutch[517] 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.[518] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[517] 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. - -[518] 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,[519] 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: - -[519] 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.[520] Some years afterwards he returned, -dressed in the Taoist garb, and carrying his praying-mat[521] 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: - -[520] 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. - -[521] 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,[522] 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: - -[522] 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.[523] -It was the time of the Spring festival,[524] 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,[525] 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,[526] who probably got it from this source.[527] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[523] It is worth noting that the author professes actually to have -witnessed the following extraordinary scene. - -[524] The vernal equinox, which would fall on or about the 20th of -March. - -[525] 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. - -[526] 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. - -[527] 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.[528] "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: - -[528] See No. LXXI., note 408. - - - - -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,"[529] 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,[530] 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.[531] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[529] 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. - -[530] The duties of Coroner belong to the office of a District -Magistrate in China. - -[531] 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.[532] 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.[533] 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.[534] 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,[535] 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.[536] 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: - -[532] See No. XLV., note 267. - -[533] 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. - -[534] 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. - -[535] See No. XCVII., note 505. - -[536] 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[537] 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,[538] pointing out to -him the Knife Hill,[539] 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.[540] "Nor," added they, "will -he escape this torment unless he repents him of his misdeeds." When -Chang came round,[541] 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,[542] and devoted himself entirely to -religious exercises. In a fortnight he was well, and was known ever -afterwards as a most exemplary priest. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[537] 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. - -[538] Literally, the "nine dark places," which will remind readers of -Dante of the nine "bolgie" of the _Inferno_. - -[539] 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. - -[540] A crime by no means unknown to the clergy of China. - -[541] That is, when the lictors had returned his soul to its tenement. - -[542] 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,[543] 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:[544] 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: - -[543] In A.D. 1621. - -[544] 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."[545] - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[545] 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."[546] 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: - -[546] Note 533 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.[547] 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[548] 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,[549] and unlicensed dealers in salt, and, for the dirtiest -work of all, he is going to take musicians."[550] - -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.[551] 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[552] 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.[553] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[547] 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. - -[548] The Styx. - -[549] 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. - -[550] The allusion is to women, of a not very respectable class. - -[551] No Chinese magistrate would be found to pass sentence upon a man -who stole food under stress of hunger. - -[552] His own village. - -[553] 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[554] 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,[555] and rich and poor were subscribing as much as -each could afford, he alone gave nothing.[556] 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[557] 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,"[558] 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[559] 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.[560] 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: - -[554] The chief supporters of superstition in China. - -[555] See No. I., note 39. - -[556] 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. - -[557] 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. - -[558] 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. - -[559] 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. - -[560] 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;[561] 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,[562] 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[563] 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,[564] 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: - -[561] It is considered a serious breach of Chinese etiquette to accept -invitations without returning the compliment at an early date. - -[562] 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. - -[563] See No. XCIII., note 477. - -[564] 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,[565] one went to -the Wu-t'ai hill, while the other hung up his staff[566] 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.[567] 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[568] -is paved with yellow gold, that Kuan-yin and Wen-shu[569] 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: - -[565] That is, missionaries from India. - -[566] See No. LVI., note 320. - -[567] 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. - -[568] This may almost be said to have been the belief of the Arabs at -the date of the composition of "The Arabian Nights." - -[569] 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.[570] 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[571] 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: - -[570] See No. XLVIII., note 277. - -[571] 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[572] 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[573] covered with a fine ash-dust, so that at any rate -his footsteps would be seen and the servants could strike just above -them.[574] 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: - -[572] The perfect man, according to the Confucian standard. - -[573] 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. - -[574] 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[575] 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[576] in -his accounts. - -Under the Ming dynasty, there was a certain Censor,[577] 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,[578] 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: - -[575] 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. - -[576] 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. - -[577] See No. XXXII., note 197. - -[578] 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[579] 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[580] 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: - -[579] 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. - -[580] 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.[581] 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,[582] 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.[583] 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.[584] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[581] See No. XL., note 233, and No. XCIV., note 489. - -[582] See No. I., note 39. - -[583] See No. LXIX., note 38. - -[584] 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.[585] 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;[586] and, secondly, that people shouldn't take things they see -by the wayside.[587] Quadrupeds don't usually fly. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[585] See No. VI., note 51. - -[586] 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. - -[587] 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.[588] 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[589] 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: - -[588] 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. - -[589] 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."[590] "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,[591] 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_[592] an efficacious remedy, that is if you -don't keep it a secret for your private use."[593] 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,[594] -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: - -[590] 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.] - -[591] See No. X., note 79. - -[592] _Radix robiniae amarae._ - -[593] 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. - -[594] 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[595] -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.[596] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[595] The ordinary "wine" of China is a spirit distilled from rice. -See No. XCIII., note 477. - -[596] 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,[597] 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,[598] 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;[599] 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: - -[597] In an entry on torture (see No. LXXIII., note 417), 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." - -[598] 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. - -[599] 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.[600] 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: - -[600] 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.[601] - -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: - -[601] See No. XCVIII., note 514. - - - - -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,[602] 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.[603] 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: - -[602] This corresponds to our ceremony of laying the foundation stone, -except that one commemorates the beginning, the other the completion, -of a new building. - -[603] 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_.[604] One day--it was the 9th of the 9th moon, -when everybody goes up high[605]--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.[606] 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,[607] in which state -he has already passed seven years. And now that the Phoenix Tower[608] -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."[609] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[604] 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." - -[605] 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. - -[606] See No. XXVI., note 180. - -[607] 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. - -[608] An imaginary building in the Infernal Regions. - -[609] 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.[610] When -the uncle died all the property passed accordingly to his nephew, who -thereupon broke faith as to his part of the contract.[611] 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: - -[610] See No. LV., note 310; and No. XCIV., note 492. - -[611] 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,[612] 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,[613] 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,[614] 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?"[615] 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: - -[612] 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. - -[613] See No. I., note 36. - -[614] See No. LVI., note 317; and No. XCVII., note 505. - -[615] 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;[616] 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."[617] 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[618] 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.[619] 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: - -[616] 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. - -[617] See No. LXI., note 346. - -[618] See No. LXIV., note 373. - -[619] 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.[620] Jumping from his -mule,[621] 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.[622] 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: - -[620] "In various savage superstitions the minute resemblance of soul -to body is forcibly stated."--_Myths and Myth-makers_, by John Fiske, -p. 228. - -[621] 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. - -[622] By becoming his son and behaving badly to him. See No. CX., note -545, 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,[623] 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.[624] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[623] See No. CXXXI., note 605. - -[624] 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,[625] 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[626] 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: - -[625] See No. XXIII., note 152. - -[626] 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;[627] 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[628] 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,[629] 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: - -[627] The Chinese never cut the tails of their horses or mules. - -[628] One of the feudal Governors of by-gone days. - -[629] 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;[630] 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,[631] 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[632] 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;[633] 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.[634] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[630] Advertisements of these professors of physiognomy are to be seen -in every Chinese city. - -[631] In order to make some show for the public eye. - -[632] See No. LXIV., note 373. - -[633] 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. - -[634] 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[635] 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[636] 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.[637] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[635] This would be exactly at the hottest season. - -[636] The _Jupiter Pluvius_ of the neighbourhood. - -[637] 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.[638] - - -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,[639] 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.[640] 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.[641] 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'[642] 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.[643] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[638] 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. - -[639] 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. - -[640] That is, by means of the planchette-table. - -[641] Our author was here evidently thinking of his own unlucky fate. - -[642] See No. CXXXI., note 607. - -[643] See No. LXXV., note 426. - - - - -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;[644] 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: - -[644] 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,[645] 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: - -[645] 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."[646] - - -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;[647] 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: - -[646] A satirical remark of Mencius (Book I.), used by the sage when -combating the visionary projects of a monarch of antiquity. - -[647] 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[648] 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: - -[648] 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.[649] 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;[650] -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.[651] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[649] 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. - -[650] 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 414. - -[651] 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[652] 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.[653] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[652] 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. - -[653] 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.[654] - - -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[655] 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[656] 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,[657] Heaven will surely punish me. Oh, -if you would save me, give away one hundred coffins[658] 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,[659] -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: - -[654] 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. - -[655] See No. XXII., note 143. - -[656] These are used, together with a heavy wooden _baton_, by the -Chinese washerman, the effect being most disastrous to a European -wardrobe. - -[657] For thus interfering with the appointments of Destiny. - -[658] 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. - -[659] 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,[660] 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.[661] 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[662] 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.[663] 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,[664] 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_,[665] 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[666] 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: - -[660] See No. XIV., note 97. - -[661] See No. LIV., note 293. - -[662] The God of Literature. - -[663] See No. LXXVII., note 431. - -[664] See No. XXVI., note 182. - -[665] A fleshy protuberance on the head, which is the distinguishing -mark of a Buddha. - -[666] 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.[667] - - -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[668] on the subject, and understood the -principles of the science. When Mr. Sung died, his two sons set up -separate establishments,[669] 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: - -[667] 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." - -[668] As a rule, only the daughters of wealthy families receive any -education to speak of. - -[669] 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,[670] 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.[671] 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[672] like this before -breakfast! - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[670] 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. - -[671] It was only his soul that had left the house. - -[672] 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."[673] 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!"[674] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[673] See No. CXXIII., note 589. - -[674] 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[675] 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.[676] 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: - -[675] 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. - -[676] 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,[677] 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.[678] "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."[679] 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: - -[677] See No. LXXIII., note 471. - -[678] 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." - -[679] See No. LXVIII., note 385. - - - - -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.[680] - - -FOOTNOTE: - -[680] 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.[681] - - -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: - -[681] 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[682] 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: - -[682] 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.[683] 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,[684] 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: - -[683] 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. - -[684] 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,[685] 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_[686] (_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;[687] -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.[688] - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[685] See No. I., note 36. - -[686] 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 439. - -[687] "Boat-men" is the solution of the last two lines of the enigma. - -[688] 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,[689] 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,[690] 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,[691] lay down and died. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[689] 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. - -[690] 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. - -[691] 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.[692] 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.[693] 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: - -[692] See No. LXXIII., note 417. - -[693] 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[694] 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: - -[694] 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[695] 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,[696] 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,[697] 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.[698] 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,[699] 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,[700] saying to themselves that when a man dies there is an -end of him, that when he has lost his skin[701] 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[702] 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[703]--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[704] 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.[705] - -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.[706] 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,[707] far to the west near the -murky road which leads to the Yellow Springs.[708] 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[709] 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,[710] -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,[711] vainly striving to procure a substitute.[712] -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;[713] 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;[714] 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;[715] 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;[716] wives and concubines who -slight their marital lords; those who fail in their duties as acting -sons,[717] 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;[718] 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,[719] -utter base coin, get deeply in debt, sell doctored[720] silks and -satins, scrape[721] 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[722] 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;[723] 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,[724] 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,[725] 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[726] 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.[727] 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[728] 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.[729] 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,[730] 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,[731] 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;[732] who steal the gold from the inside[733] 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;[734] 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,[735] the Sun and Moon and -Seven Stars, the Royal Mother and the God of Longevity on the same -article,[736] or representations of any of the Immortals; those who -embroider the Svastika[737] 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[738] 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[739] and certain other -nauseous articles,[740] 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[741] 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,[742] -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.[743] 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[744] 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[745] 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.[746] - -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[747] 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_[748] 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,[749] 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,[750] 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.[751] - -The regulations provide that all beasts, birds, fishes, and insects, -whether biped, quadruped, or otherwise, shall after death become -_chien_,[752] 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,[753] 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,[754] and that rather than be -born again amongst men they would prefer to enter the ranks of hungry -devils.[755] 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[756] 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;[757] 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.[758] Yet they all rush on to birth like an infatuated or drunken -crowd; and again, in their early childhood, hanker after the forbidden -flavours.[759] 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: - -[695] The _Yue Li_ or _Divine Panorama_. - -[696] The Divine Ruler, immediately below God himself. - -[697] See No. XXVI., note 182. - -[698] See _Author's Own Record_ (in _Introduction_), note 28. - -[699] The three worst of the Six Paths. - -[700] That the state of one life is the result of behaviour in a -previous existence. - -[701] _Lit._--the skin purse (of his bones). - -[702] Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. - -[703] Violent deaths are regarded with horror by the Chinese. They -hold that a truly virtuous man always dies either of illness or old -age. - -[704] 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. - -[705] The Supreme Ruler. - -[706] See No. I., note 36. - -[707] Supposed to be the gate of the Infernal Regions. - -[708] Hades. - -[709] Literally, "ten armfuls." - -[710] To Heaven, Earth, sovereign, and relatives. - -[711] Held to be a great relief to the spirits of the dead. - -[712] 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. - -[713] 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. - -[714] 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. - -[715] 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. - -[716] Do their duty as men and women. - -[717] 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. - -[718] As taxes. - -[719] 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. - -[720] That is, with a false gloss on them. - -[721] In order to raise to nap and give an appearance of strength and -goodness. - -[722] 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. - -[723] 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. - -[724] 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. - -[725] Popularly known as the Chinese Pluto. The Indian _Yama_. - -[726] The celebrated "See-one's-home Terrace." - -[727] Regarded by the Chinese with intense disgust. - -[728] Father's, mother's, and wife's families. - -[729] 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. - -[730] 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. - -[731] If this is done in Winter or Spring the Spirits of the Hearth -and Threshold are liable to catch cold. - -[732] I presume because God sits with his face to the south. - -[733] 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. - -[734] 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. - -[735] 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. - -[736] 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. - -[737] The symbol on Buddha's heart; more commonly known to the western -world as Thor's Hammer. - -[738] Emblems of Imperial dignity. - -[739] Supposed to confer immortality. - -[740] Unfit for translation. - -[741] This is ingeniously expressed, as if _mothers_ were the prime -movers in such unnatural acts. - -[742] 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. - -[743] Bones are used in glazing porcelain, to give a higher finish. - -[744] 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. - -[745] To warm them. - -[746] When they are born again on earth. - -[747] Heart, lungs, spleen, liver, and kidneys. - -[748] Many millions of years. - -[749] 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_." - -[750] He who "turns the wheel;" a _chakravartti raja_. - -[751] The capital city of the Infernal Regions. - -[752] The ghosts of dead people are believed to be liable to death. -The ghost of a ghost is called _chien_. - -[753] On the "Three Systems." See note 702, _Appendix_. - -[754] Women are considered in China to be far more revengeful than -men. - -[755] See _Author's Own Record_ (in _Introduction_), note 28. - -[756] While in Purgatory. - -[757] It was mentioned above that the rewards for virtue would be -continued to a man's sons and grandsons. - -[758] That is, go to heaven. - -[759] 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. 156 492 - " ii. 272 611 - - Adulteration ii. 332 675 - - Age of graduates i. 345 274 - - Age to marry i. 113 112 - - Alchemy i. 65 83 - " ii. 313 654 - - Alms'-bowl i. 246 211 - " i. 395 320 - - Amusements, Literary i. 215 186 - - Anatomy, Chinese ii. 253 590 - - "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. 212 545 - " " ii. 281 622 - - Bambooing i. 55 76 - - Banquets, Theatrical Entertainments during ii. 54 396 - - Beadles ii. 17 373 - - Beauty, Chinese ii. 123 449 - - Beggars i. 246 212 - - Betrothals i. 108 108 - " i. 193 165 - " i. 227 195 - - Bikshu i. 395 320 - - Blowing into meat ii. 306 647 - - Blue China Epoch ii. 303 645 - - 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. 322 669 - - Brown deer of Formosa i. 399 329 - - Buddha, Repeating the name of i. 367 293 - - "Bull's hide" trick, The ii. 180 518 - - Burials i. 197 171 - - Burying stray bones, &c. ii. 147 485 - - - Caligraphy ii. 174 512 - - Capping verses i. 332 262 - " " ii. 57 399 - - Cash i. 6 42 - " ii. 171 503 - - Cat and dog Restaurant ii. 308 649 - - Catalepsy i. 4 40 - " ii. 73 410 - - 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. 221 557 - - Chowry ii. 71 407 - - Clay-image makers ii. 276 616 - - Clepsydra i. 49 70 - - "Climbing trees to catch fish" ii. 305 646 - - Coffins i. 102 104 - " i. 197 172 - " deposited in Temples i. 237 203 - " for poor people ii. 316 658 - " Sleeping in ii. 354 691 - - Concubines i. 395 321 - - Confucius, Descendants of i. 33 61 - - Conservatism i. 427 348 - - Contemplation, Priestly ii. 71 406 - - Coroners ii. 196 530 - - Counting cattle, Method of ii. 255 594 - - Cow-herd and the Lady i. 27 55 - - Cricket-fighting i. 75 85 - - Crows, Feeding the i. 279 229 - - Cumquats ii. 301 644 - - 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. 78 414 - - Degrees, The three i. 1 37 - - Devils, Good and bad ii. 201 534 - - Dice ii. 145 480 - - Divorce i. 360 288 - - Doctors ii. 293 634 - - Dogs, Chinese ii. 309 651 - - Dolphin, Fresh-water ii. 43 386 - - _Double-entendres_ ii. 176 515 - - Dragon-boat festival ii. 168 497 - - Dragons ii. 112 439 - " ii. 349 686 - - Dreams ii. 250 586 - - Dwarfs i. 224 193 - - Drunkenness i. 30 59 - " i. 365 292 - " ii. 30 378 - - - Eating ii. 111 438 - - Education i. 297 237 - " ii. 322 668 - - Elixir of Immortality i. 19 49 - " " ii. 168 498 - - Examinations, Competitive i. 195 168 - " " ii. 64 403 - " " ii. 91 426 - - Eye, Pupils of the i. 8 43 - - - Fa Hsien's journey ii. 232 567 - - Fabulous Lion ii. 343 682 - - Facing the South ii. 103 431 - - 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. 322 667 - - Feudal Governor ii. 287 628 - - "_Fiance_," Death of a i. 99 101 - - Figure-head ii. 54 395 - - Fire-wells ii. 238 575 - - Flageolets i. 28 58 - - Folk-lore in the North and South ii. 329 674 - - Fondness for children i. 401 332 - - Foot-binding i. 192 161 - - Fortune-tellers i. 47 68 - - Foundries, Iron ii. 216 549 - - Four Books, The i. 297 237 - - Four Seas, The ii. 116 444 - - Fox influence i. 32 60 - - Foxes, Soothsayers possessed by ii. 358 694 - - - Gambling i. 421 343 - - Ganges, The ii. 28 377 - - Gates of a city shut at night ii. 262 598 - - 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. 233 571 - - Go-betweens i. 187 157 - " ii. 154 490 - - God of War, The i. 2 39 - - "Golden lilies" i. 188 159 - - "Golden Orchid" Societies i. 196 170 - - Gongs ii. 105 433 - - 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. 267 602 - - Greed ii. 74 411 - - - 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. 250 587 - - "Hsi-yuean-lu," The i. 98 100 - - "Hu," The name i. 89 90 - - Hue i. 397 325 - - Human life, Value of ii. 338 678 - - Hungry devils ii. 270 607 - - - Immortality i. 157 139 - - Immortals, Record of the ii. 88 423 - - Imperial mandates ii. 240 578 - - Impressment i. 220 190 - - Infernal Regions ii. 95 427 - " " ii. 354 690 - - Inheritance, Law of ii. 345 683 - - Initiation of a Priest ii. 69 405 - - Inner apartments i. 53 74 - " " i. 252 215 - " " ii. 46 388 - - - Jelly-fish ii. 332 676 - - Judas tree ii. 151 488 - - Judges ii. 96 429 - - Jugglers ii. 189 527 - - - Khakkharam, The i. 395 320 - - Kangs ii. 133 469 - - Keeping secret professional knowledge ii. 255 593 - - Kidnapping i. 183 154 - - Kite-flying Festival ii. 268 605 - - Knife Hill, The ii. 205 539 - - Kot'ow, The i. 388 314 - - K'u-ts'an ii. 255 592 - - Kuan-yin i. 241 208 - - - Lanterns, Feast of i. 99 102 - - Li T'ai-poh ii. 144 476 - - Lictors ii. 205 537 - - Lighting the Eyes ii. 224 558 - - Lingering death, The i. 396 322 - - Literary chancellor ii. 284 626 - - Literati, The ii. 36 384 - - Literature, God of ii. 320 662 - - Liu Ch'uean and the melon ii. 351 689 - - Living Lictors of Purgatory, The i. 207 180 - - Loans ii. 171 501 - - Locusts ii. 242 579 - - Lohans ii. 321 666 - - Long Robes ii. 273 612 - - Lots, Drawing ii. 73 409 - - Love-matches i. 115 113 - - Lucifer Matches ii. 120 447 - - Lunatics ii. 30 378 - - Lue Tung-pin ii. 296 639 - - - 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. 292 633 - - Memorial tablet, Inking ii. 224 558 - - Mercy, The Goddess of i. 241 208 - - Messengers of good tidings ii. 252 589 - - Milky way, The i. 152 135 - - Miracles i. 396 323 - - "Mirror and Listen" trick ii. 251 588 - - Misappropriation of funds ii. 224 559 - - 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. 242 580 - - Murders i. 230 198 - - - Names, Family i. 92 93 - " Personal ii. 132 466 - - Night, Divisions of the i. 215 187 - - Nine grades of official life i. 388 313 - - Nunneries i. 262 221 - - - Oath of confederation ii. 146 482 - - Oblivion, Potion of ii. 207 544 - - Official corruption ii. 79 415 - " responsibility i. 232 199 - - Officials i. 237 202 - - Old age ii. 31 379 - - Olive, the sign of peace i. 324 256 - - - Paper men i. 49 71 - " money i. 391 317 - " " ii. 172 505 - - Pao Shu i. 166 143 - - Patra, The i. 395 320 - " " i. 246 211 - - Pawn-shops i. 198 173 - - Persia ii. 25 376 - - Phoenix Tower ii. 270 608 - - Physiognomy, Professors of ii. 290 630 - - Planchette ii. 295 638 - - Playing _wei-ch'i_ for money ii. 271 609 - - Poetical proficiency i. 33 62 - - Police system i. 221 191 - - Politeness ii. 203 536 - - Poor scholars i. 160 142 - - Pope of the Taoists i. 118 114 - - Porterage ii. 181 519 - - Posthumous Honours i. 305 241 - - Praying for good or bad weather ii. 294 637 - - Praying-mat ii. 183 521 - - Precedence at table i. 332 261 - - Predestination i. 48 69 - " i. 156 138 - - Primogeniture i. 203 179 - - Prisoners in China i. 372 299 - " " ii. 96 428 - " " ii. 261 597 - - P'u-hsien, God of Action ii. 232 569 - - Pulse, The i. 39 64 - - Punishments i. 381 306 - - Pupils taken by priests ii. 119 446 - - Purgatory, Capital of ii. 238 575 - - - Quail-fighting i. 75 85 - - Quail's Tail, A i. 209 183 - - - Rebel, The first ii. 52 392 - - Red-garment figure, The i. 19 50 - - Red-haired barbarians ii. 179 517 - - Relationship, Test of ii. 278 619 - - Religion and the drama i. 345 277 - - Resemblance between soul and body ii. 280 620 - - Retinues of mandarins i. 389 315 - " " ii. 174 510 - " " ii. 175 513 - - Returning invitations ii. 227 561 - - Revenge i. 310, 243, - 311 244 - " for adultery i. 62 81 - - Reward of filial piety i. 351 283 - - Rising when spoken to ii. 280 621 - - Roc, The ii. 341 680 - - Rosary, The Buddhist i. 369 295 - - Royal Mother, The ii. 187 525 - - Rulers of animal and vegetable kingdoms i. 292 235 - - Running water ii. 110 437 - - - Sacred edict, The i. 203 179 - - Sale of children i. 183 154 - " degrees ii. 170 499 - - Salt monopoly ii. 215 547 - - "Same-year men" i. 136 128 - - Saving life ii. 200 533 - " " ii. 214 546 - - Scribbling and carving names ii. 123 451 - - Sea-serpent, The ii. 113 441 - - Secret societies i. 196 170 - - Sections of Purgatory, The nine ii. 205 538 - - Senses, The five i. 259 220 - - Separation of sexes ii. 167 496 - - Shaking hands i. 287 233 - " " ii. 151 489 - - Sham entertainment i. 323 254 - - Shampooing ii. 53 393 - - "Shang-yang" brings rain ii. 131 464 - - "Shoes" of silver i. 148 133 - - Short weights ii. 325 670 - - Shun, The Emperor i. 37 63 - - Shun Chih, The Emperor ii. 184 522 - - 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. 47 390 - - Sons i. 64 82 - - Spirit calling i. 189 160 - " entering another's body ii. 24 375 - - Spirits, Disembodied i. 79 87 - " " i. 119 115 - " " i. 123 119 - " " i. 157 139 - - Spiritualistic _seances_ ii. 133 467 - - Sponge, A i. 248 213 - - Spring festival ii. 186 524 - - Squeezes i. 219 189 - - Staff of Buddhist priests, The i. 395 320 - - Stealing, Pardonable ii. 217 551 - - Strong rooms ii. 172 504 - - Styx, The ii. 216 548 - - Subscriptions ii. 220 556 - - Substantiality of ghosts i. 239 205 - " " ii. 236 574 - - Substitution theory i. 334 267 - - Suicide i. 311 244 - " Meritorious ii. 142 475 - - 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. 286 627 - - Taking life i. 79 88 - - Talking when born i. 243 210 - - Tao i. 14 46 - - Taot'ai ii. 229 562 - - Tartar general ii. 128 461 - - Temples, Repairs to ii. 127 460 - - Theatricals i. 218 188 - - Threshing-floors ii. 236 573 - - Thunder, God of i. 43 65 - " " ii. 112 440 - - Ting P'u-lang ii. 109 435 - - Titles of Nobility i. 305 241 - - Torture ii. 81 417 - " Supply of instruments of ii. 238 576 - - Tree worship ii. 72 408 - - 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. 287 629 - - - Ulysses, A Chinese i. 91 91 - - Ushnisha, The ii. 320 665 - - - Valuables in coffins i. 311 245 - - Verdict i. 56 78 - - Visiting the tutor ii. 126 458 - - Vital spots on the body ii. 356 693 - - - Wang Wei, The poet ii. 149 487 - - Washing-blocks ii. 315 656 - - Watchmen i. 51 72 - - Wedding-presents i. 28 57 - - Wei-ch'i ii. 268 604 - - Wen-shu, the God of Wisdom ii. 232 569 - - White Lily sect ii. 189 526 - - Widowers ii. 183 520 - - Widows ii. 39 385 - - Windows i. 61 79 - - Wine ii. 259, 595, - 260 596 - - Wine-cup upside down, Turning the i. 264 224 - - Wine taken hot ii. 144 477 - - Witnesses in a court of justice ii. 156 491 - - Women ride astride i. 354 286 - - Wooden fish, The ii. 195 529 - - Works of supererogation i. 426 346 - - Worldly-mindedness ii. 312 653 - - Wu Wang i. 278 228 - - - Yamen i. 2 38 - - Yang Ta-hung ii. 310 652 - - Yang-tsze, The ii. 176 514 - - 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. 164 495 - - - - -_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 printed in two volumes, of which this is a combination. - -Italic text is denoted by _underscores_. [)u] represents u breve. -In footnote 55, Greek letters are denoted by their English names. - -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 46, 'old' changed to 'odd' (presenting a very odd -appearance). - -Footnote 109, 'Marriages' changed to 'Marriage' (Marriage between persons -of the same surname is forbidden). - -Footnote 267, 'CVI' changed to 'CVII.' (later story (No. CVII.),). - -Footnote 427, 'excepting' changed to 'except' (except in the matter of -light). - -Footnote 447, 'of' added (first quarter of the present century). - -Footnote 479, 'denouement' changed to 'denouement' (important to the -_denouement_ of the story). - -Footnote 495, 'denouement' changed to 'denouement' (The _denouement_ -of the _Yue-chiao-li_). - -Footnote 527, 'Ibu' changed to 'Ibn' (Ibn Batuta writes as follows). - -Footnote 679, 'LXVII.' changed to 'LXVIII.' (See No. LXVIII.). - -Page i-36, 'villanous' changed to 'villainous' (he writes a villainous -hand). - -Page i-86, 'dare' changed to 'dared' (nobody dared go near her). - -Page i-306, 'grottos' changed to 'grottoes' (from each of the holes or -grottoes on the stone). - -Page i-378, 'Shan' changed to 'Shan-hu' (Shan-hu held out her arms). - -Page i-408, 'watching' changed to 'watched' (watched the moon rising in -the east). - -Page i-411, 'bid' changed to 'bade' (Wang's father bade him hide). - -Page ii-19, 'of' added (a number of curious stones). - -Page ii-65, 'be' changed to 'he' (but he soon reflected). - -Page ii-145, 'sung' changed to 'sang' (whereupon he sang the following -lines). - -Page ii-198, 'he' changed to 'be' (that he would be only too happy). - -Page ii-208, 'according' changed to 'accordingly' (accordingly, when -the King was looking). - -Page ii-254, 'Ch'eng' changed to 'Ch'en' (This frightened Ch'en). - -Page ii-255, 'Ch'eng' changed to 'Ch'en' (Ch'en himself was a -cattle-farmer). - -Page ii-286, 'servants' changed to 'servant' (rode away, telling his -servant). - -Page ii-287, 'a Mr. Ts'ui' changed to 'Mr. Ts'ui' (who lived next door -to Mr. Ts'ui). - -Page ii-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 -(Volumes I and II), by Songling Pu - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STRANGE STORIES *** - -***** This file should be named 43629.txt or 43629.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/3/6/2/43629/ - -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) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, -set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to -copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to -protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project -Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you -charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you -do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the -rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose -such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and -research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do -practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is -subject to the trademark license, especially commercial -redistribution. - - - -*** START: FULL LICENSE *** - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project -Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at -http://gutenberg.org/license). - - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy -all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. -If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the -terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or -entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement -and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" -or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the -collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an -individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are -located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from -copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative -works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg -are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project -Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by -freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of -this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with -the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by -keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project -Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in -a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check -the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement -before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or -creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project -Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning -the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United -States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate -access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently -whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, -copied or distributed: - -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 - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived -from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is -posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied -and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees -or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work -with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the -work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 -through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the -Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or -1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional -terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked -to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the -permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any -word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or -distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than -"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version -posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), -you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a -copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon -request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other -form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided -that - -- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is - owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he - has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the - Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments - must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you - prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax - returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and - sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the - address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to - the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." - -- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or - destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium - and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of - Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any - money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days - of receipt of the work. - -- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set -forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from -both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael -Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the -Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm -collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain -"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or -corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual -property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a -computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by -your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with -your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with -the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a -refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity -providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to -receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy -is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further -opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER -WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO -WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. -If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the -law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be -interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by -the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any -provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance -with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, -promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, -harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, -that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do -or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm -work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any -Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. - - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers -including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists -because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from -people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. -To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation -and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 -and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. - - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive -Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at -http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent -permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. -Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered -throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at -809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email -business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact -information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official -page at http://pglaf.org - -For additional contact information: - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To -SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any -particular state visit http://pglaf.org - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. -To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate - - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm -concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared -with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project -Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. - - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. -unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily -keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. - - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: - - http://www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/43629.zip b/43629.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 2cbd3eb..0000000 --- a/43629.zip +++ /dev/null |