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 [p.10] 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 the priest had cut down.But there were no traces of the priest-much to the amusement of the crowd in the market-place. 1 That is,of the religion of Tao,a system of philosophy founded some six centuries before the Christian era by a man named Lao-tzu,"Old boy,"who was said to have been born with white hair and a beard.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 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. 2 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,1 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
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 [p. 10] 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 the priest had cut down. But there were no traces of the priest—much to the amusement of the crowd in the market-place. 1 That is, of the religion of Tao, a system of philosophy founded some six centuries before the Christian era by a man named Lao-tzŭ, “Old boy,” who was said to have been born with white hair and a beard. 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 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. 2 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,1 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 [p.11] 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[2]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 woman.She had a slender waist and a beautiful neck,and went most gracefully through the Red Garment figure.3 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 [p.12]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
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 [p. 11] 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[2] 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 woman. She had a slender waist and a beautiful neck, and went most gracefully through the Red Garment figure.3 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 [p. 12] loudly, and one of them said, “We are very jolly tonight, 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 behind-hand 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 have 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?Tomorrow 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 [p.13]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 1 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.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 2 The beautiful wife of a legendary chieftain named Hou I,who flourished about 2500 B.C.She is said to have stolen from her husband the elixir of immortality,and to have fled with it to the moon. 3 The name of a celebrated pas seul of antiquity
answered that they had. “In that case,” said he, “you had better get to bed, so as not to be behind-hand 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 have 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? Tomorrow 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 [p. 13] 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. 1 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. 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. 2 The beautiful wife of a legendary chieftain named Hou I, who flourished about 2500 B.C. She is said to have stolen from her husband the elixir of immortality, and to have fled with it to the moon. 3 The name of a celebrated pas seul of antiquity
VI.THE BUDDHIST PRIEST OF CH'ANGCH'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;1 [p.14]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.2 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 anxious about those he had left to their own resources,at the same time bidding the servants 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 [p.15]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 shown 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
VI. THE BUDDHIST PRIEST OF CH‘ANGCH‘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;1 [p. 14] 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.2 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 anxious about those he had left to their own resources, at the same time bidding the servants 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 [p. 15] 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 shown 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.3 [p.16] 1 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 hand 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. 2 Abstinence from wine and meat,and celibacy,are among the most important rules 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. 3 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,l 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 this 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
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.3 [p. 16] 1 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 hand 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. 2 Abstinence from wine and meat, and celibacy, are among the most important rules 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. 3 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,l 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 this 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