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The folk-lore of China

Chapter 23: E
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About This Book

A compendium of articles examines Chinese popular beliefs and customs, collecting superstitions, rituals, and folk narratives associated with birth, marriage, death, household worship, festivals, ghosts, spirits, dragons, and omens. The material ranges from practical ceremonies and commonplace taboos to mythic origin-stories and popular sayings, with notes on regional variations and textual sources. The author systematically compares motifs and customs to those found among Aryan and Semitic traditions, suggesting linguistic and cultural affinities, and organizes the material thematically to serve as a reference for students of comparative folklore and anthropology.

[Contents]

A

Ages Facial, the, 63

Ali Baba’s Cave, its Chinese Representative, 134

Almanacks, 8

Amulets, extensive Use of, 55

Amulets,, usually Metal or Jade, 56

Animals Endowed with the Gift of Speech, 101

Animals,, Suckling Children, 142

Apparition at Shanghai, 73

Apparition,, of a Man Drowned in the S.S. Fusing, 73

Apparition,, at Foochow, 74

Arrows fired at Tidal Waves as Charms, 51

Artemisia, Leaves of the, used as Charms, 51

Aryan Cradle of Superstitions, 6

Ass, the, in Chinese Fable, 148

Astrological Beliefs common to all Classes in China, 2

[Contents]

B

Baboon, Cambodian, curious Belief respecting, 113

Bamboo, anti-demoniacal Powers of, 47

Bamboo,, Slips, Divination by, 62

Bats, Ominous, 34

Bells, Auguries from, 37

Bells,, Great, at Canton and Peking, 37

Bells,, on Clothing Worn as Amulets, 55

Bells,, of Peking, Legend of the Casting of the, 133

Betrothal, Ceremonies of, 15

Birds, Appearance of as Omens, 33, 34

Birds,, Trained to Aid in Divination, 63

Birds,, the Grateful, 136

Birth, Ceremonies observed after, 13

Birth,, Hour and Day of, 8

Bittern and Mussel, Fable of the, 147

Blind Man and Lame Man, Fable of the, 151

Blood Bread, Sold at Peking, 67

Blood,, from Trees, &c., 127

Blood,, Human, as Medicine, 66, 68

Blood,, Human in Castings, 133

Blood,, of Unborn Infants, efficacious for Magic, 68

Borrowing Trouble, Fable about, 150

Bread, Superstitions connected with its use, 140

Bride-Cake, Bread, 18

Bridges, Curious Superstitions concerning, 70

Brownies, Chinese, 99

Buildings, Charms affixed to, 48

Burial Ancient, in Position of Fœtus, 24

[Contents]

C

Candle Omens, 17

Candles at Burials, 21

Candles,, Bridal, 17

Candles,, Burning Green in the presence of Ghosts, 73

Cannibalism, Chinese, 67

Cannon, Fired at the Peiho to Diminish a Flood, 46

Carp, Supernatural, 92

Cash in Dead Men’s Sleeves, Divination by, 21

Cash,, Lucky, as Amulets, 55

Cash,, Swords, 48

Cat and Mice, Fable of, 147

Cat,, to pass over a Corpse, Ominous, 20

Cats and Witchcraft in China, 90

Cats,, Images of, on Houses, 48

Cats,, Unlucky, 33

Chair, Sitting in a Warm, Ominous of a Quarrel, 38

Characts or Written Charms (specimen of), 52, 55

Charms Paper, Burnt and the Ashes Drank in Tea, &c., 54

Charms,, their extensive Use, 45

Cheap Literature, Aid to Preservation of Folk-lore, 6 [ii]

Chêng Chêng-shan, Caves of, 133

Chêng-hwang, the, 77

Chiao, the Chinese, 127

Chiromancy, Chinese, 63

Chopsticks used at Marriages, 16

Chow Dynasty, Mythical Origin of the, 4

Christians, alleged Powers of as Exorcists, 89

Chrysostom St., his Protest against Superstitions, 2

Chu-ko Liang, Legend of the Tomb of, 135

Cinnabar, Children Stained with, as an Antidote to Sickness, 70

Classics, Chinese, Copies of as Charms, 51

Classics,, Divinations by the, 62

Clay Figures used by Wizards, 83

Clothes, Burial, 20

Cocoa-Nut, Fanciful Legend Concerning its Origin, 138

Cocoa-Nut,, Shell, Virtues of Vessels made of, 138

Cocks, Images of White, used at Marriages, 16

Cocks,, Superstitions as to, 22

Coffin, Purchase of, during Life, 20

Coffin,, Unlucky to Meet a, 38

Coins Placed under Door Sills, 48

Comets, Portents from, 35

Confucius, Legend of the Tomb of, 136

Confucius,, on Omens, 39

Corpse, Blood from Mouth, &c., of, 71

Cosmical Phenomena in China, Records of, 116

Crabs, used for Exorcism, 11

Cradle, Superstitions as to Rocking an Empty, 12

Crane, Paper Image of, used 60 Days after Death, 25

Crooked Paths in Gardens, Reasons of, 35

Crow, Ominous Character of the, 33

Crows and Owls, Fable of the, 149

[Contents]

D

Days, Lucky and Unlucky, 28, 31

Dead, Implements Anciently made for the, 72

Dead Bodies, Position of, Reversed before Coffining, 21

Death, Most Common Hours of, 27

Death,, Superstitions concerning, 20

Demon Flies and Cash, 86

Demon,, Aid to Become Rich, 86

Demons, Chinese, 84

Demons,, Head of the, 84

Demon Imprisoned in Jars, 131

Demon,, Power to Cause Disease, 85

Demon,, People Possessed by, 85

Demon,, Story of Possession at Chefoo, 85

Devil Dancers” Native, 87

Devil,, How Consulted, 88

Disturbing Graves, Dislike to, 26

Divination and Spiritualism, 56

Divination,, by the Leaves of the Juniper, &c., 63

Divination,, like the Sortes Virgilianæ, 62

Divining Twig, the Chinese, 57

Dogs, Demon, Transformed, 132

Dogs,, Hair of as Charms, 51

Dogs,, Strange, Lucky, 33

Dragon, Chinese, Description of the, 108

Dragon,, Worship Domestic, 108

Dragon,, Legend of the, and A-Tseung, 109

Dragon,, The Embodiment of the Storm Spirit, 110

Dragon,, St. George and the, Chinese Legend of, 110

Dragons, Ghosts of, 92

Dragons,, Derived from Serpents, 107

Dragons,, Worship, 107

Dragons,, and Waterspouts, 127

Dragon’s Water, near a Grave, 25

Drawings of Animals and Reptiles used as Charms, 51

Dreams, Superstitions concerning, 41

Dreams,, Japanese Beliefs in, 43

Dreams,, of Deceased Relatives, Ominous, 77

Dress, Article of belonging to a Child’s Father, a Charm, 13

Drowned Bodies, Discovery of, 64

Duck, Bamboo and Duck’s Egg used 60 Days after Death, 24

Duck Quacking, Unlucky, 33

[Contents]

E

Earth, Scattered on Coffin at Burials, 25

Eclipses, Superstitions about, 36

Eggs, how Prevented from Breaking when Boiled, 70

Eggs,, Setting an even number of, 35

Eitel, Rev. Dr., on Fable of Hwang-ho, 4

Elixir of Life, the, 97

Elves and Brownies, Chinese Ideas of, 97

Evil Eye, the, 49

Exorcists, Christian and Pagan, in China, 89 [iii]

Eyebrows, People with Joined, their Luck, 38

Eyelids, Involuntary Movement of, an Omen, 38

[Contents]

F

Fable, the Earliest Chinese, 147

Fables, their Use in China, 146

Fables,, Collections of, 146

Fairies Embodying the Powers of Nature, 100

Fairies,, Chiefly Attributed to Mountainous Localities, 97

Fairies,, Chinese usually Beautiful, 98

Fairy Women, 99

Fairy,, Flies and Bees, 100

Feet, Bridegroom Requested to Rub Bride’s, 16

Female Apparitions before Death Unknown, 26

Fêng-Shuey, 65

Finger, Shaking of, an Omen, 38

Fire Crackers, as Charms, 46

Fire,, Legend of the God of, 121

Fire,, Superstitions as to spread of, 123

First-foot, on New Year’s Day, 2

First-foot,, The, Superstitions concerning, 31

First Words Heard after Making a Resolution, Ominous, 39

Fishing Nets as Charms, 57

Five, the Number, 40

Flesh, Human, Curative Powers of, if Eaten, 68, 66

Flowers in the Unseen World, Representing Women, 11

Folk-lore, Origin of Term, 6

Food, &c. Provided for the Dead, 24

Foot-measure used at Marriages, 16

Four, a Lucky Number at Marriages, 17

Fowl, Black, Ghost of, 92

Fox, the, and Demonology, 92–96

Fo-yeung-lak, Branches Hung over Doorways, 47

Fruit, Dried, Used at Marriages, 16

Frog in the Moon, the, 118

Funerals, Unlucky to Meet, 38

[Contents]

G

Gardner, Mr. C. T., Notes by, 25

Garlic Bulbs, Charms against Sickness, 70

Geese and Tortoise, Fable of the, 149

Genœva Root Stories, 142

Genii, how Summoned, 81

Genii,, Chinese Description of, 81

Genii,, The Taoist Definition of, 81

Genii,, Celebrated, 82, 83

Genii,, Magic Powder of the, 82

Genii,, Isles of the, 82

Ghosts, The False Ghost at Chinkeang, 71

Ghosts,, The Chinese Terms for, 72

Ghosts,, Shapeless Form of, 72

Ghosts,, Every-day Appearance of, 72

Ghosts,, Of women who Die in Child-bed, 74

Ghosts,, Of Suicides, 74

Ghosts,, Pranks of, 76

Ghosts,, Accompanied by Celestial Police, 77

Ghosts,, Low Intelligence of, 77

Ghosts,, Pauper, 77

Ghosts,, Exorcising (A Chinese Farce), 78

Ghosts,, Of Idols, 78

Ghosts,, Free to Revisit the Earth, 78

Ghosts,, Talismans Against, 79

Ghosts,, Animal, 79

Goats used to Discover Drowned Bodies, 64

Goblets, Bridal, 17

“God,” Chinese Equivalent of the Word, 155

Goddess of the Moon, The, 117

Good Deeds Rewarded, 136

Gorges, Female Spirits of the, 132

Gourd Shells as Charms, 51

Grass, Used to Frighten Demons, 11

Graves, Lucky Sites for, 25

Gymnastics, Practice of, Conduces to Immortality, 69

[Contents]

H

Hainan Straits, Reputed Home of Sea Monsters, 115

Hair Combing, when Unlucky, 41

Hair,, on Body, Excess of, Ill-omened, 38

Hare in the Moon, Legend of the, 118

Hare,, Superstitions concerning the, 64

Haunted Houses, Stories of, 75

Heart, Jumping Sensation of, an Omen, 38

Heart,, Name Engraved on the, 136

Hell, Gate of, near Têng-chow, 130

Hens Crowing, Unlucky, 33

Hercules’ Cup, Chinese Version of, 132

Honey at Sicilian Marriages, 17

Hooks, Silver, Worn as Amulets, 55

Horses and the King, Fable of the, 150

Horse’s Hoof, a Charm, 48

Household Tales, Grimm’s Opinion of, 145

Hwang-ho, Fable of the, 4

Hwang-ho,, Fairy Lake, Source of the, 133 [iv]