I
J
K
Kelpies, Chinese, 100
Kettle, Spout of, must not be Turned Outwards, 65
Key of a Dyke Water Gate used as a Charm, 47
Kingsmill, T. W., on Mythical Origin of Chow Dynasty, 4
Knife, Absurd Tale of a, at a Wedding, (note), 19
Knife,, Cash as Charms, 57
Knife,, used to Kill a Fellow Creature, a Charm, 51
Knots “Auspicious,” in Swathing the Dead, 21
Korrigan, Resemblance to Chinese Elves, 132
Ku-tu or Magic Water, 62
Kwang-sui-fu, Legend of the Cave of, 134
Kwʻen-lun Mountain, 133
Kwʻen-lun,, Mountains Peopled with Fairies, 97
L
Lake Man, Supernatural Origin of, 126
Lake,, of Gems, the, 97
Lame Man and Blind Man, Fable of the, 151
Lamps and Lanterns at Marriages, 17
Last Piece left on a Dish, 65
Legends of Locality, 129
Lewchewan Legend of the Fairy Dress, 140
Lightning, Beliefs concerning, 121
Lin-lu Mountain, Legend of, 132
Lions, Images of, Outside Houses, 48
Loadstone, Legends regarding the, 135
Locks, Silver, Worn as Amulets, 55
Lots, Method of Casting, 39
Luther, Superstition of, 3
M
Magicians, Noted, 83
Magpies, Ominous, 33
Manna, Chinese Fall of, 128
Mao-shan (Magicians) the, 83
Marriage of Emperor, Superstitious Gifts at, 7
Marriage,, Superstitions regarding, 14
Marriages, Days Suitable for, 15
Mayers, on Cult of God of Literature, 4
“Measures,” Worshipping the, 13
Media, Spiritualistic Chinese, 60
Mercury and its Preparations, Virtues of, 139
Mermaid, China the Original Home of the, 114
Mermaids, Chinese Legends of, 115
Mesmerism, Chinese, 62
Meteors, as Auguries, 120
Mice and Cat, Fable of, 147
Mirages, Beliefs about, 120
Mirrors, Superstitions concerning, 35–45
Mirrors,, used at Marriages, 16
Money as Amulets, 55
Monkeys Reputed to Steal Women, 100
Monster of the Nanking Pagoda, 114
Moon, Beliefs concerning the, 115
Moon,, Cakes, 28
Moon,, Goddess of the, Legend of, 101
Moon,, Obscured, Hakka Superstition concerning, 32
Moon,, Snow from the, 118
Mountains, Presiding Demons and Divinities of, 123
Mourning Colours of Different Nations, 26
Murdered People, Omens from Closed or Open Hands of, 71
Murdered,, People, Blood from Mouth, &c., 71
Murderers Haunted by Ghosts of Persons Murdered, 75
Mussel and Bittern, Fable of the, 147
N
Nails, Coffin, as Charms, 48
Name, People of the Same, Forbidden to Marry, 19
Nanking Pagoda, Monster of the, 114
New-Born Children must not be near Silkworms, 71
New,, Year’s Day, Lucky for Certain Acts, 31
“Noon Day Tea” Cakes as Charms, 70
Numbers, Even, Fortunate, 41
Numbers,, Lucky, 39
Numerical Categories, Mayers’ List of, 40
O
P
Pa Kwa, the, 50
Palm, Itching of, 39
Palmistry, Divination by, 63
Paper Slips, Divination by, 63
Penelope, Story of, Chinese Tales Resembling, 141
Phœnix, the Chinese, 111–112
Philosopher’s Stone, the Chinese, 139
Physiognomy, Auguries from the, 63
Pigs, White, and “Carrying Coal to Newcastle,” 147
Planchette, the Chinese, 57
Plum Tree, its Powers over Spirits, 47
Poi-tʻou, the “Cup Traveller,” 132
Portents or Omens, 33
Possession, Chinese Stories of Demon, 86
Pregnant Animal, Passing over a Corpse, Superstition about, 20
Proverbs, Coincidence of Chinese and European, 151
Proverbs,, Business and Social, 152
Proverbs,, Use of the Word “Heaven” in, 155
Pumelo Leaves used for Divination, 63
Punch and Judy, Legendary Origin of, 136
Purgatory, Gate of, 129
R
Radicals, Story, 143
Rain God, the Chinese, 124
Rain,, Priests, 125
Rainstones, Ancient Chinese, 69
Red Cloth and Silk as Charms, 51
Red,, Cloth Placed on Threshold of Bridegroom’s House, 18
Red,, Cords used for Infants, 12
Red,, Paper for Charms, 54
Red,, Silk Threads, used at Betrothals, 15
Ridge Poles, Charms attached to, 48
Rip Van Winkle, Chinese Versions of, 98
Roof, Holes Made in to Allow Egress of Soul, 2–22
S
Sabbath, the Chinese, Origin of, 27
Sago Palm Leaves, Charms against Sickness, 70
Salt, Thrown into Water when a Person has been Rescued from Drowning, 64
Sampans, Red Cloths Hung on, at Birth of Children, 11
Sand Spread on Table, Divination by, 58
Sand,, Strewn on Floor to Discover if Spirit of the Dead Revisits a Place, 77
Scales, Money, used at Marriages, 16
Sea-Serpents, Chinese, 113
Sedan-chair and Crane used Sixty days after Death, 24
Sedans, Marriage, Paintings on, 16
Self-sacrifice for the Public Good, 134
Serpents, Story from Foochow, 105
Serpents,, Worship, 105
Serpents,, Flesh, Healing Qualities of, 103
Serpents,, as River Gods, 106
Serpents,, Combat between Enchanted, 104
Serpents,, Precious Stones in Heads of, 106
Serpents,, Power of Assuming Human form, 103
Serpents,, Dragons, &c., 102
Serpents,, Wide-spread Legends concerning, 102
Seven, the Number, Superstitions concerning, 27, 38, 40
Seven,, the Number, in connection with Burials, 24
Sex of Children, how Foretold, 10, 11
Shan Ching Kwei (Magicians), 83
Shan-sao, or Chinese Brownies, 99 [vi]
Shears used at Marriages, 16
“Shên of Offence,” the, 78
Shiu-hing, Legend of, 130
Shoes, Superstitions concerning, 11, 15, 18
Shooting Stars, Omens from, 36
Sieve, used to Purify Clothes before Marriage, 16
Silkworms, Pregnant Women not Allowed to Approach, 71
Sitting on the Dress of Bride or Bridegroom, an Omen, 19
Snake, Absurd Tale of at a Marriage (note), 19
Snakes in Chinese Fables, 148
Sneezing, an Omen, 38
Solomon, Judgment of, its Chinese Version, 139
Somnambules or Media, Chinese, 59
Spirit Media, Deity Invoked by, 61
“Spirit,” use of the Word in Chinese, 102
Spiritualism and Spirit-Rapping in China, 57
Spittle, Lustration by, 52
Stars, Abodes of Supernatural Beings, 119
Stars,, Ominous, 36
Stent, on Chinese Legends, 3
Stones, Legends concerning Human Beings Metamorphosed into, 128
Stones,, Possessed by Spirits, 96
Storm Fiends, Chinese, 97
Straw Tied Round a Pot Prevents Boiling over, 70
Styx, Chinese, the, 24
St. George and the Dragon, Chinese Version of, 111
St.,, Swithun’s Day, Chinese, 32
St.,, God, Cup of the, 132
Sun, Chinese Beliefs concerning, 118, 119
Swallows, never wilfully Killed, 34
Swan Maidens, Chinese Version of the Samojed Legend, 140
Swastika, the, in China, 49
Sweet Dew, Fall of, 128
Sweet,, Flag, Leaves of the, used as a Charm, 51
Swellings Cured by Hem of a Woman’s Garment, 70
T
Tea, Legendary Origin of the Shrub, 137
Teachers, Great, of China, their Influence regarding Superstitions, 6
Thom’s Translation of Æsop’s Fables, 146
Thor’s Hammer in China, 49
Three Children at a Birth, Superstitions concerning, 12
Three,, the Number, Unlucky at Marriages, 17
Threshold, Bride’s Feet must not Touch, 18
Thunder, the God of, 121
Tides, Excessive Superstitions as to, 125
Tides,, Influence of the Moon on, 118
Tiger Suckling Babes, Stories of, 142
Tides,, the, in Chinese Fable, 148
Tigers as Demoniacs, 91
Tortoise and Geese, Fable of, 149
Tree of Life, the, 97
Trees, Anti-demoniacal Powers of Certain, 47
Triangles, Gold or Silver as Charms, 49
Trolls, their Chinese Representatives, 132
Trowsers, Ominous Properties of, 38
Tsien-tang River, Human Self-sacrifice to the, 134
Twitching of the Flesh, an Omen, 38
Typhoons, Legend of Origin of, 109
V
W
“Watching Spirits,” Superstitions as to, 22
Watching the Dead, 24
Water, Drawn after Midnight on a Certain Date, Efficacy of, 38
Water,, Magic, its Use, 62
Waterspouts and Dragons, 127
Watters, on Chinese Beliefs regarding Pigeons, Doves and Foxes, 3
Waxen Images Used by Wizards, their Chinese Representatives, 83
Wedding Ring, Chinese, 14
White Hempen Cloth for Mourning, 24, 25
Willow, the, its Powers over Spirits, 47 [vii]
Willow Wood, Divination by Image of, 61
Willow,, Wood, Lucky Properties of, 16
Windows, Opening of, for Egress of Soul, 2
Witchcraft, a Communicable Act, 80
Witchcraft,, and Demonology, 79
Witches and Wizards, Long Existence of in China, 80
Witches,, not Subject to Violence, 80
Witches, Chinese Charm against, 90
Wives, Supernatural, 142