The Western advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1872-1874, 1874-07-04

them from the evil which thew fanciod
was impending over them! The Chinese
hail with joy the advent of swallows, and
believe that the owners of the buildings
where they make their nests are sure to
meet with prosperity. The cry of the
owl is everywhere heard with dread, as
portending an approaching death. Be-
sides the foregoing, the Chinese also de-
rive omens from the changes in the ap-
pearance of certain flowers, and in sew
eral other ways "But the strangest and
most unaccountable of the Chinese su-
perstitions is what they denominate
foong shuey' (called 'feng shue' in the
court tdialect)-wind and Water-a species
of geomancy or a belief in the good or i'll
luck attached to particular local situa-
tions or aspects Before house is built
or burial-place selected, it is neces.
sary to consult certain professors
of the occult science, who. at the
price of adequate fees, proceed with
much solemnity to examine the situation.
After frequently perambulating and ex-
amining the ground and even deferring
their decision for months they will fix
on some particular place. If, after all
the expense and trouble of consulting
the cheats who profess the art, ill-fortune
rather than good should attend the par
ties, this is, of course, attributed to any
thing except the inefficiency of the foong
shuey. This term may in general be
construed 10y the word luck, and it has
been supposed that in a country like
China, where nearly all long JOURNEYS
are performed by water, good wind and
water or in other words good luck in a
journey, has by degrees come t. signify
good luck in every circumstance and
condition of life" We are inclined to
think that Sir John Davis, writing as he
did at time when the manners and GUS
toms of the Empire were not so we'll
understood by foreigners as they are
now, does not lay sufficient stress on the
Importance which the Chinese attach to
their doctrine of Feng shut, for it is un-
doubtedly very serious stumbling
block in the way of the progress of Eu-
ropean civilization in the country When
the Chinese have no other argument left
to urge against an innovation they take
their stand on the Feng shut, and it
would seem as if no amount of reason
ing were sufficient to removc'the obstacle,
which to a civilized mind appears moth
ing more than ridiculous superstition.
In conclusion, we would say few
words. respecting the dragon Uung),
which holds striking position in the at.
tections of this superstitious people.
With them it is frequently represented
as the greatest benefactor of mankind;
and it is the dragon which causes the
clouds to form and the rain to fall" The
true dragon, with five claws on each of
its four feet, is appropriated to the En-
peror, as the emblem of imperial power
1+o Elyo~aoe &c 1,,o1,r>tlo.oA T..
of state, and his throne is called the
dragons seat. (The Empress is repre-
sented by the ph9nix-Feng.) Dr. s.
Wells Williams in his middle Kingdom, :"
observes with some qaintness: "The old
dragon, it might bc almost said, has
coilcd himself round the Emperor of
China, one of the greatest upholders of
his power in the world, and con-
trived to get himself worshiped through
him by one-third of the human
race" The true dragon is represented
as having no ears and with two
horns on its forehead, through which it
is supposed to hear, and its body is said
to be covered with scales. The fable
runs that it never reveals it's entire form
to mortal man, always partially shroud-
ing itself in clouds. According to some,
water-spouts are caused by the move
ment Of the dragon; and in times of
drought supplications are made to it, as
q kind OF rain god or rain king, by the
Emperor and the people of China.
The Chinese often make use of an in
ferlor sort of dragon in pictures, devices,
etc.; and at the holiday festival of the
new year " cloth image of the dragon" I"
we are told, is. exhibited at theaters in
the night time, and paraded in the pub
Tic streets, being moved and worked by
men. 1t IS represented as pursuing a
large pearl or ball, which is carried a
little in advance of it, the whole being
sport, and is called 'playing with a
dragon lantern .'"-AW tie 9ear Rou,ad.