Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-07-16

bIck attached to particular local situa-
lions or aspects. Before house is built
or a 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-
aiming the ground and even deterring
their decision for months they will TX
on some particular place. II, after all
the expense and trouble OF consulting
the cheats Who profess the art, lII-fortune
rather than good should attend the par
ties. this is. of course. attributed to any
thing except the inetficiency OF the fOOng
shuey. This term may in general be
/ construed bv the word luck, and 1t has
/ been supposed that IN 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 to SIGNIFY
good luck in every circumstance ana
condition of life" We are inclined to
think that Sir John Davis, writing as he
dld at time when the manners ana Gus
toms OF the Empire were not so well
understood by foreigners as they are
now, does not Law sufficient stress on the
| importance which the Chinese attach to
! their doctrine of Feng shut, for 1t is I'M
/ dOubtedlv q very serious stumbling
! block IN the way Of the progress OF Eu-
/ rOpean civilization in the country. When
! the Chinese have no other argument LETT
/ to urge against an innovation they take
/ their stand on the Feng shut, and it
i would seem as if no amount OF reason
! ing We're sufficient to remove the obstacle,
/ Which to a civilized mind appears moth
/ ing more than ridiculous superstition.
In conclusion. we would say q few
words respecting the dragon Oung),
which holds striking position in the at
! tectiOns of this superstitiOus people.
With them it is frequently represented
as the greatest benetactOr 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
Its likeness is embroidered on his robes
of state, and his throne is called the
dragons seat. (The Empress is repre-
scented by the pheniX-Feng) Dr. s.
| Wells Williams, in his Middle Kingdom, J"
! observes with some qaintness: " The old
dragon, it might be almost said, has
cOiled 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 its 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
a kind of rain god OF rain king, by the
Emperor and the people of China.
The Chinese often make use of an in
ferior sort Of dragon in pictures, devices,
] ETC.; and at the holiday festival Of the
new year a cloth image of the dragon, :"
we are told, is exhibited at theaters in
the night time, and paraded in the pub
lie streets, being moved and worked by
men. 1t is represented as pursuing a
/ large pearl or ball, which is carried q
little in advance of it, the whole being
/ lighted with candles. This is popular
sport, and is called playing with a
dragon lantern. I'LL lie Year R0u21d