Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-12-21
CHINESE CHAR MS.
M0ng0lian Devices for Driving away
Demons


1t may be said OF the Chinese that, from the
cradle to the grave, from the highest to the
lowest, the life OF each is an endless chain of
superstitious obServances, of idol and myth
malign influence OF evil spirits. The following
are a few samples OF the charms used for this
purpose:
AS "a general rule anything red is servceable
in this way. To mark the ''StopS" in book
with red ink will keep away evil spirits from
the reader; So, also will pieces OF red rags or
mutilate helpless little boys unless duly armed
against them, parents stitch a piece of red
cloth. in the pockets OF the little fellows and
braid the queue with piece of red silk to pre-
vent f1ends from cutting it off. Yellow paper
is also very efficacious. Slips OF this paper, six
to twelve inches long, Inscribed with red or
is burnt and the ashes mingled with tea or hot
water and drank as a specific against evil in
npences. Ancient coins are very good also.
and put under the bed of the newly married.
The small points OF an old iron ploughShare
Will 90 II the coin Is not convenient for iron OF
any kind is potent against spirits. A knife
excellent. Iron nails that have been used in
Seai1ng collin are not amiSS, If carried In the
pocket or braided into the queue; or they may
DE beaten into ring and worn in that shape
until q boy Is sixteen years old.
Yet, excellent as are these remedies, they are
II ed only on the defensive: but, as the fiend
may feel more or less emboldened by mere de
1enslVe tactics alone, an aggressive policy is
often adopted, especially in the case Of man
lying Sick In bed For this purpose hempen
whip Is made In the shape of a snake, with
Whlcn the bed and bedStead are We'll whipped
and the lurking spirits made to take a hasty
exit. Evil spirits are much addicted to the ma
locus practice OF injuring houses In course of
erection. To put stop to their FRANKS, a piece
OF red or yellow paper, duly inscribed with the
proper formula, is tied to the ridge pole, or a
small bag of red SILK or cotton is used instead
containing five kinds of grain in honor Of five
Z O ifnn a nj
ent lengths. Another very excellent safeguard
against evil spirits Is picture of flying tiger
the spirits being much afraid of that ferocious
feline. lion graspng naked sword is good
but two lions coming down hill, the sun and
moon between them, are much better. A cat
made OF lime and burnt clay, and looking at
something at distance, is efficaciOuS: or three
PAPER arrows, Or paper boy in the attitude OF
shooting an arrow, or an earthen lion, either OF
these Is also good.
The shell OF gourd is suspended b. the bed
or children who have not yet had the smallpox,
on the last night of the year. because the god OF
meas les will empty the smallpox into the shell
II II be placed convenient to his hand. But the
better plan is to cover the childS face with an
ugly mask, and then the god of measles, who is
mischievOusly addicted to spelling pretty faces,
Will not think it worth while to waste his small
The tend is thus tricked out of his victim The
combined pictures of tiger, lizard, centpede.
snake, and an unknown animal with three feet,
SUSPENDED round the neck, keep Off the collie.
- III III 9uSPohuCu W d otu-Cui tati, idGe out-
ward, will keep the devil away, because, On
approaching the room. he will see himself re-
fected in the glass, and shocked with his own
ugliness, will hide himself In some deep cavern
until he rorgetS the fright
or the innumerable Omens Of good or evil
which the provident gods design to manifest a
few are here given: The maybe is bird OF
good omen; and hence if a man is projecting
say an investmentin stocks, and hears the voice
OF this bird, 1t Is sure sign that stocks will go
up, and that his investment will be a success
crow. On the other hand, Is a bird of evil
omen. strange dog coming to take up his
The coming Of a cat is an evil omen, because
the feline instinct points out the whereabouts
OF rats and mice, and these creatures have q
preference for dilapidated houses. A crow
ing hen and whiStling woman are both bad
omens-both being unnatural, and whatever
is unnatural is also unlucky. cock Growing
soon be killed OF sold.-tsaa Francisco Ckroai-
rIp