Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-07-21
Oriental Fortune Telling.

"Divination is i'm China as popular
as, and probably more respectable than,
it was among the Israelites in the days
OF the witch of Endor and it is not per-
haps going too far TO say that there is
not single means resorted to in the
West, by way of lifting the impenetra-
BILE vail which hides the future
from the curious which is not
known to and practiced by the Chinese.
From "Piaking the Bible" to using
the Planchette, from tossing for odd
and even to invoking spirits to actually
speak through crafty media, the whole
range of Western superstition in this
regard is as familiar to the average
Chinaman as 10 the most enthusiastic
Dirtualists at home. The condolences
# practice and belief are indeed so
artling thai many will doubtless see
them a sort of evidence either for
their truthfulness or for common
origin of evil" 1t is not intended at
present to describe more than one mode
of divination; but il Is the mode which
is universal among the lower classes,
and which can be seen at work every
day in the temples of the more corrupt
or poorer sects of Buddhisis in Toxic
and elsewhere. The materials are very
simple. a small rectangular or oblong
hox is filled with slips of bamboo, each
about si1 inches ia length, and having
number written on the end. These
can be shaken out one by one, through
a hole in the end of the box; and, ae-
cording TO the number on the first stick
the diyiner selects from a drawer in a
cabinet, close at hand, a printed slip of
paper containing the inquirer's fate.
The boxes vary according to age and
sex; but the number of boxes in the
possession of one temple rarely exceeds
sixteen, eight for the various ages. and
two Tor the sexes, with corresponding
drawers in the cabinet. The stock in
trade being so small, and the diyining
priest generally holding some other
occupation about the temple, he can
afford TO sell his wares cheapIy. Yet
on festival days he must receive large
sum. At the temple between ka-
wasaki and the sea, the writer has seen
as many as 200 persons draw the divln-
ing sticks-MIkuji wo kiku as it is cal !
led-in an hour, and all of them seemed
10 treat II . ceremony with the utmost |
seriousness and sOlemnity, generally |
stepping out before drawing the stick.
and eleyating their hands IN prayer TO |
the idol. This form of divination seems |
10 be connected with Buddhism, as we |
find il also used in joss-houses in China. |
The box ana sticks are rarely found |
among the possessions of an itinerant |
fOrtune-teller, and even then he is re-
garded as an impostor, or a priest who |
has been discharged for misconduct |
from his temple. In China, il is said, |
street fortune tellers frequently train |
birds to select these sticks, thus adding |
an amusing element TO the ceremony.
In conclusion translations of few |
slips of paper, thus selected, may not |
be uEinteresting. 1t will be observed |
AAAat AAS At i oOAisC W AiAl anu 4
the fates decline TO descend from the |
general ts the particular. But papers |
are frequently drawn in which traders |
are recommended what to invest in and |
what TO avoid. First-To a man OF |
twenty-eight years At first evil, then |
good wealth will be scatterd and lost. |
Misfortune will come suddenly, and |
quarrels will take place with wife and |
brethren. Second-To a woman of /
thirty-seven During spring and au-
tumn the fates are Unfavor tble, but in |
spring ami winter things will go well. |
The expectations of youth Will not be |
realized in old ages. Third-To |
youth of nineteen: This world and the |
thing thereof pass rapidly away, and
il is III to change present occupation
for a new one. Sickness, when it |
comes, will do so with heavy hand.
Fourth-To girl of sixteen: Disap-
Fointment at first, but early marriage |
brings early wrinkles; and the eoun-
tenance OF the godness of mercy will
ever afterward be favorable.