National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-01-24
Written for THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN.

Written for THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN
Chinese folk lore presents q subject
both rich and varied. Much of 1t is con-
nected with idolatry, but in every dis
trict are found legends and traditions
peculiar to the place with habits and Gus
toms corresponding. They have great
dread Of unlucky words and on certain
days cannot be induced to pronounce the
word for monkey" and are careful to
avoid sll direct mention Of death. They
will say a man has passed from tho
body" or has passed from tho world" or
''has gone to heaven" but dislike to say
Slainly he Ia dead. The proper word for
coffin" Is studiously avoided and the
euphonym longevity boards' used. You
may look in vain for q coffin shop In
plain words, but places for the manufac-
ture of '1ong life boards" are numerous.
The words "hung-shau" mean literally
"empty handed" but chair bearers in
calling to pedestrians to open the way in.
yariably say "kat-shau," lucky hand"
because tho other expression is exactly
the Same in sound as "murdorer's hand"
Bats are considered omens Of happiness.
because the name Is similar in sound to
the word for happiness.
THEIR DREAD OF UNLUoKY WORDS
Is sometimes utilized. A certain family
were greatly annoyed by crowds Of Chi
,nese men who would gather on an ele-
waited platform overlooking their in
closure and stare at them. Remonstrance
was useless. SO one Of the gentlemen be-
thought himself of this superstition and
posted up an unlucky word in q con-
spicuous place on the side Of his house
where II was sure to moet their eyes.
The effect was magical. The men dis
appeared Immediately and no further an
noyanco occurred. They are firm be-
levers In signs and portents. A comet
presages war, and as strife is always GO
ing on In some part Of tho broad empire
they always SEQ this sign fulfilled.
Eclipses arc caused by dragon devouring
the sun or moon, and gongs are beaten
furiously to drive him away. Tho break
ing Of q mirror indicates separation from
.pne's wife, and the destruction Of an oil
Jar portends even worse evils. Before
lifting down they always fan the seat in
NE belief that If you sit down while it is
IT'LL warm you will fall out with the last
sitter. Sudden sneezing indicates that
some one is talking i'll of you. Mirrors
of a certain kind are said to foreshadow
the future. and jewels have been exhib-
tied for few cash in which his future
was depicted to each observer in tho
shape of q beggar, a mandarin, mer-
chant, or some other character.
CHARMS AND AMULETs
are much used. Large copper cash
with lucky characters inscribed are hung
around children's necks. In the court of
the temple of the give CENT" in Canton
stands the tower of the tabooed bell. 1t
was cast about 400 years ago, and proph-
esy foretold IL would strike the doom Of
the city; in consequence of which 1t was
carefully isolated, and all were forbidden
to strike it. A rash official, however. Or
dered IL to be struck, and forthwith an
epidemic broke out by which over thou
sand young children died. Since en-
bells are worn by children as charms
against disease.
When child meets with an accident or
sbadlyfrightened the mother takes him to
tho spot where the misfortune occurred
and presents offerings to the spirits Of
the place to secure his recovery. Mission
aries have had frequent experience Of
peculiar customs of this sort. On one
occasion, as two of them were ascending
hill in the interior to obtain a view of
the surrounding country, sonic rude boys
from the village nearby pursued and
hooted at them in q most insulting man
ner. They drove them back with some
severe rebuke, and thought no more of
1t. As they came down from the hilltop,
however, they were mot by a throng of
people evidently much excited. In the
midst Of the crowd was woman holding
boy by the hand. She accused them of
frightening him 30 that no was greatly
injured, and insisted on their presenting
k. nil ,ntn Nlnfr a
with which to make some tea to restore
the boy to his senses
A moro peculiar case occurred in my
own experience. Having anchored my
boat near large town, the village boys
came out in large numbers, hooting,
throwing stones, and rendering them
selves generally offensive. Rushing upon
them seized one Of the ringleaders and
Threatened to have him punished by the
elders of tho town If the disturbance did
not cease. Soon after l heard great
clamor on the bow of the boat and was
informed that the mother Of the boy had
come to see me. Going out found hei
with tho boy who. she said, was 80 fright.
ened that
HE HAD TURNED GREEN,
and she demanded handful of saliva Il
restore him. Disguised at the request
turned and left her, but she persisted, and
all the people Joined in support of her re-
quest, so that in sheer self-defense l was
compelled TO accede. Whether the rem
edy was efficacious or not never learned
Another request of the same kind came
few days later from long-robed scholar
who was very polite in making his de
mand,. but whose little son had beer
greatly startled by my strange appear
ance, and he consequently was very
anxious to guard against any i'll effects.
A certain missionary had large black
dog that accompanied him in his travels
and on one occasion created consterna
ton and fright among the half-clat
urchins that swarmed about him. Severa
were reduced to that alarming state al
which q pale green hue shows through
the yellow skin, and hair from the dogs
tail was demanded to make tea necessary
for their recovery.
Their belief in spirits is notorious anc
haunted houses are frequent. Elves
fairies, brownies, imps, and other super.
natural beings are said to abound. They
believe in spirit-rappings, planchette
alchemy, mesmerism, divination of va
rious kinds by bamboo slips, by images
by somnambulism, chiromancy, anC
palmistry. Branches Of certain plants
are hung over the doors to ward of
svil influences, and cast swords are huns
inside their bed curtains as protection
against nocturnal spirits Their road
are always crooked and abound in sharl
corners to obstruct tho approach ofspirlts
which delight in broad, straight ways
The houses on street are never built il
line. but present a zigzag appearance
as some project and others are set in
This is to check
THE PROGRESS OF THE SPIRITS.
Corner houses are avoided because Their
position affords such facility for tho evil
spirits to sweep around them. A sharI
roof indicates that only a barber shoI
will prosper opposite. The entrance to
house is never direct. A screen in from
necessitating turn to tho right or left