Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-03-29
CHINESE FOLK LORE.
BELIEF OF THE CELeSTlALS IN SIGNS
AND PORTENTS.
Dread Of Unlucky Words and Charms and
Faith i'm nAmuIets-SinguIar Exam
pies of sup-rstitious Beliefs
and Practices.
B.C Henry in National Repub,IcanI

lB. C. Henry in National Republican,
Chinese folk lore presents a subject both
rich and variel. Much of it i connected
with idolatry, but in every district are found
Legends and traditions peculiar to the place,
with habits and customs corresponding.
They have great dread of unlucky words,
and on certain days cannot be induced to pro-
nouncs the word for monkey" and are
careful to avoid all direct m ention of death.
They will say man "has passed from the
body" or "has passed from the world or has
gone to heaven" but dislike to say plainly
he is dead. The proper word for coffin" is
studiously avoided AMI the euphonym "long-
evity boards" usei You may look in vain
for coffin shop in plain words, but places
for the manufacture of "long life Loards'
are numerous.
Their dread Of mlucky woris is soms-
times utilized. A certain family were greatly
annoyed by crowds of Chinese men who
would gather on an elevated platform over
looking their enclosure ami stare at them.
Remonstrance was useless. So one of the
gentlemen bethought himself Of this SUPER
stition and posted up an unlucky word in a
conspicuous position on the side OF his house
where it was sure to meet their eyes The
effect was magical. The men di appeared
Immediately and no further annoyance oc-
CURED. They are firm believers in signs
and portents. comet presages war, and as
strife is always going on in some part of the
broad empire they always see this sign full
filed
Eclipses are caused by dragon devouring
the sun or moon, and gongs are beaten fu-
riouslJ to drive him away. The breaking
of a mirror indicates separation from tne's
wife, and the destruction of an oil jar por-
tends even worse evils. Before sitting down
they always fan the seat in tie belief that il
you sit down while it j. still warm You will
fall out with the last sitter Sudden sneez-
ing 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
exhibited for few cash in which his future
was depicted to each observer i'll the shape
of a beggar, mandarin, merchant, or
some other character.
Their belief in spirits is notorious, and
haunted houses are frequent Elves, fairies,
brownies, iInps and other supernatural
beings are said to abound. They believe in
spirit rappings, planchette, alchemy, mes
merism, divination Of various kinds by bam-
boo slips by images, by somnambulism,
chiromancy and palmistry. Branches OF
certain plants are hung over the doors to
ward of evil influences, and cast swords are
hung inside their bel curtains as protection
against nocturnal spirits. Their roads ara
always crooked, and abound in sharp
corners to obstruct the approach Of
spirits, which delight in broad, straight
ways The houses on a street are
never built in a line, but present
zigzag appearance, as some project and
others are set in. This is to check the prog
ress Of the spirits Corner houses are
avoided because their position affords such
facility for the evil spirits to sweep around
them. A sharp roof indicates that only
barber shop will prosper opposite. The en-
trance to a house is never direct A screen
in front nece. .sitating turn to the right or
left, and the arrangement of the open court
inside, with its flowers and stands, shows
circuitous path to the inner apartments.
The home of the dragon is in the water, in
whose winding course he delights. Tracing
the water to its source we come to the meet
ing place of the dragons-the fountain-hsad
of the influences that control human destiny;
hence over the gates of many villages may
be seen the words "Ui-Lung," meeting Of
dragons" Indicating the propitious site OF
the town. The dragon is all-important. He
has power to give prosperity to the land, to
bring glory to the king and honor to the
sage, and is the symbol of all superiority
and success in social, political and moral
affairs. Hence it appears that the water
courses as the haunts of dragons are of the
first importance, their source, direction or
conjunction with each other, and the i'll.
fiusnces resulting, being determined by
the geomancer's compass. If, for instance,
in the case of grave. the water flows past
a certain point of the compass, the descend
ants will be prosperous; If it passes at another
angle distres will overtake them
The water in front Of tomb should never
be stagnant, but always running in q
stream. Riches and rank are supposed to
flow capricously from point to point hence
so much depends on the course Of the water
as it flows by the tomb. The cutting Of
roads or the building of bridges or dams
may alter the course of the water and dis
turb the natural influences of the place, and
a man may be ruined in fortune by the dis
placement of 100 weight Of earth behind the
grave Of his grandfather.
In building houses, ancestral halls, temples
and laying the foundation of village, the
ser" ice Of the geomancer is absolutely
necessary to secure the proper conjunction
Of good influences. In front of q village,
for instance. st aight road leading directly
out of it, with people going and coming. or
small stream flowing in a straight cours
from it, are said to dlssipats the good in
fuences An open-air altar, a bamboo
grove or groves in front, and to have the left
side low and the right high are all unlucky