The morning call., 1892-02-21
Tie God Of 7hteves.

! said the first on the list, is one called
! Saing HuOng, which, given in plain En-
! glish, is Lord Of the province 1t is the
! belief Of the people that he has the general
! overseeing Of the heavens. earth and sheOl,
and that IN accordance with his judgment
! are rewards and punishments melted out to
/ the good and the bad Of this world. Ia
/ every city there is a temple devoted to this
god, and II there IS not one specially devoted
! TO him then his image is TO be found in
/ every temple, for without Saing Huong a
| temple would be useless. This idol is often
| carried out of the temple in great state on
/ which occasions he is supposed 10 perform
/ many acts of goodness, and to answer the
| PRAYERS Of those who are good and truly
| worship him. Then there is god that is
! known as Nguk Huong Si0ng Ia, the
/ Pearly Emperor. Supreme Ruler Between
/ certain classes there is contention as TO the
| power exercised by this god and the one
| of which | have just spoken. He is looked
/ up TO as the chief god Of the Tauist sect,
/ and by them wOrshped as the producer of
| seen and unseen, terrestrial and &C.
! lestial. The common people look
| upon him as sort Of supervisory
! god lwhose special province is to examine
! all reports of the minor gods. and TO decree
rewards or punlshments. Tho sect that
wOrships him has a great deal Of faith in
him and pays him unusual reverence when
the temple is visited The manner Ia which
this is made manifest Is by kneeling down
on the ground three distinct times and each
time bowling the head thrice to or toward
the floor.
"Tai Sang, The Great or Universal
Mountain is the Emperor of the internal
regions, and is considered one Of the most
influential OF all the gods, for he has the care
of the spirits Of good and bad after death.
There are many who believe that he pro-
| longs or curtHils life, and all have for him a
! great deal of respect, doing all that is pos
| sible not TO give him Otfense. On
! his birthday, which occurs on the
| 2Sth Of the third month Of the year, great
! offerings are made TO him in the shape Of
| whole hogs, goats, geese, ducks and chick
/ ems, many dishes OF vegetables, immense
/ candles, mock money, wine and spirit.
! Some OF the Manchu ladies of high rank 90
| 10 the temple and wait upon the image
| that represents his wife. They put one
! of her images in a cot with one of
! his images and properly arrange the bed
! clothes for several successive nights. In
| the morning they bring water with which
/ to wash her face, and dCriug the day from
] time to time they bring tea, tobacco and re-
! freshments for her use, just as though they
| were waiting upon a lady Of the highest
rank in the capacity of attendants and
! slaves. just mention this to show that
! those who are supposed to be the most in
| telligent IN the land are as much given to
! ldOlatry as are the common people.
! ne next goa tnat comes IN Tor great
| share Of reverence is Hieng Teng SiOng
! Ia, the Supreme Ruler Of the Somber
! Heavens lie Is sometimes called the
! North Ruler as he is believed to have the
control Of all the north country, aud again
| he is spoken of as the Water Ruler, or
| governor OF the water, as it is believed that
| he has the power to prevent CONGREGATIONS.
| He is frequently propitiated in order to Sc
| cure his good Will aud services against the
| breaking out OF ire in certain localities. He
Is supposed to be vegetarian, consequently
| when an Offering is made to him in the way
! of food, only vegetables are laid before him.
! Often singular ceremony takes place in
connection with this god. 1t is an Offering
Of thanksgiving for property preserved from