The Coolidge examiner., 1936-10-09
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Legend, Mythology and Superstition
Among the Chinese

\ IL of the Western civiliza-
L n ton that can be shipped
into this country from the outer
world will have no effect upon
the established beliefs of the
vast majority of her population.
Here is the ideal country for the
establishment of gods and deities,
created out of hand to suit any con-
dition that may arise. The old
established gods are in no way dis
credited by the adoption of new
ones.
Prepared for any emergency,
the Chinese have shown what they
could do in a pinch by creating del
ties for submarine, automobile, pho
nograph, wireless. radio, aviation
and television activities.
Buddhism, accepted out of India,
brought with it deity today known
throughout China as KWan Yin,
''one who hears and is moved by
the world" Legend has it that this
personality about to enter heaven
after death heard a cry Of anguish
from earth, and, with one foot on
the threshold of paradise, turned
back in pity, to be of service. In
the early stages Kwan-Yin was rep
resented as a man, but during the
Tang Dynasty, 618 A. D., a senti-
mental official with powers to
change even the word of Buddha
announced that Kwan Yin there
after would appear on all historical
scrolls "a a woman.
Goddess Made to Order
Her throne is on the island Of
Pootoo, two days out of Shanghai,
where she arrived, according to the
legend, floating on the leaf of
water lily" and there today is her
image If ever a goddess was made
to order for Chinese patrons, Kwan
Yin, first woman to deplace popu-
lar male idol, is perhaps the best
example.
While on this subject the atten-
tion$of the Authors League and men
of the pen generally should be called
to- Confucianism, which is the reli-
gion of the profound, bookish and
philosophical, so to speak. Wen
Chang, the special Confucian cabi-
net officer in charge of literature,
is always shown in the society OF
four other gentlemen, one of whom
is deaf and another dumb, as
precaution against hearing or i'm
parting secrets of the administra-
ton.
The third distributes such coveted
degrees as seem appropriate in the
eyes of the literati. The fourth
hanger-on is known as Mr.. Red
Coat, whose life is devoted to boost
ing authors, poets and space-grab-
bers who, failing in all other intel
lectual endeavors, have taken up
creative literature. 1t is the func-
ton of Mr.. Red Coat, when all
seems lost, to merely nod his head,
thus winning for the literary flop a
certificate of membership among
authors who really sell their stuff.
Wen Chang is also worshiped by
potential mothers, the analogy hav-
ing something to do with children
born of the body as well as the
brain.
Lightning Lady's New Job
The Mother of Lightning, in years
gone by highly esteemed, has re-
Gently become the Goddess Of
Broadcasting. This revision was eff
fected without calling for single
alteration in thc general appear
ance of the Lightning Lady, hereto
fore shown wearing magnificent
robes of blue, green, red and white.
In both hands she carries a mirror
from which two streams of light flare
upward. A zig and a gag in any di-
1SSIlOll WILL ON q IL AOA
any one of the numerous broad
casting corporations now disturbing
the public ear. and at the same
time satisfy China that she had the
right idea before the General Elec-
trio company was in the field.
There is no limit to the influence
had upon the Chinese by supersti
tions and fetishes The Empress
Tz'u HSi, one of the most learned
and diplomatic rulers in the empire,
and the last occupant of the magifi-
cent summer palace, one of the
show places of Peiping, went into
daily consultation with gods and
goddesses, supposedly holding in
their hands the destiny of China.
China's Marble Dreadnaught
Take the famous Marble Boat,
moored forever on solid granite
foundation. This craft, which lifts
it's superstructure 80 feet into the
air, and thrustS forward a blunt
AoSSu IlldIplS piO" was Ou1AI d1Ie1
a conference between the Dowager
and some of the best spirits availa-
BILE at the time. To construct and
launch" this utterly worthless
feature the Dowager laid her strong
but uncomfortable hands on the
sum of $30,O0O,OO0 that had been ap-
propriated for the construction of
a Chinese navy.
The general opinion was, and is,