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CHINESE SUPERSTITIONS - University of Oregon

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— 310 —<br />

second attack failed likewise, Chun-t'i ilpl $| only extending his<br />

middle finger, and forthwith a white lotus-flower appeared, and<br />

acting as a bulwark, shielded him from danger. "Lay down your<br />

arms, cried Chun-t'i i|| Jj|, and accompany me to the Western<br />

Paradise. Cease to uphold the cause <strong>of</strong> the Shang ]§j dynasty, and<br />

do not compel me to transform you into your original form". A<br />

curse was hurled back at him, and raising his magic sword, the<br />

genius aimed a blow 7 at the head <strong>of</strong> his adversary. The latter<br />

eluded it, by means <strong>of</strong> a lotus-flower, which suddenly sprang up.<br />

Enraged at this failure, he became infuriated, but Chun-t'i j^L ^<br />

waived his fly-flap, and shattered the sword to pieces, leaving in his<br />

hand only the hilt.<br />

Maddened with anger, he seized his bludgeon,<br />

and endeavoured<br />

to crush his enemy to death. Chun-t'i i|l $| summoned to his<br />

assistance his disciple, the "Genius <strong>of</strong> Fire and Water", Shui-hwo<br />

t'ung-eul 7K ^C S" IE ( l )- The genius appeared bearing<br />

a bamboo-<br />

cane in the hand. As he stretched it out like a fishing-rod, he<br />

caught a large tortoise, which appeared wriggling in the air. This<br />

monster was none other than Wu-yun J| |[|,<br />

who thus resumed<br />

his original lorm. The disciple mounted on its back, and borne<br />

through space, soon reached the Western Paradise (2).<br />

The "Heaven-pervading Sovereign Teacher", T'ung-t'ien hiao-<br />

chu ji Ji jfc jfe, being still undefeated, Chun-t'i ip. % had to<br />

assume his warrior form, and employ all his magic power in order<br />

to crush him. After a protracted struggle, he wielded his Asoha<br />

branch, and shattered to pieces the sword <strong>of</strong> his adversary. The<br />

latter, now disarmed and utterly defeated, disappeared through the<br />

air in the shape <strong>of</strong> a dust-storm. Chun-t'i ^L $§, seeing his enemy<br />

(1) T'ung-eul JHL 1l£, or T'ung-tze 3j| -f-, a boy, a lad under 15 years and<br />

unmarried, a youth. The genius appeared in the freshness and vigour <strong>of</strong><br />

youth. Williams. Dictionary <strong>of</strong> the Chinese Language.<br />

(2) The Western Paradise. The blissful land to which all Buddhists in<br />

China and Japan aspire nowadays. Taoists borrowed the idea from Buddhism,<br />

and placed therein their own Immortals, genii and other fanciful beings. See<br />

M c Gowan. Chinese Folk-Lore. p. Til (A Chapter on Fairies).

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