CHINESE SUPERSTITIONS - University of Oregon

Kwan-kung [|fj Q
— 315 —
(1), to be the guardian of Buddhist temples. This
appointment took place in the following manner.
When Shen-siu ip^ ^ was fully initiated as a Buddhist monk
by his teacher Ilung-jen ^ ;£>,,
he set out on a visit to the "Yellow-
prune hills", Hwang-mei-shan ilr -|f£ |Jj.
< >n reaching- Tang-yang ^
|SJ|, near the "Hill of the Pearly Brook", Yuh-ts'iXen-shan 3£ j|c ill > a
large snake came forth from the thicket, and advanced towards him.
Shen-siu 7p^ ^, unawed by the monster, remained unmoved. Next
day, he found a heap of gold beneath a tree, and with this treasure
erected a large monastery. The inhabitants of the place were wont
to honour specially the God of War, Kwan-kung §1 Q, whose
shrine was recently destroyed by Shen-siu. jffi ^. This sacrilegious
act had no sooner taken place, than a dark cloud obscured the
heavens, and the God of War, Kwan-kung §f] ^, appeared
in the
air. Mounted on his charger, and brandishing his sword (2), he
asked Shen-siu jji^ ^ why he demolished his temple. Shen-siu if\§
^ terrified at the threats of the terrible god, restored the shrine
recently destroyed, but in punishment for his crime, the God of
War, Kwan-kung (|| ^\, condemned him to fulfil the office of gate-
keeper and guardian therein, and thus be a K'ia-lan Uffl j|£ to the
end of his days.
Owing to the above legend, people generally
Shen-siu jffi ^ is also a K'ia-lan fj\] |£, and guardian
temples.
consider that
of Buddhist
This new tutelary god was a disciple of Hung-jen ijh /g,, fifth
Buddhist patriarch of Southern China (3). In early youth he was
a Confucian scholar, and obtained the B.A. degree, Siu-ts f
ai ^
Z% (4), but subsequently became a Buddhist monk. When appointed
(1) See on the God of War. Chinese Superstitions. Vol. VI. p. 71-88.
(2) See Chinese Superstitions. Vol. VI. p. 72. Illustration n° 13 (Kwan-
kung and Chow-ts'ang).
(3) See full list of these Patriarchs. Edkins. Chinese Buddhism, p. 435.
(4) Sui-ts'ai ff ft. Literally "Budding talent". This was the first degree
conferred in the old style competitive examinations. By Imperial decree
dated September 2, 1905, these examinations were totally abolished.
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