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CHINESE SUPERSTITIONS - University of Oregon

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adopting the form <strong>of</strong> a babe (1).<br />

— 458 —<br />

he appeared at Tiuigyaruj-chen l|f [5j| |8,<br />

It was under this disguise that<br />

the nest <strong>of</strong> a hawk built on a l<strong>of</strong>t}" tree in the forest.<br />

and concealed himself in<br />

An old "woman, named Chu 7^, happened at that time to go<br />

to the forest for the purpose <strong>of</strong> gathering firewood. Hearing the<br />

cries <strong>of</strong> the babe, she approached, and having rescued him (2),<br />

brought him to her home.<br />

At the early age <strong>of</strong> 7, he entered the Buddhist monastery <strong>of</strong><br />

Tao-lin, Tao-lin-sze ^ ^ ^f, at Chung-shan J|| [Jj . Here,<br />

the religious name <strong>of</strong> Pao-chi ^ f^F,, and was fully<br />

the Law, and the duties <strong>of</strong> a contemplative monk.<br />

he took<br />

instructed in<br />

In A.D. 465, having reached the age <strong>of</strong> 40, he adopted a roving<br />

life [3\ going about from village to village, his hair falling down<br />

abundantly on his shoulders, barefooted, and leaning on a pilgrim's<br />

staff, to which were attached a mirror, a pair <strong>of</strong> scissors and two<br />

silk tassels. During his perigrinations,<br />

he was endowed with the<br />

marvellous power <strong>of</strong> speaking several languages, and could appear<br />

in several places at the same time (4).<br />

In A.D. 479, being then aged 54 years, he developed extraor-<br />

dinary magical powers (5), and could remain several days without<br />

food, while at the same time he predicted various future events.<br />

The people <strong>of</strong> the entire country, and even the literati, held him in<br />

high esteem.<br />

About 483, Wu-ti j££ ifr (6), <strong>of</strong> the Ts'i ^ dynasty,<br />

heard <strong>of</strong><br />

(1) See on metempsychosis, and how the soul is re-incarnated in various<br />

successive forms. Chinese Superstitions. Vol. I. p. 136-137.<br />

(2) How she succeeded in doing so is not related in the legend.<br />

3) Giles. Chinese Biographical Dictionary, p. 618-619.<br />

('1) Mirror <strong>of</strong> Gods and Immortals, Shen-sien t'ung-lcien jjjiji fill M<br />

1£.<br />

Rook 13. article 1. p. 3; article 2. p. t. — Giles. Chinese Biographical<br />

Dictionary, p. 619.<br />

^5) See on the magical powers <strong>of</strong> Achats. Chinese Superstitions. Vol.<br />

VII. p. 335; p. 344, note 2: p. 361, note 3; p. 385-387.<br />

(6) Buddhism made great progress during the reign <strong>of</strong> this emperor.<br />

M c Gowan. The Imperial History <strong>of</strong> China, p. 220.

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