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CHINESE SUPERSTITIONS - University of Oregon

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— 486 —<br />

back into the water, where it swan: away<br />

full <strong>of</strong> life. A short<br />

time afterwards, he met another fisherman, and begged him also<br />

give him a fish. The reply was a hail <strong>of</strong> curses, whereupon the<br />

monk took up 2 pebbles and cast them into the pond. All <strong>of</strong> a<br />

sudden two water-buffaloes appeared swimming on the surface, and<br />

broke to pieces the fisherman's nets.<br />

Pei-tu -Jff, ^ (ravelled again for over a month, and proceeded<br />

from Sungkiang fy fx (I) to the Capital. He passed through Ilwci-<br />

hi , -f}- ff Tan-hsien<br />

j}$ H, and Tien-hohshan ^ -£• (Jj, crossing<br />

rivers and streams on his begging-bowl whenever needed.<br />

At Yiu Chow ^f j!], a rich merchant named Ch'en |^ received<br />

him in his home, and treated him lavishly, serving up on the table<br />

rice, fish and exquisite pea-sauce. The monk partook <strong>of</strong> the rice<br />

and sauce. However, it was reported<br />

that the same monk lived also<br />

at<br />

K'aifeng-fu ffi f?J~ Jff><br />

i'1 Honan ]pj ]|T, and in fact two sons <strong>of</strong><br />

M r Ch'en who came from that Pj|T, place, affirmed they saw him there<br />

that very day (2). The only difference was that in the latter place<br />

he tasted nothing<br />

at all.<br />

The legend ends by a last prodigy, performed by this wonderful<br />

miracle-worker.<br />

Chu Lhig-k'i ^ g %, a rich trader <strong>of</strong> Wu-kun J% ?$, set<br />

out on a voyage to Korea. As he returned, his boat encountered a<br />

violent storm, and was tossed during nine whole days in the midst<br />

<strong>of</strong> the waves. Finally<br />

the sailors were cast on shore at the foot <strong>of</strong><br />

a high mountain. Here they met a woodman cutting<br />

firewood in<br />

the forest, and followed him for about .*> miles. At the close <strong>of</strong> this<br />

long journey, the strains <strong>of</strong> exquisite music fell on their ears, and<br />

they saw before them a beautiful temple. Entering therein, they<br />

(1) Sunghiang-fu +2 yl /j?f. A city <strong>of</strong> Kiangsu '(L Mi<br />

Shanghai, with which it is connected by rail.<br />

25 miles S-W. <strong>of</strong><br />

(2) Besides his other extraordinary powers, this eccentric monk was<br />

endowed with the transcendent gift <strong>of</strong> appearing in several places at the same<br />

time. See Chinese Superstitions. Vol. Y1I. p. 335 (Transcendent power <strong>of</strong><br />

Arhats over Nature, matter, time and space).

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