CHINESE SUPERSTITIONS - University of Oregon

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Emperor, Yuh-hwang 3£ |$|, supreme god of the Taoist pantheon (1).
Taoism has thus absorbed the Buddhist doctrine, and adopted it to
its own purposes. The Ten Rulers, and the Ten Judicial Courts,
described in this article, belong
also to the Taoist School.
2°. Merciful Buddhas visiting Hades, and rescuing
its tortures.
souls from
A). Ti-tsang-wang ffc H 3£ is a Saviour-Buddha, who visits
Hades on errands of mercy and love (2). With his magic wand, he
opens the portals of this dismal land, and rescues tortured souls
from the grasp of Varna, Yen-lo-\vang |Hj ^i 3: (3). According to
the Ti-tsang Sutra, Ti-tsang-king jfc $| $g,
he uttered a vow
before the throne of Buddha (deified), that he would devote himself
to the salvation of suffering mankind, and would pursue that work,
until he had brought all living beings safely to the haven of Nirvana.
In Nganhwei -^ %$>, he is considered' not only as a Saviour and
Deliverer, but also as the Over-Lord and Teacher of Hades (4).
< >n
his birthday, which falls on the 30 th of the VII th month (5),
all the judges
of the Ten Courts of Hades come and offer him their
congratulations. On this occasion, he grants«special favours to the
damned. Those, whose tortures are completed, may leave the
dismal realm of Hades, and be reborn on earth as men, animals or
plants. Others have their sufferings condoned, and are transferred
without further delay to the tenth Court of Hades, where rebirth
will soon take place.
(1) Edkins. Chinese Buddhism, p. 359. — Wieger. Folk-Lore Chinois
Moderne. Preface, p. I; Introduction, p. 8. — China Review. Vol. I. p. 301
(The Purgatories of Popular Buddhism).
(2) See Chinese Superstitions. Vol. VII. p. 236 (Ti-tsang-wang).
3 In this, he is not the enemy of Yama, as even himself and the very
devils in the Buddhist Hades wish to hasten the triumph of good, and the
annihilation of all evil. Johnston. Buddhist China, p. 198.
See Chinese Superstitkms. Vol. VII. p. 236. — Getty. The Gods of
Northern Buddhism, p. 92.
(5) This month is brought to a close by the festival of the God of Hades.
Cliiiie.se Superstitions. Vol. V. p. 596.