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CHINESE SUPERSTITIONS - University of Oregon

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— 280 —<br />

In connexion with his exile to Kwangtung ^ ^, a legend<br />

relates that one <strong>of</strong> his concubines, named Ts'ien-t'ao ~$ $fc, refused<br />

to accompany him. Hereupon, she declared that having formerly been<br />

the wife <strong>of</strong> an Immortal, she could disclose to him the happy news<br />

that after his death he would be appointed Ruler <strong>of</strong> Hades. In<br />

fact, he soon afterwards breathed his last, and it is said a Buddhist<br />

monk, named Wang K'oh-k'ing 3£ ^ J|lj, perceived his ghost wan-<br />

dering near the city <strong>of</strong> Ts'aochow-fu "|f >)\] fff, in Shantung (Jj M-<br />

He was riding on an ass, and proceeding Northwards (1).<br />

The monk enquired<br />

<strong>of</strong> his attendants whither their master was<br />

going. They replied that he had been appointed Ruler <strong>of</strong> Hades,<br />

his new<br />

Feu-t'i-wang :<br />

$L H 3E (2), and was on the way to take up<br />

<strong>of</strong>fice in the Underworld.<br />

This Fifth Court <strong>of</strong> Hades is situated beneath the Great Sea, at<br />

the foot <strong>of</strong> the Wuh-tsiao-shih rock ^ j;H ^ |Jj, towards the<br />

North-East, and is called the "Hell <strong>of</strong> Lamentations", Kiao-hwan<br />

ta-ti-yuh pif P^ ^ j|| f^. It comprises one large dungeon, and 16<br />

small ones, in the first <strong>of</strong> which the heart is torn out with an iron<br />

hook, Keu-sin §|j >fj> (3). This excruciating operation is performed<br />

as follows : the victim is tied to a low pillar with a copper chain.<br />

He is then placed on an iron block, his feet and hands being bound.<br />

Hereupon, a demon advances, and with knife in hand opens the<br />

chest, and tears out the heart with a hook. It is cut to pieces, and<br />

thrown to wolves, dogs and serpents, to be devoured.<br />

Frequently the victims request Yen-lo-wang ffi] Hi 3E<br />

them return to life again, some in order to fulfil a vow,<br />

perform some good work. By the time the spirit<br />

to allow<br />

others to<br />

has reached the<br />

(1)<br />

History<br />

All these fables are recorded in the legendary Taoist work, "General<br />

<strong>of</strong> Spirits and Immortals", Shen-sien-t'ung-hien jjiijj -f|l] M gg. See<br />

Chinese Superstitions. Vol. VII. p. 278. note 5.<br />

form <strong>of</strong> the<br />

(2) Feu-t'i-wctng ££ $| IE, transliteration <strong>of</strong> Bodhi, abridged<br />

word Bodhiscittvct. See on this latter word Chinese Superstitions. Vol. VI.<br />

Preface, p. XII. note 5; p. 20-21 :<br />

p. 119.<br />

(3) See Illustration n° 47. where a demon is represented tearing out the<br />

heart <strong>of</strong> the victim.

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