Page 80 - Chinese Porcelain Vol I, Galland

48 CHINESE PORCELAIN.
worn, is suspended on this measure, its ends being put into the
armholes of the garment. A metallic mirror, having a handle
to it, is then tied on this measure in such a manner that it
will come a few inches above the shoulders of the garment — in
the place where the head of an individual would come were the
coat to be worn. Some one of the takes this bamboo
family
and holds in his in a
pole, it loosely grasp — perpendicular
position, standing not far from the house or in the temple
if conveniently near. A priest now begins to call over the
name of the sick and to his bell, and to
person, ring repeat
certain incantations, the of which is to cause the sick
object
man's to enter the coat. The white cock and the
spirit bright
mirror are supposed to perform an important part in effecting
this desirable object." At the conclusion of the ceremonies
the coat is as soon as on the body of the sick
placed — possible
man, and the spirit which is supposed to have left his body,
but to be about — thus return, and
yet hovering may perhaps
be prevailed upon to remain.
Ked Cord. — 82 : " Kieh Lin. This is said to
Mayers, p.
be the name of the or of the moon, who is also
spirit genie
called ' the old man of the moon.' He is to influence
reputed
matrimonial relations, and to tie with invisible red
together
cord infants who are destined by fate to be joined in future
"
wedlock." P. 250 : Wei Ku. A hero of legendary romance,
said to have flourished under the
T'ang dynasty. Passing
one the town of he saw an old
day through Sung Ch'eng,
man sitting by moonlight, engaged in turning over the leaves
of a book, who, in reply to his inquiry, told him that this
volume contained the matrimonial destinies of all mankind.
' With
Taking from his wallet a red cord, the old man said,
this cord I tie together the feet of husband and wife. Though
born in hostile households or widely sundered countries,
their fate is inevitably fullilled at last. Your wife, I will tell
is the of an old woman named Ch'en, who sells
you, daughter
in heard this, Wei Ku
vegetables yonder shop.' Having
went next day to look about him, and saw the woman carrying
in her arms an ill-favoured child of two old. He
years secretly
hired an assassin to murder the infant, and this man dealt a
blow at it but missed his aim, and left a scar
accordingly, only
upon its eyebrow. Fourteen years later Wei Ku became the