Page 82 - Chinese Porcelain Vol I, Galland

CHINESE PORCELAIN.
50
or various scrolls, are drawn on the with red or black
paper
ink. It is then pasted up over a door or on a bed- curtain, or
it is worn in the hair, or put into a red bag and suspended
from the button-hole, or is burnt, and the ashes are mingled
with tea or hot water, and drunk as a bad
specific against
influences or P. 561 "A small
spirits." yellow paper, having
:
four characters upon it, meaning that the charm protects the
house and expels pernicious influences, is also often put upon
the ridge-pole and other high parts of the house."
Silver Chain. — Doolittle, p. 565 : " Parents who have an
only son frequently provide a small silver chain, which they
over his neck as a charm evil influences, or as an
place against
omen of It is often used as a kind of for the
good. suspender
Each end is furnished with a flat hook. On
boy's pocket.
the flat surface of the back of each of these hooks oftentimes
'
'
may be found a felicitous phrase, as the three manies on
'
one, and the nine likes on the other. The first phrase
'
means life,' and 'numerous male
'great happiness,' 'long
children.' The latter refers to nine found
phrase comparisons
in the Book ' like the of the southern
of Odes,
longevity
' '
mountains,' like the luxuriance of the fir-tree,' like the
' like the
ascending of the sun,' regularity of the moon,' etc.
These phrases imply the wish on the part of the parents of
the wearer that he may attain unto the happy state indicated
"
'
by the 'three manies and the 'nine likes.'
Stones, oe Pieces of Metal (" Middle Kingdom," vol. ii.
"
p. 273), with short sentences cut upon them, are almost always
suspended or tied about the persons of children and women,
which are supposed to have great efficacy in preventing evil.
The rich sums for rare to this end."
pay large objects promote
Ploughshare. — Doolittle, p. 561 "A part of the iron of
:
an old ploughshare is sometimes suspended on the outside of
clothing. At other times it is in a silver covering, having only
a small of the iron or it is folded
part point projecting, up
in a and been into a small red
neatly paper, having put bag,
it is worn about the person."
— "
Iron Nails. Doolittle, p. 561 : Iron nails which have
been used in sealing up a coffin, are considered quite efficacious
in keeping away evil influences. They are carried in the
or braided in the cue. Sometimes such a nail is beaten
pocket,