A 528,5061
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
UERIS FENINSULAM AMARANI
CIRCUMSPICE
1817
MATES
SCIENTIA
VERITAS
LIBRARY
OF THE
:
Bunun Mounirnnuntainaminima mnaumfro wonimyname
TIENSOR
MINI
UVIJ.W.W.J.LULU
1.N.N.
NITION
HUJULI
THIRUTHIHIHNAHIHIRILUL
IIIHIHIIIIMIIIIHIIDT
noun
numaitot
1
Chinese Nights Entertainments
Stories of Old China

يا ليليا در
ta
7 Village
séjou?
THE HOME OF KNO TZU CHIEN, CHINESE SAGE
AT THE STORY TELLING HOUR.
NTV
CW
CHINESE NIGHTS
ENTERTAINMENTS
Stories of Old China
SELECTED AND EDITED BY
BRIAN BROWN
FOREWORD BY
SAO-KE ALFRED SZE
Chinese Minister to the United States
ILLUSTRATED
DORI:10
NEW YORK
BRENT ANO'S
Publishers
Copyright, 1922, by
BRENTANO'S
All Rights Reserved
Wahel
8957
Folklore
8-3-19263
GR
3357
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
FOREWORD
In the old quaint tea houses by the roadside or
the crowded houseboats on their way to the tem-
ple, the Chinese, since time immemorial, had the
habit, like the people in the time of Chaucer, of
telling stories. Some would narrate their own
experiences, while others would simply repeat
what they had committed to memory since their
childhood. These tales were handed down from
one generation to another until they became a
part and parcel of the nation's culture and life.
Fantastic and mysterious, these fables were
originally intended for entertainment. As time
went on, however, greater significance was at-
tached to them. Leslie Stephen spoke of
Horace Walpole's "Castle of Otranto": "Ab-
surd as the burlesque seems, our ancestors found
it amusing, and, what is stranger, awe-inspir-
ing.” The same might be said of the stories col-
lected in this volume.
Fiction is not necessarily entirely devoid of
truth. Practically in every one of these stories,
one will find bits of information about China's
429988
Re-classed
FOREWORD
custom, manners, history, and even philosophy.
Their grotesqueness never mars their theme; and,
like the Fables of Æsop or Le Fontaine, each
of them imparts a moral. Chinese hedonism is
never perfect without a lesson.
In the days of old, novels and short stories had
no recognized place in Chinese literature. The
old literati never aspired to be a story teller.
Time has changed and now the bookstores in
China are literally flooded with stories. A
fairly educated man is supposed to be familiar
with the works of Chehkov, Maupassant, and
Kipling.
It is quite noticeable that the American public
is taking a deeper interest in Chinese literature
now than they ever did before. The mysterious
East is gradually revealing itself to the Occident.
Miss Amy Lowell's recent translations of Chi-
nese poems have been very favorably received by
the reading public in this country, and I am
quite certain that Mr. Brown's present collec-
tion will be accorded an equally warm reception.
SAO-KE ALFRED SZE
June 8, 1922
Washington, D. C.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND SOURCES
I wish to acknowledge my indebtedness to the following
publishers and authors, for their kind permission to print
in this volume, copyright material from their publications.
The Fleming H. Revell Co., 158 Fifth Avenue, New
York City, for the privilege of including the story “The
Chinese Hero” from their publication called “Gleaning
from Chinese Folk Lore" by N. R. Russell.
Brentano's, 225 Fifth Avenue, New York City, for the
privilege to include the “Taoist Explanation of Love”
taken from their publication “Laotzu's Tao and Wu Wei.”
John Murray of London, and E. P. Dutton of New
York for the use of four tales from "The Taoist Teaching"
in the Wisdom of the East Series. "The Woodgather" and
the other tales in the “Chinese Nights Entertainers” are
from "A String of Chinese Peach-Stones” by W. Arthur
Cornaby and published by Charles H. Kelly, London.
“The Daughter of Sun Hou” is taken from an old volume
called “The Porcelain Tower” translated from original
sources and published in London in 1840,--this work is
long out of print.
T. Werner Laurie, Ltd., London, for the use of some
stories from Herbert A. Giles, “Strange Stories from A
Chinese Studio.” While the arrangement of the tales in
this volume is my own, and though I have changed the
structure of many of them materially, the rewriting was
always done with the assistance of some Chinese friends
and the original sense of the tales preserved in every case.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND SOURCES
I wish to express my thanks to these, my Chinese friends,
who are so modest that they do not wish their names
mentioned. I also wish to thank Sao-Ke Alfred Sze,
Minister from China to United States, for his kindness in
writing a foreword for these tales, and for giving sug-
gestions that helped the effort greatly.
BRIAN BROWN
CONTENTS
PART I
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
PAGH
THE WICKED EMPRESS Told by Mo Ti Fah. 3
THE ORIGIN OF TEA
Told by Kno Tzu
Chien
10
THE MERCHANT'S Son . Told by Chang Ti 15
THE STONE FROM HEAVEN Told by Wang Mang 23
THE THUNDER God
Told by Key Fah
31
YANG SUNG's DREAM
37
THE Wood CUTTER
Told by Tung Chou
Kion
49
THE PAINTED CAT
Told by Ling Wang . 73
THE FISHERMAN
Told by Young Lee. 76
0
PART II
TAOIST TALES
OF
THE TAOIST'S DESCRIPTION
HEAVEN
Told by Kang Lang Ti 89
THE Taoist EXPLAINS LOVE Told by Mah Ti . 92
STORY OF EFFORT AND DES-
Told by Lang Li Fu . 111
THE ILLNESS OF CHI LIANG . Told by Ming Hi . 113
THE INTELLIGENCE OF AN-
Told by Yin Hsi . · 116
TINY
IMALS
CONTENTS
PAGE
A Bad MEMORY.
Told by Kuan Tzu 119
THE DREAMS OF KAN YIN · Told by Hen Tsung . 121
THE Wood GATHERER Told by Tan Fan Fu . 123
THE JOURNEY OF LIFE . . Told by Yü Hsiung,
the Taoist Sage 126
ON EVOLUTION
Told by Yü Hsiung,
the Taoist Sage
127
MAN AND THE UNIVERSE Told by Yü Hsiung,
the Taoist Sage 128
DREAMS
Told by Yü Hsiung,
the Taoist Sage 130
A Taoist CHARLATAN
Told by Yü Hsiung,
the Taoist Sage
134
THE Taoist KEEPER . . Told by Yü Hsiung,
the Taoist Sage 139
THE DONKEY'S REVENGE · Told by Kai Li Kung . 142
PART III
THE FEAST OF LANTERNS
THE EVE OF THE FEAST OF
LANTERNS
156
Han Hsiu-HERO
Told by Yang Chien 180
THE WILD GOOSE AND THE
SPARROW
190
THE COUNTRY OF GENTLE-
Told by Hua Yang · 194
CONTENTMENT IN HUMBLE-
Told by Tsu Keng
. 199
THE MONKEY THAT BECAME
KING
Told by Wu Chia . 201
THE TAOIST'S GARDEN Told by Tsu Ting . 205
THE FLOWER NYMPHS
Told by Chin Yun . 211
MEN
NESS
ILLUSTRATIONS
The Home of Kno Tzu Chien, Chinese Sage, at the
Story Telling Hour
Frontispiece
TAOING
PAGE
Kung Peng Tah and the Wood Cutter
50
Hsu the Fisherman.
76
A Chinese Mother Telling Fairy Tales
. 120
PART I
Chinese Nights Entertainments
Chinese Nights Entertainment
In a small country town in China there lived
a
a great scholar named Kno Tzu Chien. This
sage was an authority upon the old classics, and
he also loved the folklore and fairy tales of
ancient China. On winter evenings the home
of this greatly loved scholar was a popular
gathering place, and many of the old folks,
from near and far, came and told folk tales
that had been told to them in their youth-
tales of old China that had been handed down
from generation to generation in the same way
-told at the firesides. Kno Tzu Chien presided
over all these gatherings, (which might be called
“Chinese Nights Entertainments”), and during
the evenings would consult several old books,
so as to give an accurate and detailed account
of the interesting history and legendary lore
which belongs to old China.
The evening's entertainment usually begins by
each guest receiving a cup of scented tea. A red
unglazed earthen kettle is heard singing on the
1
2
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
fire in the adjoining kitchen—so the company
can be assured of plenty more before the night's
batch of tales are told. On the cook fire are pans
full of home-made cakes, slightly salted; these
are to be eaten warm. They will give joy to the
young folks—when the night's stories are half
told. With tea cups at hand, more tea in pros-
pect, and the savoury prophecy exhaled from
such cakes, there is complete satisfaction among
the company gathered, to partake of the eve-
ning's intellectual feast. Kno Tzu Chien is
seated upon a high chair, with his right hand
towards the door, so that all who enter may be
given the customary salutation befitting their
station.
Before the story telling begins Kno Tzu Chien
orders three sticks of incense lighted and the
foxes of the place worshipped-for the fox occu-
pies a very high place in Chinese folklore—then
he calls upon some one to tell a tale of the fox in
Chinese lore.
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
3
THE WICKED EMPRESS
Told By
MO TI FAH
All here know that the fox is regarded as
far more than a mere beast. It has wondrous
powers of transformation. While, according to
Ancient lore, you can never be quite sure that
your pet fox is not after all your grandfather, or
some one else's, according to the popular notions.
You cannot tell whether your visitor from a dis-
tance, or even the wife of your bosom, is not a
transmogrified fox. The fox, or is it the foxen
(the old non-technical form of the word vixen?) ·
is specially addicted to taking the form of beau-
tiful women, often to prove very “vixen” after
all. The last monarch of the Yin (or Sha)
dynasty (R. 1154–1122 B. C.), who, “Having
lost the hearts of the people, could not appear be-
fore God, “had a wife yet more infamous than
himself. This woman united to peerless beauty
and consummate witchery the most inhuman pas-
sion for deeds of cruelty. A noble statesman's
heart was cut out to see the colour thereof; folks '
legs were amputated to see what it was that made
some endure the cold so well. In short, the
Emperor, at her instigation, undertook a series of
4
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
vivisection experiments, in which the victims op-
erated upon were human beings. This Ta Ki,
as her name was, also invented copper cylinders,
round which the victim was secured, fire being ap-
plied to make the tube red-hot. All of which is
now explained on the theory that as the beauti-
ful and innocent girl was on the way to the Cap-
ital, a specially malicious old fox killed her, as-
sumed her form, and impersonated her ever af-
terwards. There, Mo Ti Fah added, that, if the
story be true, that old fox is responsible for some
of the finest poems in the Book of Odes, which
were written to express the admiring gratitude
of a people rescued from such enormities by the
half-deified Literary King and his son the Mil-
itary Monarch. “But among those old poems,”
he said, "foxes are only mentioned as “solitary
and suspicious'; their fur, together with lamb’s
skin, being made into winter robes for the court-
iers." One poem speaks of “fox furs so yellow,”
another says, “Our fox furs are frayed and
The down on the fox's ribs is of peculiar
fineness, and would make rich garments. Hence
the phrase of modern scholars, “gathering the fox
hair from the ribs (choice Literary extracts) to
make robes.” There is no trace of demon foxes
in the early records.
worn."
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
5
“The present idea about foxes seem to be of
later growth. But in the oldest dictionary of
China, it is stated that the fox is the courser upon
which ghostly beings ride (as the Immortals on
the backs of cranes). Nowadays they are re-
garded as mischievous fairies. They can make
the seals of higher mandarins disappear. My
grandfather, though not a mandarin, thought this
might account for his own seal's disappearance,
until he found that two men were missing. So
the Viceroy, when he comes into office, does his
best to propitiate the fairy foxes; and in the
north, rich men have a 'fox chamber,' wherein vic-
tuals are daily provided.
"The suspicious nature of the fox is proved by
its listening to the sound of the ice under its feet
when he crosses it."
"But they are artful!" interjected one of the
listeners.
“Yes; there is a fable spoken to a king of old
time by one of his ministers. “A she fox was
overtaken by a tiger, which was about to devour
her. The fox remonstrated with the tiger, and
claimed that she possessed a superiority over
other animals, all of whom she declared stood in
awe of her. In proof of this, she invited the
tiger to accompany her, and witness her power.
6
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
> > >
The tiger consented, and quietly followed.
Every beast fled at their approach, and the tiger
dare not attack the fox, not considering that the
terror was caused by his own appearance.
Thereafter, when the fox was seen in public, the
other animals suspected that the tiger—with
whom she seemed to be on such intimate terms-
was at her heels. Hence the saying, “The fox
arrogating the tiger's power to terrify.
"It is the female fox that has the greatest
power of transformation, I have heard,” said Li
Fing. Our Scholar's brother-in-law told me of
the case of a countryman who lived near his home.
He was very poor, and lived in a mud-brick huť
with thatched roof. Having no wife he was wont
to cook one meal a day, and eat the cold leavings
in the morning. A fox took pity upon him, and,
when he was out, entered the house, changed
himself into a woman, cleaned up the place,
cooked a meal for him, and then disappeared.
This went on for some days until the farmer de-
termined to watch and find out who his kind and
unknown visitor was. So he crouched behind a
water jar and waited. Soon he observed a fox
entering through a hole in the wall, then turn a
somersault, landing on her feet a handsome wo-
man, the fox's skin falling to the ground. The
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
7
farmer got hold of the skin, and secreted it under
the pig's trough. When all her good deeds were
done, she came and searched, but, not finding the
skin, had to remain a woman, and became the
farmer's wife. In after years he said jokingly to
one of his children, ‘Your '
mother is a fox. The
mother asked for his proof of such a statement.
He produced the fox skin, when, turning a
somersault, his wife entered the skin and run off,
never to return again. Yes as I said, it is the fe-
male fox that has the power of transformation,
is it not, Kno Tzu Chien?”
But before Kno Tzu Chien could reply, an-
other said, “Undoubtedly it is. There was once
a tailor living a hundred li from,—I forget where,
--who had a fairy fox for a wife. No one else
saw her but himself. But she taught him about
all sorts of medicinal herbs, and he was looked
upon as a great doctor.”
"Well,” said Kno Tzu Chien, "the book of
Odes does say that the male fox is solitary and
suspicious.
“There, I said so!” cried Li triumphantly.
“But the male fox is also credited with trans-
forming powers,” added Kno Tzu Chien ,"as the
following story will show: The scholarly son of
a high military official, having himself come into
8
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
a mandarinship, went one evening to study in a
hitherto disused chamber. The door was shut
close, but from a crack in the window there en-
tered a thin form, which, having rubbed its body
for a while, filled out into a man's shape. The
strange visitor advanced with a bow, and des-
cribed himself as a reynard Immortal who had
occupied that room for a hundred years, the
former mandarins permitting him to do so.
‘But as you have come here, I cannot stand in
the way of an Imperial statesman; and so have
come to explain that if you must study here, I
will give way, if I may be allowed three days'
grace. But perhaps you will be compassionate,
and have the door closed as before. The man-
darin laughed, saying, “There are scholars then
among the foxes? “There are examinations for
foxes held every year by the Lady of the Tai
San (a hill in West Shantung),' replied the fox,
'where degrees are given to those worthy of them;
the rest are regarded as wild foxes, and are not,
like the others, allowed to compete for the rank of
immortals. If I may exhort you, it seems sad
that honourable men do not seek after that state.
It is so much harder for us; we have first to learn
to change into men's shape, then study their
speech; in order to which latter, we have to learn
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
9
the cries of all the birds within the four seas and
nine continents. Altogether it takes us five
hundred years, whereas men are spared this first
five hundred years' painstaking. Honourable
and Literary men, moreover, have a further ad-
vantage over ordinary mortals of three hundred
years, and as a rule can give the desired rank of
immortals in a thousand years.' The Mandarin,
accepting this explanation, retired from that
chamber. In after years he used to tell his son
that his only regret was that he had not inquired
into the topics set by the Lady of the Tai San.”
At this stage, more tea was handed around,
real tea brought by Kno Tzu Chien from Han-
Yang, which, when brewed into a pale golden
liquid, was the more fragrant and palatable ow-
ing to the presence of Jasmine flowers which
floated on the top
The conversation therefore turned on the sub-
ject of tea.
10
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
THE ORIGIN OF TEA
Told By
KNO TZU CHIEN
“The ‘Military Emperor' of the Sui dynasty
(R. 589-605) was once afflicted with bad dreams,
in which a spirit seemed to move his brain bones
about until his head ached frightfully. He met
a Buddhist monk, however, who told him that on
the mountains grew a certain plant called O'ha
which would heal him. The Emperor followed
his advice with complete success. From that
time on the beneficial effects of tea became
known the wide Empire over.”
The village "doctor,” who is one of the com-
pany, feels that his province has been invaded.
He has heard the true and authentic history of
the discovery of the tea plant. “There was a
man in ancient times,” he would beg to repeat,
"who was lying down in the forest 'on the
occasion of his dying, 'on the occasion of his
having been bitten by a large centipede. He lay
almost helpless, but 'on the occasion of his seeing
a bush near, and being dry in the mouth, began
to chew the leaves. On the occasion of his do-
‘
ing so he revived, and (doubtless on all possible
occasions) recommended the plant to all his
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
11
friends. And what was that plant? It was tea.
Ancient times! Sick man! Very sick! 'On
the occasion of his chewing! Quite well! Ori-
gin of tea-drinking!” And he burned his nose
in the inclined cup of medicine, and looked out
over the rim to see at a glance that Kno Tzu
Chien was not convinced and that he had lost
rather than gained position by his true and au-
thentic contradiction of what the living encyclo-
pædia said.
“There is indeed another account of the origin
of tea,” said Kno, "according to the Buddhists.
There was a monk named Ta Ma (Darma, the
third son of Kasiuwo, an Indian King) who
came from the West to China (about 519 A.D.)
to ‘enlighten the Chinese.' He exposed himself
to every possible hardship, being self-denying in
the extreme.
This monk, lived only upon the herbs of
the field; and, in order to attain to the highest de-
gree of sanctity, determined to pass his nights as
well as days in contemplation of doctrine. After
some time spent thus, he became so weary that he
fell asleep. This lapse troubled him sorely.
He did not consider that his denying the five re-
lations of sovereign and statesman, father and
son, elder and younger brother, husband and
12
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
wife, friend and companion, was at all contrary
to the doctrine. Though this was the main point
in the Memorial of Han Wen Nung against
Buddhism.
"On awaking the next morning he determined
to expiate his vow-breaking sin by cutting off his
eyelids! Returning to the place the following
day, he was surprised to find that each eyelid had
become a shrub,—the plant, indeed, which we
now call tea. He took of the leaves and ate them,
and found as he did so his heart was filled with
extraordinary exhilarations, and that he had ac-
quired renewed strength for his contemplations.
The event being known, his disciples spread the
news far and wide."
The reader is hereby warned that the subject
of the “soft, sober, sage, and venerable liquid;
smile-smoothing, heart-opening, wink-tip-
ping cordial” (for thus a now forgotten poet-
laureate of past days described it) is not yet
finished; but while lips are smacking over the
wonderful decoction of real tea (with none of
your willow-leaf adulteration) we may peep into
the minds of the hearers and note how perfectly
harmonious these differing accounts seemed.
Our flagstaff (as indispensable to us as a banner
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 13
to a Chinese soldier) is now held in place by two
main cords and a bit of hemp twine. It is so and
so, it is such and such, it is otherwise, give a net
result of perfect reliability. The audience is
therefore sipping down indubitable truths with
the tea.
Facts having been established in a most ortho-
dox, three-ply manner, we are now prepared for
poetic decorations. The Eastern mind scorns
the merely matter-of-fact. But Kno Tzu Chien
has begun to relate that "in the days of the first
Emperor of the Eastern Ts'in dynasty (317–
323) an old woman appeared in the streets with a
vessel of fine tea in her hand, the contents of
which she sold from morning until evening, for
the vessel was inexhaustible. The proceeds of
such sales she distributed among beggars and the
indigent poor generally. But certain folks
seized the old lady with the magic teapot and put
her in jail. That night, however, both lady and
teapot flew out the window."
"It was the Goddess of Mercy herself!” ex--
claimed Mrs. Li.
“It must have been!” said everybody else.
After which Li protested that they had no right
to cause their honored Kno Tzu Chien to split his
14
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
throat with talking, but that if he had "two
words" more on the subject, they would all
“humbly receive his admonition.
He had just “two words." The first referred
to the saying of an old monk, that old and new
tea when mixed gave a harmonious but varied
taste to the palate. There was a saying about
the harpischord, to the effect that the full re-
sonance of the word was not evident until after a
hundred years. It then gave all the delicate
gradations answering to the phenomena of clear-
ness and turbidity, of rain and sunshine, of heat
and cold, which principle applied to tea also.
The second word was a comparison between
the national beverage and the scholar's ink.
“Tea-drinkers like a light-coloured decoction,
and dislike a dark-coloured liquid. But it is quite
otherwise with ink. Ink loses some of its bril-
liancy on being left in the slab overnight; tea
leaves exposed for a day lose some of their scent.
In this they resemble one another. New tea is
most esteemed, but the more ancient the ink, the
more excellent. In this they contrast. Tea for
the mouth, and ink for the eye; but in old time
there was a man of note who had a chronic com-
plaint which forbade his drinking tea, yet had it
brewed to please the eye. And another man
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
15
there was, who, though he could not write, was
fond of collecting good ink, which he would rub
and test by tasting-'a joke indeed for all who
hear it,' as my old book says.” By way of post-
script, Kno added that a certain man of the Táng
dynasty, after drinking seven bowls of tea, ex-
perienced a stirring of air under the armpits, and
felt like flying to heaven.
THE MERCHANT'S SON
Told by
CHANG TI
In the province of Hunan there dwelt a man
who was engaged in trading abroad; and his
wife, who lived alone, dreamt one night that some
one was in her room. Waking up, she looked
about, and discovered a small creature which on
examination she knew to be a fox; but in a mo-
ment the thing had disappeared, although the
door had not been opened. The next evening
she asked the cook-maid to come and keep her
company; as also her own son, a boy of ten, who
was accustomed to sleep elsewhere. Towards
the middle of the night, when the cook and the
boy were fast asleep, back came the fox; and the
16
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
cook was waked up by hearing her mistress
muttering something as if she had nightmare.
The former then called out, and the fox ran
away; but from that moment the trader's wife
was not quite herself. When night came she
dared not blow out the candle, and bade her son
be sure and not sleep too soundly. Later on,
her son and the old woman having taken a nap
as they leant against the wall, suddenly waked
up and found her gone. They waited some time,
but she did not return, and the cook was too
frightened to go and look after her; so her son
took a light, and at length found her fast asleep
in another room.
She didn't seem aware that
any thing particular had happened, but she be-
came queerer and queerer every day, and
wouldn't have either her son or the cook to keep
her company any more. Her son, however,
made a point of running at once to his mother's
room if he heard any unusual sounds; and
though his mother always abused him for his
pains, he paid no attention to what she said.
Consequently, everyone thought him very brave,
though at the same time he was always indulging
in childish tricks. One day he played at being a
mason, and piled up stones upon the window-sill,
in spite of all that was said to him, and if any-
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
17
one took away a stone, he threw himself on the
ground, and cried like a child, so that nobody
dared go near him. In a few days he had got
both windows blocked up and the light excluded;
and then he set to filling up the chinks with
mud. He worked hard all day without mind-
ing the trouble, and when it was finished he
took and sharpened the
sharpened the kitchen chopper.
Everyone who saw him was disgusted with such
antics, and would take no notice of him. At
night he darkened his lamp, and, with the knife
concealed on his person, sat waiting for his
mother to mutter. As soon as she began he un-
covered his light, and, blocking up the doorway,
shouted out at the top of his voice. Nothing,
however, happened, and he moved from the door
a little way, when suddenly out rushed some-
thing like a fox, which was disappearing through
the door when he made a quick movement and
cut off about two inches of its tail, from which
the warm blood was still dripping as he brought
the light to bear upon it. His mother hereupon
cursed and reviled him, but he pretended not to
hear her, regretting only as he went to bed that
he hadn't hit the brute fair. But he consoled
himself by thinking that although he hadn't
killed it outright, he had done enough to prevent
18 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
its coming again. On the morrow he followed
the tracks of blood over the wall and into the
garden of a family named Ho; and that night, to
his great joy, the fox did not reappear. His
mother was meanwhile prostrate, with hardly
any life in her, and in the midst of it all his
father came home. The boy told him what had
happened, at which he was much alarmed, and
sent for a doctor to attend to his wife; but she
only threw the medicine away, and cursed and
swore horribly. So they secretly mixed the
medicine with her tea and soup, and in a few days
she began to get better, to the inexpressible de-
light of both her husband and son. One night,
however, her husband woke up and found her
gone; and after searching for her with the aid
of his son, they discovered her sleeping in an-
other room.
From that time she became more
eccentric than ever, and was always being found
in strange places, cursing those who tried to re-
move her. Her husband was at his wits' end.
It was of no use keeping the door locked, for it
opened of itself at her approach; and he had
called in any number of magicians to exorcise
the fox, but without obtaining the slightest re-
sult, One evening her son concealed himself in
the Ho family garden, and lay down in the long
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
19
grass with a view to detecting the fox's retreat.
As the moon rose he heard the sound of voices,
and, pushing aside the grass, saw two people
drinking, with a long-bearded servant pouring
out their wine, dressed in an old dark-brown
coat. They were whispering together, and he
could not make out what they said; but by-and-
by he heard one of them remark, “Get some
white wine for to-morrow," and then they went
away, leaving the long-bearded servant alone.
The latter then threw off his coat, and lay down
to sleep on the stones; whereupon the trader's
son eyed him carefully, and saw that he was like
a man in every respect except that he had a tail.
The boy would then have gone home; but he was
afraid the fox might hear him, and accordingly
remained where he was till near dawn, when he
saw the other two come back, one at a time, and
then they all disappeared among the bushes. On
reaching home his father asked him where he
had been, and he replied that he had stopped the
night with the Ho family. He then accompan-
ied his father to the town, where he saw hanging
up at a hat-shop a fox's tail, and finally, after
much coaxing, succeeded in making his father
buy it for him. While the latter was engaged in
a shop, his son, who was playing about beside
20
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
him, availed himself of a moment when his father
was not looking and stole some money from him,
and went off and bought a quantity of white
wine, which he left in charge of the wine-mer-
chant. Now an uncle of his, who was a sports-
man by trade, lived in the city, and thither he
next betook himself. His uncle was out, but his
aunt was there, and inquired after the health of
his mother. “She has been better the last few
days,” replied he; “but she is now very much up-
set by a rat having gnawed a dress of hers, and
has sent me to ask for some poison.” His aunt
opened the cupboard and gave him about the
tenth of an ounce in a piece of paper, which he
thought was very little; so, when his aunt had
gone to get him something to eat, he took the op-
portunity of being alone, opened the packet, and
abstracted a large handful. Hiding this in his
coat, he ran to tell his aunt that she needn't pre-
pare anything for him, as his father was waiting
in the market, and he couldn't stop to eat it.
He then went off; and having quietly dropped
the poison into the wine he had bought, went
sauntering about the town. At nightfall he re-
turned home, and told his father that he had been
at his uncle's. This he continued to do for some
time, until one day he saw among the crowd his
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
21
long-bearded friend. Marking him closely, he
followed him, and at length entered into conver-
sation, asking him where he lived. "I live at
Pei-ts’un," said he; "where do you live?” “I,"
replied the trader's son, falsely, “live in a hole on
the hillside.” The long-bearded man was con-
siderably startled at his answer, but much more
so when he added, “We've lived there for gener-
ations: haven't you?" The other man asked his
name, to which the boy replied, “My name is
Hu. I saw you with two gentlemen in the Ho
family garden, and haven't forgotten you.”
Questioning him more fully, the long-bearded
man was still in a half-and-half state of belief
and doubt, when the trader's son opened his coat
a little bit, and showed him the end of the tail he
had bought, saying, "The like of us can mix with
ordinary people, but unfortunately we
never get rid of this.” The long-bearded man
then asked him what he was doing there, to which
he answered that his father had sent him to buy
wine; thereupon the former remarked that that
was exactly what he had come for, and the boy
then inquired if he had bought it yet or not.
“We are poor,” replied the stranger, “and as a
rule I prefer to steal it.” “A difficult and
dangerous job,” observed the boy. “I have my
can
22
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
He was
master's instructions to get some,” said the other,
"and what am I to do?” The boy then asked him
who his masters were, to which he replied that
they were the two brothers the boy had seen that
night. “One of them has bewitched a lady
named Wang; and the other, the wife of a trader
who lives near. The son of the last-mentioned
lady is a violent fellow, and cut off my master's
tail, so that he was laid up for ten days. But he
is putting her under spells again now.”
then going away, saying he should never get his
wine; but the boy said to him, "It's much easier
to buy than steal. I have some at the wine-shop
there which I will give to you. My purse isn't
empty, and I can buy some more.'
The long-
bearded man hardly knew how to thank him;
but the boy said, “We're all one family. Don't
mention such a trifle. When I have time I'll
come and take a drink with you.” So they went
off together to the wine-shop, where the boy gave
him the wine, and they then separated. That
night his mother slept quietly and had no fits,
and the boy knew that something must have hap-
pened. He then told his father, and they went
to see if there were any results; when lo! they
found both foxes stretched out dead in the ar-
bour. One of the foxes was lying on the grass,
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 23
and out of its mouth blood was still trickling.
The wine-bottle was there; and on shaking it they
heard that some was left. Then his father
asked him why he had kept it all so secret; to
which the boy replied that foxes were very saga-
cious, and would have been sure to scent the plot.
Thereupon his father was mightily pleased, and
said he was a perfect sage for cunning. They
then carried the foxes home, and saw on the tail
of one of them the scar of a knife-wound. From
that time they were left in peace; but the trader's
wife became very thin, and though her reason re-
turned, shortly afterwards died of consumption.
The other lady, Mrs. Wang, began to get better
as soon as the foxes had been killed; and as to
the boy, he was taught riding and archery by
his proud parent, and subsequently rose to high
rank in the army.
THE STONE FROM HEAVEN
Told by
WANG MANG
In Peking there lived a man named Hsing
Yün-fei, who was an amateur mineralogist and
would pay any price for a good specimen, One
24
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
day as he was fishing in the river, something
caught his net, and diving down he brought up a
stone about a foot in diameter, beautifully
carved on all sides to resemble clustering hills
and peaks. He was quite as pleased with this
as if he had found some precious stone; and hav-
ing had an elegant sandal-wood stand made for
it, he set his prize upon the table. Whenever
it was about to rain, clouds, which from a dis-
tance looked like new cotton-wool, would come
forth from each of the holes or grottoes on the
stone, and appear to close them up. By-and-by
an influential personage called at the house and
begged to see the stone, immediately seizing it
and handing it over to a lusty servant, at the
same time whipping his horse and riding away.
Hsing was in despair; but all he could do was to
mourn the loss of the stone, and indulge his
anger against the thief. Meanwhile, the servant,
who had carried off the stone on his back, stopped
to rest at a bridge; when all of a sudden his hand
slipped and the stone fell into the water.
His
master was extremely put out at this, and gave
him a sound beating; subsequently hiring several
divers, who tried every means in their power to
recover the stone, but were quite unable to find
it. He then went away, having first published
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 25
a notice of reward, and by these means many
were tempted to seek for the stone. Soon after,
Hsing himself came to the spot, and as he mourn-
fully approached the bank, lo! the water became
clear, and he could see the stone lying at the bot-
tom. Taking off his clothes, he quickly jumped
in and brought it out, together with the sandal-
wood stand, which was still with it. He carried
it off home, and being no longer desirous of
showing it to people, he had an inner room
cleaned and put it there. Some time after-
wards an old man knocked at the door and asked
to be allowed to see the stone; whereupon Hsing
replied that he had lost it a long time ago.
“Isn't that it in the inner room?" said the old
man smiling. “Oh, walk in and see for your-
self if you don't believe me,” answered Hsing;
and the old man did walk in, and there was the
stone on the table. This took Hsing very much
aback; and the old man then laid his hand upon
the stone and said, “This is an old family relic of
mine: I lost it mạny months since. How does it
come to be here? I pray you now restore it to
me.” Hsing didn't know what to say, but de-
clared he was the owner of the stone; upon which
the old man remarked, “If it is really yours,
what evidence can you bring to prove it?"
26
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
Hsing made no reply; and the old man contin-
ued, "To show you that I know this stone, may
mention that it has altogether ninety-two grot-
toes, and that in the largest of these are five
words:
"A stone from Heaven above."
Hsing looked and found that there were actu-
ally some small characters, no larger than grains
of rice, which by straining his eyes a little he
managed to read; also, that the number of grot-
toes was as the old man had said. However, he
would not give him the stone; and the old man
laughed, and asked, “Pray what right have you
to keep other people's things?” He then bowed
and went away, Hsing escorting him as far as the
door; but when he returned to the room, the
stone had disappeared. In a great fright, he
ran after the old man, who had walked slowly
and was not far off, and seizing his sleeve en-
treated him to give back the stone. “Do you
think," said the latter, "that I could conceal a
stone a foot in diameter in my sleeve?” But
Hsing knew that he must be superhuman, and
led him back to the house, where he threw himself
on his knees and begged that he might have the
stone. “Is it yours or mine?” asked the old man.
“Of course it is yours," replied Hsing, “though
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 27
I hope you will consent to deny yourself the
pleasure of keeping it.” “In that case,” said
the old man, “it is back again”; and going into
the inner room, they found the stone in its old
place. “The jewels of this world,” observed
Hsing's visitor, “should be given to those who
know how to take care of them. This stone can
choose its own master, and I am very pleased that
it should remain with you; at the same time I
must inform you that it was in too great a hurry
to come into the world of mortals, and has not
yet been freed from all contingent calamities.
I had better take it away with me, and three
years hence you shall have it again. If, how-
ever you insist on keeping it, then your span of
life will be shortened by three years, that your
terms of existence may harmonise together.
Are you willing?” Hsing said he
Hsing said he was; where-
upon the old man with his fingers closed up three
of the stone's grottoes, which yielded to his touch
like mud. When this was done, he turned to
Hsing and told him that the grottoes on that
stone represented the years of his life; and then
he took his leave, firmly refusing to remain any
longer, and not disclosing his name.
More than a year after this, Hsing had occa-
sion to go away on business, and in the night a
28
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
thief broke in and carried off the stone, taking
nothing else at all. When Hsing came home, he
was dreadfully grieved, as if his whole object in
life was gone; and made all possible inquiries
and efforts to get it back, but without the slight-
est result. Some time passed away, when one
day going into a temple Hsing noticed a man
selling stones, and amongst the rest he saw his
old friend. Of course he immediately wanted to
regain possession of it; but as the stone-seller
would not consent, he shouldered the stone and
went off to the nearest mandarin. The stone-
seller was then asked what proof he could give
that the stone was his; and he replied that the
number of the grottoes was eighty-nine. Hsing
inquired if that was all he had to say, and when
the other acknowledged that it was, he himself
told the magistrate what were the characters in-
scribed within, also calling attention to the fin-
ger marks at the closed-up grottoes. He there-
fore gained his case, and the mandarin would
have bambooed the stone-seller, had he not de-
clared that he bought it in the market for twenty
ounces of silver,---whereupon he was dismissed.
A high official next offered Hsing one hun-
dred ounces of silver for it; but he refused to sell
it even for ten thousand, which so enraged the
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
29
would-be purchaser that he worked up a case
against Hsing, and got him put in prison.
Hsing was thereby compelled to pawn a great
deal of his property; and then the official sent
some one to try if the affair could not be man-
aged through his son, to which Hsing, on hear-
ing of the attempt, steadily refused to consent,
saying that he and the stone could not be parted
even in death. His wife, however, and his son,
laid their heads together and sent the stone to the
high official, and Hsing only heard of it when he
arrived home from the prison. He cursed his
wife and beat his son, and frequently tried to
make away with himself, though luckily his serv-
ants always managed to prevent him from suc-
ceeding. At night he dreamt that a noble-look-
ing personage appeared to him and said, "My
name is Shih Ch’ing-hsü—(Stone from Hea-
ven). Do not grieve. I purposely quitted you
for a year and more; but next year on the 20th of
the eighth moon, at dawn, come to the Hai-tai
Gate and buy me back for two strings of cash.”
Hsing was overjoyed at this dream, and care-
fully took down the day mentioned. Meanwhile
the stone was at the official's private house; but
as the cloud manifestations ceased, the stone was
less and less prized; and the following year when
30
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
the official was disgraced for maladministration
and subsequently died, Hsing met some of his
servants at the Hai-tai Gate going off to sell the
stone, and purchased it back from them for two
strings of cash.
Hsing lived till he was eighty-nine; and then
having prepared the necessaries for his inter-
ment, bade his son bury the stone with him,
which was accordingly done. Six months later
robbers broke into the vault and made off with
the stone, and his son tried in vain to secure their
capture; however, a few days afterwards, he was
travelling with his servants, when suddenly two
men rushed forth dripping with perspiration,
and looking up into the air, acknowledged their
crime, saying, “Mr. Hsing, please don't torment
us thus! We took the stone and sold it for only
four ounces of silver.” Hsing's son and his serv-
ants then seized these men, and took them before
the magistrate, where they at once acknowledged
their guilt. Asking what had become of the
stone, they said they had sold it to a member of
the magistrate's family; and when it was pro-
duced, that official took such a fancy to it that he
gave it to one of his servants and bade him place
it in the treasury. Thereupon the stone slipped
out of the servant's hand and broke into a hun-
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
31
dred pieces, to the great astonishment of all pres-
ent. The magistrate now had the thieves bam-
booed and sent them away; but Hsing's son
picked up the broken pieces of the stone, and
buried them in his father's grave.
THE THUNDER GOD
Told by
KEY FAH
Yo Yün-Hao and Hsia P’ing-tzŭ lived as boys
in the same village, and when they grew up read
with the same tutor, becoming the firmest of
friends. Hsia was a clever fellow, and had ac-
quired some reputation even at the early age of
ten. Yo was not a bit envious, but rather looked
up to him, and Hsia in return helped his friend
very much with his studies, so that he, too, made
considerable progress. This increased Hsia's
fame, though try as he would he could never suc-
ceed at the public examinations, and by-and-by
he sickened and died. His family was so poor
they could not find money for his burial, where-
upon Yo came forward and paid all expenses,
besides taking care of his widow and children.
Every peck or bushel he would share with
them, the widow trusting entirely to his support:
32
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
and thus he acquired a good name in the village,
though not being a rich man himself, he soon ran
through all his own property. “Alas!” cried he,
“where talents like Hsia's failed, can I expect to
succeed? Wealth and rank are matters of des-
tiny, and my present career will only end by my
dying like a dog in a ditch. I must try some-
thing else.” So he gave up book-learning and
went into trade, and in six months he had a trifle
of money in hand.
One day when he was resting at an inn in Nan-
king, he saw a great big fellow walk in and seat
himself at no great distance in a very melancholy
mood. Yo asked him if he was hungry, and on
receiving no answer, pushed some food over to-
wards him. The stranger immediately set to
feeding himself by handfuls, and in no time the
whole had disappeared. Yo ordered another
supply, but that was quickly disposed of in like
manner; and then he told the landlord to bring
a shoulder of pork and a quantity of boiled
dumplings. Thus, after eating enough for half
a dozen, his appetite was appeased and he turned
to thank his benefactor, saying, “For three years
I haven't had such a meal.” “And why should
a fine fellow like you be in such a state of desti-
tution?” inquired Yo; to which the other only
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
33
replied, “The judgments of heaven may not be
discussed.” Being asked where he lived, the
stranger replied, “On land I have no home, on
the water no boat; at dawn in the village, at night
in the city.” Yo then prepared to depart; but
his friend would not leave him, declaring that he
was in imminent danger, and that he could not
forget the late kindness Yo had shown him. So
they went along together, and on the way Yo in-
vited the other to eat with him; but this he re-
fused, saying that he only took food occasionally.
Yo marvelled more than ever at this; and next
day when they were on the river a great storm
arose and capsized all their boats, Yo himself be-
ing thrown into the water with the others. Sud-
denly the gale abated and the stranger bore Yo
on his back to another boat, plunging at once into
the water and bringing back the lost vessel, upon
which he placed Yo and bade him remain quietly
there. He then returned once more, this time
carrying in his arms a part of the cargo, which
he replaced in the vessel, and so he went on until
it was all restored. Yo thanked him, saying, “It
was enough to save my life; but you have added
to this the restoration of my goods.” Nothing,
in fact, had been lost, and now Yo began to re-
gard the stranger as something more than
34
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
human. The latter here wished to take his leave,
but Yo pressed him so much to stay that at last
he consented to remain. Then Yo remarked
that after all he had lost a gold pin, and immedi-
ately the stranger plunged into the water again,
rising at length to the surface with the missing
article in his mouth, and presenting it to Yo with
the remark that he was delighted to be able to
fulfill his commands. The people on the river
were all much astonished at what they saw;
meanwhile Yo went home with his friend, and
there they lived together, the big man only eat-
ing once in ten or twelve days, but then display-
ing an enormous appetite. One day he spoke of
going away, to which Yo would by no means
consent; and as it was just then about to rain and
thunder, he asked him to tell him what the clouds
were like, and what thunder was, also how he
could get up to the sky and have a look, so as to
set his mind at rest on the subject. “Would you
like to have a ramble among the clouds?” asked
the stranger, as Yo was lying down to take a
nap; on awaking from which he felt himself spin-
ning along through the air, and not at all as if he
were lying on a bed. Opening his eyes he saw he
was among the clouds, and around him was a
fleecy atmosphere. Jumping up in great alarm,
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
35
he felt giddy as if he had been at sea, and under-
neath his feet he found a soft, yielding substance
unlike the earth. Above him were the stars, and
this made him think he was dreaming; but look-
ing up he saw that they were set in the sky like
seeds in the cup of a lily, varying from the size of
the biggest bowl to that of a small basin. On
raising his hand he discovered that the large stars
were all tightly fixed; but he managed to pick a
small one, which he concealed in his sleeve; and
then parting the clouds beneath him, he looked
through and saw the sea glittering like silver be-
low. Large cities appeared no bigger than
beans-just at this moment, however, he be-
thought himself that if his foot were to slip, what
a tremendous fall he would have. He now be-
held two dragons writhing their way along, and
drawing a cart with a huge vat in it, each move-
ment of their tails sounding like the crack of a
bullock-driver's whip. The vat was full of water
and numbers of men were employed in ladling it
out and sprinkling it on the clouds. These men
were astonished at seeing Yo; however, a big
fellow among them called out, “All right, he's
my friend,” and then they gave him a ladle to
help them throw the water out. Now it hap-
pened to be a very dry season, and when Yo got
36
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
hold of the ladle he took good care to throw the
water so that it should all fall on and around his
own home. The stranger then told him that he
was an assistant to the God of Thunder, and that
he had just returned from a three years' punish-
ment inflicted on him in consequence of some
neglect of his in the matter of rain. He added
that they must now part; and taking the long
rope which had been used as reins for the cart,
bade Yo grip it tightly, that he might be let
down to earth. Yo was afraid of this, but on
being told there was no danger he did so, and in
a moment whish-h-h-h-h-away he went and
found himself safe and sound on terra firma.
He discovered that he had descended outside his
native village, and then the rope was drawn up
into the clouds and he saw it no more. The
drought had been excessive; for three or four
miles round very little rain had fallen, though in
Yo's own village the water-courses were all full.
On reaching home he took the star out of his
sleeve, and put it on the table. It was dull-
looking like an ordinary stone; but at night it be-
came very brilliant and lighted up the whole
house. This made him value it highly, and he
stored it carefully away, bringing it out only
when he had guests, to light them at their wine.
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 37
It was always thus dazzling bright, until one
evening when his wife was sitting with him doing
her hair, the star began to diminish in brilliancy,
and to flit about like a fire-fly. Mrs. Yo sat
gaping with astonishment, when all of a sudden
it flitted into her mouth and ran down her throat.
She tried to cough it up, but couldn't, to the very
great amazement of her husband. That night
Yo dreamt that his old friend Hsia appeared be-
fore him and said, “I am the Shao-wei star.
Your friendship is still cherished by me, and now
you have brought me back from the sky. Truly
our destinies are knitted together and I will re-
pay your kindness by becoming your son.”
Now Yo was thirty years of age, but without
sons; however, after this dream his wife bore him
a male child, and they called his name Star. He
was extraordinarily clever, and at sixteen years
of age took his master's degree.
YANG SUNG'S DREAM
It had been a merry evening on Yang Sung's
boat. A little disagreement in the early even-
ing had been settled by Yang Sung's good hu-
mor, the locator going on shore to secure a sup-
ply of wine, which having cost him nothing, he
38
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
the more freely distributed. The lieutenant was
on shore, as also the semi-officials of the other
boats, who had found the days of Tsaitien long
and the nights insipid. So the rest had a merry
time. Yang Sung, though not an abstainer, was
rallied on his meager abilities at imbibing. In
polite circles there is quite a gamut of compli-
ments in use on the subject of a man's ability to
drink wine, and a corresponding gamut of hum-
ble disclaimers. . No such compliments fell to the
lot of the sturdy lad of eighteen and a half, but
he could tell a tale or two by this time.
It was the fourth watch before there was any-
thing like quiet, and then the shouts were but ex-
changed for thunderous snores. Yang Sung, be-
ing still sober, was to watch for the remainder of
the night. The custom was for two men to di-
vide the night watch between them. His boat
being the chief one in the little fleet, it fell to his
lot when he heard the drum beats from the cen-
tral station to take up the two sticks, and pass
the sound on to those higher up the river, to the
night watchman, and the wakeful public gener-
ally. Having done so, he felt very sleepy. He
must lie down. Everything was still, but a lamp
here and there flickering in the high wind, and
the cry of "Blood, blood” (pig's blood), which
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
39
sounded well-nigh demoniacal,—what customers
do these night hawkers get?-proclaimed that
there was a busy town near, with its more than
half a million inhabitants. The lantern on the
bows all but blotted out the outline of the houses.
He would read until daylight. The volume
he picked was of the “Making of the
Gods," which he used to read to the lieu-
tenant. The Taoist's description of heaven
was now familiar, and the various poems and
descriptive pieces he was learning by heart. The
piece for tonight was the description of a fire, in
which a sprite was exposed and consumed. It
seemed too fine for the occasion, but poets are
wont to deal in hyperbole. “Dense smoke en-
caged, dense smoke encaged the corner-stones
of earth,” he repeated to himself several times,
until he was interrupted by a shout, then another.
Something was happening on shore. He tried
to arouse the sleepers. They but swore, and
turned over, snoring again. But the shouts in-
creased. Then a light appeared far away to the
right hand. It seemed to spread toward the
centre. A man ran along the bank, crying, "De-
mons!” He was a night watchman, only proof
against distant thieves.
“Stand!” shouted Yang Sung. "What is it?"
40
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
"Demons with torches. Hundreds of them!"
cried the man, and ran on.
The glare became unmistakable; more fugi-
tives with the same tale; more efforts on the lad's
part to waken the sleepers, until, the shouts on
shore increasing, he took up his drumstick and
belaboured the hands of one or two. He was
cursed, he was seized. Everyone seemed to
strike out at once. "Demons!” he shouted amid
his struggles; then he changed to “The Pirates
are upon us.
At this familiar cry some began to rouse them-
selves and yawn. They let him go. He seized
a petard or two, and fired it outside. General
cry of muffled voices. "What is it?” More
shouts on shore, and the glare, which had now
reached the spot opposite to him; no, it extended
farther to the west. “Demons! Pirates! Fire!"
was shouted, was screamed, was yelled on shore.
“They are near. They have taken Wu Seng
Miao. I heard their guns. Run!"
It was not glare now, it was flame. Huge
tongues of flame shot up above the houses, light-
ing up the figures of men and women bold enough
to go up for a moment on to the wooden lofts
above the roofs. The upper story of Wu Seng
Miao gateway, where only an old Vegetarian's
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
41
tiny lamp is to be seen as a rule, was full of
fire-lit faces. Luminous smoke rolled overhead,
carried by the high wind afar. It rained sparks.
The heat was unbearable. The summer's night
was becoming hot as an oven.
A splash! It was a man leaping on to a boat:
no, ten men had made the leap, one had fallen.
His body was whirled on by the rapid current.
His cries were unheard in the general roar.
Down the steep bank came men, women, and chil-
dren, bearers of boxes and bundles and babies;
they fell in a heap on the boats or into the water.
The bows were nearly sinking. “Quick, unloose
the chains! Let the grappling irons go. Clear
the way, all of you,” and a dozen were pushed
into the water, to cling upon the boat-sides until
they dropped, carried down with the rest.
The river was thick with bodies. “Bring a
hatchet.” The chain will not be undone. Hew
.
away at the block which holds it. Harder! Fas-
ter! See that great mass of humanity tumbling
down the bank. Only just in time. They would
have swamped us. It is light as day. To the
oars, every one of you; shake off the clinging
hands. Off! Across the river. Push this boat
and that with your hooks, never mind the men
who cling there. Curse and rave, but push-
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CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
row! The river is half-blocked. See a boat has
overturned! Look at that mass of boats above!
The river is narrowed here. There will be a fa-
tal block in a moment. Row for your lives!
Blocked it is, but we are in the front. Look
out! That great salt junk is overturning. Out
of the way of the mast. Our comrades' boat is
snapped in two. There are demons in the cur-
rent. The oars bend, they break. Use your
poles and broken oars. We must get across.
Hands off. We must live. Splash, splash!
Shrieks! Curses! But we have reached the
other side. "Save life, save life!" Who can
save a hundred? The cries are lost in the roar
of the fire, the crackling of slates, and the terri-
fic yells of ten thousand in death agonies. The
kingdom of hell has come. It is pandemonium
on earth.
To stay there on the boat is to be scorched.
There is no commander to give orders, so it is
every man for himself. Struggle for dear life.
See the boats have caught. Clamber up the
banks as the others do. They fall, dragged down
by clinging hands. Over the shifting mass.
Up again. The water has but cooled you.
There is a blank space. Press in. Just in time.
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
43
On dry land with a chance for life if you out-
run the thick rain of sparks.
The path led from a small temple to the god
of boatmen,-already on fire,-to-the “Ancient
Bell Tower,” on the “Moon Lake Causeway.”
It was well for Yang Sung that he had a bit of
tolerably clear road, for the latter path was one
mass of fugitives, unable to proceed by reason of
a block by the bell-tower archway. In a densely
crowded road, an archway narrowing it by one-
half may stop all progress. The crowd forms
one compact mass too wide for the gateway.
Happily, the youth was on the outside, and
could go round, wading through a swamp on the
left. On the right, many were drowned in the
lake. But he must join the main path farther
on, as part of the lake waters come through a
bridge, and it is too deep to wade there. But
there was another dense crowd by the bridge,
those on the outside being jammed against the
granite posts and the connecting poles. Among
them was a man dressed in silks whose head was
bleeding. His voice was heard above the gen-
eral din, shouting, “A thousand cash for a boat!"
Then “Two thousand," then, finally, “An ingot
of silver.” But the boats had gone. The pole
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CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
gave way, and, with many others, he fell into
the water.
Under one of the buttresses was a man with a
boathook, with which he caught hold of the gar-
ments of the wealthy man, who, grasping his bun-
dle, laid hold of the outstretched pole. The
holder thereof seized the bundle, then calmly
shook off the man, nay, pushed him under with
the hook, and held him there. Was it a dream?
The man's face seemed familiar. It looked like
that of Lieu! Yang Sung now for the first time
discovered that he had his musket with him. He
had snatched it up mechanically as he sprang
from the boat. He had loaded it at the first
alarm. An irresistible impulse made him point it
at the dark form under the bridge, but it was wet.
Some folks from the archway came crowding up.
It was hopeless for him to try and ascend where
so many were being pushed over. One thing re-
mained, he could wade round the bit of lake on
the left. But, reaching drier ground, he stum-
bled, and swooned away.
A spark upon his cheek proved a speedy restor-
ative, and he came to consciousness, to notice that
Tortoise Hill was not far off. Limping along
dry land, wading through swamp, he reached the
foot of the Hill, with just enough energy left to
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
45
clamber half-way up the rocky sides. Here he
found two masses of rock which almost met at
the top. Into this cavern-like recess he crawled,
held his musket mechanically, and sat down.
His head was bleeding, and he was very faint.
The horrid glare before him seemed part of a
hideous nightmare. But he was out of range of
the sparks.
Before long, however, the ground seemed to
shake. The rebels had taken the hill from the
other side, had fired a volley which he felt rather
than heard, and had struck his musket from his
hand. Such was the dream which passed
through his bewildered mind in an instant of
time. His last moment had come! He had es-
caped the flames but to perish by a sword-thrust.
His whole life rushed before him. Lieu and his
son, the teacher and his wife, their marriage, his
father and mother. He began to cry, “My
mother!
my
mother!" But the dark mass before
him had gone. It was not a band of Pirates. .
It was a large boulder loosened by the pressure
of the crowd on the hill-top, which had come roll-
ing down, falling full force upon the two pieces
of rock under which he had been sitting. Poised
there an instant, it had fallen upon his gun-barrel,
and, crushing that, had gone crashing down to-
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CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
ward the swamp far beneath. He realized what
had happened now.
It was unlikely that another such boulder
would follow suit, but the lad's nerves were sha-
ken, and picking up his shattered musket with
soldierly instinct, he clambered up higher. He
could not be dreaming now.
There were un-
doubted sounds of firing. If his ears deceived
him, his eyes did not. There was a general stam-
pede along the ridge of the hill. Getting nearer,
he heard the cry, "Pirates! Pirates!"
The fugitives did not seem to be pursued,
though the firing continued. He was unable to
run, and seemed not to care now whether he died
or not. He would scramble up to the top and
see what had happened. He had to rest very
frequently, and each time he sank to the ground
there was that sight before him. It was as real
when he tried to shut his eyes and turn away, as
when he looked in that direction. Four miles of
towering flame! The wooden-framed dwellings
of six hundred thousand, among them those
whom he had seen bustling along the crowded
street under the gay sign-boards! That shar-
per, where was he? Where was the Taoist ped-
lar,--not his Taoist, whom he saw shot through
the back when the imperialist came, but that
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
47
other Taoist? Well, it could not be helped.
But those busy shops with their shopmen and
customers? It could not be. He was in the
street again. No, he was alone near the hill-top
on that awfully sultry night. “Dense smoke en-
caged, encaged the corner-stones of earth.”
Had the writer of the lines seen a city on fire?
Four miles of flame.
But he must struggle onto the top. When he
had done so, he found that the firing was from the
Hanyang walls. It was a cannonade. Yes,
there was a double row of yellow jackets return-
ing the fire from behind earthworks below that
blazing mass a quarter of a mile off. What was
that mass? The temple, of course. Seven tem-
ples, he remembered. See, a shot aimed too high
has hit one of them, and carried off with it blaz-
ing beams and a firey shower of ignited stuff
down over the steep sides of the rock.
The scene at the end of the hill seemed to be
absorbed in the wider facts of that terrible night.
There is a point beyond which the already dazed
brain ceases to receive further shock, and he sat
looking on, like an overtired spectator at a thea-
tre. He seemed to be going off into a stupor.
Time passed unheeded. It might have been
half an hour, it might have been two hours, but
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CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
he realized by and by that the firing had ceased,
and that there was a form before him, squatting
down upon its heels, with an evil smile on its face.
"Hallo! you mandarin soldier, are you dead
like the rest? Alive? Well, look yonder. A
fine sight, is it not, better than a bonfire of paper
houses?"
Was it a demon or a man? It was a young
man. Its voice was unmistakable. It was Lieu
Fah.
He raised himself, and pointed his musket at
the figure. That was enough. It disappeared
with a shriek. It crouched behind a gravestone,
then ran, then crouched behind another, then ran
again. Until half-way down the hill it was
stopped by a man who raised himself from the
ground. He had a yellow sleeveless jacket on,
clearly discernible in the glare. He hurriedly
took it off, and his under coat too, put it on again,
and the blue jacket with sleeves over it. The
younger of the two pointed with the finger up the
hill-top. Yang Sung pointed his musket at
them, and both ran off, bearing what seemed to
be heavy burdens.
He was alone again. The glare seemed to in-
crease, for the furthur horizon could not be de-
fined. The temples were still blazing, and on
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
49
the left was that awful glare. Whence came the
increasing light? Look, over Wuchang yonder
there is a great ball of fire! What new wonder
was that? Then Yang Sung felt himself being
roughly shaken, and a familiar voice shouting
with each shake, "Wake up! Wake up! Yang
Sung. You have slept on deck all night, and the
rising sun pouring its glorious rays in your face,
is the 'new wonder.'” Yang Sung opened his
eyes, to behold Lieu Fah, calling him to view the
beauty of the dawn. Was it the reading of
“The Making of the Gods” or the drinking of the
wine that caused Yang Sung's Dream?
KUNG PENG TAH AND THE
WOODCUTTER
Told by
TUNG CHOỤ KIỆN
“A tale I tell of wondrous sympathy,
For those alone that sympathetic be."
"In the old days described in the Spring and
Autumn Annals, when China consisted of a host
of rival States hard to amalgamate, there lived a
celebrated Statesman of the name of Kung Peng
Tah. His birthplace was the capital of the king-
dom of Ch’u, which is now the present Kingchow
50
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
(the “island of thorn bushes' to which Ts'ao Ts'ao
sent his cynical adviser Ti’ao Hen), to the west
of the modern Wuchang. But his star of good
fortune led him into an official post in the king-
dom of T'sin, which occupied what is now the
southern half of Shensi, and the north-west of
Honan.
“The King of Tsin, wishing to send an em-
bassy of friendly congratulation to the King of
Ch’u, Kung Peng Tah sought and obtained the
commission. Having reached the capital, he was
granted a royal interview, and was entertained in
sumptuous style. He naturally wished to visit
his ancestral graves, and call upon such of his rel-
atives and friends as the great change-worker
Time had spared yet.
“Public business being ended, he took his leave
of his royal host, pleading that he was suffering
from ill-health, which would be aggravated by
jolting over rough roads; and so provision was
made for him to return by water, two boats being
fitted
up
for his accommodation. The fact was,
he wished to feast his eyes once more upon the
familiar landscapes of ten or twenty years back.
All the officials of the capital accompanied him
to the river bank, so the parting was even more
honourable than the reception had been.

KUNG PENG TAH AND THE WOODCUTTER
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
51
"The wind-filled sails advanced amid the thou-
sand tiers of blue-green wavelets, while beyond
the sunlit waters were the distant hills of piled-
up turquoise. It was mid-autumn, and Kung
Peng Tah enjoyed the varied scenery to the full.
"Passing Hanyang, the boats left the Yangtse;
but either the Han had another channel then, or
else it was flood time, for he seems to enter the
chain of lakes which extend from Hanyang to
beyond the Hill of the Nine Recluses.
Kung Peng Tah had not gone many miles be-
fore a fierce wind sprang up, and the rain poured
in torrents, so that the boats had to make for the
nearest bank, which happened to be not far from
the "Horse Saddle' Hill.
'
"After sundown the storm abated, and the
full-orbed moon shone forth, all the brighter for
the rain. Peng Tah being alone, with nothing
to occupy his thoughts, ordered his boy to light
the incense brazier and bring out his harpsi-
chord. The sweet instrument (which sounds
like a piano with both pedals down) being
brought, the musician adjusted the strings, and
commenced a plaintive strain. Before he had
played many notes, however, one of the strings
snapped with a loud noise. At this he was very
much startled and told the lad to go outside and
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CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
inquire what manner of place it was. The head
boatman replied that it was a mere uncultivated
hill, with no cottages in sight. A mere unculti-
vated hill? the musician exclaimed. 'Had it
’
been a city or village near which we were stop-
ping, there might have been some scholar or
other listening to my instrument, and thus caus-
ing the string to break. I have it! There is
some villain or other near who owes me a grudge,
or a robber bent on stealing the treasure in the
boats. If he is not among the trees yonder, he
is certainly hiding among the tall reeds.'
"The boatman went to look, when they heard
a voice exclaim, “The high official need not
disturb himself; I do not belong to the robber
class. I am a woodcutter caught in the storm,
and so took refuge here. Then hearing the clas-
sical strains of the harpsichord, I stopped to
listen.'
“A likely tale,' laughed the statesman, 'a
hillside woodcutter a musical connoisseur; and
his attendants ordered the intruder off. But he
remained expostulating, saying, “The high official
is wrong. Has he not heard that "in a village
of ten houses there is sure to be found loyalty
and truth?”! And where there is a true gentle-
man, there will be gentlemanly visitors. If you,
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
53
sir, make out that on a wild hill there are none
capable of appreciating music, it may be argued
that there will be no guest at the foot of such
a hill playing at midnight.'
“Surprised to hear such a clever reply, Peng
Tah went to the door, and said, half in sarcasm,
‘As the gentleman upon the bank has been listen-
ing thus attentively, perhaps he will tell me what
sort of a tune I was playing!
“'If I had not understood the meaning of the
music, is it likely that I should remain listening?
The poem you were expressing in musical notes
was that in which Confucius bemoans the early
death of his favorite disciple Yen Hwui. The
words are these
“Alas, Yen Hwui, so soon to die!
My hair with grief is turned to gray.
Thy frugal joys, thy humble home,”.
at which point the string snapped. But the
fourth line I remember to be-
"Shall charm the ages yet to come.
“You, sir, are no ordinary countryman! ex-
claimed Peng Tah. "The bank is too distant for
conversation, will you not come nearer?' So he
ordered the boatmen to throw out a plank and
assist the scholar into the boat.
The attendants did so, and the young man
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CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
came on board-a veritable woodcutter, clad in
straw cape and rain hat, grasping an iron-shod
coolie pole; a hatchet was stuck in his girdle, and
he had straw sandals on his feet! What did the
underlings know about intelligent conversation?
They saw a mere woodcutter. 'Be sure and
knock your head on the ground in the presence
of the official,' they said. “And when he speaks
to you be careful how you answer him. He is
a high statesman.
“ 'Do not insult me,' was the reply. “Wait
till I have adjusted my apparel for the inter-
view.' And he proceeded to divest himself of
rain hat, to display a blue cloth wrapped round
his head; then his grass cape, to display to view
a cotton jacket, bound round with a white girdle,
with drawers to match. Not a whit flurried,
he placed his rain hat and grass cape, his spiked
pole and hatchet, outside the door, took off his
straw sandals, wrung the dirty water from them,
put them on afresh, and entered.
"The statesman was sitting upon the divan,
amid the brilliant glow of lamps and candles.
Seeing whom, the woodcutter just made a deep
bow, saying, 'I pay you my respects, sir.'
An official of Peng Tah's standing could
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
55
hardly be expected to give a common woodcutter
a polite reception. But having invited him on
board, he could hardly drive him away. He just
waved his hand slightly, saying, 'No need for
ceremony,' and called the lad to bring a seat. A
long bench being brought, the official shouted out,
'Sit down.' The woodcutter, without any phrase
of abject appreciation of the honour, took his
seat with the utmost composure. At this Peng
Tah was rather put out, and neither asked his
name nor ordered the usual tea.
"They sat in awkward silence for a long time,
till the official, in an irritated tone of voice, ex-
claimed, 'So you are the listener on the bank?'
to which the woodcutter replied with the usual
phrase, 'I do not presume!
'Well, as you were listening, you doubtless
know the origin of the instrument, who invented
the harpsichord, and what good there is in play-
ing it?
Receiving your question with all due defer-
ence, I may, however, delay the boat with my
tedious replies! For the boatman had just
been to say there was nothing to prevent their
starting
“ 'I fear you know nothing about it. If you
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CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
answer rightly, I shall look upon my official post
as a thing of no consequence, much less will a
little delay matter.
“'In that case, I may venture to trouble you
with my inordinate chatter. The harpsichord
was made by Fu Shi (the first of the fabulous
Emperors of China, 2852–2737 B. C.). He saw
that the virtue of the five planets was concen-
trated in the tung tree, and that the phoenix
chose it for a resting-place. The phoenix is the
king of birds, only eating bamboo sprouts, onl
drinking spring water. Fu Shi, therefore, see-
ing the princely nature of the tung tree, gather-
ing into itself as it does the choicest essences of
creation, argued that its wood might be expected
to emit the choicest music. He therefore or-
dered a man to cut one down. This particular
tree was 33 ft. 3 in. high, according with the
number of the thirty-three heavens. He then
had its trunk cut into three pieces, correspond-
ing to the three powers of nature,--heaven,
earth, man.
‘On sounding the upper block it was found
to ring with too high a note, while the lower
block emitted too dull a sound. That of the
middle block, however, was found to be a happy
medium between the two. It was placed in a
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 57
running stream for seventy-two days, according
to the seventy-two periods of the year,--an an-
cient mode of division, each period being five
days; then being dried in the shade, an excep-
tionally propitious time being chosen, and the
Emperor employed a skilful workman to make
it into a musical instrument.'”
At this stage Tung Chou Kion related how
that a celebrated politician and man of letters
named Ts'ai Yung (133–192), when a refugee
in the State of Wu, was one day seated at the
fireside when his attention was attracted by
the sound emitted by a log of tung wood which
lay burning there. Believing that its tones gave
promise of rare excellence, he converted it into
a lute. As the handle of his instrument still re-
tained signs of scorching, it gave rise to the ex-
pression, “the scorching tail (lute)."
“In recent poetry,” continued Chou Kion,
“this incident is combined with that of Kung
Peng Tah. A Hanyang poet sings—
‘Now would I follow poesy and song,
Renewed in readiness the silken string,
My “heart's interpreter” at length has come.
The "scorched tail” interprets every wish;
The swiftly-flowing stream is heard once more,
Swells to the clouds the highest melody;
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CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
As whirlwinds now o'er myriad mountains borne,
Rises the melody sublime.'
“But to return to the story of the 'heart's in-
terpreter referred to. The woodcutter pro-
ceeded: “When completed, the harpsichord was
thirty-six inches and a tenth long, according to
the three hundred and sixty-one days in a (lu-
nar) year. At the broad end it was eight inches
across, according to the eight festivals; at the
narrow end, four inches across, according to the
four seasons. It was two inches thick, accord-
ing to the masculine and feminine principles of
nature. It had a golden youth's head and a
gemmous maiden's waist, a back like that of an
immortal, a dragon tank, and a phoenix bath.
It had jade pegs and golden stops, which stops
(let into the wood as a guide to the fingering)
are thirteen, according to the twelve months of
the year, plus the intercalary month.
“'At first the harpsichord had five strings, ac-
cording to the five elements, their sounds being
called respectively Kung, Shang, Kioh, Tsz, and
Yu (antediluvian tonic sol-fa!). In the time of
the Emperors Yao and Shuin this five-stringed
instrument was used to accompany the populace
renovating odes of the day. A thousand years
later, the literary monarch being in exile from
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
59
his State, and lamenting over the death of his
son Peh Yih-kao, added another string of pure
and pathetic note, since called the literary string.
Another son of his (almost a contemporary of
King David) having defeated and slain the ty-
rant, and gained for himself the title of Military
Monarch, added a seventh string, which is called
after him.
“ 'The harpsichord has six abhorrences and
seven prohibitions. It abhors intense cold, in-
tense heat, a high wind, a heavy rain, loud thun-
der, and a heavy fall of snow. It must not be
played when wailing sounds are heard, when
festive instruments are sounding, when the musi-
cian is worried, when his person is not clean,
when his clothing is awry, without incense hav-
ing first been lighted, or in the presence of an
unsympathetic listener. Its eight excellencies
in sound are purity, mystery, obscurity, choice-
ness, plaintiveness, energy, distance, and reson-
When played by a masterhand in the
highest style, the howling tiger will listen, and
cease its roar; the screaming monkey will listen,
and cease its screeching.
"Hearing the woodcutter discourse with such
fluency and exactness, Kung Peng Tah imagined
he must have learned it all by rote, but even then
ance,
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CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
thought him a man not to be despised. Hence-
forth adopting politer form of speech, he essayed
to test him a little farther. "Confucius was once
playing the harpsichord in the house,' he said,
'when Yen Hwui entered. As he listened to its
deep and muffled tones, he thought he detected
strains of blood-thirstiness, and asked in surprise
whether it was so. Confucius answered, “As I
was playing, I saw a cat chase a mouse, and
smiled at the capture, but fearing it might lose
its prey, my bloodthirstiness (!) betrayed itself
on the silken strings.” “It was thus that the sa-
cred and sensitive nature of music came to be
fully known. Now, suppose I play my instru-
ment with certain thoughts in my mind, can you
recognize those thoughts as you listen?'
“Replied the woodcutter: 'In the Book of
Odes it is written-
"Another's thoughts
I can fathom.”
If you, sir, will extemporise a little, I will try
and fathom your meaning. Should I guess
wrong, pray pardon me.
“Kung Peng Tah renewed the broken string
and played a while, with mountain scenery in
his mind. 'Excellent indeed!' exclaimed the
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
61
other; ‘your far-reaching thoughts were upon
the high hills! At which the musician could
hardly believe his ears, and extemporized once
more, with the rippling of hillside brooks in his
mind. 'Excellent indeed! cried the woodcutter;
‘the flowing brooks are gurgling.'
“With the surprise that such thought inter-
pretation might well call up, Peng Tah's
brusqueness gave place to the geniality of a host,
and the woodcutter had to take the place of hon-
our on the left.
With fervent apologies, Peng
Tah exclaimed, ‘Amid the rocks the princeless
gem is hidden. ‘And he who judges after the
outward appearance and garb cannot fail to
slight the most wisely virtuous everywhere.'
Then, in the politest terms, he inquired the name
of his guest. The reply, given in all humility
was that his surname was Chung Tsz-ki, where-
upon Peng Tah introduced himself.
“Tea was brought, then 'wine', and Peng Tah
inquired after Tsz-ki's place of abode.
'Not far from here,' was the reply. “I live
beside the Horse Saddle Hill, in a hamlet called
the Gathering-place of the Virtuous. "Truly so
called ! exclaimed his host with inclined head.
‘And what may your occupation be?'
'I cut wood for a living.'
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CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
“ 'But how is it that with such abilities you
do not seek for a degree, and an honourable
official position instead of hiding your genius
among hillside copses and streams, in the com-
pany of herdsmen and woodcutters? Why
vegetate and wither when you might flourish as
a scholar?
“ 'Because my parents are both stricken in
years, and have no one else to provide for them.
Had I the highest possible position offered me,
I could not accept it, for they could not do with-
out me for a single day.”
“ 'Such a true son is hard to find, exclaimed
Peng Tah, whose affection for the young man
was deepening. He asked how many 'spring-
tides' he had passed? Tsz-ki replied that he had
'emptily passed twenty-seven years. “Then I
am your senior by some ten odd years'—which
was probably a polite understatement of fact.
‘And if you will consent to such a relationship,
I should like to call you brother, my never-to-be-
forgotten thought-interpreter.'
“The meanly-clad young man looked at his
friend in silk and fox furs, exclaiming, 'Surely
you cannot mean it! You are a noted statesman
of an honourable kingdom, and my lot is cast
among the rustics. How could I venture to as-
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
63
pire to a friendship so incongruous and unbe-
coming ?
“To which Peng Tah replied that ‘One's ac-
quaintances may fill the earth, but heart inter-
preting friends are rare indeed. If I in my var-
ious vicissitudes,' he added tenderly, 'may be
linked with you in the bonds of sworn brother-
hood, it will be an unspeakable enrichment to my
whole life.' Then almost pleadingly, 'If you
think that I regard such things as riches and pov-
erty as barriers, what manner of man do you
take me to be?'
“Incense was added to the brazier, and thus at
midnight, in the royally-furnished boat-chamber,
the high statesman and the woodcutter went
through the eight obeisances which would make
them brothers forever. They were now known
to each other by name.
“They changed seats, the elder brother taking
the place of honour, and carried on their heart-
to-heart conversation until the moon had declined
and the stars began to pale. The boatmen hav-
ing made all preparations for starting (some of
them had doubtless been peeping through the
window blinds in wonder), Tsz-ki rose to take
his leave.
‘My good brother,' said Kung Peng Tah,
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CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
‘you and I have met too late, and, alas, must part
thus early! At which Tsz-ki could not refrain
his tears; and neither of them could bring his
mind to the point of separation. “My feelings
are far from spent,' said the elder brother; 'could
you not accompany me for a few days ?'
“ 'It is not for want of the will that I must
decline,' replied the other; 'but how can I leave
my aged parents? When the parents are alive,
their children should not wander afar. “As they
are both at home,' Peng Tah responded (with
the rest of the quotation from the Analects as a
basis for his words), 'could you not tell them you
would like to go to Tsin to see your brother by
and by? Thus, though “wandering afar,” you
would acquaint them with your whereabouts. '
“ Not to grieve you,' Tsz-ki answered, 'I will
not promise, and then break my word. But if
I mention it to my parents, they will assuredly
object to my going so far.'
“ 'Let it be as you say, my noble brother.
Then I will certainly come again next year and
see you.
“ 'If you fix a date, I will be here ready to re-
ceive you.'
“ 'Last night it was the mid-autumn festival.
I shall be looking out for my brother on the fif-
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
65
9
teenth or sixteenth day of the mid-autumn month
next year. I will not break my faith.' "Then,
said Tsz-ki, ‘I will be here on the river bank with-
out fail. It is now daylight, and I must say
farewell.'
" 'You must really go, my brother? said Peng
Tah, and he ordered the lad to bring two ingots
of gold. These he presented to his brother with
both hands, saying, 'This little gift will help to-
wards the necessities of your parents. As you
are bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh, you
will not scorn to receive it.'
"Tsz-ki could not refuse, and took his depart-
ure; putting on his rain hat and grass cape,
shouldering his spiked pole and sticking his
hatchet in his girdle, he was handed along the
plank to the shore. The boatmen beat the
drums and started. The scenery was grand, but
Peng Tah had no heart for it now.
All his
thoughts were with his heart's interpreter.
“Some days passed thus, and when he went
ashore, and being recognized as a high official of
Tsin, the mandarins of the port provided horses
and carriages, accompanying him to the capital.
“Time flies apace! Autumn merged into win-
ter; the spring and summer passed, but not for a
single day had Peng Tah ceased to think of his
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CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
brother. As the autumn was approaching, he
petitioned the King of Tsin to allow him to go
home a while. It was granted; and the fifteenth
of the eighth moon found him once more near the
Horse Saddle Hill. The boat was secured by
grappling irons and a wooden stake driven into
the bank.
“It was a lovely night; the moonbeams came
stealing through the blinds. Peng Tah went out
and stood on the deck. There was hardly a rip-
ple on the waters. The northern constellation
was clearly reflected on the glassy surface.
Peng Tah opened his heart to the sweet serenity
around, and the memories which the spot awak-
ened. “But my brother promised to be here on
the bank waiting for me. There is no trace of
him. Can he have broken his word? Nay, it
cannot be. There are several boats about, and
mine is not the same as I had last year. It was
while playing my harpsichord that I discovered
him. I will do so again, and he will hear the
music and come.'
“So the sweet instrument was brought on deck,
and that same brazier emitted clouds of perfume.
The musician took the harpsichord out of its bag
and tuned it, when one of the strings emitted a
dirge-like note.
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
67
“ 'How is this?' exclaimed Peng Tah. ‘My
brother must have some calamity in the house,
and so he does not come. He told me both his
parents were aged. One or other must be dead.
He is a filial son, and has put the first claims first.
He would rather break faith with me than
neglect his parents, so he has not come. I will
go on shore tomorrow and find him.'
“The instrument was brought in again, and he
retired for the night. But not a moment's sleep
could he get. He longed and looked for the
morn. At length the moon declined, and the
dawn was about to break over the hills. He
arose, washed, and dressed himself, putting on
plain garments, and, with the lad bearing his
harpsichord and a large quantity of gold, he
went ashore. 'If my brother have any mourn-
ing in the house,' he said, “this will cover the
ceremonies required of the filial.'
“He walked on until he came to the end of
the valley, where he stood still. The road di-
vided to the east and the west, but no trace of the
hamlet he sought. He sat upon a wayside rock
for a while, when an old man with a long,
white, silky beard came along, leaning upon his
staff. Peng Tah advanced to meet him, and
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CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
>>
asked which of the two roads led to the desired
village.
"There are two villages of that name, an
upper and a lower,' the old man replied; 'which
one was it you wished to visit? »
“My brother is a clear-headed man,' thought
Peng Tah; 'why did he speak thus ambiguously?
I have it! He did not mean to put me to the
trouble of seeking him out.'”
“ 'Your silence, sir, indicates that the person
who directed you did not seem to know of the
existence of two villages, which are in opposite
directions from here. I have lived on the hill-
side for many a long year, and know everyone
here as neighbours or relatives or else as friends.
What is the name of the person you are seek-
ing?'
“I wish to find out the house of the Chung
family.
“To seek for whom?'
“To find out Tsz-ki.'
“At this the old man's eyes filled with tears.
He sobbed out. “My own son! Last year at
this time, as he was out cutting wood, he met a
statesman of Tsin, named Kung Peng Tah, who
became attached to him, presenting him with two
ingots of gold as he went away. My son bought
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
69
Swoon.
many books and studied hard, so as to be worthy
of his kindness. Returning with his heavy fag-
gots, he would read on into the night, until he
fell ill and—after-some-months-he-died!'
——
With a loud cry Peng Tah fell down in a
The old man did his best, with the lad's
assistance, to restore him; and asked who the
traveller was. The lad whispered in his ear,
'The statesman, Kung Peng Tah himself.'
“As consciousness returned, Peng Tah wailed
bitterly, 'My brother! my brother! There was I
on the boat last night talking of broken promises!
Little did I think that you were gone!' He rose
and saluted the old man, asking whether his son
was already buried or not.
'It cannot be told in one word,' the old man
replied. “As my son was dying, and we were
watching at his bedside, he said, “The bounds
of my life have been fixed by Heaven. I cannot
fulfill my earthly relations. But I beseech you,
bury me by and by on the bank near the place
where I met the good statesman, so that I may
keep my promise with him.” Along the road
you came there is a new grave by the wayside.
It is my son's. I was just going to visit it.'
“ 'I will accompany you.'
06
70 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
.
“They preceeded along the path, the aged
father and the elder brother, until they reached
the grave, when Peng Tah's sobs broke out
afresh. ‘My brother,' he cried, 'thou art among
the higher intelligences now. I bid thee a long
farewell.' Thus he wailed until the country folk
assembled. They found out who he was, and
crowded to the front to stare at the man in his
anguish.
"The sweet-toned instrument was taken out of
its bag, and with streaming eyes Peng Tah
played a dirge. The sightseers, hearing the
music by the grave side, went off clapping their
hands in merriment. The musician asked the
reason, when he was through bewailing his
brother. To which the old man replied that the
rustics, not discerning his meaning, took the notes
to be festal strains.
“'Can that be so? At least you will interpret
my heart's meaning?'
‘Alas! I am stupid and dull. I played the
harpsichord when I was younger, but now in my
old age my five senses are half gone.'
“I have been extemporizing a heart-prompted
dirge. I will sing it once for you to hear.'
“With tremulous voice the statesman sang
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
71
'I recall the fond hopes of last year,
When my friend on the bank I met here;
I have come back to see him again,
I have come back to see him in vain.
But a heap of cold earth do I find,
And sore is my sorrow-filled mind;
My sore heart is stricken with grief,
My tears are my only relief.
I came here in joy; with what grief do I go!
The banks of the river are clouded with woe.
Tsz-ki! my lost Tsz-ki!
True as tried gold were we.
Beyond the heavenly shore
Thy voice I hear no more.
I sing thee my last song, my last.
The harpsichord's music is past.'
“Then, taking a small knife from his girdle, he
cut the silken strings in twain, and lifting the in-
strument with both hands, as if in sacrifice, he
put forth all his strength, and dashed it to pieces
upon
the
grave.
“The old man wonderingly asked the reason
for this.
" "Tsz-ki is gone; to whom should I play now?
Springtime friends abound, but to find a heart's
interpreter is a difficulty of difficulties."
''I am too sad, Peng Tah continued, 'to ac-
company you home, but have brought with me
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CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
some gold, half of which will minister to your
present needs, and half will buy a little land
around, so that (from the crops thereon) the
grave may be ever kept in repair. If you will
wait till I return to my adopted country, and ask
leave to retire from office, I will come and fetch
my venerable father and mother to the old home,
there to be cared for until the appointed years of
Heaven are fulfilled. I was one with Tsz-ki and
he with me. Do not think of me as an outsider';
and he handed the gold to the old man, who re-
ceived it with tearful gratitude.
“A few months after, each had gone his way.”
Among Tung Chou Kion's rustic audience
were sympathetic listeners, and more than one
sleeve was applied to moist eyes. The narrator
himself was not unmoved. He added, with emo-
tion, “I visited the grave to weep there a while.”
Subdued to silence, the company dispersed.
"My princely husband,” said his wife after a
pause, “I am 'but a woman,' yet may I be
reckoned as your heart's interpreter? I will sym-
pathise in your wrongs, and share your coming
joys."
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
73
THE PAINTED CAT
Told by
LING WANG
"Have you heard of the painted cat which
caught mice? Well, I will tell you the tale."
He accordingly related the following between
the mouthfuls of the supper which Kno Tzu
Chien began to provide as an institution. “There
was once a fortune-teller who used to sit near the
gate of a large yamun. He had the reputation
of being a man of great ability and accuracy, and
the high mandarin at whose door he sat believed
in him thoroughly.
“A young water coolie of the place once asked
him to tell his fortune well, and offered him eight
hundred cash for the job. He had forgotten his
eight characters' (year, month, day, and hour of
birth), but having received such a sum, the for-
tune-teller agreed to find eight propitious char-
acters for him. From these he prophesied that
there was a princedom in store for him. The
coolie took the paper, but soon afterwards
dropped it.
“The mandarin being very particular about
reverencing written paper, had his bearers pick
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CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
up a piece lying on the street before them, read
it, and found that there was a high destiny a-
waiting the young coolie. He had him called
in, set him to study, and eventually gave him his
daughter in marriage.
"The fortunate young man, however, was in
the habit of exclaiming, Worth eight hundred
cash! Well worth eight hundred cash! the
meaning of which he could not divulge to his
wife. One day, however, the exclamation hav-
ing been made in the mandarin's presence, he
had to confess that it referred to the somewhat
manipulated document the fortune-teller gave
him. At this the enraged mandarin tried to
make his daughter give up her husband. She re-
fused, and he put them into a rudderless boat on
The boat drifted on until it stranded
at length on a rocky island which was strewn
with remarkable stones.
"These they gathered till the boat could hold
no more, then set sail again, reaching a certain
land where was a large city. The faithful wife
left her husband in charge of the boat, went on
shore, and soon found a large curio shop, the
wares of which attracted her attention, especially
a painting of a cat which hung from the wall.
This so struck her fancy, that she returned to
the sea.
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
75
exhort her husband to try and procure it. A
crowd followed her, and collected around the
boat, jabbering in some unknown tongue.
“After inspecting the cargo, the inhabitants
of this foreign realm seemed evidently to be ask-
ing the price. Instructed by his wife, the man
held up five fingers, which at length was rightly
interpreted to mean five hundred ounces of sil-
ver. Further signs were made to show that the
picture of the cat must be given in. It was done,
and they set sail again.
“Fortune brought them eventually to a city
upon the shores of China, from whence the for-
mer water-carrier proceeded home with his wife,
but they were treated very shabbily, being put
into a stable. Here, however, they learnt that
they had no ordinary ‘treasure' in their picture;
and after a while, proclamations were posted
everywhere to say that the Emperor was troubled
by the ravages of an enormous rat, which had
killed many a cat. He offered high rewards to
the man who would rid the palace of the insuffer-
able pest. Hearing of which, the wife advised
the husband to go off to the capital with his pic-
ture. He did so, gaining an Imperial interview.
Having fixed the scroll upon the wall, he watched
beside it at night. The rat proceeded as of old,
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CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
but the cat leaped from the scroll and killed it.
Whereupon the Emperor made the man a prince
of the realm. A good tale, is it not?”
"Is it all true, do you think?"
"True? Who said it was? Nothing is true
nowadays. I don't believe in anything-except
myself, and your suppers.
THE FISHERMAN
Told by
YOUNG LEE
In the northern part of Tzŭ-chou there lived
a man named Hsü, a fisherman by trade. Every
night when he went to fish, he would carry some
wine with him, and drink and fish by turns, al-
ways taking care to pour out a libation on the
ground, accompanied by the following invocation
--“Drink too, ye drowned spirits of the river!”
Such was his regular custom; and it was also
noticeable that, even on occasions when the other
fishermen caught nothing, he always got a full
basket. One night, as he was sitting drinking by
himself, a young man suddenly appeared and be-
gan walking up and down near him. Hsü
offered him a cup of wine, which was readily ac-
cepted, and they remained chatting together
throughout the night, Hsü meanwhile not catch-

le
hou
Vary
m
HSU THE FISHERMAN
ONID
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
7777
ing a single fish. However, just as he was giv-
ing up all hope of doing anything, the young man
rose and said he would go a little way down the
stream and beat them up towards Hsü, which he
accordingly did returning in a few minutes and
warning him to be on the lookout. Hsü now
heard a noise like that of a shoal coming up the
stream, and casting his net, made a splendid haul,
—all that he caught being over a foot in length.
Greatly delighted, he now prepared to go home,
first offering his companion a share of the fish,
which the latter declined, saying that he had of-
ten received kindnesses from Mr. Hsü, and that
he would be only too happy to help him reg-
ularly in the same manner if Mr. Hsü would
accept his assistance. The latter replied that he
did not recollect ever meeting him before, and
that he should be much obliged for any aid the
young man might choose to afford him, regret-
ting, at the same time, his inability to make him
any adequate return. He then asked the young
man his name and surname; and the young man
said his surname was Wang, adding that Hsü
might address him when they met as Wang Liu-
lang, he having no other name. Thereupon they
parted, and the next day Hsü sold his fish and
bought some more wine, with which he repaired
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CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
as usual to the river-bank. There he found his
companion already awaiting him, and they spent
the night together in precisely the same way as
the preceding one, the young man beating up the
fish for him as before. This went on for some
months, until at length one evening the young
man, with many expressions of his thanks and his
regrets, told Hsü that they were about to part
for ever. Much alarmed by the melancholy tone
in which his friend had communicated this news,
Hsü was on the point of asking for an explana-
tion, when the young man stopped him, and him-
self proceeded as follows:-“The friendship that
has grown up between us is truly surprising, and,
now that we shall meet no more, there is no harm
in telling you the whole truth. I am a disem-
bodied spirit—the soul of one who was drowned
in this river when tipsy. I have been here many
years, and your former success in fishing was due
to the fact that I used secretly to beat up the
fish towards you, in return for the libations you
were accustomed to pour out. To-morrow my
time is up: my substitute will arrive, and I shall
be born again in the world of mortals. We have
but this one evening left, and I therefore take
advantage of it to express my feelings to you.
On hearing these words, Hsü was at first very
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 79
much alarmed; however, he had grown so accus-
tomed to his friend's society, that his fears soon
passed away; and, filling up a goblet, he said,
with a sigh, “Liu-lang, old fellow, drink this up,
and away with melancholy. It's hard to lose
you; but I'm glad enough for your sake, and
won't think of my own sorrow.” He then in-
quired of Liu-lang who was to be his substitute;
to which the latter replied, “Come to the river-
bank to-morrow afternoon and you'll see a
woman drowned; she is the one.” Just then the
village cocks began to crow, and, with tears in
their eyes, the two friends bade each other fare-
well.
Next day Hsü waited on the river-bank to see
if anything would happen, and lo! a woman car-
rying a child in her arms came along. When
close to the edge of the river, she stumbled and
fell into the water, managing, however, to throw
the child safely on to the bank, where it lay kick-
ing and sprawling and crying at the top of its
voice. The woman herself sank and rose several
times, until at last she succeeded in clutching hold
of the bank and pulled herself out; and
then, after resting awhile, she picked up the child
and went on her way. All this time Hsü had
been in a great state of excitement, and was on
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CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
the point of running to help the woman out of
the water; but he remembered that she was the
substitute of his friend, and accordingly re-
restrained himself from doing so. Then when
he saw the woman get out by herself, he began to
suspect that Liu-lang's words had not been ful-
filled. That night he went to fish as usual, and
before long the young man arrived and said, “We
meet once again: there is no need now to speak
of separation.” Hsü asked him how it was so; to
which he replied, “The woman you saw had al-
ready taken my place, but I could not bear to
hear the child cry, and I saw that my own life
would be purchased at the expense of their two
lives, wherefore I let her go, and now I cannot
say when I shall have another chance. The un-
ion of our destinies may not yet be worked out.”
"Alas!" sighed Hsü, “this noble conduct of yours
is enough to move God Almighty.”
After this the two friends went on much as
they had done before, until one day Liu-lang
again said he had come to bid Hsü farewell.
Hsü thought he had found another substitute,
but Liu-lang told him that his former behaviour
had so pleased Almighty Heaven, that he had
been appointed guardian angel of Wu-chên, in
the Chao-yian district, and that on the following
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
81
morning he would start for his new post. “And
if
you do not forget the days of our friendship,”
added he, “I pray you come and see me, in spite
of the long journey.” “Truly,” replied Hsü,
"you well deserved to be made a God; but the
paths of Gods and men lie in different directions,
and even if the distance were nothing, how should
I manage to meet you again?” “Don't be afraid
on that score,” said Liu-lang, "but come”; and
then he went away, and Hsü returned home. The
latter immediately began to prepare for the jour-
ney, which caused his wife to laugh at him and
say, “Supposing you do find such a place at the
end of that long journey, you won't be able to
hold a conversation with a clay image.” Hsü,
however, paid no attention to her remarks, and
travelled straight to Chao-Yüan, where he had
learned from the inhabitants that there really
was a village called Wuchên, whither he forth-
with proceeded and took up his abode at an inn.
He then inquired of the landlord where the vil-
lage temple was; to which the latter replied by
asking him somewhat hurriedly if he was speak-
ing to Mr. Hsü. Hsü informed him that his
name was Hsü, asking in reply how he came to
know it; whereupon the landlord further in-
quired if his native place was not Tzŭ-chou.
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CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
was
Hsü told him it was, and again asked him how
he knew all this; to which the landlord made no
answer, but rushed out of the room; and in a
few moments the place was crowded with old
and young, men, women, and children, all come
to visit Hsü. They then told him that a few
nights before they had seen their guardian deity
in a vision, and he had informed them that
Mr. Hsü would shortly arrive, and had bidden
them to provide him with travelling expenses.
Hsü
very much astonished at this,
and went off at once to the shrine, where he
invoked his friend as follows:-“Ever since we
parted I have had you daily and nightly in my
thoughts; and now that I have fulfilled my
promise of coming to see you, I have to thank
you for the orders you have issued to the people
of the place. As for me, I have nothing to offer
you but a cup of wine, which I pray you accept
as though we were drinking together on the
river-bank.” He then burnt a quantity of paper
money, when lo! a wind suddenly arose, which
after whirling round and round behind the shrine,
soon dropped and all was still. That night Hsü
dreamed that his friend came to him, dressed in
his official cap and robes, and very different in
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
83.
appearance from what he used to be, and thanked
him saying, "It is truly kind of you to visit me
thus: I only regret that my position makes me
unable to meet you face to face, and that though
near we are still so far. The people here will
give you a trifle, which pray accept for my sake;
and when you go away, I will see you a short way
on your journey.” A few days afterwards Hsü
prepared to start, in spite of the numerous invita-
tions to stay which poured in upon him from all
sides; and then the inhabitants loaded him with
presents of all kinds, and escorted him out of the
village. There a whirlwind arose and accom-
panied him several miles, when he turned round
and invoked his friend thus:-“Liu-Lang, take
care of your valued person. Do not trouble
yourself to come any farther. Your noble heart
will ensure happiness to this district, and there is
no occasion for me to give a word of advice to my
old friend.” By-and-by the whirlwind ceased,
and the villagers, who were much astonished, re-
turned to their own homes. Hsü, too, travelled
homewards, and being now a man of some means,
ceased to work any more a fisherman.
And whenever he met a Chao-yüan man he
would ask him about that guardian angel, being
as
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CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
always informed in reply that he was a most
beneficent God. Some say the place was Shih-
k’êng-chuang, in Chang-ch'in: I can't say which
it was myself.
PART II
TAOIST TALES
Told at
A TAO ANNIVERSARY
FRIEN
RIENDS!" said Kno Tzu Chien, to the
gathering at his lodge on the occasion of an even-
ing devoted to Taoist lore: "we are here to-night
to pay tribute to the memory of the great sage
Lao-Tzu, founder of Taoism and author of
the most Sacred Book, the Tao Teh King
which might mean Book of Nature's Way.
"Lao-Tzu, or the aged philosopher, was born
604 B. C. in the Province of Houan and popular
tradition tells us he was eighty-one years at birth,
had Snowy White hair and the appearance of an
aged Saint. He called people back to nature
saying: 'Never yet become so unnatural that the
natural looks unnatural, and the unnatural looks
natural to you: Rather say to yourself 'If Na-
ture is good enough for the spirit of Heaven it
should be good enough for the human.' Again
he says: 'Man takes his laws from the earth; the
earth takes its laws from Heaven; Heaven takes
its laws from the Tao, and the Tao takes its
laws from what is in itself—the spirit of the Tao
or the first cause.' We have in the gathering,
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here this evening, many very old and most hon-
orable sages who will tell us some of the Taoist
tales that they heard from their elders, when they
were in their youth.
“Lao Tzu himself said: "The Tao that can be
defined is not the true Tao. Yet he tells us:
'When man follows the dictates of his higher
nature his actions are good, and harmony re-
sults. When he is unduly influenced by the out-
ward world his actions are evil, and discords come
into his life. The true Taoist is one who has an
instinctive inward sight of the ultimate principle
in its twofold operation, or what might be called
the sight of the Heaven Spirit--the beatific vi-
sion, and who has the cosmic spirit within, which
makes it easy to sense and obey nature.' One
who has this cosmic pulse is perfectly wise; his
action perfectly good; and his words perfectly
true;—for he is in the Tao, and the Tao is the
flow of the divine Spirit in human life.
"I will now ask the Honorable Taoist Sage,
Kang Yang Ti, if he will honor us in opening
the evening's Story-telling by giving us a Taoist
description of the place where dwells the Spirit
of our honorable ancestors.
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
89
THE TAOIST'S DESCRIPTION OF
HEAVEN
Told by
KANG LANG TI
The Taoist, having ascended to the boundary
on high, he all at once saw the halls of heaven,
where golden light spirited forth its ruddy rain-
bows in a myriad directions, while the felicitous
air breathed out a thousand streams of purple
vapour.
The southern gate of heaven was of the deep-
est emerald glass, glistening and lucent, as if
fused in a precious cauldron. On either side
were four massive pillars, around which twined
pink-bearded dragons, cloud-riding and mist-dis-
persing. In the midst were two jade bridges,
standing whereon were the cloud-aspiring phoe-
nixes, with irridescent plumage and cinnabar-
coloured crests, mid glistening beams of ruby
sunset light, and emerald vapours, which ob-
scured the starry constellations and the light of
day.
There are thirty-three pavilions in heaven; the
cloud-dividing pavilion, the wave-collecting pa-
90
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
vilion, the purple sunset pavilion, the pavilion of
the sun, the pavilion of the moon, the pavilion of
ever-renewing pleasure among them. Each pa-
vilion is ceiled with the teeth of the celestial stag.
There are seventy-two tiers of palaces, by the
pillars of which stand ranks of jade unicorns.
There is the star of longevity tower, the star of
emolument tower, and the star of happiness
tower. At their bases are wondrous flowers,
which fade not in a thousand thousand years.
There is the immortality pill brazier, the eight
diagrams brazier and the water-fire brazier.
Between these springs which are verdant and
flourishing for a myriad myriad years.
Within the sacred palaces the robes of the
blessed are of rose-coloured gauze. Beneath the
vermilion throne steps are they whose headgear
is like the mallow flower. That temple of living
empyrean! The golden dragons crowd through
its jade portals. Those sacred towers! The
phoenixes leap by the jade-hewn gates, moving
in and out along corridors ornate with translu-
cent tracery. Triple colonnades! Quadruple
mansions! Ranks upon ranks of dragons and
phoenixes soaring hither and thither. And high
above all flash beams of purple light. Clear
their splendour; brilliant with many a scintilla-
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 111
STORY OF EFFORT AND
DESTINY
Told by
LANG LI FU
Effort said to Destiny:
“Your achievements are not equal to mine.”
“Pray what do you achieve in the working of
things,” replied Destiny, “that you would com-
pare yourself with me?” “Why,” said Effort,
"the length of man's life, his measure of success,
his rank, and his wealth, are all things which I
have the power to determine.” To this, Destiny
made reply: “P'eng Tsu'n wisdom did not ex-
ceed that of Yao and Shun, yet he lived to the
age of eight hundred. Yen Yuan's ability was
not inferior to that of the average man, yet he
died at the early age of thirty-two. The virtue
of Confucius was not less than that of the feudal
princes, yet he was reduced to sore straits be-
tween Ch'en and Ts'ai.
"The conduct of Chou, of the Yin dynasty,
did not surpass that of the Three Men of Virtue,
yet he occupied a kingly throne.
“Chi Cha would not accept the overlordship of
wu, while T'ien Heng usurped sole power in Ch’i.
112 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
Po I and Shu Ch'i starved to death at Shou-
yang,
while Chi Shih waxed rich at Chan-Ch’in.
If these results were compassed by your efforts,
how is it that you allotted long life to P'eng Tsu
and an untimely death to Yen Yuan; that you
awarded discomfiture to the sage and success to
the impious, humiliation to the wise man and
high honours to the fool, poverty to the good and
wealth to the wicked?" "If, as you say,” re-
joined Effort, "I have really no control over
events, is it not, then, owing to your management
that things turn out as they do?” Destiny re-
plied: "The very name 'Destiny' (Something
already immutably fixed) shows that there can be
no question of management in the case. When
the way is straight, I push on; when it is crooked,
I let be. Old age and early death, failure and
success, high rank and humble station, riches
and poverty-all these come naturally and of
themselves. Of their ultimate causes, I am ig-
norant; how could it be otherwise?
“Being what it is, without knowing why—that
is the meaning of Destiny. What room is there
for management here?”
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 113
THE ILLNESS OF CHI LIANG
Told by
MING HI
Yang Chu had a friend called Chi Liang, who
fell ill. In seven days' time his illness had be-
come very grave; medical aid was summoned,
and his sons stood weeping round his bed. Chi
Liang said to Yang Chu: "Such excess of emo-
tion shows my children to be degenerate. Will
you kindly sing them something that will en-
lighten their minds?" Yang Chu then chanted
the following words:
“How should men possess the knowledge
which God Himself has not? Over his destiny
man has no control, and can look for no help
from God. You and I know this for truth, but
our knowledge is not shared by sorcerers and
quacks.”
The sons, however, did not understand, and
finally called in three physicians, Dr. Chiao, Dr.
Yü and Dr. Lu. They all diagnosed his com-
plaint; and Dr. Chiao delivered his opinion first:
"The hot and cold elements of your body,” he
said to Chi Liang, "are not in harmonious ac-
cord, and the impermeable and infundibular parts
are natually disproportionate. The origin of
114 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
your malady is traceable to disordered
ap-
petites, and to the dissipation of your vital es-
sence through worry and care. Neither God nor
devil is to blame. Although the illness is grave,
it is amenable to treatment.” Chi Liang said:
"You are only one of the common ruck," and
speedily got rid of him. Then Dr. Yü came for-
ward and said: “You were born with too little
nervous force, and were too freely fed with
mother's milk. Your illness is not one that has
developed in a matter of twenty-four hours; the
causes which have led up to it are of general
growth. It is incurable.” Chi Liang replied:
"You are a good doctor,” and told them to give
him some food. Lastly, Dr. Lu said: “Your
illness is attributable neither to God, nor to man,
nor to the agency of spirits. It was already
fore-ordained in the mind of Providence when
you were endowed with this bodily form at birth.
What possible good can herbs and drugs do
you?” “You are a heaven-born physician in-
deed!” cried Chi Liang; and he sent him away
laden with presents.
Not long after, his illness disappeared of itself.
Duke Ching of Ch’i was travelling across the
northern flank of the Ox-
mountain in the direc-
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 115
tion of the capital. Gazing at the view before
him, he burst into a flood of tears, exclaiming:
"What a lovely scene! How verdant and luxu-
riantly wooded! To think that some day I must
die and leave my kingdom, passing away like
running water! If only there were no such
thing as death, nothing should induce me to stir
from this spot.” Two of the Ministers in atten-
dance on the Duke, taking the cue from him, also
began to weep, saying: “We, who are depend-
ent on your Highness' bounty, whose food is
of an inferior sort, who have to ride on unbroken
horses or in jolting carts—even we do not want
to die. How much less our sovereign liege!"
Yen Tzu, meanwhile, was standing by, with a
broad smile on his face. The Duke wiped away
his tears and, looking at him, said: “Today I
am stricken with grief on my journey, and both
K’ung and Chu mingle their tears with mine.
How is it that you alone can smile?” Yen Tzu
replied: "If the worthy ruler were to remain in
perpetual possession of his realm, Duke T'ai and
Duke Huan would still be exercising their sway.
If the bold ruler were to remain in perpetual pos-
session, Duke Chuang and Duke Ling would
still be ruling the land. But if all these rulers
were now in possession, where would your High-
116 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
ness be? Why, standing in the furrowed fields,
clad in coir cape and hat! Condemned to a hard
life on earth, you would have had no time, I war-
rant, for brooding over death. Again, how did
you yourself come to occupy this throne? By a
series of successive reigns and removals, until at
last your turn came.
came. And
And are you alone
going to weep and lament over this order of
things? That is unmanly. It was the sight of
these two objects--an unmanly prince and his
fawning attendants—that was affording me food
for laughter just now.”
Duke Ching felt much ashamed and, raising
his goblet, fined himself and his obsequious cour-
tiers two cups of wine apiece.
THE INTELLIGENCE OF
ANIMALS
Told by
YIN HSI
When the Yellow Emperor fought with Yen
Ti on the field of P’an-ch'uan, his vanguard was
composed of bears, wolves, panthers, lynxes and
tigers, while his ensign-bearers were eagles,
ospreys, falcons and kites. This was forcible im-
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 117
pressment of animals into the service of man.
The Emperor Yao entrusted K’uei with the reg-
ulation of the music. And when he tapped the
musical stone in varying cadence, all the animals
danced to the sound of the music. When the
strains of the Shao were heard on the flute, the
phoenix itself flew down to assist. This was the
attraction of animals by the power of music. In
what, then, do the minds of birds and beasts differ
from the minds of men? Only the sounds they
utter are different, and the secret by which com-
munication may be effected is unknown. But
the wisdom and penetration of the Sage are un-
limited: that is why he is able to lead them to do
his bidding. The intelligence of animals is in-
nate even as that of man. Their common desire
is for propagation of life, but their instincts are
not derived from any human source. There is
pairing between the male and the female, and
mutual attachment between the mother and her
young. They shun the open plain and keep to
the mountainous parts; they flee the cold and
make for warmth; when they settle, they gather
in flocks: when they travel, they preserve a fixed
order. The young ones are stationed in the mid-
dle, the stronger ones place themselves on the
outside. They show one another the way to the
118 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
It was
drinking-places, and call to their fellows when
there is food. In the earliest ages, they dwelt
and moved about in company with man.
not until the age of emperors and kings that they
began to be afraid and broke away into scattered
bands. And now, in this final period, they
habitually hide and keep out of man's way so as
to avoid injury at his hands. At the present
day, the Chieh-shih people in the Far East can in
many cases interpret the language of the six do-
mestic animals, although they have probably but
an imperfect understanding of it.
In remote antiquity, there were men of divine
enlightenment who were perfectly acquainted
with the feelings and habits of all living things,
and thoroughly understood the language of the
various species. The latter assembled at their
bidding, and received the instruction imparted to
them, exactly like human beings. . . . These
sages declared that, in mind and understanding,
there was no wide gulf between any of the living
species endowed with blood and breath. And,
therefore, knowing that this was so, they neg-
lected or passed over none that came to them for
instruction.
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 119
A BAD MEMORY
Told by
KUAN TZU
Yang-li-Hua-tzu, of the Sung State, was
afflicted in middle age by the disease of amnesia.
Anything he received in the morning he had for-
gotten by the evening; anything he gave away
in the evening he had forgotten the next morning.
Out-of-doors, he forgot to talk; indoors, he for-
got to sit down. At any given moment, he had
no recollection of what had just taken place; and
a little later on, he could not even recollect what
had happened then. All his family were per-
fectly disgusted with him. Fortune-tellers were
summoned, but their divinations proved unsuc-
cessful; wizards were sought out, but their ex-
orcisms were ineffectual; physicians were called
in, but their remedies were of no avail. At last,
a learned professor from the Lu State volun-
teered his services, declaring that he could effect
a cure. Hua-tzu's wife and family immediately
offered him half their landed property if only he
would tell them how to set to work. The pro-
fessor replied: “This is a case which cannot be
dealt with by means of auspices and diagrams;
120 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
the evil cannot be removed by prayers and in-
cantations, nor successfully combated by drugs
and potions. What I shall try to do is to in-
fluence his mind and turn the current of his
thoughts; in that way cure is likely to be brought
about.”
Accordingly, the experiment was begun. The
professor exposed his patient to cold, so that he
was forced to beg for clothes; subjected him to
hunger, so that he was fain to ask for food; left
him in darkness, so that he was obliged to search
for light. Soon, he was able to report progress
to the sons of the house, saying gleefully: “The
disease can be checked. But the methods I shall
employ have been handed down as a secret in
my family, and cannot be made known to the
public. All attendants must, therefore, be dis-
missed, and I must be shut up alone with my
patient.” The professor was allowed to have
his way, and for the space of seven days no one
knew what was going on in the sick man's cham-
ber. Then, one fine morning, the treatment
came to an end, and, wonderful to relate, the
disease of so many years' standing had entirely
disappeared!
No sooner had Hua-tzu regained his senses,
however, than he flew into a great rage, drove

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A CHINESE MOTHER TELLING FAIRY TALES
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CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 121
his wife out-of-doors, beat his sons, and, snatch-
ing up a spear, hotly pursued the professor
through the town. On being arrested and asked
to explain his conduct, this is what he said:
“Lately, when I was steeped in forgetfulness,
my senses were so benumbed that I was quite
unconscious of the existence of the outer world.
But now I have been brought suddenly to a per-
ception of the events of a lifetime. Preserva-
tion and destruction, gain and loss, sorrow and
joy, love and hate have begun to throw out their
myriad tentacles to invade my peace; and these
emotions will, I fear, continue to keep my mind
in the state of turmoil that I now experience.
Oh! if I could but recapture a short moment of
that blessed oblivion!”
THE DREAMS OF KAN YIN
Told by
HEN TSUNG
Kan Yin of Chou was the owner of a large
estate, who harried his servants unmercifully,
and gave them no rest from morning to night.
There was one old servant in particular whose
physical strength had quite left him, yet his
master worked him all the harder. All day
122 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
long he was groaning as he went about his work,
and when night came he was reeling with fatigue
and would sleep like a log. His spirit was then
free to wander at will, and every night be dreamt
that he was a king, enthroned in authority over
the multitude, and controlling the affairs of the
whole State. He took his pleasure in palaces
and belvederes, following his own fancy in every-
thing, and his happiness was beyond compare.
But when he awoke, he was a servant once more.
To some one who condoled with him on his hard
lot the old man replied: "Human life
“Human life may last
a hundred years, and the whole of it is equally
divided into nights and days. In the daytime I
am only a slave, it is true, and my misery cannot
be gainsaid. But by night I am a king, and my
happiness is beyond compare.
So what have I
to grumble at?!
Now, Kan Yin's mind was full of wordly cares,
and he was always thinking with anxious solici-
tude about the affairs of his estate. Thus he was
wearing out mind and body alike, and at night he
also used to fall asleep utterly exhausted. Every
night he dreamt that he was another man's ser-
vant, running about on menial business of every
discription, and subjected to every possible kind
of abuse and ill-treatment. He would mutter
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 123
and groan in his sleep, and obtained no relief
until morning came. This state of things at
last resulted in a serious illness, and Mr. Yin
besought the advice of a friend. “Your station
in life,” his friend said, “is a distinguished one,
and you have wealth and property in abundance.
In these respects you are far above the average.
If at night you dream that you are a servant and
exchange ease for affliction, that is only the pro-
per balance in human destiny. What you want
is that your dreams should be as pleasant as your
waking moments. But that is beyond your
power to compass.” On hearing what his friend
said, Mr. Yin lightened his servant's toil and al-
lowed his own mental worry to abate; whereupon
his malady began to decrease in proportion.
THE WOOD GATHERER
Told by
TAN FAN FU
A man was gathering fuel in the Cheng State
when he fell in with a deer that had been startled
from its usual haunts. He gave chase, and suc-
ceeded in killing it. He was overjoyed at his
good luck; but, for fear of discovery, he hastily
concealed the carcass in a dry ditch, and covered
124 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
it up with brushwood. Afterwards, he forgot
the spot where he had hidden the deer, and finally
became convinced that the whole affair was only
a dream. He told the story to people as he went
along; and one of those who heard it, following
the indications given, went and found the deer.
On reaching home with his booty, this man made
the following statement to his wife: “Once
upon a time,” he said, “a woodcutter dreamt that
he had got a deer, but coudn't remember the
place where he had put it. Now I have found
the deer, so it appears that his dream was a true
dream.” “On the contrary,” said his wife, “it is
you who must have dreamt that you met a wood-
cutter who had caught the deer. Here
Here you have
a deer, true enough. But where is the wood-
cutter? It is evidently your dream that has
come true.” “I have certainly got a deer,” re-
plied her husband; “so what does it matter to us
whether it was his dream or mine?”
Meanwhile, the woodcutter had gone home,
not at all disgusted at having lost the deer. For
he thought the whole thing must have been a
dream. But the same night, he saw in a dream
the place where he had really hidden it, and he
also dreamt of the man who had taken it. So,
the next morning in accordance with his dream,
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 125
he went to seek him out in order to recover the
deer. A quarrel ensued, and the matter was
finally brought before the magistrate, who gave
judgment in these terms: “You,” he said to the
woodcutter, "began by really killing a deer, but
wrongly thought it was a dream. Then you
really dreamt that you had got the deer, but
wrongly took the dream to be reality. The
other man really took your deer, which he
is now disputing with you. His wife, on the
other hand, declares that she saw both men and
deer in a dream, so that nobody can be said to
have killed the deer at all. Meanwhile, here is
the deer itself in court, and you had better divide
it between you.
The case was reported to the Prince of the
Cheng State, who said: “Why, the magistrate
must have dreamt the whole thing himself !”
The question was referred to the Prime Minister,
but the latter confessed himself unable to disen-
tangle the part that was a dream from the part
that was not a dream. “If you want to dis-
tinguish between waking and dreaming,” he said,
"you would have to go back to the Yellow Em-
peror or Confucius. But both these sages are
dead, and there is nobody now alive who can
draw any such distinction."
126 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
THE JOURNEY OF LIFE
Told by
YÜ HSIUNG, the Taoist Sage
The ancients spoke of the dead as kuei-jen
(men who have returned). But if the dead
are men who have returned, the living are men
on a journey. Those who are on a journey and
think not of returning have cut themselves off
from their home. Should any one man cut him-
self off from his home, he would incur universal
reprobation. But all mankind being homeless,
there is none to see the error. Imagine one who
leaves his native village, separates himself from
all his kith and kin, dissipates his patrimony and
wanders away to the four corners of the earth,
never to return:-what manner of man is this?
The world will surely set him down as a pro-
fligate and a vagabond. On the other hand,
imagine one who clings to respectability and the
things of this life, holds cleverness and capacity
in high esteem, builds himself up a reputation,
and plays the braggart amongst his fellow men
without knowing where to stop :-what manner
of man, once more, is this? The world will
surely look upon him as a gentleman of great
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 127
wisdom and counsel. Both of these men have
lost their way, yet the world will consort with
the one, and not with the other. Only the Sage
knows with whom to consort and from whom to
hold aloof."
ON EVOLUTION
Told by
YÜ HSIUNG, the Taoist Sage
Yü Hsiung said: “Evolution is never-
ending. But who can perceive the secret pro-
cesses of Heaven and Earth? Thus, things that
are diminished here are augmented there; things
that are made whole in one place suffer loss in
another. Diminution and augmentation, full-
ness and decay are the constant accompaniments
of life and death. They alterate in continuous
succession, and we are not conscious of any in-
terval. The whole body of spiritual substance
progresses without a pause; the whole body of
material substance suffers decay without inter-
mission. But we do not perceive the process of
completion, nor do we perceive the process of
decay. Man, likewise, from birth to old age be
comes something different every day in face and
form, in wisdom and in conduct. His skin, his
nails and his hair are continually growing and
128 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
continually perishing. In infancy and child-
hood there is no stopping nor respite from
change. Though inperceptible while it is going
on, it may be verified afterwards if we wait.”
MAN AND THE UNIVERSE
Told by
YÜ HSIUNG, the Taoist Sage
There was once a man in the Ch'i State who
was so afraid the universe would collapse and
fall to pieces leaving his body without lodgment,
that he could neither sleep nor eat. Another
man, pitying his distress, went to enlighten him.
"Heaven,” he said, “is nothing more than an ac-
cumulation of ether, and there is no place where
ether is not. Processes of contraction and ex-
pansion, inspiration and expiration are contin-
ually taking place up in the heavens. Why
then should you be afraid of a collapse?” The
man said: "It is true that Heaven in an ac-
cumulation of ether; but the sun, the moon, and
the stars—will they not fall down upon us?”
His informant replied: "Sun, moon
and
stars are likewise only bright lights within
this mass of ether. Even supposing they were
to fall, they could not possibly harm us by their
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 129
impact.” “But what if the earth should fall to
pieces?” “The earth,” replied the other, "is
merely an agglomeration of matter, which fills
and blocks up the four corners of space. There
is no part of it where matter is not. All day
long there is constant treading and tramping on
the surface of the earth. Why then should you
be afraid of its falling to pieces?” Thereupon
the man was relieved of his fears and rejoiced ex-
ceedingly. And his instructor was also joyful
and easy in mind. But Chiang Lu Tzu laughed
at them both, saying: “Rainbows, clouds and
mist, wind and rain, the four seasons—these are
perfected forms of accumulated ether, and go to
make up the heavens. Mountains and cliffs,
rivers and seas, metals and rocks, fire and timber
--these are perfected forms of agglomerated
matter, and constitute the earth. Knowing
these facts, who can say that they will never be
destroyed? Heaven and earth form only a small
speck in the midst of the Void, but they are the
greatest things in the sun of Being. This much
is certain: even as their nature is hard to fathom,
hard to understand, so they will be slow to pass
away, slow to come to an end. He who fears lest
they should suddenly fall to pieces is assuredly
very far from the truth. He, on the other hand,
130 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
who says that they will never be destroyed has
also not reached the right solution. Heaven and
earth must of necessity pass away, but neither
will revert to destruction apart from the other.
Who, having to face the day of disruption,
would not be alarmed?'
The Master Lieh Tzu (a disciple of Lao Tzu),
heard of discussion, and smiling said: “He who
maintains that Heaven and earth are destruct-
ible, and he who upholds the contrary, are both
equally at fault. Whether they are destructible
or not is something we can never know, though
one may hold this view and another that. The
living and the dead, the going and the coming,
know nothing of each other's state. Whether
destruction awaits the world or no, why should
I trouble my head about it?”
DREAMS
Told by
YÜ HSIUNG, the Taoist Sage
In the time of King Mu of Chou, there was
a magician who came from a kingdom in the far
west. He could pass through fire and water,
penetrate metal and stone, overturn mountains
and make rivers flow backwards, transplant
whole towns and cities, ride on thin air without
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 131
falling, encounter solid bodies without being ob-
structed. There was no end to the countless
variety of changes and transformations which he
could effect; and besides changing the external
form, he could also spirit away men's internal
cares.
King Mu revered him as a god, and served him
like a prince. He set aside for his use a spacious
suite of apartments, regaled him with the
daintiest of food, and selected a number of sing-
ing-girls for his express gratification. The
magician, however, condemned the King's palace
as mean, the cooking as rancid, and the con-
cubines as too ugly to live with. So King Mu
had a new building errected to please him. It
was built entirely of bricks and wood, and gorge-
ously decorated in red and white, no skill being
spared in its construction. The five royal treas-
uries were empty by the time that the new pa-
vilion was complete. It stood six thousand feet
high, overtopping Mount Chung-nan, and it was
called Touch-the-sky Pavilion. Then the King
proceeded to fill it with maidens, selected from
Cheng and Wie, of the most exquisite and del-
icate beauty.
They were anointed with fra-
grant perfumes, provided with jewelled hairpins
and earrings, and arrayed in the finest silks,
132 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
with costly satin trains. Their faces were
powdered, and their eyebrows pencilled, their
girdles were studded with precious stones, and
sweet scents were wafted abroad wherever they
went. Ravishing music was played to the
honoured guest by the Imperial bands; several
times a month he was presented with fresh
jewelled raiment; every day he had set before
him some new and delicious food.
The magician could not well refuse to take
up his abode in this palace of delight. But he
had not dwelt there very long when he invited the
King to accompany him on a jaunt. So the king
clutched the magician's sleeve, and soared up
with him higher and higher into the sky, until at
last they stopped, and lo! they had reached the
magician's own palace. This palace was built
with beams of gold and silver, and incrusted with
pearls and jade. It towered high above the re-
gion of clouds and rain, and the foundations
whereon it rested were unknown. It appeared
like a stupendous cloud-mass to the view. The
sights and sounds it offered to eye and ear, the
scents and flavours which abounded there, were
such as exist not within mortal ken. The King
verily believed that he was in the Halls of Para-
dise, tenanted by God himself, and that he was
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 133
listening to the mighty music of the spheres. He
gazed at his own palace on the earth below, and
it seemed to him no better than a rude pile of
clods and brushwood.
The King would gladly have stayed in this
palace for decade after decade, without a thought
for his own country. But the magician invited
him to make another journey, and in the new re-
gion they came to, neither sun nor moon could be
seen in the heavens above, nor any rivers or seas
below. The King's eyes were dazed by the qual-
ity of the light, and he lost the power of vision;
his ears were stunned by the sounds that assailed
them, and he lost the faculty of hearing. The
framework of his bones and his internal organs
were thrown out of gear and refused to function.
His thoughts were in a whirl, his intellect became
clouded, and he begged the magician to take him
back again. Thereupon, the magician gave him
a shove, and the King experienced a sensation of
falling through space. . .
When he awoke to consciousness, he found
himself sitting on his throne just as before, with
the selfsame attendants round him. He looked
at the wine in front of him, and saw that
it was still full of sediment; he looked at
the viands, and found that they had not yet
134 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
lost their freshness. He asked where he had
come from, and his attendants told him that he
had only been sitting quietly there. This threw
King Mu into a reverie, and it was three months
before he was himself again. Then he made fur-
ther inquiry, and asked the magician to explain
what had happened. “Your Majesty and I,”
replied the magician, "were only wandering a-
bout in the spirit, and, of course, our bodies never
moved at all. What essential difference is there
between that sky-palace we dwelt in and your
Majesty's palace on earth, between the spaces we
travelled through and your Majesty's own park?
During your retirement from public affairs,
you have been in a perpetual state of doubt as
to the reality of your experience. But in a uni-
verse where changes are everlastingly in pro-
gress, and fast and slow are purely relative con-
ceptions, how can the Ideal ever be fully at-
tained ?”
A TAOIST CHARLATAN
Told by
YÜ HSIUNG, the Taoist Sage
Mr. Fan had a son named Tzu Hua, who suc-
ceeded in achieving great fame as an exponent
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 135
of the black art, and the whole kingdom bowed
down before him. He was in high favour with
the Prince of Chin, taking no office but standing
on a par with the three Ministers of State. Any
one on whom he turned a partial eye was marked
out for distinction; while those of whom he spoke
unfavourably were forthwith banished. People
thronged his hall in the same way as they went
to Court. Tzu Hua used to encourage his fol-
lowers to contend amongst themselves, so that
the clever ones were always bullying the slow-
witted, and the strong riding rough-shod over the
weak. Though this resulted in blows and
wounds being dealt before his eyes, he was not
in the habit of troubling about it. Day and
night, this sort of thing served as an amusement,
and practically became a custom in the State.
One day, Ho Sheng and Tzu Po, two of Fan's
leading disciples, set off on a journey and, after
traversing a stretch of wild country, they put up
for the night in the hut of an old peasant named
Shang Ch’iu K’ai. During the night, the two
travellers conversed together, speaking of Tzu
Hua's reputation and influence, his power over
the fortunes of others, and how he could make the
rich man poor and the poor man rich. Now,
Shang Ch'iu K'ai was living on the border of
136 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
starvation. He had crept round under the win-
dow and overheard this conversation. Accord-
ingly, he borrowed some provisions and, shoul-
dering his basket, set off for Tzu Hua's establish-
ment. This man's followers, however, were a
worldly set, who wore silken garments and rode
in high carriages and stalked about with their
noses in the air. Seeing that Shang 'Ch'iu K’ai
was advanced in years and deficient in strength,
with a weather-beaten face and clothes of no
particular cut, they one and all despised him.
Soon he became a regular target for their insults
and ridicule, being hustled about and slapped on
the back and what not. Shang Ch’iu K’ai, how-
ever, never showed the least annoyance, and at
last the disciples, having exhausted their wit on
him in this way, grew tired of the fun. So, by
way of a jest, they took the old man with them
to the top of a cliff, and word was passed round
that whosoever dared to throw himself over would
be rewarded with a hundred ounces of silver.
There was an eager response, and Shang Ch'iu
K’ai, in perfect good faith, was the first to leap
over the edge. And lo! he was wafted down to
earth like a bird on the wing, not a bone or mus-
cle of his body being hurt. Mr. Fan's disciples,
regarding this as a lucky chance, were merely
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 137
surprised, but noť yet moved to great wonder.
Then they pointed to a bend in the foaming river
below, saying: “There is a precious pearl at the
bottom of that river, which can be had for the
diving.” Shang Ch’iu K'ai again acted on their
suggestion and plunged in. And when he came
out, sure enough he held a pearl in his
hand.
Then, at last, the whole company began to sus-
pect the truth, and Tzu Hua gave orders that an
array of costly viands and silken raiment should
be prepared; then suddenly a great fire was kin-
dled round the pile. “If you can walk through
the midst of these flames,” he said, "you are wel-
come to keep what you can get of these embroi-
dered stuffs, be it much or little, as a reward.”
Without moving a muscle of his face, Shang
Ch’iu K'ai walked straight into the fire, and came
back again with his garments unsoiled and his
body unsinged.
Mr. Fan and his disciples now realized that he
was in possession of Tao, and all began to make
their apologies, saying: “We did not know, Sir,
that
you had Tao, and were only playing a trick
on you. We insulted you, not knowing that you
were a divine man. You have exposed our stu-
pidity, our deafness and our blindness. May we
>>
138 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
venture to ask what the Great Secret is?” “Se-
cret I have none,” replied Shang Ch’iu K’ai.
“Even in my own mind I have no clue as to the
real cause. Nevertheless, there is one point in
it all which I must try to explain to you. A
short time ago, Sir, two disciples of yours came
and put up for the night in my hut. I heard
them extolling the power of Mr. Fan, and how he
was able to make or mar people's fortunes, mak-
ing the rich man poor and the poor man rich.
I believed this implicitly, and as the distance was
not very great I came hither. Having arrived,
I unreservedly accepted as true all the state-
ments made by your disciples, and was only
afraid lest the opportunity might never come of
putting them triumphantly to the proof. I knew
not what part of space my body occupied, nor
yet where danger lurked. My mind was simply
One, and material objects thus offered no resis-
tance. That is all. But now, having discovered
that your disciples were deceiving me, my inner
man is thrown into a state of doubt and perplex-
ity, while outwardly my senses of sight and hear-
ing re-assert themselves. When I reflect I have
just had a providential escape from being
drowned and burned to death, my heart within
me freezes with horror, and my limbs tremble
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 139
with fear. I shall never again have the courage
to go near water or fire."
From that time forth, when Mr. Fan's disci-
ples happened to meet a beggar or a poor horse-
doctor on the road, so far from jeering at him,
they would actually dismount and offer him a
humble salute.
Tsai Wo heard this story, and told it to Con-
fucius. "Is this so strange to you?" was the
reply. “The man of perfect faith can extend his
influence to inanimate things and disembodied
spirits; he can move heaven and earth, and fly
to the six cardinal points without encountering
any hindrance. His powers are not confined to
walking in perilous places and passing through
water and fire. If Shang Ch'iu K’ai, whose be-
lief was false, found no obstacle in external mat-
ter, how much more certainly will that be so when
both parties are equally sincere. Young man,
bear this in mind."
THE TAOIST KEEPER
Told by
YÜ HSIUNG, the Taoist Sage
The Keeper of Animals under King Hsuan,
of the Chou dynasty, had an assistant named
140 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
Liang Yang, who was skilled in the management
of wild birds and beasts. When he fed them in
their park-enclosure, all the animals showed
themselves tame and tractable, although they
comprised tigers, wolves, eagles, and ospreys.
Male and female freely propagated their kind,
and their numbers multiplied. The different
species lived promiscuously together, yet they
never clawed nor bit one another.
The King was afraid lest this man's secret
should die with him, and commanded him to im-
part it to the Keeper. So Liang Yang appeared
before the Keeper and said: “I am only a hum-
ble servant, and have really nothing to impart.
I fear the King has been leading you to expect
some mysterious secret. With regard to my
method of feeding tigers, all I have to say is
this: when yielded to, they are pleased; when
opposed they are angry. Such is the national dis-
position of all living creatures. But neither
their pleasure nor their anger is manifested with-
out a cause. Both are really excited by opposi-
tion. Anger directly, pleasure indirectly, owing
to the natural reaction when the opposition is
overcome.
“In feeding tigers, then, I avoid giving them
either live animals or whole carcasses, lest in the
**
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 141
former case the act of killing, in the latter case
the act of tearing them to pieces, should excite
them to fury. Again, I time their periods of
hunger and repletion, and I gain a full under-
standing of the causes of their anger. Tigers
are of a different species from man, but, like him,
they are docile with those who treat them kindly,
though they will show fight when their lives are
attacked. But I do not think of opposing them
and thus provoking their anger; neither do !
humour them and thus cause them to feel pleased.
For this feeling of pleasure will in time be suc-
ceeded by anger, just as anger must invariably
be succeeded by pleasure. Neither of these states
hits the proper mean. Hence it is my aim to be
neither antagonistic nor compliant, so that the
animals regard me as one of themselves. Thus
it happens that they walk about the park without
regretting the tall forests and the broad marches,
and rest in the enclosure without yearning for the
lonely mountains and the dark valleys. Such is
the effect of using one's common sense.'
142 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
THE DONKEY'S REVENGE
Told by
KAI LI KUNG
Chung Ch’ing-yu was a scholar of some reputa-
tion, who lived in Manchuria. When he went
up for his master's degree, he heard that there
was a Taoist priest at the capital who would tell
people's fortunes, and was very anxious to see
him; and at the conclusion of the second part of
the examination, he accidentally met him at
Paot’u-ch'uan. The priest was over sixty years
of age, and had the usual white beard flowing
down over his breast. Around him stood a per-
fect wall of people inquiring their future for-
tunes, and to each the old man made a brief re-
ply: but when he saw Chung among the crowd,
he was overjoyed, and seizing him by the hand,
said, “Sir, your virtuous intentions command my
esteem.” He then led him up behind a screen, and
asked if he did not wish to know what was to
come; and when Chung replied in the affirmative,
the priest informed him that his prospects were
bad. “You may succeed in passing this exam-
ination,” continued he, “but on your returning
covered with honour to your home, I fear that
your mother will be no longer there.” Now
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 143
Chung was a very filial son; and as soon as he
heard these words, his tears began to flow, and he
declared that he would go back without compet-
ing any further. The priest observed that if he
let this chance slip, he could never hope to have
her back again, and that even the rank of Viceroy
would not repay him for her loss. “Well,” said
the priest, "you and I were connected in a for-
mer existence, and I must do my best to help
you now.” So he took out a pill which he gave
to Chung, and told him that if he sent it post-
haste by some one to his mother, it would prolong
her life for seven days, and thus he would be able
to see her once again after the examination was
over. Chung took the pill, and went off in very
low spirits; but he soon reflected that the span
of human life is a matter of destiny, and that
every day he could spend at home would be one
more day devoted to the service of his mother.
Accordingly, he got ready to start at once, and,
hiring a donkey, actually set out on his way back.
When he had gone about half-a-mile, the don-
key turned round and ran home; and when he
used his whip, the animal threw itself down on
the ground. Chung got into a great perspira-
tion, and his servant recommended him to remain
where he was; but this he would not hear of, and
144 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
hired another donkey, which served him exactly
the same trick as the other one. The sun was
now sinking behind the hills, and his servant ad-
vised his master to stay and finish his examina-
tion while he himself went back home before him.
Chung
had no alternative but to assent, and the
next day he hurried through with his papers,
starting immediately afterwards, and not stop-
ping at all on the way either to eat or to sleep.
All night long he went on, and arrived to find
his mother in a very critical state; however, when
he gave her the pill she so far recovered that he
was able to go in to see her. Grasping his hand,
she begged him not to weep, telling him that she
had just dreamt she had been down to the Infer-
nal Regions, where the King of Hell had in-
formed her with a gracious smile that her record
was fairly clean, and that in view of the filial
piety of her son she was to have twelve more
years of life. Chung rejoiced at this, and his
mother was soon restored to her former health.
Before long the news arrived that Chung had
passed his examinations; upon which he bade a-
dieu to his mother, and went off to the capital,
where he bribed the eunuchs of the palace to com-
municate with his friend the Taoist priest. The
latter was very much pleased, and came out to see
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 145
him, whereupon Chung prostrated himself at his
feet. "Ah," said the priest, "this success of
yours, and the prolongation of your good
mother's life, is all a reward for your virtuous
conduct. What have I done in the matter?"
Chung was very much astonished that the priest
should already know what had happened; how-
ever, he now inquired as to his own future.
“You will never rise to high rank,” replied the
priest, “but you will attain the years of an octo-
genarian. In a former state of existence you
and I were once traveling together, when you
threw a stone at a dog, and accidentally killed a
frog. Now that frog has reappeared in life as
a donkey, and according to all principles of des-
tiny you ought to suffer for what you did; but
your filial piety has touched the Gods, a protect-
ing star-influence has passed into your nativity
sheet, and you will come to no harm. On the
other hand, there is your wife; in her former state
she was not as virtuous as she might have been,
and her punishment in this life was to be widowed
quite young; you, however, have secured the pro-
longation of your own term of years, and there-
fore I fear that before long your wife will pay
the penalty of death.” Chung was much grieved
at hearing this; but after a while he asked the
146 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
priest where his second wife to be was living.
"At Chung-chou,” replied the latter; “she is now
fourteen years old.” The priest then bade him
adieu, telling him that if any mischance should
befall him he was to hurry off towards the south-
east. About a year after this, Chung's wife did
die; and his mother then desiring him to go and
visit his uncle, who was a magistrate in Kiangsi,
on which journey he would have to pass through
Chung-chou, it seemed like a fulfilment of the
old priest's prophecy. As he went along, he
came to a village on the banks of a river, where
a large crowd of people was gathered together
round a theatrical performance which was going
on there. Chung would have passed quietly by,
had not a stray donkey followed so close behind
him that he turned round and hit it over the ears.
This startled the donkey so much that it ran off
full gallop, and knocked a rich gentleman's child,
who was sitting with its nurse on the bank, right
into the water, before any one of the servants
could lend a hand to save it. Immediately there
was a great outcry against Chung, who gave his
mule the rein and dashed away, mindful of the
priest's warning, towards the south-east. After
riding about seven miles, he reached a mountain
village where he saw an old man standing at the
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 147
door of a house, and, jumping off his mule, made
him a low bow. The old man asked him in, and
inquired his name and whence he came; to which
Chung replied by telling him the whole adven-
ture. “Never fear," said the old man; "you can
stay here, while I send out to learn the position
of affairs.” By the evening his messenger had
returned, and then they knew for the first time
that the child belonged to a wealthy family.
The old man looked grave and said, “Had it been
anybody else's child, I might have helped you;
as it is I can do nothing." Chung was greatly
alarmed at this; however, the old man told him
to remain quietly there for the night, and see
what turn matters might take. Chung was over-
whelmed with anxiety, and did not sleep a wink;
and next morning he heard the constables were
after him, and that it was death to any one who
should conceal him. The old man changed coun-
tenance at this, and went inside, leaving Chung
to his own reflection; but towards the middle of
the night he came and knocked at Chung's door,
and, sitting down, began to ask how old his wife
was. Chung replied that he was a widower; at
which the old man seemed rather pleased, and de-
clared that in such case help would be forthcom-
ing; "for,” said he, “my sister's husband has taken
148 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
19
the vows, and become a priest, and my sister her-
self has died, leaving an orphan girl who has now
no home; and if you would only marry her—"
Chung was delighted, more especially as this
would be both the fulfilment of the Taoist priest's
prophecy and a means of extricating himself
from his present difficulty; at the same time, he
declared he should be sorry to implicate his fu-
ture father-in-law. “Never mind about that,"
replied the old man; “sister's husband is pretty
skillful in the black art. He has not mixed much
with the world of late; but when you are married,
you can discuss the matter with my niece.” So
Chung married the young lady, who was sixteen
years of age, and very beautiful; but whenever
he looked at her he took occasion to sigh. At
last she said, “I may be ugly; but you needn't be
in such a hurry to let me know it;" whereupon
Chung begged her pardon, and said he felt him-
self only too lucky to have met with such a divine
creature; adding that he sighed because he feared
some misfortune was coming on them which
would separate them for ever. He then told her
his story, and the young lady was very angry that
she should have been drawn into such a difficulty
without a word of warning. Chung fell on his
knees, said he had already consulted with her
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 149
uncle, who was unable himself to do anything,
much as he wished it. He continued that he was
aware of her power; and then, pointing out that
his alliance was not altogether beneath her, made
all kinds of promises if she would only help him
out of this trouble. The young lady was no
longer able to refuse, but informed him that to
apply to her father would entail certain disagree-
able consequences, as he had retired from the
world, and did not any more recognise her as his
daughter. That night they did not attempt to
sleep, spending the interval in padding their
knees with thick felt concealed beneath their
clothes; and then they got into chairs and were
carried off to the hills. After journeying some
distance, they were compelled by the nature of
the road to alight and walk; and it was only by a
great effort that Chung succeeded at last in get-
ting his wife to the top. At the door of the tem-
ple they sat down to rest, the powder and paint
on the young lady's face having all mixed with
the perspiration trickling down; but when Chung
began to apologise for bringing her to this pass,
she replied that it was a mere trifle compared
with what was to come. By-and-by, they went
inside; and treading their way to the wall behind,
found the young lady's father sitting in contem-
150 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
plation, his eyes closed, and a servant-boy stand-
ing by with a Tao Emblem. Everything was
beautifully clean and nice, but before the dais
were sharp stones scattered about as thick as the
stars in the sky. The young lady did not ven-
ture to select a favourable spot; she fell on her
knees at once, and Chung did likewise behind her.
Then the father opened his eyes, shutting them
again almost instantaneously; whereupon the
young lady said, “For a long time I have not
paid my respects to you. I am now married, and
I have brought my husband to see you.” A long
time passed away, and then her father opened his
eyes and said, “You're giving a great deal of
trouble,” immediately relapsing into silence a-
gain. There the husband and wife remained un-
til the stones seemed to pierce into their very
bones; but after a while the father cried out,
"Have you brought the donkey?" His daugh-
ter replied that they had not; whereupon they
were told to go and fetch it at once, which they
did, not knowing what the meaning of this order
was. After a few more days, kneeling, they sud-
denly heard that the murderer of the child had
been caught and beheaded, and were just con-
gratulating each other on the success of their
scheme, when a servant came in with a stick in
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 151
his hand, the top of which had been chopped off.
"This stick," said the servant, “died instead of
you. Bury it reverently, that the wrong done
to the tree may be somewhat atoned for.” Then
Chung saw that at the place where the top of the
stick had been chopped off there were traces of
blood; he therefore buried it with the usual cere-
mony, and immediately set off with his wife, and
returned to his own home.
PART III
Tales Told on the Eve of
THE FEAST OF LANTERNS
THE Chinese Calendar is lunar, but its begin-
HE
ning is determined by the Sun. New Year falls
on the first New Moon after the Sun has entered
Aquarius, which will never happen before Janu-
ary 21, nor after February 19. The months are
strictly regulated by the Moon. The first of
every month is new moon and the fifteenth is full
moon. New Year's is a feast of great rejoicing.
It is celebrated with paper lanterns and paper
dragons, which are hung up in arbors specially
erected for the purpose and carried about in pro-
cession. On the fifteenth of the month, the
Chinese celebrate the birthday of the “Spirit of
Heaven." Among the Gods he is the chief of
a trinity which is greatly respected all over China.
The other two of the trinity are the “Spirit of
Earth” and the “Spirit of Water.” The “Spirit
of Heaven” confers upon us divine blessing; the
“Spirit of Water” quenches the fires of evil, and
the “Spirit of Earth” pleads for us that we may
be forgiven our Sins. The birthday of the
"Earth Spirit” is the fifteenth of the seventh
month, and the birthday of the "Water Spirit”
155
156 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
is the tenth of the ninth month. The New Year
festivities reach their height and are ended in the
"Feast of Lanterns,” which happens on the fif-
teenth of the New Moon. On this evening there
is a large gathering at the home of Tzu Chien,
there is an abundance of beautifully colored lan-
terns hung about the place and inside large quan-
tities of sweets, special cakes, dumplings and,
most valuable of all, "Good Cheer."
When the festivities are well on and the moon
is high on her way, Tzu Chien calls upon one of
the party to open the Story-telling.
THE EVE OF THE FEAST OF
LANTERNS
The evening of the Feast of Lanterns had ar-
rived, and the beautifully coloured lanterns were
lighted all over the town. Sun Hou, the oil mer-
chant, and his wife went forth to enjoy them-
selves. They permitted their domestics to ac-
company them, but left their unhappy daughter
Liu Chin Ting to meditate at home. Unfortu-
nate little Chin Ting! Disconsolate little Chin
Ting! She had been haunted for months past,
awake and asleep, with visions of the Feast of
Lanterns--the holiday of the year. The rest of
the twelve moons had passed away in the dullest
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 157
monotony, and gave her a keen appetite for a
little taste of amusement. She had long been
reckoning with confidence upon this; she had
looked to the Feast of Lanterns as an occasion of
perfect felicity. She had behaved with the most
dutiful attention to her parents; they had hith-
erto appeared perfectly willing that she should
accompany them on that evening; she had no idea
that there could be any other object in attending
such a festival except enjoyment, or, as she called
it, fun; she had congratulated herself in the
morning that the day was so fine; and she had
anticipated abundance of fun in the evening.
Oh, must not then the disappointment of Chin
Ting have been exceeding bitter, as the goodly
fabric which hope had reared for her of all the
prettiest cards in the pack, was thus blown down
by the breath of an unkind father?
With vain entreaties she followed her parents
to the street door: they went out, closed it, and
removed the key, leaving her only one dull lan-
tern to console her for the loss of the illumination.
She leaned against the cruel portal and sobbed
as though her little heart would have split into a
thousand pieces. “Well, this is no fun at all,”.
she cried; "there's no fun for me!”
“That's as you please,” observed a little voice
158 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
somewhere; but Chin Ting could not for a while
discover from whence the little voice proceeded.
She was startled and terrified, and glanced round
without perceiving any one.
At last her eye fell
upon a large jar, which stood in one corner of
the hall; and her astonishment was great at ob-
serving a small, round head appearing above the
neck of this earthern vessel, the lid of which was
raised, and served as a cap to the small round
head.
Chin Ting's heart beat fast when she noticed
this apparition, and she almost sank upon the
ground with fright; but she kept her eyes upon
the small round head, and the very good-hum-
oured and waggish expression of the face a little
reassured her.
“Don't be frightened, most beautiful Chin
Ting,” said the good-natured little apparition.
"I wouldn't if I could help it,” stammered
Chin Ting; “but who are you?"
“Why,” replied the head, “I am just what you
didn't expect to meet with,” and it laughed.
“He laughs like fun,” said Chin Ting to her-
self.
"I am Fun," continued the apparition; "and
very much at your service."
“Who?”' asked Chin Ting.
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 159
"Fun," said he; “Fun, Fun, Fun,-nobody
else but Fun;" and he looked excessively funny.
“And why came you hither?” demanded Chin
Ting, who began to gain courage from the pleas-
ing manners of Fun, and to enjoy the joke of
thus unexpectedly meeting with a companion.
"I came hither to see the beautiful Chin
Ting," replied he; “and, if it were in my power,
somewhat to console her. If she will, Fun shall
be hers for ever and a day.”
“But how came you hither?” she asked, her
fear somewhat returning as that question oc-
curred to her: surely, she thought, by some super-
natural means.
“Why,” responded Fun, “I came here,-I
got in,-I appeared,—that is to say,-I have
a certain talisman"
And here Fun hatched up a long story of as
many li as there are between Peking and Canton.
There is no occasion that we should repeat all
he said, or attempt to impose upon your credu-
lity, as he did upon Chin Ting's. It was no
talisman that assisted him into the jar; we will
explain to you the whole truth of the matter.
Chin Ting being, as hath been said, a damsel
fair and comely, and Fun having once seen her
by accident, he had entertained from that time
160 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
a strong and very natural desire to have her to
wife. How to obtain her, however, was a diffi-
cult question. He could find nothing in the
book of Rites, that would justify his forcing
himself upon the acquaintance of her father;
and, as an old proverb observes, “If you cannot
get over the outer wall, you will not get over
the inner.” But Fun consoled himself with
another Chinese saying: “He that would steal
fruit does not borrow the gardener's ladder;"
and he set his brains at work to devise some plan
whereby he might possess himself of Chin Ting,
without consulting her father.
When the Feast of Lanterns drew near, it
occurred to Fun that that might be a convenient
as well as propitious time for effecting his object;
and at first he pondered on the practicability of
enticing away Chin Ting, when with her parents,
she would attend the exhibitions of the evening.
But a more happy idea afterwards entered his
mind; and he immediately engaged in operations
for the execution of this project. He wrote the
letter to Sun-Hou and arraying himself as a
servant, delivered it at the old gentleman's door.
Whilst the domestic into whose hands he had
given it was absent, he looked round for a snug
place in which he might hide; and observing the
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 161
large jar, and considering that it was not likely
that he should be detected in that, with some
little difficulty he squeezed himself in, and shut
down the lid. We need not speak of the mortal
fright he was in until he was “safely stowed,"
lest any one should appear in the hall; but things
happened luckily, and his concealment was com-
plete.
From within his jar, the cover of which he
raised a little occasionally, as well to listen to
what was going on as to obtain air, he overheard
much of what passed between Sun-Hou and Chin
Ting, in the neighboring apartment. He was
delighted at finding that everything occurred
according to his anticipations; and waited, there-
fore, with great patience and fortitude, in a
hiding-place which would not have been agree-
able, certainly, for a protracted residence.
Perhaps it may occasion surprise that in writ-
ing to Sun Hou, Fun should have given his own
name; that he should have directed suspicion to
himself, when it would have been so easy to have
found for it a different channel. But Fun was
fond of frolic, and the most impudent dog in
all the Central Land. He would have con-
sidered it no sport to have put old Sun Hou
on a wrong scent altogether. His object was
162 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
to set him at first upon a right one, and after-
wards baffle him by well-managed doublings and
windings; and he would not probably have
troubled himself to get married at all, had it not
been for the compound extract of sport he ex-
pected from hunting and from being hunted.
“And how is it, Thousand Pieces of Gold,”
said Fun, “that you are not abroad this night,
when all other houses are deserted ?-that you
are not abroad, outshining the lanterns and the
moon?"
“My parents,” responded Chin Ting, -and at
the recollection she burst again into tears-
"my parents would not allow me to go forth.
My father locked me up here, and told me there
grew a bamboo in the garden; and all for no
better reason than because I was fond of fun.”
“Cruel parents! cruel father!” exclaimed the
young audacious; “if I were the Thousand Pieces
of Gold, I would exert me somehow to spite
them.”
“And what could poor little I do?" asked Chin
Ting. "Oh,
“Oh, poor little luckless I!”
"I could talk more freely,” said the young
gentleman, "if I were out of this jar. But I am
wedged in, I am wedged in tight!” said Fun
as he struggled to get out.
2
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 163
He struggled to get out, but in vain. We
know not how it was—he had got cramped, we
suppose, by his position; but, like the weasel in
the fable, he could not obtain egress at the hole
by which he had entered. Thus unfortunately
situated, he appealed to young Chin Ting for
assistance; and this, after some hesitation, she
accorded. By dint then of much struggling
upon his part, and of an energetic handling of
his pigtail on hers, after a time he got free to the
waist; but there occurred another hitch, which all
their endeavours failed to overcome. Some
would have been immensely annoyed; but Fun
was immensely amused. At last, by stamping
violently he broke out the bottom of the jar, and
thrusting his legs through regained in part his
locomotive power.
It will not be necessary to detail the arguments
by which he overcame the scruples of Chin Ting,
and induced her to assent to an elopement with
him. She was anxious to spite her papa, and no
less so to see the fireworks; she was pleased with
the manners of Fun, and was fond of a good
joke. All these considerations, aided by the
young man's eloquence, might well prevail on a
youthful and inexperienced girl. So Chin Ling
agreed to fly with Fun; and,-by way of carrying
164 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
the jest up to its climax,—to get married.
In carrying into execution this rash resolve,
it was necessary, of course, to guard against her
being recognized by any in the streets. She dis-
guised herself, therefore, as well as she was able,
and covered her face with a thick veil.
Another difficulty now
presented itself.
They were locked in--how were they to escape?
The house was of two stories; and the upper
windows were not secured. They went up
stairs; the young lady assisting the youth, whose
jar would otherwise have proved a sad impedi-
ment to his proceeding.
But for the inconvenient armour of porcelain
in which he was arrayed, Fun could easily have
leaped down from the casement; for he was
active and brave. As it was, however, he was
again dependent upon the lady's assistance; and
exerting all her strength, more than you could
have imagined could be in her slender wrists, she
lowered him by his queue. When she let
go, he had yet a few cubits to fall, and this per-
haps was a fortunate circumstance, as the porce-
lain jar was thereby shattered, and he walked as
freely as ever. Fun, however, was a little disap-
pointed, as he had enjoyed the idea of stalking
about in such a quaint disguise.
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 165
Fun being safely on the ground, Chin Ting,
with the courage befitting a heroine, leaped into
his arms. They were quite unobserved; for that
part of the city was wholly deserted, the people
having gone to witness a very grand display of
fireworks and lanterns in a neighbouring square.
Towards that square Fun immediately con-
ducted his prize, and a very few turnings among
some narrow streets and passages brought them
there. They met with none to question them
on the way; for even the watch had taken holiday,
deeming it quite unnecessary to keep guard in
empty streets. Chin Ting, no doubt, was a little
frightened, as soon as she had taken her rash leap
from the window, at thinking of what she had
done; and very probably wished herself again
within the house; but as the door was locked, it
was impossible to get back; and Fun used every
argument to convince her of the propriety of
their proceeding, and to keep up her spirits.
It was certainly a novel situation for one who
before had scarcely ever even exchanged words
with a gentleman, unless related to herself; but
the state of excitement in which she had been all
day, first from delight, and then from dis-
appointment and anger, had led her on to do that
which in other circumstances she would have
166 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
looked upon as the most heinous. But what had
the greatest effect in restoring the courage and
spirits of Ching Ting, was the lively scene that
unfolded before her, as with her guide she ap-
proached the square.
This was bounded on three sides by houses;
but, on the side opposite to the one where they
had entered, was terminated by the river, in that
place broad, though shallow. The streets
through which they had come lay somewhat
higher than the square itself, and a flight of steps
led down thereinto; so that before they
descended, they had a good view of the large
open area, and also of the water and houses be-
yond. Immediately before them was a dense
mass of people, every individual flourishing a
lantern; festoons of lanterns were suspended
above them upon poles, and likewise between the
houses; the stream was overspread with boats of
all sorts and sizes, the decks, the masts, and, in
fact, every part covered with lamps and lanterns;
and numberless pagodas and other high buildings
on the further side of the river, some near, and
others at a great distance, were similarly adorned
with lights innumerable. From a raised platform
in the middle of the square, as well as from many
remoter points, a girondola of rockets was fre-
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 167
quently thrown up; and in the intervals a dis-
play was made of other fireworks of most
ingenious invention. Luminous globes rose high
in the air, and burst with showers of coloured
light, from among which soared large birds, and
winged horses and dragons, blue, yellow, green
and crimson; and these seemed to chase each
other, and again to spit forth fire in new forms.
Now and then down the river would float a huge
and stately serpent, its body drawn up
in many
graceful bends—a serpent, perhaps, of emerald
light, with eyes of intense red,--and from its
mouth would drop continual balls of fire, which,
falling on the river, assumed the form of little
luminous boats, and spread far and wide upon
the surface. From myriads of people arose con-
stantly shouts of applause and laughter; and
when these for a moment were still, the more
melodious tones of musical glasses and other in-
struments seemed to supply a sort of magical
harmony, in keeping with the wonderful sights.
Chin Ting was bewildered and delighted.
She watched for a time the more striking and
resplendent fireworks, and was dazzled and con-
fused by the myriads of starry lights that
studded the air all around, that sprinkled the
sky, and were reflected from the water. After a
168 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
little she began to examine the lanterns and other
luminous devices in detail; they were worth ex-
amination, for their ingenuity was great, and
their variety surprising. Every one had striven
to outdo his neighbour in providing himself
with a lantern, remarkable for its size, or for
its colour, or its form, or for the designs where-
with it was embellished. There were some of
all sizes, from an orange to a watch-box; of
all shapes, round, square, polygonal, vase-like.
like flowers, like trees, like animals, like men; of
all colours, with inscriptions and paintings of
all shades of colour, and ornamented with devices
of the variety of which could be given but a
faint idea: the current of air caused by the flame
was used to set in motion small figures of men,
birds, and butterflies, junks, windmills, fish, and
other things and creatures; and warriors fought,
and horses leaped, and mandarins bowed, and
monkeys swung upon cords.
“He-he!” said Chin Ting, "see there! that
tumbler standing on his head-look! look how
he turns about!—and there is a mandarin with a
blue body and a yellow face. Ski! hi! what a
beautiful firework !-as like a peacock as two
betel nuts! But, ha! he! hey! ho! hee! what is
this little fellow doing? Just look! see! note!
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 169
observe! mark!—why he's dancing Djim-Kro!"
(Djim-Kro was a famous tumbler, who lived
in the days of Yu.)
"Do but behold that absurd little man,” said
Fun, pointing in another direction, “how he wad-
dles along, with a lantern twice as large as him-
self. And that ugly old woman by his side."
Chin Ting looked at the persons to whom he
pointed, and immediately uttered a scream.
The cause of her alarm may be easily divined.
The twain were no other than her dreaded papa
and mamma. She well-nigh fainted; but was
supported by Fun, who reminded her that her
disguise was such, as, if she would but command
her fears, must render detection impossible.
Of course, Fun immediately conducted the
runaway young lady to a part of the square re-
mote from that in which they had discovered
Sun Hou. No "of course" in the case. Fun
did no such thing: he obtained from Chin Ting
a promise that she would keep up her courage,
and he immediately walked with her up to the
old gentleman, her highly respectable papa.
Sun Hou was strutting with the importance
of a person who knew that he was burning his
own oil; he had fastened a long bamboo to his
back by means of a cord round his waist; and to
170 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
the end of this, which rose two or three yards
above his head, was suspended his enormous lan-
tern; his wife carried hers in the same manner,
as did thousands of other persons.
Fun approached, and having made six or eight
very polite bows, in returning which the old gen-
tleman nearly shook his lantern off the end of
the bamboo, our audacious young friend de-
manded, with the politest form of circumlocu-
tion, whether his “venerable uncle” did not re-
joice in the name of Sun Hou.
“Sun Hou,” replied Sun Hou with affected
humility, “Sun Hou is your servant's very ig-
noble name.'
"Methinks,” said Fun, "your Humble Serv-
ant has the honour of addressing that very illus-
trious Sun Hou, who lives in the conspicuous
corner house of the highly magnificent lane,
called the Alley of the Salted Sturgeon?"
"Your servitor," answered Sun Hou, "dwells
in the place you mention. May he ask your
most honourable title?"
“The continually-to-be-sneezed-at name of
your Humble Servant,” said Fun, "is Fan-Si.
I just now slunk along by your most noble dwell-
ing, and had the little deserved honour of be-
holding your pile-of-volumes son, and your
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 171
string-of-rubies daughter, at the window. Your
Humble servant wondered greatly that they
came not hither to make the lamps burn more
brightly."
"Of a truth,” responded Sun Hou, "had more
of
my
oil been used, the illumination would have
been more luminous. But son have I none,
though I have a disobedient slip of a daughter."
“It was then perhaps your full-of-desert
daughter's most profoundly-to-be-reverenced
husband?!
“There was no one,” replied Sun Hou, “there
was no man whatever in my house: my daughter
is not married. Surely your exemplary eyes
must have made some mistake." But Sun Hou
was startled somewhat.
"Indeed!” cried Fun: "toad as I am, I am
quite certain that I beheld with my one-bigger-
than-the-other eyes, two persons, a gentleman
and a lady, at the window of your dwelling.”
“Though I would by no means deny it,” an-
swered Sun Hou (he would not be rude to the
stranger, and therefore responded in such a
form), “yet I know not how it may be possible,
for I have brought with me the key of the house.
I pray you, tell me,” he continued, "who might
this have been?”
172 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
“Nay,” said Fun, "I know not; I fear I have
been impertinent to speak so much."
"No," answered the old man, “I thank you
greatly. My ought-to-be-very-much-chastised
daughter- But imagine for me who could
this person have been?"
“Very reverentially speaking, is there not any
whom she loves?"
“And if there should be, how could he get
through the key-hole?”
"Had not the door been open in the day?”!
"But if he had come in then, where should he
have concealed himself?"
“Oh, some will hide themselves in very small
corners. I know a youth, a certain Fun, who
could hide himself in a good-sized porcelain pot.”
“Fun? Fun?- Why that's the very muddy
pool of a youth. I had a letter in the morning
which informed me so much."
“A letter?from whom?'-_When conversa-
tion grows very serious, forms and compliments
are a good deal dispensed with, even in China.
'Who the black dragon can this be from?'
that was the motto. I don't know from whom it
came.'
"Why that,” said Fun, "is the very motto of
Fun's own seal. I am well acquainted with
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 173
Fun; he and I are inseparable: and from what
I know of him, I would wager my brain to a pint
of oil, that he brought you the letter himself, and
then hid in some corner or jar.”
“Oh, it is too true, it is too true!" cried Sun
Hou. “Come with me, Nae-Nae. I will boil
my daughter in oil.”
“Nay, nay,” said Nae-Nae, believing him to be
serious,—“Boil only her hands therein."
“Oh, wicked snake of a daughter!” cried Sun
Hou, slapping his hands together with great vio-
lence. Bang went in the sides of his lantern,
and he was fain to put out the light.
“Oh, little wolf of a daughter!" echoed Nae-
Nae; and a similar action was attended by a sim-
ilar result.
Sun Hou and his wife hurried back to their
domicile, and Fun, with their daughter, followed.
when they reached it they observed that a window
was open above; but they saw no person, and no
light.
“Alas! alas!” cried the parents, “our wicked
daughter has fled. She has gone away with ac-
cursed Fun. We shall see her no more.”
Sun Hou opened the door, and Nae-Nae en-
tered. Sun Hou had not withdrawn the key,
when Fun drew the portal suddenly together and
>>
174 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
locked it on the outside; in doing so he dexter-
ously contrived to lift up the old gentleman's
queue, which was caught in the door as it shut.
Sun Hou was fast by his queue. His wife
sought in vain for the means of striking a light;
the flints and steel were not in their places, and
she broke her shins in the search. You may im-
agine the state of wrath and indignation in which
Sun Hou and his wife passed the night.
"Ho,” said Fun ere he left the door, "I am
the particular friend of Fun,-he begged me to
serve him this good turn, and the wine which I
drank with him hath made me merry.
"Fun,” screamed Sun Hou, "shall be pounded
in a mortar for this, and the friend of Fun shall
be tied in a sack of snakes."
"Nay,” answered Nae-Nae, “they shall laugh
the wrong sides of their noses. But, you foolish,
old blockhead,” said she, to be duped after this
fashion;" and she felt in the dark for Sun Hou's
ear, which she twisted severely when she found
it.
From the time the young gentleman first ac-
costed the old one, poor Chin Ting, who was in a
mortal fright, kept as much out of view as pos-
sible. Several times she was on the point of con-
fessing her fault and throwing herself upon the
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 175
mercy of her father; but she could not gain cour-
age to do so; and when the door was closed, Fun
hurried her away as fast as possible. He prom-
ised to effect a reconcilation with her parents,
if she would become his wife; and having placed
her in a sedan, he took her to his house, where
many of his friends, whom he had invited to at-
tend his wedding on the propitious evening of
the Feast of Lanterns, had been for some time
expecting them. At the door they were met by
some matrons, his relatives, who assisted Chin
Ting out of her sedan, and lifted her over the
pan of charcoal placed at the door, agreeably to
the marriage custom in the Celestial dominions.
They conducted her then to a chamber, and
bound up her hair according to the manner in
which it is worn by married women; after which
she was led by a train of young ladies into the
great hall, where she was encouraged to invite
the guests to partake of the prepared betel nut.
Some other forms were gone through. The most
extravagant encomiums were passed upon her
beauty: she was compared to the sun, the moon,
and stars,-to gold and silver,—to gold and sil-
ver fish,—to gold and silver pheasants,—to gems,
to flowers, to a dove, to an antelope, to the tea-
plant, to the graceful reed, to lanterns and fire-
1
176 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
works,--to silkworms,—to rice. The bride-
groom, too, was praised as well as congratulated;
they made him drink wine; presents were given
to both; they wished them honours, long life,
and a quiver full of sons. And Chin Ting was
the wife of Fun.
The next morning Fun took his beautiful bride
to call upon her father. She was disguised as
before; and when they reached the house of Sun
Hou, Fun at first entered alone, leaving her in
her sedan. Fun presented himself with his
wonted audacity; but the fury of Sun Hou was
so great at seeing, as he supposed, the friend and
colleague of Fun,-a person towards whom he
had now conceived a greater hatred than even
toward Fun himself,—that our hero was almost
frightened away, without entering into any ex-
planation. He, however, summoned up forti-
tude, and kept bowing and bending with great
humility, whilst a storm of abuse was poured up-
on him, not from Sun Hou only, but also from
his wife Nae-Nae; and when from mere fatigue
of these indignant parties, the tempest a little re-
laxed, he began in the most conciliatory tones to
beg pardon for the unlucky accident of the pre-
ceding evening
“Son of a rotten onion !" cried Sun Hou; "look
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 177
at my queue! I could only liberate my head by
the loss of my queue. My domestics were obliged
to enter my house by placing a ladder to the
window."
"Your so-much-dog's-meat of a Fan-Si,”
responded the youth, "hurried hither this morn-
ing, as soon as he remembered his fault, to un-
lock your majesty's door."
"Wherefore did thy swine-feeding hand turn
the key in it last night?” roared Sun Hou.
“Of a truth your scrag-end-of-less-than-noth-
ing was beside himself with wine,” humbly ejac-
ulated Fun; "but now, being of clearer sense,
the ball of evil which he threw strikes back upon
his own nose; and that he may find a salve for
the soreness it occasions, he has brought hither
a string of pearls, which he solicits your generous
condescension to accept."
“Be they real pearls?” said Sun Hou, a little
mollified, as he stretched out his hand to receive
them.
“Nay, nay,” interrupted Nae-Nae, "I fear me
they be not real.”
“They be real pearls,” said Sun Hou. “I
forgive you your floutings for this: but how about
the loss of my tail?"
"Your most reverence-commanding tail will
178 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
grow again,” replied Fun; "and meanwhile I
have other pearls, of which, with humility, I will
entreat your greatly-to-be-knelt for acceptance.”
“It is enough," said the old man. “Let this
bond of pearls bind us to friendship.”
“And may it never be worn out,” said Fun.
“Or if it should be,” answered Sun Hou, "may
it be renewed.”
Having so far succeeded, Fun intimated to the
old gentleman that he had another favour to re-
quest; but begged, before he mentioned it, to be
allowed to introduce a lady who was waiting
for him below in her sedan, and who he was afraid
would feel fatigued. Sun Hou bowed to this
with all possible Chinese politeness, and was
solicitous to know who the more bright-than-ten
thousand-stars lady might be.
“To tell you the truth," answered Fun, "this
lady is a bunch of lilies whom I but yesterday
took to wife. She is the daughter of a highly re-
spectable old gentleman, for whom I entertain a
very cordial esteem.
He conducted the lady into the room. She
still closely veiled. Fourteen minutes
elapsed in the usual bows and compliments.
Fun then announced the further favour he had
to request;—it was a pardon to his friend Fun,
was
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 179
and to Fun's wife, Sun Hou's daughter.
'Alas!" cried Sun Hou, “my poor little
daughter! I shall never see her more.
“If you will graciously accord pardon to both,”
said Fun, “I will promise you shall see her this
day.”
"Wicked Fun," said the father, "shall be stran-
gled, beheaded, poisoned, flayed, and cut in nine
million pieces.”
“If your worshipful stomach,” responded the
youth,—the old philosophers held that the stom-
ach is the seat of reason,—"if your worshipful
stomach be so ill-minded towards them, I fear
you will never find either Fun or your daughter.
If you should, Fun, you may be sure, will bribe
the mandarins higher for his safety than you will
do to get him punished.”
“Alas!" exclaimed Sun Hou, “if I may get
back my daughter, whom, however, I will well
bamboo, I will forgive wicked Fun.'
"You must freely pardon your daughter, also,
or you will see her no more,” responded the youth.
“I will do all things so she shall not be lost to
me wholly,” said the old man.
“But your virtuous and venerable hand will
furnish me with a promise in writing?" asked
Fun.
180 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
“Anything—anything at all!” replied Sun
Hou.
So down they sat and committed the promise
to paper. It received the old gentleman's sig-
nature. Fun folded it and put it in his vest.
“Most-reverentially-to-be-bowed-before, sir, I
am Fun,” said Fun.
And Fun bowed lowly and twiddled his queue.
"Most-on-my-knees-to-be-honoured, and more
than-my-life-to-be-loved parents, I am Chin
Ting,” said Chin Ting.
And, bending reverentially, Chin Ting cast
back her veil.
The old man raised his staff.—The young man
drew out the bond.—The youthful pair fell on
their knees, and the aged pair embraced them
both.
A CHINESE HERO
One of China's greatest heroes was Han
Hsin. He lived in the kingdom of Chin,
very many centuries ago. When he was a small
boy he showed remarkable wisdom, and, although
he was very small of stature, his teachers pre-
dicted a great future for him.
One day, when Han was only six years old,
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 181
he and another little boy were playing ball, when
the ball came down into the deep hole of the mill-
stones. They could not get it out at first and
the other lad wanted to call for help. Little
Han Hsin said, “No, I will think of a plan.”
Finding a long stick, he began filling the hole
with earth. As he poured the earth into the
hole, he kept stirring the ball around, thereby
keeping it on top of the earth until he could
reach it with his hand.
Another time he saw a woman, in rags, jump
into a large earthen water-barrel. He was not
strong enough to draw her out, and no one was
near, so he found a stone and beat with all his
strength on the barrel until he made a hole in it
near the bottom, and the water running out, the
life of the woman was saved.
was saved. Many such
stories, and more wonderful ones, were told of
him, and his fame spread all over the kingdom.
In those days every prince had a wise man,
or a group of wise men, about him to give him
advice regarding the affairs of his kingdom.
Han Hsin was presented to his prince by his
teachers as worthy of holding such a position,
but when the prince and his officers saw how small
he was, they laughed and said, "We do not want
a child,” and would not accept his services.
182 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
Han Hsin then went and presented himself
at the court of the Prince of Chin Chou. Now,
this Prince, Chin Pa, was noted for his strength.
It was said of him that, if he tried, he could
breathe the roof off the house; also that he could
lift himself up by the hair. When he was small
he was fed on the milk of the tiger. Thus his
strength was not the strength of man.
When Han Hsin was presented to this Prince
by his teachers as a wise man and one who could
help him make his country strong, he laughed
and said, "What can such a boy do? If I hold
out my head and tell him to cut it off he has not
the strength to do it, even though I stand still
and do not resist him. How can there be wis-
dom in such a small boy? How can such as he
help me? He cannot fight for me or wait on
Take away the child, I do not want him.
The teachers urged the Prince to give the
young man a trial and at last he said, “Here is
my spear--let him hold it up straight for half
a day. If he is strong enough for that, he may
find something to do in my service.” Alas!
Han Hsin could not even for half an hour hold
up the great iron spear, and he was driven with
laughter and derision from the court.
When the teachers remonstrated with the
me.
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 183
Prince he said, "I want no such weaklings in
my kingdom.”
“But you have made an enemy of him,” they
urged, and if you do not use him, you should kill
him. Although you, our Prince, will not be-
lieve us, we know if you let him go he will, in
the end, be used by some other kingdom to de-
stroy yours.” At this Chin Pa laughed loud
and long, but seeing the anxious and serious
faces of the teachers he said, "I will take some
soldiers and go after him, and if you wish I will
kill him.”
Now when Han Hsin, in bitterness of heart,
was driven from the court he took the road lead-
ing to the mountains, and was part way up when,
chancing to look back, he saw the mounted band
coming. They did not see him, but he knew that
they were in search of him. He knew that he
could not escape, so he stretched himself out on
the side of the hill with his feet toward the top
and his head toward the bottom of the hill, and
pretended that he was asleep.
When Chin Pa came up and saw him there he
smiled to himself and called to his men to re-
mdunt, and away they went back to the castle,
laughing and making merry over the thought
that anyone who could sleep in such a position,
184 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
could rend the kingdom away from their great
Prince.
When the teachers heard of the outcome of
the pursuit of Han Hsin they were troubled and
said, “It is craft and not stupidity-go back
again, overtake him and kill him."
To please
them and for the sport of it, the Prince started
out again. By this time. Han Hsin had crossed
the mountains and was walking on the plains.
Again he saw them coming, and looking about
he discovered a very ill-smelling hole, and bend-
ing over it he exclaimed, as his pursuers came
up, “Ah, how sweet, how fragrant!"
This time the Prince declared that Han Hsin
was entirely foolish, and he would not kill a
fool, for a man who did not know the difference
between the sweetly fragrant and the offensive
was not one a Prince need fear.
Thus Han Hsin was left to himself, and re-
turned to his own country and village. His own
prince, Han Kao Lin, again refused him. At
that time this Prince was at war with Chin Pa
and was very hard pressed by the latter, and
anxious to surround himself with wise men. He
could not see, however, how there could be wis-
dom in such a small man as Han Hsin. But,
at last, after much persuasion, he gave a reluc-
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 185
tant permission for him to be made leader of the
army
which was about to set out to attack Chin
Pa.
Old pictures show Han Hsin seated on a
throne and worshipped by the military men and
soldiers under him. They believed that he was
to lead them to victory and save their country.
It is said that he knew every soldier, and could
tell at a glance how many there were in a com-
pany passing before him and who were absent
from the ranks. He was one of the greatest
military leaders, if not the greatest, in Chinese
history.
One time, when engaged in war with the King-
dom of Chao, he drove the enemy to the bank
of a river, but they got over in their boats and
destroyed them on the other side. Feeling se-
cure in the thought that the army of Han Hsin
could not cross that night, they made a camp and
had a feast. But Han Hsin was not an ordinary
man and he commanded every man to get a
board of some kind and in the darkness to swim
across quietly. This they did, and fell upon the
merry camp and won a great victory.
Another time Han Hsin insisted on camping
on the shore of the great river. His officers and
men protested, and said that he was not leaving
186 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
any path for retreat in case of defeat, as they
had no ships or bridges and few could swim so
far. All the comfort they could get was his re-
ply, “When defeat comes we will discuss the
question.” The enemy were seen coming upon
them from the front, and then Han Hsin called
to his men to fight for their lives, for death was
certainly behind them in the river, but, if they
fought bravely, they could defeat the enemy in
front. This they did with great slaughter.
At another time, when fighting with the great
Chin Pa, of the Kingdom of Chin, the latter shut
up all but one of the roads over the mountains
and awaited Han Hsin in ambuscade in a very
narrow place, the only one where it seemed pos-
sible for him to get over the mountains. He
did not even then know the military master he
had to deal with in Han Hsin, as it was still early
in the war.
Han Hsin sent out his spies, dis-
guised as countrymen, and learned the condition
of things. So, calling upon his men to make
a lot of bags, even turning their clothes into bags,
his army set out.
On reaching the steepest place in ascending
the mountains, he commanded the army to halt
and fill the bags with earth. This place was
not guarded, as it was supposed to be impossible
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 187
of ascent. During the night, however, Han Hsin
ordered an advance, and, using the bags to
make a series of steps, his army went quickly up
and over to the other side, to the rear of Chin
Pa's army. Here Han Hsin attacked the en-
emy in force and easily put them to flight. Later
they recovered themselves and in many battles
afterward between these two great generals
neither could obtain any great advantage.
Now Han Hsin had a friend and helper in
Chang Lang, a literary man who was wise and
safe to trust, and who often helped him in his
plans. They talked over the situation, and
Chang Lang said that the strength of Chin Pa
was in a company of three thousand soldiers who
were all related to each other, and whose officers
were also of the same clan. In some way that
company must be disbanded or Han Hsin never
would win the final victory. Many plans were
formed, but the soldiers of the clan seemed to
possess charmed lives.
At last Chang Lang came one night to the
tent of Han Hsin and said, “I have found a way,
and, as there is a fine wind and it is on the eve of
battle, I will try my new scheme.” He then pro-
duced a large kite, the first ever made, and dis-
closed his plan. All these years Han Hsin had
188 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
remembered how Chin Pa had laughed at his
small stature, but he was that night to show him
that though small, he was formidable as an en-
emy.
Some of his officers were called in and fast-
ened him by ropes to the kite and then let go.
Gradually the kite ascended, and, in the twilight,
appeared high over the camp of the three thou-
sand soldiers. They were filled with terror, for
never before had such a thing been seen or heard
of. It was dark enough to prevent them from
seeing Han Hsin at the height and distance he
was from them. The kite came to rest for a few
moments, and they heard a voice say, “You all
have old and young in your homes. Why do you
not go home to them? If you stay on, you
will
some day all be killed; then who will worship at
the grave of your fathers and hand down the
name?
The men said, “It is a voice of a god, a warn-
ing, let us depart at once,” and that night they
left the camp.
The battle next day was terrific, but in the end
Han Hsin won a great victory. When urged
to kill his old enemy he said, “No, let him go,
for he will kill himself, and that will be better."
So, Chin Pa was set at liberty and started with
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 189
his army to return south. The battle had been
near a river and Han Hsin knew that Chin Pa
must cross it on his retreat. So, before the
battle was fought, Han Hsin had written, in
honey, on a big stone slab near the ford, these
four words. “Heaven Destroy Hsiang Yi.”
The last two words were Chin Pa's name. A
swarm of ants scenting the honey crawled up
to eat it, and thus outlined the characters very
distinctly.
When Chin Pa came over the river and saw
the stone with the four large characters he said,
"Woe is me, even the worms and ants know that
Heaven has deserted me. I will kill myself.
And then and there, almost in sight of his ad-
versary, the man he had regarded with contempt,
he killed himself.
Thus ended a strife of nearly twenty years
between two kingdoms, and Han Hsin came to
be the Prince of his kingdom. Often during the
time of kite-flying in China, away in the heavens
one sees a kite in the shape of an old-time war-
rior, and few of the many beautiful and fancy
kites to be seen have such an interesting story.
The kite has come to be, in Western lands,
merely an amusement, but in China, where it
was probably invented, it ever carries with the
190 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
message, “Strength of mind is greater than
strength of body.”
THE WILD GOOSE AND THE
SPARROW
The great Chinese sage, Confucius, had a
son-in-law, Kung Yeh Chang, who understood
better than any one before or since his day the
habit of birds. So much time and study did he
give to them that tradition says he understood
all bird language and many stories are told of
him in this connection. He built a beautiful
pavilion in his garden, which was rich in flowers,
trees, shrubs, and ponds, so that the birds loved
to gather there; thus he was able to spend many
delightful hours in their company listening to
their wise and unwise talk.
Many of these conversations have been handed
down the past two thousand years in the wonder-
ful folklore of China, and from these one can
see the influence they have had on the customs
and traditions of the people.
Among the Chinese the wild goose has the
reputation for having more virtues and wisdom
than any other bird. This is brought out in the
following story. One day, while Kung Yeh
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 191
Chang was resting in his pavilion, a small house-
sparrow lit in a tree near-by and commenced
singing and chattering. A little later a wild
goose dropped down by the pond for a drink.
Hardly had he taken a sip when the little spar-
row called out, “Who are you? Where are you
going?” To this the goose did not reply and the
sparrow became angry and asked again, "Who
are you, that you should be so proud and lofty
you cannot pay attention to my questions? Why
do you consider me beneath your notice?" and
still the goose did not answer. Then, indeed,
was the little sparrow furious. In a loud, shrill
voice, he said, “Every one listens to me! Again
I ask, who are you with your lofty airs? Tell
me or I will fly at you, and he put his head up,
and spread his wings, and tried to look very
large and fierce.
By this time the goose had finished drinking,
and looking up he said, “Don't you know that in
a big tree with many branches and large leaves
the cicadas love to gather and make a noise?
I could not hear you distinctly. You also know
the saying of the Ancients, 'If you stand on a
mountain and talk to the people in the valley
they cannot hear you,' ” and the wild goose took
another drink.
192 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
How the little sparrow chattered and sput-
tered, shook his wings, and at last said, “In what
way are you, with your long neck and short
tail, better than I? In what is your value
greater? Tell me, and if you can prove it you
shall be my teacher. What, for instance, do you
know of the great world? Now I can go into
people's houses, hide in the rafters under their
windows, see their books and pictures, what they
have to eat and what they do. I can hear all
the family secrets, know all that goes on in the
family and state. I know who are happy and
who are sad. I know all the quarrels and all the
gossip. All the other birds are glad to see me
because I can tell them the latest news, and I
know just how to tell it to produce the best effect.
So you see that I know much that you, with
your great stupid body, can never hope to
know."
“We consider,” said the wild goose, “that the
highest law of virtue and good is to give others
an equal chance with ourselves, or even to give
them the first choice. Because of this we always
fly either in the shape of the character 'Man,'
or the figure one. No one takes advantage of
the other. We believe in the Three Bonds,
",
i. e., Prince and Minister, Husband and Wife,
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 193
Father and Son. Also in the five virtues,-
Benevolence, Righteousness, Propriety, Knowl-
edge, and Truth. With us, if the male bird dies,
the female flies alone; if the female dies the male
flies alone; if both parents die their young fly
alone for three years. We have our unchanging
customs of going north in the spring and south
in the winter. People come to depend on us,
and make ready for either their spring work or
the cold of winter. Thus, while we have not
known the family or state skeletons and the
gossip of the women and servants, we are a help
to man.
“Now, you have no laws binding you. As a
family, you sparrows are selfish; you gossip,
chatter, steal, and drive away every one else,
only thinking of your own good. Even among
yourselves you quarrel. Because of these things
you are treated with contempt and looked lightly
upon by all. Indeed, so much so that you are a
by-word. Now, we are respected and held up
as models. Do you not hear parents and
teachers tell their children and scholars to come
and go quietly by themselves to and from school;
to go straight ahead without looking to the right
or left; not to gather in groups and chatter like
house-sparrows? Do not the respectable people
194 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
do the same on the street and in the house? Is
there not a proverb that “There are many people
without the wisdom and virtues of the wild
goose'? You do, indeed, chatter about small
affairs like foolish women and girls and thus are
beneath my notice and I bid you good-day.”
All this time the poor little sparrow was
trembling with rage, and so great was it that
she could not fly away nor keep her hold on
the branch of the tree, and so she fell to the
ground, and thus she died.
Kung Yeh Chang exclaimed as he looked at
her and then at the goose away in the distance,
'Ai ya (sad, sad), most of mankind are like the
sparrow, but the truly superior man will be like
the wild goose and follow the rules of the Three
Bonds and Five Virtues.
THE COUNTRY OF GENTLEMEN
More than a thousand years ago there lived
an Empress of China, who was a very bold and
obstinate woman. She thought she was powerful
enough to do anything. One day, she even gave
orders, that every kind of flower throughout the
country was to be out in full bloom on a certain
day. Being a woman herself, she thought that
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 195
women would govern the empire much better
than men; so she actually had examinations for
women and gave them all the important posts.
This made a great many men extremely angry;
especially a young man named Tang, who was
very clever and had taken many prizes. He said
he couldn't live in such a country any more; and
sailed away with an uncle of his and another
friend on a long voyage to distant parts of the
world. They
They visited many extraordinary
nations; in one of which, the people all had heads
of dogs; in another, they flew about like birds; in
another, they had enormously long arms with
which they reached down into the water to catch
fish. Then there was the country of tall men,
where everybody was about twenty feet in height;
the country of dwarfs where the people were
only one foot in height, and their funny little
children were not more than four inches. In
another place, the people all had large holes
in the middle of their bodies; and rich persons
were carried about by servants who pushed long
sticks through the holes. After a time, they
came to a land which they were told was the
Country of Gentlemen. They went ashore, and
walked out to the capital. There they found the
people buying and selling, and strange to say
196 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
they were all talking the Chinese language. They
also noticed that everybody was very polite, and
the foot-passengers in the streets were very care-
ful to step aside and make room for one another.
In the market-place they saw a man who was
buying things at a shop. Holding the things
in his hand, the man was saying to the shop-
keeper, “My dear sir, I really cannot take these
excellent goods at the absurdly low price you
are asking. If you will oblige me by doubling
the amount, I shall do myself the honour of buy-
ing them; otherwise I shall know for certain that
you do not wish to do business with me today.”
The shopkeeper replied, "Excuse me, sir, I am
already very much ashamed at having asked you
so much for these goods; they really are not
worth more than half. If you insist upon pay-
ing such a high price, I must really beg you, with
all possible respect, to go and buy in some other
shop.” At this, the man who wanted to buy
got rather angry, and said that trade could not
be carried on at all if all the profit was on one
side and all the loss on the other, adding that the
shopkeeper was not going to catch him in a trap
like that. After a lot more talk, he put down
the full price on the counter, but only took half
the things. Of course the shopkeeper would not
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 197
agree to this, and they would have gone on argu-
ing forever had not two old gentlemen who hap-
pened to be passing stepped aside and arranged
the matter for them by deciding that the pur-
chaser was to pay the full price but only to re-
ceive three-quarters of the goods. Tong heard
this sort of thing going on at every shop he
passed. It was always the buyer who wanted to
give as much as possible, and the seller to take as
little. In one case the shopkeeper called after
a customer who was hurrying away with the
goods he had bought and said, “Sir, sir, you
have paid me too much, you have paid me too
much.” “Pray don't mention it," replied the
customer, "but oblige me by keeping the money
for another day when I come again to buy some
more of your excellent goods.” “No, no,” an-
swered the shopkeeper, "you don't catch old birds
with chaff; that trick was played upon me last
year by a gentleman who left some money with
me, and to this day I have never set eyes upon
him again though I have tried all I can to find
out where he lives.” But soon they had to say
good-bye to this wonderful country and started
once more upon their voyage. They next came
to a very strange land where the people did not
walk but moved about upon small clouds of dif-
198 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
ferent colours, about half a foot from the ground.
Meeting with an old priest, who seemed rather
a queer man, Tang asked him to be kind enough
to explain the meaning of the little clouds upon
which the people rode. “Ah sir," said the priest,
“these clouds show what sort of a heart is inside
the persons who are riding on them. People
can't choose their own colours; clouds striped
like a rainbow are the best; yellow are the second
best, and black are the worst of all.” Thanking
the old man, they passed on and among those
who were riding on clouds of green, red, blue
and other colours, they saw a dirty beggar riding
on a striped cloud. They were much astonished
at this because the old priest had told them that
the striped cloud was the best. “I see why that
was,” said Tang, “the old rascal had a striped
cloud himself.” Just then the people in the
street began to fall back, leaving a passage in
the middle; and by and by they saw a very
grand officer pass along in great state with a
long procession of servants carrying red umbrel-
las, gongs, and other things. They tried to see
what colour his cloud was, but to their disappoint-
ment it was covered up with a curtain of red
silk. “Oho!” said Tang, “this gentleman has
evidently got such a bad colour for his cloud that
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 199
he is ashamed to let it be seen. I wish we had
clouds like these in our country so that we could
tell good people from bad by just looking at
them. I don't think there would be so many
wicked men about then.” Soon after this, news
reached them that the Empress who had been so
troublesome in their own country had been
obliged to give up the throne. So they went
no further on their travels but turned their ship
round towards home, where their families were
very glad to see them again.
CONTENTMENT IN HUMBLENESS
One day, an old priest stopped at a wayside
inn to rest, spread out his mat, and sat down
his bag. Soon afterwards, a young fellow of the
neighbourhood also arrived at the inn; he was a
farm-labourer and wore short clothes, not a long
robe like the priest and men who read books. He
took a seat near to the priest and the two were
soon laughing and talking together. By and by,
the young man cast a glance at his own rough
dress and said with a sigh, “See, what a miserable
wretch I am. "You seem to be well fed and
healthy enough,” replied the priest; “why in the
middle of our pleasant chat do you suddenly com-
200 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
plain of being a miserable wretch?” “What
pleasure can I find,” retorted the young man, “in
this life of mine, working every day as I do from
early morn to late at night? I should like to be
a great general and win battles, or to be a rich
man and have fine food and wine, and listen to
good music, or to be a great man at court and
help our Emperor and bring prosperity to my
family;—that is what I call pleasure. I want to
rise in the world, but here I am a poor farm-
labourer; if you don't call that miserable wretch-
edness, what is it?” He then began to get
sleepy, and while the landlord was cooking a dish
of millet-porridge, the priest took a pillow out of
his bag and said to the young man, “Lay your
head on this and all your wishes will be granted.”
The pillow was made of porcelain; it was round
like a tube, and open at each end. When the
young man put his head down towards the pillow,
one of the openings seemed so large and bright
inside that he got in, and soon found himself
at his own home. Shortly afterwards he married
a beautiful girl, and began to make money. He
now wore fine clothes and spent his time in study.
In the following year he passed his examination
and was made a magistrate; and in two or three
vears he had risen to be Prime Minister. For a
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 201
long time the Emperor trusted him in everything,
but the day came when he got into trouble; he
was accused of treason and sentenced to death.
He was taken with several other criminals to the
place of execution; he was made to kneel on both
knees, and the executioner approached with his
sword. Too terrified to feel the blow, he opened
his eyes, to find himself in the inn. There was
the priest with his head on his bag; and there
was the landlord still stirring the porridge, which
was not quite ready. After eating his meal in
silence, he got up and bowing to the priest, said,
“I thank you, sir, for the lesson you have taught
me; I know now what it means to be a great
man!" With that, he took his leave and went
back to his work.
MONKEY THAT BECAME KING
Long, long ago, on the top of a mountain
called the Flower-and-Fruit Mountain, there lay
all by itself a square-shaped stone egg. No one
knew what bird had laid it, or how it had got
there; no one ever saw it, for there was nobody
there to see. egg lay all by itself on some
green grass, until one day it split with a crack,
and out came a stone monkey, a monkey whose
The
202 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
body was of shining polished stone. Before long,
this wonderful stone monkey was surrounded by
a crowd of monkeys and other animals, chatter-
ing to one another as hard as they could. By
ard by they seemed to have settled something in
their minds, and one of them came forward and
asked the stone monkey to be their king. This
post he accepted at once, having indeed already
thrown out hints that he thought himself quite
fit to rule over them.
Soon after this, he determined to travel in
search of wisdom, and to see the world. He went
down the mountain, until he came to the sea-
shore, where he made himself a raft, and sailed
away. Reaching the other side of the grate
ocean, he found his way to the abode of a famous
magician, and persuaded the magician to teach
him all kinds of magical tricks. He learned
to make himself invisible, to fly up into the sky,
and to jump many miles at a single jump. At
last he began to think himself better and stronger
than anybody else, and determined to make him-
self Lord of the Sky.
«H
“Have you heard of the new “Monkey King?"
said the Dragon prince to the Lord Buddha one
day, as they were sitting together in the palace
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 203
of the sky. “No,” answered the Lord Buddha.
"What is there to hear about him?" "He has
been doing a lot of mischief,” replied the Dragon
prince. He has learnt all kinds of magical tricks,
and knows more than anybody else in the whole
world. He now means to turn the Lord of the
Sky out of his place, and be Lord of the Sky him-
self. I promised I would ask you to help us
against this impudent stone monkey. If you
will be good enough to do so, I feel sure we
should conquer him.” The Lord Buddha
promised to do his best, and the two went together
to the cloud palace of the Lord of the Sky, where
they found the stone monkey misbehaving him-
self, and insulting everybody who dared to inter-
fere with him. The Lord Buddha stepped for-
ward, and in a quiet voice said to him, “What do
you want?” “I want,” answered the stone
monkey, “to be Lord of the Sky. I could
nianage things much better than they are
managed now. See how I can jump.” Then
the stone monkey jumped a big jump. In a
moment he was out of sight, and in another
moment he was back again. "Can you do that?”
he asked the Lord Buddha; at which the Lord
Buddha only smiled and said, “I will make a
bargain with you. You shall come outside the
204 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
palace with me and stand upon my hand. Then,
if you can jump out of my hand, you shall be
Lord of the Sky, as you wish to be; but if you
cannot jump out of my hand, you shall be sent
down to earth, and never be allowed to come up
to the sky any more.” The stone monkey
laughed loudly when he heard this, and said,
“Jump out of your hand, Lord Buddha! Why
of course I can easily do that.” So they went
outside the palace, and the Lord Buddha put
down his hand, and the stone monkey stepped on
to it. He then gave one great jump, and again
he was away far out of sight. On and on he
went in his jump, until he came to the end of
the earth. There he stopped; and while he was
chuckling to himself that he would soon be Lord
of the Sky, he caught sight of five great red pil-
lars standing on the very edge with nothing but
empty space beyond; and now he thought he
would leave a mark to show how far he had really
jumped. So he scratched a mark on one of the
pillars, meaning to bring the Lord Buddha there
to see it for himself. When he had done this,
he took another big jump, and in the twinkling
of an eye he was back again in the Lord Bud-
dha's hand. "When are you going to begin to
jump?” the Lord Buddha asked, as the monkey
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 205
stepped down on to the ground. “When!” cried
the monkey sarcastically. “Why, I have jumped,
- jumped to the very end of the earth. If you
want to know how far I have been, you have only
to get on my back, and I'll take you there to see.
There are five red pillars there, and I've left a
mark on one of them.” “Look here, monkey,"
the Lord Buddha said, holding out his hand.
“Look at this.” The stone monkey looked. On
one of the fingers of the Lord Buddha's hand
there was the very mark which he himself had
made on the red pillar. “You see," said the
Lord Buddha; “the whole world lies in my hand.
You could never have jumped out of it. When
you jumped, and thought you were out of sight,
my hand was under you all the time. No one,
not even a stone monkey, can ever get beyond my
reach. Now go down to earth, and learn to keep
your proper place.”
THE TAOIST'S GARDEN.
In ancient times there lived a retired Taoist
scholar whose name was Hsuan-wei. He never
married, but dwelt alone, yet his companions
were books, and flowers his little friends. If he
had any enemies, they were frost and wind and
206 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
blight and mildew. Three seasons brought him
joy and one sorrow.
Love to him meant the
gentle opening of rose-petals, and death their
fall. The neighbours never troubled about him,
for how could there be scandal between a man
and flowers? No woman ever plundered his
garden and desecrated his Temple of Abiding
Peace. In fine, he was the happiest man that
ever lived.
Then something came to pass. It was “blue
night,” and the garden never looked whiter under-
neath the moon. And every tree melted the
spirit of a tree peering between its luminous
leaves. The Wu t’ung whispered to the maple,
and the maple passed the story round to the
mountain pine of the phoenix that augustly con-
descended to rest in its branches--some long-for-
gotten spring. Only the old willow stood apart
and said nothing, for the willow is a wizard, and
the older he gets the more crabbed and silent he
becomes.
The owner of the garden stood spell-bound
in the moonlight. Suddenly a blue shadow flit-
ted shyly from among the flowers and a lady in
a long robe of palest blue came towards him and
bowed. "I live not far from here," said she,
"and in passing to visit my August Aunt I felt
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 207
a longing to rest in your beautiful garden.
The wondering philospher stammered his con-
sent, and instantly a band of pretty girls ap-
peared, some carrying flowers and some willow
boughs. According to etiquette an introduc-
tion became necessary.
Then a girl in green announced herself: "I
am called Aspen,” and, pointing to a girl in
white, “her name is Plum,” to one in purple,
"she is called Peach,” and so she went on till the
last, a little maid in crimson, who was called
Pomegranate. The Lady Wind, who, she ex-
plained, was their maternal Aunt eighteen times
removed, had promised them a visit which for
some reason she had delayed. As tonight's moon
was unusually bright, they had decided to visit
her instead. Just at that instant the Lady Wind
was announced, and, with a great fluttering of
many-coloured silks, the girls trooped out to
greet her and one and all implored her to stay
with them in the garden. Meanwhile, Mr.
Hsuan-wei had discreetly retired into the shadow.
But when the August Aunt asked who the
owner was he stepped boldly into the moonlight
and saw a lady of surpassing grace with a cer-
tain gauzy floating appearance like gossamer.
But her words chilled him, for they were like
208 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
the cold breath stirring the leaves of a black for-
est, and so he shivered. However, with the true
politeness of a Chinese host, he invited her into
his contemptible Pavilion of Abiding Peace,
where he was astonished to find a magnificent
banquet already prepared.
So they feasted and sang, and I am sorry to
say that many cups went round, and the Lady
Wind became both critical and extravagant.
She condemned two unfortunate singers to pay
forfeit by drinking a full goblet apiece, but her
hands shook so as she held the goblets out that
they slipped from her grasp and fell with a crash
to the floor. And much wine was spilled over
poor little Pomegranate, who had appeared for
the first time in her new embroidered crimson
robe. Pomegranate, being a girl of spirit, was
naturally annoyed, and, telling her sisters they
could court their Aunt themselves, she blushed
herself off.
The Lady Wind, in a great rage, cried out
that she had been insulted, and, though they all
tried to calm her, she gathered her robe
about her and aut of the door she flew off hiss-
ing to the east. Then all the girls came before
their flower philosopher and bowed and swayed
sorrowfully and said farewell, and, floating
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 209
through the portals, vanished into the white
par-
terres around; and when Mr. Hsuan-wei looked,
lo, the Temple of Abiding Peace was empty as
all temples of its kind should be. And he sat
down to wonder if it was a dream. For every
trace of the feast was gone and yet a faint subtle
fragrance lingered as though some gracious and
flowerlike presence had once been a guest.
Next night, when strolling in his garden, he
was suddenly surrounded by his little friends.
They were all busy discussing the conduct of
Pomegranate and urging her to apologise to the
August Aunt eighteen times removed. It was
evident that they went in fear of her since last
night's unfortunate revel. But little red Pome-
granate would have no truck with Aunt Wind,
who had spoilt her nice new robe. “Here is one
who will protect us from any harm,” she cried,
pointing to the surrounded form of Mr. Hsuan-
wei. So they told him how each year they were
injured by spiteful gales and how Aunt Wind
had to some extent protected them.
Mr. Hsuan-wei was sorely puzzled: “How
can this contemptible one afford protection?” he
asked. Pomegranate explained. It was such a
very little thing required of him-just to pre-
pare a crimson flag embroidered with sun, moon,
210 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
and stars in gold and hoist it east of the garden
at dawn on the first morning of each new year,
then all hurricanes would pass them by. Ac-
cordingly, he promised, and the next day saw
him stitching golden stars on a crimson back-
ground. And he rose early, an hour before the
dawn, upon the appointed day and set his flag
duly towards the east in the breath of a light east
wind. Suddenly a great storm gathered and
broke. The world rocked. The air was dark
with flying stones and whirling dust. The
giants of the forest cracked, others were over-
whelmed. But in Mr. Hsuan-wei's garden there
deep calm. Not a flower stirred. Then
in a flash he understood. His little friends whom
he had saved from destruction were the souls of
his little flowers. That night, when the moon
was midway, they came to him with garlands of
peach and plum blossom whose taste conferred
the beauty of everlasting youth. Mr. Hsuan-
wei partook of the petals and straightway the
lingering drift of old sorrows from the days of
his ignorance melted like snow from his heart.
And with it went all the pathetic rubbish that
even a flower philospher allows to accumulate.
He became young and divinely empty, yet in
his soul pulsed new life. “Soon afterwards,"
was
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 211
says the ancient chronicle,"he attained to a
knowledge of the True Way, and shared the im-
mortality of the Genii.”
THE FLOWER NYMPHS
Told by
CHIN YUN
At the lower temple on Mount Lao the camel-
lias are twenty feet in height, and many spans
in circumference. The peonies are more than
ten feet high; and when the flowers are in bloom
the effect is that of gorgeous tapestry.
There was a Mr. Huang, of Chiao-chow, who
built himself a house at that spot, for the pur-
poses of study; and one day he saw from his
window a young lady dressed in white wander-
ing about amongst the flowers. Reflecting that
she could not possibly belong to the monastery,
he went out to meet her, but she had already dis-
appeared. After this he freuquently observed
her, and once hid himself in a thick-foliaged
bush, waiting for her to come. By-and-by she
appeared, bringing with her another young lady
dressed in red, who, as he noticed from his dis-
tant, point of observation, was an exceedingly
good-looking girl. When they approached
212 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
nearer, the young lady in the red dress ran back,
saying “There is a man here!” whereupon Mr.
Huan jumped out upon them, and away they
went in a scare, with their skirts and long sleeves
fluttering in the breeze, and perfuming the air
around. Huang pursued them as far as a low
wall, where they suddenly vanished from his
gaze. In great distress at thus losing the fair
creatures, he took a pencil and wrote upon a tree
the following lines:-
The pangs of love my heart enthrall
As I stand opposite this wall.
I dread some hateful tyrant's power,
With none to save you in that hour.
Returning home he was absorbed in his own
thoughts, when all at once the young lady walked
in, and he rose up joyfully to meet her. “I
thought you were a brigand,” said his visitor,
smiling; “you nearly frightened me to death.
I did not know you were a great scholar whose
acquaintance I now hope to have the honour of
making.” Mr. Huang asked the young lady
her name, etc., to which she replied, “My name
is Hsiang-yu, and I belong to P’ingk’ang-
hsiang; but a magician has condemned me to re-
main on this hill much against my own inclin-
ation." “Tell me his name,” cried Huang, “and
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 213
I'll soon set you free.” “There is no need for
that,” answered the young lady; “I suffer no
injury from him, and the place is not an incon-
venient one for making the acquaintance of such
worthy gentlemen as yourself.” Huang then
inquired who was the young lady in red, and she
told him that her name was Chiang-hsueh, and
that they were half-sisters; “and now," added
she, “I will sing you a song; but please don't
laugh at me.” She then began as follows:-
In pleasant company the hours fly fast,
And through the window daybreak peeps at last.
Ah, would that, like the swallow and his mate,
To live together were our happy fate.
Huang here grasped her hand and said,
“Beauty without and intellect within-enough to
make a man love you and forget all about death,
only one day's absence being like the separation
of a thousand miles. I pray you come again
whenever an opportunity may present itself.”
From this time the young lady would frequently
walk in to have a chat, but would never bring
her sister with her in spite of all Mr. Huang's
entreaties. Huang thought they weren't friends,
but Hsiang said her sister did not care for so-
ciety in the same way that she herself did, prom-
ising at the same time to try and persuade her
214 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
to come at some future day. On the evening
of the Feast of Lanterns, Hsiang-yu arrived in
a melancholy frame of mind, and told Huang
that he was wanting more when he couldn't even
keep what he had got; “for to-morrow,” said she,
"we part.” Huang asked what she meant; and
then, wiping away her tears with her sleeve,
Hsiang-yu declared it was destiny, and that she
couldn't well tell him. “Your former prophecy,"
continued she, “has come too true; and now it
may well be said of me
Fallen into the tyrant's power,
With none to save me in that hour.”
Huang again tried to question her, but she
would tell him nothing; and by-and-by she rose
and took her leave. This seemed very strange;
however, next day a visitor came, who, after
wandering round the garden, was much taken
with a white peony, which he dug up and car-
ried away with him. Huang now awaked to
the fact that Hsiang-yu was a flower nymph,
and became very disconsolate in consequence of
what had happened; but when he subsequently
heard that the peony only lived a few days after
being taken away, he wept bitterly, and com-
posed an elegy in fifty stanzas, besides going
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 215
daily to the hole from which it had been taken,
and watering the ground with his tears. One
day, as he was returning thence, he espied the
young lady of the red clothes also wiping away
her tears alongside the hole and immediately
walked back gently toward her. She did not
run away, and Huang grasping her sleeve, ,
joined with her in her lamentations. When these
were concluded he invited her to his house, and
then she burst out with a sigh, saying, “Alas!
that the sister of my early years should be thus
suddenly taken from me. Hearing you, Sir,
mourn as you did, I have also been moved to
tears. Those you shed have sunk down deep to
the realms below, and may perhaps succeed in
restoring her to us; but the sympathies of the
dead are destroyed for ever, and how then can
she laugh and talk with us again?” “My luck
is bad,” said Huang, “that I should injure those
I love, neither can I have the good fortune to
draw towards me another such a beauty. But
tell me, when I often sent messages by Hsiang-
yu to you, why did you not come?” “I knew,
replied she, “what nine young fellows out of
ten are; but I did not know what you were.
She then took leave, Husang telling her how
dull he felt without Hsiang-yu, and begging her
216 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
to come again. For some days she did not ap-
pear; and Huang remained in a state of great
melancholy, tossing and turning on his bed and
wetting the pillow with his tears, until one night
he got up, put on his clothes, and trimmed the
lamp; and having called for pen and ink, he
composed the following lines:
On my cottage roof the evening rain-drops beat;
I draw the blind and near the window take my seat.
To my longing gaze no loved one appears;
Drip, drip, drip, drip: fast flow my tears.
This he read aloud; and when he had finished,
a voice outside said, "You want some one to cap
your verses there!” Listening attentively, he
knew it was Chiang-hsueh and opening the door
he let her in. She looked at his stanza and added
impromptu
She is no longer in the room;
A single lamp relieves the gloom;
One solitary man is there;
He and his shadow make a pair.
As Huang read these words his tears fell fast;
and then, turning to Chiang-hsueh, he upbraided
her for not having been to see him. "I can't
come so often as Hsiang-yu did,” replied she,
“but only now and then when you are very
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 217
dull.” After this she used to drop in occasion-
ally and Huang said Hsiang-yu was his beloved
wife, and she his dear friend, always trying to
find out every time she came which flower in the
garden she was, that he might bring her home
with him, and save her from the fate of Hsiang-
yu. "The old earth should not be disturbed,”
said she, “and it would not do any good to tell
you. If you couldn't keep your wife always
with you, how will you be sure of keeping a
friend?” Huang, however, paid no heed to
this, and seizing her arm, led her out into the gar-
den, where he stopped at every peony and asked
if this was the one; to which Chiang-hsueh made
no reply, but only put her hand to her mouth
and laughed.
At New Year's, during the Feast of Lan-
terns Huang went home, and a couple of months
afterwards he dreamt that Chiang-hsueh came
to tell him she was in great trouble, begging him
to hurry off as soon as possible to her rescue.
When he woke up, he thought his dream a very
strange one; and ordering his servant and horses
to be ready, started at once for the hills. There
he found that the priests were about to build a
new room; and finding a camellia in the way,
the contractor had given orders that it should be
218 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
cut down. Huang now understood his dream,
and immediately took steps to prevent the de-
struction of the flower. That night Chiang-
hsueh came to thank him, and Huang laughed
and said, “It serves you right for not telling
me which you were. Now I know you, and if
you don't come and see me, I'll get a firebrand
and make it hot for you.” “That's just why
I didn't tell you before,” replied she. “The
presence of my dear friend,” said Huang, after
a pause, “makes me think more of my lost wife.
It is long since I have mourned for her. Shall
we go and bemoan her loss together?” So they
went off and shed many a tear on the spot where
formerly Hsiang-yu had stood, until at last
Chiang-hsueh wiped her eyes and said it was
time to go. A few evenings later Huang was
sitting alone, when suddenly Chiang-hsueh en-
tered, her face radiant with smiles. “Good
news!” cried she; "the Flower-God, moved by
your tears, has granted Hsiang-yu a return to
life. Huang was overjoyed, and asked when
she would come; to which Chiang-hsueh replied,
that she could not say for certain, but that it
would not be long. “I came here on your ac-
count,” said Huang; "don't let me be duller
than you can help.” “All right,” answered she,
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 219
and then went away, not returning for the next
two evenings. Huang then went into the gar-
den and threw his arms around her plant, en-
treating her to come and see him, though with-
out eliciting any response. He accordingly
went back, and began twisting up a torch, when
all at once in she came, and snatching the torch
out of his hand, threw it away, saying, “You're
a bad fellow, and I don't like you, and I sha'n't
have any more to do with you.” However,
Huang soon succeeded in pacifying her, and by
and-by in walked Hsiang-yu herself. Huang
now wept tears of joy as he seized her hand, and
drawing Chiang-hsueh towards them, the three
friends mingled their tears together. They then
sat down and talked over the miseries of separ-
ation, Huang meanwhile noticing that Hsiang-
yu seemed to be unsubstantial, and that when
he grasped her hand his fingers seemed to close
only on themselves, and not as in the days gone
by. This Hsiang-yu explained, saying, “When
I was a flower-nymph I had a body; but now I
am only the disembodied spirit of that flower.
Do not regard me as a reality, but rather as an
apparition seen in a dream.” “You have come
at the nick of time,” cried Chiang-hsueh; "your
husband there was getting troublesome.” Hsi-
220 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
ang-yu now instructed Hsuang to take a little
powdered white-berry and mixing it with some
sulphur to pour out a libation to her, adding,
“This day next year I will return your kindness.”
The young ladies then went away, and next day
Huang observed the shoots of a young peony
growing where Hsiang-yu had once stood. So
he made the libation as she told him, and had the
plant very carefully tended, even building a
fence all round to protect it. Hsiang-yu came
to thank him for this, and he proposed that the
plant should be removed to his own home; but to
this she would not agree, "for,” said she, “I am
not very strong, and could not stand being trans-
planted. Besides, all things have their ap-
pointed place; and as I was not originally in-
tended for your home, it might shorten my life
to be sent there. We can love each other very
well here.” Huang then asked why Chiang-
hsueh did not come; to which Hsiang-yu replied
that they must make her, and proceeded with
him into the garden, where, after picking a blade
of grass, she measured upwards from the roots
of Chiang-hsueh's plant to a distance of four
feet six inches, at which point she stopped and
Huang began to scratch a mark on the place
with his nails. At that moment Chiang-hsueh
CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS 221
came from behind the plant, and in mock anger
cried out, “You hussy you! what do you aid that
wretch for?” “Don't be angry, my dear,” said
Hsiang-yu; "help me to amuse him for a year
only, and then you sha’n’t be bothered any
more."
So they went on, Huang watching the
plant thrive, and by the time the Feast of Lan-
terns came it was over two feet in height. He
then went home, giving the priests a handsome
present, and bidding them take great care of it.
Next year, in the fourth moon, he returned and
found upon the plant a bud just ready to break;
and as he was walking round, the stem shook
violently as if it would snap, and suddenly the
bud opened into a flower as large as a plate, dis-
closing a beautiful maiden within, sitting upon
one of the pistils, and only a few inches in height.
In the twinkling of an eye she had jumped out,
and lo! it was Hsiang-yu. “Through the wind
and the rain I have waited for you,” cried she;
"why have you come so late?” They then went
into the house, where they found Chiang-hsueh
already arrived, and sat down to enjoy themselves
as they had done in former times.' Shortly after-
wards Huang's wife died, and he took up his
abode at Mount Lao for good and all. The
peonies were at that time as large round as one's
222 CHINESE NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS
arm; and whenever Huang went to look at them
he always said, “Some day my spirit will be
there by your sides”; to which the two girls
used to reply with a laugh, and
say, “Mind
you
don't forget.” Ten years after these events,
Huang became dangerously ill, and his son, who
had come to see him, was very much distressed
about him. “I am about to be born," cried his
father; "I am not going to die. Why do you
weep?” He also told the priests that if later on
they should see a red shoot, with five leaves,
thrusting itself forth alongside of the peony,
that would be himself. This was all he said,
and his son proceeded to convey him home, where
he died immediately on arrival. Next year a
shoot did come up exactly as he had mentioned;
and the priests, struck by the coincidence,
watered it and supplied it with earth. In three
years it was a tall plant, and a good span in cir-
cumference, but without flowers. When the old
priest died, the others took no care of it; and
as it did not flower they cut it down. The white
peony then faded and died; and before the next
Feast of Lanterns the camellia was dead too.
THE END
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