NO. 2 FOLK RELIGION IN SOUTHWEST CHINA — GRAHAM 45 



This deed should be given to tlie dead person to be kept forever as evidence. 



In the heavenly (year), (month), and (day). 



Witnessed by those who sold the ground, 



The master of the year and month, Chang Li-t'u ; 



The heavenly witness, Li T'ing-hsii ; 



The middleman from below. Prince Tung Wang (King of the East) ; 



The reception middleman, Hsi-wang-mu (Western Queen) ; 



The middleman who persuaded (to agree to sell), Shih Kung-t'ao; 



The guarantor middleman, Qiin Shang-pu; 



The middleman who paid the money, Pai Ho-hsien ; 



The writer middleman. Yen Ho-chin; 



(At the top on the left in very large letters) : 



FOREVER TEN THOUSAND ANCIENT TIMES, 

 TEN THOUSAND AUTUMNS, 

 ETERNAL EVIDENCE. 



RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND 

 EARLY RELIGION OF CHINA 



Chinese religion may be compared to a large tree which has a main 

 trunk, three large branches, several smaller branches, and many twigs 

 attached to the trunk and branches. The main trunk from the ground 

 to the top of the tree is the popular religion of China, and the three 

 main branches are Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. Since the 

 T'ang dynasty, Islam has had a place, and in recent years the Chris- 

 tian religion. Smaller branches are the Ru T'an, the Wu Chiao, and 

 the T'ung Shan She. The twigs are the numerous sects of Buddhism 

 and Taoism and of the lesser religions. There is also a main root and 

 several large branch roots, besides many smaller ones. The main root 

 is the ancestor of the popular religion of China, which can be traced 

 back more and more dimly through the Chou into the Shang dynasty, 

 and into the late Neolithic times. One large branch root represents 

 influences from India, chiefly through Buddhism. Other smaller 

 roots have given China contacts with western Asia and Europe and 

 with ethnic groups north, east, south, and west of China.* 



The Chinese have from very early times been an agricultural people, 

 and the family has been the main social unit. Filial piety has been 

 the cardinal virtue and ancestor veneration the main feature of 

 Chinese society and religion. It was believed that the souls of the 

 deceased ancestors continue to live after death in the spirit world. 



3 In the following paragraphs nearly every statement can be supported by 

 many references. However, the facts are so well known to scholars that most 

 references will not be cited. 



