134 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. I42 



parade, which is in some ways similar to the one described later in 

 the section headed "The Chinese Lunar Festivals." The men carrying 

 the dragon wear wreaths of green willow twigs on their heads, for it 

 is believed that since willows grow near streams and lakes they pos- 

 sess magic power to cause rain. As the dragon goes down the streets, 

 it does not turn in circles counterclockwise, but undulates from one 

 side to the other like a snake. Firecrackers are set ofif, and men in 

 the procession throw water on the bystanders ; and the spectators in 

 turn throw water on the men in the procession and on the dragon. 

 This is imitative magic — hoping to obtain rain by throwing water in 

 imitation of rain. 



Another method that the writer has seen is to have a parade in 

 which a black dog and a white dog are carried, each sitting in a sedan 

 chair and each wearing a hat and spectacles. Two beggars walk beside 

 the dogs, pretending that they are going to marry the dogs. As the 

 procession moves along, the onlookers laugh very loudly. It is be- 

 lieved that the procession and the loud laughter will cause rain. 

 Grainger (1921, p. 70) quotes a saying, "If you laugh at a dog, rain 

 will fall." 



It sometimes happens that a drought is so prolonged that all these 

 methods fail to bring rain. Then, in desperation, the god who should 

 give rain is placed in the street or in a park where he is exposed to 

 the broiling hot sun, in the belief that his suffering will cause him to 

 have pity on the people and send rain. 



One year in Lo-shan the exposure of the image of the god in the 

 sun failed to bring rain, and the priest persuaded the people that the 

 god was angry because he was treated badly and induced them to per- 

 mit him to take the idol back into the temple. The priest then humbly 

 and respectfully worshiped the god, and soon there was rain. It was 

 believed that the god first refused to send rain because he was angry, 

 but later was persuaded to do so by courteous and respectful treat- 

 ment. 



Sometimes when there is a flood, men will shoot bullets into the 

 flooded river, believing that it will help bring an end to the flood. 

 Other methods very widely used are the closing of the north gates of 

 cities and towns, and the worship of the sun god by magistrates and 

 other people (ibid., pp. 69-70). 



DIVINATION AND FORTUNETELLING 



As we have seen, divination is one of the oldest customs among the 

 Chinese. With its corollary, fortunetelling, it is very commonly 



