NO. 2 FOLK RELIGION IN SOUTHWEST CHINA — GRAHAM I37 



I remember an uneducated Chinese laborer who, after using the 

 sticks, drew one of the "very best." He was much elated. Gen. 

 Chang Ch'un, once the Governor of Szechwan and later Premier of 

 China, whose whole family was Christian, went to a temple in com- 

 pany with his wife, his son, and his son's fiancee, to consult the divin- 

 ing-sticks. All drew excellent fortunes but the fiancee, who was then 

 not popular with her prospective parents-in-law. Some wondered if 

 the priest had been able somehow to manipulate the divining-sticks. 



I have a collection of the papers which are used in temples with the 

 bamboo sticks for divination. Below are translations of three of these, 

 made by me with the help of Wayne Kow, a graduate of Denver 

 University. 



MOST LUCKY 



If you walk along, dignified, toward the clouds, you belong to the first class 

 among ten thousand officers, at the court made of precious stones. The gods give 

 you wealth, honor, glory and prosperity, happiness like the Eastern Ocean, long 

 life like a mountain. 



The holy meaning. — You will attain honor and fame. Your happiness and 

 wealth will be complete. In litigation you will get right results. If sick, you will 

 recover. Your mulberries and hemp will mature. Your marriage will be round 

 (satisfactory). Pregnancy will give you a son. Travelers will come back home. 



Explanation by Tung P'u. — You walk along in clouds (you will be distin- 

 guished above others). Your name will be at the top of the list. You smile 

 while you talk with honor (for you have it). You will be distinguished all 

 of your life. All is given by Heaven. You will attain high position and you 

 will live very long. What you want will be fulfilled, and what you plan will 

 be attained. 



Explanation by Pi Hsicn. — You will climb the tan kuei tree (in the moon) 

 (you will attain high honors). You will gain fame while walking in a yard of 

 precious stones. What you are seeking you will get completely. There is no 

 doubt you will be satisfied with 10,000 things. 



Explanation. — This divining-stick means that the plan is complete. Business 

 is successful. In nothing are you a failure. But each has its own purpose. If 

 an officer gets this he will have the good fortune of promotion. If a scholar gels 

 this he will have the luck of reputation and honor. To a person seeking his 

 fortune this will bring happiness and longevity forever. To a person looking 

 for success in business, this shows he will have a very good foundation. If a 

 person is looking for wealth, this is good only in words, not in fact, for the 

 meaning of the words is only superficial. 



Illustration. — By the clouds, it means high above the clouds. "Walk lonely 

 and dignified" means step on the blue clouds. "A thousand officers at a court 

 made of precious stones" means angels in heaven. This means the most hon- 

 orable angel that is in the first class. "Glory, prosperity, wealth, and honor exe- 

 cuted by heaven" means heaven has already given. It naturally means happiness 

 and longevity without end. "Like an ocean" means the expansion and spread 

 of happiness. "Like a mountain" means eternity and solidarity of longevity. 



