NO. 2 FOLK RELIGION IN SOUTHWEST CHINA — GRAHAM 187 



The writer has spent parts of several summers at Hsin-k'ai-ssu on 

 Mount Omei and has talked with many of the pilgrims. When asked 

 what they were seeking and what benefits they expected, they said 

 that making the pilgrimage, worshiping the gods, and making offer- 

 ings would cause the gods to be propitious and to help them in their 

 undertakings, enabling them to prosper, to have sons, to live long, to 

 avoid diseases and enjoy health, and to obtain happiness. They ex- 

 pected very practical benefits. 



In the first three volumes of "Chinese Superstitions," Dore shows 

 pictures in color of a large number of charms and tells of their uses. 

 A partial list includes : To hasten delivery, to expel demons, to pro- 

 tect from fire, to ward off epidemics, to cure cough, to stop vomit- 

 ing, to relieve excessive throbbing of the heart, to expel typhoid 

 fever, to cure stomach ache, to cure dropsy, to cure heart trouble, 

 headaches, and dyspepsia, to heal sore eyes, to cure asthma, to stop 

 persistent perspiration, to cure fever, to dispel sadness and anxiety, 

 to prevent delirium, to cure diarrhea, to reduce swelling of the limbs 

 of the body, to stop bleeding of the nose, to heal breast sores of suck- 

 ling women, to cure all kinds of diseases, to preserve from the effects 

 of sunstroke, to protect one at sea, to cure diseases of cattle and pigs, 

 to give a bountiful harvest, to end drought, to protect a new build- 

 ing, to increase one's fortune, to obtain a long and happy life, and to 

 propitiate the lo kings of hell. Charms have primarily to do with 

 human needs in this world. 



Fengshid trees and rocks must not be touched in such a way as to 

 injure them, because if let alone and respected they will, through the 

 fengshui, affect for good the lives of the families and the communi- 

 ties concerned. They cause financial prosperity, good crops, the 

 avoidance of diseases and death, the advancement of scholars and 

 officials, and help in many other ways. If they are injured, the 

 fengshui is ruined, and the opposite results ensue. Ceremonies to ob- 

 tain sons are of practical value, for sons are a financial asset and 

 prolong the family line, guaranteeing the continuation of the worship 

 of the ancestors. Ancestor worship is of practical value to the de- 

 ceased ancestors, providing food, wine, clothing, money, and other 

 needed articles, and in return the ancestors help their living descend- 

 ants to prosper on earth. The exorcising of demons is a practical 

 necessity, for demons cause sickness, death, and other calamities, and 

 they must be exorcised and controlled so that individuals, families, 

 and communities can prosper. Ceremonies to cause and to stop rain 

 are of great practical value, in order to obtain abundant crops. 



