Talismans, &c. used by the Chinese. 287 
Gae plants.” On the fifth day of the fifth moon, sprigs of each of these 
plants are stuck up at the doors of houses, in order to deter all manner of 
evils from entering. Hence the following couplet is sometimes written on 
the door-posts of houses : 
Gae ke chaou pih fuh, 
Poo keén chan tséen tsae. 
The Gae banner calls forth a hundred blessings ; 
The Poo sword destroys a thousand evils. 
8. Taou foo, the “ Peach charm,” consists of a sprig of peach blossoms, 
which, on the first day of the first moon, is placed in some districts at the 
head of the door of every house, to drive away demons and malignant 
spirits. This gives rise to the following couplet : 
Le yew jin ho seu muh to; 
Sze woo seay yen yung taou foo. 
If the village possess virtue, what need is there for the wooden-tongued bell ?* 
If the thoughts be free from impurity, of what use is the peach-charm ? 
9. Ke lin. The fabulous animal which is said to have appeared at the 
birth of Conrucitus. Hence worn by children for good fortune. 
10. Pakwa. The eight diagrams, cut on stone or metal, are often worn as 
charms. 
11. Show taou, “ Longevity Peach.” A charm for long life. 
12. Hoo-loo, “ The Gourd.” Gourd-bottles being formerly carried by 
old men on their backs, figures of them, made either of copper or of the 
wood of old men’s coffins, are worn as charms for longevity ; the former 
round the neck, the latter round the wrist. 
13. Hoo-chaou, “ Tiger’s-claw.” This is a charm against sudden fright. 
14. Yuh yin, “ Yih-seal”’ This is a stone worn by children on their 
foreheads or wrists, on which are cut short sentences, such as Fh joo tung 
hae, happiness like the Eastern sea (in extent and continuance). It is 
supposed to suppress fright, and to show whether a child is well or ill, by a 
clear appearance in the one case and a dark appearance in the other. 
15. A seal of the Zaou sect, worn as a charm, as well as for stamping 
spells. 
* That is, instruction in virtue. The wooden-tongued bell was used by heralds in ancient 
times to call the multitude together to listen to their messages and instructions from their prince, 
Vou. III. 2P 
