DOG-LORE AND SUPERSTITION 



answer is : The branch Yin corresponds to the element wood, 

 whose animal is tiger ; Hsu appertains to earth, whose animal 

 is the dog ; Ch'en and Wei likewise appertain to earth, and 

 their animals are the cow and goat. Now as wood overpowers 

 earth, it follows that the tiger subdues dogs, cows, and goats. 

 Hai appertains to water, whose animal is the pig. Sze corre- 

 sponds to fire, whose animal is the Serpent. Hence, since 

 water conquers fire, pigs can devour snakes. Tsze is identical 

 with water, whose animal is the rat. Wu appertains to fire, 

 whose animal is the horse. Since fire is destroyed by water, 

 should a horse devour a rat it will fail to relieve itself and die 

 of a swollen belly." 



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