l8 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 8o 



the Tsua Sen Niang Niang is brought to the home when necessary. 

 There are many other methods. A charm may be written and pasted 

 on the body of the mother. A priest may come to the house and read 

 scriptures or perform ceremonial rites. If a mother dies in childbirth, 

 she is not admitted into hades, but becomes a demon called a ts'an 

 Ian kuci. 



After the child is born, there is something dangerous or unclean 

 about the mother. For this reason she is not allowed to leave the 

 room of her confinement for a month. Some of the ideas concerning 

 childbirth are given in the Classic Of The Bloody I'asin, the writer's 

 translation of which is given below in full : 



THE TRUE CXASSIC OF THE BLOODY BASIN 

 (Outside Title) 



THE TRUE CLASSIC OF (OR FOR) THE SAVING OF MOTHERS 

 BY DI TSANG FUSAH 



(Inside Title) 



Reprinted in the fourth moon of the fourtli year of the Republic. 

 From Shansi Province, Shanuen Shien, published by the disciple of Li Yin 

 Lin. The printing boards at the T'ong Yih shop in Suifu. 



The True Classic Of The Saving Of Mothers From The Bloody Basin. 



Correct words for purifying the mouth. 



Shiu li shin U mo ho shin li sliiu shin li so p'o ho. 



Correct words for cleansing the body of impurities. 



Shiu do li shiu do li shin mo li so p'o ho 



Correct words for pacifying the Tu Di gods. 



La mo shall man do mo t'o Ian nc/an dn In dii hi tsac ivci so p'o ho. 



For respectfully calling the eight gods. 



La mo Kuan Si Yin P'usah mo ho salt. 



La mo Mi Lch Full P'usah mo ho sali. 



La mo Shu K'oiig Chang P'usah nio ho .fah, 



La mo P'ushicn Fuh P'usah mo ho sah, 



La mo Gin Kang Sco P'usah mo ho sah, 



La mo Miao gih Shiang P'usah mo ho sah. 



La wo Ch'u Tsai Chang P'usah uio Iio suh. 



La mo Di Tsang Wang P'usah mo ho .uih. 



Verse for beginning the Classic — 



O marvellous way, so lofty and so deep, 

 A myriad ages one can hardly meet ; 

 Rut now I sec and hear, can grasp and keep ; 

 Willi joy I'll tell llic Iruth to dtliers as is meet. 



