22 s.\rri'iis().\iA.\ M isci:li.an1'.ol's collections vol. So 



when the}' are born. Wlien an nnlilial cliild is born who in pa.st existences has 

 been your enemy, in two or tlirce days of travail he will still be unborn, the 

 whole family will be alarmed, and the mother's life will be lost because of the 

 child. If men and women who believe wish to recompense their parents, they 

 should copy this book, and with it exhort the people all around, spread abroad 

 the teaching of filial piety, and contribute to the support of Buddhist priests, 

 and they will secure the good health of their parents in this world, and cause 

 them after death to rise to the land of Buddha. At this point the Heavenly 

 Dragon, the Eight Divisions of Gods, and all men will greatly rejoice, believe, 

 obey, perform a courtesy, and disperse. This is the end of the classic which is 

 Buddha's words about the great grace of parents in regard to pregnancy. 



The Words Of Buddha Which Are The Marvellous Classic Of Di Tsang 

 P'usah For Salvation From Torments. 



Once upon a time Di Tsang P'usah dwelt in the everbright land in the south, 

 and used his pure, heavenly eyes, anil saw in far away hades all human creatures 

 who were undergoing torments — iron pestles and beaters, iron grinders, iron 

 saws, kettle soup (boiling), fierce fire reaching to heaven, hungry people swal- 

 lowing hot iron, thirsty i)eople drinking melted brass, receiving all bitterness and 

 vexations, having no rest. Di Tsang P'usah could not bear to see it, so he came 

 from the south to the midst of hell, and was in the same apartment with Nien 

 Wang, but slept in another bed. They discussed all the reasons : first, that 

 possibly Nien Wang might not have judged justly; secondly, that possibly the 

 documents of accusation were disposed of wrongly ; thirdly, that possibly the 

 god had wrongly caused individuals to die ; and fourthly, that possibly sinners 

 were allowed to sufl^er punishment beyond their due. Therefore, for these four 

 reasons, if a good man or a believing woman has images made of Di Tsang Wang 

 P'usah and causes the classic of Di Tsang P'usah to be read, calling out to 

 Di Tsang P'usah, this person can certainly reach the western paradise before 

 the face of O Mi T'o Fuh (Amitabha), and his body become pure like the lotus 

 flower, which cannot be explained, and his six souls will become intelligent and 

 can go anywhere, from Buddhaland to Buddhaland, and from one heaven to 

 another. Any person who causes images of Di Tsang P'usah to be erected, and 

 this classic to be read, and protects the name of Di Tsang P'usah, after he dies 

 Di Tsang P'usah himself will come to welcome this person to be forever witli 

 Di Tsang P'usah. All divine creatures and men of the universe, and O .Shin l.o 

 when they hear this classic which I'uddha spoke, will rejoice, believe, obey, 

 make an obeisance, and depart.' 



After the month of confinement is over, the relatives and friends 

 who have been given presents are invited to a feast.' 



4. MARKLVGK 



Up to very recent times it was customary in Szechiian for all mar- 

 riages to be arranged by the parents through go-betweens. Even 



^ The above " classic " is evidently a translation into Chinese of a Tibetan book, 

 and the incantations are transliterations of incantations used by the Tibetan 

 lamas, having no meaning in the Chinese. This book, although it has sometimes 

 been prohibited by progressive officials, is widely used and its ideas are generally 

 accepted in West China. 



" Grainger, Adam, Studies In Chinese Life, 1921, p. 6. 



