52 THE SHUH COUNTRY 



CHAPTEE IV. 



Customs prevalent in Shuh during the Yuan 

 Dynasty (A.D. 1280-1368). 



In ancient times the city of Ch'en tu was the chief 

 centre for the pleasure-seeking inhabitants of Western Shuh. 

 Owing to the city being large, and luxuries of every kind 

 being plentiful, it naturally became the gathering place for 

 the aboriginal tribes, who completly peopled the province at 

 this period. The customs of the people were largely bound 

 up with gaiety and pleasure as the following lines will try to 

 show. 



"When the T'ai Sheo (^C^) or prefect held a feast his 

 followers were many, and the official conveyances of varied 

 and pretty colours. The actors performed as he entered and 

 left the banquet hall. The jugglers came from all quarters, 

 and were admitted to the banquet hall to perform their feats 

 before him in regular rotation. At the New Year season 

 there were certain fixed customs to be observed, and at such 

 times crowds of men and women, all dressed in their best 

 holiday attire, came forth to enjoy the celebrations. The 

 aged and young were piloted by the robust and able bodied 

 through the dense crowds, and eventually placed on high 

 stools, or other places of vantage, so that they might view 

 the decorations, and the official celebration of the great 

 annual feast. 



At this season the T'ai Sheo (& i ?) assumed the posi- 

 tion of Ao T'eo (H M), or master of ceremonies, when the 

 following programme was carried through. We are indebted 

 to the ancient writer Fei Chu (H M) for this description of 

 the year's festivities. 



First Moon. 



1st day. — Early in the morning of this day the people 

 stuck small flags all over the sides and top-of the pagoda 

 situated in the An Fuh Si* (3c M #) temple. When the work 

 was completed the whole structure was covered like scales 

 on the skin of a fish. On the top of the pagoda were lanterns, 

 which were lighted at dusk, while the Buddhist priests 

 chanted. At this time, Buddhism was at the zenith of its 

 influence and power, and its priests abounded everywhere. 

 The T'ai Sheo (;fc *&) had his banquet spread in front of the 

 pagoda. In the afternoon he ascended the pagoda to scan 

 the face of the sky in search of omens for the coming year. 



