THE SHUH COUNTRY 



00 



This Chang Kong iiin (»&|fc) was said to have had a 

 heart like flint, but this ballad shows that he was not void 



?1 i entiment - In later y ears when Ts ' in g Hsien Kong 

 l^ 1 ^) came mto power, the number of these decorated 

 boats was greatly increased, as a memorial to Chang Kong 

 iiin the writer of the above poem. 



8th. —On this day the dealers in medicine held a feast 

 at the T'ai-ts'i-si (*&*) in the morning, and at the Kin 

 Shuen Yuen (^HK) in the evening. 



Third Moon. 



1st day. — On this date the T'ai Sheo proceeded to the 

 Hsioh Shae Shan (Hit til.) archery hill, which was situated 

 outside the north gate of the city. After partaking of some 

 refreshments he watched an archery tournament, which 

 was celebrated in memory of Chang-peh-tsi (M ffi -?), 

 because on this date Chang took leave of earth. The 

 sorcerers exposed many charms for sale by the wayside, 

 the people buying them freely to wear on their persons to 

 ward off sickness and calamity, and also to protect the 

 silk worms, being hatched on their persons, from evil. The 

 people wore spring attire, and carried umbrellas, and traversed 

 all over the hillside on holiday. In the evening a feast was 

 spread at the Wan Sui Ch'i (M S« $L) or long life pool, where 

 small boats were floating during the time of the feast. 



9th. — The medicine shop keepers had a morning and 

 evening feast similar to that held in the second moon. 



2 1st. — On this date the T'ai Sheo left the city by the 

 east gate and proceeded to a temple named the Chong 

 Ch'uen Koh (ffe # W) situated on the Hai Yuen Shan 

 (|$ fg iU). After partaking of a meal he went to watch the 

 people rubbing stones. The custom of rubbing stones at 

 this particular spot is said to date from the reign of K'ai 

 Yuen (^ 7t) (A.D. 713) In the 23rd year of this reign a 

 certain priest who was greatly beloved by the people died, 

 and the people instituted this custom in memory of him. 

 The people traversed the hillside then fished for stones in 

 the small pond on the hillside, both male and female 

 engaged in this search for stones. If any were found it was 

 reckoned to be a lucky omen for obtaining a son in the 

 course of that year. On this occasion the evening banquet 

 was held at the T'ai T'si-si (* % #) temple. 



22th —On this date the silk market was opened at the 

 Ilui Sheng-fu-ren (#^^A) temple, which was situated 

 outside the large West gate. Some time previous to this 

 T'ien Kong(B^) had successfully besought and obtained 



