A CHAPTER OF FOLKLORE 89 



The fourth water god was Yang Ssu Chiang Chun 

 ( 4& ?|f W-). One of his functions appears to have been 

 facilitating the passages of tribute rice along the Grand 

 Canal. His headquarters are stated to have been at Tsing- 

 kiang-p'u in Northern Kiangsu. Chinkiang being the con- 

 necting link between the two portions of the Canal north 

 and south of the River Yangtze, the worship of the god 

 would naturally be brought here. Pere Dore's Recherches 

 sur les Superstitions en Chine, Volume II, page 655, gives 

 some additional details. 



It is stated that Yang Ssu Chiang Chun was in his 

 life-time a Director General of Grain Transport, and on his 

 death he was promoted to be a god by the Emperor. A 

 •certain wind and appearance of waves indicated his impend- 

 ing coming. He appeared in the form of a snake about 

 eighteen inches long, green in colour and with piercing eyes. 

 When sailors on the rice boats saw him swimming in the 

 water, they produced a large tray and invited him to take 

 his place on it. The spirit was friendly and not afraid of 

 men. The tray was put on the bank of the Canal, and 

 the snake curled itself up in the centre. A message was 

 hastily sent to the Director General of Rice Transport, who 

 •came in his official chair. He kotowed to the spirit. The 

 latter was taken on his tray and placed on the official 's seat 

 in the chair and carried in state to the Dragon Temple 

 attended by the Director General. The tray was placed on 

 the altar. Candles were lit. The spirit in its snake form 

 would wind itself round one of the candles and look at the 

 flame. It was very fond of music, and the programme of 

 the troupe of musicians was offered to him as to an honoured 

 guest at entertainments. The spirit would place his head 

 on the piece to be played. On its termination the pro- 

 gramme was again submitted, and he again selected some 

 special item. When he wished to depart he was escorted 

 in state to the Canal and disappeared again in its waters. 

 It is stated that the permission of the four dragon kings and 

 of the Emperor was given before the spirit was allowed to 

 -appear, and that the boatmen who were notorious for their 

 turbulence were very docile when there was any likelihood of 

 the manifestation coming amongst them. 



Forty and fifty years ago these manifestations were very 

 common, but the stoppage of grain transport by the Canal 

 has largely killed the cult. 



The next two gods were Su Pao Ssu and Lieh Pao Ssu 

 {58 ^ pI ) ( ^»! $S "1 ). The first is stated to be a messenger 

 to the Jade Emperor (Yii Huang) ( Hj j| ) and the latter his 

 recorder in his heaven. The history of the Jade Emperor 



