KU K'AI-CHIirS SCROLL IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM 107 



In the Mou Tan Ting poem there are two cynical 

 lines "When are a bright day and beautiful scenery found 

 together, 



In whose garden may be found a happy heart and en- 

 joyable occupation." 



7. Chien Ho. Before the fall of the Kingdom of Wu 

 (A.D. 277) a purple vapor was frequently seen between two 

 constellations (Sagittarius and Aries). Some thought it to 

 be a sign of the revival of the power of Wu and that Wu 

 would enjoy peace once again. However the purple vapor 

 became more brilliant whereupon Chang hearing that Lei 

 Huan was skilled in astrology, sought him so that together 

 they might observe the signs of the heavens. Lei said that 

 the strange vapor between the two constellations was the 

 essential principle of fine swords which had mounted to 

 the sky. Chang asked where these swords could be found, 

 and Lei replied that they were in Feng Ch'eng (in Kiangsi). 

 Chang asked him to search for them and thereupon appointed 

 Lei as Governor of Feng Ch'eng. When he arrived at his 

 post he dug under the foundations of the prison and found 

 in a stone box two swords with inscriptions cut in the same 

 place on the swords. One had the two characters Lung 

 Ch'iian (II &) and the other T'ai Ah (ic ffl ) incised on it. 

 That night the vapor between the two constellations dis- 

 appeared. 



Of these two swords Lei presented one to Chang, and 

 himself wore the other. Afterwards Chang was put to death 

 and his sword disappeared. After the death of Lei, his son 

 took his sword. While passing through Yen P'ing (in 

 Fukien) this sword suddenly leaped into the water and sank. 

 All that could be seen was two dragons more than ten feet 

 in length. 



The reference in Ch'ien Lung's inscription is to the 

 bringing together of the two scrolls formerly owned by Ku 

 Cheng-i as being similar to the final reunion of the two 

 swords. This reference to "the united swords" — Chien ho, 

 is not infrequent in literary writings and was known to 

 Dr. Giles, Sr., who refers to the incident of the swords in his 

 account of the life of Lei Huan (No. 1089). 



The Original Admonitions. 



In order that the meaning of this scroll may be under- 

 stood, I have reproduced and translated the text of the 

 "Admonitions" written by Chang Hua in the reign of Hui Ti 

 (A.D. 290-306) of the Western Chin dynasty. Chang Hua 



