191 



B ffl M. M n % 



& m fa m. m 



O O O O Four cups placed this way have the same meaning. 



If a brother gets into difficulties and comes to your house, and asks for tea, give him the 

 first cup. If he takes the second cup, he wants to commit his wife to your charge; it' 

 he takes the third cup, he wants to intrust you with his child; if he takes the fourth 

 cup, he wants some money. 



If you are able to assist him, drink from the same cup, of which he drank; if you are, 

 hoAvever, not able to help him, choose another cup. 



Four cups of tea placed in a square with the tea-pot in the middle represent the //tea 

 of the brethern meeting." ( : ) 



Before drinking, take the tea-pot out of the square. 



OOO Four tea-cups placed in this way signify: „Liu-siu who passes the passes." ( 2 ) 

 O If y° u can assist the straightened brother, drink the middle cup of the upper 



row; but if you can 't help him, you may not touch the two cups on both sides. 



(3 Four cups placed in this way represent the character Sun. ( 3 ) 



("} The guest taking away the middle-most cup, it just gives a representation of this 



r~\ character. 



o 



O O Cups placed in this way are called //the inexact square." ( 4 ) 



O O The guest may not drink of this tea, before having placed the cups in a square. 



o £ « * ^ I 



( 2 ) Ü!l ^ j® ü Liusm was the thiri son oï Liu-kin (|gj] <§fc) of the family of Hm. He 

 and his two brothers Liu-yen [M $Éi) and Liu-cïmng \^\ {tjj) were the first who thought 

 of avenging the honor of their family against the usurpation of Wmg-mmg ( jg ^), They rebelled 

 and , after three years , Liu-siu was made emperor of China ander the title of Kwang-mt-ti ( -)£ jj£ ^ ), 

 »The bright martial emperor." A. D. 25. (Histoire Générale de la Chine, T. III, 250.) 



C) h <*) m Z- JE 



