195 

 _ Ha ving done this, he may drink a cup. 



oo 



o 



O O O ^ he nost P laces six cups in this way : the guesfc ouglit to form the eharacters 

 O (3 (3 Thian-Ma-lhai-phing Q) or the character Cfo^ ( 2 ) with these cups. 



o 



o o These six cups represent the character Cfatng ^ f , middle." 



o o 



o 



oo ooo o ooo These 4X6 cups form the eharacters Thian-hia- 



oo oo oo oo thai-phing ö //In the world is universal peace." 



o ooo o 



o o 



Eight cups placed in one row signify //the eight genii." The guest, before drinking of this 

 tea, sings the stanza on the eight genii. ( 3 ) 



(2) These seven cups represent //the seven-star sword." (*) The guest may either 



qq (3 drink the third cup of the blade, or the two side-cups which form the guard of 

 ^--v the sword. 



O 



o 



V-'*—'*— ' These seven cups represent //the sword without a hilfc." ( 5 ) 



vJ The guest places the fourth cup of the blade on the top of the guard, in order 



O to form the hilt, and recites this quatrain: 



v_J The changes with the tea-cups are inexhaustible; 



(3 My abilities are few and my knowledge is superficial, but I am true. 



I meet now to day the face of a brother and superior; 



And I hope that he will teach me a little. 



tt m % & 



sF* 



4 # & \ 5 iS 



Si % * it - = » 



(i) J^ "p "j^ 2p (2) j4j (3) See this stanza on pag. '2 3 — 23. 



( 4 ) -t: M M See ?*?• 42 - fl M SS $J 



