1882.] 
of Ancient China. 
113 
presiding deities of the five great mountains of China, of the four great 
rivers and of wind, rain and lightning, besides many powerful demons, for 
whom several ceremonies are prescribed. At the time of propitiation 
.(ascetic performances) the To-u-se hermit is required to purify himself by 
washing his body, mouth and tongue, before beginning the mantras. Puri¬ 
fication of the body by ablution is the principal feature of the religious rites 
of the To-u-ses. Having prepared for the ceremony by careful ablution &c., 
the devotee sits and regulates the exhaling and inhaling of his breath. 
He then extols and praises his own rambling “ spirit,” abstracts his mind, 
absorbs himself in deep meditation and chants the sacred mantras. In 
this way there grew eight saints who obtained the power of working miracles 
according to their will. They are called Pa-dud-shyan-shin or the eight 
saints. Another saint named Tan thwen-shi by skill in mysticism subdued 
many demons and evil spirits, all of whom he hound by solemn oaths to guard 
the Imperial Palace of Pekin. These demi-gods and demons even at the 
present day are found to stand sentry round it as of old. The descendants 
of Tan-thwen when they approach the palace walls, are politely received 
by these spirit sentinels. There are also accounts of many who acquired 
superhuman powers such as that of performing miracles and illusions. 
There are mantras and incantations for performance of the lowest classes 
of samadlii. But notwithstanding all these, there is not found in their 
scriptures the true way of emancipation which can be obtained in Bud¬ 
dhism alone. Witchcraft, rites and ceremonies of mysticism and con¬ 
catenation of time and circumstance, besides those which are used by gods and 
sages in the way of Tantrikism are numerous among the To-u-ses. Among 
them there are two classes, the lay-people and the monks. The latter take 
vows of piety and discipline which they scrupulously observe. 
An Episode. 
During the reign of the great Han, a heretical Pandit of Singala-dvipa 
called Maha Brahmana arrived in China. He was warmly received by the 
king Yo-hu-chhan, whom he exhorted to introduce his doctrine all 
over China. During this time the celebrated sage Hwashan Dha-hu, 
who was versed in the Vedas of the Tirthikas was present. He held 
long discourses in most of the heretical S'astras of the Tirthikas witli 
the Singalese Pandit. The controversy was conducted in the Sanskrit 
language in which the Chinese sage debated with fiuency and facility. 
The heretical Pandit was defeated, which he publicly acknowledged 
by prostrating himself before the learned Hwashan. The king greatly 
rejoiced at the Hwashan’s triumph over the Singalese who was ignominiously 
expelled from the country. It was for this reason that Bralimanical 
doctrines obtained no footing in China. They are not known there even at 
the present day. 
