234
56
In times of distress repent before the Buddhas and chant liturgies. It is difficult to escape from destiny.
Although there are charms and medicines, how can they be effectual? You say that Canton suffers from this plague;
But I tell you that Shantung and Shansai will be more in danger. There have already been warnings in Kingchow and Chihli. Why have you not yet repented of your sins?
Fate now makes no mistake.
Firstly, men die because their destined existence ends.
Secondly, because they are punished for their secret iniquities.
The deaths now occurring only amount to ten or twenty per cent. of the
number destined to die.
The time is not yet up for the termination of this calamity.
Strictly speaking I should not divulge what heaven has designed;
But with a view to protect children and sympathize with mankind, There is nothing like carrying out an advice of mine.
(If you do so) I shall myself attend to the matter.
See how I acted in my previous engagements:
On all sides the devils feared and the gods reverenced me.
I entreat those who have no righteous thoughts, who slaughter animals
as offerings to gods,
Who spend much on joss paper, incense and candles--
Can these deliver you from illnesses and prolong your lives?
Repent of your sins before me betimes,
Swearing before heaven that you will do so.
Who is not aware of my bravery and propitiousness?
You should neither secretly nor openly deceive your fellow-creatures.
Vow that you will perform a charitable deed.
And thus establish a proof of your contrition which is not of small value; Or show some evidence by founding charitable institutions;
Or read my liturgy and follow to the letter the instructions therein
contained.
And when you have shown sufficiently that you have not deceived me,
Kwan,
If you read my liturgy for ten days, you will be heard.
1, Kwan, shall appear then in person.
You will then believe that I am to be revered and am propitious.
Revelation by Planchette No. 5:—
I, Kwan, was formerly favoured by the Emperor of the Ta Tsing (the present) dynasty by having conferred upon me certain additional titles (these are) Inspector of all the Buddhas and all the Gods, Superintendent of the host of Genii and other Demi-gods, Dispensor of Elixirs and Permits of Longevity (and Governor) of the Dark Land which causes death, and Overseer of Matters connected with the Buddha, K'e Lam. To which was added the title of Celestial Excellency. Again, thanks to the Gemmeous Ruler, Who, appre- ciating me for my loyalty, faithfulness and uprightness, allowed all important matters directed by him in connection with heaven to be passed by me before being put into force.
¿
On the 24th day of the third moon, I went to the Tin Ts'ai Kwún to offer congratulations on his birthday, and to deliberate concerning the important matters of life and death of the human race. Mounting back to the three heavenly gates I happened just to meet the two Gods of Fire and Wind and the Star of Gold, Venus, holding the Imperial Decree, descending from heaven to mortal abodes in great haste. I stopped them and asked them concerning their mission. From them I learned that Heaven was exasperated and said that the world was overcrowded with people and had been for a long time increasingly harbouring wicked men; that even a small child of three feet in height was also full of evil deeds. Heaven had ordered Venus to go to the Palace of the Sea Dragon (Neptune) on a certain day of a certain moon to again cause floods in the rivers, to make the winds and the waters come into conflict, and the fire and the pestilence to burst out, which were to scourge and destroy more than one half of the population as a manifestation of the endless permutations of the creative power. I hurriedly stopped them and ran up to the Palace of Heaven in haste, and with a distressed heart memorialized the Gemmeous Ruler, praying that he (the Ruler) would bear in mind the virtue of