145
15
16
are deities of good omen whereas the Seventy-two are stellar spirits of ill omen, without individual legends.
The bell is called The Bell which dissolves Demons - Ronggui Zhong
Houdous notes in Fujian province that Taisui images sometimes wear a necklace of skulls to represent his authority over the lives of mankind.
Most lone Taisui are known as the 'Intendant of the Year' [dangnian A], though a few are 'the Intendant of the Month" [dangyue B] and even fewer the 'Intendant of the Day and Hour" [dangri dangshi B].
W A Grootaers: Rural Temples around Hsüan Hua: Folklore Studies vol. X
Shanghai: A Handbook for Travellers and Residents: Its Chief Objects of Interest. Rev. C.E. Darwent : Shanghai: ca 1906
Studies in Chinese Life: Grainger : pub. Chengtu : 1921
King Zhou was the last ruler of Shang dynasty, described down the centuries as the most despised ruler in Chinese history due to his abhorrent excesses.
}} Jiao means the 'suburbs' his whole name therefore is Yin [who was deserted in the Suburbs.
20 Tian Fet, an early title of the goddess, is now known as Tian Hou [or Tianshang Shengmu]
21 For details of the use of the stems and branches within the sexagenary cycle refer to the chart at the end of this article.
"The method of gauging distance used by the general populace before the 1911 downfall of Imperial dynasty, and still used by peasants for several decades thereafter, when they were uncorrupted by advanced technology, was the 'li', approximately one third of a mile, though in practice it was the distance measured in time taken between places, it being markedly shorter when travelling up hill than when travelling down.
23 These extra months were added every two to three years to reconcile the annual difference of some eleven and a quarter days between the lunar and solar systems.