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Mythological Notices.
JUNE,
Again, he transformed himself, and entered the womb, and five bro- thers and two sisters were all at once produced from the body of the Demon Mother. He also, on account of his mother, went down into the abyss of earth, thence into the depths of the Sea, and walked into the land of the genii; after that he passed through hell, and the cave of devils; then he fought with Nochá, and stole the fairy peach. He also made an enemy of 'l'sí-tien-tá-shing (or the Monkey King), but Bud- ha effected a reconciliation. In all these things he showed his filial duty. Afterwards he returned to the left side of the shrine of Kwán- yin, in which he showed his intelligence.
Yuh-hwang Shángtí considering these merits and virtue to be equal to heaven and earth, sent the General to form part of the court of Hiuen- tien Shangtí. He showed his love by making him the controller of the west, to answer all supplications of the people for wives, wealth, children and emoluments. To a hundred acts of worship, he gives a hundred answers. Whenever a person is in great straits, or is cruelly oppressed, all his prayers come to Yuenshwui's department, and forth- with are presented at the gate of heaven. His power is like the thun- der and his flight like the wind.
Note. The common name of this deity is Hwa-kwangor Glorious Light, under which appellation he is frequently worshiped in this part of China, and regarded as the God of Fire. During the autumnal Budhist ceremonies called Tá tsiáu, he is implored for protection against fires during the winter. The following occurrence shows the regard paid to him. One of the English officers brought an image of Hwa-kwáng from Chinking fù in 1843, which he presented as a curiosity to a lady in Macao. It remained in her house several months, and on the breaking up of the establishment, previous to a return to In- dia, it was exposed for sale at auction with the furniture. A large crowd collect- ed, and the attention of the Chinese was attracted to this image, which they examined carefully to see if it had the genuine marks of its ordination upon it; for no image is supposed to be properly an object of worship, until the spirit has been inaugurated into it by the prescribed ceremonies. Having satisfied them- selves, the idol was purchased for thirty dollars by two or three zealous persons, and carried off in triumph to a shop, and respectfully installed in a room cleared for the purpose. A public meeting was shortly after called, and resolutions pass- ed to improve the propitious opportunity to obtain and preserve the protecting power of so potent a deity, by erecting a pavilion, where he would have a respec- table lodgment, and receive due worship. A subscription was thereupon started, some of its advocates putting down fifty, and others thirty dollars, until about $1200 were raised, with which a small lot was purchased on the island west of Macao, and a pavilion or temple erected, where Hwi-kwing was enshrined with poinpous parade amid theatrical exhibitions, and a man hired to keep him and his domicile in good order.
Sz' ming Tsáu Shin
God of the Furnace who gives orders.
According to the Miscellanies of the Western Region, the surname of the God of the Furnace is Cháng, his name is Shen, and his style is Tsz'-kwoli. His figure is like that of a beautiful woman.
His