Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 222

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Láu Chái 1 Ch

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feelings respecting futurity, and for this purpose these books furnish abundant food.

The present volumes are legends, that refer principally to the doc- trines of the Táu sect. The first contains a good many advertise- ments and prefaces, according to the invariable rule of Chinese writings. The author's name is Pú Tsungling, a literary bachelor of Tsz'chuen in the department of Tsínán in Sháutung; he flourish- ed in the reign of Kánghi. The style of the work is highly admired, and this, together with the nature of the stories, causes it to be often read. Although many of the tales refer to the Táu sect, Budhists are sometimes introduced; but it contains also accounts of elis, fairies, ghouls, and spirits of all sorts, with wonderful narratives of animals endued with spiritual power, and other surprising tales.

Judging from the many copies in the hands of the people, we con- clude that it is rather a popular work. The Chinese in their leisure hours like to peruse such lucubrations, and to laugh heartily at them, though they at first pretend not to believe them. Their superstitions, however, are thus nourished, and they can never free themselves entire- ly from the incubus. There is nothing that can liberate man from this thralldom except true Christianity, which in all its bearings produces a healthful state of mind, and whilst it makes us acquainted with bliss eternal before the throne of God and of the Lamb, it introduces us likewise to an innumerable company of saints and angels in light. When we are familiarized with these sacred objects, we feel indeed the utmost contempt for such superstitious fables. Otherwise no faith in fate, or in the laws of nature and destiny, which is frequently disguised under the name of Providence, can permanently rescue us from error.

To give some idea of the work before us, we here transcribe a variety of its stories. An old priest of Táu had died, and his spouse entered the house with great wailing. On a sudden they heard loud exclamations from the old man, and a crowd of people ran into the room where the body was laid out, and saw to their great surprise, that the dead man had revived. On being question- ed about his resuscitation, he related, that on expiring he remem- bered his pledge of bringing with him a whole set of skeletons, and had revived in order to come back and fetch them, and expressed a wish that his wife might accompany him; after this he should die again. The old woman remonstrated against his intention of again leaving this world, as he had now acquired the means of enjoying its pleasures. But he was inexorable, and obliging his wife to lie

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