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Mythological Notices.
JUNE,
rood in height; his head was four feet broad; his beard was red, and about five feet long; his face was blue; he wore a curled-hair golden crown, and was clothed in a red war cloak and black leathern boots. In his left hand he held a gem seal, and in his right grasped a square, ornamented halberd. When a bier is carried out he goes before it, and drives away whatever is unlucky and noxious, and all foul devils hide themselves from him. He is the Fortunate Spirit for conveyance of coffins, and has thus been handed down to succeeding ages.
The Two Generals, Spirits of Doors.
They are two warriors, Tsin Shuhpáu and Hú Kingteh of the Táng dynasty. According to the legend, the emperor T'áitsung was disturb- ed by the throwing of tiles and playing with bricks outside of his bedroom, and the hooting of demons and spirits. Ilis women and palaces were all in like manner disquieted. His majesty was alarm- ed, and informed his ministers. Tsin Shuhpȧiu stepped forth, and addressing the emperor said, “Your servant has during his whole life killed men as he would split open a gourd, and piled up carcasses as he would heap up ants; why should he be afraid of ghosts? Let your servant, in company with Hú Kingteh, arm ourselves, and keep watch standing before the door." T'áitsang granted his request, and truly, during the night he experienced no alarm, at which he was much pleased, but remarked, "These two men watching all night, had no sleep." He therefore commanded a painter to draw two pictures of men clad in full armor, holding in their hands a gemmed battle- ax, and having a whip, chain, bow, and arrows girt on their loins, with their hair standing on end according to their usual costume. These were suspended on the right and left doors of the palace, and the noxious monsters were abated. Subsequent ages imitated this precedent, and have ever since made Tsin and Hú the guardians of doorways.
Tsing-i Shin✯ or the Azure-robed Spirit.
'The Azure-robed spirit, is the same as Tsántsung, i. e. Silkworm Bush, who, according to the legend, was originally the earl of Shuh (or Sz'chuen), and afterwards became King of Shuh. It was his cus- tom to clothe himself in blue garments, and travel about the country to teach his people the art of raising silkworms. The country people, moved with gratitude for his benefits, erected a temple and worship- ed him. These temples were erected everywhere in the western parts, and no one implored his aid in vain; all people called hin the Azure- robed Spirit. The district of Tsingshin, in Mei chau in Sz'chuen, is said to have derived its name from him.
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