Directory_and_Chronicle_1850 — Page 353

1850.

Mythological Notices.

Ling-kwán Má Yuenshwui

TEZ

or General Má, the Oracular Officer.

315

On examining the history of this old General from first to last, we find that he has thrice manifested his miraculous power. He was origin- ally no other than Chí-miáu-kih-tsiáng (a Budhist incarnation), who assumed this human body, but Budha, because he destroyed Beelzebub of the Fierce Fire, felt his compassion for him injured, and cast him down into the world. He accordingly, in five balls of fiery light put himself into the womb of Madam Má née Kin; when he was born he had three eyes, from which his title was Sín-yen Ling-kwáng = R the Brilliant Three-eyed. Three days after birth he was able to fight, and slew the Dragon King of the Eastern sea, in order to get rid of this pest of the waters; he then went further, and stole the golden spear of the Great Ruler Tsz'-wí, and committed his soul to the daughter of the prince of fire devils to become her son. She wrote the word ling (spiritual) on his left hand, and yáu (bright) on his right, and changed his name to Ling-yáu, and put him under the instruction of the Great-beneficent, Entirely-kind, Unusually-joyful Eminence of Heaven, who taught him the heavenly book, in which he learned everything pertaining to the winds and thunder, to dragons and serpents, to the subjugation of demons and quieting mankind. He then presented him a triangular gold tile, with which he could transform himself into any shape. He then received a commission from Yuh-hwáng Shangtí to rule the spirits of wind and fire, and order the goings and returnings of the wind-wheel and the fire-wheel; he also put at his service the five hundred fire crows belonging to the Holy Mother. He compelled the great King of the Black Dragon to be his auxiliary; and slew the Dragon of the Yángtsz' Kiáng, by which he made the people happy. In repeated difficulties and numerous dan- gers he showed himself most faithful. Shangtí conferred upon him a signet in his left hand and a sword in his right, with which to rule the southern heavens; in this he was most expansive. He also honored him with the coral-flower banquet, and the Prince royal Golden Dra- gon acted as cupbearer, in which he showed him great regard. But most surprising, the prince was proud and insolent, which so angered the General that he burned up the passes of the southern heavens, and routed the whole company of celestial generals; then descending to the Dragon Palace [of his father] he gave battle there. Lilau and Sz'-kwáng, with the two genii Ho and Hoh (the Castor and Pollux of the Chinese), then called the prince-royal, and quieted his anger, so that the affair was ended.