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cause of their infidelity behind. (White cords have no separate meaning according to the temple keepers concerned).
The larger and more permanent Green Horses are offered fresh vegetables which are not placed in or near their mouths but, rather frustratingly for the horses, balanced on their heads. The rider of the Green Horse is known as the "Nobleman of the Green Horse" Kuei Jen (†A), and although he is rarely depicted save on paper charms it is accepted that they are a pair who work together and never separately. A keeper of the Stone Nullah Lane temple in Hong Kong claimed that the Nobleman (the Kuei Jen) and his Green Horse are helpful persons to whom people turn in time of need. He then referred to the opposite, the Hsiao Jen, the “mean one" who grumbles, carries tittle-tattle and is envious. The latter causes you unnecessary trouble such as loss of money. The helpful Nobleman shows you the way to fortune and the easy route through life. The beating of the "mean ones”, described earlier, is to discard the bad luck such people bring.
A few devotees, only encountered in Shamshuipo, believe that the Green Horse is capable of providing academic success for members of the devotee's family, as they reason that a nobleman on a horse must be both well-educated and an official, and that his support must inevitably bring success to youthful scholars.
A few devotees pray to Green Horse before a journey and again after a safe return. An extension of prayer for the traveller's safety was described in one small temple in Kowloon where the keeper said that the Green Horse is a divine messenger who is asked to visit and inform close relatives far away, of the sender's well-being and bring back tidings of their lives and aspirations. The keeper rather surprisingly added that it was also his understanding that if children failed to obey their parents, the elders would petition the Horse to knock some discipline into them! In another temple, however, a keeper was quite adamant that the Green Horse is only a messenger used by the Gods to send messages to each other, and must never be approached by humans. Finally, in Shamshuipo and in Wanchai, the Green Horse and the Nobleman are prayed to by the out-of-work, as the couple have the reputation of speedily being able to find suitable employment for devotees.
There are other similar horses which should not be confused with the Green Horse. The first is the steed ridden by Kuan Ti, the
94
L
K. G. STEVENS
cause of their infidelity behind. (White cords have no separate meaning according to the temple keepers concerned).
The larger and more permanent Green Horses are offered fresh vegetables which are not placed in or near their mouths but, rather frustratingly for the horses, balanced on their heads. The rider of the Green Horse is known as the "Nobleman of the Green Horse' Kuei Jen (†A), and although he is rarely depicted save on paper charms it is accepted that they are a pair who work together and never separately. A keeper of the Stone Nullah Lane temple in Hong Kong claimed that the Nobleman (the Kuei Jen) and his Green Horse are helpful persons to whom people turn in time of need. He then referred to the opposite, the Hsiao Jen, the “mean one" who grumbles, carries tittle tattle and is envious. The latter causes you unnecessary trouble such as loss of money. The helpful Nobleman shows you the way to fortune and the easy route through life. The beating of the "mean ones”, described earlier, is to discard the bad luck such people bring.
A few devotees, only encountered in Shamshuipo, believe that the Green Horse is capable of providing academic success for mem- bers of the devotee's family, as they reason that a nobleman on a horse must be both well-educated and an official, and that his support must inevitably bring success to youthful scholars.
A few devotees pray to Green Horse before a journey and again after a safe return. An extension of prayer for the traveller's safety was described in one small temple in Kowloon where the keeper said that the Green Horse is a divine messenger who is asked to visit and inform close relatives far away, of the senders well-being and bring back tidings of their lives and aspirations. The keeper rather surprisingly added that it was also his understanding that if children failed to obey their parents, the elders would petition the Horse to knock some discipline into them! In another temple, however, a keeper was quite adamant that the Green Horse is only a messenger used by the Gods to send messages to each other, and must never be approached by humans. Finally, in Shamshuipo and in Wanchai, the Green Horse and the Nobleman are prayed to by the out-of-work, as the couple have the reputation of speedily being able to find suitable employment for devotees.
There are other similar horses which should not be confused with the Green Horse. The first is the steed riden by Kuan Ti, the
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