Myths and Legends of China eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 432 pages of information about Myths and Legends of China.

Myths and Legends of China eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 432 pages of information about Myths and Legends of China.

Sun then went to Kuan Yin and appealed for help.  She gave him a bottle, but he found he could not move it.  “No,” said Kuan Yin, “for all the forces of the ocean are stored in it.”

Kuan Yin lifted it with ease, and said:  “This dew water is different from dragon water, and can extinguish the fire of passion.  I will send a fairy with you on your boat.  You need no sails.  The fairy needs only to blow a little, and the boat moves along without any effort.”  Finally, the Red Child, having been overcome, repented and begged to be received as a disciple.  Kuan Yin received him and blessed him, giving him the name of Steward.

The Demons of Blackwater River

One day the Master suddenly exclaimed:  “What is that noise?” Sun replied:  “You are afraid; you have forgotten the Heart Prayer, according to which we are to be indifferent to all the calls of the six senses—­the eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, mind.  These are the Six Thieves.  If you cannot suppress them, how do you expect to see the Great Lord?” The Master thought a while and then said:  “O disciple, when shall we see the Incarnate Model (Ju Lai) face to face?”

Pa-chieh said:  “If we are to meet such demons as these, it will take us a thousand years to get to the West.”  But Sha Ho-shang rejoined:  “Both you and I are stupid; if we persevere and travel on, shoulder to shoulder, we shall reach there at last.”  While thus talking, they saw before them a dark river in flood, which the horse could not cross.  Seeing a small boat, the Master said:  “Let us engage that boat to take us across.”  While crossing the river in it, they discovered that it was a boat sent by the Demon of Blackwater River to entrap them in midstream, and the Master would have been slain had not Sun and the Western Dragon come to the rescue.

The Slow-carts Country

Having crossed the Blackwater River, they journeyed westward, facing wind and snow.  Suddenly they heard a great shout as of ten thousand voices.  The Master was alarmed, but Sun laughingly went to investigate.  Sitting on a cloud, he rose in the air, and saw a city, outside of which there were thousands of priests and carts laden with bricks and all kinds of building materials.  This was the city where Taoists were respected, and Buddhists were not wanted.  The Monkey, who appeared among the people as a Taoist, was informed that the country was called the Ch’e Ch’ih, ’Slow-carts Country,’ and for twenty years had been ruled by three Taoists who could procure rain during times of drought.  Their names were Tiger, Deer, and Sheep.  They could also command the wind, and change stones into gold.  The Monkey said to the two leading Taoists:  “I wonder if I shall be so fortunate as to see your Emperor?” They replied:  “We will see to that when we have attended to our business.”  The Monkey inquired what business the priests could have. 

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Myths and Legends of China from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.