over to look, but each declared the feat to be impossible.  Chao Sheng alone had the courage to rush out to the point of the rock and up the tree stretching out into space.  With firm foot he stood and gathered the peaches, placing them in the folds of his cloak, as many as it would hold, but when he wished to climb back up the precipitous slope, his hands slipped on the smooth rock, and all his attempts were in vain.  Accordingly, he threw the peaches, three hundred and two in all, one by one up to Chang Tao-ling, who distributed them.  Each disciple ate one, as also did Chang, who reserved the remaining one for Chao Sheng, whom he helped to climb up again.  To do this Chang extended his arm to a length of thirty feet, all present marvelling at the miracle.  After Chao had eaten his peach Chang stood on the edge of the precipice, and said with a laugh:  “Chao Sheng was brave enough to climb out to that tree and his foot never tripped.  I too will make the attempt.  If I succeed I will have a big peach as a reward.”  Having spoken thus, he leapt into space, and alighted in the branches of the peach-tree.  Wang Ch’ang and Chao Sheng also jumped into the tree and stood one on each side of him.  There Chang communicated to them the mysterious formula.  Three days later they returned to their homes; then, having made final arrangements, they repaired once more to the mountain peak, whence, in the presence of the other disciples, who followed them with their eyes until they had completely disappeared from view, all three ascended to Heaven in broad daylight.

Chang Tao-ling’s Great Power

The name of Chang Tao-ling, the Heavenly Teacher, is a household word in China.  He is on earth the Vicegerent of the Pearly Emperor in Heaven, and the Commander-in-Chief of the hosts of Taoism.  He, the chief of the wizards, the ‘true [i.e. ideal] man,’ as he is called, wields an immense spiritual power throughout the land.  The present pope boasts of an unbroken line for three-score generations.  His family obtained possession of the Dragon-tiger Mountain in Kiangsi about A.D. 1000.  “This personage,” says a pre-Republican writer, “assumes a state which mimics the imperial.  He confers buttons like an emperor.  Priests come to him from various cities and temples to receive promotion, whom he invests with titles and presents with seals of office.”

Kings of Heaven

The Four Kings of Heaven, Ssu Ta T’ien-wang, reside on Mount Sumeru (Hsue-mi Shan), the centre of the universe.  It is 3,360,000 li—­that is, about a million miles—­high. [19] Its eastern slope is of gold, its western of silver, its south-eastern of crystal, and its north-eastern of agate.  The Four Kings appear to be the Taoist reflection of the four Chin-kang of Buddhism already noticed.  Their names are Li, Ma, Chao, and Wen.  They are represented as holding a pagoda, sword, two swords, and spiked club respectively.  Their worship appears to be due to their auspicious appearance and aid on various critical occasions in the dynastic history of the T’ang and Sung Periods.