Page:Chinese Life in the Tibetan Foothills.djvu/157

Rh Ch‘êng mên t‘u ti, the precinct god of the city gate, is the deputy of the city god and one is placed at each city gate.

Ya shên t‘u ti, the precinct god of the yamen. This shrine is usually inside the yamen and is patronized by the yamen runners and other public servants.

Chien ch‘a (監察) t‘u ti, the precinct god of the judgement hall. This idol is buried or covered with a flat stone in the centre of the first pavilion of the government office; the idea is that the idol is there to listen to the evidence given and the judgement pronounced.

Yang miao t‘u ti or Ching sui fu jên, the precinct god of crops, looks after the growth of the grain; if caterpillars or other pests attack it, he goes to the rescue. The shrines are very common all over the country. The scrolls on his shrine are often thus: 作一方之保障，佑四境以平安. The protector of whole district; keeping the four boundaries in place. If he fails in his duty it is not uncommon to see this idol beheaded, his shrine roofless and the headless body exposed to the weather as a punishment for his neglect. If the vegetable gardens are robbed he is blamed for it, or if slugs or moles eat the crops. Travellers suffering from sore feet or sore back put stones in front of these shrines all along the way, believing that they will get better for so doing.

Kao shan or Shan shên t‘u ti, the precinct god of the hills who protects people from wild beasts.

Wu chin t‘u ti, the precinct god of mines. He governs the five metals, viz., gold, silver, brass, iron, coal; the shrine is near the entrance to the mine.

Ho chieh (闔街) t‘u ti; the precinct god of the street. His shrine may be at the end or in the middle of the street.

Ch‘iao liang or Ch‘iao t‘ou t‘u ti, the precinct god of bridges; if the bridge has a roof over it, the first name is used and the shrine is situated at the centre of the bridge; otherwise the shrine will be found at either end and the second name is used to designate it.

Yao mên t‘u ti, the precinct god of the kiln; all lime, brick and tile kilns have this shrine at the entrance.