Page:Chinese Life in the Tibetan Foothills.djvu/197

Rh They contract for the bringing of a lunatic to his right mind.

They arrange for the removal of a ghost from a house. If houses have uncanny sounds or have the reputation of being haunted or are troubled with snakes, insects or other vermin, the geomancer fixes a lucky day and invites a sorcerer to assist him drive out the pests or ghosts.

Divining by copper cash is called Wên Wang kua. On the side of the cash are Chinese characters, that side is known as ma tzŭ (麻子). The side with Manchu characters is known as the mo êrh (末兒). Three cash are used and the count kept as to how many ma tzŭ or mo êrh show in six throws of the coins.

Mei hua shu (梅花數), to divine by whatever the divining person may carry in the hand or on the person is known as sui chi ying pien (隨機應變), to answer as occasion demands.

They also divine by the use of the six jên (壬) or combinations in the sexagenary cycle; by this method it is said that they can find out the name, dwelling place and likeness of a thief and where he has hidden the stolen goods, and other necessary details.

There is a method of divining invented by Shao K‘ang-chieh of the Han dynasty. It was largely prophetic and dealt with the future of the country. Though this method is still used, few if any are able to understand it fully.

Ch‘i mên tun chia (奇門遁甲), to divine by an appeal to the stars. This method is generally used in connection with prophetic prognostications.

Divining by the use of dominos is a method used to fix the dates for marriages, to find lost articles or a lost relative, or when wealth may be obtained.

The Itinerant Vendor

Pedlars sell spirit charms from such idols as the Ling kwan and the T‘ien shih; both are to prevent or to heat diseases.