Page:Horæ Sinicæ, Translations from the Popular Literature of the Chinese (horsinictran00morrrich, Morrison, 1812).djvu/72

62 the founder of the dynasty Tang, a person called Kie-shen-shing, belonging to Tsing-Cheu, lived at Yang-kio hill, and was clothed in moon-white garments. An old man there, called to him and said, "Do you go for me to the emperor Tang, and say to him—I am Sao-kiun, [the venerable prince,] your ancestor." In consequence of this, the founder of the dynasty, built a temple to Sao-kiun, and his son honoured him by the appellation of "The marvellous and original emperor."

The emperor Ming wrote a commentary on the authentic work Tao-te. At this time scholars study it. The temples of Hiuen-yuen-hoang-ti, [the marvellous and original emperor,] are erected in both capitals, [Peking and Nanking;] also in every Cheu. The masters at the capitals, mark on the temples, "Kiuen-yuen-kung," [the temple of the marvellous origin.] All the Cheu mark them, "Tsi-kie-kung," [the temple of the most honourable.] The western capital marks them "Tai-tsing-kung," [the temple of perfect purity.] The eastern capital marks