Page:Ling-Nam; or, Interior views of southern China, including explorations in the hitherto untraversed island of Hainan (IA cu31924023225307).pdf/228

224 Ling-Nam. No one worthy to succeed him was found, and the sacred bowl and other paraphernalia of the office were buried with him.

The story of Luk-tso's life reads so like a fairy tale, that it is difficult to sift the facts from the fancies which his admirers have wreathed around it. His family name was Ló, and his native village was Ló-tsuen, near the present city of San-hing, where he was born about 625 A.D. His mother's name was Lee. At the time of his conception she saw in a dream abundance of white flowers spring up and white storks flying in pairs, and the room was filled with a strange delightful perfume. At the time of his birth, which occurred six years later, bright candles appeared in the sky, and a wondrous fragrance filled the air. On the following morning two priests suddenly appeared, and informed his father that a son was born to him, whose name was already determined upon. Above it would be Wei (Benevolence), and below it would be Nang (Power), because he would bestow blessings on the people, and have power to show forth the doctrines of Buddha. He has ever been known as Wei-nang. In infancy he was nourished by spirits or divine beings, who gathered honey- dew and nectar to feed him. When he was three years old his father died, and left him to the care of his mother, who brought him up. When she was old he went to live in Nam-hoi, near Canton. They were very poor, and he had nothing with which to support his mother. He was accustomed to gather firewood and take it to the market to sell. While there one day he heard some one read from a Buddhist book, called the " Diamond Sutra." His heart was awakened, and in answer to his inquiry the man told