Page:Some Chinese ghosts (IA somechineseghost00heariala).pdf/184

 . — The second of the six styles of Chinese writing, for an account of which see Williams's "Middle Kingdom." ... According to various Taoist legends, the decrees of Heaven are recorded in the "Seal-character," the oldest of all; and marks upon the bodies of persons killed by lightning have been interpreted as judgments written in it. The following extraordinary tale from the Kan-ing-p'ien affords a good example of the superstition in question:—

Tchang-tchun was Minister of State under the reign of Hoeï-tsong, of the Song dynasty. He occupied himself wholly in weaving perfidious plots. He died in exile at Mo-tcheou. Sometime after, while the Emperor was hunting, there fell a heavy rain, which obliged him to seek shelter in a poor man's hut. The thunder rolled with violence; and the lightning killed a man, a woman, and a little boy. On the backs of the man and woman were found red characters, which could not be deciphered; but on the back of the little boy the following six words could be read, written in Tchouen (antique) characters:, — which mean: "Child of the issue of Tchang-tchun, who was a rebellious subject." — Le Livre des Récompenses et des Peines, traduit par Stanislas Julien, p. 446.

. — The ankle-ring commonly worn by Hindoo women; it is also called nupur. It is hollow, and contains loose bits of metal, which tinkle when the foot is moved.