ABSTRACT
Their heavy labours over, the peasants again worship their earth-gods with the same oldfashioned rites used in the second moon.1 How antique such harvest thanksgivings are, the special hymn quoted in the Book of Odes (VlIIth century B.C.) proves: "With offerings of millet and of sheep, we sacrifice to the Gods of the Soil and of the Cardinal Directions. Our fields have been reaped and the people rejoice. Let us play upon the lute and upon the lyre, let us heat upon the drums to invoke the Father of Husbandry (probably Shen Nung is meant). Let us humbly beg of Him the blessing of the soft, warm rain ----------_.
