ABSTRACT
Chang Tao-ling, the first Master of Heaven, is credited with being the originator of the doctrine which popularised this religion, and with being no mean exorcist himself. He bequeathed his talents to his lineal descendants and successors in office, who wielded the demon-dispelling sword and immobilised their adversaries by sealing them in jars. It was generally believed that the present Master of Heaven had a whole cellar full of them at the Dragon-Tiger palace in Kianghsi, which, with the magic sword, he was compelled to leave behind on the approach of the Communists. It would be interesting to know if the contents of the jars formed part of the Liberation policy, as the tempers of the malignants cannot have been improved by their long confinement.
