ABSTRACT
It is believed that the best protection against a tiger if a meeting cannot be avoided is an umbrella opened in his face. Examples of the success of this method are occasionally seen in works of art.
MONKEY Sun Hou-tze (~~ T ), the Imperial White Ape, to give him
one of his many titles, is a highly popular divinity in the Taoist as well as t.he Buddhist pantheon. After a well-merited expulsion from the Taoist paradise and prolonged incarceration, he retrieved his character by changing his religion and earning canonisation by the rival faith. In spite of his apostasy his reputation is probably higher amongst the adherents to his old religion, and his image is displayed in many Taoist temples. Though his official birthday falls on the 23rd of the Second Moon, it is always appropriate to worship him, and the sacrificial garments of red and gold, with the cloud-skipping sandals, are permanently in stock in the paper shops.
