ABSTRACT
In spite of the lack of data on his state of mind, one may well imagine that Lan Li was quite proud of his profi ciency in geomantic magic. Channeling the energy fl ows of local political power into ceremonial competition, his method “killed two birds with one stone,” entertaining both the local divinities and his superiors. During this time, Lan Li’s superiors were anxious to mobilize local people, whose social life, as he sensed, depended ever more heavily on festivals in the aftermath of war. The local patron deities became ever more respected during this expansion of festivals.
