The Mystical Journey.

Master (To Vanguard)—Whence come you? Vanguard

From the East. ¹

Master

At what time?

Vanguard

At sunrise, when the East was light.

Master

Why at that particular hour?

Vanguard

As I was roaming over the mountains the sun was still hidden from sight,

But the heart of man on earth turns towards the East.

When the cocks crew at dawn I wished to help my native land,

The bright pearl ² rose and reddened the earth for miles around.

Master

What abilities do you possess?

Vanguard

I am acquainted with the military arts.

Master

From what place have you come?

Vanguard

From the Red Flower Pavilion, ³ where the Master of Hung instructed me.

Master

How many chapters did the Master of Hung teach you?

Vanguard

108. ⁴

Master

In what did he instruct you?

Vanguard

The Master taught me the three bonds ⁵ and the five virtues. ⁶

Vanguard

We were gathered together in the Red Flower Pavilion and made an essay; ¹

Our road leads straight to the golden tablets, ²

Afterwards our names shall become widely renowned.

Master

Which chapter of the poem did you especially study?

Vanguard

The chapter Wan-chang. ³

Master

Of how many sections did it consist?

Vanguard

Of five sections, namely, the principle of Heaven, the principle of Earth, the principle of the gods, the principle of man and the principle of oneself.

Master

Repeat these five sections.

Vanguard

The principle of Heaven is perfect, The principle of Earth is august, Man stands between these twain. The three principles are established together, And one principle is common to all three. Myriads of branches approach with bare feet and heads stretched forward, ⁴ If the heart is faithful the complexion of man is ruddy. A nurse took me by the hand, But who would have thought that I should appear in white clothing? Two dragons are the origin of the gods, Excellent horses ⁵ surpass everything, They all have provisions and soldiers And wait for one man. ⁶

Master

How did you acquire knowledge of the military art?

Vanguard

At the Shiu Lam Monastery I first learnt the noble art of self-defence.

Master

How many came with you?

Vanguard

Two others, making us three. ¹

Master

How is it that you now come alone?

Vanguard

The sworn brother went before me, the adopted brother followed after me. ²

Master

Since you started so early, how is it that you arrived so late?

Vanguard

Because I sought for valiant heroes.

Master

Who accompanied you?

Vanguard

The Hung Brethren.

Master

Where are they now?

Vanguard

Some are far off on the horizon, others are near at hand, while some roam about the world without any fixed residence. For these reasons I come alone. ³

Master

Came you by land or water?

Vanguard

First over land and then by boat. ⁴

Master

How many roads were there?

Vanguard

Three. ⁵

Master

By which came you?

Vanguard

By the Middle Road. ⁶

Master

Why by the Middle Road?

Vanguard

Because it was the broadest.

Master

What did you see on the road?

Vanguard

I saw a white heron flying overhead.

Master

Did you pass anyone?

Vanguard

Yes, eight priests. ¹

Master

Do you know their names?

Vanguard

No, but each one carried some precious thing.

Master

What did each carry?

Vanguard

The Lord Kwoh-kiu-tsau held two jade castanets: Thsai-ho carried a flower basket in his hand; Tung-pin had a precious sword slung over his back: Chang-kao-lao was an ancient priest. Siang-tsze was playing on the flute: Sian-ku stood on a floating bridge and held a sceptre: Chung-li waved a precious fan: Li-kwai carried a censer, in which was burning his wonderful elixir.

Master

Did you pass anyone else? ²

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Yes, a woman. ¹ She wore a bamboo hat and a white dress, she rode a white horse, and in her right hand she held a sceptre.

Master

Whither did she go?

Vanguard

She entered a grove of firs and cypresses.

Master

Can you prove that statement?

Vanguard

I can prove it with a verse.

Master

Give me the verse.

Vanguard

When a withered tree meets Spring it sprouts once more.

When the eight sages crossed the sea they put golden flowers in their hair.

The princess rides on horseback along the road.

The fir and the cypress groves are our home. ²

Master

Did you see any Temples on your journey?

Vanguard

I saw the Temple of Ling-wang. ³

Master

Which god is that?

Vanguard

The guardian deity of the faithful and loyal brethren of Hung.

Master

Was there anyone there?

Vanguard

The fairy Hian-chu-lung ⁴ was there.

Master

What was she doing?

Vanguard

She was gathering mulberry flowers. Before the temple Ling-wang she gathers mulberry flowers. Everyone in the world should unite in one family; If one meets another afterwards and asks his name, He should answer, “I gather mulberry flowers.” ¹

Master

Did you pass any mountains?

Vanguard

I passed the Black Dragon Mountain and ascended it. ²

Master

Where were you when you passed the Black Dragon?

Vanguard

At the foot of the Nail mountain.

Master

What did you next find?

Vanguard

At the foot of the mountain I found a boat waiting to take Hung heroes.

Master

How many people were in this boat?

Vanguard

Three. ³

Master

Who was standing in the bow of the boat?

Vanguard

The Captain.

Master

What was his name and surname?

Vanguard

His name was Tsiang, and his surname, Tai Tak ⁴

Master

When was he born?

Vanguard

On the fifteenth day of the first moon, ⁵ in the hour Tsz, ⁶ and he dwells in the province of Fuk-kien, in the town of Amoy, in the Hall of Great Fidelity.

Master

Who stood in the stern of the boat?

Vanguard

The Captain’s wife.

Master

What was her name and surname?

Vanguard

Her name was T’a ¹ from Lu, and her surname Liu-ts’ing.

Master

When was she born?

Vanguard

On the fifteenth day of the eighth moon, in the hour Wu. ² She lives in the province of Canton, in the prefecture Wuchow, in the temple Hai-thang.

Master

The hours Tsz and Wu are opposite each other, how then could these two be together in one ship?

Vanguard

On the Hung ship it is good if Tsz and Wu stand opposite to each other. ³

Master

Did you see anyone in the ship’s hold?

Vanguard

Yes, there were Hung brothers there.

Master

How many holds had the ship?

Vanguard

Five. ⁴ The first was laden with red wood, the second with red rice, in the third was the Son of the Lord. ⁵ The fourth was laden with weapons and the fifth with Hung heroes.

Master

How can you prove this?

Vanguard

By this verse:— The seat of the Son of the Lord is in the midst of the vessel, The soldiers and civilians help him to preserve the sun and moon. ⁶ The silken sails are hoisted and the winds are favourable, We roam over the world to settle heaven and earth.

Master

Were there any more holds in the ship?

Vanguard

Yes, twenty-one.

Master

How many awnings?

Vanguard

Five. ¹

Master

How many deck boards?

Vanguard

21.

Master

How many kinds of wood? ²

Vanguard

Three. To the left peach-wood; to the right plum-wood, and in the middle red-wood. ³

Master

What were the length and breadth of these pieces of wood?

Vanguard

They were 86 Chang broad and 72 Chang long. ⁴

Master

How many keels were there?

Vanguard

Twelve keels, three at the bottom and nine on the sides. ⁵

Master

How many seams were there in the ship?

Vanguard

72.

Master

How much caulking was used to fill the seams?

Vanguard

21 pounds.

Master

How many nails were used in the ship?

Vanguard

108. ⁶

Master

What God stood on the bow of the ship?

Vanguard

On the bow was the image of the God of Fire. On the left was the “Clear-percepting Ear,” and on the right “The Thousand-mile-seeing Eye.” ⁷ There was also a couplet written on the bow.

Master

How does it run?

Vanguard

Favourable currents and winds please men,

A genial sun and moon suit the weather.

Master

What God stood in the middle of the ship?

Vanguard

The image of the holy Prince Kwan. On his left the Prince Kwanphing, and on his right the General Chau-chang. ¹

Master

Who stood on the stern of the ship?

Vanguard

The blessed Queen of Heaven, from the temple of Kao-khi. ² On her right stood the General Hiang, and on her left the General Hoh.

Master

Which Deity stood in the main hold of the ship?

Vanguard

KwanYin, ³ our Holy Mother, surrounded by the 18 Lo-hans ⁴ and all the Hung brethren.

Master

How many masts had the ship?

Vanguard

Three. The main mast was the greatest.

Master

How many sets of sails did the ship carry?

Vanguard

Three sets of sails.

Master

How many sails were there in the fore-set?

Vanguard

In the fore-set were five sails. The mizzen-mast had two sails, and the main-mast ten.

Master

How many bow-lines were there on the leach of the sail?

Vanguard

On the top there were 36, and below 72.

Master

Who poled and who superintended the tackle?

Vanguard

The four great Diamond Ones ⁵ poled and the 18 Lo-hans superintended the tackle.

Master

What thing was most precious on the ship?

Vanguard

A pure white pearl. ⁶

Master

Of what colour were the signals?

Vanguard

Red.

Master

Since the boat was so heavy laden how could she float? ¹

Vanguard

We were at a place where three rivers met.

Master

Whence do these rivers rise?

Vanguard

From the base of the Nail Mountain.

Master

Whither do they flow?

Vanguard

They unite and lose themselves in five lakes and four seas.

Master

How can you prove that?

Vanguard

I can prove it by this verse:— The three rivers flow through the five lakes, I have looked inside the gates of the temple of Chao-khi. I remember what the five founders did in a certain year And am coming specially to thank Wan-yun-lung. ²

Master

Whither went the ship?

Vanguard

To the Market Place of Universal Peace. ³

Master

When did it leave?

Vanguard

It left on the 24th of the 12th month, and reached port on the 4th of the 1st month, after ten days’ passage. ⁴

Master

Did you land anywhere on the journey?

Vanguard

Yes, at the ravine Khu-chu.

Master

Did you see anything there?

Vanguard

Two pots of red bamboo.

Master

How many plants were there?

Vanguard

In one pot 36 and in the other 72:108 altogether.

Master

Did you take away any of them?

Vanguard

I took home 108 plants.

Master

Why did you want so many?

Vanguard

I wanted enough for the use of my thousands of brethren.

Master

How many were left?

Vanguard

I did not pluck all and there were still plenty left. ¹

Master

How can you prove that?

Vanguard

By this verse:— The red bamboo from Canton is rare in the world, In the groves were 36 and 72. Who in the world knows the meaning of this? When we have accomplished our task we shall know the secret. ²

Master

How many shoals did you see on your journey?

Vanguard

I saw none, for the water was too deep.

Master

Through what waters did you pass?

Vanguard

Through the waters of three rivers.

Master

Give me the names of those three rivers.

Vanguard

The Hoang, the King and the Heh. ³ These form the united waters of the three rivers.

Master

Can you prove it?

Vanguard

I can prove it by a verse:— The united waters of the three rivers have flowed for myriads of years. Travellers are not allowed to stand at the head of the bridge. But he who has entered and drunk of the water of the three rivers, May roam over the world just as he wishes. ⁴

Master

Did you cross the water?

Vanguard

21 of us crossed it.

Master

Can you prove that?

Vanguard

Yes, by this verse:— The sworn brethren led me on board; There were twenty-one persons in one ship; The Lo-hans and the Diamond Ones assisted to the right and left, The winds were favourable and we sailed across the waters. ¹

Master

Where did the ship arrive?

Vanguard

At the Market of Universal Peace.

Master

Who was the Master of the Market of Universal Peace? ²

Vanguard

His name was Ching and his surname Teh-hui.

Master

What else did you see?

Vanguard

A small island ³ on which there was a bridge of two planks. ⁴

Master

Of what were these two planks made?

Vanguard

The left one was of brass and the right one of iron.

Master

What was the origin of this bridge?

Vanguard

When the Shiu Lam Monastery was destroyed the Gods, Chin Kwang and Chu Khai, transformed a yellow and black cloud into a bridge, to enable the five Ancestors to escape. The cloud-bridge joined the heavens. ⁵

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