human body. If the punishment of flogging be inflicted at these times, the culprit not unfrequently dies under the chastisement."]

"Don't spit towards shooting stars."

["These are phenomena which the Supreme Lord sends as a warning to men, and to turn them from their sins. Men ought therefore to be filled with fear, to practise virtue, and to offer sacrifices, to dissipate the calamities which threaten them."]

"Don't point at a rainbow.”

["When Confucius had finished the classic on Filial Piety, he observed a severe fast, and then turning towards the constellation of the North Bushel, he respectfully explained the motives with which he had composed his work. A red rainbow then fell from heaven, and changed into a piece of yellow jade, which Confucius received with a profound salutation."]

"Don't point rudely at the sun, moon, and stars." "Don't stare at the sun or moon."

"Don't set fire to the brushwood in order to hunt in the spring."

["Spring is the season when plants and trees begin to shoot, and then insects rear their young. At this time nature gives life and increase to all living things. If we cause these to perish, we rebel against Heaven, and destroy a multitude of its creatures."]

"Don't utter abuse towards the north."

"Don't needlessly kill tortoises and serpents." ["The tortoise and the serpent answer to the constellation of the north known as Huen-woo. When, then, one kills these animals without legitimate ex

cuse, one draws down on oneself terrible misfortunes."]

"The god which presides over the life of man inscribes all kinds of crimes, and according whether they are grave or light, he reduces the period of life by periods of twelve years or a hundred days. When the number of days is exhausted, the man dies; and if at the time of his death there still remains any fault unexpiated, the punishment descends on his sons or grandsons."

"Whenever a man takes unjustly the riches of others, the spirits calculate the number of his wives and children, and cause them one by one to die until a kind of compensation is established. If the inmates of his house do not die, then disasters by fire and flood, by thieves, by cheats, by loss of effects, by sickness, by slander or denunciation, will wipe off an equivalent of that which he has taken unjustly."

"Those who kill innocent people are like enemies who exchange weapons and kill one another."

"He who takes unjustly the riches of another, is like a man who tries to appease his hunger with tainted meat, or his thirst with poisoned wine. Although he thrives on it for the moment, death is sure to overtake him."

"If you form in your heart a good intention, although you may not have done any good, the good spirits follow you. If you form in your heart a bad intention, although you may not have done any harm, the evil spirits follow you."

"If a man who has done wrong repents and corrects himself, if he abstains from evil deeds, and accom

plishes all sorts of good works, he will at length obtain joy and felicity. This is called changing evil fortune for good."

"A good man is virtuous in his words, looks, and actions. If each day he practises these three virtues, at the end of three years Heaven will pour down blessings upon him. The wicked man is vicious in his words, looks, and actions. If each day he practises these three vices, at the end of three years Heaven will send misfortunes upon him."

"Why then do we not force ourselves to do good?”1

"Le Livre des Récompenses et des Peines." Traduit par Stanislas Julien.

CHAPTER VII.

THE BOOK OF SECRET BLESSINGS.

IN the Yin-chih-wăn also, there is no reference whatever to the doctrines of Taouism, but only a number of moral injunctions of great ethical purity. The work is popularly believed to have been written by the deity Wăn-chang Te-keun, but the name of the real author is unknown. The benevolent spirit which runs through its pages has caused it to be welcomed by Buddhists, Confucianists, and Taouists alike; and next to the Kan-ying-peen it is the most popular religious work in China.

Its teachings rest on a sound foundation where they inculcate the necessity of purifying the heart as a preparation for all right-doing. Be upright, it says, and straightforward, and renew your heart. Be compassionate and loving. Be faithful to your master, and filially pious to your parents. Honour your elder brethren, and be true to your friends. Help the unfortunate; save those who are in danger; and set free the bird taken in a snare. Have pity towards the orphan and the widow; honour the aged, and be kind to the poor. Feed the hungry; clothe the naked; and bury the dead. Use just weights and

measures, and do not overtax the people. Succour the sick, and give drink to the thirsty.

Redeem the lives of animals, and abstain from shedding blood. Be careful not to tread upon insects on the road, and set not fire to the forests, lest you should destroy life. Burn a candle in your window to give light to the traveller, and keep a boat to help voyagers across rivers. Do not spread your net on the mountains to catch birds, nor poison the fish and reptiles in the waters.

Never destroy paper which is written upon; and enter into no league against your neighbour. Avoid contentions, and beware not to stir up ill blood. Use not your power to discredit the good, nor your riches to persecute the poor. Love the good, and flee from the face of a wicked man, lest you fall into evil. Hide your neighbours' faults, and speak only of their good deeds, and let your mouth utter the true sentiments of your heart. Remove stones and débris from the roadway, repair the footpaths, and build bridges.

Publish abroad lessons for the improvement of mankind, and devote your wealth to the good of your fellow-men. In all your actions follow the principles of Heaven, and in all your words follow the purified heart of man. Have all the Sages of antiquity before your eyes, and examine carefully your conscience. What good thing will be withheld from him who practises "secret benefits"?

Such are some of the leading maxims of this pamphlet, which consists of only five hundred and fortyone words, but which has exercised, and is still exercising, an influence out of all proportion to its

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