Sacred Books of the East Vol. 40 - Taoism Vol. 2

{fn. 3. This seems equivalent to 'all through space.'} {fn. 4. The swan in the text here seems to mean 'the whole of the allotted term of life.' Further on, the same character has the special meaning of 'a period of a hundred days.'} {p. 236} evil stars send down misfortunes on them{fr. 1}. When their term of life is exhausted they die. 'There also are the Spirit-rulers in the three pairs of the Thâi stars of the Northern Bushel{fr. 2} over men's heads, which record their acts of guilt and wickedness, and take away (from their term of life) periods of twelve years or of a hundred days. 'There also are the three Spirits of the recumbent body which reside within a man's person{fr. 3}. As each kang-shän{fr. 4} day comes round, they forthwith ascend to the court of Heaven, and report men's deeds of guilt and transgression. On the last day of the moon, the spirit of the Hearth does the same{fr. 5}. 'In the case of every man's transgressions, when they are great, twelve years are taken from his term of life; when they are small, a hundred days. 'Transgressions, great and small, are seen in several hundred things. He who wishes to seek for long life{fr. 6} must first avoid these. {fn. 1. This and other passages show how Tâoism pressed astrology into its service.} {fn. 2. The Northern Peck or Bushel is the Chinese name of our constellation of the Great Bear, the Chariot of the Supreme Ruler.' The three pairs of stars, {greek i}, {greek k}; {greek l}, {greek m}; {greek n}, {greek ks}, are called the upper, middle, and lower Thâi, or 'their three Eminences:' see Reeves's Names of Stars and Constellations, appended to Morrison's Dictionary, part ii, vol. i.}