Social life of the Chinese : with some account of their religious, governmental, educational and business customs and opinions, with special but not exclusive reference to Fuhchau . p andfastened in its place. Someof these charms are round,having a square hole inthe centre; others are inthe shape of a knife, in im-itation of a coin cast abouteighteen hundred and fiftyyears ago; while othershave different shapes, ac-cording to fancy. The de-sign of this use of charmsis to ward off evil influ-ences from the persons en-gaged, and to serve as anomen of good. Inscrip-obverae. Reverse. tions upon th
Social life of the Chinese : with some account of their religious, governmental, educational and business customs and opinions, with special but not exclusive reference to Fuhchau . p andfastened in its place. Someof these charms are round,having a square hole inthe centre; others are inthe shape of a knife, in im-itation of a coin cast abouteighteen hundred and fiftyyears ago; while othershave different shapes, ac-cording to fancy. The de-sign of this use of charmsis to ward off evil influ-ences from the persons en-gaged, and to serve as anomen of good. Inscrip-obverae. Reverse. tions upon them state their FAO-SIMILE OF A KNIFE-LIKE CHAE?J USED AT THE , . * , . - TIME OF ERECTING A TEMPLE TO THE SAILORS design, 01* the tittle Of USUI ffGODDESS AT FUHCHAU, DURING THE REIGN OF ° hien fung. tnem, etc. A stone slab or pillar is very often erected directly oppositethe entrance of an alley which comes out into the main streetnear by ones house or store, in order to ward off the bad ordeadly influences which are believed to emerge from the stone slab projects above the ground several feet, and hasseveral characters engraved upon it, implying that this stone,. OTHER POWERFUL TALISMANS. 313 from the uTai Mountain dares to encounter and hear theseUDpropitious influences. Such a stone is believed to be neces-sary for the well-being of those living or doing business nearthe entrance of the alley opposite which it is placed. Not unfrequently is a concave mirror, made of brass andpartially incased in wood, hung up on a house in such a posi-tion (having its polished surface outward) as to counteract orreflect the bad influences which come from a projecting pointin a neighboring house or temple. The end of the ridge-pole,or corner of the roof of a neighbors house pointing towardanother house, is believed to be unpropitious. The owner orresident of the house affected must contrive to counteract andavert the untoward influences, or be the loser in health orwealth. The Chi
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1860, bookidsociallifeof, bookyear1865
