[236] For China, see Dennys's Folk-lore of China, pp. 48, 90-91.
[237] See Frazer's Golden Bough (2nd ed.), vol. iii. pp. 324 seq.
[238] County Folk-lore, vol. iii. (Orkney and Shetland), p. 216.
[239] Folk-lore Journal, vol, ii. p. 281.
[240] Frazer's Golden Bough (2nd ed.), vol. iii. pp. 294 seq.
[241] Every day in the Chinese calendar is either lucky, unlucky, or indifferent; and very many people will undertake no duty or work of importance until they have consulted the fortune-telling almanac (a new one is issued for each year), or have at least consulted temple oracles. The Jewish Sabbath is now believed to have originated in a similar superstition.
[242] Cf. the Irish and Scottish banshee.
[243] All evil demons are supposed to be afraid of brooms. See p. [190] (note).
[244] See Legge's Chinese Classics, vol. iv. pt. ii. p. 532. The passage referred to is translated by Legge thus: "The demon of drought [han-pa] exercises his oppression, as if scattering flames and fire."
[245] This passage is quoted in the K'ang Hsi dictionary, s.v. Pa.