[3] A celebrated statesman (B.C. 314) who, having lost his master’s favour by the intrigues of a rival, finally drowned himself in despair. The Annual Dragon Festival is said by some to be a “search” for his body.
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[4] A poem addressed by San-lü to his Prince, after his disgrace. Its non-success was the immediate cause of his death.
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[5] That is, of the supernatural generally.
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[6] A poet of the T‘ang Dynasty whose eyebrows met, whose nails were very long, and who could write very fast.
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[7] “You know the music of earth,” said the Taoist sage, Chuang-tzŭ; “but you have not heard the music of heaven.”
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[8] That is, to the operation of some influence surviving from a previous existence.
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[9] This is another hit at the ruling classes. Chi K‘ang, a celebrated musician and alchemist (A.D. 223–262), was sitting one night alone, playing upon his lute, when suddenly a man with a tiny face walked in, and began to stare hard at him, the stranger’s face enlarging all the time. “I’m not going to match myself against a devil!” cried the musician, after a few moments, and instantly blew out the light.
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[10] When Liu Chüan, Governor of Wu-ling, determined to relieve his poverty by trade, he saw a devil standing by his side, laughing and rubbing his hands for glee. “Poverty and wealth are matters of destiny,” said Liu Chüan; “But to be laughed at by a devil——,” and accordingly he desisted from his intention.
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[11] A writer who flourished in the early part of the fourth century, and composed a work in thirty books entitled Supernatural Researches.
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[12] The famous poet, statesman, and essayist, who flourished A.D. 1036–1101.
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