In the town of Eternal Purity there
was once a large monastery dedicated to the Esteemed-Lotus.
It contained hundreds of rooms, and its grounds covered
several thousand acres. Its wealth and prosperity
were due to the possession of a famous relic.
The bonzes, who numbered about a hundred,
lived in luxury; and visitors were sure to be received
by one of them from the moment of entry, and to be
invited to take tea and cakes. Now in the temple
there was a “Babies’ Chapel,” which
was reputed to possess miraculous virtue. By
passing the night in it and burning incense, women
who wished to have a son obtained a son: those
who wished for a daughter obtained a daughter.
Round the main hall were set several
cells. Women who wished for children had to be
of vigorous age and free from malady. They used
to fast for seven days, and then go into the temple
to prostrate themselves before Fo, and to consult
the wands of divination.
If the omens were favorable, they
passed a night locked up alone in one of the cells,
for the purpose of prayer. If the omens were
unfavorable, it was because their prayers had not been
sufficiently sincere. The bonzes made this fault
known to them; and they began their seven days’
fast anew, before returning to make their devotions.
The cells had no sort of opening in
their walls, and when a penitent entered one of them,
her family and attendants used to come and install
her. As soon as night came, she was locked in
the cell, and the bonzes insisted that a member of
her family must pass the night before her door, so
that none might entertain the least suspicion of an
entry to her. When the woman returned to her home,
the child was already formed. It was born fat
and beautiful always, and without any blemish.
There was, moreover, no household,
either of public officials or the common people, which
did not send one or even two of its members to pray
in the Babies’ Chapel. And women came to
it even from the provinces.
Every day the crowd in the monastery was comparable with mountains or the
sea, and the place was filled with the gayest hubbub. They no longer kept
any reckoning of the offerings of every kind which flowed in upon them.
When the women were asked how, during the night, the Pu-sa
had made his answer intelligible, some answered simply
that Fo had told them in a dream that they would have
a son. Others said that they had dreamed that
a lo-han had come and lain beside them.
Others asserted that they had had no dream. Others
again blushed and declined to answer. Some women
never repeated this kind of prayer a second time:
others, on the contrary, went to the temple as often
as possible.
You will tell me that this story of a Fo or of a Pu-sa coming every night
to the monastery is in no way short of preposterous.
But it must be borne in mind that the people of that
district had a greater faith in sorcerers than in
doctors, and could not distinguish the true from the
false. Consequently they continued to send their
wives to the temple.
As a matter of course these bonzes,
whose outward behavior was so laudable and correct,
were wholly and unreservedly gluttons within, both
for luxury and debauch.
Although the cells were apparently
quite close, each really had a secret door. When
the women were sound asleep, the bonzes came softly
into the cell, and to such purpose that, when their
victims were aroused, it was already almost too late.
Those who would have wished to protest kept silence
for the sake of their reputations.
Now the women were young and sound:
the bonzes were strong and vigorous. They had,
moreover, taken the precaution to cause certain special
pills to be administered to their visitors. Consequently
it but rarely happened that these prayers were not
heard. Sober-minded wives would have died with
shame sooner than confess the matter to their husbands;
and, as for the others, they kept quiet so that they
might be able to do it again.
Matters were in this case when a new
Governor was appointed to the district, the Lord Wang.
Soon after he entered upon his office, he heard tell
of the Monastery of the Esteemed-Lotus, and could not
help thinking:
Since it is Fo and Pu-sa
who are involved, it should be enough simply to pray.
Why, then, must the women also go and pass the night
in the temple? There must be some questionable
artifice in that.”
But he could do nothing without proof;
so he waited until the ninth Sun of the ninth Moon,
which was a great festival, and then mixed with the
crowd of the faithful who went to the holy place.
Passing through the main gate, he
found himself beneath great acacias and hundred-year-old
pines. Before him stood the temple, brightly
painted with vermilion and decorated by a tablet on
which was inscribed in gold letters: “Monastery
of the Esteemed-Lotus, for Retirement.”
To right and left was a succession of pavilions, and
innumerable visitors were going out and coming in.
The first bonze who saw the Governor
wished to run and warn his companions. The Lord
Wang attempted to stop him, but he broke loose, and
soon the drums and bells were sounding to do honor
to the magistrate, while the bonzes formed in two
ranks and bowed as he passed along.
He entered the temple and burned some
joss-sticks; after which the Superior made him a low
obeisance and begged him to come and rest himself
for a moment in the reception hall. Tea was served.
Then, concealing his true design, the Governor said:
“I have learned of the great
reputation of this Holy Retreat, and I intend to ask
the Emperor to grant you a tablet of honor inscribed
with the names and particulars of all the bonzes of
the district.”
Naturally the delighted Superior wished
to prostrate himself in thanks; but the Governor continued:
“They have spoken to me also
of a miraculous chapel. Is the matter so in truth?
And in what manner are these prayers made?”
The Superior answered without misgiving
that the period of fasting was seven days; but that
by reason of the greatness of their desire and the
sincerity of their prayers it most frequently happened
that the petitions of the suppliants were granted
in a dream during the night which they passed at the
monastery.
The Governor asked carelessly what
measures were taken to ensure the preservation of
the proprieties; and the other explained that the
cells had no other entrance than the door, before which
a member of the family had to pass the night.
“Since that is the case,”
said the visitor, “I shall send my wife here.”
“If you wish for a son, it is
only necessary for both of you to pray sincerely in
your palace, and the miracle will be accomplished,”
the Superior assured him hastily; for he was greatly
afraid to see the local authorities concerning themselves
in this affair.
“But why must the wives of the
people come here, if my wife need not disturb herself
to do so?”
“Are you not the protector of
our doctrine, and is it not natural that the spirits
should pay special attention to your prayers?”
answered the astute bonze.
“So be it,” agreed Wang.
“But allow me to visit this miraculous chapel.”
The hall was filled with women, who
fled to right and left. The statue of Kwan-yin
was covered with necklaces and pieces of embroidery.
She was represented holding a child in her arms, while
four or five babies clung to her robe. The altar
and the walls were covered with votive offerings,
chiefly consisting of embroidered slippers. Candles
beyond number were held in branches of candlesticks.
The hall was filled with the smoke of incense.
To the left was the immortal Chang who gives us children.
To the right was the “Officer of the Star of
Extended Longevity.”
Wang bowed before the goddess.
Then he went to visit the penitents’ cells.
Each ceiling was painted over with flowers, a carpet
covered each floor and the bed, the table and the
chairs were spotlessly clean.
He examined the cells carefully all
over and found no crack. Not a mouse, not even
an ant could have entered in. He went out in
perplexity and, after the usual formalities, again
stepped into his palankeen, which was accompanied
to the gate by all the bonzes.
Thinking to the right and musing to
the left, as the proverb says, the Governor suddenly
conceived a plan. As soon as he arrived at the
palace, he summoned one of his secretaries, and said
to him:
“Go and find me two harlots,
and clothe them as honest women. Give one of
them a box of black ink and the other a box of vermilion
paste, and send them to pass the night at the monastery.
If any one approaches them, let them mark his head
with the red and the black. I shall go myself
to-morrow morning to examine the matter. Above
all, let this thing be kept the closest secret.”
The secretary at once went to seek
out two public women of his acquaintance. One
was named Mei-chieh, and the other Wan-erh. He
took them to his house, explained the Governor’s
orders to them, and clothed them as matrons of good
family. He summoned two palankeens, which he
caused the sham penitents to enter, and himself conducted
the procession to the monastery. He left the women
in their cells, and came back to inform the monk on
duty.
After his departure, a little novice
brought tea to the present visitors, who were more
than ten in number. Who would have thought of
troubling to examine the two new arrivals?
At the sounding of the first watch,
all the cells were locked. The members of the
various families took up their positions before the
doors. The bonzes shut themselves into their own
apartments.
When Mei-chieh found herself alone,
she put her little box of vermilion near the pillow,
turned up the lamp, undressed herself, and lay upon
the bed. But she was unable to sleep for thinking
of her mission, and continually kept looking through
the bed curtains.
The second watch sounded. On
every side the sounds of human life were silenced,
and all things were still. Suddenly she heard,
under the floor, this noise: Ko-Ko. She
sat up, thinking it was a rat, and saw a part of the
floor move to one side. A shaven head appeared,
and was quickly followed by the whole body. It
was a bonze. Mei-chieh was astounded, and thought:
“So these rascally priests have
been outraging honest women!”
But she did not stir. The bonze
quietly blew out the lamp, came towards the bed, let
fall his robe, and slipped under the blankets.
Mei-chieh pretended to be asleep.
She felt him gently move her leg to one side, and
then she made as though to wake saying:
“Who are you who come in the
night and insult me?” She pushed him away, but
the bonze embraced her in his arms, and whispered:
“I am a lo-han with a body of gold,
and I have come to give you a son.”
While speaking, he busied himself
in accordance with his salacity. It must be said
that all bonzes have no mean talent in the matter of
cloud and rain; and this one was full of vigorous manhood.
Mei-chieh was a woman of great experience, but she
was unable to resist him and had difficulty, at length,
in repressing herself. However, she took advantage
of his arriving at the supreme point of his emotion
to dip her fingers in the box of vermilion and to
mark his head without his perceiving it. After
a certain time, the bonze glided from the bed, leaving
the girl a little packet, and saying:
“Here are some pills to assist
your prayer. Take three-tenths of an ounce each
day in hot water, and you will have a son.”
Weary in body, Mei-chieh was just
dimly closing her eyes, when she was aroused by a
fresh touch, and, thinking that the same bonze had
returned, said in surprise:
“What? Are you able to
come back again, when even I am so tired?”
But he answered without a pause:
“You are making a mistake!
I have but just come, and the saviour of my comforts
is as yet unknown to you.”
“But, I am tired....”
“In that case, take one of these pills....”
And he handed her a packet. But
she was afraid that it might be poison and placed
it on the bed, contriving in the same movement to dip
her fingers in the vermilion and to stroke the newcomer’s
head. He was even more terrible than the former,
and did not cease before cock-crow.
As the old song says:
In an old stone mortar
Where so many pestles have been worn away,
There is need of a heavy copper hammer,
Or the work is lost.
At dawn, another bonze appeared and said to them in
a low voice:
“Perhaps you have had your fill. Is not
my turn coming?”
The first bonze gave a chuckle, but
rose and went out. The other then got upon the
bed, and very gently caressed Mei-chieh.
She pretended to repulse him, but
he kissed her upon the lips, and said in her ear:
“If he has fatigued you, I have
here some pills which will restore the Springtime
of your thoughts.”
And he thrust a pill into her mouth,
which she could not avoid swallowing. A perfume
rose from her mouth into her nostrils, and caused
her bones to melt, imbuing her body with delicious
warmth.
But, even while thinking of herself,
Mei-chieh did not forget the Governor’s orders.
She marked the head of this new assailant also, saying:
“What a nice sleek old pate!”
The bonze burst out laughing:
“I am full of tender and reliable
emotions. I am not like the unmannerly people
of our town. Come and see me often.”
And he retired.
Meanwhile the Governor had left his
yamen by the fifth watch, before the day had yet broken,
accompanied by an escort of about a hundred resolute
men, carrying chains and manacles.
Arriving at the still closed gate
of the monastery, he made the greater part of his
train hide to the right and left, keeping only some
ten men about him. The secretary knocked at the
gate, crying that the Governor was there and wished
to enter.
The first bonzes who heard his shout
made haste to arrange their garments and receive the
visitor. But the Lord Wang, paying no attention
to their salutations, went straight to the apartment
of the Superior, who was already up and prepared to
begin the ritual of his greeting. But the Governor
dryly ordered him to summon all the bonzes, and to
show him the Convent register.
Somewhat alarmed, the Superior ordered
bells and drums to be sounded, and the bonzes, snatched
from their sleep, ran up in groups. When the
names written on the register had been called, the
Governor commanded the astonished monks to remove
their skullcaps.
In the full light of the morning sun
three heads were seen to be marked with vermilion,
but, Oh, prodigy, no less than eleven heads were covered
with black ink!
“It no longer surprises me that
these prayers should be so successful,” murmured
the secretary. “Indeed these bonzes are
very conscientious!”
Lord Wang pointed out the guilty ones,
and caused them to be put in chains, asking:
“Whence come these marks of red and black upon
you?”
But the kneeling monks looked at each
other and could not answer, while the whole assembly
remained stricken with wonder at this strange event.
Meanwhile the secretary had gone into
the Babies’ Chapel and, by dint of shouting,
had roused the two harlots from a heavy sleep.
They quickly put on their garments,
and came to kneel before the Governor, who asked them:
“What did you see during the
night? Tell me the whole truth.”
Since they had agreed to the mission,
the two women rendered a plain account of the events
of that night, showing the pills which the bonzes
had given them, and also their boxes of vermilion and
black.
The bonzes, seeing that their schemes
were brought to light, felt their livers turn and
their hearts put out of working. They groaned
in their secret despair, while the fourteen culprits
beat the earth with their brows and begged for mercy.
“Miserable wretches, you dare
to preach divine intervention, so that you may deceive
the foolish and outrage the virtuous! What have
you to say?”
But the cunning Superior already had
his plan. He ordered all the bonzes to kneel,
and said:
“These unhappy ones whom you
have convicted are without excuse. But they were
the only ones who dared to act so. All my other
monks are pure. You have been able to discover
the shame of the guilty, which I in my ignorance could
not, and there is nothing for it but to put them to
death.”
The Governor smiled:
“Then it is only the cells which
these two women occupied that have secret passages?”
“There are only those two cells,”
answered the unblushing Superior.
“We shall question all the other women, and
then see.”
The female visitors, who had already
been wakened by the noise, came in turns to give their
evidence. They were all in agreement: no
bonze had come to trouble them. But the Governor
knew that shame would prevent them from speaking,
and therefore had them searched. In the pocket
of each was found a little packet of pills. He
asked them whence these came; but the women, purple
in the face and scarlet in the neck, answered no word.
While this examination was taking
place, the husbands of the penitents came up and took
a part in it. And their anger made them tremble
like the hemp-plant or leaves of a tree. When
the Governor, who did not wish to push his questioning
too far, had allowed the visitors to depart, their
husbands swallowed their shame and indignation, and
led them away.
The Superior had not yet given up
the fight. He asserted that the pills had been
given to the women as they entered the monastery.
But the two harlots again affirmed that they at least
had received them during the visit of the bonzes.
“The matter is quite clear,”
the Governor cried at length. “Put all of
these adulterers in chains!”
The bonzes had some thought of resisting;
but they had no weapons and were outnumbered.
The only ones left free were an old man who kindled
the incense, and the two little novices still in childhood.
The gate of the monastery was closed
and guarded. On his return to the yamen, the
Governor took his seat in the Hall of Justice, and
had his prisoners questioned in the usual ways.
Fear of pain loosened their tongues, and they were
condemned to death. They were cast into prison
to await the ratification of their sentence.
As the Governor of the prison went
his rounds to inspect their bonds, the Superior whispered
to him:
“We have brought nothing, neither
clothes, nor blankets, nor food. If you will
allow me to return for a moment to the monastery with
three or four of my monks, I will willingly give you
a hundred ounces of silver.”
The prison governor knew the wealth
of the monastery. He smiled:
“My price is a hundred ounces
for myself, and two hundred for my men.”
The Superior made a grimace, but was
compelled to promise this larger sum. The warders
consulted with each other, and finally, when night
came, led the Superior and three of his bonzes back
to the monastery. From a secret place among their
cells the monks took the promised three hundred ounces,
and gave them at once to the warders. While these
were weighing them and sharing them among themselves,
they collected the rest of their treasure, and secretly
laid hold of weapons, short swords and hatchets, which
they rolled up in their blankets. Also they brought
away wine. Thus heavily laden, warders and bonzes
alike returned to the prison, and held a feast.
The priests succeeded in making their warders drunk.
In the middle of the night they drew forth their weapons
and, having first set each other free, proceeded to
force the gates. They might perhaps have escaped
altogether; but in their rancour against the Governor
they went first to attack the yamen. The troops
of police were numerous and well armed, and the bonzes
were quickly overcome. The Superior gave his
men orders to return as quickly as possible to the
prison, to lay down their arms and to say that only
a few of them had revolted, since this might save
the others. But the warders attacked them so hotly
that they were all put back in chains.
Their crime was grave, and doubly
aggravated by rebellion. Next day, when the sun
had well risen, the Governor gave his judgment.
All the hundred and twelve monks were led straight
to the market-place and beheaded. Groups of men
provided with torches went to set fire to the monastery,
and it was soon a smoking ruin. Joy flowered upon
the faces of all the men of that town. But it
is said that many of the women wept in secret.
Adapted from Hsing shih heng yen
(1627), 39th Tale.