Chinese Life in the Tibetan Foothills/Book 2/Exhortation
Exhortation 說書 shuo shu.
To explain the Sacred Edict, 講聖諭 chiang shêng yü. The Sacred Edict originally had six chapters composed by the emperor Shun-chih 順治, but it was enlarged and edited by his successor K‘ang-hsi, and now contains sixteen chapters. Before the exhorter begins his works a tablet has to be erected on which are engraved the two characters Shêng yü. Candles are lighted on either side and in front, paper and incense are also burned before the tablet; the exhorter then bows three times, and knocks his head nine times to the ground before he begins to talk. The custom is to pay 100 cash for each chapter explained, and three chapters are generally gone over each evening. This money is generally paid by rich people in order to accumulate merit; not uncommonly a rich farmer or wealthy merchant invites an exhorter to his house for this purpose. At its beginning this practice may have been better than it now is; unfortunately the wicked lives of many of these men does much to nullify their words; and their exhortation is no longer confined to the doctrines contained in the Sacred Edict, but is largely made up of old wives' fables, and local and provincial scandals.
Many preachers of the Sacred Edict also use the method of exhortation by proverbs, chiang kê yen 講格言. There is a slight resemblance to, and connection with, the Sacred Edict, but most of the incidents are taken from the law courts, or scandals in business and private circles.
Men walk through the streets and sing ballads of a national or amorous character, ch‘ang shan shu 唱善書. The idea is generally to procure travelling expenses for themselves or others to some distant place.
Discussions are held 講評書 chiang p‘ing shu, generally in a tea shop or open courtyard, when some ancient character's merits and demerits are discussed, with a good deal of sarcasm and dramatic contortion; the speech is often lewd and the characters of many of the speakers are of the lowest; in fact many are libertines, with some wit and humour to cloak their wickedness.
A news vendor who carries a stool and books round with him is called 上馬冊冊 shang ma ts‘ê ts‘ê; he stands on the stool and sells his literature, which has a bearing on current events; his sign is a pair of chopsticks.
A news vendor of the yellow press is called 下馬 hsia ma ts‘ê ts‘ê. He travels round and carries a flag of yellow or sometimes white paper on which are written the latest sensations. He visits the towns and markets, and to this kind of individual many false rumours are to be traced. He stands on the ground as compared with the former who stands on a stool.
On the birthday of the goddess of Mercy Kuan-yin or other festival there are often mixed gatherings in the temples to hear the Buddhist doctrines preached. The crowds are often of the lowest type.
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