Sunday, the sth day of the 4th moon, was the anniversary of what is known to the Chinese as "Vu Fuh Chih" or the festival for the washing of gods (Buddha), The famous old Chinese book, "Cho Chin," states that in the 7th year of the reign of King Chuang of the Lu dynasty, a bright star appeared in "the skies. At this time, Buddha is said to have been born from the right ribs of his mother, Moh Yare. (Lao-tze, the father of Taoism, was said to have been born from his mother's lett side.) As soon as Buddha was born, he was able to walk, seven steps being recorded in the books. Present day monks and nuns, therefore, hold the day in reverence and wash their gods (statues of Buddha) with lavender water and spices.
Heungshan, a district in Kuangtung, the day is celebrated by the carrying round the city, in procession, a huge wooden god. Most of the carriers have filled themselves with wine before setting out with their burden. Hence they pass people and purposely "hit"? them with the dragon, so it is everybody's duty to try to avoid the monster. The more unfortunate ones who cannot escape quickly enough generally receive a hi€ which results in wordy quarrels and free fights. The purpose of the dragon's "visit" (he is said to be Buddha) is to drive away all bad spirits and diseases.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.