e Wood Prince
dwells in the East. He is honored as the Green Lord, and watches over
the coming into being of all creatures. In him lives the power of
spring and he is the god of love. The Mother of Metals dwells in the
West, by the sea of Jasper, and is also known as the Queen-Mother of
the West. She leads the rounds of the fairies, and watches over change
and growth. The Yellow Ancient dwells in the middle. He is always
going about in the world, in order to save and to help those in any
distress. The first time he came to earth he was the Yellow Lord, who
taught mankind all sorts of arts. In his later years he fathomed the
meaning of the world on the Ethereal Mount, and flew up to the radiant
sun. Under the rule of the Dschou dynasty he was born again as Li
Oerl, and when he was born his hair and beard were white, for which
reason he was called Laotsze, "Old Child." He wrote the book of
"Meaning and Life" and spread his teachings through the world. He is
honored as the head of Taoism. At the beginning of the reign of the
Han dynasty, he again appeared as the Old Man of the River, (Ho Schang
Gung). He spread the teachings of Tao abroad mightily, so that from
that time on Taoism flourished greatly. These doctrines are known to
this day as the teachings of the Yellow Ancient. There is also a
saying: "First Laotsze was, then the heavens were." And that must mean
that Laotsze was that very same Yellow Ancient of primal days.

Note: "How the Five Ancients Became Men." This
fairy-tale, the first of the legends of the gods, is
given in the version current among the people. In it the
five elemental spirits of earth, fire, water, wood and
metal are brought into connection with a creation myth.
"Prince of the Jasper Castle" or "The White Jade Ruler,"
Yu Huang Di, is the popular Chinese synonym for "the
good lord." The phrase "White Jade" serves merely to
express his dignity. All in all, there are 32 other Yu
Huangs, among whom he is the highest. He may be compared
to Indra, who dwells in a heaven that also comprises 33
halls. The astronomic relationship between the two is
very evident.

XVI

THE HERD BOY AND THE WEAVING MAIDEN

The Herd Boy was the child of poor people. When he was twelve years
old, he took service with a farmer to herd his cow. After a few years
the cow had grown large and fat, and her hair shone like yellow gold.
She must have been a cow of the