One day Chang Tao-ling, the ‘father of modern Taoism,’ was on Ho-ming Shan with his disciple Wang Ch’ang. “See,” he said, “that shaft of white light on Yang Shan yonder! There are undoubtedly some bad spirits there. Let us go and bring them to reason. ” When they reached the foot of the mountain they met twelve women who had the appearance of evil spirits.

Chang Tao-ling asked them whence came the shaft of white light. They answered that it was the yin, or female, principle of the earth. “Where is the source of the salt water? ” he asked again. “That pond in front of you,” they replied, “in which lives a very wicked dragon.

” Chang Tao-ling tried to force the dragon to come out, but without success. Then he drew a phœnix with golden wings on a charm and hurled it into the air over the pond. Thereupon the dragon took fright and fled, the pond immediately drying up. After that Chang Page 217Tao-ling took his sword and stuck it in the ground, whereupon a well full of salt water appeared on the spot.

Spirit of the Well