--- title: A Chinese Tea-house Story — Gleanings from Chinese folklore · full text with trees description: A Chinese Tea-house Story, «Gleanings from Chinese folklore» by Nellie Naomi Russell: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: Chi Hsiao Tang --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75089/10/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Gleanings from Chinese folklore](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75089/) / A Chinese Tea-house Story # A Chinese Tea-house Story A Chinese Tea-house Story of «Gleanings from Chinese folklore» by Nellie Naomi Russell: the whole text, 154 sentences and 2480 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. Chi Hsiao Tang[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") One day the Emperor Chia Ching called his scribe, the great and crafty Yen Sung, and said, “I want four poems immediately, one on each of the seasons.”[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") The word was sent out and within a few days poems were presented and accepted on Summer, Autumn, and Winter, but not one written on Spring pleased the Emperor.[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") Again and again the literary men wrote on the subject, but only to fail of his approbation.[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") At last he declared in a rage that unless a poem that could be set to music and sung by the ladies of the palace should immediately be produced there would soon be fewer literary men in the country, and commanded his minister to see that his wishes were at once carried out.[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") Yen Sung, almost in despair, went to his steward and told him his dilemma.[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") Now, Nien Chi, the steward, was as bold and bad a man as his master, shrewd and cunning withal.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") After a moment’s thought he said, “Rest your heart\![8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") I know a teacher of great ability, who lives at my inn; I will see what he can do.”[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") He called his cart, went in great state to the inn, and asked for a man by the name of Chi Hsiao Tang.[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") When Teacher Chi appeared Nien Chi with profound bows and his most pleasing manner said, “The fame of your literary ability has come to the ears of my master, Yen Sung, and he desires you to write immediately a poem on Spring.”[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") Chi Hsiao Tang replied, “I am a man of mean ability, but that is indeed an easy subject which you give me.[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") Return in a few hours’ time and my poor production shall be ready for you.”[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") Nien Chi thanked him and took his leave.[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") He returned later and the poem was awaiting him as promised.[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") He read it with delight and said to the author, “The gods have indeed given you a great gift.[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") One of them must have spoken to you from the Imperial heavens.[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") My master will surely call and thank you in person.”[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") He then withdrew and hastened to the palace of Yen Sung, who seized the manuscript and read it eagerly, exclaiming, as he finished its perusal, “Thank the gods, we are saved\![19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") This is simply perfect.”[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") Then his face fell, for on the corner of the sheet were the name and seal of the writer.[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") “This will never do,” said he.[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") “I want to send it in as my own, and how can I?[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") Alas\![24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") I must still delay to copy it to-night.”[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") The next day he presented it to the Emperor as his own “mean effort,” and humbly begged for pardon that he could do no better for his great and mighty sovereign.[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") The Emperor was much pleased and gave Yen Sung costly presents and high literary honours.[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") Shortly after came the triennial examinations for the advanced degrees.[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") Yen Sung was one of the judges of the essays.[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") He knew that Chi Hsiao Tang would probably be promoted as he was a man of such ability, and he feared that the story of the poem would in some way reach the ears of the Emperor.[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") After much thought as to how to avert such a calamity, he issued a proclamation that no one by the name of Chi be admitted to the examination.[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") Chi Hsiao Tang presented himself at the hall on the opening day, but was refused a place among the aspirants for degrees, the only reason given being that an order barring all of his surname had been issued by the powerful minister and judge, Yen Sung.[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") In great sorrow and disappointment the scholar returned to his inn and wrote to his wife, telling her to sell some of their land and come to Peking to await with him the next opportunity for examination, three years later.[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") This she did.[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") They rented a place and there, day by day, he studied, hoping to see the ban lifted.[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") One day while out for a walk he saw a great crowd gathered.[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") Drawing near he found that a man of eminence was to be executed.[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") He asked, “Who is the prisoner?” and was told, “An official by the name of Pai.”[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") “What has he done that he should be so degraded?” asked Chi Hsiao Tang of a man standing near.[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") “How can you ask that?” replied the man, “when Yen Sung is the head of the Empire.[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") He has but to nod and officials lose their heads.”[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") As the already disappointed scholar turned away he said, “What can I hope for when such a man as that is executed?”[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") Sadly musing, he continued, “I had hoped to become an official, serve my country, and receive honour, but I see the life of a minister is a most dangerous one.[43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") If he would be upright, he has not the rest and quiet of the common citizen.[44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") All is weakness and evil under the sun. I will no longer mingle with men, but will go apart and seek to prepare myself for a higher existence among those who by contemplation and renunciation have become fit for companionship with the gods.”[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") He went home, told his wife what he had seen, and said, “I have given up my plan for an official life.[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") At our home in the country are houses and land, all you can ever need.”[47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") “Why not return at once, care for our property, and live in quiet?” asked his wife.[48](48/ "tree and pragmatics") “No\![49](49/ "tree and pragmatics") There is no hope for me.[50](50/ "tree and pragmatics") I give all our possessions to you,” was his reply.[51](51/ "tree and pragmatics") “What is your purpose?” questioned the now anxious wife.[52](52/ "tree and pragmatics") “If you will not return to the home of your ancestors, what do you mean by giving the land to me?[53](53/ "tree and pragmatics") Are you going to enter the Eternal?”[54](54/ "tree and pragmatics") Chi Hsiao Tang looked thoughtful for a moment, and then said, “I will go to some quiet place in the mountains.[55](55/ "tree and pragmatics") There will I live and purify myself from this evil world.[56](56/ "tree and pragmatics") I care or hope no longer for earthly joy or position.[57](57/ "tree and pragmatics") It is all vanity—vanity.”[58](58/ "tree and pragmatics") “But what of me?” urged his wife.[59](59/ "tree and pragmatics") “Am I nothing more to you?[60](60/ "tree and pragmatics") Are you casting me off also?[61](61/ "tree and pragmatics") This you shall not do.[62](62/ "tree and pragmatics") We will go together to the country and there you will forget your disappointment, or I too will go with you to the purple hills by Buddha’s help.[63](63/ "tree and pragmatics") Possibly by long years of tears, prayers, and self-denial the great Buddha will have compassion on me, and I too may find Peace.[64](64/ "tree and pragmatics") I cannot hope to enter into your spirit life, I who am only a woman, but surely the effort I make will at least be seen by the god.[65](65/ "tree and pragmatics") Do you think, because I am a woman, my heart does not long for that which can give rest?[66](66/ "tree and pragmatics") Why do I sit every night, hour after hour, with my tongue pressed against the roof of my mouth, my hands and feet crossed, trying not to be conscious of any bodily sensation.[67](67/ "tree and pragmatics") Is it not that I too may come in touch with the great pure Holy Ones?[68](68/ "tree and pragmatics") Why do I repeat the name of the great Buddha hundreds of times each day, before anything to eat or drink crosses my lips?[69](69/ "tree and pragmatics") Why am I almost a cripple?[70](70/ "tree and pragmatics") Is it not because of the long hours of kneeling on the cold brick floor praying to the Goddess of Mercy?[71](71/ "tree and pragmatics") Have I not kept the fast days most faithfully since coming into your home?[72](72/ "tree and pragmatics") Have I eaten meat?[73](73/ "tree and pragmatics") When you were ill did I not promise the gods that if you recovered I would go to the highest temple on the mountains, crawling all the way on hands and knees, and when you were restored to health did I not fulfil my vow?[74](74/ "tree and pragmatics") Did I not wear single garments all one winter?[75](75/ "tree and pragmatics") Did I not take flesh from my own arm to make a broth which cured our mother when she was ill?[76](76/ "tree and pragmatics") Do none of these things appeal to the Holy Ones?[77](77/ "tree and pragmatics") Can I not hope that I too, a poor woman, may attain to the Eternal Rest?”[78](78/ "tree and pragmatics") The tears streamed down her cheeks as she added, “Have compassion upon me, your wife, and let me go with you.”[79](79/ "tree and pragmatics") Chi Hsiao Tang looked tenderly at her for a moment and then, with a great sigh, which showed that he too suffered at the parting, replied, “What I have said I have said\![80](80/ "tree and pragmatics") You would prevent me from seeing the Eternal Light.[81](81/ "tree and pragmatics") You would hold me still to the earthly.”[82](82/ "tree and pragmatics") He ordered dinner, and as he sat eating he saw a new bench drop down into his court.[83](83/ "tree and pragmatics") “This,” said he to himself, “must have come from the gods, whether to help me to leave the earth or to keep me on it I will test and see.”[84](84/ "tree and pragmatics") So he said to the bench, “If you are to help me leave the earth move up and down three times.”[85](85/ "tree and pragmatics") This the bench immediately did.[86](86/ "tree and pragmatics") His wife coming in at the moment, he called to her “to look at the magic bench.”[87](87/ "tree and pragmatics") She replied in astonishment, but with a sense of relief, “What is this, are you bereft of your senses?[88](88/ "tree and pragmatics") You a Teacher to talk of a magic bench.”[89](89/ "tree and pragmatics") He answered gravely, “You shall see me sit on the bench and rise in the air,” and before she realized what had befallen her, he was rising into space and was soon beyond her sight.[90](90/ "tree and pragmatics") “Ah!” said she as she wept; “he has gone to the purple mountains to attain the god-life.[91](91/ "tree and pragmatics") He has left me here; I will seek it in my home.”[92](92/ "tree and pragmatics") She called to him and a faint sound came from the distance, “The gods have had pity upon me and taken me from the evil of the world,” and here he was seen no more.[93](93/ "tree and pragmatics") The bench carried him to a mountain far from all with which he was familiar, and there came to rest.[94](94/ "tree and pragmatics") He rose to his feet and as he did so the bench disappeared.[95](95/ "tree and pragmatics") He looked north, south, east, and west, nothing but stones and hills, not a human being in sight.[96](96/ "tree and pragmatics") He said to himself, “What can I do here?[97](97/ "tree and pragmatics") I will walk until I find some living thing.”[98](98/ "tree and pragmatics") Far in the distance on a high mountain-top he saw what appeared to be a man.[99](99/ "tree and pragmatics") After hours of weary climbing, faint with hunger and thirst, he reached the spot.[100](100/ "tree and pragmatics") He found two men sitting on a stone; one had on a yellow robe, white stockings, and striped shoes.[101](101/ "tree and pragmatics") His face was very white and he wore a long beard.[102](102/ "tree and pragmatics") At his side was a cow’s tail, used to brush away flies.[103](103/ "tree and pragmatics") The other man was dressed in black, had a dark face, protruding eyes, and a long black beard.[104](104/ "tree and pragmatics") One was facing to the east, the other to the west, and they were playing chess.[105](105/ "tree and pragmatics") Above them was a beautiful spruce tree, by their side a dish of peaches and one of pears, two wine-cups and a bottle of wine.[106](106/ "tree and pragmatics") When Chi Hsiao Tang came up to them they did not lift their heads or look up, seemed only interested in their game.[107](107/ "tree and pragmatics") But he thought, “These are surely two gods in disguise,” and kneeling before them he said, “I prostrate myself to you, my Teachers.[108](108/ "tree and pragmatics") I wish to prepare myself to join the Immortals.”[109](109/ "tree and pragmatics") The man in yellow lifted his head and asked, “Where do you come from and why are you not going in for the examinations, for I see that you are a man of no mean ability?”[110](110/ "tree and pragmatics") Chi Hsiao Tang replied, “It is all vanity.”[111](111/ "tree and pragmatics") “You are rich; why are you not satisfied with the things which money will buy?” was the next question.[112](112/ "tree and pragmatics") “They also are vanity,” was his answer.[113](113/ "tree and pragmatics") “Name, honour, riches, luxury; at the end of all is death,” continued Chi Hsiao Tang.[114](114/ "tree and pragmatics") “I have looked at it all, tasted much of it, and it does not satisfy beyond the passing moment.[115](115/ "tree and pragmatics") I do not desire it, and I have come to you, my Teachers, for instruction as to the way of attaining purification and the true life.”[116](116/ "tree and pragmatics") “To attain that you must suffer much.[117](117/ "tree and pragmatics") Can you endure?” said the sage.[118](118/ "tree and pragmatics") “I can,” was the reply.[119](119/ "tree and pragmatics") “Difficulties are many.[120](120/ "tree and pragmatics") Can you meet them?”[121](121/ "tree and pragmatics") Still he answered, “I can.[122](122/ "tree and pragmatics") I am not afraid of difficulties.”[123](123/ "tree and pragmatics") “But,” urged the wise man, “if you desire to attain the true life you must be ready to save, not to destroy men.[124](124/ "tree and pragmatics") No one can wear fine clothes like yours and put away the world.[125](125/ "tree and pragmatics") You will have to put on coarse cloth garments.[126](126/ "tree and pragmatics") When your shoes are worn out can you go barefooted on these rocky hillsides?”[127](127/ "tree and pragmatics") “I can in time,” was the reply.[128](128/ "tree and pragmatics") “We have no dainty food to eat, only grain and wild roots without salt.[129](129/ "tree and pragmatics") Can you eat these?”[130](130/ "tree and pragmatics") “Yes, this also in time.”[131](131/ "tree and pragmatics") “At home you have wine, tea, and hot water to drink.[132](132/ "tree and pragmatics") Can you give up all these and drink from the holes by the roadside?”[133](133/ "tree and pragmatics") “Yes\![134](134/ "tree and pragmatics") In time I can do even this.”[135](135/ "tree and pragmatics") The sage added further, “You will have also to serve us, dig roots, and prepare our food, you who at home have always been served.[136](136/ "tree and pragmatics") Can you eat \[1\] all this bitterness, even to becoming a servant?”[137](137/ "tree and pragmatics") Chi Hsiao said earnestly, “All this I can and will do.”[138](138/ "tree and pragmatics") “One thing more,” said the man in yellow.[139](139/ "tree and pragmatics") “I have a dreadful sore on my foot.[140](140/ "tree and pragmatics") You will have to wash and dress that every day.[141](141/ "tree and pragmatics") I will show it to you!”[142](142/ "tree and pragmatics") It was indeed a shocking sight.[143](143/ "tree and pragmatics") For a moment Chi Hsiao Tang’s heart failed him, but he resolutely put down the disgust and nausea which the sickening sore produced, and answered as before, “I can dress it, Worthy Teacher.”[144](144/ "tree and pragmatics") “But you must press the poison out with your lips.[145](145/ "tree and pragmatics") Will you do that?”[146](146/ "tree and pragmatics") “Yes!”[147](147/ "tree and pragmatics") “Then try it now.”[148](148/ "tree and pragmatics") As he stooped and put his lips to what seemed a most loathsome sore, behold! it was a beautiful ripe and luscious peach, bound with invisible bands about the foot.[149](149/ "tree and pragmatics") When the two Worthies saw the settled purpose of the man they said, “You may remain with us.[150](150/ "tree and pragmatics") We will teach you how to become one of the Perfect Ones.”[151](151/ "tree and pragmatics") At the close of his novitiate they sent him among the mountain people to help those in distress, to cheer the sad and discouraged, and found him always ready to serve as a messenger of the gods.[152](152/ "tree and pragmatics") Thus in a life of unselfish service of man was he made pure, until he reached that perfection which is absorption into the Divine.[153](153/ "tree and pragmatics") \[1\] A common Chinese expression for discomfort, pain, or sorrow.[154](154/ "tree and pragmatics") - ← previous: [A Chinese Hero](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75089/9/) - next →: [The Jade Treasure](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75089/11/) - ↑ back to [Gleanings from Chinese folklore](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75089/)