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7.

     [The modern city of Lin-feng-hsien is only half populated. If we choose to work on any historical site of recent time, the abandoned part of the city might be a good place. The ruins as I learned later were caused partly by earthquake and partly by the T'ai-p'ing rebellion.]
     [The magistrate of this city is an excellent host, and is himself interested in the preservation of the ancient monuments. He showed me some pictures taken of two ancient stelae, while he was the magistrate of Chang-tze-hsien. The stelae were originally hidden in the wall of Ti-ch'ang-miao, a temple found about 25 li south of the city of Cheng-tze-hsien. They were taken out during repair and sold to a curio dealer. The news reached to the Governor who forced the dealer to return it to the original place. The stelae measure 6 ft. and 7 in. high; [[strikethrough]] cared [[/strikethrough]] carved on them are Buddhistic figures as well as dragons and clouds. The date is the 5th year of T'ien-t'ung, Ta, Chi'i (569 A.D.). The magistrate very willingly complied with my request to have the negatives lent to me for a reprint (Plate 1-4).]
     We rested in Lin-feng-hsien for a day, and [It was according to the lunar calender [[calendar]] the first day of the lantern festival. The people were going to celebrate it for three days in succession. At dusk we ventured out to observe some of the main features of the celebration. It was a marvelous exhibition in the shopping quarter. Every shop hung at least a pair of lanterns at the front gate; every lantern had some individual characteristics. In general the lantern was made of white gauze on wooden and bamboo frame. It was either cubic or rhomboid, varying in lengths and diameters. On the gauze were painted human and animal figures, consisting chiefly of oxen, horses, lions and elephants. Plants, flowers and birds were also used as motives, but they were comparatively rare. Besides these lanterns which were lighted by Chinese candles, there were also many oil-lamps. One of the most picturesque scenes that we saw was in a grain shop. Rice was filled way above the rims in different measures, which were piled upon each other.