The more things change…

[ahorbinski]

Despite Huang's words, the world of ghosts and nightmares remained a part of T'an-ch'eng. The Local History mentioned how unusually superstitious the people were: over half of them believed in ghosts, and magical arts; they venerated women mediums who could conjure up the spirit world as if they were gods; when ill they would never take medicine but consulted the local shamans instead; neighbors would gather in groups and waste thousands of copper coins (which they could not afford) in making offerings as they prayed through the night.

--Jonathan D. Spence, The Death of Woman Wang (15)

Ah, classism.

(Also, how incomprehensible is Wade-Giles? After reading The Clash of Empires, I find it really hard not to feel that it was designed to make Chinese look dumb. I also can't understand how anyone ever attained native proficiency with it. Pinyin is so, so much better.)