ccessors, who, like the demi gods and heroes of Grecian
fable, rescued mankind by their ability or enterprise from the most
primitive barbarism, and have since been invested with _superhuman_
attributes. The most extravagant prodigies are related of these persons,
and the most incongruous qualities attributed to them."

Dean Milman, in his "History of Christianity" (Vol. i. p. 97), refers to
the tradition, found among the Chinese, that _Fo-hi_ was born of a
virgin; and remarks that, the first Jesuit missionaries who went to
China were appalled at finding, in the mythology of that country, a
counterpart of the story of the virgin of Judea.

Fo-hi is said to have been born 3463 years B. C., and, according to some
Chinese writers, with him begins the historical era and the foundation
of the empire. When his mother conceived him in her womb, a rainbow was
seen to surround her.[119:3]

The Chinese traditions concerning the birth of Fo-hi are, some of them,
highly poetical. That which has received the widest acceptance is as
follows:

"Three nymphs came down from heaven to wash themselves in a
river; but scarce had they got there before the herb _lotus_
appeared on one of their garments, with its coral fruit upon
it. They could not imagine whence it proceeded, and one was
tempted to taste it, whereby she became pregnant and was
delivered of a boy, who afterwards became a great man, a
founder of religion, a conqueror, and legislator."[119:4]

The sect of _Xaca_, which is evidently a corruption of Buddhism, claim
that their master was also of supernatural origin. Alvarez Semedo,
speaking of them, says:

"The third religious sect among the Chinese is from India,
from the parts of Hindostan, which sect they call _Xaca_, from
the founder of it, concerning whom they fable--that he was
conceived by his mother Maya, from a white elephant, which
she saw in her sleep, and for more purity she brought him from
one of her sides."[120:1]

_Lao-kiun_, sometimes celled _Lao-tsze_, who is said to have been born
in the third year of the emperor _Ting-wang_, of the Chow dynasty (604
B. C.), was another miraculously-born man. He acquired great reputation
for sanctity, and marvelous stories were told of his birth. It was said
that he had existed from all eternity; that he had descended on earth
_and was born of a virgin_, black in complexion, described "marvelous
and beauti