For more than a year I had visited temples and monasteries in the region in search of learned priests capable of teaching me what it was impossible for me to draw from available superficial books on Chinese religion, but as yet I had met only ignorant and narrow- minded beings, ...

However, finally, an old Chinese had spoken to me of the "Sage of Shien Shan" as one well versed in the secrets of Heaven and Earth, and, though not very hopefully, I had crossed the sea to find him. This temple was similar to many others that I had seen. Sordid priests, robed in sullied grey, sauntering on the steps, looked at me with stupefaction. ... -p1