Publisher's Synopsis
The water-clock marks the hour in the Ta-chung sz', -in the Tower of the Great Bell: now the mallet is lifted to smite the lips of the metal monster, -the vast lips inscribed with Buddhist texts from the sacred Fa-hwa-King, from the chapters of the holy Ling-yen-King! Hear the great bell responding!-how mighty her voice, though tongueless!-KO-NGAI! All the little dragons on the high-tilted eaves of the green roofs shiver to the tips of their gilded tails under that deep wave of sound; all the porcelain gargoyles tremble on their carven perches; all the hundred little bells of the pagodas quiver with desire to spea
