The Trinity journal., 1856-11-15
Chinese Signs.


the habit of observing the Chinese stores III !
different parts of the city, have probably |
noticed certain characters painted on the
outside of the houses, answering to what
Americans use to designate the names Of the
proprietors. The Chinese, however, never
place their names upon the sign-board its
use to them sprnging entirely from their
belief in the efficacy Of certain figures or
characters in insurng prosperity. These
figures have to them a mysterious signitica
ton, favorable to the business in which they
are engaged The Chinese merchant com
mences business, aud selects as a presiding
deity some particular word or words if
these prove unpropitious, he filings them
away and chooses others When fayora-
bic character is found, the owner often as
sumes it as proper name. The word sam,
"three," is supposed by them to possess pc
culiar virtue, as much as the number nine
used to be considered by superstitious old
women of two generations ago. Chinese
druggists prefer the words chum, "sprng,'
20, protection" lcing, eternal, and shan,
" longevity" 1t is rather doubtful whether
| Christian druggists could conscentiouSly
use these names but we believe that in
China physicians are only paid while persons
are in good health when sick, the doctor
pays the patient It's good doctrine, and
it wouldn't hurt the Anglo-SaXons to adopt
it. There are other words that the Chinese
consider particularly lucky among them,
lro, harmony" hoP, concord, Ii, "mcmo-
ry," king, hourishing," sun, " faith, hlccng,
" expanded, and cling, correct, " are favor
ties The two last, we presume, are intend
ed to signify Iiberality in commercial dealing,
and honesty in business transactions. In
these respects, the Chinese will, at all events,
compare with their neighb0rs.
This superstitious belief in the efficacy Of
mere words, is very antique in its origin
A prototype of the principle existed in the
United States, or particularly in Great
Britain, not more than thirty years ago
Symbols and signs were believed in, as desg
mating impending calamitcs or coming sue
cesseS. 1t was deemed unfortunate to com
mence any business or enterprise on particu
lar days dreams and foreboding were be
! lieyed in, and their Interpretation by tho
most approved method was considered pro
phetic With the extraordinary march O.
intelligence and intellectual improvement OF
the masses, these relics Of barbarism havC
, died out, although even now, i'll sundry que
= hooks and corners of Wales and Scotland
; and even enlightened England, old womel
NAV be found who have the utmost faith il
b" the healing properties of useless herbs, il
omcns of good and i'll, in weather pr0gnoS
tcatlonS, &c.
II We well remember venerable old lady
not far from great centre Of commerce am
enlightenment, who used to think that by
rotary motion Of the hand she could cur
y the ring-worm This was not more tha
twelve years ago and, although the oil
:, lady was not successful in one instance /
u curing this disease, that we know Of st
, hundreds of people had the utmost faith i
= her power, to "work the miracle" PEI
- sian doctors, at the present day, use certal
e herbs as remedies for nearly all Diseases
{ Like the Chinese, they call these herbs b
= names signifying what they desire-Healtl
u Recovery, Long-ife, &c &c The eilicac
II of these medicines to them consists in til
e name not in the substance. We hay
>, shown-taking the Chinese Sign-boardS as
q q teXt-that, among all nations, the most OF
:, posite in location and general characteristics
u there is a certain affinity in some principl
% % or custom We see that, in one princpl
e e at least, the Chinaman and Persian Of toda
: and the AngIo-SaXon Of a generation ag
are alike. Go where we may, among tn
o most civilized and enlightened, or most baI
: barous and ignorant some trait will b
i. ',und, some custom or belief that we hay
+ ."~ soon or ard of in places far removed, unde
entirely opposite t'' ''' O. ~ y
ed by totally different aSSocIa''onS'-N' L
ChrCnidc