Smyrna times., 1857-10-21
Selected articles.
Chinese Burial Customs.

The Chinese entertain deep veneratiun for
the remains OF their departed relatives. The
circumstances attending their funerals, too, are
questions of absorbing interest TO those who
are to be the subjects Of the ceremonies as well
as their friends. NJ. Hue, French traveller,
inan excursion through Chinl, came near dying,
and upon his recovery the project of the town
assured him that he had ordered for him, while
his malady was at its hight, magnificent coffin.
NJ Hue afterwards went to see the lodging pre-
parsd for him, which was made of four enor-
mons trunks of trees, neatly planed, coiorcd
violet and beautifully vanished.
In China, lie says, men can be heard exchang-
ing compliments about coffin. In the eyes of
the Chinese such a receptacle is an article Of
the first necessity for the dead, and Of taste and
luxury to the living. In the great towns they
ATE displayed with elegant decorations in mag
nlhcent shops, and carefully painted, vanished
and polished, in order 10 allure the passers by
and induce them to purchase. People in easy
circumstances always provide themselves be-
iurehand with one TO their fancy, aud until the
time arrives for lying down in it keep it in the
house as handsome piece Of furniture. The
cOfin above all is considered an excellent me.
thod for children TO show the intensity of their
tllIal piety to their parents. 1t is great con-
soIat!on to a son to be able to purchase coffin
for an aged father or mother, and make a SOL
emn offering of it when they least expect it,
Ii a person is not sufficiently favored by for
tune to keep GOTTA re ldy, care is still taken
not to wait till the last moment, that the dying
man, before saluung the world. as they say III
China, may have tine satisfactIoH of casting
glance al his last abode. Thus, when patient
Is given over, his friends buy him coffin and
put 1t by the side of his bed. Once NJ. Hue
met in ts,bi ieh
upon one litter aud lIgid and emaciated man
upon another. lie had been taken i'll in
neighboring village and was being carried to.
his home. His eyes were fixed upon his coffin,
which was the most grateful spectacle his
friends could present to his failing vision.
When the coffin has received it. occupant the
family are IN no haste TO get rid of il, and by
means of qucklime thickly strewn at the bot
tom and a careful ceIneuti0g of the joints, 10
prevent the escape of etluvIum, often manage
to preserve it until the anniversary of the
death, partly to do honor to the deceased, aud
partly to allow time 10 choose a site for the
grave. To this they attach immeHse impor-
lance. Cemeteries are not common with them,
but each family provides It's own resting place
IN the best situation 1t can command. Th9y
pick out romantic positions upon hlllsldes, and
everywhere seek for lovely localities O;her
circumstances KNOWN only 10 the initiated, are
supposed to render one spot more eligible than
another, and there is a class of OWNERS who
determine the situation for a fee Even the
nature of the soil is an element in the question,
and an English merchant relates that he was
present when tray containing a variety of dii-
1erent earths was brought to the we'll known
Howqua at Canton, and the old man, after ex-
aiming them with care, selected the sample with
which he wished his ashes to mingle. 90 =.
Every year, and sometimes ottener, the sur
VlvOrs visit the tombs Of their deceased rela-
tlves, clear away the grass, tend the flowers
which arc planted around them, decorate them
with strips of colored paper, chant prayers
burn incense, aud set out choice little dishes Of
food in order TO testify TO The departed that they
live in the memory of their friends. The ut.
most value is set upon these sepulchral atten.
lions, and to secure them, the Chinese who die
at distance always, where the cost of trans
port can be betrayed, are conveyed to the fami
ly residence. II they remove in body to ano
ther clllty, they take with them the remains
ct their dead. Even the poorer classes adhere
tenacOusly TO this custom.-BOsiOn Journal