Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-03-17
THE CHINESE AT HOME.
Celestial Society, Customs and Opin-
iOnss

Chinaman does may things in way dia-
metricalIy opposite to ours. His compass
isAo arranged that the south point is the
chief one; he stands when he sews, sits
down at his carpenters bench to plain a
board, his writing runs down the page, and
not across it; in short, John Chinaman
seems to be very contrary creature in
deed. Yet we know comparatively little
of his customs, and those who have seen
most of the Chinese of the interior praise
them most highly. Messrs. Harper & Bros.
have Just published an interesting and
valuable work, giving an account OF the
habits and customs of the Chinese, which
will! crafty the unsatistied curiosity of
many readers. 1t is called Social Life Of
the Chinese, with some account of their
Religious, Government, Educational and
Business Customs and Opinions; by Rev.
Justus Doolittle, fourteen years member OF
the Fuhchau Mission of the American
Board; in two volumes, with over one
hundred and fifty illustrations" The au-
thor says. in his preface: These volumes,
it is believed, will reveal to the careful
reader many phases of Chinese life and
manners which he will admire and COM
mend. But if he should tire with the
senseless and useless opinions cherished
and the strange and superstitious customs
practiced among all classes of society, let
him reflect that for over twenty centuries
China has been in bondage to the writings
of Conlucius and Mencius, and, for nearly
the same period to the religions OF Tauism
and Buddhism. This fact satisfactorily ac-
counts for many of the absurd supersti-
tiOns and stereOtyped opinions and sustoms
prevalent in that empire"
OF these customs and opinions he gives
the most complete and interesting account
we know of. We make below few eX-
tracts which show the quality of the book:
ADVANTAGES OF NOT EATING BEEF.
The slaughter of buffaloes for food is un-
lawful, according to the assertions OF the
people, and the abstaining from the eating
of beef is regarded as very meritorious.
The domesticated buffalo, on account of its
aid in ploughing, is considered as deserving
of great praise, and as having great merits;
and, therefore, men who enjoy the benefit
OF its toll should not consume its flesh.
In certain volume OF over two hundred
leaves, having many of the moral maxims
and admonitOry precepts OF the Chinese,
are several pages devoted to eXhorting the
people against the use Of beef. In one ar.
ticle the spirit of buffalo, whose tesh had
heen cooked and eaten, and whose hide had
been made into drumheads, and whose
bones had been manufactured into head
GEAR for women, and this all alter life of
drudgery in toiling for man, is represented
as appearing before one of the rulers of the
| Chinese hell, and, with lamentations, making
its complaints. The ruler, deeply commisera-
ting the circumstances OF its case, answers:
"The deceased killers of buffaloes are en-
during punishment for their sins in hell.
Some are tossed upon the tree of knives ;
others are thrown upon the hill of swords.
Some have molten brass turned down their
throats; Others are bound upon red-hot
iron posts. Through eternal ages they shall
not be born into the world again, or, If they
are born again, they shall become buffaloes."
II is added, apparently by the author of the
volume: "The consumer of beef who an
| grily refuses to listen to admonition on this
Subject. and who derides the notion that
| the buffalo is meritorious animal, insist
inc that beef is highly nutritious, shall be
overwhelmed with calamity, his happiness
shall be destroyed, his children and grand
children shall be poor, and his family or
posterity shall be exterminated."
PUNISHMENT FOR USING TOO MUCH WATER
A large sheet is always put up for the in
spection and information of the public
| When any expensive and attractivemeritor-
| ious ceremoney is to be performed. This
| notification or advertisement specifies what