New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-08-05
DEATH AND BURIAL IN CHINA.
HIRED M0URNERs-EVIL sPIRITs-PRovIsIoNs
FOR TIE DEAD-PAPER MONEY-CURIoUS

HIRED MoURNERs-EVIL sPIRITs-PRovIsIoHs
FOR TIE DEAD--PAPER MONEY-CURIOUS
sUPERSTITIONs.
Rites for the dead vary somewhat in differ
ent parts Of China In some places while the body IS on
the ground and the souls departing Tauist priest
employed to chant portions OF their ritual accompanied
with the beating gOngs and drums and the explosion
OF powder-crackers. The noise Of drums gonRs, and
KS. The firing Of guns and crackers however, s not
common among the Cantonese at their funerals, we are
told After death articles OF food are placed near He
BODY, abundant or meager according 10 the eoitty
0i tne friends; Ihese are supposed 10 DC oT pr tS
supply OF the departed spirit, some OF INC prVKE
sOBs the mouth OF the deceased by the
other near relative or friend Who knee beside the body
while feeding the spirit Large sums are OFTEN EXPENDED
The best suit put or new garments are provided
throughout and OF costly materials where there is sum
not MEANS cheaper materials used, and even gar
ments Of paper have been employed, which may be put
closely. Much sohcude is expended the subject OF
the longevity boards. or coffin the desire beng 10
procure that which durable. In CHINA
the aged often provide collins for themselves be
fOrehand, sons make presents Of this article
20 their parents, thus furnishing proof of hial re-
gard, and putting to rest any socltude OF the parent
lest when dead there might not be funds sufficient to
procure the longevity boards" and furnish them be-
coming burial. When the body is washed, dressed,
and prepared for the coffin and covered with white
CLOTH tables OF provisions are for the regang Of this
particular spirit and also to appease such QtheF spirits
there must be 1--WE animal food unooOked. and
the five kinds which cooked also variety OF cakes
spectator may notice whole fowls and fish Enthusiastically
Ornamented also pig head, entlre nOg Win
pyramids Of cakes and fruits and vases OF flowers:
All these borne TO the grave at the time OF
tho intermeRt, where they again arranged In Or
GER ana suffered 10 remain WINE as IN TllelDs " VIC
dead and then brought home to furnish fepast 10
the family and friends Before the body Is placed IN the
collin, ana While the offerings remain upon the taDes'
mourning women gather around who cause the ar 70 re-
sound with their waings. The wife, concubines, ana
daughersiRlaw or any friend may Join IN these wall
lngs; but often there are only hired mOurneis Ineso
lamentations exceedingly lugubnous and are mix
ture OF sobng OF euoges Of the dead and of regrets
for the bereavement and depecang the sad lot OF those
proyider me speeches are generally improvised but
are sometimes according to formulas which have long
cOrpses Any relation friend who Is so disposed may
coutribue his quota to these audible demonstrations OF
aud chants his her drge. IL is not an uncommon oc
curreuee for old family troubles to be referred
will wall out: All me Who now Will take my
part when oppressed by the mlstressf' anG as
sOns OF increasing tyranny from the mother1naw, 0y
sssn5 dsnsTteS - AZ chinese funerals in San Fran
cisco these hired mourning women are sometimes put
into carriages TO follow the body the grave They may
be known 6y the white garments and white hoods which
they wearwhite being the funeral color nmany cases
procession and escort the deceased to his last resting
place. - =
signed to be very impressive, often have one or more
young men following the hearse ON foot These repre-
sent the sons of the deceased ana are dressed seahty IN
some coarse fabric Of dirty white; they are bareooed
leaning upon cane and go bow5g down win their lace
side All this s emblematlcal not only OF thelr crnshng
sorrow, but also OF the lrrepdFaDB loss bustaluti
by the family: ntmang that now the head and sup
port the house is removed, the survivors will be LETT
without prOYider and must therefore pursue the re-
mander of LIES journey in poverty and sOrrOw strips
Of brown paper pierced with holes to represent strings
copper coin, which scattered in such prOfus0n as
Chinese funeral cOege proceeds TO the place OF inter-
ment, denOmiuated "mOney for buying the road"
The theory that everywhere there may he hungry or
ildspOSed spirits who have ii In their power TO stop
the way the spirit of the deceased or by other means
TO interfere and prevent his peaceful settlement at the
provided for him; therefore this paper represent
ing money scattered everywhere along the road TO buy
from vagrant spirits the right Of way AT the place
Of sepulture provisions are again arranged before
the grave, aud iibatiODs Of WINE and tea are
poured ont; aud large supplies OF money, clothing and
other things supposed to be needed by the deceased in
the world 10 which he has gone sent on after him
The money paper and folded 20 represent gold
and silver bars copper cash. and this is burned in
large amounts Paper is made into boxes represent
chests clothing There may be paper SERVANTS also
sedan chair with its bearers and all these are burned
and thus into the world OF spirits While the
corpse remained the house. before the funeral these
maPs and paper represe nGtons OF furniture, were ar
ranged the body the servants being represented
" ~ NV Overland Monthly.