Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-08-06
The p.onIiar Ceremonies and Superst-
lions Of a Chinese Burial.

RrTEo Tor the ueau NNlN HVutNWhet ~
different parts of the country. In some
nlaccs while the body is on the ground
and the eouls are departing. Tauist
pfiest IL employed 10 chant portions OF
their ritual. accompanied with the beating
of ponrs and drums, and the explosion OF
powder.crackers The noise Of drums,
gongs. and crackers Is for the purpose Of
Tightening away evil spirits The firing
of guns and crackers, however, Is not
comfnOn Amangst the Cantonese. a. their
funerals, we are tcld y 9 -+4'als .
After death, articles Of food are placed
near the body; abundant or meagre &C
cording TO the ability of the friends. These
are supposed 10 be for the supply Of the
departed spirit Some Of the provisions
are presented to the mouth otthe deceased
nv the oidestr 500, or, If there is no son
present, then by some other near relative
or friend, who kneels beside the body
while feeding the spirit
Large sums are often expended Ia
dressing the body for its Journey TO the
world of spirits. The best suit is put on,
or new garments are provided throughout,
and of costly materials where there is suf.
ficient means TO meet the expense; and
whau there are no means cheaper mate
risb arc used. and even garments Of paper
have been employed, which may be PM
together in such a way ms 10 resemble
clothing very closely.
Much solioitudo Is expended on the SUD
icct of the longevity boards or CONN
the desire being to procure that which is
most durable. In China the aged often
provide collins for themselves beforehand,
or sons make presents of this article TO
their .pareuts, thus furnishing PROOF OF
filial regard, and putting TO rest any soli'
oitude of the parent lest when dead there
might not he funds sufficient TO procure
the longevity boards," and furnish them
abecoming burial
When the body is washed, dressed, and
prepared for the coffin, and covered with
white cloth, tables Of provisions are set
for the regaling of this particular spirit,
and also to appease such other spirits as
may be lowering around Among these
provisions there must be five kinds of
animal food uncooked, and the five kinds
which are cooked; also, variety OF cakes,
and dishesof vegetables, with fruits, wine,
and tea. The spectator may notice whole
fowls and fish tantastically ornamented (;
also, q pigs head, or an entire hog; with
pyramids OF cakes and fruits, and vases OF
flowers All these are borne TO the grave
at the time of the interment, where they
are again arranged in order, and suffered
20 remain awhile us an offering to the
dead, and are then brought home to fur.
nlsh repast to the family and friends
Before the body is placed in the coffin
and while the offerings remain upon the
tables, mourning women are gathered
around, who cause the air to rcsound with
their wailings. The wife, concubines, and
daughtersin.la or any friend, may join
in these wailings; but often there are only
hired mourners.
These lamentations are exceedingly lu
gubrious, and are mixture of sobbing, OF
eulogies of the dead, and of regrets for the
bereavement, and deprecating the sad lot
of those who have been robbed ofa friend,
or ofa support and provider The speeches
are generally improvised but sometimes
are according to formulas which have long
been used, and which have been walled
over myriads of corpses.
Any relation or friend who Is so dis.
posed may contribute his quota TO these
audible demonstrations of grief; and one
will say 20 thou departed one, | am
thy relative this day hast thou suddenly
deceased Never can our affection perish
it is impossible TO restrain weeping; from
this time never more may we behold thee
in the parting our heart is torn but we
hope that after death thy soul has Joy and
peace, having assembled to the heavenly
palace there continually to confer pros
perlty on thy children and grandchildren.
While in life, all thy dealings with men
were benevolent and righteous with an
upright heart dwelling amongst men, per
forming thy business with wisdom. BY
right, heaven ought to have prolonge
thy age to q hundred years. Wherefore
then, by this one sickness art thou already
deady We are thy relatives, we are thy
friends; and how shall not our bowels be
sundered by the force of our distress and
lamentations Alas, alas |"
When one mourner ceases another com
mences and chants his or her dirge, ant
says Alas, alas Why was II not that
had died rather than be doomed to remalr
IN the land OF the living, an inheritor o
trouble and grief, while thou art removed
Thou, so talented and wise; thou oughtes
70 nave been spared TO become an office
oil the empire, even as pillar OF the roya
palace. And perhaps another adds
tlou oughtest 10 nave Deen spared to thy
native town, the hope of the inhabitants
and to whom they look. Thou vast on
who vert able to teach thy sons al
righteousness, enu all upright measures
But now thou art gone. Alas, alasr'
We have been told that 1t Is not an uu
common occurrence for old family trouble
TO be referred TO In some indirect way, a
when secondary wife with no ocCasiol
lot the use OF counterfeit sorrow) WI
wall out: "Ah me Who now will tax
my part when oppressed by the mistress ?
ana as when the daughter.in- law sobs on
rner apprehenslons OF increasing tynnn,
irom the mother-tn-law, by saying
Alas! what will become of me since M
only friend is departedl"
At Chinese funerals in San Francisco
these hired mourning women are somC
times put into carriages to follow the bod
TO the grave, They may be known b
the white garments and white hood
which they wear-white being the flnera
color.
In many cases a band of Chinese mus
clans is employed TO join in the procession
and escort the deceased to his last resting
place Whatever may be the design i
furnishing this music, we outside barba
rians are apt to regard it as better adapte
TO trighten away evil spirits than TO ful
tgia atrR lnl. 49,.