The Lincoln County herald., 1870-04-07
A Chinese Funeral.

Some eight or ten days ago Ye Chow
Y,pg, a prominent member Of the liop
Wo Chinese Company, died in Sacra
mento, full Of years and full OF honors
(from a Mongolian stand po,nt). lie
had long been a resident Of San Fran
cisco, but did not 90 among Americans,
prefcrriHg rather to remain at his own
quarters, and receive the homage Of his
people, to gong abroad aud "rouphing
it; for he was inclined to luxrious living
aud easy times. But death calls upon
the heathen ss we'll as the Chistian, and
when he was summoned, he quietly folded
his arms across his breast, took u last
look Mt the image Of joss, which had
been set up 10 his room, bade adieu TO his
friends, and--passed out upon the shore
less sea Of eternity.
The Chinese generally being very poor,
are obliged, in order to save expense, or
Tor some other reasons, 10 bury their
dead IN the course Of a few days alter
death. This is considered disreputable,
and mark Of the very lowest poverty,
or that the dead is destitute OF friends
ouu iCiaVNco WuV tuhc dU iuieTtSt III Tue
honor of the family. If the body is
buried in u few days alter death, it is
called the "blood burial" or burial Of
blood. The corpse is believed to have
blood in it, or the blood has not yet dried
up. "Blood burial" is used as term Of
reproach, and refers to hasty buriuls,
preceded by few mourning so'emnities
The remains Of the dead man haviog
been placed in a magnificent burial case,
were conveyed into large room, where
they lay in state for several days Near
the coffin we're ARA ged. as an Offering to
the dead, bucket Of boiled rice, plates
of meats, 6,h, vegetables and kind Of
cake called 81, and two small lanterns. on
one of which were two characters which
meant "huudred children" and on the
other were two characters which means
Thousand grandchildren" While these
things were being offered sacrifice to
the remains Of the deal, number Of per
sons, clothed in long white gowns, pros
trated themselves with their heads toward
the coffin, and sent up u low, wailiug
melancholy cry. A tablet to represent
the dead, having been properly marked
lies upon the coffin near the center, and
remains there until few minutes before
the coffin is carried from the house fol
the purpose Of being removed to che bur
ial ground
At length, a sufficient time having
elapsed to permit the blood to dry up
the funeral took place from Sacramento
street, aud was celebrated in the mos
lavish style. The procession was headed
by wagon containing company of Chi
nese musicians, with their ffes, drum,
and horns. In this wagon we're two white
lanterns. This was followed by a car
riage containing the longevity picture
and the tablet Of the deceased also
dishes containing burning incense. From
this vehicle man scattered. at intervals
along the streets, mock money of pecu
liar kind. The friends Of the deceased
came next. and then the hearse contain
ing the coffin. Then followed friends il
carriages. The funeral cortege, as il
moved through tho streets, attracted .
great deal Of attention from our citizens
who stopped upon the sidewalks and
looked at the bizarre procession as i
passed by, in wonderment Tho remain.
were temporarily deposited in the Chinest
vault in Lone Mountain Cemetery, ant
will I'm there for several months, af
ter which they will be conveyed to China
and placed alongside the ancestors of tn,
deceased.-Da,ly (Cal.) Morning Call.
|