The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1873-11-07
Religious Rites Of the Chinese in San
Francisco.

MTlllllE lltln Ntil i ldufl~''. riN -
Since my last interview with the SIX
companies there has been a change,
through the death of All Chin Suey, 10
whom have been indebted for aid IN my
Chinese investigations. Having during
life been a prominent member and inspec-
tor of the Min lcong Company. and hav-
ing died full of honorand years, his funeral
was one OF p0mp and display. The body
was kept above ground four days. and then
deposited in the Chinese vault NJ Lone
Mountain Cemetery yesterday. The de-
ceased had long been resident of talifor-
nia. having emigratcd from Hong Kong i'm
1915. lie had visited England. France.
and Germany; had been in Philadelphia.
Chicago. Baltimore, 81. Louis. aud New
York. Was present and Witnessed the
second inauguration of President Lincoln
al Washington. and also at the reception
of the Burlinglmc party, with whom he
went To Europe. OF course his memory
will be honorcd and respected.
In company with several white mer-
chants who had attended the funeral, and
with Lee sang. who. though only twenty
six years Of age. has already been selected
To i'll the dead mans place. went 70 The
Hang Fer Tough restaurant Immediately
after the ceremonies. ! found the place
elegantly lit up and decorated, and was i'll
formed that il was the occasion OF the
Feast of All Ten Tor the noon. which j.
one of great importance and general re-
ioicing. Many persons residing IN the
immediate neighborhood of the principal
joss-house have for the past week noticed
several Cinnamon building a dragon OF
enormous size, with crested head and
horned body. This is the god OF the fcs-
tival. and j. one of the greatest importance
in the Chinese calendar TO the women, who
pay Linn extreme devotion. as his maligni-
" appears to be directed solely against
their sex.
Last evening. lust rs darkness was set
ting over the city. there was hung in front
OF every house occupied by the Chinese
a large and Enthusiastically ornamented lam
tern, the purpose of which is To ward Oh
evil genh. our party, leaving the saloon.
proceeded To the Tung Wa Mea Temple.
where we arrived just as several Chinese
priests were sounding the gongS. cymbals.
and hautboys. which were 70 call the dis
cplcs of Confuciis "a worship. soon
crowds OF Cinnamon and women began 10
enter the temple and pray in their peculiar
STYLE The temple was more gorgeou~ly
decorated than usual. and description
furnished by Lee sang OF the paintings
seemed TO me to be interesting. The
guardians of the outer gates were two large
mummy figures. eight feet high. and
dressed ia deliberately decorated tlnsel ana
paper dresses. They keep on interlopers
and guard the different divisions. In one
of these are hung five long banners. on
which are represented the punishments
bestowed on the vile and refractory women.
On each we see a Judge. on one side of whom
is a good genius showing the culprit :
virtues. while on the other side the evil
genius show her vices. Women are de-
picted rs receiving punishment. to say the
least. simply barbarOus. We have Them
with the cangue or stone collar on. and
| iloundering in sea of boiling blood.
some are represented tied TO the pillory
and fed on fire; some are being thrown
into seas OF molten lead. Again we see
demons putting women into "A wheel
through what looks like a coffee hopper.
and crushing them; some in another
scene are torn 10 pieces by wild beasts. and
to finish this. the lowest grade OF punish
ment. we have them suspended by the
waist from a crOss-bar and then dragged
down by weights, finally TO be dubbed and
spittcd to death.
The presiding genius of these crueltics
| i a good-natured man. who wceps when
he pronounces Judgment. The first-clas-
than those before given. | will mention
il here that the punishments described
above and hereafter, Lee Sang says. are
actually practised on living men and wo-
men in China. The series of fortunes de-
nominated tirst-class may be described a.
j thrust in dens of snakes, dragged by thu
tongue. thrown into C uldrOns of boiling
oil. crushed between heavy stones. burned
10 death, discmbowclcd, and impaled on
knives.
These punishments are, however. oflse
by several other paintings which are great
IL worshiped by the Chinese women
They represent virtuouS women. who arr
resting on dragons and flowers. They arr
dressed in purple and gold. and have tia
dragon embroidered in the imperial color
yellow and gold. on their breasts. Thci
feet rest on green cushions. In the ccntc
Of the temple hangs large lamp. aroun'
which hang figures descriptive of batil
scenes. There are four battle scenes. wit
: manikn figures of viriuous women am
cruel men. The women are OF course vi,
torious. a large tablet commemorative ,
the feast hangs over all. Thus far my ncN
comprador had only informed me abou
the temple and paintings. " As no Mel
.. can man. him what litce for him ncwsp'
per. put him Al Ten day inpeper. ! spea
: YOU him stoy.r said he n we returned I
the restaurant And here my new Mon
: golian mentor told me many religious br
: fantastic legends. On next sunday afte
noon and evening. the last day of thi
feast. there will be general worship OF tl
ancestral tablets and the household goo
belonging to the different celebrants, win,
; ing up with grand banquet.
i