The New York herald., 1876-09-07
A CHINESE FESTIVAL.

DUCKS AND wATERMELoNs OFFERED ON THE
TABLETS OF DECEASED ANcRsToRs-FILIAL
PIETY IN BAXTER srgEET--MARRIED DAUGH
TIERS DUTY TO PARENTS.
The Chinese residents OF New York, who within a
few years have considerably increased in numbers
engaged In the observance Of the peculiar customs
Of their native country, which take place yearly when
the days and nights become perceptbly cooler. The
Mongoans in midst, unlike the coolies in Cali
fornia and Australia do not ali sport the lengthy
quene from the back OF their heads follow the
Middle Kingdom fashions in respect wearing apparel
but with regard religious usages they, far cir
cumstances permit strictly conform to the prescribed
ceremonies OF Buddhism. The poorest tenement in
the Sixth ward inhabited by Chinese has Its ancestral
tablet, and when the established seasons arrive
all unite to do honor TO the memory OF dead relatives
The early days of september are one Of these aeasons
This hal pely, as IL Is called is the keystone 10 all
the teachings of Confucus. Yesterday reporter OF
the HERALD visited several celestial dw ellings and
learned that the present considered excellent
time for parties TO make inquiries Of soohsayers as to
whether they may may not be engaged ia marriage,
and make selections of lucky days to engage in
business enterprises, to the proper hour Tor
funerals for graveyards when occasion calls,
in specified individual Tor such journeys
The festival now in course observance has prnci-
pal reference to the happiness and comfort Of tho
dead The professcd object s 10 furnish food, cloth
ing and other necessares for defunct ancestors To
obtain this result the tablets above. oncd
brought forward, with burning incense aud lighted
candles front 1t Is Indispensable that there should
be among the edibes three certain ar,icesone duck,
one watermelon and dish OF vermicelli. The duck
before being offered Is bioied Besides these,
spirits arc on hand All are placed before
customary worship Of the dead performed by
kneelng and bowng Some Cinnamon have Caucasian
wives but the latter pay attention to these obscr
vances. They look upon them amusing, and az
their husbands seem to DO uninnuenced by any reg.
ious or even serious impressions while they continue
tue women attend to their business as II nothing un'
usual IN progress
The Chinese are firm believers in the separate exist
OF the soul after death, but they believe, also,
that every has three souls At the moment OF dis
solution one, they say to judgment In the unseen
world one bee ONES occupant oil tho tablets erected
to the memory OF tho departed IN OF the reccsses
Of the house. aud the third goes with the corpse
the grave They believe that the unseen world Is an
counterpart only spiruaiized, OF things visible,
and that the gho Is OF the departed in need OF the
same support they received while living. Food.
raimcnt and other neccssarics required by thom,
reduced however 10 state where they be avail.
able by the dsembod spirits The worldly materials
accordingly brought TO this condition by the pro-
OF burning. The Chinese, however, arc too pru.
| dent TO carry this exlrayagance TO excess Having
to provide only the day OF the funeral hut IN
every September thereafter for the comfort OF the de-
| parted and having to assist in tho support not OF
alone but OF long lne OF ancestors, the Chinese
that tho clothing, &c, furnished anu which
must he burned to be realized by the spirit shall be
!
lacturc limitations Of these necessares In paper the
paper merely being covered with tin or gilt foil The
ood Tor the spr Is Is managed moro simply still the
feast spread not and steaming, and this steam, with
the fumes arising, forms the repast OF the spirits The
substantial lood Is consumed by the survivors. IL e
denied by the parties concerned that this sensible
Is TO be pursued by the New York Aongoiians
who have according TO their means, p1rchased and
prepared during the past few days supplies of meat
poultry fruit and confectionery for the comfort o.
their deceased ancestors
There is curious custom, in which a married
q
festival IN one or both OF her parents deac
and she has borne She is expected present
trunk made In the shape OF wardrobe materal gauzs
papcrJ five or six feet high aud three or iorr
feet wide with shelves in IT, IL Is furnished with
min iatuio household utensils, bedsteads, chairs
lanterns plates and paper images OF servants These
are TO be burned on tho premises She Is also re-
quired to make present OF food, which must include
a duck. Iu this manner the married daughter 10
qured to give yearly proof OF her ia affection TO her
deceased parents Being designed for the benefit OF
who arc already dead would bo considered
becoming indeed TO present them to those who yot
alive ana II proGered would be regarded as very
dutiiu act and as intimatpg her wish that they
already IN their graves