Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1878-01-17
Chinese Funerals and Weddings
From the Shanghai Courier.

FOR one who has never witnessed
it, to form an accurate idea of Chi
nese procession, is almost impossible.
Description does but scanty Justice to
the subject, for when we hear of Sc
dams Tor palanquins), of canopies,
flags and remnants, we conceive of
silk and satin, costly and unsullied, of
materials blazing with gilt, and re-
splendent with fresh laquer. Photog-
raphy has been defined as Justice
without mercy. But reproducing Chi
nese scenes of any kind, photography
is not justice, since it cannot repro-
duce the dirt and smells, and is there
fore quite inadequate to set forth, in
its true aspect, Chinese procession.
The contrast between the very rich
and the very poor, in costume and in
manners, is nowhere more marked
than in China, but in their inextiu.
guishable attachment to their public
displays, the rich and the poor are
thoroughly at one. An abridgment
Of the usual ceremonials, no matter
how i'll it can be afforded, would be
regarded as beyond comparison more
disgraceful than the contraction of a
debt, which like that of Great Britain
is not intended to be paid. Everyone
is aware that the elaborateness Of
these ceremonials is such, that 10
marry and to die are the two most ex-
pensive acts Chinese can possibly
commit. 1t is for these reasons that,
as bas been remarked no Chinaman is
ever entirely at peace, until himself
and all his relations are either married
or buried. The effect which is likely
to be exerted upon the public thor
oughfares by Chinese procession,
can perhaps best be appreciated by
an analysis of the processian itself.
Let us select, for example, a funeral
train. 1t is we'll known that customs
vary widely, even between localities
not very remote, but the substratum
is probably everywhere the same, and
the details are for our purpose irrele-
want The general plan of funerals in
certain parts of North China is as
follows:
Two drums, beaten to 'open the
road
A pair of flags, with AN inscription
embodying the same idea.
A pair of flying tiger flags. (To
dissipate noxious influences and
brighten devils.)
Two red lacquered boards, caution
ing spectators to respectful stiffness.
Gan invariable concomitant of most
Chinese professions, shaped like
guide and carried at sshoul-
der arms.o
Two boards warning distractions
to retire.
From two TO twenty pairs of boards
each containing some official title of
the deceased. CA mandarin of high
rank may have much larger num-.
ber.)
A large red Canopy covering moth
ing but the man who carries it.
(There may be t,co canopies.)
A large fan-(perhaps two)
Two men with black caps to scry
the way
Two men with red caps for the
same purpose. (The reader will OBJ.
serve the frequency with which the
idea of obstruction energies
Two men bearing clubs, called the
sugar-cane batons. (Said to be typi.
cal of punishment to evil doors, sell
those who are in the way of the pro-
cession.)
Two men carrying sear- piercing ar
rows such as are supposed to be
used for criminals. perhaps design
ed to indicate the punishment Of per-
sons obstructing the road). Two men
carrying arrows which are used as a
token Of commands from superior au-
thority. ~
From FIVE to ten pairs of men car
rying huge wooden swords. (Show.
in what will probably happen to per-
sons that will not get out of the way.
Five or ten pairs of men bearing
wooden spears. illustrating the wis.,
dom Of keeping out of the path Of the
procession.) Two executioners-