Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-07-08


Generally each name has its own tablet
though sometimes among the
poor several names are written
ON the tablet. These tablets are care
fully preserved, and when worship Is
offered to them they are brought out Of
the box or other safe place in which
they are kept, and ranged on table
i'm the main hall or middle room OF the
house. Besides this, each clan or fami,
ly in a town or village has its ancestral
temple. i'm which the tablets of the more
distant ancestors of the whole class are
kept. and in which worship is offered
publicly at certain times by the heads OF
| families.
The worship of ancestors takes place
AT the graves, and before these tablets,
| the latter being considered the more Inn
| portant. There are six special occasions
| during the year on which ancestors are
worshipped, and each is attended by
special ceremonies. The first is on the
fifteenth OF the first month, and is called
| the feast of lanterns. The name arises
from Illuminating the shop doors and
streets during the whole evening, with
numerous lanterns OF various shapes
aud sizes. The worship is as follows:
Each family provides some bean flour,
and makes the dough into the shape OF
lamps, and so bakes it, These beam
flour lamps they carry TO the graves, fill
them with oil, and setting them down in
a row, in front of the graves, light them.
As far as possible all the family go out
10 the grave, and having lit these lamps
the head of the family advances and
putting up his hands in the Chinese
style, makes a low bow, lights and pre-
sents three sticks of incense, then makes
another bow, then kneeling he knocks
his head four times on the ground, and
rising makes a final bow. Each MEM
Der of the family present then follows
with the same order OF bows and pros
trations, and this they 90 through with
the same ceremony, at each grave, going
back, however, only three or four gener-
atoms. Returning home the tablets are
set out i'm order, and the same order OF
worship is gone through with before
them. In the meantime supper has
been prepared consisting Ofmeat dump
lincs, which the Chinese consider the
best of food. Three large bowls are
dished out and set before the ancestral
tablets, little of the soup being poured
out on the ground, when they are pre-
scented. After remaining there short
time they are taken away and with the
others prepared are feastcd on by the
family.
The next occasion of worship and
feasting is on the fifteenth of the third
month. Three plates OF meat are pre-
pared, one of chicken, one OF pork, and
one OF fish, also one plate of boiled cab
bage, together with ten little lOaves OF
steamed bread, and pitcher OF wine.
These things are taken 10 the graves, pre-
scented with the same bows and prostra-
tons as before, also sticks of incense are
lighted and paper money burned. The
family then sit down on the grass and
have feast, eating with other things
the offerings presented to the dead.
They then spend the remainder OF the
day playing and enjoying themselves
i'm the fields. This feast is especially
looked forward to by the children as a
grand picnic and play-day.
The next feast is on the fifteenth OF
the seventh month. This takes place at
home, and the worship is in front of the
ancestral tablet. The regular order is
10 prepare fifteen large steamed cakes,
four plates OF meat and eight bowls OF
vegetables. These are set out in order
before the tablets, and formally presen-
ted with bows and prOstrations, and the
burning of incense and paper money.
After standing some time, however, the
family make feast on them.
The first of the tenth month is anoth-
er day Of worship. At this time they
90 to the graves and present offerings OF
food, and burn incense and paper
money with bows and prostrations, just
the same as i'm the third month, wind
inc up as before with a feast on the
offerings presented.
In the eleventh month at the time OF
the winter soltiCe december 2lStl an
other feast is made, and worship offered
in the same form and manner as in the
seventh month.
The great occasion OF worship, how
ever, is the night OF the last day in the
wear. This is the great feast OF the year,
observed by all high and low. The poor
will borrow money, pawn their clothes,
90 hungry for month beforehand, do
ANYTHING i'm fact that they may have the
means OF sacrificing to their ancestors,
and have grand feast at this time. For
several DAYS beforehand the women are
busy cooking and preparing for the feast.
On the evening Of the appointed day,
the head of the family goes out to the
graves, burns incense and paper money,
and calling aloud invites his ancestors
10 come home To the feast provided Tor
them. Returning home the ancestral
tablets are brought out and tablets
placed i'm front OF them. On these tab
lets the feast is spread, consisting OF rice,
several kinds of vegetables and meats,
and cup of wine for each ancestor rep
resented. ChopSticks are stuck in the
bowls OF rice and several red candles
are lighted. When all is ready the head
of the family lights some sticks OF IN
cense, burns some paper money, bows
and prOStrates himself, and invites his
ancestors to eat. This ends the cere-
monies OF the evening. But in the
morning, shortly after midnight, all are
astir. Old and Young are up and dress
themselves in their best, candles
are lighted in front OF
the tablets, incense is burned,
crackers are fired, and bows and pros
trations are made by the whole family
i'm order. BY this time the noise OF
drumming and firing of crackers is heard
on the street, and off rush the children,
followed by the old people, to the an
ccstial temple, where the same general
form Of worship is offered, attended by
the firing of crackers and little cannon.
As soon rs it is light and often before II
is light, they are off topay visits to their
various relatives, brothers, sisters,
uncleS. aunts, &c, and in each case the
visitor bows and prostrates himself be-
fore the tablets. This continues through
ont the whole day, and during this time
the offerings are left spread out before
the tablets. On the morning OF the sec
ond dav, they are recooked and Toasted
on by the family.
Besides these regular times, ancestors
are always worshipped at times OF we'd
dings and funerals, though offerings are
not usually presented; also, after the
death of anyone he is worshipped with
burning of incense and paper money,
every seventh day, for seven times. The
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