The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1880-10-13
A Chinese Joss House.

l.
of a visit made to the Chinese quarters
in San Francisco: We next turned into
one of their many joss houses, where
the worship of their hideous idols was in
full swing. We ascended dingy, dirty
staircase and entered large room on
the first floor, which was furnished with
gods and affairs of all descriptions.
Crowds of worshipers were passing to
and fro, now in single file, now in bat
talions; some were smoking, some were
conversing in their low, liquid language
one with another. One jerked his head
with kind of familiar nod, which was
meant for a reverential obeisance to one
specially ugly deity. Another threw a
stick into the air in front of the altar,
and according TO the way it pointed as
it fell his prayer would be granted or
not. 1 do not know whether Joss was
propitious, but bis worshiper picked
up the stick and retreated downstairs.
There was certainly no established set
form in this religious business; but
l suppose there must on occasions
be some special ceremonials when
priests are needed, for two or three
of them, dressed in the fashion of stage
heralds, came out from a little back
room, stared at us and retreated, closing
the door behind them. The worshipers
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their gods with perfegJ nonchalance.
There was neither reverence, nor super
stitious awe, nor fanatical devotion
visible among them. What seemed to
be their favorite, judging from the num-
Der of his worshipers, was a huge
monster like an immense painted wooden
doll, with flaming vermilion cheeks,
and round, black eyes starting from his
head. He is dressed in wooden robes
of gaudiest, strongly-contrasted colors,
and surrounded by all kinds of tinseled
magniicence, in the way of gilt paper,
artificial Wreaths and fy-blown roses as
large as cabbages, while standing before
him on the altar is bowl of ashes stuck
full of joss sticks, some burned out,
some still smoldering, the offering of
later worshipers. The altar is of ivory,
and is exquisitely carved and gilt. 1t
illustrates the history OF some great
battle which was fought 1000 years ago.
1t is protected, and so partly hidden, by
wire network. There are sundry
other smaller affairs and idols in
| the same room. Some are dis
torted libels on the human form
divine; some are grotesque representa-
tions of birds, beasts or reptiles held
sacred by the Chinese; some are OF
bronze some OF brass, some of painted
| WOOQ. lubr6 are no S6hbS, anu GllO nOOl
is thickly sprinkled with sawdust. The
walls are hung with scarlet and blue
paper prayers and gilt thanksgiv
Among these was an advertisement,
which our guide translated to us. 1t
was the offer of a reward, not for the
| discovery of murderer, but a reward
| for the committal OF a murder. All Fooh
and Wong All had reused the anger OF
the great joss, who promises to grant
the prayers and take into special favor
him who will put the obnoxious All
Fooh and Wong All out of the way,
viz, the gods will favor him who COM
mits the crimes, which are no crimes
when the gods command their commit
tai. Our guide informed us that the OBJ
jectional parties would assuredly " dis
appear" no one would know how, or
when, or where.
We passed from this large and most
important chamber through nest of
dingy, dirty rooms, each presided over
oy god or goddess more or less hide
ously grotesque, and lighted only by a
tiny glass lamp, which hangs before
every shrine, and is kept burning night
and day. In one room was curious
adobe oven. We wondered whether 1t
was used to bake Christians or purify
the heather, but we learned that 1t was
used at certain seasons of the year, when
Satan is symbolically burned, he being
represented on the occasion by torn
strips of red paper, which have been
appropriately cursed and sentenced by
the priesthood. The smaller gods had
fewer Worshipers, and it was strange to
OBJ efVe that there was not a single
woman among them. Perhaps, having
no souls to save in the next world, they
have grown weary of praying for the
good things of this. In every room,
great and small, there is a rough wooden
structure like a very tall stool Within
it hangs a bell and above it either a
gong or big drum. These are used to
rouse the drowsy gods from their slum-
bers, or to attract their attention when
( they have been too long forgetful of the
, desires of their devotees.