The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-05-21
Provision for the Dead.

The Chinese dress consists chiefly of
pair of loose trousers and tunic. In sum-
mer these constitute the costume of a work
ing man, even when going to market or to
church. Wealthy and literary people wear
two or more suits, according to the weather
and occupation. Plain white garments are
often worn next to the person, and colored
or figured ones over these. The garments
of men and women are much alike, except
that women wear petticoat when in full
dress. Paper limitations of all sorts of gar
ments are made, and burned at funerals.
Every large town and village here has shops
whose stock consists solely of such goods
Large quantities are kept on hand ready
made, and paper pieces goods are also made
up to order. The poorest people burn at
least dollars worth of such goods when
a member of the family dies, and the rich
often burn moro than hundred dollars
worth. The poor burn the paper equipage
on the seventh day after the decease, at
which time the spirit is supposed to be-
come aware that it is separated from the
body and to take its departure for the land
of shades. The rich have fortune-teller
choose lucky day, some day within hun
dred after the decease, and notify their
friends and relatives when the burning of
apparel will take place. All who come
bring offerings to add to the FIRE. Not
only great quantities of imitation clothing
are burned, but also paper boats, horses,
sedan chairs, trunks, money, piece goods,
bedding, opium, pipes, rugs, spectacles, fg-
ures of servants and attendants, and all
that traveller could use in taking jour
ney to far country.
All these things are supposed to be trans
muted in burningintothe realarticles which
they represent, and to enhance the COM
fort and wealth of the spirit to whom they
are offered. Packages Of such articles are
brought as present to another spirit, and
burned with those belonging to the newly
departed. They are sent to one already
in the other world by one who is going
there, just as aperson living in China might
send parcel to friend in America by
mutual acquaintance who vas on his way
to the latter country. Such presents are
not sent, however, more than three years
after the friends death as it is said that
after three years the spirit no longer wears
the clothing supplied by its kindred on
earth.
If you ask any Of thOse who sell or burn
this paper equipage how they know that
the spirit gets the things that are offered
or why they think that the spirit does not
leave the body until the seventh day after
death, or why it does not use the paper
clothing for alouger period than three years,
they viii tell you that they do not know.
This doctrine is not one that is set forth
by their sages, nor is it found in books; but
it is what their neighbors say and prac-
tice, and they follow the custom.
No heather will buy these goods nor keep
them in his house, except when preparing
for funeral, because of superstition that
to do so would cause death in the fam
lily.
The other day | was in one of the shops
where these goods are made and sold. The
shelves and counters were piled with won
derful limitations Of Grape, satin, velvet and
brocade, and the shopmen were busy in
making these up into garments with paste.
Soon after passed a place where great
heap of such things had been burned, and
the wind was scattering the ashes abroad.
Then | thought of the poor naked spirit,
that, still all unelothed and uuhelped by
these futile efforts Of those who had been
its human kin, had drifted solitary and
terrified out into the great darkness. How
unlike its fate TO that of one whom the
Lord arrays in enduring white robes, aud
for whom there is this promise They
shall need no candle, neither light of the
sun for the Lord God giveth them light,
and they shall reign forever and ever
Mss M 4. Fields.