The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-08-10
Chinese Babies.

Let us suppose that the solemn bath
appointed for the third day is over,
which would seem to be almost Chi
nese baptism, and the mother to be
convalescent. II the offspring be girl
there will probably be no rejoicing, but
il boy the mother will go in state to
the temple frequented by her family
and offer thanks to Tien How, the queen
of heaven. The only time it was our
fortune while in China to see native
lady OF any standing was on such an oc-
casion. A wife OF Howqua, the son of
the celebrated Hong merchant, had gone
to the temple OF Honam to return thanks
for the birth of son. The shrine in the
temple which she was visiting had been
founded by the elder Howqua in honor
of his ancestors it is lofty hall, with
roof open to the beams, closed in the
rear and at the sides, but in front open
ing with richly carved doors on raised
terrace surrounded by a stone balustrade
and overlooking a square tnrfed inclo
sure containing two or three fine speci
mems Of the Chinese banyan. or FEcus
religiosa, and pond of water covered
with the broad green leaves and rose
tipped flowers of the lotus, the sacred
plant Of Buddha, who is often repre-
sented as seated on it's open flower.
Crossing this pond and skirting it
were bridge and gallery of massive
stone carving corresponding with the
balustrades, and communicating with
the terrace. On the opposite side Of
the gallery was seen the rear of another
shrine. colored Of deep vermilion
like the one in front, with its high
arched roof sweeping down like tine
curved outline of Tartar tent from
which the Chinese style of architecture
is supposed to be borrowed), and
adorned with dragons birds and dol
phir in glazed pottery of the brieh est
colors. Down either side stretched Il
line OF gloomy cloisters communicating
with the rest of the building. At
one end of the terrace we're two or three
small tables arranged with viands placed
upon them, and surrounded by con
siderable party of Chinese, am on2 whom
we noticed several females standing, ev-
identity IN attendance upon some lady,
as in China the servants are almost in
variably of the other sex. Knowing
the scruples of the Chinese against ad
mitting foreigners into the presence OF
the female members of their families,
we turned back, and were on the
point of leaving that part of the
temple, no little disappointed at
being unable to see the whole OF the
building, when two members of the
group, one of whom was son OF How
qua, came forward and requested us, if
we wished, to continue our examination.
We did so. The shrine at which tho
ceremony was going on had been decked
with flowers, whilst on the long counter
like altar in front of the figure OF the
goddess, between the jars of porcelain
and bronze half filed with sandalwood
ashes ia which sticks of incense were
burning, and upon two square pedestals
in front of the altar, were piled up pyr-
amids of fruit and sweetmeats.
On either side of these pedestals were
two of smaller size, on each of which
was placed book apparently of re =
ligious service, and by its side small
wand and hollow, red, kidney shaped
gourd, which when struck gave hollow
and not unmusical sound, each blow
upon it marking the repetition of a
prayer. These, as it were, formed the
lecterns of the officiating priests, and
between them, facing the central vase
on the high altar, was placed a
cushion and mat on which the
fair devotee might kneel and perform
the kotou, or ceremony of kneeling and
touching the ground with the head at
certain periods during the service. At
either side of the central door of the
shrine stood large bronze vase heaped
with silvered paper formed into boxes
about the size and shape Of steel-pen
boxes, and emblematical of bars of
Sycee silver, which is burned at the
conclusion of the ceremony as an Offer
ing to the Queen of Heaven.
On passing outht of shrine, still ac-
companied by the two Chinese who had
joined us, we passed near the banquter
ing party, when the lady rose, supporta p
by two of her servants, and, crossing he
hands, saluted US in the Chinese fashion.
OF her beauty lean say nothing neither
my companion nor myself could remem
Der anything save face painted Ia
Chinoise, and hair tied up in the usual
tea pot form, dressed with magnificent
pedTlb, JduS OTudutulS, duu uhbuTdl
flowers. The golden lilies, as the in
hsbitants of the howery kingdom call
the crippled feet of the higher classes
of their women, and the splendidly en-
broidered robes, attracted our attention
far more than the eyes and features
which doubtless ought to have been oul
only consideration
1t is after this festival-not always,
| of course, celebrated with the magniti-
cence we have described that the rela
tives of the child present it either witt
plate or bangles of silver or gold, OF
which are inscribed the characters sig
nif ing long life, honor and felicity.
is also at this period that it receives il
"milk name,' or the pet name by whicl
it is known in its family, the name b.
which it is known to others being onl,
given to it at the completion of 1t
fourth year, when its education is sup
posed to commence.