The Evening critic., 1883-02-12
NOVEL CEREMONY.
The First Complete Chinese Funeral
i'm San Francisco.

The first genuine and complete Chinese
funeral in San Francisco took place in that
city several days ago. 1t was that of Ow
Shing, late manager of the Wing Wo Sang
Company, who was suffocated by fumes of
an open charcoal fire. The funeral is thus
described by the San Francisco Chronicle:
The procession moved in the following
order Along Sacramento street to Kearny,
to Jackson, to Dupont and then along that
street to Market and to the buryiug-
ground. First came a Chinaman attired in
o long flowing robe Of light blue material,
which was girdod at the waist with a strip
of white cotton cloth, the Chinese emblem
of mourning. He was followed by two
coolies, each carrying large white lantern,
in which was lighted taper. On each of
these lanterns were Chinese characters in
blue, setting forth the name Of the deceased
and his office. These lanterns were carried
to light the path the spirit of the deceased
had to walk in order to reach the
gates of Heaven. Then came two more
coolies, each carrying brass gong, which
they beat loudly ana continuously to drive
off any evil spirit which might wish to cross
the path. In addition to the gongs these
coolies each carried q square flag of yellow
material, on which were characters in
black. These told Of the unfortunate cir
cumstance by which the deceased met his
death. Next came four more coolies, each
carrying deep red paper banner on which
were written in characters of gold the
virtues of the deceased, and the good acts
he performed in life. Then followed car
riage containing four musicians, each play
ing upon wind instrument which omitted
discordant, ear-piercing noises, which were
intended to assist the gong-beaters in
frightened away all great white devils and
small black devils. Next in order came two
oh, ipu rn1a
of his shoulders, at each end of which was
censor resting in natural flowers, some of
which were twined around the chains by
which the censors were suspended to the
poles In each censor was quantity OF
perfumed punk and sandalwood, which was
ignited and sent forth perfumed fumes
along the line of march. After these fol-
lowed another long-robed Chinaman, wear
ing the emblem of mourning and carry
ing a very long, narrow red cloth banner
affixed to a pole, at the head Of which
was a branch of laurel. This was
what is known as the ancestral banner,
and was the pedigree of the
deceased. Then came the hearse, drawn
by four horses, each dressed with black
mourning clothes. In the hearse was the
coffin containing the mortal remains of
Ow Shing. This was covered with a
large red cloth as symbol that the death
oil the deceased was n VlOlenG one. on Une
top of the hearse sat a Chinaman in full
mourning, who distributed parallelo-
grams of Chinese paper five or six inches
long, each perforated several times.
These sheets of paper are what the Chinese
call mock money, and each perforation
represented one cash-a Chinese coin.
This was designed to proptiate
the spirits along the road which
might be disposed to make disturb
ances, affecting the coffin or its contents.
| By the distribution of mock money the
| Chinese believe that they purchase the
right t-of-way for the dead Behind the
| hearse, on each side of which marched pail
| bearers in mourning, were four profess
sional mourners attired from head to foot
in white. One of these had his face COW
cred with white cloth and was led along
| by two coolies. who carried before them a
small tray filled with food and tea. After
| these followed number Of merchants on
foot and carriages containing friends of the