The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1883-12-12
CHINESE ANCESTOR WORSHIP.
Its Hold on the Followers OF Conru
cius---The SpirIt.FcnrinS China
m a. n Fighter.

saturday R~oviow.1
Dion Is the ordinary sacrifice at tho three
great deceased ancestor feasts. The diem, or
money for the dead, is a substitute for sycee.
1t is thin ice-paper, coated over with tinfoil,
and gotten up In tho form Of sycoc. Richer
people have 1t gilt, and tho poor use instead
coarse yellow paper cut into tho shape of
cash. AT The festival of Ch'ing-ming n I'd the
other public charity solemnizltions, immense
qlantitiei of diem are burned all along tho
streets, the rivers, canals, on the bridges, at
crossroads, jungle-paths, jetties, and in tact
everywhere where It is possible that n destl
tute spirit may b. wandering in want of
money to support him in the world OF dark
ness. This anc estral worship has a complete
hold on the Chimes, mind. II the Tauist re-
ligion has not actually sprung from rever-
once for tho dead, 1t is at least now its most
feryent supporter, and tho priests OF that
faith make much profit by mediating between
the living and the dead.
The Buddhist BONES, In self-defense, have
adopted the same tactics. md the fIial piety
taught by the followers of Confuciusc certainly
does not tend to weaken the practical work
ing Of the doctrine Of Precipitation of the
dead. In China, therefore, we have the
most elaborate form Of this Precipitation Of
the dead; but 1t is not only there that it ex-
lists Ancestral worship is the most obvious
characteristic of the religious notions of the
American Indians 1t formed. practically,
the state worship of Peru. Tho living meas
w~orshiped their dead forefathers. The vii
lago communities do reverence to the first
founder, or to some famed warrior OF dreaded
s~orccrer, and in livilual families seek for
pcace OF conscience In making offerings to
their remotest ancestor, and horde up dried
corpses for tho purpose Of taking them rour d
to SEQ the crops. Dead corpses. growing
crops, aud pious aSricul ur.sts all derive
much benefit and peace OF mind from the
proceeding. The methoi AMI philosophy OF
the Chinamau are wanting, but the idea Is
the same.
1t might bo supposed that with these views
ancestor worshipers would be chary Of taking
life as the most rigorous of Buddhist This
is, however, very far fnm being the case.
There Is no moro systematically blooithirsiy
fighter than your splrit-fearing Chinaman.
He SCOTS ut Ii y-livered western soliieis who
rather prefr ~wouniing O mar to killing him.
That Is not the Chinese Idea of carrying on
war at all. When he has a man down be
makes sure of him aud cuts bis bead of.
Now this, ia view Of the worship of the dead,
Is 3 most risky proceeding. There Is no surer
way of getting into trouble in the kingdom
Of darkness than appearing there without
any head. On thu faea of 1t this suggests
misbohavlor above ground, and the rulers 10
low make such a ewc ner a coolie, or a
boatman, or, II he seems to be a particularly
had character, n policeman. Thus you have
so many uneasy spirits created 10 vex living
humanity to the fulle,t extent OF their sense
Of injury. Their rcnaius above ground are
probably tossed about anyhow, n not a
silver Of diem comes their way once in q
twelyc-Uonth.