Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-08-07
CHINESE MoNAsTERlEs.
ceI,.,ln.s Who Immune Themselves Ia
wIndowiess Pssedas.


Human nature Il much the same IN China
a. in Europe. In the Flowcry Kingdom
men get tired Of life, OF society. Of the
endless struggle for existence, and retire
70 some retreat where they can pass their
remaining days In quiet. study, and brne-
faction. These retreats (hi.,u) correspond
TO the monnsteries OF Christian lands. They
are invsrisbly long brick buildings. one
story in height, simple and solemn IN archi-
lecture. and located either upon the noun
tains or in the depths OF forests. Around
the building H. a windowless wall. SYM
bolic Of the busy life forever shut out
from view. In the grounds and
upon the surrounding land nature
is assisted. but never nterferad
with. The flowers bloom and die. the
trees grow gnarled and crooked. the weeds
and creepers thrive until sometimes it
would seem as II no human beng lived In
the vicinity. Closer examination will show
that every plant producing beautiful fiow-
ers or wholesome food and fruit IL care
fully watched and watersd. and every re-
source OF vegetation in supplying human
wants husbanded 10 the last degree. This
also Is symbolism OF the brotherhood who
tenant these retreats. To them the useful
fl wer and tree represent the good OF h1-
manity; the weeds. the evil. The duty OF
true manhood is to aid and develop those
who are righteous, but not TO niure the
wrong. doer, leaving TO nature the task OF
eliminating the latter from her great econo-
nv. These retreats do not belong 10 s9e-
cifc orders, as in the western civilization.
but are founded by one or more per-
sons for the simple sake Of rest. The
forms and ceremonies OF admission
amount 10 nothing. ANY person who
has failed IN life. who had lost
those he loved, who has snned and re-
pented. who is old and unable 20 work, i
eligible. He presents himself. giving his
name, address. and history. transfers 10 the
brotherhood all he possesses. promises
obedience to all lawful commands Of the
Brother Superior, loyalty, friendship. and
sympathy to his iellow-mcmbcrs, and devo-
ton and aid 10 all humin beings in sick.
ness or distress. He H. then admitted.
given 4 new name and a new costume. AS
signed a room. instructed aS q his duties,
and the initiation Is complete. From nOw
on his lie Is fixed. study and convcrs1-
ton, the cultivation OF the field and gar
den, or the improvement Of the retreat and
the instruction Of brothers who have been
less favored, are his daily duties. At times
he is sent out 10 obtain subscriptions for
the common fund, or to nurse the sick or
feed the starving. but these occur inire-
quentlJ.
The government OF these bro'herhoo1s
is pure m1tOcracy. 4 Brother superior
governs for life. At his death he appoints
a Successor: II the appointment; lapse or b.
not made. the brothers elect one Of their
own numher. TIE regulations are about
81. In. n Lao
element II religion. Cleanliness. sObrioty,
industry. chastity, intellectually, charity.
and humanity arc the seven stars ~ thlr
heaven. No woman is allowed 10 cross the
thr, shhold Of The rctrca;; no wine. slimu-
liant. or narcotic permitted except Tor med
zeal use: no quarrelng. loud conversation,
games Of chance. indicate or vulgar talk
/, allowed. DisObedicncc j. punished by
reprimand. suspension. temporary ostra-
cism, or expulsion, according 10 the degree
Of The offence. Religious faith scarcely Ell.
tiers INTO their daily lie. In the sun r.
treat will be found the Brahmo Buddhist.
who believes be will, after many ages, be
absorbed into the Divine Being; the Lam
Buddhist. who knows life 10 be an evil and
prays for annihilaiion (Nlryana): the To-
lower OF khoung-foo.isec, who worsnips
the spirits OF his ancestor; the disciple of
Lao-tsc. who believes i'm the immortality %
all forms Of lie
The dress worn in the rctreh, is any that
NAV suit the comfort, taste, or convenience
81 The brother: that used when without the
walls is generally yellow in color that ho-
ing the emblem of repentance and right
eOufness). and indicating by badge or Ell.
the retreat to which its welrer bcl0lgs.
The number Of inmates varies. The lowest
is that Of LaiGhcw, which has hut two
brothers: the highest that OF Tai Sin, with
a r0ll-cali II coo names; the average, Il tn
imperial census NAV he relied upon. IS
twenty. The entire number OF Mi-au. in
tle empire. exclusive oi cgravanseries. lam
series, and distnctvely religious establish
ments. j. slightly over I.0OJ. This would
show an army Of over 2J0.O00 men VINO
have renowned the world forever. A
quaint ceremony is the burial Of brother.
The corpse j. treated as he NAV have re-
questcd. or - he believed. With one The
joss-stickS are lighted aud kept burn
ING about the bier; with another incense
IL ignited in meta brazierS 80 that bis soul
may pass away through pleasant clouds;
with a third the body j. laid in dark
eel, where sound. life. warmth. and lirht
never come. TN the third day after death
llt NNll - fiIilulN ndNu'u ~ tiitli-
water aRd nitre and then placed in a great
carthen Jar or vase. This II put in toe
centre Of large pit. and round It bail.
large fie Of wood and charcoal. Day and
night il burns. until whas was once the
hror er has become but \ handful Of gray
ish.whito ashes. Then. when the fire has
died and the Jar become cold. the asncs are
carefully removed and placed in small
cincreal urn % dark. red cl1y. \ tab
let with the name. date. and it may
be a kindly sentence deeply engraved.
il then placed beside the urn. which u
then deposited in the mlusoleum of The -
treat. The Mi-au represent, the past
rather than the present. They do no, eV-
cite opposition. hut only deriSiOm. A bro
Their. despite his humlntariaui,m. i inya-
Iiably the prey oi the small boy, and the
small 10y Of China il a fdc. SimR' OF h
American brother. Years ago the Al-lns
had two inmates where they nov have
one: many were populouS that now are d.
scrted and falling into rum. The railroad
runs between the crumbling walls OF a re-
treat that in the last century was famous
from the IlOang IIo TO the great wal. The
invisible spirit Of the railroad, active even
in China. j. calmly pulling brick from brick
and char cling h-au into school and ware