Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-04-08
CHIsFsg ANCESTOR WORSHIP.
SATURDAY. Review

| Diem is the ordinary sacrifice IT the
three great deceased ancestor feasIs
Tue den. or money for the lead. is 2
substitute for sFcee. Ii Is thin rice ia
per. coated over with tinfeil. and gotten
up In the form of sycee Richer people
have II gilt, and the poor use inste sd
coarse yellow paper cut into the sha?e
/ of cash At the festival of Chlc.- 'niue
and tbs other pnSlls charity lemaiZ =
tons. Ina Isnse Quantities Of dieu arr
buried ali along the streets, she rivers.
canals. on the bridges, at crossroads,
jan gie-paths, Iett eS. and IN fact every
where that it - IEIssi ble that a destitute
spirit may De wandering IN want of
money TO support him IN the world OF
darkness. This ancestral worship has
:. bInpl>te hoIu on tue 8 hinese mind.
III the Ianl-t religion has not acsaally
sprung from reverence for the dead. IL
Is ~ least now Its MOS. ferv mt support
er. AMI the priests of that faith make
much profit py nedia.Iuc between the
living aad the dead.
ibe Buddhist BONES. in selt-defense.
have sd1pted the sarne tactics. aud tie
nilsi pi@fy taught by the followers OF
SoufuciQs Certainly Dies not tend TO
weaken the practical working of the
doctrine OF population of the dead.
la CHINA, therefore. We have the most
elaborate form of this precipitation OF
the dead: but II is not only there that
II exists ancestral w0rshis i, me most
obvious Characteristic of tn iallgious
notions of the Ameri III Ind ans. Ii
formed, pr sctlcally. the 81 ,te worship of
Peru. The living lncts wur.hipped
dead forefathers. Ite village comrnu-
miles do reverence tn the first founder.
or To some famed warrior or DIRE AIDED
sorcerer.and ndlvldlal families seek for
peace ~ conscience In making offerings
10 their rsDotest ancestor. nd hoard
up dfied cofpsss for the purpose of
taking them rVuni 10 see the crops.
Dead cerpses, growing crops and pious
agrlcultlilsts all derive much benefit
and peace of mind from the proceeding.
The method and philosophy of the
Chinaman are wanting. bat the idea 10
the ne.
1t might be supposed that with these
views ancestor worshippcrs woald he
chary OF taking life as the most ripor-
ous of Buddhista. This is, however.
very FIR from being the case. There is
no more systematically tloodthIrSty
ngater than YOUR spirit fearing China
loan. He SCOTS at iily-iIvefed western
soldiers. W." rather prefer woundlng n
man to killing him. That Is not the
Chinese idea of carrying on war at
all. Whea he has m4n down he
uiakes sure of him and cuts his head
off Now this, in view of the worship
oT ;he dead. IL most risky proceeding.
bere Is no surer WY Of getting into
trouble Ia tue kingdom of darkness
taaa Appearing there vi iho1t any head
On tile face of this il suggests misbe-
i tvior Above ground. and tho rulers be
low make such new Conner "A coolia,
or bpatmau. Or, If he seems To be a
pariiru,rly bad character, a Policeman.
Illus You hive 80 many uneasy spirits
created to vex living humanity to the
fullest extent of their sense of injury
1 aelr remains above ground ar. prob
b Y tossed about anyhow, and not a
silver Of diem comes their wav once in
twelve month.