The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-07
A CHINESE. JOSS. HOUSE.

Written for the indianapolis Journal by A.. W Macy.
1.-THE heather Chinee is peculiar" in almost
evry respect especially when viewed by people
unaccustomed to them. The residents of the
Mississippi valley who have never seen an al
mond-eyed Celestial, unless it. be a ''washee
man in one of our large cities, have little or no
IDEA of the customs and peeuliarities of the
race. The people of the Pacific coast however,
are quite familiar with them-more so, in fact
than they care to be- and in that country John
Chinaman long since ceased to be an object of
interest.
It was my fortune some two months since, to
visit the Joss House, or Chinese temple in Port
land, Ore A visit to this place at any time
would be interesting, but at this time it was
doubly SO, for it was the occasion of the celebra-
ton of tho religious festival Of "Du Chew"
This festival usually lasts three days. and while
we were there the festivities were at their
Height. I can not say that it was a rare oppor-
tunitY for increasing my stock of religious
knowledge, or for enhancing my piety;. but it
was an interesting occasion, nevertheless, even
though most of the ceremonies were unintel-
ligible to me.
1t was Sunday evening, and Chinatown was in
a blaze of glory. Second street presented gay
and picturesque appearance. Dragon flags hut-
tered in the breeze, remindingthe Mongolians of
the mother country across the sea- Colored
lanterns, Respondent with Chinese Inscriptions,
were suspended in long rows up and down the
street. The sidewalks were thronged with yell
low-visaged men, some clad-in garments of fine
texture, proof positivethat the wearers were
wealthy; mostof them however, wearing their
ordinary work day Clothes, very probably the
best they had All the costumes, however, were
cut in the peculiar Chinese fashion, for it is a.
rare occurrence that a Monaghan lays aside the.
garb worn in the Flowery Kingdom and adopts
the ''Melican mans" costume. few white
men could be seen mingling with the throng,
the majority of them probably strangers in
tho city, intent on gratifying their curiosity.
The most elaborate display was made in the
vicinity Of the Joss House. On either side of
the entrance to this building were two huge fig
ures whether of men or devils cannot say:
probably a combination of both. They were
horribly ugly, and would have been appropriate
figures to guard the entrance to the Internal re-
gions, where. ancient fable tells us, might be
read the inscription, abandon hope who enter
here" These figures were fully ten feet high
and were respondent with gold and silver leaf
OrudinenVS' OIL designs. But these
hercelooking monsters were not so dangerous,
after all, for they were constructed, of paper
Entering the temple we found it filed with Chi
namen, upstairs and down. There were no
seats provided and the visitors elbowed their
way from place to place, gazing upon the thou
sands of curious things on the walls and tables
Indeed, the crowd seemed to be actuated far
more by curiosity than by devotion. The scene
resembed that enacted at well patronized fair
more than anything else. On the walls and ta-
bles everywhere were figures and pictures of
men, horses, tigers and other animals all Of gro
tesque and horrible appearance The idea
seems to have been to make all the representa-
tons as grotesque and as horrible as
possible. There were devils of all
sizes, shapes and colors. There were
pictures of men-Chinamen always-undergoing
all sorts of punishment at tho hands of devils
Some were being shot; some hanged; some
drawn and chartered; some having their bowels
ripped open, and some being impaled on pitch
forks and cast into boiling cadrons. These
were evidently intended to represent the various
forms of punishment which arc supposed to be
inflicted upon bad Cinnamon inter death, L APP