The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-03-13
Chinese Funerals.


and proprieties which reOulate the
social intercourse and daily life of the
Chinese, there is none so scrupulousiv
performed as the obsequies of their
higher relatives. The infant NAV be
laid IN some corner to gasp away its
little life and finally wrapped in MATING
and be dropped into the river or buried
like a dog in the back garden. bat
great is the pOmp and interminable are
the ceremonies consequent upon the
deceaSe OF one who has lived long
enough to rear son. If that son is
poor he willpawn his personal effects.
stint himself of food. borrow money at
eXorbitant rates of interest, and if there
Is no other security he will pawn a
wife, child, or even sell his own body
as slave so as to raise sufficient money
to defray the cost of his parents
funeral. Confucian tracts call this by the
name of tilial piety, though everybody
knows that in the majority of cases the
underlying motive is self-interest born
OF the most debaSing superstition. The
man believes that the least omission of
the orthodox funeral rites will bring the
most terrible calamities upon him and
his posterity; that he will be haunted
until the last moment of his life BY the
unhappy ghost of his departed sire, or
In fancy hear the angry voice of his
neglected parent pouring curses upon
his head wherever he goes. He ac-
cordingl y observes every minute custom
in order to avert these evils and riye
repoSe to the spirit of the dead.
Let US suppose the last hour has come
and 1.-The venerable one, whom n score
OF doctors have tried in vain to cure, is
lying tls urticulo morris, with his feet
toward the door, ready for his last exit.
His best robes, hat and shoes are
brought out, for all these articles will
be needed when he crosses the chill
bOrder-land of the other world. A
piece or two of silver is put into the
dying mans mouth, for this, too, will
be needed to pay Charon, the grim fer
ryman. These preliminarieS occasion no
look of dismay, but rather a smile that
such loving provision is made for his
long journey. When the last gasps
come that usher death. the eldest son
approaches and closes his fathers ewes,
or perhaps orders the opening of hole
in the roof to facilitate the departure of
the three spirits of the dying man.
Life is hardly extinct before the eldest
son or nearest relative issues forth to
buy water, escorted BY musicians. He
carries bowl to the nearest river or
well, where he deposits few cash for
the water dragon. With this so-called
purchased water he proceeds to wash
hn - Il
cOstliest and gayest clothes ever worn
in life. Buddhist or Taoist priests, robed
in their colOred casSockS and chaSub.eS
of brocaded silk. are called in to chant
the prescribed Gtanies, to break open
purgatory, to cast the dead mans hOro-
scope, to say what form, whether of
man or beast or bird, the dead man as
sumeS in another world; to facilitate
his migration to happier realms, Oreven
procure him passport to the Western
Paradise. At the door of the house is
erected an awning, hung with blue
lanterns and streamers of blue and
white paper, the outward manifesto
tioEs to passers-by of n house of mourn
ing and death. Inside the house pre-
parations are made for eoffining the
corpse. Meats and cakes are piled upon
the table, and lamps, incense and
candles are lighted around the dead.
A Chinese coffin resembles the trunk
of tree planed off, and is made of the
hardest wood prOcurable. So expen-
sive are these collins that the wood for
one will sometimes cost as much as
g, 900, and no coolie would think of
fhnn l. 80 w.
case. One of the most appropriate
presents for father sixty years of age
is considered to be a coffin. He address
ses the aged one in wordswhich may be
familiarly translated: ''Daddie, l don't
want you, ITO die, but your box is ready
when you want to CO." and the old man
receives the gift with unbOunded graft
tude, diScourSes upon its merits to
every visitor, proud to possess such a
token of his sons filial duty. The
coffin, therefore, is usuallynear at hand.
When the corpse is ready it is solemnly
removed to the coffin by hired attend
ants, while others proceed to beat the
floor to terrify evil spirits from the
chamber of death. A coronet of gold
or silver, bracelets, earrings, chains,
watches and other ornaments of gold,
silver and jade are put upon the body,
according to the raak and sex of the
deceased. With a ian in one hand and
q written prayer in the other, the corpse
is now ready for the world of shades.
The deceased is then covered with a
white silken shroud or cOverlets pre-
;ented by relatives and friends, those
not used being committed to the flames
through which they are said to pass to
he world below. The nearest relative
hen presents the nails to the under
,aker and holds the colin whilezit is
nailed down and hermeticallv sealed.
At given signal the lamentations
begin, hired mourners, mostly women.
lift up their voices, wailing and
rowling till they are nearly
loarse, the amount of tears shed by
lifferent relatives being limited by
trict regulations. The hollowness of
he whole performance is seen when
ome newcomer arrives. In q moment
ears will turn to smiles, accompanied
" a half audible litter as they ex-
.hange compliments. Having taken
,reath. there comes. another weep-upa
more vigorously than before.
After the corpse has been nailed
lown it is placed near the ancestral
.ltar. where stand the portrait of the
deceased and tablet bearing his name.
offerings of food and drink. pair OF
hopsticks and sometimes an opium
'ipe, accor ling TO the tastes of the de-
eased during his lifetime. are placed
N the altar for the entertainment of
he lingering ghost. Banners inscribed
With glowing tributes to the memory
# the departed wave oyer the altar and
andles, lamps and incense fill the room