The Red Cloud chief., 1885-04-24
4 CHINESE FUNERAL.
Aofaphic Description Of . Chr I
1.ansraIj By Oar Own Cores
pondent
Psxiss, CHINA. Feb. II, 1859

The three great events Of a persons
life are said to be their birth, marriage
and death. believe il is 50 with the
Chinese. Considering these events. l
prefer to speak Of the latter. In 9th
sr words I will speak Of "A Chinese fun
eral. How well l shah be able TO de
scribe this l am not prepared TO say.
for IL YOU could imagine ones feeling
Mt sight Of such performances: you
would not wonder if ne failed in giving
nil the minutie. The funeral services
do not take place until at leas. from
three To five DAYS after the demise.
during which time preparations are
being made for the grand send of OF
the spirit. If the house is small II Is
made longer, OF perhaps higher, by
bamboo poles, applied in the way OF
scaffDliing. These are covered by
mating SO as to make as many rooms
as desirable. When completed it
makes a very neat appearance In one
room the coffin stands surrounded 10y
all of their curious objects. the idispen-
eible incense on all occasions. Besides
other 'hings there stands a large cart
and horse, life size, and all the things
which the spirit will need to make a
good appearance in tire new world,
these are all made OF paperl, and
then when the spirit returns the might
Of the third day these are all burned
in front Of the house, amid all manner
Of ceremonies. The spirit having re.
ceiyed the send off the funeral viii fol-
low i'm a few days. In the absence of
hearses the preparations are much
more imposing. Here The body Is
carried to its resting place in . cata-
falque, which are OF various sizes. |
have seen some which were in the
following proportions, viz: Two Grim
son poles, each about 30 feet long and
six inches in diameter, surmounted by
a sort of pavilion, rich in cOlors and
ornaments Of black, red, and gilt,
which gives IT rather n grand appear
ance. This was borne by Ct men, l6 at
either corner, it being SD arranged by
the addition of small poles that they
walk in tours, and thus a,e enabled 10
walk very gracefully. along. The
mourners usually follow behind IN Sc
dan chairs, Onwheelbarrows or on loot.
The entire performance is like other
countries and depends upon how well
off the subject of the occasion was, or
how much'is friends cared to lavish
upon him for his journey 20 the hap
pier flower garden beyond the setting
sun. In many cases the friends do not
accompany the deceased to his resting
place, but contract with the priests 3
secure for him a lucky abiding place,
alsO to provide rs many mouriers Il
WI! give respect and solemnity to the
occasion, and they act as masters Of
ceremonies in a way that will drive
many to tears. If a good round price
has been paid, the ceremonies are
much more impressive. As they
march through the streets there are
two coolies with drums, and two with
gOngs, and about every ten steps they
apply their stuffed clubs with such vi
client desperation that the living stand
aghast, and You almost think q thun-
derbolt has cracked your ears. Then
comes q hoard of standard bearers with
banners and sycee to assist the priests
in carrying out his respects in behalf
of the friends Of the deceased. The
mourners are professionals and EN-.
ployed on all occasions to wall, howl,
and wiring their hands and handker-
chiefs (which are said to have been
previously dipped in a basin of water.)
The mourners are dressed in white
whilst all the coolies are uniformed in
such a style as to make one smile at
the r~idiculousless Of such proceedings.
At the crossing of each street the cool
les stop to rest, rs their burden is very
heavy and they become weary. Here
the priest drops upon his knees and
with head upon the ground he remains
SO until some paper sycee is burned
around him. In many instances the
priest claims that the dragon has fol-
lowed him and has possession of that
mans soul. and will o release him
without some Of the genuine sycce.
which means money, and thus the
poor heather is again robbed Of his
money which he SO mu rh stands i'm
need Of. by giving it to those wicked
priests who so wickedly deceive them.
But no sooner has the none been
placed In the hands of the priest than
the dragon is satisfied and gone, and
the procession moves on as evidence
that the dragon is pacified. Sycee is
the name of the coin of this country.
II is a chip or block of silver or gold
and is cast in the shape of u Chinese
:ady's shoe, and are in length from n
to thirty inches, and way from | to 800
ounces. Thus upon funeral occasions
the sycee that is buried is only picture
money. bought for the occasion. and
after pleading with joss for his blessing
they chuck down tn him this worthless
stuff, thus actnlly cheating him out of
his blessing. But to the priests must
come. down the actual coin. Imagine
my feelings at sight Of my first Chinese
funeral when | heard the soueakinc
and %squealing bugles, thunderings OF
those gongs, and saw the piles of burn
ing paper, mockery of money. with the
means and walls of women filling the
air with terror. Could any one whose
heart was less than adamant look upon
suoh q scene as this without being
moved to pity and express signs, aud
even drop 4 Of sincerity beyond
question? You stand aghast at each
sound. and linger to catch the mourn
ful vail IS It approaches YOU. The in
animate remains of a dear father or
mother have already passed, encased
in the usual manner complimentary
upon such occasions. You can moi
but believe that the elderly woman
robed in . snow white garb, while her
face is drawn in to all kinds Of contor.
tons of grief is otherwise than the wife
of the household. the mother of those
young ladies who follow in that solemn
train, on wheelbarrows, broken hearted
and lonely ut the death of that parent
ii adviser, to their last resting place.
Their sensitive cries and grief were all
in keeping with their mother. Imag-
sno NV snrneiaa II xou csn x,hon a