The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-11-11
Chinese Holidays.

II MOllu Dc Z matter OF many CHdfLeTS
were 1 to describe all the holidays which we
have IN China. The bare enumeration of
them would he rs difficult as tedious In
point Of fact We have almost as many holi
days and festivals rs there are days in the
year. Each prominent idol has a birthday.
also m anniversary OF his death, both OF
which are celebrated. There are some the
Goddesses OF Mercy, for instance, who have
half dozen days sacred to them. There are
q number Of deities. great persons deifed
that are Common to the nation while each
city. town and hamlet, has numerous local
deities who are its special protectors.
Extremely lucky II is for the aforesaid
idols thst their deYOtees are naturally fond
OF shows. pageantry and display; otherwise.
idOlitry would have little to attract the null
titude. rs IL Is, millions OF dollars are
spent n these celebrations every year. At
the dedication OF temple II canton, two
years ago thirty thousand dollars were
spent. = was present at this really great
exhibition, / can give you ~ idea OF il.
For q long tine committee OF citizens had
been collecting subscriptions from dWellers
far and near, and weeks before the com
pletion Of the temple, q large pavilion was
reared. the material Of which was mainly
bamboo II the form o. poles, inattiugs and
slips. Marvellous architectural results are
attained by COubirg q few wooden pill
lars with the bamboo in various forms
and soon light airy structure looms up In
the SKY, which car be seen from great dis
lance This PAVILION IS directly II front Of
the temple while smaller ones are built IN
vacant lots near by, ali connected With the
main building by awnings pitched over the
streets. There = = high tower in the mid
de Is thC great PAVILION. on the ceiling OF
which c'@r-s , dragon q many colOrs, gleam-
ing with iunurnerable spaneieS. through
whose mouth rope Is dropped Oh which Il
suspended an immense chandelier The lat
ter J. nelly carved 50 far IS the body. which
Is cf wood, /, concerned. and for brilliancy
& Co.Oring has no rival II China. i Is Octa-
cCnAl and each side throws out four bran
ches which uphold kerosene lamps. The
centres Of each side are c.. and glass
inst-ted. behind which automatic figures
are made 10 move by clockwo-k. The finest
effects OF this CHANDELIER are OF course OBJ
tanned when tie lamps are lighted. Sas-
pended from Tie rCOf IL other parJ> are other
chandeliers, less elaborate and smaller per-
Laps. bat not less artistic and beautiful.
Forests OF pendants are attached to them, SO
that Oh al sides the light Is reflected. Then,
in the intervals between the chan
deilers hang Obiong cases. all decorated with
silks and satins, and finely carved, contain
! ing dolls about two feet high. elegantly
| Dire ssed in character. and grouped 10 represent
! historical scenes. These figures have ma
I chinery placed beneath them 10 make them
/ shake their heals, or lift their hands, or
( sway their bodies, just as the role OF each
I requires. There are also smaller cases IN
which are arranged tabeauX ON romance
| of which the Chinese are very Iond. some
times. comic tablcau j given; Tor instance.
| in one case are shown number OF blind
men lighting with bamboo sticks on the
/ street. and rs the blows are dealt blindly and
( ia all directions iby means Of the machinery
the crowd OF spectators never fail 10 laugh,
| Flowers OF ali the varieties which grOw in
! the ''Fl0wery Kingdom form an important
! and pleasing feature OF the entertainment.
/ They are made into shapes OF men or birds,
1 and their delicious OdOr peTyade the whole
place. The walls OF the different payilions
( are gaily painted. ON them pictures in
4 water-cOlors are hung. as well as scrolls
I bearing the Writings OF celebrated men. In
| der these are placed, in rows, fine flower
pots c-OTned with the choicest flowers OF the
| season. pwarfed trees too are placed beside
! them.
There are platforms in every goo l-sized
| pavilion where the musicians sit and dis
| course music Tor the pleasure OF q most at
| tentive audience. There are drums, kettle
| drums, immense cyInbals, asongs. comets,
flutes. castanets tWo-stringed fiddles and
| don't know what else beside and when they
| arc sounded together the effect i OverWhslm-
ing on ears rnaccustOmed 10 such strange
I symphonies. Tue futiSt first blows his lutte
then the cornetist joins with his loot, and
| then the kettledrum man strikes mp. which
! IS signal Tor the cyinbals 20 clash and the
gong to raise its hoarse cry. while the shrill
fiddles may be distinguished in the din like
the witches voices shove the storm in Mac
beth.
| Worse still follows when the musicians
| turn from instrumental 10 vocal music, aud
one % them gives you a solo with that fal-
| setto-pitch which IS meant 10 initiate a re-
, male voice.
While the crowd Of people are enjoying
I the different sights and sounds in the payel-
| ions inside the temple various ceremonies
are going on. The temple itself, entirely
| new, is timely decorated with both perrna-
! nent aud temporary commentators. AMONG
the first are frcscOs and woodcaryings and
figures in bas-reiief; among the second, nan
ners, toWer-brakets and pictures Buddhist
priests are praying 10 Buddah in the central
hall while IN tie back hall. where tho
shrine Of the chef deity is situated, locl,'
Of worshipers fit 10 and fro making offer
ings OF food, lighting candles. and burnin,
! incense There Is no scene in China NOR,
animated. Everybody who has any religion
in him comes 10 worship and 10 ask some
favor Of the god, and each person leave
more or less money with the Keepers OF thl
temple. in my native city festivals simila
to this occur two or three Zines in the wecl
! IN different parts Of the town.