Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1886-07-10
FEAST OF BONG.
FURIOUS MEMORIAL SERVICES
OF TUE JAPANESE.
Religious Rites Lasting Several
Days and NiGhts-Orations and
Decorations - Addressing
the Dcad-FireworkS.

occurs during the month OF August par
taking of the character of national holi-
day, and is similar, in many respects, to
the Chinese Feast of Lanterns. The
ceremonies continue through succession
of days and nights, and are participated
in by the masses, seemingly engaging
the interest of rich and poor alike, in the
remembrance of their dead, to whom the
occasion is dedicated Religious rites
are performed by priests in the temples,
where thousands of people flock on the
first day, after which the cemeteries are
visited. For weeks before the event
preparations for it begin, and it is in
augurated with the decoration of dwell
ings throughout the city with flags and
strangely-wrought devices, symbolic and
Legendary, displayed at every point.
AS the feast day advances, the temples
| are filled with devotees, who listen to tn
"Bouses'' in flowing robes, as they chant
! their litanies before their triune coils.
linen the .pilgrlmages to the tombs fol-
low, ana IL IS apparent TO the unaccus-
toned eye that preparations have been
made TO pro,ong their soJourn at the
graves OF lriends beyond the present
Gay, ior an abundance OF food and other
essehtlais are among the articles con
Veyed tnither.
Arriving at one OF the cemeteries, we
4 ma the approaches to the same-the
roaas and by-ways adJacent-bearing
the appearance OF monday preparations,
reminding one OF an american village
; 1alr. "ay colors prevail, notlceab.e In
the hags and lanterns, as we'll as varie
gated urcss OF the people, which mlngle
win the prignt hues OF profuslon of
iioWers-ali together dlspelling any pos
slpl'lty OF gloom associated with the oc-
casioh; booths Tor the sale OF articles
vi iooo ana variety OF bon-bons, which
ma ready purchasers, are seen here AMI
tnere near the gates OF the cemetery.
Many pilgrims are thus tempted to en-
large theif suppnes OF eatables and
hnlck knacks' winch are abundantly dis
pehsea as offerings TO the dead, being
Plaeeo upon thelr graves by endearing
hands.
Groups of people of all ages assemble
at the tombs of relatives, where they re-
main during the day, and with the requi-
sites for camping, or more properly
blvouacing, with nothing above them
but the starry heavens, they continue
their visit until two or three days and
nights have passed. Protected from the
suns rays ly day, by their sun shades,
the day passes with the preparation and
eating of the food brought, and the dec
Grafton of the hundreds of graves with
flowers and the offerings literally dis
pensed. While thus assembled, the
thTongs are addressed by stately per-
sonage, who officiates as a kind of re-
corder and historian. who moves about
. among the people reading from book
he bears an endless dissertation on the
! affairs of the country, recounting public
occurrences of interest which have trans
pred during the preceding year. Thus
are the dead supposed to be informed
concerning every topic of interest, as it is
to the departed that this address is made
in grave and impressive accents by the
stately sage, whose prerogative it is to en-
Tighten those whose lives are cut off from
mugs earthiy.
Inc younger portion OF the assembled
gatherlng are similarly instructed by an
ether aiSnltary, VINO receives the pro-
lou'la respect Oh all, ana VINO IN turn re-
counts .i!e ie?ehos ana natlVe lore OF the
.ano W listening crowds: mus are the
INC young as wei as thelr elders, IN
slluclee IN much that other peoples
gamer from popular literature concern
ing the history OF their country and their
rulers OF py-gone Periods, the achieve
ments OF armies In battle and the coun-
CHS OF the nation.
Mhen at the close OF the day the
uai mess salIefs, hres are ilShted IN the
m'os! Oh eacn family group, and the
evening meal OF rice ana hsh Is pre-
pareu over a klha OF furnace called he
eaenes. houfs are spent IN slPplng tea
iloul Tiny porcelain cups, ana during all
Ihese ceremonies the dead is invoked to
snare WIN the living every luxury, hence
Plates VI rice ana nsh' with delicate por-
celaln cups containing tea, are invariably
u .us-n among the graves, where
these portiohs OF the dead participants
how VIII no"eiS anu slluo-
nv
Inc nisht scene at the cemeteries Is
even more striking TO the visitor than
.1aI whltn meets tne eye by day
M. I!u o. lights Twinkle ana flash from
:ne mus, ana lanterns now agiow, sway
ing III ,he oreeZe, rehect the hundied
varlgo hues ana countess devices PIE,
.ureu Oh Tue banners ana streamers, and
the carved ana quantity drawn images
which, WIN the Illuminated temples IN
ehe ylcinlty, lmpait to the occasion Il
"erI anu incomprehenslble attraction,