The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-06-30
FEAST OF BONG.
CURIOUS MEMORIAL SERVICES
OF THE JAPANESE
Religious Rites Lasting Several
Days and Nights-Orations and
Decorations - Addressing
the Dead-Fireworks.

The Japanese Feast of Bong, says ;
contributor to the New York Observer.
occurs during the month of August, par
taking of the character of a national holi
day, and is similar, in many respects. tt
the Chinese Feast of Lanterns. Thu
ceremonies continue through a 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 the
"Bouses" in flowing robes, as they chant
their litanics before their triune gods.
Then the pilgrimages to the tombs fol-
low, and it is apparent to the unaccus-
toned eye that preparations have been
made to prolong their sojourn at the
graves of friends beyond the present
day, for an abundance of food and other
essentials are among the articles con.
veyed thither.
Arriving at one of the cemeteries, we
find the approaches to the same-the
roads and by-ways adjacent-bearing
the appearance of holiday preparations,
reminding one of an American village
fair. Gay colors prevail, noticeable IN
the flags and lanterns, as we'll as varie-
gated dress of the people, which mingle
with the bright hues of a profusion of
howers-all together dispelling any pos
sibility Of gloom associated with the &C.
casion. Booths for the sale of articles
of food and variety of :bon-bons, which
find ready purchasers, are seen here and
there near the gates of the cemetery.
Many pilgrims arc thus tempted to en-
large their supplies of eatables and
knick-knacks, which are abundantly dis
pensed as offerings to the dead, being
placed upon their graves by cndcaring
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
bivouacing, 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 by day, by their un-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
th1ongs are addressed by stately per-
sonage, who officiates as kind of re-
cordcr and historian. who moves about
among the people reading from book
be bears an endless dissertation on the
affairs of the country, recounting public
occurrences of interest which have trans
pired 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 prerogatve it is to en-
Tighten those whose lives are cut off from
things earthly.
The younger portion of the assembled
gathering are similarly instructed by an
other dignitary, who receives the pro-
found respect of all, and who in turn re-
counts the legends and native lore of the
land to listening crowds. Thus are the
the young, as we'll as their elders, in
structed in much that other peoples
gather from popular literature concern
ing the history Of their country and their
rulers of by-gone periods, the achieve
ments of armies in battle and the coun-
ellis of the nation.
When at the close of the day the
darkness gathers, fires are lighted in the
midst of each family group, and the
evening meal of rice and fish is pre-
pared over kind of furnace called he.
baches. Hours are spent in slipping tea
from tiny porcelain cups, and during all
these ceremonies the dead is invoked to
share with the living every luxury, hence
plates of rice and fish, with delicate por-
celain cups containing tea, are invariably
distributed among the graves, where
these portions of the dead participants
are left mingling with flowers and shrub
berry.
The night scene at the cemeteries is
even more striking to the visitor than
that which meets the eye by day.
Myriads of lights twinkle and flash from
the hills, and lanterns now aglow, sway
ing in the breeze, reflect the bundled
varied hues and countless devices pic
tured on the banners and streamers, and
the carved and quantity drawn images,
which, with the illuminated temples in
the vicinity, impart to the occasion a
weird and incomprehensibe attraction,
which mystifes while it entrances the
beholder.
AS the night advances and the light of
the lanterns wane and dimly burn, group
after group of the assembled throng
spread their mats beside the graves OF
their dead and sink to sleep. The second
days proceedings are repetition, with
some variation, of the first, but on the
third day the scribe dwells, in his dis
course, on subjects of more local and
less important character, in which the
village gossips enjoy harvest of infor-
nation, in which every hous ehold seems
to possess an interest.
The Feast of Bong terminates on the
third day with a great procession lasting
into the night, which occupies for the
time being, the main streets of the towr.
Animals and birds may be seen moving
in the procession, propelled by some in
visible force, which, on inquiry, we learn
Is supplied through the agency of con-
cealed men and boys. Many men and
women bearing miniature ships and