The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-06-27
BURIAlS IN CHINA.
They Are Very Expensive and Peculiar and
Decidedly Noisy.

Decidedly Noisy.
The burial customs of the Chinese are
peculiar. Immediately upon the de-
cease OF person in China a priest is
called, whose prayers are supposed to
free the departed spirit from the neces-
slty of going to hell and to secure his
admlttance to Paradise.
The body is arrayed in the most costly
garments that the family can afford. In
one hand is placed fan and in the other
prayer written on piece of paper,
which is letter of recommendation to
open the gates Of Heaven. The coffin is
very solid, substantial case. The
corpse, when put into it, is laid in bed
OF lime or cotton, or is covered with
qulcklime, and the edges of the lid are
closed with mortar in the groove so
that no odor can escape.
The nature of the site for burial is
regarded as having an important inf1u-
ence on the prosperity of the living, the
people fearing ill-luck, disease and ac-
cldent If the dead are not satisfied with
the site of their graves. The selection
OF propitious sites is made by geo.
mancers, class of quacks who pretend
to supernatural wisdom.
When the day of burial arrives, which
fs-lt satisfactory place for the tomb
has been found-the nearest lucky day to
the third seventh day after death, friends
assemble at the house, and an offering
OF cooked provisions is laid out near the
coffin. This is intended to occupy the
attention Of the spirit of the dead, which
is supposed to linger near the body, or
any other vagrant spirits that may be
lowering around, to keep them from
doing any mischief or harm to the
living.
All the mourners are dressed entirely
in white, and they assemble about the
coffin and in turn PROSTATE themselves
before it, a band of music playing mean
while. ssS
The procession is then formed, the
coffin going first, borne on an unwieldy
bier carried by large number of men,
A man goes before the procession and
scatters paper money, to buy the good
will of any stray, tricky spirits that
may be prowling about. Immediately
after the coffin, in a separate sedan, is
borne the ancestral tablet of the de.
ceased with the offering of food. Differ
ent figures, banners and tablets are also
carried, according to the means and rank
of the family.
When the grave is reached the coffin
is let down, and lime abundantly mixed
with the earth thrown in upon it.
Crackers are then fred, libations are
poured out, prayers are recited and
finally paper molds of houses. clothes.
horses, money and every thing that the
dead man can possibly want in the
land of shadows are burned. The origin
of this latter custom is unquestionably
the idea that every thing that had been
enjoyed or used in this life would be de-
sired in the other. The ancient custom
was to burn mans household belong
ings, to kill upon his grave his favorite
horse, hound or bird, and sometimes his
chosen servant, that their shadows might
go with him into the life beyond. After
the funeral the elaborate dishes that
have been borne to the grave are carried
back, and the mOurnerS feast upon
them. Bodies are in some instances
kept in or about the house for many
years, and incense is burned before
them morning and evening. They are
kept on trestles in the entrance hall, or
sometimes in chamber setapart. This
occurs when the family can not affsrd
funeral representation are consider
able-or when lucky place of burial
can not be found.-N. Y. Star.