The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-03-02
AT A FUNERAL IN CHINA.
That Ceremony Is Said TO Be the
Mos. Gorgeous Sight in
Asia
How Well Conducted and
Hugely Splendid Affair Is
Brought or
First Ambition Of Every Chinaman Is to
Have = Fine Conin-LAnd OF
Csremoniaia

IS the elimination Of human noise. ant
the Chinese are never 30 noisy as at a fu
neral. They have hearty appetites at al
times, but they never eat so much as they
do at funeral feast When first lived
in China. used TO find it almost impos
sible 70 distinguish between a funeral pro
cession and a marriage procession. In the
center of one tho cofined corpse is borne
on the shoulders Of men. In the center OF
the other similar men bear upon their
shoulders the bride, who is in an inolosed
sedan chair, and she is followed by her
bridesmaid But 20 the casual observer
abe two ends Of the two PROFESSIONS are
quite alike in every other respect. Tom
toms, red clothed coolies carrying roasted
pigs and other dainties. smaller coolies
carrying cheap paper ornaments Of a Mon
golian theatrical type-these are the inva-
riable clements Of both PROFESSIONS.
The Chinese are today the most unique,
the most ancient and the most misunder-
stood people on the earth. say the most
ancient because they are the least changed
from what they were long centuries ago.
The least changed They are not changed
at all. The China Of today il the China
Marco Polo knew. A few Of US have been
sionaries. I regard them as a people apart
What have we gained in China? A strange
experience-to me a pleasant one-a pound
OF perfumsd tea. and bale of lowered
Grape, for all of which we have paid right
handsomely. We have been treated in the
main politely, but sooner or later most Of
US are bowed out Of China, II not by the
emperor, why, then by the climate
The Chinese have at least three religions
-Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism.
But the funeral rites Of the three seots are
identical. There are several reasons for
this The three religions are much alike
and are all largely founded upon Indian
Buddhism. Moreover. religion is a very
second class affair in China. The priests
Of two sects often live together in the
chummiest way. Filial devotion is the
real religion of China. All China is one
huge family, and the emperor Is the great
father. By the way, Great Father is what
the North American Indians call God.
And the Chinese consider their emperor a
god. There is one more reason why all
Chinese funerals are greatly alike. China
Is a land Of ceremonials. and the smallest
details Of those oeremonials are prescribed
by the "Leke, OF book Of rites
To disObey the least rule Of this great
national manual is a crime and a severely
punished one. In two respects only does
ono Chinese funeral differ from another.
The first is in the amount Of money spent,
and the second IS i'm the period after death .
at which burial takes place.
The first ambition Of every Chinaman il I
to.have a splendid coffin A poor China /
man will half starve himself and his fam
lily for years that he may daily hoard a
little cash toward the sum needed for the
purchase Of the coveted casket When the
coffin is really bought, il il brought home
with great ceremony. II is given the place
Of honor in the house and is regarded as
the most valuable piece Of furniture in the
establishment. Among the poorer classes
II u customary TO buy a very thick coffin.
No self respecting Chinese family-and
the Chinese are the most self respecting Of
ali the nBtions-will bury a parent until
they can do it with more or less Mongo-
lian magnifcenoe. Hence in China death
by no means implies immediate burial.
When a Chinaman dies his neighbors .
come in and help the women Of the family
20 make the shr0ud. The body + put in +
Its coffin. Then the funeral ceremonies /
begin, II there is money enough. If there 4
Is not, the coffin IL put back in its place OF 4
honor until the family finances look up.
The day Of the death. or the day after.
the relatives not living In the house and 4
the friends come TO pay the last duties Of .
respect 10 the deceased. When the visitors
arrive they are shown into a room in which |
are all the women and children Of the cs-
tablishment. These latter set up "A dismal
howl, In which the visitors join, or 20
which they listen synpathetically. When
tho tympanum Of even Chinese ear be-
guns u ache, the guests are ushcrcd into
a. ~
house give them tes and refreshmcnt. The
refresh ment varies according 70 the means
OF the family. In the house Of the rich
II ia dinner. After the visitors have
drunk and eaten. they Hre bowed out bv
one of the Einsmeu n the dead
A well conducted Chinese funeral IS the
most gorgeous sight Ina Asia 10 may seem
% us little tinselly. but that h. "a mere
matter n tuste. And ], who mike bold
10 Ike the Chinese, cannot claim that they
have superabunCauce Of TASTE. Atths /
'front.' Of the funeral procession walk tie
noisy musicless musicians. Then come
men-they may h. friends. they unv Dc
coolies--bearing The insignia az the diprl-
" or the dead, 81 De had any Next walk
more men carrying figures 81 animals.
luols, umbrellas and blue and white
ttreamers. After them come men carry
tAh f"A1 % Perfume. just before the cnl- /
I'm walk BONES Chinese priests. overt
colin a canopy is usually carried The
easket is borne by about "a score n men.
Immediately behind the coffin walk the
children ~ the deceased The eldest son
comes first. lie is dressed in canvas and
leans heavily upon a stout stick. lie Is
supposed 10 be too exhausted By grief and
inAting 60 walk without the aid Of this
sian The other children and rclaffvas
follow mischief mCurner They are cloth
Ell iu white linen garments Whiteis the
mourning color " the DANES. 81 the Bur
Sncsc aud ~ the Chinese. The women ar.
carried in chairs in the Chinese funeral
procession. They sob aud vail nt intervals
and iu unison
When tho hurying place Is reached. the
bones begin chanting mass for the dead.
aud the collin Is Eut into the tomb. When
the coffin Is laid IN its final position. a
large obiong white marble table is placed
before the tomb On the middle Of II IS