New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-08-05
THE CHINESE HADES.
VERY EXACT BOOKKEEPING TO DETER
MINE REWARDS AND PUNISHMENTS-

MINE REWARDS AND PUNISHMENTS-
From The London Chronicle.
The papers Of the Royal Asiatic Society con-
tain interesting illustrations Of the Chinese con
ception of a future state Some years ago the
sorietv published the Rev George CIaTks trans
Iation of 1.-THE Yu-Li, Precious Records, a
work that came into existence at some m
definite date about the tenth century ana was
supposed TO supplement the teachings OF Con
fucius who had left the transactions Of another
world in uncertainty. There IS no uncer-
tainty in the Precious Records" for they give
in full detail everythl the Ceiestal SINNER my
expect to happen to him when his soul arrives m
Hades in a sedan chair. and is formally received
there by the God Of Fate Hades IS conducted
like a State Department and Is divided into
so many Halls of Judgment, each with It's pres
ident, staff of officials and specihed hummer or
bells. The DEGREES of every president and the
penalties in every hell so minUteiy set down
that there is small possibility OF a mistaken
address for any soul although II is recorded that
one virtuOus man was cut off IN the prime or
sanctity and his son, conducted to a Hail OF
Judgment by the bIunder of demon who
severely reprimauded. There Is no red tape IN
this administration, and rewards and punish
sometimes happens that the merits Of
| cUsed soul exactly balance his offences, and he
| IS then allowed another chance, and begins life
again with excellent opportunities CT Wei DONG
/ If his account does net stand to his credit. he
may be born again to deformity or incura5le
disease People thus atHctcd IN CHINA are be-
/ Iieved to have misconducted themselves in
previous life There are inducements 20 virtue
as we'll punshments for vice II a
! should please the gods IN stage Of existence
She may be born a man in the next According
TO Chinese philosophy the principle Of good IS
male Vang). and the principle Of evil is female
| (Yin). The lady who has the privilege of chang
| ing her sex in a new life must, therefore. feel
/ highly hattered by the favor of the immortaIs
/ NO DIsPUTING OF RECORDS.
! There is no litigation in the Halls of judy
Tnent, for no soul dreams Of disputing the
I Precious Records The ledEcrs Of HadeS are
kept most pUnctiliously, and. as the sacred text
remarks impressively. there is no deception"
/ By way. however. of preventing any can
/ DANGEROUSLY Etigicus soul from raising difficult
! ties and wasting the presidents time. theFe is
a siTrluIe hut eFFectuaI ceremony AT he door
! When received by the God Of Fate The soul
! is offered a Gun OF tea which induces for
| setfulness.' DR.. Clark says that when the mis-
sionaries offer tea 70 Chinese visitors it is
usually declined. the Chinese believing that
I we put something in the tea which VIII cause
! them TO involunJarIly Join the church The
! Halls of Judgment very severe suicides
unless the suicide has been committed FOR some
! V1rtuous reason. y debtor sometimes takes
his life 10 spite imporJuHaje creditor. U m has
/ to defray tEe funeral expenses and compensate
/ the family Of the deceased The Halls If JuCE-
ment viii decide whether the suicide was due
/ To oppression To mean spirit Of revenge.
T-IfiIial conduct IS about the worst offence with
! which soul can be laden. boy the most duJifCI
/ son cannot escape if he has d-fraudsG the Gov
eminent or neglected % pay taxes Fraud on
/ the Government seems TO be limited 20 very
small sum. ana therefore the exact neral posi-
ton of highly placed mandarin in a Hall OF
/ Judgment is not clear. Quacks are ste-ny
/ treated, but the worst fate Of all betaNs the
| scoffers-people who openly meek the Precious
! Records" There Is a terrible story Of what be
7 fol certain priests who ordered copies OF The
/ YU-Ii" 10 be burned. Liars have a very dis
I agreeable portion this world we'll others.
There a certain temple where idol devOtes
itself TO the function OF striking liars dead. Dr.
Clark asked young priest whether he had ever
/ seen any liars struck dead Yes. tive" said
! the priest My young friend. take care that
You not the third" said Dr. Clark
| VIRTUES OF VEGETARIANISM
! To escape the various heIls which are ike
! the circles of Dante's Inferno without the
/ poetry, il seems to be good plan 10 turn veEe-
tartan. 1T is believed that animals birds,
I fishes and insects are possessed by some ones
spirit; if their death prevented the spirit OBJ
/ tainS some mitigation of the pains of hell
4 therefore. much merit is obtained by setting at
| liberty living creatures The greatest merit OF
/ all is not to a flesh diet. Mr. PaO killed
/ Wan San. whose soul thirSted for revenge. Wan
San met PaO, who was willing 10 submit 10 the
| forfeiture of his life. but because he was
vegetarian Wan San had pity him. and only
| off his pigtail'