The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1900-09-30
rHlNEsE FUNERAL RITES
p.eoIiar Customs Which Prevail
In the Celestial Kingdom.
PRACTICALLY no GRAVEYARDs.

sorfhern Provinces the Deceased
rsuaIIy Buried by rhemSelves,
n.-bans en- Mountain Side-Cof-
Sbaped Like Logs-Greatest
nect Paid to the Dead.
when the armies of the world finish
-,,h China. it is safe to say there will
= many Cinnamon to bury. Chinese
suriaI customs will demand their inter-
aont in loslike coffins. which after the
oornse is placed within are tightly seal
"A and strange TO say, they lie out of
,ao-s often for months says the Phil
.delphia Record, awaiting the time
.rben the families of the deceased can
.so-d an elaborate burial.
chinese funerals and burial customs
40 IN many respects similar through
-. the empire. The cottins can be seen
,rinr about just outside many of the
houses. No oder escapes from them,
~ tbey are tightly sealed with mortar
- some other substance, and within |
.,o body lies in a preparation of quick
uma Some Of the families keep the |
nofins and their occupants inside their |
homes for perhaps year. 1t is, how
ovor not considered disrespectful in
many sections to allow them to remain
outside.
While all of these queer coffins are
sbaped like legs, there is great diff
forence in quality. One can be pur-
fobased for $40, while another may cost
$1,000 Some are beautifully carved
and made of expensive wood. All are
vanished. 4 Chinaman often makes
one If these queerly constructed coffins
for himself during his lifetime, antici-
Mating how nice it Will look after he is
gone
In some sections incense is burned
over one of these cotiins as long as it
remains above ground. These rites are
perforned usually by the older son of
the family. especially if the deceased
Is the father Sometimes this older
son goes about raising funds with
which to hold 4 notable funeral cele-
hration. The Chinese as rule contrib
l ME literally on such occasions. On
the older son also deyoives the duty Of
washing the corpse just prior TO placing
II in the coffin. Then, assisted by his
brother. if he has any, they place the
finest apparel that they can afford to
purchase upon the deceased. \ fan is
then placed in one hand, and the work
Of sealing the coffin begins.
The Chinese are shrewd in some
II ways, and, in case of the death of some
II one in the family of one who owns
them. they will take the opportunity
to attach the coffin in which the corpse
rests and hold it until the debt is paid.
This scheme works like a charm, for
never would son allow his relatives
remains to be the property of the man
he NAV owe Throughout the Fukien
province in which Fuchau is situated,
there is a custom of placing piece of
silver in the mouth of the deceased
Laws throughout China make it i'm
perative that the greatest respect be
paid to the dead. These laws govern
not only the actions OF the Chinese at
the time when an official dies. but ex-
tend even to the members of ones own
family. 1t is said, however, that there
Is less occasion to enforce the laws In
this particular than in any other mis-
demeanor prohibited by the lawbooks
OF the Celestials. Reverence for an
cestors. or that which is more properly
called ancestor worship. is almost
part of the Chinaman's nature.
After the death of one of the family
the aim of those who survive is tC
save sufficient money to give the de
,I to pie rThOU 6pny
themselves many things. often for &
period of three years. When the day
Of the funeral comes, it is truly not
able one There are professions, bands
Of music and the Offering of sacrifices
The coffin, the ancestral tablet and tht
sacrifices are all borne to the grave
separately
The performance is in many respects
Similar to the funeral services held II
San Francisco today in that section o
the city known as Chinatown. Espo
cialiy is this true in the procession
when a leading Chinaman goes aheat
with strips of paper which contain
many holes These he scatters broad
cast 1t is the belief Of the Chimes
that if they can bury their dead befor
Tue evil spirit, Which is following, cdl
catch up with the body, then the de
ceased will have peace after death
further believed by them that th1
spirit must pass through each hole il
each one Of the strips of paper. and
they scatter thousands Of them ther
are no Cinnamon who are not saved
ire funeral is conducted at all as
should be-
No matter If it is three years afte
the death of the one whom they ar
bearing to the grave the members o
the family are expected to mourn jus
US much as If it were the next day af1
a death. While the greater part G
ths Is agoniZed form rather than sir
eefe mourning. still they succeed yer
well In making the show.
There are practically no Chimes
kf&yeyardS in China The only GENE