The hatchet. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1883-19??, 1900-07-08
THOUSAND HANDED CHINESE DEITY.

THOUSAND HANDED CHINESE DEITY
much-n fact. far more than they
needed during their lifetime. Accord
ing to the Chinese theory of life, every
man is provided with three souls and
six spirits, the latter at death going to
the earth. whence they. together with
the body. came. The three souls sepa-
rate from each other ut the death OF
the body one goes to hadcs, another
remains i'm the coffin, and the third
STAYS about the house where the de-
ceased lived. so for the three souls pro
vision must be made, and six feasts cv-
cry year are made for the dead when
the deceased ancestors are wOrshiped
i'm the houses of their descendants, at
the graves where the collins repose and
in hades. communication being had
with them there by means Of the
priests. The souls in the houses are
satisfied by an abundance of food,
which must he hot and newly prepar-
ed the souls which remain I'm the cof-
fins are content, it appears, with sim
pie rice and drink of some kind,
which need not he hot, while paper
money, clothing and other necessaries
are provided for the souls which go to
hades and transmitted thither by burn
ing paper representations of the artl-
cles to he transmitted.
Paper clothing for the souls Is pro
vided in great abundance, and, accord
ing to the author. this is the most en-
terprislng business in Soochow, and
year by year new goods adorn the
counters. The trunks. with brass pa
per locks are filed with every kind OF
clothing If for man. they are man
DARN robes. official hat and top boots,
with all kinds of undcrclothes, and pa
per nail boots for the rain; If for wom-
en-, their garments are painted as If OF
the richest embroidery and are truly
very beautiful patterns. The assert
ment of goods comprises chairs, tables,
beds, mosquito nets bedspreads. pill
lows, sedan chairs, horses, manserv-
ants. maidservants, cups, teapots,
writing materials, basins, tobacco
pipes, opium pipes, fans, musical in
struments, clecks and watches, these
last such perfect limitations that for
years | thought them genuine" all
these articles being burned ut the
graves and the soul in hades being sup
posed. according to Chinese doctrine,
to receive the benefit of them in real
articles corresponding in value and APP
pearance to those whose counterfeits
have gone up into flames. At the paper
stores or "soul'B goods" stores, is also
to be had a great abundance of paper
money which is also burned at the
graves, but cheaper and better way
Of transmitting funds to deceased rela-
tives Is provided by the Bank OF
Hades." The priests sometimes give
notice by gongs and placards that they
will dispatch treasure boat TO hades
The old women all bring their strings
Of silvered paper to the boat, which is
placed by the canal, till II Is full of It's
precious freight, when. after the amply
rewarded priests march round and
chant. il is burned, a check on the
Bank Of Hades being handed to each
one. who makes deposit.
Confuclanism Is the worship Of de-
ceased ancestors. and all the COnfucian
gods are spirits Of dead men. Any Chi
naman may become n god after his
death by excellence in any line, how
ever trivial, for If he have the good for
tune to be the first as an inventor or
eontrver or introducer Of anything In
which anybody is disposed TO follow
him he becomes the patron god Of all
workmen following his lead. For eX-
ample, there Is Wenchang. the god who
presldos over the literary board Of
hades, for so extensive are the raml1-