The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-07-30
THE CHINESE HADEs.

| The Yu-Li, or Precious Records. Leave
Nothing to Chinese Sinners 1magina-
| t!one
| The papers of the Royal Asiatic soci-
| ETY. contain interesting illustrations of
! the Chinese conception of future
state. Some years ago the society pub
lished the Rev. George Clark's transa-
ton of 1.-THE Yu-Li or Precious Rec
ords," work that came into existence
at some indefinite date about the tenth
century. and was supposed to supple
ment the teachings of Confucius, who
had left the transactions of another
world in some uncertainty. There Is no
uncertainty in the Precious Records,
for they give in full detail everything
the Celestial sinner may expect to hap
pen to him when his soul arrives in
Hades in a sedan chair. and Is formally
received there by the God of Fate.
Hades Is conducted like state depart
ment, and is divided into so many halls
of judgment, each with its president,
staff of officials and specified number Of
hells. The DEGREES of every president
and the penalties In every hell are so
infinitely set down that there Is small
pDc7SlDlHty Vi u lllSldhen duuIGSS lOi
any soul, although 1t is recorded that
one virtuous man was cut off in the
prime of sanctity, and his soul conduct
ed to the hall of judgment by the blum
der of demon who was severely repri-
handed. There Is no red tape in this
administration. and rewards and pun
ishments are allotted with scrupulous
care. 1t sometimes happens that the
merits Of an accused soul exactly bal
ance his offences, and he is then al
lowed another chance, and begins life
again with excellent opportunities of
Wel-doing. If his account does not
stand to his credit, he may be born
again to deformity or incurable disease.
People thus afflicted in China are be-
lieved to have misconducted themselves
In a previous life. There are induce
ments to virtue as we'll as punishments
for vice. If woman should please the
gods In one stage of existence she may
be born man In the next. According
to Chinese philosophy the principle of
good is male, Qang,) and the principle
of evil is female (Yin) The lady who
has the privilege of changing her sex
in new life must therefore, feel high
ly fattered by the favor of the immor-
tails.
There Is no ltigation In the halls of
for no soul dreams of disput-
ing the precious Records" The ledg- !
ers of Hades are kept most punctilious- |
ly, and as the sacred text remarks i'm
there is no deception" |
BY way, however, of preventing any |
ltigious soul from |
raising difficulties and wasting the |
presidents time, there is q simple but |
affectual ceremony at the door. When |
received by the God of Fate" the soul |
is offered a cup Of tea, which induces
'forgetfuness.' DR.. Clark says that |
when the missionaries offer tea to Chi
nese visitors it is usually declined, the
Chinese believing that eve put some
thing in the tea which will cause them !
to involuntarily join the church, The
lalls Of judgment are very severe on |
suicides, unless the suicide has been !
for some vlrtuous reason.
A debtor sometimes takes his life to |
spite an importunate creditor, who has
o defray the funeral expenses and
the family of the deceased.
The hall of judgment will decide wheth-
r the suicide was due to oppression or
o mean spirit of revenge. Unfilial
conduct is about the worst offense with
which soul can be laden; but the
most dutiful son cannot escape if he
ected to pay taxes. Fraud on the gov