, 1901-01-03
H CHINESE HADES.
NO RED TAPE IN ITS MANAGE
MENT.
Very Exact Book Keeping to Determins
Rswards and Punishment-Ledgers Of
Hadss Kept Most Punctiliously-Halls
of Judgment Severe on Liars. o

The papers of the Royal Asiatic So
ciety contains interesting illustrations
Of the Chinese conception Of a future
state. Some years ago the society pub
lished the Rev. George Clark's trans
lation Of The Yu-Li, or Precious
Records a work that came into exist
ence at some definite date about the
tenth century, and was supposed to
supplement the teachings of C%onfucius.
who had left the transactions OF an
other world in some uncertainty. There
Is no uncertainty in the Precious Rec
ords." for they give in full detail ev-
erything the Celestial sinner may ex-
pect to happen to him when his soul
arrives in Hades in the sedan chair.
and is formally received there by the
God Of Fate" Hades is conducted
like a senate department, and is divid-
ed into so many halls of judgment,
each with its president, staff of offici-
ais and specified number Of bells. There
is no red tape in this administration,
the rewards and punishments are al
lotted with scrupulous care. 1t some
' A"PPSAo Niol LAX ~ u al
accused soul exactly balance his Of
fences. and he Is her allowed another
chance, and begins life again with ex-
cellent opportunities of well doing. II
this account does not stand to his
credit, he may be born again to deform-
ity or incurable disease. People thus
afflicted in China are believed to have
| a iC1nrIttptn l tla~,-ao. T., -u.,;~,
life. There are inducements to virtue
as well as punishments for vice. II
a woman should please the gods in one
stage Of existence she may be born a
man in the next. According to Chi
nese philosophy. the principal Of good
Is male (Yang). and the principal of
evil is female (Yin). The lady who
has the privilege Of changing her sex
in a new life must, therefore, feel
highly tiattered by the favor Of the i'm
morales. There is no litigation in
the Halls Of Judgment, for no soul
dreams Of disputing the Precious Rec
ords." The ledgers of Hades are kept
most punctiliously, and, as the sacred
text remarks impressively. there is
no deception" By way, however, Of
preventing difficulties and wasting the
presidents time, there Is a simple but
enectual ceremony at the door. When
received by the God of Fate" the soul
Is offered a cup of tea. which induces
"forgetfulness." DR.. Clark says that
when the missionaries offer tea to
Chinese visitors 1t is usually declined,
the Chinese believing that I'VE put
something In the tea which will cause
them to involuntarily join the church.
The Halls Of Judgment are very Sc
we're on suicides, unless the suicide has
been committed for some virtuous rea-
son. A debtor sometimes takes his life
to spite an importunate creditor. who
has to defray the funeral expenses and
compensate the family Of the deceased.
The Halls Of Judgment will decide
whether the suicide wac due to oppres-
sion or to a NEAR spirit Of revenge.
Unflial conduct is about the worst Of
fence with which the soul can be
laden: but the most dutiful SOL can-
not escape II he has defrauded the
government or neglected to pay his
taxes. Fraud on the government
seems to be limited to a very small
sum. and therefore the exact moral
position of a highly placed mandarin
In a Hall Of Judgment Is not clear.
Quacks are sternly treated, but the
worst fate of all befalls the scoffers-
people who openly mock the Precious
Records" There is a terrible story OF
what befell certain priests who order
ed copies Of THE Yu-Li" to be burned.
Liars have a very disagreeable portion
In this world as well a. others. There
Is a certain temple where an idol de-
votes itself to the function of striking
liars dead. DR.. Clark asked a young
priest whether he had ever seen any
liars struck dead. Yes, two" said
the priest. my young friend, take
care that you are not the third" said
DR.. Clark. To escape the various hells,
which are like the circles OF Dante's
Inferno" without the poetry, 1t seems
to be a good plan to turn vegetarian.
1T is believed hat animals, birds,
fishes and insects are possessed by
some ones spirit; If their death is pre-
vented the spirit obtains some mitiga'
ton Of the pains Of hell; therefore,
much merit Is obtained by setting al
liberty living creatures" The greatest
merit Of all Is not to eat a flesh diet
London Chronicle.