Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1901-03-14
DEATHeED OF A BUDDHIST.
Weird CeremOuie> Observed at thu
Passing of q Priest.


Passiug of q Priest.
1t Is an exceedingly rare thing for Il
foreigner to be permitted to witness
the death of Buddhist priest, and 1t
was only after n residence Of nearly
twelve years in China that the oppor-
tunity came to me.
Old Ting Ho-Sheng, head priest Of
the Temple Of the Spirit of Light"
l had known by sight for several years,
and had more intimate acquaintance
with him the summer lie died, but
did not expect to be witness Of his
death nor to see him die sitting up. Not
only did "Old Ting" die sitting up, but
he was put into his coffin and buried
that way.
Disease and native treatment had al
ready placed the seal of death upon
the old man, So that at my second visit
could only tell the attendants that
his hours were few. Returning to the
old priests room little later found
him sitting OH board stool facing the
outer door. clad in his fine priestly
robes of yellow silk. Being long past
consciousness, he was supported by
his attendants in this position. with his
legs crossed, each foot resting upon
the opposite thigh, sole directed upward
an exceedingly difficult. and, in fact,
almost impossible position to assume
in life. The hands were placed, palms
together, up before his face the whole
attitude being that which represents
Buddha in the state of Nirvana-and
the old man was very near that state.
The great anxiety of those in attend
ance was that he should not be placed
In his coffin until he was really dead.
Although could not bring him back
to life. they were willing that l should
judge when he was dead. Holding a
small mirror in front Of his face,
waited until there was no moisture de-
posted upon 1t.
In the meantime preparations were
continually going on around me for fur
ther ceremonies. A large pile of paper
'cash' had been placed outside the
door. on top of which was document
l was not allowed to see. but, from
what could learn. was his history as
related to his accession to the priest
hood and life in it.
Upon being pronounced dead fam
ing torch was applied to the leash" by
n young priest former disciple and
now successor to the lands and build
ings of the old man sitting before him.
no sooner was the paper we'll ablaze
than the young man Frustrated him
self before it. humping his head on the
ground the requisite number Of times.
for every movement in every cere-
mony of the Chinese is regulated by
rites as infexible as law.
The next step in this strange death
scene was the placing Of the body In
it's upright coffin. The front and top
were removed and yellow silk cush-
ions put in the bottom, on which the
old man was placed as gently as pos
sible consistent with the awkardness
of his position. Numerous small cush-
mos and wads Of thin paper were put
in around him, a pillow under each ell
bow to sustain the arms in their up
right position. and then the front was
slid into place. More packing was done
from the top until his body was i'm
movable and the coffin filled, the yell
low silk knot of his hat being the last
ever saw of old Ting Ho-Sheng, who
will sit and wait until time and decay
do their work in altering his position
I.eslle's Weekly.