The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1901-03-07

1t is exceedingly rare thing for
a foreigner to be permitted to witness
the death of a Buddhist priest. and 1t
was only after a residence of nearly
twelve years in China that the oppor-
tunity came to me, says a writer in
Leslie's Weekly Old Ting Ho-Sheng.
head priest of the Temple of the Spirit
of Light / had known by sight for
several years, and had more intimate
acquaintance with him the summer he
died, but did not expect to be a wit
ness of his death nor to see him die
sitting up. Not only did 'tOld Ting"
die sitting up. but he was put into his
coffin and buried that way Disease
and native treatment had already
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
rooms a little later. 1 found him sitting
on broad stool facing the outer door.
clad in his fine priestly robes of yellow
silk. Being long past consciousness.
he was supported by his attendants I'm
this position, with his legs crossed.
each foot resting upon the opposite
thigh, sole directed upward-an ex-
ceedingly 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 attendance
| was that he should not be placed In
| his coffin until he was really dead AL
| though 1 could not bring him back to
| life, they were willing that I should
| judge when he was dead Holding
| small mirror in front of his face,
| waited until there was no more mois-
| ture deposited upon it. In the mean
| time preparations were continually
| going on around me for further cere-
| monies. A large pile of paper cash"
| had been placed outside the door. on
| top of which was document 1 was
| not allowed to see, but, from what
could learn, was his history as related
to his accession to the priesthood and
life in it. Upon being pronounced dead
| flaming torch was applied to the
cash by young priest. former discf-
| pie and now successor to the LANDS
and buildings of the old man sitting
| before him. No sooner was the paper
| well ablaze than the young man pros
! trated himself before it, humping his
head on the ground the requisite mum
| Der of times, for every movement IL
every ceremony of the Chinese is reg
ulated by rites as fnfiexible s law. Tht
next step in this strange death scene
was the placing of the body in it's up
right coffin. The front and top wer'
removed and yellow silk customs put il
the bottom. on which the old man wa
placed as gently possible consiSten
with the awkWardneSS of his position
| Numerous small cushions and wads o
| thin paper were put in around him,
| pillow under each elbow to sustain tn
arms in their upright position, an
| then the front was slid into place. Nor
| packing was done from the top unit
| his body was immOvable and the cofhl
, | filed, the yellow silk knot of his ha
| being the last I ever saw of old TIM
| Ho-Sheng, who will sit and wait unit
| time and decay do their work in alter
, | ing his position.