The Saint Paul globe., 1903-12-06

the enacting Of the great secret drama
or mystic play, which is done on the oc-
caslon of the anniversary Of the birth Of
the founder of lamanism. at the end of
the old year. 1t is said to be the most
gfoteSque and gorgeous production of the
present age. At the time of the New
Year festival it is performed before the
Dalai Lama on the hill of Potala and is
presented in all the Oriental splendOr ana
religious fanaticism of Buddhist ritual
It is performed in the open air and wit
messed by the head religious officials,
throngS of pilgrims and spectators.
The main object Of the mystery
play is to portray in pantimime the
leading historic epochs of laman-
ISM especially its triumph over other
forms of worship. A certain portion
OF the play Is intended to expel all the old
year evil spirits and devils from the land.
Several hundred maskers, representing the
various demon lords. fiends and evil spir-
It's of the innumerable places of punish
ment of the other world take part in the
performance which lasts a day. Accord
ing to the Thibetan belief the soul of man
both on earth and after death, is sur
rounded by vast number of malignant
demons, who are constantly seeking to
destroy and harass him with all sorts Of
IOrtufeS. Against the oppression of these
hordes of evil he himself can do nothing:
only the prayers of the lamas can shield
and save him from their attacks. In Or
der to acqaint the people with the ap-
pearance of these misleading spirits of
evil the lamas during a dance put on
masks representing their faces and imi-
tate their antics. In this way the people
are made familiar with the looks and APP
pearance of these tormentOrs.
Chief among these masked characters
are Yama, king and ruler of the Inferno,
who is represented as being enVelOped I'm
fiery flames and girded by a belt OF
grinning skulls, aided by one of his min
ions, Stagfaced, with protrudng horns
and gaping mouth. These assist in mar
shalling and directing the hosts of mask
ed devils. The latter rush and howl in a
wild, frenzied manner and upon the aD-
pearance of another set of goblins they
pounce upon and beat them with long
clubs This is intended to depict the pun
1shment inflicted upon the wicked i'll the
under world, who refuse to obey the laws
taught by the lamas. One Of the chief acts
or the play Is the pantomime illustrating
the assassination of the great enemy Of
lamanism, impersonated by a set Of
black hat dancers. A certain icOnoclastic
king In the ninth century began to per-
secure the lamas by burning and destroy
ing the books and temples In the third
year of his reign he was shot through
the head by a strolling dancer, whom he
had commanded to dance before him.
The assassin wore a peculiar black hat.
To commemorate this event a high hat,
the top crowned with fligree work and
ornamented with skull of the Enemy
King, Is worn by the troop Of black hat
performers who represent this tableau.
Deaths and births cause the Thibetan
mind to work exactly counter to the Cau
cdSldU. AS soon as Il man uleS III IDlDeL
there is rejoicing The corpse is seated
in chair, in front Of his house, so that
the multitude may behold his nerveless
face. He is dressed in all his finery, and
his neighbors invade his house and eat
their fill and drink his most pungent
pundu They pay the lifeless host all
manner Of compliments, such as
I'VE wish we were dead like you"
How much happier you are than We"
May you live again in a holy lama. "
At last the body Is carried to the grave
and unceremoniously dumped into the
open pit The men shout for joy. but
the women are compelled to slash them
selves and wall, because of their sorrow
that they are only women.