Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1908-07-29
THE CHINESE TEMPLES
DIRTY AND DILAPIDATED STRUCTURES
FOR HOUSES OF WORSHIP.
DR.. Edwords Describes Unsightly and I'm
sanitary Condition of Chinese Temples
and Apathy Of Worshippers.


letters from Japan had much to say
about the temples, and the manner in
which they were kept Naturally one
, would imagine that in China, the
| home OF Buddhism, the temples would
| be on most magnificent order, con-
sequently l was anxious to visit some
of the places of worship AS passed
along the street stopped at several
! Buddhist temples, but they were so
dirty and dilapidated that any de.
scription of them would fill my read
ers with disgust, and if were to at
tempt to describe them you would
think l was exaggerating. These
ancient homes Of the great god of the
Chinese. which were buried ages ago,
are going to ruin, and it is pitiful to
see these once splendid structures 60
ing to decay without not a single
effort made to preserve or repair them.
One OF the most noted temples in
China is to be found here. and i'm
order to obtain an adequate idea of
how these places of worship are cared
for by the people 1 spent some time
examining it, despite the fact that
my voyage OF discovery was under the
most trying difficulties. In general
the style of architecture, with great
gateways and huge carved dragons
and figures at the doorways. was
similar to those in Japan, but here all
similarity ended. Everything was
dilapidated. and extremely dirty. In
the inner court were some thirty
priests. chanting their various offices.
while dozen Chinese stood about.
looking like so many curious people
gathered around some strange rite.
They were not worshippers, nor did
they seem at all interested in what
the priests were doing.
The priests were dreary and dirty,
their shoes. stockings and vestments
dirty and bedraggled, and the in
closure looked as if it had never been
swept since the temple was built.
Sticks, stones. and indescribable litter
was strewn over the floor, and pools
OF stinking water were everywhere.
Back OF the temple was famous
hover garden in an equally dilapi-
dated condition. Some cCriousIv
trained evergreens in huge flower pots
adorned the sides of the wall, and
these were the most interesting things
to be found. They were trained in
shapes resembling men and animals
or figures, such as fans, fruits or
flowers.
AS l wandered about new scent
assailed my nostrils which, if it be
possible, was even worse than any of
the others which had come across.
and in looking fo~ it's origin came
across the pen OF the sacred hogs.
Here, wallowing in filth, were the
sacred hogs, about twenty of them.
and l was told that none of them
were ever killed. but they were al
lowed to die natural deaths. TIE
priests attended them and they were
so fat they could not walk. They were
in most horrible condition. as their
pen had never been cleaned. They
wallowed in their filth and were
covered with swarms of flies, spread
ing over the neighborhood most hor-
rible stencil
In Japan the people paw much at
tehtlon to their temples. care for
them and clean them scrupuIouslv.
In China the temples are neglected
and | am sure that the people have
no thought of the religion which thew
symh lize. l noticed several Chinese
out of the temples looking
very much bored, yawning and
stretching themselves as il they were
dead tired OF their devotions. Thew
would burn little strip of paper be-
Iore the door and then go their way.
Ihis burning OF incense paper is done
In NEST perfunctOry manner, as il il
were simply done to be rid of it. and
their attention o this part of their
worship reminded me of an old
preacher used to know when bow.
de always prayed hurriedly, with
ooth eyes opeE looking out over his
and whenever a little
boy got sleepy, or did mischief he
would stop In the midst of his prayer
to scold. These Chinese do their re-
liglous acts in much the same way.
and l can imagine that if they could
pray by machinery they would do so
In order to save themselves the
trouble.
Speaking of this religion reminds
me- OF death. and in passing through
The streets of Shanghai was impress
'ed with the ntter disregard these
people have for death. Coffin sbops
abound and il was no unusual thing
20 see three or four Chinese sitting on
'he collins. gossiping over their small
Affairs. The coffins are made of heavy
boards, and when the body is put in
t is covered with charcoal so it can
DO kept several weeks without being
buried, II it does have a little odor
The Chinese do not mind it for II IL
but little more than they are already
accustomed. Clarence f. Edwords.