The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1914-09-11
FUNERALS IN JAPAN.
Tea and Tobacco. Sweets and Statutes
Part Of the Ceremonies.

SsS
The oddities of a Japanese flu
neral are described in a commune
cation to. the National Geographic
society at Washington by William
W. Chaplin. who has extensively ex-
plored the far east.
First came four men, each carry
lng a aimsy artificial tree about
Three feet long, representing the
lotus plant in bloom. These we're
followed by eight coolies bearing
on their shoulders two poles about
eighteen feet long, from which
hung the coffin. When the family
of the deceased is unable to bear
the expense Of a full length coffin
a smaller square one is used, the
remains being placed in a sitting
posture. These r~eceptacles are
sometimes too small to receive the
remains without breaking the limbs.
"ln the present case, owing to
the afluent circumstances of the
deceased, the coffin was of full
length, its frail construction in the
style of a toy Swiss cottage. The
two sides were hung with bamboo
curtains of so loose a weave as to
show plainly the outline of the oc-
cupant, who proved to be a woman.
The remains we're followed by rick
shas containing the mourners and
friends. On reaching the auditori-
UNI of a nearby Buddhist temple the
poles from which the coffin hung
extended so far into the entrance
that it was difficult to gain admit
lance. The affairs of these temples
occupy so much of the room that
little is left for the people. Spaces
were assigned us on the floor at the
right, where we could sit. In front
of each one stood a tray with ciga-
rettes and a small brazier contain
ing a live coal to furnish light for
the smoker.
"The mourners we're kneeling on
the floor at the left. Just back of
the altar inclosure stood a low
stand. Behind this sat the high
priest, a large gong at his right,
and just back Of him sat two other
priests with a pair of cymbals. The
service consisted of prayers, repeat
ed first by one and then another;
then all three in unison, with oc-
casional readings from scrolls, all
in%terspersed with strokes on the
gong and clangs of the cymbals.
During the service the bcreaved
husband passed to the front Of
each group of friends, including our
party, knelt facing each group and
bowed to the floor. This salutation
was returned by all in a similar
manner as an expression of regard
and sympathy.
Coward the close of the service
an attendant entered bearing an
armful of paper boxes about the
size of a pound candy box, filled
with small cakes and CONNECTIONS
neatly tied. Under the string of
each box was a slip with heavy
mourning border and Japanese
characters, which our guide trans
lated for us as follows: Many
thanks for your honorable attend
ance for the funeral of Sem, my
deceased wife. today. Excuse for
my expressing thanks here instead
to call at your residence promptly.
Yours respectfully, Umesuke Saiki
and relative. Nineteenth day, fourth
month, forty-second year, Mali
One of these boxes was laid on the
floor in front Of each person, to be
carried away by him. During the
early part of the service those who
felt disposed smoked the cigarettes
provided in the trays and partook
of the tea which was also served"