The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1914-08-13
JAPANESE FUNERAL
A CORRESPONDENT DESCRIBES
MANY ODDITIES OF THE
CEREMONY.

Washington, Aug. 13.-The oddi-
ties of a Japanese funeral are de-
scribed in a communication to the
National Geographic society at Wash
ington, by VIM. w. Chaplin, who has
| extensively explored the far east.
First came four men each carry
ing a himsy artificial tree, about
three feet long representing the lotus
plant in bloom" he writes. These
| were followed by eight coolies bear
| ing on their shoulders two poles
about eighteen feet long from which
| hung the coffin. When the family
of the deceased is unable to bear h
| expense of a full length coffin, a
| smaller square one is used, the re-
mains being placed in a sitting po-
sition. These receptacles are some
times too small to receive the re-
| mains without breaking the limbs.
''In the present case, owing to the
| afluent circumstances of the de-
| ceased, the coffin was of full length,
| it's 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 outlines of the occupant, who
| proved to be a woman The remains
| were followed by rikishas containing
| the mourners and friends. On reach
/ ing the auditorium of a nearby Budd-
| hist temple the poles from which the
| coffin hung extended so far into the
entrance that it was difficult to gain
admittance. The affairs in these tenn
Piles 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 of cigarets
and a small brazier containing a 1--we
coal to furnish light for the smoker
The mourners were kneellng or
the floor at the left. Just back o.
the altar enclosure stood a low stand
behind this sat the high priest, 2
large gong at his right and just back
of him sat two other priests with &
pair of cymbals. The service con
sisted of prayers, repeated first by
one and then another, then all three
in unison, with occasional reading
from scrolls, all interspersed VIII
strokes on the gong and clang OF TN
cymbals. During the service the be
reayed husband passed to the iron
of each group of friends includin,
our party, knelt facing each groul
and bowed to the floor. This saluta
ton was returned by all in a simila
manner. as an expression OF regar'
and sympathy.
Toward the close of the service al
attendant entered, bearing an armiu
2 of paper boxes about the size or
pound candy box, filled with smai
: cakes and CONNECTION neatly teo
? Under. the string of each box was
slip with heavy mourning border an
-IJapanese characters, which our guid
translated for us as follows: Man
) thanks for your honorable ~attendanc
: for the funeral of Sem, my decease'
[ wife. today. Excuse for my express
ing thanks here instead to call a
] your residence promptly. Yours re
!. specially, Umesuke Sailki n reia
I tiyes. 10th day, fourth month, AZ
year, Mali One of these boxes wa
laid on the floor in front OF each per
son. to be carried away by him. Dur
e ing the early part of the servlc
: those who felt disposed smoked Tn
cigarets provided in the trays, an
partook of the tea, which was ais
= served"
! The funeral described by Mr.. Cha
! pin was held in Yokohama.