South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-11-26
PAY TRIBUTE TO
OLD PHILOSOPHER
Chinese Hold Solemn Rite on
2500th Anniversary Of
Confuciu..

HASG5IAI. Nov es-T.s recent
9g-h aunivcgsarr Of Conflcius
ra celebrated with solemn rites
tsrougLc1t China. lu tie Temples o.
''ufucius under the leadership CT
ine leltere1 class az Chinese.
inst before dawn. lu the stiffness
~ tho early rloru.ug. the pictures
cue ceremony houor.ne C0ufuciUs
began ln the temples of every little
village and city. for tho Auumna.
sacrifice 90 the greatest OF all Chin
csc S3gcs ls universally observed.
In Soochow. one az the famed
literary cities OF old China. the an
cieut and impressive ceremony was
leld ln tho ornate temple 90 Con
flclUs shortly before Q O'Clock 81 the
morning.
Americans Attend.
a small party or Americans from
Shanghai made their way toward
tho temple about o'clock. As we
~eared the temple grounds we heard
y jlngfng OF the bells on tho don
DSys carrying worshippers 10 the
temple. tho "Hai-hwo, Haihwo," OF
tho chair coolies and the shouts OF
the ''ma-foos'' Carriage drivers.)
The spacious temple was built IN
the middle OF a great FIR grove.
Crowds OF Chinese were uoncha-
lantly pushing their way through
tho long cloistcrs OF the temple.
which contained tho tables Of the
seventy-two disciples Of Confucius.
on TO a more lofty hall devoted to
the sage and his more famous fol
lowers and beyond 90 q spacious
room containing tablets 20 tho an
cestors Of Confuclus.
In each room oxen. killed the
previous day. after they had been
made to bow their heads before the
tablet OF Confuclus then skinned
and anOiuted with herbs were offer
cd IN sacrifice on festOOned ances-
trail tables. Red candles nickered in
tho mystic light. while incense curl
ed its way up to the carved raftcrs.
Smaller tables, with offerings OF
sheep. pigs fruit and wine, were ar
ranged along the sides OF tho room.
As we were exclaimipg over the
strangeness OF 50 all o gong was
struck. announcing the opening of
the ceremonies.
slowly and with great dignity the
procession marched toward the tenn
pie. while the gonss broke tho still
ness.
Follow old Customs.
Suddeu1- huge bonfire. built ON
tripods. bIozcd forth. and the broad
elevated marble portico was illumi-
Apted.
The master Of ceremonies. the
Chief ohiciaIs of the city ans the.
priests or the temple Leu the process
SON. Theg were followed by school,
Hoy-. trained especially iu tho am
trnr ceremonial dances
Al.houzl China has become a
Republic aud IS takluS ON many OF
The Gus 0ms OF tine Occident. the
Impressive ceremony. with its ritual
of louE-dead Emperors, was practi-
callv tine same ass accorded the Sage
many months aso. when q decree
was issued that Confuc.us was to be
worshipped each spring and aut-
umu.
After the prelude Che last drum
-hrob died away. The master or
ceremonies struck the tom tom the
standard bearers ftl4-tU lllCll ara
s-on-embroldered flags. and the
Hymn 20 ConfuciUs began. This
Hymn IS ohanted only twice q year.
Before each OF tho six verses
large bronze bell was struck
sacred OK Oncred.
The master OF ceremonies then
offered the sacred OK. In between the
verses the dancers performed
strange. impressive dances. Accom-
panied by the flutes. pipes. stone
bells and drums. the young boys. IN
-heir gorgeous robes, swayed I'm
so1eman. impressive ceremonial
dances. Their dances. che chants. the
-e7nrie rHual music and the atti-
trde o. the crowds OF people eZ-
pressed q profound reverence for
.le greatest OF Ch.ua's scholars.
When tho last ve~se OF the hymn
was being sung and the master OF
ceremonies was completing Ets kow-
COWS. tho orchestra ready 90 begin
IN the guiding march FOR the fare
we'll professional We LEFT the tenn
Me. The cercnl outes. which began 90
we've completed &c o'clock.