Milford chronicle., 1928-12-07
A FRIEND FROM CHINA
WRITES TO CHRONICLE
Shanghai, China, Nov. 8, 1928.

Shanghai, China, Nov. 8, 1928.
Dear Editor:
Here comes another letter from
the bottom side of the world" 1t
rcay be of interest to the readers
OF your most excellent paper.
We have recently had one of Chi
mas chief holidays. For more than
week / noticed signs OF its com
ing. Great stacks of 'moon-cakes' -
in brightly colored packets were
shown in many stores. Beautiful
lanterns were seen along the
streets. Everything was in such
gay style it made one think of a
coming Christmas. 1t was the Chi
nese Moon-feast and MidAutumn
Festival. in their feasting it re-
called our Thanksgiving Day.
The Chinese 18th of the Sth
month is called "Tsoong Tsiu'-
Middle Autumn. On that day they
have theatricals before all the gods
in the temple and burn the "Shaung
Teo"-incense bushel. This bushel-
like measure is made of incense
sticks. The largest bushels
sometimes measure as much as 20
feet in diameter. In the middle of
the bushels" is a long, large stick
OF incense made up of thousands OF
thin incense sticks the size of ver-
micelli. On the afternoon and night
of this day each family also burns
an incense bushel at home. These
are smaller than the ones burned
III the temple. On this day they
who can so afford eat moOn-cakes
and all kinds of nice things. The
incense bushel is decorated with
flags and many-colOred dragon
gates something as children at home
put candles on their birthday
cakes; but the children in China
take the flags and dragon-gate dec
Crations from the bushel before it
is burnt, and have great delight i'll
playing with these, marching up
and down the streets.
/ asked the Chinese why they
burn the incense bushel and eat
the moon-cake, and worship the
moon with candles, incense and
food on this day. They answered !
that there are many reasons for 1t |
and many stories are told about it. |
One of the reasons is because there |
is a lady-god in the moon. Her
name is Zaung-noO. She is said TO |
be exceedingly beautiful. From the |
beginning of time to the end there
never was nor will be one as beau
tiful as she. She was once upon a
time woman of this world; but
became displeased with her husband
and all the world and fed to the
moon. On this 18th the real story
Of why she fed is acted out in the
long theatrical plays attended by
.hlongs of people. In ancient times
IN the 18th of the Sth month when
hey burned the incense bushel The
sweet fragrance would go high up
o the moon goddess. She took
pleasure in it and manifested her
,pproval by coming near earth rid
ng on a cloud and people could see
Ter beautiful face. But now mems
learts have become wicked, and the
world is full of sin, so the incense
S not so pure as formerly and it
.oes not rise so high as to reach
he goddess in her palace and so,
lot enjoying it's fragrance, she
ONES no more on the clouds; but
eoDle still offer incense and hope .
he will appear sometime.
They say that in the moon this
oddess has a most beautiful cas-
e. 1t is called the "Yuih-Koong"
Moon Palace. Only one human
as ever seen its glories. Once,
uring the Dong Dynasty, Chinese
ing, called Ming Wong, by the
.agic of holy monk, was enabled
, mount up from the earth to the
Don Castle to hear the music and
ee its beauty. He was allowed to ,
and outside for only a very few
inutes. By that time the goddess
new that the king of man was
lere. She was very angry at the
onk for leading the king to her
)ly land. Soon from the Castle
me most unpleasant sounds. The
onk understood that it was the
leen's giving vent to her wrath
i'd he quickly led the king back
earth.
You can thus see how full of
perstition the Chinese are and
Nv much they need the Gospel
ID Jesus Christ that they may
e the real King in His beauty and
-e forever in His glorious palace
high. It's a joy to teach Chinese
ildren of Jesus and His salvation
lille young.
A Merry Christmas and Blessed
w Year to you and loved ones.
Yours in Christ's glad service,
REV. H. G. c. HALLOCK.
eture-The goddess arrives at the
ION.