A CHINESE FUNERAL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 16037, 23 January 1918, Page 7

A CHINESE FUNERAL.

GORGEOUS CEREMONIAL. The, most remarkable funeral ever witnessed in Shanghai was that of the late Shong Ivung-Pao. a Chinese magnate of immense wealth and of abounding charity* It took place on November 18, in the presence of enormouscrowds. The procession, which was divided into 17 sections, eaeli header! by a hand, took three hours to pass a given spot, and, for the time being, the business of the city was held up. There were no serious accidents, but according to the report in the North China - Daily News, numbers of Chinese children were crying about the settlement in the evening trying to find their parents. In the course of its report this journal says that the procession was headed,, by a richly costumed individual carrying a tablet on which was inscribed the name of the deceased and portions of bis record. He was followed by several horsemen in gorgeous dress. Next came paper ghosts, arrayecFiu brilliant embroidered coats, and standing 20fl. high, the function of these being to frighten away any malignant spirits that might try to disturb the deceased, and a.M) to show the way to the Buddhist's heaven. Shortly loliowcd groups of person.-, garbed in fantastic gowns, carrying the ancestral tablets, on which' appeared in ancient character the deeds, offices, and titles of tile dead man granted him by the last dynasty. Following tins came tiugtse, or lloqts, handsomely decorated, and hearing symbols of the Buddhistic faith. Numbers, of priests iu long, red and green robes,, with their shaven beads shilling,.walked closely behind. Next 13 yellow tingtse, carried, on the shoulders of red-eoatod men, marched by. Hundreds of men, dressed in the ancient costume of the old dynasties, bore a strong contrast to the eight behind them, sons of intimate friends of-., the deceased. They were on horseback, and wore high silk hats, frocks, coats, and white breeches tucked in riding boots. Truly the passing of the, old and tho entering of the now.

' After a short break in the procession numbers of men bearing silk banners passed by. Thirty-nine priests followed, and behind them were men carrying delicately embroidered umbrellas of. a pink, green, yellow, and violet colour.' Then came hundreds of men and boys in picturesque flower hats, each carrying or pulling floral dogs, doer, elephants, lions, mourning birds, figures of men, and innumerable small animals, lanterns, chairs- others carrying umbrellas of ‘a brilliant, lilac, green, and blue colour, and then those bearing the floral donations. The famous sedan chair, which the owner when alive was allowed to use in the Forbidden City, passed, with men in unique costumes find bearing silk umbrellas flanking it on either side. The eight certificates of high rank, tho largo characters from the penmanship of the lato ’Emperor, and tjjo first order of tho Rising Sun granted the deceased by the Emperor of Japan were next carried by in decorated motor-ears. Then followed plaques on the shoulders of mat containing roast deor, cow, and pig, which will be used as food by tho deceased while on route to tlie hereafter. One feature of tho parade, a sight which is seldom seen, was a sort of trellis of flowers carried, on a man’s shoulders. On top of this sat a beautiful boy and girl in brilliant costumes. The family, hidden from sight, walked tinder a huge white enclosure, and, according to the custom, dressed in sackcloth. Tho catafalque, tho most impressive part of the procession, followed. It was carried on the shoulders of 64 specially trained Manchus. who came clown from Peking. They were dressed in green and white, with round, pink embroidered characters on their coats. Tho polo which ran through the catafalque had on it tho head and tail of a dragon, tho sign of Imperial favour. . The remains were buried at Soochow, in tho Lin Tuan, the famous garden belonging to the deceased man’s family. Tho cost of the funeral was 300,000 dollars (£30,000).