COREAN CUSTOMS.

Western Star, Issue 1339, 23 March 1889, Page 2 (Supplement)

COREAN CUSTOMS.

One of the annual festivals in Corea is most observed by the women, writes a San Francisco Chronicle correspondent. Little straw effigies are made to resemble the human form, a cash is fastened on for either eye, and these are thrown into the streets, and the person who carries them away takes to himself the disease or trouble that has been afflicting the body of the former owner. But men who are thirsty for a drink of wine do not hesitate to steal the cash from the eyes of these effigies. Usually a jaunt up the south mountain will be rewarded by a display of native archery. Several long ways have been made on level stretches of the mountain side. These ways are constructed with black and protecting sides. The target is fixed at the back against the bank, and little squads of men with strong horn bows assemble to practise for the coming examination. The people are divided into two great classes, the gentry and the common people. From the former the officials are'taken on merit, while real worth may secure an entrance into gentle life for a commoner. These examinations are of two kinds; one in poetry admits to civil service, the other in archery to military rank. For centuries the Coreans have used guns and gunpowder, but in the tests of military competence they use the old bow and arrows, and \ do some very good work at 200 yards. It is very desirable to be a gentleman, and enterprising members of the common classes are continually striving for this end. The examination itself is a most picturesque sight. It, is held in a large enclosure at the rear of the palace grounds proper. Here on a large raised stone platform the King sits under a canopy with his officials. The contestants display their power upon the targets prepared, or they squat upon the ground by the thousand and write away industriously. Each writer is provided with an umbrella, stuck into the ground at a convenient angle for sheltering him from the sun or rain, while by his side lies his bundle, containing food and writing materials, and his staff, for perchance he has walked many miles to be present on this occasion. This day is a general holiday at the capital, and nearly every house contains one or more of these contestants from the coui/try, with their peculiar brimless hats, and little packs upon their backs. In about three days the decision is announced, and then the streets are made lively with the gay procession of the victorious ones as they parade the public ways, dressed in bright colours, wearing the Court robe if sufficiently high rank has been obtained, and riding gaily caparisoned horses or donkeys, while a band of music precedes, followed by a gailydressed dancer bearing the diploma, which he flourishes in the air as he postures in the presence of the crowd.