STRANGE CHINESE SUPERSTITIONS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VII, Issue 9, 28 February 1891, Page 14

STRANGE CHINESE SUPERSTITIONS.

Whilst still unable to walk, a Chinese child has placed before him on a table sundry objects, including a sword, a bow, a pen, some pearl powder, rouge, hair pins, and other miscellaneous articles. He is then allowed to crawl (awards them, and by the kind of object grasped is judged the character of his future career. Should he show predilection for the sword or the bow, he will become a gieat warrior. If for the pen, his fame as a scholar will some day be in every mouth. But should partiality be unfortunately displayed for the louge or the hairpins, he will grow up a wilful, wayward boy, only to develop into a licentious and unprincipled man, destined at length to meet with a disgraceful end at the hands of the executioner. How often has China been deprived of the services of a great statesman or author, put to an early death in order to avert the dread consequences of an ill-omened existence ! With tegard to tire, dead, as might be expected, superstitious observances are particularly conspicuous. It is not easy, however, to describe the national faith in this respect, as the ideas and ceremonies connected with disease and burial vary in different parts of the country. The inhabitants of Fuhkien place a piece of silver in the nrouth of a dying person to enable hint to pay his passage to Hades, and at the same time cover his nose and ears to present the spirit leaving without it. No sooner has he breathed his

last than a hole is made in the roof to facilitate the exit of the spirits, each person being supposed to possess three, one which enters Elysium to receive judgment, another abides with the tablet, and a third takes up its dwelling in the tomb. In some provinces, when a man is on the point of death he is arrayed in his best garments, that he may be able to put in a respectable appearance on reaching the other world. Transmigration is largely believed in, but the details of the changes undergone for good or evil by the spirits before being finally absorbed in Buddha, vary greatly, and depend almost entirely upon the fancy of the worshipper. When the corpse had been laid out upon the floor of the principal room, the priests who have been summoned recite prayers to deliver the soul from purgatory and hell, occasionally calling on all present to weep and lament. Papers with figures on them, and paper money are then burned, and the soul, having by the help of the priests crossed the bridge leading out of hell, is furnished with a letter of recommendation from them to be admitted into the western heavens. Though interment of the corpse is obviously the next step to be taken, much doubt often prevails as to when that ceremony should be performed, and where the grave should be dug. To settle these matters is not so easy as might at first appear, for a mistake would perchance involve the disastrous consequences of offending the spirit of the departed grandfather, or unpleasant visitations from the occupant of a grave situated in an uncomfortable locality.— Time.