Social Life of the Chinese: with some account of their religious, governmental, educational and business customs and opinions ... With ... illustrations

Front matter

SCENERY OK THE MIN, WEST OF THE SOUTHERN SUBURBS OF FU1IOUAU. SOCIAL LIFE OF THE CHINESE: WITH SOME ACCOUNT OF THEIR RELIGIOUS, GOVERNMENTAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND BUSINESS CUSTOMS AND OPINIONS. WITH SPECIAL BUT NOT EXCLUSIVE REFERENCE TO FUHCHAU. By REV. JUSTUS DOOLITTLE, FOUBTEEN YEAEC MEMEEB OF TUE FCHOHAU MISSION OF THE ASIEBIOAN BOABD. OT(tf) ober ©ne ffiutrtirrti anU jflftj- Sllustratfons. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. I. NEW YORK: HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS, FRANKLIN SQUARE. 1867. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, by HARPER & BROTHERS, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Southern District of New York. I TO THE OFFICERS AND PATRONS 0> PROTESTANT MISSIONARY SOCIETIES ENGAGED IN THE EVANGELIZATION OF THE CHINESE, AND TO THE PERSONAL FRIENDS OF PROTESTANT MISSIONARIES LABORING IN CHINA, GLbrse bolnmcs are Dtbicateis bg THE AUTHOR. I

Preface

. The reader is invited to tbe perusal of an original work on tbe inner life of tbe most ancient and populous, but least understood and appreciated of nations. In it an attempt is made to describe many of tbeir singular customs and opin ions relating to almost all subjects of interest, and also to give tbeir own explanation of tbe origin or tbe rationale of some of tbem. If an undue coloring or prominence bas been given to any custom, or a false statement has been made in regard to any subject, no one will regret it more sincerely than the author. Nearly two thirds of the contents of these volumes appeared in 1861-4 in the China Mail, a newspaper published at Hong Kong, in anonymous letters, headed "Jottings about the Chinese." On the writer's temporarily returning to his native land last year, some of the oldest and most intelligent residents in China, both American and English, strongly recommended the republication of the letters they had seen in a permanent form, in order to supply a manifest want in the books already accessible relating to the Chi nese, viz., DETAILED AND RELIABLE INFORMATION CON CERNING THEIR SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS PRACTICES AND sentiments.

The published and the unpublished "Jot tings," accordingly, have been rearranged, abridged, and thrown into the form of chapters. Only three or four chapters— those at the commencement" and the close — have been written m this country. If circumstances had favor ed, a more extensive pruning of words, phrases, and senten ces could have been made to advantage. As the work appears, it makes no pretensions to a high literary style, but is a simple and unpolished account of some of the most sin gular, interesting, and important phases of Chinese life and manners. A

PREFACE.

. II Though specially relating to Fuhchau and vicinity, the description of many of the social and superstitious customs is generally applicable to other parts of the empire. Such customs in the different provinces sometimes vary as great ly as do the productions of the soil in different latitudes, or the customs prevalent in different countries in Europe; and a book which is equally true in regard to life and man ners in all parts of the empire must deal only in vague gen eralities, and relate to only a few subjects. One of the grave faults of most writers on China is, that what they af firm in general terms of the Chinese is true only of the peo ple living in the part of the country where they made their observations, not of the Chinese as a nation. The illustrations are derived chiefly from photographic views, and from pen and ink sketches drawn by Chinese artists.

The spelling of Chinese terms is principally according to the system adopted at Fuhchau for writing the local dialect. The tonal marks are not always inserted ; the Man darin sound is given in a few instances. These volumes, it is believed, will reveal to the careful reader many phases of Chinese life and manners which he will admire and commend. But if he should tire with the senseless and useless opinions cherished, and the strange and superstitious customs practiced among all classes of so ciety, let him reflect that for over twenty centuries China has been in bondage to the writings of Confucius and Men cius, and, for nearly the sanie period, to the religions of Tauism and Buddhism. This fact satisfactorily accounts for many of the absurd, superstitious, and stereotyped opinions and customs prevalent in that empire.

Its people need, above all other things, the peculiar influences which the Bible — the great enlightener and enfranchiser — invariably exerts over those who make it their lamp aud their law. J. D. Rutland (Middle Road), N. Y., July 20, 1865. CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME.

Introduction

. Location of Fuhchau. — Size and Population. — Rank. — Residence of high Officials. — Literary Centre. — Foreign Trade, when commenced. — Statistics of Tea Trade. — Imports. — Exports to Chinese Ports. — Manchu Tartars, their Character. — Faithful to the Peking Government. — Pagoda Anchorage. — Scenery of the Min. — Kushan, or Drum Mountain. — Approach to Fuhchau. — Middle Island. — Bridge of 10,000 Ages.— Bridge of the Cloudy Hills. — Scenery and Prospects. — Banian City. — Streets narrow. — Construction of Shops. — Gopds, how transported. — Hills are Graveyards. — Horse-shoe, or Omega Graves. — How Traveling isperformed. — Mission of American Board. — Mission of Methodist Episcopal Church. — Mission of English Church. — Distribution of Books and portions of Scripture at literary Examinations. — Swedish Mission. — Native Mohammedans. — Roman Catholic Church and Mission. — European Priests formerlv persecuted. — Difference between Romish and Protestant Missionary Work. — Romanist Tracts not circulated in Public. — Religion of Heaven's Lord different from the American Religion. — Similarities between Romanism and Buddhism. — Various Sentiments Page 17

Chapter I. Agricultural And Domestic Matters

Characteristics of the People. — Houses. — No Glass Windows. — Cold and Heat. — Soil fertile. — Principal Crops. — Sorghum not Chinese Sugar-cane. — Fruits and Vegetables. — Principal Articles of Food. — Chinese at their Meals. — No promiscuous Mingling of the Sexes on festive Occasions. — Tea the common Beverage. — How prepared. — Trip to a Tea Plantation. -Description of Tea Shrub. — Transplanted. — Congo and Oolong made from the same Shrub. — Plucking the Leaves. — Manner of preparing Congo and Oolong. — Practical Inference. — Fields how cultivated. — Threshing Grain. — Manner of Hulling Rice. — Flouring Mills. — No Fences. — Manner of Irrigation. — Artificial Ponds for raising Fish. — Hatching Duck Eggs by artificial Heat. — Fishing with Cormorants. — Fuel and Timber. — Vegetable Oils and Tallow. — Temples and Places worth Visiting. — Charcoal Birds. — Native Poor-house. — Few labor-saving Machines used. — Manual Labor. — Wages of common Laborers. — Employment of Women. — Block Stereotyping and Printing. — A few Words about the Chinese Language CONTENTS. IV

Chapter II. Betrothal And Marriage

Manner of Betrothal : Employment of Gobetweens, or Match-makers. — The eight Characters. — Fortune-teller consulted. — Description of betrothal Cards. — Betrothal consummated by exchanging these Cards. — Exchange of Presents. — Story relating to the Use of red Silk Threads. — Matches made in Heavens — Customs observed between Betrothal and the Day of Marriage : Selection of lucky Days. — Wedding Cakes. — Mutual sending of Presents. — Bride's Outfit or Dowry. — " Sifting four Eyes." — Expelling the Filth. — Placing the bridal Bedstead in Position. — Trying on her wedding Garments.— Sending the bridal Sedan for the Bride. — Ceremonies observed on the Day of Marriage : The " new Woman" at Breakfast. — The Bride in her Sedan. — The four Cakes and Bed-quilt. — Bridal Procession. — " Receiving the Bride." — Ceremonies on Arrival at her Husband's Home. — Bride and Bridegroom sit side by side. — Worshiping Heaven and Earth. — Worshiping ancestral Tablets. — Drinking Wine together. — Wedding Dinner. — Guests present Money. — Seeing the Bride in the Evening. — Candles in the bridal Chamber at Night Page 65 CHAPTER IU.

BETROTHAL AND MARRIAGE — Continued. Customs observed subsequent to the Wedding-day: "Coming ont of the Room." — Worship of the God of the Kitchen.- — On the third Day they visit the Bride's Parents. — Use of a Charm to ward off Evil Spirits from the Bride. — Worship of her Family's ancestral Tablets. — Presents from her Mother at the End of a Month. — Presents between the Groom and his Purents-in-law. — Frequent Use of Incense and Candles. — Miscellaneous Practices and Sentiments relating to Betrothal and Marriage: A *' little Bride." — Betrothal of unborn Children. — Marriages of People of the name Surname interdicted. — Bridegroom living in his Father-in-law's Family. — "Marrying the Wearer of a white Skirt." — Marrying within a hundred Days after the Death of a Parent. — "Asking for her Shoes." — "Broken Thread." — Bridal Procession in White. — Urging on the Marriage. — Kidnapping the Bride. — Breaking up the Betrothment. — Seven Reasons for Divorcing a Wife. — Three Reasons why a Wife may not be Divorced. — Marrying the Wife of a living Man. — Inferior Wives. —Chinese Sutteeism by Hanging. — Honorary Portals in Memory of virtuous and filial Widows .*. 92

Chapter IV. Married Life And Children

Superstitious Customs observed by Married Women, or relating to them : Adopting a Child versus Grafting. — Examining the Flower-tree. — Changing the Flower-vase. — Asking "Mother" for the loan of a Shoe. — Begging a Flower from "Mother." — Ceremony of the middle Period. — Proi certain two female Demons. — Methods of ascertaining the Sex of unborn CONTENTS. V Children. — Difficult Labor. — Use of Puppets. — Turning around the "Strait Charm." — Ceremony in case an apparently lifeless Child is born. — Singular or Superstitious Customs relating to Cldldren the first year of their lives: Washing the Child before image of "Mother." — Binding its Wrists. — Warding off unfavorable Influences into the Trowsers. — Thanks giving to "Mother." — Shaving the Child's head when one Month old. — Child sits on a Chair when four Months old.— Ceremony of "Grasping Things" when one Year old. — Singular or Superstitious Customs relating to Children after they are one Year old: "Burning Papei to 'Mother.'" — Cutting the Cords ofthe Feet. — "Passing through the Door." — Letting the "Peach" grow. — Burning mock-Money monthly. — Worshiping "Moth er" on her Birthday. — Praising the Measure in the eighth* Month. — Ori gin ofthe Custom. — Worship of Confucius annually by Teacher and Pu pils. — Worship of Confucius " on entering School." — " Going out of Child hood." — Becoming of Age. — Prosecution of unfilial Children before Mag istrates. — Punishment of a Parricide Page 113

Chapter V. Superstitious Treatment Of Disease

Miscellaneous Superstitions to cure the Sick: Death owing to the "Reckoning of Heaven.'* — Propitiating the " Destroying God." — Expelling deadly Influences. — Inviting the Mandate of the "Arrow." — Attributing the Disease to some angry God. — Ascribing the Sickness to the Enmity of a deceased Person. — Inviting the God of Medicine to visit the Sick. — Getting ten Men to become Security. — Endeavoring to bring back the Spirit ofthe Sick. — Following the Directions of a Book of Charms. — Burning a representative paper Image of the Sick. — Ascending a Ladder of Knives. — They implore the Aid of certain Divinities in curing Small-pox and Measles : Worship of the Goddess of Small-pox. — Steaming Balls of Yeast. — Beating a Drum or Gong when it Thunders. — Roasting black Beans. — Presents indicating the AVish that the Scabs ofthe Small-pox may fall off. — Thank-offering to the Goddess of Small-pox. — Worship of the Goddess of Measles. — They employ novel Methods for curitig and preventing Cholera and other epidmic Diseases : Epidemics under control of the Five Rulers. — Idol Processions. — Tall white Devil and short black Devil. — Paper Boats carried in Procession, and burnt at Water's Edge. — An unusual kiud of Idol Procession to expel unhealthy Influences. — They engage in Idol Processions as a Token of Gratitude for the Recovery of their Parent s from Sickness, or to promote their Longevity: Making Vows before popular Idols. — Kneeling down in the Streets before the Idol in Procession. — Wearing Cangues and Fetters. — Dressing in red Coats. — Carrying a Stick of lighted Incense.— Ceremony before the Great King 142

Chapter VI. Death, Mourning, And Bukial

Singular or Superstitious Customs relating to Mourning and the unburied Dead .- Bidding Farewell at Death. — Lighting Candles and Incense. — Turning VI CONTENTS. around the "Bridge-Ladder."-— Offering Food and Wine to the Dead.^ Cash used before the.

Place for the Spirit ofthe Dead.— The Burning of a miniature Paper Sedan for the Use ofthe Dead. — Putting "longevity" Clothes on the Corpse. — Placing the Corpse in the Coffin. — Arranging a Table before the Place ofthe Spirit. — The "longevity" Picture. — Using Cash to inquire of the Dead. — The Servant Devil. — Performing the Cer emony for the Repose ofthe Spirit of the Dead. — Sleeping by the Coffin. — Bringing Water in the Morning, and AATaiting on the Dead at Meal time, and bidding "Good-night!" — The Relatives make Presents for Use in Sacrificing to the Dead. — Worshiping the "longevity" Picture. — In forming the Ten Kings of Hell of the Death of the Individual. — Observ ing a Ceremony iu Honor of the Seven Kings. — Putting on Mourning on the Seventh Day. — Celebrating every Seventh Day for Seven Times. — Ceasing to offer Rice at Meal-time. — The Present received by the mar ried Daughter to dry up her Tears. — Celebrating the Sixtieth Day. — Ob serving the Fourteenth and Thirtieth of every Month. — The Celebration at the End of Three Years, and Removing the Table from before the Place of the Spirit. — Observing the Anniversary of the Birth and the Death of the Dead. — Meritorious Ceremonies performed for the Benefit of the Dead: Mounting the Platform. — Letting go the Water Lanterns. — Breaking into Hell. — Spirits passing over the Bridge. — Introductory Serv ice. — Issuing the Notirication. — The bright Lantern of Seventeen Buddhas. — Burning a Paper Sedan, an image of a Crane, and Trunks of mock- Money and mock-Clothing. — Sending Money to pay the Debt of the De ceased, or for the Use of the Animal to which he belongs. — Public Notice of Meritorious Ceremonies. — The Water Ceremony. — Service of using the Names of 1000 Buddhas. — Bloody-Pond Ceremony. — Ceremony to propi tiate the Ten Kings of Hell Page 168

Chapter VII. Death, Mourning, And Burial

— Continued. Singular or Superstitious Customs relating to Burial. Blood Burial. — The Coffin sometimes deposited temporarily in a Dead-house. — Ceremonies of Depositing it there. — Order of Funeral Processions. — "Buying the Road." — "Gods Opening the Road." — "Arranging a Sacrifice'' in Honor ofthe Dead in the Street or at the House. — Lowering the Coffin into the Grave. — Eating certain Cakes ns an Omen of Good. — Offerings to the Gods of the Hills, and to the Spirits of Beggars and Lepers in Hell. — Conclusion of the Ceremonies at the Grave. — Tablet of tlie Dead earned Home. — The "Dotting" of tho Tablet. — Miscellaneous Practices and Opin ions relating to the Dead: Badges of Mourning worn by Widows and AVid owers. — White "Cloths to cry with."— Presents to counteract unlucky Influences. — Grave-clotlies sometimes only basted or pasted together. — Begetting Children during the Period of Mourning unlawful. — Solicitude relating to Coffins. — Incidents. — Purchase of Coffins during Lifetime. Preparing for Death. — The golden Lad aud the gemmeous Lass. Use of a white Cock on the Coffin igg CONTENTS. VII

Chapter VIII. Ancestral Tablets And Ancestral Halls

The ancestral Tablet used in private Houses .- Two Accounts of the Origin of the ancestral Tablet. — Size and Appearance of Lhe Tablet erected by the eldest Son. — Daughters not permitted to erect a Tablet. — Description of general Tablet erected by any Son but the Eldest. — Worshiped for three or five Generations. — Fixed Times for worshiping the Tablet. — Worship of Ancestors in ancestral Halls : General and branch Halls. — Permanent Fund for Expenses of Worship. — Six specified Times for annual Worship in them. — Visit to an ancestral Hall: Description ofthe Hall visited. — Cost of Erection. — Manner of Worship on the Day ofthe autumnal Sacrifice Page 217

Chapter IX. Priests Of The Three Religions

Priests of Buddhism .* Buddhism not native in China — Buddhist Priests live in Monasteries or Temples. — Governed by Abbots. — Description of Buddhist Costume. — Monkish.— Ignore the common Duties and Relations of Life. — Brief Description of Worship at the Monastery on Drum Mountain. — Animals kept alive there as a Work of Merit. — Do not eat animal Food. — How the Sect is kept up. — Singular Method of Seclusion. — Cremation of the Corpses of Priests. — Worship of the Three Precious Ones. — Priests of Tauism, or tlie Sect of Rationalism : Tauism at Fuhclmu less popular than Buddhism. — The Class called Tb-ing much like the Buddhist Priests. — The Class To-tai much unlike ihe Buddhist Priests. — Tauist Priests eat Meat as well as Vegetables. — To-tai much employed in performing meritorious Ceremonies. — Tauist Priests worship the Three Pure Ones. — Priests of Confucianism, or the Sect ofthe Learned: Professors of Ceremony or Politeness. — Two Classes.— One employed by Mandarins. — The other employed by the common People. — Brief Notice ofthe Doctrines or Principles of Confucianism. — No Nuns at Fuhchau 236

Chapter X. Popular Gods And Goddesses

Siam/ Huong, "The Lord of the Province." — Image carried forth in Procession three times per Year. — Ngiik Huong Siong Td, "The Pearly Emperor Supreme Ruler," principal God of the Tauist Sect. — Tai Sang, " Great or Universal Mountain," much worshiped by Tartars as well as Chinese. — Hieng Tieng Siong Td, Supreme Ruler of the Sombre Heavens. — Huo Sing, God of Fire. — Kuang Ing Huk, Goddess of Mercy. — Ma Chu, Goddess of Sailors. — Line/ Chui Na, commonly called "Mother," Goddess of Midwifery and of Children. — Sang Hnonij, the three Emperors. — Kuang 'Id, Chinese God of War. — Uong Tieng Kung, King, Heavenly Prince. — Ung Chiong Td Kung, the God of Literature. — Nguong Saiti, a God of Play-acting, Wrestling, and Music. — Tu Te Kung and Chai Sing, Gods of CONTENTS. Wealth.— Lu Pang, Patron Deity of those who use the Chisel and the Saw.— Tu Klk Sai, God of Swine.— Tu Chieng Km, a God of Gam blers Page 255

Chapter XI

popular gods and goddesses — Continued. Ngii Hieng Kung, God of Thieves. — Ibh Uong Chu Sit, the God of Medicine. —I Kuang Tai Uong, the God of Surgery.— Udk Uong, King of the Min Country. — Ngu Td, the Five Rulers or Emperors. — What they represent. — Called corrupt Gods. — Titled Marquis by Decree of Hien Fung. — Processions in Public in the fifth and sixth Months very numerous. — Unions or Clubs formed to honor them. — Preparations for Processions in their honor. — Paper Boats. — Happy Bucket. — Sailors' Society. — Paper Boat sent out to Sea. — Tall white Devil and short black Devil. — Buffalo-head- / ed, Horse-faced, Cock-headed, and Duck-mouthed Assistants. — Assistant carrying a Cangue, and Assistant carrying a Chain and a Lock. — The " accomplishing" and the " transforming" Assistants. — Four Assistants representing the four Seasons. — Five Assistants representing the five Directions. — Such Processions imposing. — Images and Pictures of Animals worshiped: The Monkey. — The Fox. — The Tiger (worshiped Tiy Gamblers). — The Tiger (worshiped by Mothers in Behalf of their sick Children). — Heavenly Dog. — A Servant of the God of Musio-represented by a Dog. — The black Monkey and the white Rabbit. —The Dragon. — White Cock 273

Chapter XII. Mandarins And Their Subordinates

Viceroy. — Governor. — Treasurer. — Tudge. — Salt Commissioner. — Provision Commissioner. — Prefect. — Marine Inspector. — District Magistrates. — Literary Chancellor. — Tartar General. — Major General. — Number of Sedan-bearers allowed to Mandarins. — Umbrellas of State. — Buttons or Balls on their Caps. — Cannon fired in Honor. — Respect paid to Officers in the Street. — Retinue of high Officers in Public. — Lictors of the District Magistrate. — Uniform of Attendants not in good Taste. — Appointed Days for calling on the Viceroy and Governor.— Same Days allotted for filing Prosecutions. — Other Days for calling upon subordinate Mandarins. — "Drum Pavilion." — No fixed Charges for official Aid. — Bambooing. — Deception practiced. — Official Documents must be Stamped. — " Horses of a thousand Li." — Complaint must be made before a Murderer is arrested and punished— Village Constable.— "White" Deeds and "Red" Deeds. — Fruit sent as Tribute to Peking annually. — Mandarins engage in saving the Moon or Sun when eclipsed. — Arresting and chaining one's self. — Death by Strangulation.— Meaning of a Present of a Silk Cord from the Emperor.— " Searching a Mandarin's House."— Fining Part of Salary.— Degrading from Rank.— Removing from Office.

Resigning Office on the Death of one's Parent.— Asking Permission to resign CONTENTS. IX Office* on Account of Illness of a Parent. — Asking Permission to resign Office and remain with Parents until they Die.— Resigning a high Office because a Relative or Friend fills a subordinate Office. — Asking for a short Respite from the Cares of Office. — Resignations often unaccepted. — Res ignations on account of old Age proffered. — Asking leave to resign on Ac count of Sickness. — Setting a Thief to catch a Thief. — Civil Thief-catch er. — Military Thief-catcher. — Once a Thief always a Thief.— Universal Custom of giving Presents to a Mandarin on his Arrival at his Mandarin ate. — Mandarins greatly under the Influence of Subordinates. — "Great Sires." — "The Door-parcel."— Door-keepers of Yamuns bribed.—Manda rin's Adviser or Teacher. — Manner of securing his Services. — Six Boards of Office in Yamuns Page 294

Chapter XIII. Mandarins And Their Subordinates

— Continued. Mandarins sometimes popular. — " Umbrellas from ten thousand of the People." — "Garments from ten thousand of tho People." — Sons in Office obtain Titles of Rank for Parents living or dead. — Peacock Feathers bestowed as Rewards. — Transference of Titles of Honor. — Policemen connected with Yamuns detested. — Seizing and torturing Relatives of Culprits. — "White Market." — Mandarins held responsible for large Conflagrations. — Manuscript official daily Gazettes. — No Newspapers for the Million. — People instructed by public Proclamations. — Exhortations to subscribe Money for the Use of Government. — Office obtained by Purchase or by Bribery. — First Class literary Graduates of third Rank enter on Office at once. — Legal Modes of Torture and of Punishment : Inferior and superior Classes. — Wearing the Cangue. — Beating on the Cheeks. — Beating on the Posteriors. — Squeezing the Fingers. — Squeezing the Ankles. — Imprisonment. — Beheading. — "Cutting into small Pieces" before Decapitation. — Strangulation. — Banishment beyond the Frontiers. — Banishment three thousand Li from Home. — Banishment one thousand Li. — Favors shown to Criminals by Grace of the Emperor. — Illegal Mrjdes of Torture and of Punishment : Fastened on a Bedstead. — Frame ofthe flowery Eyebrow. — Monkey holding a. Peach. — Standing in a Cage. — Smoking the Head in a Tube. — A Shirt made of Iron Wire. — Hot-water Snake. — Whip of Hooks.— Kneeling on Chains or Bits of Crockery. — Common but unlawful Practices : Relating to Gambling. — Keeping of Brothels. — Private and unlicensed Pawn-shopB. — Clandestine Manufacture or Sale of Salt. — Counterfeiting Bank-bills. — Counterfeiting Cash and deteriorating Silver 327

Chapter XIV. The State Religion

Enumeration of some of the Objects worshipedhy Mandarins: What is meant by State Religion. — Burning Incense bi-monthly. — Vernal and autumnal Sacrifices. — Confucius, or God of War. — Heaven and Earth. — Processions in honor of Spring and of military Utensils. — Goddess of Sailors and A2 X CONTENTS. "Mother." — Expense defrayed by Government. — Emperor's Birthdays and Death celebrated. — Worship of the Flag. — Saving Eclipses of the Moon or Sun.— Seals of Office.— God of the Gate and the Fox.— This Worship not performed because proper. — No Christian can be a high Offi cer. — Worship of Confucius, illustrating the State Religion: Description of prefectural Temple to Confucius at Fuhchau: — Its Cost. — Size. — Tablet to Confucius. — Autumnal Sacrifice in 1858 witnessed. — Preparatory Re hearsal. — Method of preparing the Articles to be offered. — Incident. — Method of arranging the Articles. — Place assigned by the Prefect. — Ar rival of Mandarins and Musicians. — Manner of Worship and presenting Food to Confucius. — Musicians and Boys perform with their Instruments. — Burning of Silk. — Articles and Animals offered annually in China to Confucius. — Manner of national Mourning for the Death of Hien Fung, also illustrating the State Religion: Arrival of a Dispatch with the Blue Seal from Peking. — Time fixed for official Mourning. — Shaving, Marriages, and Theatricals forbidden for one hundred Days from the Death of the Em peror. — Sign-boards put in Mourning. — Many Marriages celebrated before forbidden. — Official Lamentations witnessed. — Mandarins in Mourning. — Description of Arrangements. — Ceremony of three Kneelings and nine Knockings performed. — The Mandarins pretend to Cry Page 353

Chapter XV. Competitive Literary Examinations

Primary Schools and Government Colleges: Primary Schools numerous. — Manner of Conducting them. — Three Colleges connected with the Government at Fuhchau. — Two under the Charge of the Governor. — Studies pursued in them. — Tuition and Room-rent free. — Two hundred and forty Students selected for each Annually, after Examination of competitive Compositions. — One hundred and eighty receive a Monthly Stipend. — Manner of conducting the Examination of Compositions in the Colleges. — One College under the Charge of the Prefect. — Manner of conducting its Literary Exercises. — Students in the first two Colleges may belong to any Part of the Province. — Students in the other must live in the Prefecture. — Examination of Undergraduates before the District Magistrate and the Prefect: Four Classes may not compete at the Examinations. — Students in Mourning for a Parent may not compete. — Notification given by the Literary Chancellor of the time of his Examinations. — Manner of entering Names of Students as Competitors. — Manner of Competition. — The Numbers of the Candidates placarded in Public. — Examination of Undergraduates before the Literary Chancellor for the First Degree, and of Graduates of the First Degree before him preparatory to Competition for the Second Degree : Privileged Classes. — Manner of Competition. — Rewriting from Memory the Sacred Edict. — Best Competitors, to a certain Number, become Bachelors of Arts.-'-They come under the Jurisdiction of their Literary Chiefs. — Bachelorship may be bought. — Privileges of a class of Scholars next best to the Graduate, — Graduates expected to make Presents to their Securities. — Extra Examination every twelve Years. — Chiefs CONTENTS.

XI of Graduates receive their Appointment from Peking. — Method of conducting Examinations of Graduates preparatory to Competition for Second Degree. — Supplementary Examinations. — Salutes and Music in Honor of the three Companies which come out of the Examinations first »> Page 376

Chapter XVI. Competitive Literary Examinations

— Continued. Examination of Graduates, of the first Degree before the Imperial Commissioners for the second Degree : Description ofthe Provincial Examination Hall. — The Commissioners " Wash their Hearts" at the Temple of Perfect Justice. — Time of entering the Hall. — Its Regulations. — Order of Procedure within. — Three Sessions of two Days each. — Names of successful Competitors placarded on the Drum Tower in the City. — Their original Compositions, after "washing and repairing," are sent to Peking. — If a Student dies in the Hall, the Corpse is taken out over the Wall. — Graduates ofthe second Degree go to Peking to compete for the third Degree. — Rejoicing, Festivities, and Honors in View of successful Competition : Lists of Graduates hawked about for Sale. — Messengers "carry the Information" to their Families. — Graduation celebrated by a Feast. — AVorship of Heaven and Earth and ancestral Tablets. — Graduates of tlie first Degree visit the literary Chancellor and kneel before him. — They Call upon their Relations and Friends. — Graduates ofthe second Degree are invited to a Feast at the Governor's Yamun. — After bowing before him, they Call upon their Relations and Friends. — Description of the Graduates' Procession in making Calls. — If engaged or married, they are invited to a Feast at their Father-in-law's House. — Description of the honorary Tablets erected by Graduates of the second Degree. — Graduates of the third Degree erect other honorary Tablets. — Special Honors conferred by the Emperor on certain Classes of aged Graduates 401 CHAPTER XA7II.

COMPETITIVE LITERARY EXAMINATIONS — Continued. Just and legal Measures used to prevent Deception: Some ofthe Rules to be observed. — Use of a Stamp an Hour or two after Themes are given out. — An Examination of the Number of the Seat occupied by each is made. — Some Competitors invited to sit near the Literary Chancellor. — Unjust and unlawful Expedients v.sed by Examiners : Graduation occasionally is a matter of Favor. — Private Marks or Characters sometimes given certain Competitors by which tlieir Compositions can be recognized. — Examiners often bribed. — Graduation of certain Persons frequently urged for Friendship's Sake. — Assistants ofthe Examiners sometimes strongly recommend the Essays of certain Candidates. — Unjust and unlawful Expedients to succeed used by Competitors ■ Au able Writer is hired to go intp the Arena under the Name of his Employer. — Clerks are brihed to aid in various AVays.