Chinese lady, or a Mandarin, with the gold button and peacock feather mounted
on his hat, and his long tail dangling over his shoulders. I am far from being an
admirer of the Buddhist priesthood; they are generally an imbecile race, and
shamefully ignorant of everything but the simple forms of their religion, but
nevertheless there are many traits in their character not unworthy of imitation.”
The superstitious credulity of the Chinese is demonstrated by the nature of their
various religious ceremonies. In all the southern towns every house has its
temple or altar, both within and without. In the interior the altar generally
occupies the end of the principal hall or shop, as the case may be; is raised a few
feet from the ground, and adorned with an effigy of the household god,
enveloped in gaudy tinsel paper. By the way, of what we call “taste,” the
Chinese do not seem to know even the rudiments; nor do they appear to have
any feeling for harmony of colour or proportion. On the first day of the Chinese
month, and other festivals, candles and incense flare and smoke on the table in
front of it. The altar outside the door is like to a small furnace, and here the same
ceremonies are regularly performed.
The traveller, as he passes in the neighbourhood of small villages, or in even
more sequestered localities, comes upon little joss-houses or temples, all
glaringly decorated in the same style with paintings and tinsel paper, and stuck
round about with bits of candles and sticks of incense. Shops for the sale of idols
of all kinds and sizes, but of unvarying ugliness, at prices varying from a few
pence to many pounds, are found in all the large towns. Some are evidently very
ancient, and have passed through the hands of a long succession of proprietors. It
is a capital custom—is it not?—when you are tired of your god, because he does
not fulfil your wishes, to purchase another and a more powerful at a slight
increase of price! A deity who would really gratify all our petitions would be
worth—so far as this world is concerned—a heavy sum!
Nothing in China is more remarkable than the periodical offerings of a Chinese
family to its gods. The traveller already cited witnessed such a ceremony in a
house at Shanghai. The principal hall was duly set out at an early hour in the
morning; a large table was placed in the centre; and shortly afterwards covered
with small dishes filled with the various articles commonly used as food by the
Chinese. All these were of the very best description which could be procured.
After a certain time had elapsed numerous candles were lighted, and from the