NO. 2 FOLK RELIGION IN SOUTHWEST CHINA — GRAHAM I49 



(Hodous, 1929, p. 92; Bredon and Mitrophanow, 1927, p. 216; 

 Couling, 1917, p. 176). The two words mean bright and clear. One 

 tradition is that in its earliest stages, it was observed with fertility 

 dances by young men and young women, but that later this was dis- 

 carded (Bredon and Mitrophanow, 1927, p. 218). Hodous calls atten- 

 tion to the fact that in the struggle between the yang, bright, and the 

 yin, dark, the yang now becomes victorious and dominant. This vic- 

 tory is shared not only by the living, but also by the dead (Hodous, 

 1929, p. 92). 



On this day people of all ages walk to the graves of their ancestors. 

 There they repair the graves, light incense and candles and burn 

 spirit money, and offer food and wine to the spirits of the dead. Some 

 of the wine is poured out on the ground. The living kowtow very 

 reverently before the tombs, then they eat a cold meal and drink wine. 

 The main objects of this festival are to commemorate, honor, and 

 give needed offerings to the dead, but it also gives refreshment to 

 the living through the exercise of walking and the breathing of the 

 fresh spring air. 



In I-pin, where I was a missionary pastor for nearly 20 years, the 

 church owned a graveyard in which nearly all the members buried 

 their dead. On the afternoon of Easter Sunday the members and 

 their friends went to the graveyard, decorated all the graves with 

 flowers, and then held a Christian religious service of commemora- 

 tion. After this a cold meal was eaten. Some of my Chinese friends 

 told me that this service did a great deal to bind the church members 

 together and to the church. 



On the fifth day of the fifth moon is the festival called tuan yang, 

 or the Dragon Boat Festival. On this day salted eggs and good food 

 are eaten, and a special wine called hsiung-huang-chiu is used. Some 

 of the wine is drunk, and some poured out on the floor. This is be- 

 lieved to prevent people from having boils and some other diseases, 

 and to keep away snakes and caterpillars. A vegetable called ta-shuan 

 is mixed with the wine. Children rub tea on their faces and foreheads 

 to keep away boils. Two kinds of grass called ch'ung-p'u and ch'en-ai 

 are hung above the doors to keep away the demons. Dogs and foxes 

 made of ch'en-ai are sometimes hung above the front doors and left 

 there all year to help keep away demons. 



In the afternoon all shops are closed, and many thousands of 

 people go to a river or stream where dragon-boat races are held. The 

 boats race after ducks that are released by the spectators, and after 

 the races the crew of each boat feasts on the ducks they have caught. 



