NO. 2 FOLK RELIGION IN SOUTHWEST CHINA — GRAHAM 1 57 



fication. While they are very sincere, they are almost always to obtain 

 practical benefits — good crops, rain, happiness, sons, healing, protec- 

 tion, and other benefits that have to do with a satisfying life. Of 

 course there are prayers and ceremonies to release the souls of de- 

 ceased relatives from hell, or to insure a happy rebirth. 



Prayers to the gods are sometimes written or printed on paper, 

 sealed in an envelope, and burned. It is believed that burning trans- 

 fers the prayer to the god, who receives and reads it. The following 

 is my translation of such a letter burned to the kitchen god on the 

 23d day of the I2th moon, when the kitchen god ascends to heaven 

 to make his report about the family to the Jade Emperor (Graham, 

 1935, P- 50) : 



I, , representing the whole family, reverently and sincerely come 



and beseech you to hear us. You have great merit in saving the world and 

 nourishing all people. You protect us with virtue and mercy. You control 

 and judge the good and the evil deeds of our family. In our cooking and in our 

 eating and drinking we depend on your mercy. Through all the year you care 

 for us. But we are uncleanly in our habits, think unclean thoughts, and trouble 

 you. We write you this letter hoping that you will forgive our sins, and not 

 report them to the Pearly Emperor, thus causing the whole family to be grateful 

 to you. 



(Date.) 



Worship is honoring or paying respects to the gods. It includes 

 the burning of candles and incense, the burning of spirit money, gen- 

 erally prayers and vows, and bows and prostrations with folded hands. 

 When it is more elaborate, it includes music and chanting or singing 

 the sacred books. Worship in the larger sense is very inclusive, in- 

 volving pilgrimages to temples and shrines and to sacred mountains. 



There have been many speculations as to the beginnings of wor- 

 ship and its root motives. Some have emphasized the fact that primi- 

 tive man naturally feels insecure because of the dangers, often mis- 

 understood, that he faces. Fire, flood, earthquake, lightning, diseases, 

 enemies, and other things threaten his life and happiness. Through 

 magic, religion, and worship he believes that he gets the help of 

 superhuman powers and of the gods, which gives him a much needed 

 sense of security. 



A Chinese friend of little education volunteered the following 

 explanation of the beginning of worship and its development into 

 the worship of the gods. He believed that in ancient times men saw 

 fire, water (often in floods), lightning, and other wonders in nature, 

 and, thinking of these as living and having supernatural power, 

 feared and worshiped them as superhuman beings. Later he thought 



