NO. 4 RELIGION IN SZECHUAN PROVINCE GRAHAM 25 



throw pieces of iron into the cofifin for that would cause disaster 

 to come to the descendants of the deceased. This also corresponds 

 to one of the customs of Chuan Miao. 



A priest or geomancer cfcses the coffin. He must also choose a lucky 

 burying site where the fengshui is good. If it is not good, the descen- 

 dants of the dead will have calamities and reverses and surely decline. 

 If it is good, the descendants will prosper and be happy. A lucky day 

 for burial must also be chosen. 



It is believed that the soul goes to hades to be judged, and that 

 there, in contrast to earthly conditions, judgment is just and in accor- 

 dance with one's conduct on earth. In many Buddhist temples are 

 scenes that portray judginent and punishment in hades. Sometimes 

 hades is also represented in Taoist temples. 



Before the funeral. Buddhist or Taoist priests are called to " open 

 the way" for the soul to hades. This involves much ceremony, 

 including the reading of scriptures and the worship of gods. The 

 spirit is generally provided with a road-guide or passport to heaven. 



Friends of the famih' send gifts in the form of tua tsis, or double 

 scrolls, which have written on them sentiments that are complimentary 

 to the deceased. In return they are invited to the funeral and to the 

 funeral feast, and provided with a white cloth of mourning to wear 

 on the head during the ceremonies. 



In the funeral procession the oldest son of the deceased walks in 

 front of the coffin, dressed in sackcloth and supported by friends. 

 A live cock is generally perched on the coffin to keep away demons. 

 Firecrackers are set oflf at the beginning of the funeral procession 

 and at the grave. 



6. THE BURIAL AND GRAVE CUSTOMS 



At the grave the customary scenes of mourning take place, including 

 weeping and prostrations. Paper cash, gold and silver ingots, a gold 

 hill and a silver hill, and paper images of human beings, of houses, 

 furniture, boxes, weapons, and even opium pipes are burnt. They 

 are transformed by burning into cash, gold and silver ingots, a gold 

 hill and a silver hill, living servants, sedan chairs, houses, etc., for the 

 use of the departed spirits in the land of shades. Actual food is offered, 

 incense and candles are burnt, there are prostrations and mourning, 

 and the coffin is covered with dirt. Usually the hole is not dug very 

 deep, and the dirt is heaped up in a mound over the coffin. 



To explain the custom of burning paper money, paper images of 

 human beings, houses, furniture, and other articles, we must go back 



