ASSISTING AT AN ECLIPSE.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 419, 15 October 1875, Page 4

ASSISTING AT AN ECLIPSE.

The Chinese view an eclipse with wonder, mingled to a great extent with fear and terror, and most of them take some steps to aid the sun or moon, as the case may be, in the hour of need, the principal agents employed being, of course, gongs and gunpowder, without which no ceremonial observance of any kind is complete. Ihe officials of their several vamens (official residences) go through a segular set ceremonial on these occasions. They call in the ~ aid of Taoist priests, and an incense vase, and a pair of large candlesticks, containing red candles for luck, are to bo placed on a table in the hunting, or audience hall, but sometimes in the court in trout of it. W ben the eclipse is beginning, the red candles are lighted, and the official enters, dressed in his robes of state. He takes some lighted incense sticks in both hands, and bows low in front of the table, waving the incense about according to custom before placing it in the vase. He next piocccds to perform the ceremony of “ ko ton” (literally knockhead), kneeling down thrice, and knocking his head nine times on the ground. He then fets up, and huge gongs and drums are eaten to frighten the devouring monster away ; and finally the priests march round the table in solemn procession, repeating certain prescribed formulas in a sing song tone, until the termination of the eclipse. The officials are of course always supposed to be successful in their endeavours to rescue the sun and moon from their perilous position, and the ignorant masses in China fully believe that the happy result is brought about by the ceremonies just described.