Page:History of Corea, ancient and modern; with description of manners and customs, language and geography (1879).djvu/366

 338 COBEAN SOCIAL CUSTOMS. again placed before the coffin ; and the Shangjoo, lying on the ground east of the spirits, is weeping and wailing. Great care must be taken to let down the coffin at a perfect level The Shangjoo and the others cease weeping, and go to see the coffin let down. The flag of the MiTig ging is taken off the pole, and thrown over the coffin ; but it must be laid out quite evenly, without a crease. The four thin boards are placed, one at each side below, and one at each side abova The Shangjoo puts a piece of black silk at the side of the coffin, bows twice and then kowtows, while all the surrounding relations weep and wail. The manager then arranges all the mourners in their proper places, beside the grave, to worship the god of the Toodi, or stone above mentioned ; which god has charge of the grave. Tliis stone, formerly to the north of the grave, was previously removed and placed beside the grave ; — and spirits, fruit, meat, and soup, are now set before it The recitators advance in their ordinary clothing, and stand before the Toodi, the manager standing behind them. These all bow twice, wash their hands ; and the recitators bum incense, place the spirits on the ground, and bow twice. Spirits are placed before the Shun wei; and the chanter, at the left of the recitators, facing east, kneels and recites a chant to this guardian god of the grave, praying him to look after the quiet sleep of the deceased. Immediately above the coffin is a layer of lime, of charcoal, and of pulverised white stone, so that when the grave is being dug for wife (or husband), the position of the preceding coffin may be known, without actually touching it On the return journey from the grave, they weep, all except the Shangjoo, being seated on the cart which carried away the coffin ; and they look towards their home while weeping. They weep again on dismounting, and wail going into the house, where the mourning chant is again read. The Shunjoo is brought back from the grave and placed on the Lingdso, and all below the Shangjoo weep and wail in the house. The serving-women wail before the Lingdso. When this wailing ceases, the guests come to bum paper, are met and