Page:History of Corea, ancient and modern; with description of manners and customs, language and geography (1879).djvu/374

 346 COREAN SOCIAL CUSTOMS. In the early morning of the day after the completion of the full year, dishes of vegetables, fruit, spirits, and jwan are got out. The chanter opens the shrine, and places the Shunjoo on the Lingdso ; all under the Shangjoo enter and weep and wail, — the Shangjoo standing against his staff outside the door. All the members of the family enter in their ordinary mourning clothing. Those more distant relatives who had changed their mourning at the end of five and nine months, also enter to the sacrifice ; but their gay clothing is laid aside, and they mourn bitterly, till their grief finds full expression, when they desist. They then go outside to their proper positions ; and when they change their mourning for ordinary clothing, they re-enter, and again weep and wail till the recitator cries " Stop." During this weeping and wailing, paper and incense were being burnt, and the spirit descended. The offerings are again in all respects similar to those of the Yuji. Then when the three offerings are over, the Shunjoo is locked up. During the period of mourning — whether for father or mother or both ; or whether from thirteen months to two full years — no spirits of any kind are drunk, no flesh or fish of any kind, and no garlic or any of the garlic tribe eaten. But if a member of the family is unwell, and unable to eat the ordinary coarse food, and is therefore in danger of death, he may take both spirits and meat, which he ceases to use as soon as he is better. Old people over fifty may also eat meat to support their infirmitiea Neither is it proper to go beyond the premises ; but if unavoidable business demands his departure, the mourner must have both saddle and stirrups covered with white cotton, in token of mourning. After Siaohien is completed, the morning and evening offerings are stopped ; but food is presented morning and evening before the Shunjoo ; and though no sound of weeping is heard, there should be mourning in the heart and on the face. Thenceforth there is no restriction as to the kind of food to be eaten. The women mourning father or mother now also return to their husband's home, and the unmarried women of the family may be married.