Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 51.djvu/15

Rh —The general Government supports Confucian temples. In one temple there are over two hundred Confucian philosophers. Every county has its temple, with twenty or thirty Confucians. The Government stands in fear of these men, for they vigorously protest if rulers err in any way, and more particularly if their allowance is abbreviated. Confucius forbade the study of curious things as disturbing to the mind, and this ridiculous idea has grown into a superstition, and thus a man is prevented from preserving any relic dug from the ground for fear of a ghost following it. Previous to the fourteenth century the country was strongly Buddhist; since that time Confucian doctrines have spread from China, and within four hundred years Buddhists have been expelled from all cities and towns, and their temples have been destroyed. The priests can not even live in the villages, but must live in the mountains away from the villages. A certain Buddhist monument, thirty feet in height, was so beautiful that even Korean bigotry would not destroy it; it was cut halfway down, and the upper half was placed on the ground near the monument's base.

Pupils of Confucius are taught that if struck on one cheek they must turn the other, and if spat upon they must let it dry, for wiping it away would signify anger. Friendship is believed to be more faithful among Koreans, and the people are supposed to be more truthful than the Chinese or Japanese.

—The body when buried must be clothed in a shroud made of native cloth; this differs but slightly from the usual dress. A burial service is held, but no religious ceremony. Poor people hire a hearse, but a rich man will have a special one constructed. If the deceased cared for any special objects, these are buried with him—books, for example. The grave is dug to the depth of six feet. This depth is fixed for all. Books are published describing the forms of burial. The expenses of a funeral, with the construction of a tomb, a new hearse, etc., are often very great. The body may be kept in the house from three days to three months. Confucian doctrines enjoin a mourning period of three years, during which time no work is done. The king mourns seven days. A prominent feature of the mourner is a hat of large size, which comes down to the shoulders, thus concealing the face. The mourning color is yellow; it was formerly white. The clothing is always made of flax. No one ever accosts or interrupts a mourner on the street, and Jesuit priests often use the mourners' habiliments as a disguise.

—Among the various trades and occupations are those coming under the definition of silver-&zwnj; and goldsmiths, iron and bronze workers, builders and architects, wrights of various kinds, masons, decorators, artificers, weavers, saddlers, butchers,