ABSTRACT
The Chinese believe that the spirits in the other world exercise a great influence over the affairs of this world; they therefore desire to obtain their friendly aid in the pursuit of health, wealth, or honour. There are four popular customs, called “thanksgiving by the use of cakes,” “presentation of food,” “mounting the platform,” and “the universal rescue.” The food offered to the unfortunate spirits is arranged on a table. A certain kind of lighted incense-stick is also put in the food designed for the hungry spirits, and in the ground in front of the house. When the “universal rescue” is performed on a large scale, in connexion with it is a place where the punishments inflicted on wicked spirits in the ten departments of hell, according to Buddhistic notions, are represented by small images. The people engaged in the procession wear white conical caps without tassels, and are usually dressed in white clothing.
