S34i COBEAN SOCIAL CUSTOMS. coffining. When he is at home four days, he puts on complete mourning (Ghungfoo), The family take hold of each others' hands and weep ; guests mourn, taking one of the hands of a member of the family. If the son, whether on account of public or other business, finds it impossible to return, he is to weep and wail in the position he would occupy if present before the coffin ; but he •cannot offer the sacrifice of food. But if there is neither son nor grandson at home, he may then sacrifice. His Chungfoo is on the fourth day after he hears the new& If the body is buried before he gets home, he goes to the grave 1)efore going home, and weeps and kowtowa His Chungfoo is made at the grave, if it was not made before. Grandsons and other relations not at home, simply take the position they would occupy at the mourning, and weep and wail, — ^the older in their own room, the younger in another room. Morning and evening, mourning is observed for three days after hearing of the death ; ^nd on the fourth is Chungfoo, whether the mourner goes home or not. There is weeping and wailing also on the first of each month, which may be continued for many month& Grave. A stone about one foot high, called Toodi, is already standing in the ground* behind the grave, but not directly north of it "Seven pieces of wood of the plum tree are chosen, of about two feet long, and of any thickness. There are four recitators (literates) who chant out the order in which the various duties are to be performed. Men are appointed to superintend the various offices. Two straw mats — one for offerings, the other for kneeling upon when bowing — ^are provided, as well as the various articles already mentioned for Siaolien, food, spirits, incense, &a The "chant is now written out on a board,
- Each family has usnally its own burial place on its own estate ; the great momute
outside Chinese cities being the graves of i>eople whose relations are not sufficiently wealthy to have the body removed to the family burying place.
