File:Social life of the Chinese - with some account of their religious, governmental, educational and business customs and opinions, with special but not exclusive reference to Fuhchau (1865) (14596530958).jpg

Identifier: sociallifeofchin02dool (find matches)
Title: Social life of the Chinese : with some account of their religious, governmental, educational and business customs and opinions, with special but not exclusive reference to Fuhchau
Year: 1865 (1860s)
Authors: Doolittle, Justus
Subjects:
Publisher: New York : Harper & Bros.
Contributing Library: Princeton Theological Seminary Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Princeton Theological Seminary Library

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n carried several feet abaye theheads of the people, those who carry it making it bend andwind about in the same manner as they are pleased to imaginethe dragon goes. When brightly illuminated in a dark nightit presents a singular spectacle, much as the old dragon him-self might be expected to present. The head of the dragon,according to the ideas of the Chinese, is a very large and ill-favored object, and when illuminated as represented in thesecelebrations, it adds an unearthly and fiendish character to thesight. Playacting. The Chinese seem to be as devotedly attached to seeingtheatrical plays acted out as they are to the worshiping ofidols and the observance of superstitious customs. One of the gods or patron deities worshiped by playactorswas an emperor of the Tang dynasty, which flourished between620-906 A.D. He is often referred to as the original compo-ser of theatrical ballads. He is usually represented by a smallwooden image, which is worshiped by the actors at their homes,.
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i CONCERNING PLAYACTORS. 295 where they burn incense and candles to its honor. When theygo away from their homes for the purpose of performing aplay, they carry this image along in the box containing theirdresses and instruments. Being clothed in some fancy-coloredgarments, it is used to represent a child, should a child be need-ed in the representation of a play. There are a large number of theatrical bands in this city.A band or company consists of from about ten to nearly onehundred persons. Some are composed mostly of boys, othersof full grown adults. The boys, while learning to play theirparts, are oftentimes treated very hardly, and even cruelly, bytheir masters. Their services are bought of their parents orguardians for a specified number of years, for the purpose ofteaching them to perform on the stage. Until the specifiedtime has expired they are not often allowed to return home.It is represented that, if any one thus engaged or bound outto learn to be an actor should be beat

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