Alexandria Gazette & Advertiser

GREAT CHINESE FESTIVAL.

Most nations have great public festivals in commemoration of some real or fabulous event in which they pride themselves, some solid or imaginary blessing which has descended from their ancestors. Ours which has just passed, has no obscurity about it; we know its history, its principles, and its benefits. But the Chinese have one, which, while its origin is lost in the mist of ages, is probably the most splendid in the world; and the following account of it, at this period, will be entertaining to those who have not before read it.

[Salem Gazette]

"The public or national festivals are various, and regularly observed all over the empire; particularly the two first days of the year, which are celebrated with feastings, music, dancing, playing, comedies, and other diversions, and with sending presents to their friends and patrons. This solemn time, which, among the great ones, lasts from the end of the 11th moon of the last to about the 20th of the first moon of the new year, is properly their vacation; during which all business ceases, all the tribunals are shut up, the posts suspended throughout the empire, and the generality of the people spend their time in rejoicing, and all sorts of diversions.

"But the most solemn and pompous part of this festivity begins on the 15th day of the same first moon, and is, by the Chinese, styled the feast of the lanterns. It is commonly ushered in at court, and the capital of Peking, pretty late on the preceding night, by the ringing of a vast large bell: the first sound of which is no sooner heard, than it is accompanied by whole vollies of cannon, from the palace and city ramparts, the beating of large kettle drums, the sound of trumpets, and a great variety of other instruments. The same notice is given in all parts of the empire, especially the great cities, about the same time, and much in the same way, the cannon not excepted. Immediately upon which, they every where kindle such vast numbers of fires, hang up such infinite numbers of lanterns, and play off such variety of fire-works, some representing castles, towers, ships, dragons, elephants, horses, fishes, and other creatures, that the whole atmosphere seems to be in a flame. They have likewise a very dexterous way of intermixing their lanterns with those fire-works, so as to represent horses, and other animals, in full career, birds flying, ships sailing, armies fighting, princes marching with their whole retinue, and a large variety of other such surprising scenes; whilst the ears of the spectators are entertained with the best music the country affords, and with the joytul acclamations of the people, all of which are answered by the trumpets, bells, and other instruments, of every temple and monastery.

"Mr. Isbrandz Ides, who was present at one of these feasts, says that the noise at Peking, which continued the same till the next day at noon, was as great as if an army of 100,000 men had been all that time in a close and fierce engagement.—And Father Le Comte, who was likewise an eye-witness of this grand solemnity, at the time he was there, says that the number of lanterns, commonly lighted at these illuminations, through the whole empire, was computed to be about 100,000,000.

During the festival the shops are closely shut up; all business is suspended; the streets crowded with processions of numberless idols, carried about in great pomp, the monks and priests attending them, with their censors, songs and musical instruments; the very women, of all ranks, who at other times are not suffered to appear in public, are then permitted to ride through the streets of Peking: those of common rank upon asses, adorned with ribbands and other trinkets: and those of quality in their two-wheeled chaise, covered on every side but the front, and either singing, or gently touching some musical instrument, or even smoking a pipe, and attended with a maid servant, riding behind them, and playing also on some musical instrument. Some of the lanterns are so vastly rich and beautiful, that the price of them amounts to 1500 or 2000 crowns, and even beyond; and not a house but hath some sort of them, the best they can afford, burning, both before and within it.* In a word, the Chinese are so ambitious of making the most magnificent figure on this festival, that they will retrench from their common expenses the year round, that they may do something extraordinary at this time, and, abating the masquerading, will allow themselves in all the extravagancies of a Venetian carnival. But what the cause of all this joy, or the origin of this grand festival, is, they either do not care to tell us, or probably know nothing of it themselves.

*These lanterns are adorned with beautiful carving, gilding and japanning, and have about six or eight panes of thin blue silk, made transparent by a fine varnish, and painted with figures of trees, men, horses, birds, &c. so skilfully disposed, as to receive, as it were, life, from the great number of lamps, or candles burning within them. Others made of blue transparent horn, thro' which are seen sundry kinds of creatures, painted to the life, and seeming to move, through the motion of the flame within and representing a variety of scenes, to entertain the spectators. The common sorts of them are about four or five feet high, and have their tops adorned with curious streamers, waving in the wind: but those of the noblest sort are about twenty feet in diameter, and illuminated with lamps and wax candles, the sides of which represent to the eye various figures of men and women in different characters, or exhibiting some theatrical representations, with gestures suitable to their parts—These are moved by wires, by people underneath, like our puppets, or, according to one of their own authors, are acted by living persons. They have likewise bonfires, and other fire works, in all the parts of the cities, towns and villages; and the whole nation seems to run mad with joy for they know not what."