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Volume 075-3 - July 2021 (8 pages)
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Page: of 8
NCHS Bulletin July 2021
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The Hou Wang Temple prior to 1901. Georgie Bow, the temple keeper is on the left. Standing next to him is Ah Louie, wis a ep the Kuan Yin
Temple. Courtesy Searls Historical Library.
Chinese rituals often combined Confucian, Taoist and
Buddhist traditions, which were foreign to viewers of
the Judeo-Christian tradition. In spite of Dr. Yee’s best
efforts, non-Chinese observers often viewed the rituals
as exotic and bizarre, and described the practitioners
as “pagans” and “heathens.”* Foster’s article with
minor formatting changes follows.‘
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1876: Our Chinese
Campmeeting Described by an Eastern Visitor. M. V. F. (we take him to be M. V. Foster,
brother to A. J. Foster of this place) writes to
the Piqua (Ohio) He/met the following interesting account of our late Chinese Campmeeting.
The letter was written from Salt Lake on the
11th of September, and is as follows:
EDITOR HELMET:—I have attended a
Chinese Campmeeting. Travelers visiting the
Flowery Kingdom are seldom permitted to witness this sight. They only hold such a meeting
once a year when they do up all their religious
work for the whole year. It was at Grass Valley,
California, one of the mining towns in the
foothills of the Sierras. There was an inclosure
with a large temple built for the occasion, of
rough boards. Opposite to this was a smaller
temple, one side was a rustic stand, and on
each side were several stalls. The temples were
gaily decorated with embroideries, some of
them very rich—Chinese lanterns, chandeliers,
silver lamps, and curious decorations.
At the entrance of the large temple were
two large figures, about ten feet in height,
dressed in gaudy attire, one with a frowning,
threatening expression of face, the other with a
kind, benevolent expression. These are called
Joshes. One is the good being, the other the
bad. Within is a variety of idols, of various
sizes.
Some of them are fine works of art, mostly
seated upon a throne, and dressed up in rich
style.
There is food in front of all the gods, for
them to eat, and other numerous tapers and
sticks of incense burning. There is a company
of priests standing in rows, dressed in white
robes, with caps the style of a wash-basin, covered with light blue satin. The priests perform