Almost every Chinese house has either a “hall of ancestors” or at least a closet, where the ancestral tablet is kept. The tablet is called Shin Chu, meaning _house of_ the spirit. It is made of wood, and is generally about twelve inches high and three inches wide. The wood is generally fragrant, and parts are elaborately carved. It consists of three pieces, a pedestal and two upright pieces. Often a place is cut in the back, in which pieces of paper containing the names of ancestors are inserted. Every day before this tablet incense and paper prayers are burned. The prayers are written upon the paper, and the Chinese believe that when the papers are burned they go to their dead fathers and mothers. These are not prayers _for_ these dead parents, but prayers _to_ them. They believe that each man has three souls, one of which at his death goes to Heaven, one remains with the body in the grave and one returns home and lives in the ancestral tablet. In April of each year a day is selected, when especial worship is paid at the graves. Every man, woman and child hastens away to the family tombs, taking offerings and candles to worship at the graves. To neglect this ceremony is counted a slight to one’s dead parents. [Illustration: ANCESTRAL TABLET.] [Illustration: A CHINAMAN BURNING PRAYERS INSTEAD OF SAYING THEM.] The following translation of a prayer offered at the tomb shows that it is a real worship which is given: “TANKWANG, _12th Year, 3d Moon, 1st Day_. “I, Lin Kwang, the second son of the third generation, presume to come before the grave of my ancestor, Lin Kung. Revolving years have brought again the season of spring. Cherishing sentiments of veneration, I look up and sweep your tomb. Prostrate, I pray that you will come and be present, and that you will grant to your posterity that they may be prosperous and illustrious. At this season of genial showers and gentle breezes, I desire, to recompense the root of my existence, and exert myself sincerely. Always grant your safe protection. Most reverently, I present the five-fold sacrifice of a pig, a fowl, a duck, a goose, and a fish; also, an offering of five plates of fruit, with libations of spirituous liquors, earnestly entreating that you will come and view them. With the most attentive respect, this announcement is presented on high.” [Illustration: BRINGING HOME ONE OF THE SOULS OF A DEAD MAN IN HIS CLOTHES.] To a Chinaman there is no greater sin than to neglect the worship of an ancestor; no greater calamity can happen than that he should die and be buried away from his native land. Almost every steamer that crosses the Pacific from America carries one or more preserved bodies of Chinamen, taking them home to be buried. CEREMONY OF TURNING THE BRIDGE-LADDER.