► Chinese Lore for Chinese-Hawaiians - 22 : Foong shui

Honolulu Star Bulletin, Thursday, February 28, 1957 - Clarice B. Taylor's "Tales about Hawaii"

A Luopan, Feng shui compass

     A perfect Chinese cemetery must have foong-shui - it must be blocked from the wing (foong) and it must have water (shui) within view to block a runaway or lost spirit.

     Manoa Chinese Cemetery fulfills these musts with the mountains which surround on three sides and the view of the ocean in front.

     It has a tree growing at the top from which spirits may look at the peaceful landscape and be in peace.

     It has an undulating slope on which the dragon may rest and so guard the happiness of the many spirits who live there.

     It is surrounded with a wall with a gate on one side.

     The wall traps wandering spirits and keeps them within the cemetery. The gate at the side offers no invitation to the spirits to walk out. If  the gate were straight in front of the knoll, the spirits would walk out.

     The mountains protect the peaceful knoll from strong winds so that the spirits are not swept away.

     The water in front turns back any wandering spirit so that the spirit returns to the cemetery.

     All those buried in this cemetery are assured of a peaceful rest for eternity.

     As long as a Chinese caretaker association exists, the graves will be cared for and periodical offerings were made to the spirit for its happiness.

     As long as the descendants of the dead visit the grave regularly and bring food, wine and offerings, the family will prosper and grow.

     The most awful fate which can befall the dead is the have the family to become extinct so that there are no sons to carry on the care of the ancestors.

     For that reason the Chinese Almanac specifies certain days on which the Chinese set up and altar to the "homeless souls" and pray for them.

     For "homeless" include foreigners and strangers who die away from home and family.

     Ming the final date for closing the cemetery is left open three days so that the charitable may place offerings upon the graves of those who have no family.

     NEXT: Age.  The next segment, unfortunately will not follow as this is the final segment of my Grandmother's collection. I will be in search of the remainder of this tract "Chinese Lore  for Chinese-Hawaiians." I hope you enjoyed reading.
     

"foog shui" - is the original spelling to this text. It is my interpretation the author is making reference to "feng shui", the Chinese placement system to receive positiveness.