The Travels of Marco Polo — Volume 2 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 1,335 pages of information about The Travels of Marco Polo — Volume 2.

The Travels of Marco Polo — Volume 2 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 1,335 pages of information about The Travels of Marco Polo — Volume 2.

LII., p. 254.  Instead of “his tent invariably facing south,” read “facing east” according to the Chou Shu. (PELLIOT.)

LII., p. 256 n.

MARRIAGE.

The China Review, Vol.  XX. “gives numerous instances of marrying mothers-in-law and sisters-in-law amongst the Hiung nu.  The practice was common with all Tartars, as, indeed, is stated by Yule.” (E.H.  PARKER, Asiatic Quart.  Rev., Jan., 1904, p. 141.)

LII., p. 257 n.

TENGRI (HEAVEN).

“The Mongol word Tengri (= Heaven) appears also in Hiung-nu times; in fact, the word shen yue is stated to have been used by the Hiung-nu alternatively with Tengri kudu (Son of Heaven).” (E.H.  PARKER, Asiatic Quart.  Rev., Jan., 1904, p. 141.)

LIV., p. 263 n.

COATS OF MAIL.

Parker’s note is erroneous.—­See Laufer, Chinese Clay Figures, Part I.

LV., p. 267.  “They [the Tartars] have another notable custom, which is this.  If any man have a daughter who dies before marriage, and another man have had a son also die before marriage, the parents of the two arrange a grand wedding between the dead lad and lass.  And marry them they do, making a regular contract!  And when the contract papers are made out they put them in the fire, in order (as they will have it) that the parties in the other world may know the fact, and so look on each other as man and wife.  And the parents thenceforward consider themselves sib to each other, just as if their children had lived and married.  Whatever may be agreed on between the parties as dowry, those who have to pay it cause to be painted on pieces of paper and then put these in the fire, saying that in that way the dead person will get all the real articles in the other world.”

Mr. KUMAGUSU MINAKATA writes on the subject in Nature, Jan. 7, 1897, pp. 224-5: 

“As it is not well known whether or not there is a record of this strange custom earlier than the beginning of the dynasty of Yuen, I was in doubt whether it was originally common to the Chinese and Tartars until I lately came across the following passage in Tsoh-mung-luh (Brit.  Mus. copy, 15297, a 1, fol. 11-12), which would seem to decide the question—­’In the North there is this custom.  When a youth and a girl of marriageable ages die before marriage, their families appoint a match-maker to negotiate their nuptials, whom they call “Kwei-mei” (i.e.  “Match-Maker of Ghosts").  Either family hands over to another a paper noticing all pre-requisites concerning the affair; and by names of the parents of the intended couple asks a man to pray and divine; and if the presage tells that the union is a lucky one, clothes and ornaments are made for the deceased pair.  Now the match-maker goes to the burying-ground of the bridegroom, and, offering wine and fruits, requests the pair to marry.  There two seats are prepared on adjoining positions,

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The Travels of Marco Polo — Volume 2 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.