Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1847-05-08
lectures on China.
wILLIAMs-cHINEsE
DOMESTIC LIFE.

The third lecture Of Mr.. Williams
on Chinese Domestic Life, III
Ebich he spoke OF their architecture
.;,l intercourse, dress, and food.
III Their architecture was peculiar, re-
E;o;no the form Of the tent, never hav-
heen studied as in India, which is
markabIe amongsta people so numer-
L.. TIE usual materials are brick
~ mud. Their bricks are oil the
me size as with US, of bloc color, from
Ecmeth;ng in their composition, their
LIS being red. The mud used in
Enilding is made of sand, lime, and
III which is filled in between boards
H. make the wall, and beaten down;
Ebis is more durable than brick. This
l. terial is used near rivers, where sand
a: easily obtained. The poorest class
l. have houses of mats. Pagodas. so
reouent in China, are of religious
Ind snperstitious character. They are
not only temples for conducting the
B Buhdist religion, but have an influence
on the elements; consequently they
are built on eminences, to o great
Zbeight. They always have an odd
Il number of stories, and the smaller ones
H only are used as temples. The cele-
4 brated Porcelain Tower is 2i2 feet
Ugh, covered with porcelain tiles, hav-
ing nine stories, and twenty or thirty
1 images in each. The Chinese house
appears like dead wall with a gate
way as we pass b.; the roof projecting
over the door, and under it hang Ian
terms. with the name of the owner, and
his title, if he is an officer. Through
the gate is small paved court, on each
side of which roof covers the passage
way to the principal apartments, the
door-keeper and servants occupying
small rooms near the entrance, and in
niche on the left side stands the house
hold god. The principal room appears
rather gay, when the lanterns and 9th
or. furniture are new; but when faded,
il looks cherries and gloomy, the floor
being of tiles, or sand and lime, and
the walls of the room unbroken by
windows, the light coming in from a.
bove. In summer, however, the front
of the room, is left open, and in the
winter closed by folding doors. At
the head of the hall is the altar, behind
which is the tutelary divinity AN i'm
age or picture. The host receives
the guest at the entrance of the hall,
and conducts him to broad sofa
On each side Of the room are usually
four chairs, and a table between each.
The furniture is not beautiful, though
rich and heavy, being Of a species OF
ebony. On the wall are hung scrolls
containing passages from their classics,
between which are landscape paintings.
Their gardens display much skill and
taste. Some years since there was one
in Canton, including two acres, said to
have cost Sl25,000; having its mean
dering stream-its little lake-rocks
scattered in wild disorder artificial
hills and valleys, and winding walks
The imperial gardens are said to be
much larger, containing five or six
square miles, having fields. mountains,
forests, dells, and caves. Temples are
constructed similar TO their houses
the god placed in niche in the first
room; before him is mat on which
devotees kneel,a and the priest strikes a
drum to rouse his godship's attention;
also bell. The priests live in the
rear of the principal hall, and the
grounds about the temples are much
improved.
The general appearance of Chi
ness town is very plain-a long sue
cession of red-tiled roof. indicating the
officers houses; flag stats rising up,
which on gala days have FIVE or six
banners suspended on them. The
streets, however, are more lively. the
shops being open. and the counters
projecting into the streets, which are
never more than ten feet wide. The
average width of those in Canton is not
more than seven feet, having no car
riages. or ladies visible, using the Sc
dan chair. Shops are not numbered.
The streets are divided by gates, and
the sections differently named. Small
towers rise every fifteen or twenty
rods, from which the watch give the
alarm of fire, and cry the hours. The
government quarters the poor upon
the different streets, beyond the limits
Of which they must not pass. Here
they are allowed to 60 from shop to
shop and beg. The shop-keeper is
induced to give them cash, (the 18th
part of cent? to get rid OF the terrible
rixraor they Get m The bepoars from