New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-05-22
CHINA.
DESTRUCTION OF THE NANKING PORCE-
LAIN TOWER.


LAIN TOWER.
~ Ne Edito, Of The NJ Y Tribune.
SIR: | incose herewith slip from the North China
Herald, dated January II, published at Shanghai.
1t contains description Of the famous Porcelain
Tower of Nankin which is said to have been lately
destroyed by order of the leader of the TAPPING rebels
Hung Su.tsuen, commonly called the TAPPING Wang.
As the events now occurring in China seem likely to
result in very important changes and to attract more
than ever the attention Of the Western nations toward
that vast but little known portion of the human
family, think it probable that authentic descrp
ton Of this magnificent monuwent Of flal affection
will be read with more than ordinary interest. If the
report Of its destruction be true it is very much to be
deplored for the tower was only noble monument
m itself but splendid illustration of the most pleasing
feature Of the Chinese character. D.
II appears by the accounts published i'll The North
China HeraldOf Sd inst, and confirmed IN letter IN
our last issue that the wonder of China, the Nankn
Psgoda or so.caed Porcelain Tower exists no Longer.
Our informant says il was blown up by orders from
Hung Su-tsuen about the time that the mead Oh We
the Northern king demanded OF him by Sinh
Tah-kG the assistant king, wide NOTth-ChiHd HeT@d
No. 1861 under the apprehension that it might be taken
possession of by of the other leaders, fOrhed, ana
directed against the city, which it commands.
description Of tbs far-iamed tower will be inter-
esting to our readers at this time. Du Halde says,
cit is without dispute the talest and most beautiful
lor missionary, who had visited Nankin IN disguise,
communicated an article to this journal entitled,
Trip to Nankin. From it we reprint the following:
But by far the most interesting and attractive OBJ
feet Marking is the famous Porcelain Tower oi the
worldwide celebrity. 80
1t was built about the year lab, by YGngOh,
the third emperor of the Ming dynasty Representa-
lions Of il are found in nearly all the school biographies
of civilized nations and well do many OF Us remem-
Der the school-boy idea formed of its milky white:
ness associated with the term porcelain; while IN
reality but a comparatively small portion of 1t is white.
Green is the predominant color from the fact that the
curved tiles of its projecting roofs are all of this color
while the woodwork supporting these roofs is of the
most substantial character, in the peculiar style of
Chinese architecture, curiousy wrought and richly
painted in vanOus cOOrs The body or shaft of the
edifce is built OF large, well burnt brick, and on the
exterior surface they red yellow green and white
The bricks and tiles are of very fine clay and highly
glazed that the tower presents most gay and beau
tfnl appearance, which greatly heightened when seen
In the reflected sunlight. Ii has nine stories and
is go English feet high AT the base, il is over
800 feet in circumference, each side of the octagOn
being about 40 feet. After thx first or ground story
AL the others quadrahgulsr on the inside instead
of conforming to the octagonal exterior. Ga each
face an arched opening III which one stand and
look out upon the surrounding scenery but wooden
grating prevents you from stepping out upon the gal
ieres, which are not provided with balustrades.
The inner walls of each story are formed of black
polished tiles, foot square, on each OF which an
image Of Buddha is nodded in baS-re(,ct, and is
richly gilt. There are, on an average, more than
twohundred Of these images in each story giving an
aggregate of near two thousand in all. steep
staircase side of each square apartment leads
10 the above, and by this means, you may
reach the top, from which a magnificent panorama is
spread out before you-the whole city Of
Marking toward the north, but as 1t were as your
1eets fine amphheater Of hills, yet not 30 high as
20 shut out prospect beyond, in some direcsns as
taI as the eye can reash-then three or four miles
distant, northward, you the noble fdHg-t:c-k'dag
from which canal leads up TO the city and surrounds
It, forming the moat
"A fue, spacious temple, covered with yellow,
glazed tiles and filed with gilded idols stands at the
foot OF this Pagods and in the extensive incOs
nre. Here We purchased of a priest native cat,
representing the Tower and containing some particu-
ais relative to ITS history OF porsion of it the fol-
bowlng Is translation:
The Emperor YGug.l6h desiring TO reward the
Kindness OF his mother began in the tenth yesr of his
Tegn IN the sixth month and fifteenth day at midday
10 puns thls tower II completed in the sixth
year OF the Emperor Sen-tah on the frst day of the
eleutn m"a.n, having occupiad nineteen years in its
erection. The order OF the Emperor Ia one of bis
Ministers, Wong tttah, of the Beard of PnbGc Worts
was 10 build tower according 10 draft which he
had prepared and put INTO his hands II waste he
nine stories high, the bricks aud tiles TO be Glazed
and 81 the FIVE cOors;' and il 20 be snoerior
10 all others ~ order to make a-ideiy knorn ~ ~
sHts Of has mother. Its hight was to be 30 cbaae
feet, inches and 9l0hs of al inch The hall on
us spre TO be Of yellow brass overaid with POLL "a
that might last for ever and never grow dim From
rs eight books as many iron chains extend 10 the b,
corners Of the highest roof and from each chain nine
bells, suspended at equal distances apart These 20
yeher with eight from the corners Of each prniec,;n
roof amounting 20 III bells. On the outer Fac 90
each story 10 lanterns, LIS in all which NJ IN
on the inside make 40 Ii requires "a catfiss Of 81
30 I'LL them. Their light shiues through the 33
heavens" and even Eliminates the hears Of All ,noc
good and bad, etornally removing human misery. On
The top Of the bgbes' are two brezSn vessels 20