The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-04-22

avenue nortbward across the Chinese
/ city, to gate in the Tartar city, and
thence on the same straight limo to
tho principal gate in the Imperial
city and the palace.
THE TEMPLE OF HEAVEN.
The building and places Of the
I greatest interest in the Chinese city
are the Temple Of Heaven and the
altar of agriculture. The former is
situated in a spaciaus oval Enclosure,
about two miles in circumference on
the eastern side Of the avenue lead
ing north from the middle south gate.
Within the outer wall is a second
and within that a third Enclosure.
At the time was in Pekin it was
closed by special order of the EN-
peror, but after having visited all the
largest cities and seen the finest
building in the Empire, l did not in
tend to be satisfied with looking at
the finest temple at distance. So
hired cart to take me to the front
gate, which was locked and deserted.
A short distance beyond this gate the
sand had been drifted against the
wall until it had reached the top.
Ascending this sand bank found one
in the inside. and thus the outer wall
was passed.
Crossing some distance over an open
area | came to q gate In the second
wall, but before l could get up to it
the guard closed it, and though [
offered them the small sum generally
required in order TO open all such
forbidden places to foreigners, they
refused to allow me to enter. Thence
L followed along the wall until |
came to a second gate, where a good
natured Chinaman was on guard, and
while he was looking at my dress l
passed by him, and was going on to-
ward the central temple, when he and
an assistant obliged me TO return, in
spite OF an offer of the usual bride. |
Determined to succeed at all haz. |
ards, continued along the wall until
CHANGED to come to q tree that had |
a branch resting upon the top of the |
wall. Climbing this tree made my
way out on the second wall success
fully, but to get down on the inside | |
was obliged to walk for half a mile |
on the smooth glazed tiles that formed |
the roof of the wall until | came to |
another tree near enough to allow me |
i passed the second barrier. Between |
the spot where | stood and the third |
wall was grove of large trees, which |
me to make my way un-
observed until came to a gate, |
which fortunately had been left ajar |
Opening this slowly and softly, l /
passed on through part of the long /
suite of rooms, where the Emperor |
and his attendants live for three days /
before he performs the yearly sacri-
fee, and where | may safely say no
barbarian foot ever trod before. At /
the end Of the series of rooms / came
to a gate that was half open, and,
passing through that, found myself
before the temple itsef. The temple
is circular, about thirty feet In diam
eter and fifty feet high. 1t stands on
u hill composed OF three terraces,
which are ten feet high, encased with
white marble and richly ornamented
with carved balustrades.
The ball at the top of the short
spire is gildei. and the roofs are
covered with blue tiles, which have
rich tint of sapphire, and contrast so
with the white marble be-
heath that this temple may be unhes-
tatlngly pronounced the most mag
lifcent edifice in the whole Empire.
A large tablet, suspended under the
caves of the upper roof on the south
side OF the structure contains the |
name and title of Shangti, "The Most
High Ruler" and to him the EN-
peror, as Son of Heaven, makes a
yearly sacrifice for himself and his
people. This ceremony appears to be
the last lingering shadow Of the prim-
tive belief that shines forth distinct
y In the most ancient writings of this
remarkable people, whose sordid love
of money and material gain has, in
the course of many generations, so
supplanted all thought of an Omnipo-
tent Ruler above, that their capacity
Tor such high conceptions has be-
come seriously and permanently
lwarfed.