The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1873-01-02
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With regard to the constitution OF
the imperial household the above.
mentioned Rituals give us full in
formation The number OF wives
and concubihes is SO arranged as to
form d series in geometrical progress
sion, with three as its common ratio.
Thus, BY law--for the Rituals have
tho force OF law-the Emperor is
compelled to take unto himself. be
sides the Empress, three ladies as
pet,tes femmes OF the first degree
these have already been selected Tor
his Imperial Majesty-nine OF the
second degree, twenty-sevcn OF the
third degree, and nine times concu-
bines. With equal precision the var
ious duties of these ladies are minu
tsly laid down, and not much more
lititude as TO the choice Of his com
panions appears to b. allowed to tho
Emperor after his marriage than IN
the original selection of the members
OF hi, household. For instance, no
matter on what forms he may be
with the Empress, he is obliged, in
compliance with an ancient theory,
sanctioned by Confucius and hallowed
by the apr oval OF the wisest men
of China, to seek her society alone,
at the recurrence OF every full moon.
and only then. As the moons wax
and wane, rules equally stringent
meet him at every turn, and unless
he be strong enough to throw aside
his ritualistic tramnels, he must sub.
nit to lite OF dull routine. But
while the Rituals present such an
abject picture OF the imperial life,
they provide abundant and varied
occupation tor the inmates OF the
haren. The numerous sacrifice,
rites, aud duties connected with the
internal administration Of the palace,
apart from all political! intriguing,
leave the Empress aud the three prln
cipAl petites femmes little time in
which to he idle. TO each OF the
! petite. fsmmes OF the second rank Is
told off squad" OF nine OF the
eighty one concubines, tor instruc-
ton in all the arts and accomplish
ments which adorn female life in
China in sacrficial and religious
rites they take part. and they attend
on the Empress when she receives
visitors. To duties OF tho same
kind is added, in the case OF the rank
below these, the superintendent OF
the women servants OF the palace
From each OF the eighty.one concn-
bines is annually expected certain
amount OF plain and embroide' ed
work. On the occasion of the fun
cral OF the Empress they hold the
wings which decorate the coffin, and
on the decease of any great person
age within the palace, 1t falls to their
lot to wash the head OF the CORPSE
One more thing IS required OF them,
compared with which every other
duty appears as light AS air--,o their
tact and persuasive powersis intrust
ed the responsibility OF suppressins
tho jcalousies which not only unnat-
urally arise in a household consisting
OF a hundred and twenty iaales and
one lord.
OF the personal character Of the
young Emperor little or nothing is
known outside the yellow tiled walls
Of the palace. He is said to be
childish in his tastes and amusements
and il this be true, surrounded as he
is by all that is calculated to foster
idleness and sensuality, the prospect
of the future before hum is not en-
couraging. The stuff OF which the
emperors who founded and establish
ed the present dynasty were made
seems to have disappeared with the
urgent necessity for constant aud
vigorous action. 1t is difficult to re-
cognize in the last occupant OF the
throne-who before he was thirty
died. 1t may fairly be said, Of too
yielding obedience to the Rituals"
descendant OF men like Kanghe or
Kicn lung, each OF whom ruled the
millions of China Tor sixty years. and
dying. lett monuments of their liter
airy and administrative ability which
will last as long as China remains an
empire and it's language endurcs TO
vex the Intelligence OF those who at
tempt to pry into its mysteries.