The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-09-03
CONSIDERATION OF TREES.
A Buddhist Ceremony.
From the Christian Union.

On the morning Of the oath Of June,
1865, was invited to witness the ST.
amese ceremony Of consecrating sacred
trees. gladly accepted the invitation,
although it was one of the hottest days
OF the year. Passing the eastern front
Of the grand royal palace at Bangkok, |
followed a motley throng Of gaily
dressed men, women and children
through the arched and towering porce-
lain gateway leading to the temple,
where reposes, in gigantic state, the
wondrous sleeping idol of the last
Buddha. Imagine long building Of
immense size, with tapering roof, and
quaint Gothic doors and windows,
thrown wide open to the foods of yell
low sunlight that streamed through
them, and revealing reclining figure,
$50 feet long and forty feet high, en-
tirely covered with plate of gold, the
head adorned with pagoda-shaped
fret work Of gold. colored red, resting
on the right arm, the eyes half closed in
solemn contemplation. the soles
Of it's monstrous feet covered with bas-
reliefs inlaid with mother-of-pearl and
chased with exquisite effect in purest
gold, each separate design distinctly
representing one Of the many transmit
grations of the Budha, whereby he at
tanned Nirvana; on the finger nails are
engraved his divine attributes, which
are ten in number. The temple itself,
in which the sleeping idol reposes, is
unquestionably one Of the most remark
able structures Of its class to be found
in Siam. The lofty octagonal figures,
the quaint Gothic doors and windows,
the tapering and gilded roofs are carved
in an infinite variety Of emblems, the
serpent. the lotus, the Bhodi Tree. and
the palm, predominating. The adorn.
ment of the exterior is only equaled in
its prfousios: by the pictorial and hero.
glyphic establishment within. The
ceiling is painted blue and curiously
overland with NEUROLOGICAL figures and
symbols, most conspicuous among these
are still the Bhodi Tree or the tree O.
knowledge, and the serpent, coiline
round the mystic orb Of the Hindoos
In the middle Of the ceiling are painted
+ the seven consultations known to thu
ancients, revolving round central sur
painted yellow. and in the form Of {
lotus-called by the Siamese Dokah
thief, or sunfower, because it expand:
its leaves to the rising sun, and con
tracts them as it sets. On the CORN
ces are displayed twelve trees, thu
trunk of each encircled by distinc
, species of serpent. on whose sides tn
twelve signs Of the zodiac are repre-
scented. i
Tree and serpent worship rank
| among the very earliest forms through
) which the human mind sought to ap
, DR. zach and to propitiate the myste
/ rious powers Of nature. Two THOUSAND
years ago it was the common religlol
, not only of the Island Of Ceylon. but Q
almost all the remote parts Of Asia
, and wherever we meet with the serpen
: worship, in tradition or in history. ther
is also sacred tree, or trees. connect
4 ed with it. To this day the mos
f learned physicians of Siam make use
the bite Of snakes and crocodile
. to cure dreadful epidemics, chole
e ra. etc. In Egypt, Cal
t thage, Greece, Persia, India, and jaw
; the serpent is honored by the origins
n inhabitants, and is always looked upo
e as harbinger of good from the VI
s known.
!. Tree and serpent worship. howeve1
d was SO utterly antagonistic to the mil
f and benevolent spirit Of Buddhism tia
$ it was summary abolished by the cal
. Hest Buddhist council. But, in spite {
). all their combined efforts, it IS found
!. crop out again and again, and it still r
II mains as a sacred tradition among a
e classes and ranks of Budahists.
:. But to return to our subject. In tn
v centre Of the paved courtyard, facin
S the main building, stands an immen:
t pond, with stone steps leading down
! the waters edge, which is kept COZ
n stantly supplied with water from II
= river itself. Here some sacred croc'
: dies, water snakes and eels lind plea
r ant home. This last statement, HOY