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. l 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, l
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 its 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 prfousiozs by the pictorial and hero
glyphic establishment within. The
ceiling is painted blue and curiously
overlaid with NEUROLOGICAL figures and
symbols, most conspicuous among these
are still the Bhodi Tree or the tree Of
knowledge, and the serpent, coiling
round the mystic orb Of the Hindoos.
In the middle of the ceiling are painted
the seven consultations known to the
ancients, revolving round central sun
painted yellow, and in the form Of .
lotus called by the Siamese Dokah-
thief, or sunfower, because it expands
its leaves to the rising sun, and con.
tracts them as it sets. On the corni-
ces are displayed twelve trees, the
trunk of each encircled by distinct
species of serpent. on whose sides the
twelve signs Of the zodiac are repre-
scented. Il
Tree and serpent worship ranks
among the very earliest forms through
which the human mind sought to APP
proach and to propitiate the mystic
rious powers Of nature. Two thousand
ears ago it was the common religion
not only of the Island Of Ceylon, but of
almost all the remote parts of Asia
and wherever we meet with the serpent
worship, in tradition or in history. there
is also a sacred tree, or trees, connect
ed with it. To this day the most
learned physicians of Siam make use of
the bite Of snakes and crocodiles
to cure dreadful epidemics, chole-
ra, etc. In Egypt, Car
thage, Greece, Persia, India, and Java
the serpent is honored by the original
inhabitants, and is always looked upon
as harbinger of good from the un-
known.
Tree and serpent worship. however.
was SO utterly antagonistic to the mild
and benevolent spirit of Buddhism that
it was summarily abolished by the ear
liest Buddhist council. But, in spite of
all their combined efforts, it is found to
crop out again and again, and it still re-
mains as sacred tradition among all
classes and ranks of Buddhists.
But to return to our subject. In the
centre Of the paved courtyard, facing
the main building, stands an immense
pond, with stone steps leading down to
the waters edge, which is kept con-
stantly supplied with water from the
river itself. Here some sacred croco-
dies, water fnakes and eels find . pleas
ant home. This last statement how