Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-01-24
The Home Life of the Chinese ROYAL
Family.
HOW THE PRINCES ARE EDUCATED.

Hong Kong Daily Press.]
The sons OF the Manchu emperors undergo
strictest education. Rising at about o'clock In
the morning, they first take their lesson In Chi
nese literature, under the superintendent OF
the only tutor who has the title OF shih-fu or
master" The tutor rises from his chair as
soon as the imperial pupil enters, and receives
from the latter curtsey, which Is then returned
In the same form. The tutor takes the seat of
honor, and when the lesson is learned the pupil
brings up his book, deposits 1t before his teacher
and returns to his seat to repeat the task by heart
If the lesson is not learned, the tutor requests
eunuch in attendance to bring the ferule and
makes show of administering correction. But
each imperial pupil is accompanied by eight
fellow-students, known in the Manchu language
as ha-ha-chu, who study the same books as
their young master. When it becomes neces-
Sary to admon1sh the latter more seriously, the
ha- ha-chu are beaten with the ferule vicarious-
well, they are, on the other hand. commended
or rewarded.
A recalcitrant and obstinate prince is as last
resort actually himself logged, though proba-
bly, only nomtnally, by the teachers; or taken
before the Emperor, who directs a eunuch to
pinch his cheeks. The late Emperor Tung-chih
was frequently tweaked in this way by order of
the Expresses. The Chinese lesson occupies two
hours; alter this comes the Manchu and Mongol
lessons in composition, given by teachers VINO
enjoy the less honorable title OF sA-fu, and who
make the first obeiSance Then come lessons in
various spoken languages, Manchu, Mongol,
Tranquil: and horse archery, athletics fencing,
putting the stone, etc., under the guidance of a
class OF instructors called anita. The whole of
the young princes day Is taken up with mental
or physical exercises, and they retire to rest at
very early hour; At suitable intervals their
meals are weighed out for them, and on no &C
count are they allowed to indulge In the pleas
ures Of the table. At the age OF fifteen they
must marry. One year before wife is selected
Tor the helr-apparent, he Is provided with q
handmade taken from the families of the inner
banners OF the Imperial household. who must
be one year older than himself and prepare him
for husbands duties. On his accession this
to her alone among those inmates OF the harem
who are selected from the inner banners. No
one but the Empress Is allowed to pass the night
with the Emperor. The Emperor sleeps with
eight landmarks sitting upon his bed and six
teen others underneath the bed, all OF them girls
from nei-wu-fu. Their function is to keep watch
sneeze, cough, Spit or utter any sound The
movements of the Emperor after awaking in the
morning are signalized by a clapping Of hands
on the part OF the eunuch on guard
Once year-on New Years day-the emperor
and empress preside at grand banquet, the
empress sitting on the emperOr'S left hand This
Is the only occasion during the year on which
the emperor can see his wives together and
compare their respective merits The empress
presents articles Of food to the eunuchs who re-
celve IL from her majesty on their knees, and
the women. The emperor is spoken of and to
as hwaDg-shang-'m majesty by all men but
members OF the inner banners who use the
term "chu-tsZ ~" dominus." The emperor,
empress, and cOncubines are all called by the
eunuchs "foye," or " chu-tSz,"f. e., "Buhdha,n
or dOminuS," and the imperial princess ..yen
the latter term equi' llent to "sire ;" They are
spoken OF as "ako." The three inner gates Of the
imperial apartments are never entered even by
eunuchs, and. of men, only eunuchs are al
lowed TO pass the fifth gate, which is watched
by a corps of imperial guards. who are au-
thorlZed to strike the shins Of even the highest
word.
II an inmate Of the female apartments wishes
10 purchase anything or to Communicate with
tne outer world, she must send handmade to
SOUND the iron plate, or the clapper, with which
the harem Is provided, on which the head
eunich approaches to inquire who is in want OF
assistance. Having learned who calls, he dis
patches the under-eunuch specially attached to
THIS department, who addresses the handmade
ana takes her orders, either verbally or on a
Slip OF paper. The cabinet ministers rise every
morning at a. m, present themselves at court
at a. M, and are then received In audience
Thelr meals are served up gratis from the en-
perors pantry, and the whole day is spent at
the palace until p. m. on ''Off days. and till
p: m. on days when there is military business to
discuss. Thus the only time they can call their
own Is from, say, p. m. to 2 a. m. II fndiS-
posed, OF course they may obtain leave OF alb
sence, which must frequently be great boom
The chun-chi never return the calls OF any but
the most distinguished provincial Officers and
even then this Is done on the way from the
palace,