, 1888-08-11
THE SACRED UMBRELLA.
EVOLUTION OF THE COMMON RAINY
DAY ARTICLE OF TODAY.

The Reverence Paid to 1t In Early Times.
The Connection Between Trees and
Umbrellas Primitive Model The
Baldachino-A Throne.
Referring to the traces of the singular
reverence bestowed on the umbrella as
proved from the pre- Christian sculptures OK
northern India, none are more curious than
those which suggest the retention Of print
tive tree worship, in the earliest days of pure
Buddhism. | have two sketches from the
g~ateways of the Slnchi Tope, showing how
1900 years ago Il sacred flower laden sal tree
CShorea robusta), beneath which the Gautama
Buddha died at Kasia, was hung with gar.
lands and approached by crowds of wor-
shippers both human and celestial. But the
point which concerns our present purpose is
the very prominent position occupied by the
umbrella. In one case the tree is overshad-
owed by n very large chatta. In the other,
which Is sculpturcd on n pillar of the same
gateway, two chattas combine their honor
comforting power on the sacred tree. In each
case these ministers Of dignity are themselves
adorned with garlands. Another Indication
of the same reverence is TO be seen on n
sculptured stonea Mt the Great Tope of Buddha
Gaya, erected b. c.. 80, in front of the sacred
Bo-tree (Flius religiosa), beneath which
Gautama attained 10 the Buddhahood, and
which is still growingl Here, also, the UNI
brellas ON either side Of the tree are adorned
with garlands.
Passing to southern India, we find that on
some of the ancient Buddhist sculptures at
the Amravati Tope, the highest deal of honor
is expressed by the use of the sacred lotus
leaf as a sunshade the ribbed leaf cup being
highly suggestive OF that umbrella form.
A1Nhn.,-l I'll. 1870. ,--+ 90 .-. = H..
sculptured relic shrines is broken, so that tho
original number is uncertain, there still re-
main eight of these overshadowing leaves,
while on another n forest OF about fifty UNI
brella shaped lotus leaves are thus shown,
piled all over the summit of n Dagoba. In
point OF fact, the connection between trees
and umbrellas is not so far fetched ms might
at first sight appear, for the primary idea of
the umbrella is undoubtedly derived from a
shady tree umbrella, from umbra, shade),
with pendant boughs dropping from an up
right stem, as in the weeping willow, or the
circular cluster of long fronds which crown
the slender stem of each member of the great
families of tall and in most Ases perfectly
upright palm trees, tree ferns and papawas.
So closely has this primitive model been adj
hered TO by the peasants Of Burmnh and Ben
gal that their great clumsy chattas (umbrel-
las consist chiefly of a frameworko bamboo
covered with leaves, or else matched with
grass.
The usual ingenuity of the Chinese and
japanese was not long in devisiug an adj
vance on the original idea. Many centuries
must have elapsed since they bethought them
of n method for converting leaves or bark
into stout paper. So while they retain the
idea of the tree in the strong bamboo handle
and framework of split bamboo, they sub
StitntA 81 tbipk VVutarnrpnf ,a,,ap f,r th,
primitive green leaves.
The Assyrian has reliefs show slaves hold
ing a richly ornamented umbrella above the
head of the monarch, not only in scenes of
peace, but even in times of war. Ii appears
to be fringed with tassels and is provided on
one side with an embroidered curtain. In
these sculptures this mark of distinction is
reserved exclusively for the monarch, and it
never oyershadows any other person, how
ever eminent The same thing is observed
in the sculptures of Babylon and Nineveh. in
which the king alone is thus distinguished.
OF the ancient Mexican emperors it is like
wise recorded that not only were they borne
by relays of great mobiles, but also that four
more mobiles of high estate were appointed to
uphold the sacred unArella which added dig
nifty to the imperial procession.
Reverting to medieval days we find that
Persia likewise fully recognized the honor
comforting power of this symbol, as is fully
proven by the ancient title which has ever
been bestowed on her high dignitaries,
namely, SAtrnp or Chatrapa, which dixie the
titles of the Burmese kings and the Mahratta
chiefs simply means Lord of the I'm
brella." Indeed, it was from Persia that the
idea of carrying a canopy of some rich stuff
above any object to be reverenced seems first
10 have reached Europe, the Baldachini of
ecclesiastical art having derived their name
from Baldach, the ancient Persian name of
the city Of Bagdad. The baldachino, which
is simply a richly embroidered canopy, sup
ported by four poles, carried by four bearers,
is now familiar to us only in the gorgeous
professions of the Greek or Roman Catholic
churches, where it Is borne above the conse-
Grated host or sacred images.
But In the middle ages it figured in all
solemn processions-coronations marriages,
funerals, triumphal progresses of great men
just as we may still see in eastern lands,
where the chief mobiles of the kingdom are
those selected for the honor of supporting the
splendid canopy which overshadows the
royal litter, or the funeral car whereon is
laid the honored dead. At the present day
Queen Victoria's canopied throne may be
cited as a development of the imperial UNI
brella; the speakers chair in parliament and
the bishops throne in many cathedrals show
clearly how this honorable distinction be
came naturalized on British soil.-C. f.
Gordon Cumming in English Illustrated
Magazine.
Emotional Outbreaks of Peoples.