The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1891-12-11
CELESTIAL oBsEQuIEs.
Imposing Ceremonies ola Chinese Princes
Funeral.


Funeral.
A recent mail from China brought tho
particulars Of the burial OF the late
Prince Chun, the notable prime minis
ter of the Celestial empire, and father
of the present emperor. The ceremony
Is described as one OF the grandest
sights G yer seen in Pekin, and AS un-
paralleled for its gorgeous pageantry In
Chinese history. The astrologers hav-
ing fixed upon four In the morning rs an
suspicious hour, everything had 20 be
In readiness at that some what unseen
~ time. When the procession was in
order, and at the moment OF starting.
the emperor went In front OF the coffin,
knelt down. and bowed his head three
times, each time crying aloud. The same
ceremony was performed by the other
sons of the deceased prince, and then
the solemn march commenced. The
coffin was borne by eight bearers. the
emperor following on foot part OF the
way, after which he entered a sedan
chair, and was taken by n shorter route
20 a small temple. by which the process
sion was TO pass, where he awaited the
arrival OF the coffin. Here he again
publicly bowed his head and apparent
ly wept copiously, after which he re-
turned to his own palace. The
pail was n splendid piece of crimson
silk. covered with gold embroidery.
The bearers were clad in blue silk cos
tunes, and wore official hats, with but.
tons and peacooks' feathers, which. ac-
cording 20 the western ideas, gave them
a somewhat comical appearance. They
were divided into three sets, who car
ried the coffin, which was OF great
weight, in turns A pavilion. in three
sections, was carried after the coffin by
forty-eight men; then followed eight
magnificently caparisoned camels,
walking in pairs, twelve milk-white
horses OF rare breed, with yellow
trappings, four men in gorgeous
dresses, each bearing golden
eagle, and four men leading small
white dogs, walking two and two; then
came pair OF large, white satin ban
ners. trimmed with scarlet and en-
broidered with yellow imperial dragons
After these followed n great crowd OF
men, some bearing flags shaped like
fish, others swords, spears, knives, etc
The umbrellas carried were special
feature OF the pageant, being made to
represent various curious and grotesque
objects To these succeeded a band of
musicians, and then followed n man
carrying a singular looking crooked
handled umbrella, which is only
borne by the emperor. Then
came another pavilion, carried by
eight men dressed In scarlet
silk, which contained the funeral
eulogy of the empress-dowager. To |
this succeeded pair of lions. a pair Of |
deer, "A pair of storks, "a girl and "A boy, |
all decorated with evergreen shrubs |
Then came the historic yellow sedan |
chair, presented to the prince shortly |
before his death, but which, for some |
reason or other, he refused To travel in; |
n yellow imperial chariot, and the |
princes favorite horse with a red |
breast-p.ate. The horse was followed |
by large red and yellow silk um-
brella, 10y company of archers with
their bows and arrows, sedan chair |
with four bearers, number CT gaylv- |
decorated open wagons, on which stood |
several young men bearing the
official wardrobe of the deccased-hats,
boots, robes, etc by the side of these
wagons marched over hundred armed
attendants, followed by large party
engaged in throwing different colored
papers in all directions Cavalry and
infantry from the different camps in
Pekin were in attendance, and the
whole route was lined with soldiers,
hn Al
passing, and then arose and Joined
at the end of the procession. This,
however is not the final interment.
The body was removed from the de-
ceased's house to n temple, where it
will remain until some opportuae time,
as yet unfixed, for conveying II To- the
imperial mausoleum.- brakes Maya
Eine.