The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1896-07-09


After the present emperor assembled
the throne Of China his government
yielded the point and agreed to receive
the diplomatic corps in the same man
ncr that they are received by the sover-
elgns of Europe. The first ceremony of
the kind, which took place on March 5.
1891, VAS an event in Chinese history.
/ The members Of the several legations
arrived at Flu Hua. or East Flower gate
OF the forbidden city, at 10 o'clock ON
that morning III sedan chairs, each es.
corted by two mounted officers of the
Imperial guards. They were there met
by the members of the Tsung Ii Yamen,
who conducted them to the Shih Ynng
hung, the temple Of the great river god,
when they Were offered tea and sweet
meats. An hour later they We're escorted
to the Tsu huang ko, or reception hall.
handsome building profusely decorated
with gilded coverings and ornamcnted
with gay colors. The hall is approached
by eight marble steps, which lead 10 Il
broad marble terrace Around this ter
race is balustrade supported by pillars
OF marble, pure white and beautifully
engraved.
The emperor arrived about the same
time i'll his chair, which was covered
outside and in with yellow silk, the off
cial button on top being gold instead of
silver and the ends Of the bearing poles
being deliberately carved and capped
with gilded dragons. The dean of the
diplomatic corps, escorted by members
of the foreign office, was conducted into
the hall, the sides of the approach to the
steps, the steps themselves and the ter
race being crowded with eunuchs en-
ployed Ill the palace and civil and mil
itary officers whose rank did not entitle
them to enter the presence of the en-
peror. Each member of the diplomatic
corps was given u separate audience by
the emperor who was seated upon a
marble throne. AS they crossed the
threshold they bowed, advanced three
or four PAGES and bowed again, then adj
vanced to point between the two dragon
pillars, where third stop and bow
were made There Il foreign carpet COW
cred the floor of the PLATFORM which
was about three feet high.
The ambassadors and ministers stop.
ped about IL feet from the emperor,
where they made their speeches, which
were translated by an Interpreter into
Chinese. They then advanced and hand
ed letters of credence to Prince Ching,
xN-h CT 81 I,ft 80
the emperor. Taking the papers, he
assembled the steps, approached the table
i'll front of the emperor and laid them
upon it, not kneeling until he had de-
posted them. The emperor replied to
the speeches in the Mantchoo dialect aft
er the diplomatists had returned to their
places between the dragon pillars, his
remarks being translated into Chinese
by Prince Ching, sentence by sentence.
The exit from the hall was made by
walking backward, with bows at three
places.
The sides Of the audience hall were
covered with inscriptions and rare
paintings of enormous size. The ceiling
was composed of wooden squares 116
feet in size, divided by heavy rafters,
all ger 5eously painted with the dragon
figures. The supporting columns We're
of red lacquer, covered with figures of
gold dragons
On the right Of the emperor stood
Prince Pc on his left Prince ko, and
near HIM Prince Ching. The room was
lined on either side by two rows Of high
officers Of the Imperial guards and
chamberlains, many being princes and
dukes Of the imperial f.mily No arms
were visible except the swords worn by
the emperor and the princes. The i'm
pcrial escort, bearing long red laequered
spears, with silver points and IL long
tiger tail, could be seen just outside
the doors. They presented picturesque
appearance. On either side of the en-
peror was II straight stem six feet high,
supporting at the top what appeared TO
be painted limitations Of peacock tails
spread out, the feathers indicating rank
i'll China.
Lengthy inscriptions in Mantchoo We're
engraved upon a marble plinth back of
the throne. Six immense incense bowls
of old cloisonne, each guarded by an
immense cloisonne dragon of great
value, We're placed around the platform,
while from the ceiling We're suspended
eight cloisonne lamps made during the
Toa- Kuang dynasty. On the table in
front of the emperor, which was GOV
cred with yellow satin, embroidered
with figures of dragons, was placed the
pipe of his majesty, u piece of carved
Jade and gold, the handle formed by
the body and tail Of dragon, its mouth
as the tobacco bowl.
Within the pink walls that surrounded
the forbidden city are several temples
and 40 or more palaces and other build
ings which are occupied as residences
by the empcror's immediate attendants
and officers of the guard They are all
of one story and of uniform architecture,
differing only i'll dimensions. Their cx-
teriors are painted that peculiar white
which Europeans have never been able
to initiate and rooted with tiles of i'm
perial yellow. The Flu Hna, or East
Flower gate, Is reached from the Tartar
city by passing over a marble bridge,
handsomely decorated and bearing sey-
eral tablets with inscriptions that be
token long life, prosperity, happiness
and other blessings Immediately before
the gates are the western gardens, hand
somely laid ont i'll the highest taste and
skill in landscape architecture, and sur