The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1896-05-15
BEFORE THE CHINESE EMPEROR.
First Formal Reception of the Din
lomatfc Corps by the Potent.t.


From the Chicago Record
After the present Emperor ascendec
the throne of China his government Weld
ed the point and agreed to receive tha
diplomatic corps in the same manner that
they are received by the soveseirns of
Europe. The first ceremony Of this kind
which took place on March s, 1854. was al
even. IN Chinese history. The members
OF the several legations arrived at n,
Hua, or East Flower gate of the Forbidden
city, at ten o'clock On that morning IN
sedan chairs, each escorted by two monnt-
ed officers Of the imperial guards. Thev
were there met by the members ~ ~.
Tsung Ii Yamen, who conducted them -
the Shin Yung Kung. tho temple Of tas
tea and sweetmeats. An hour later thex !
were escorted to the Tsu Kuaue 10.
or reception hall. handsome buildinr
profusely decorated with gilded cover.
ings and ornamented with gay colors
The hall is approached by eight marble
steps, which lead to broad marble tar
race. Around this terrace Is a balustrada.
supported by pillars Of marble, pure White
and beautifully engraved.
The Emperor arrived about the sarna
time in his chair, which was covered out.
side and in with yellow silk, the official
Button on TO top being gold, instead of
gilded dragons. The dean of the dinlo-
matte TasdGue eorRss o escorted by members Of the
| steps, the steps themselves, and the ter.
race being crowded with eunuchs efn-
ployed IN the palace, and civil and mill
them to enter the presence Of the EN-
peror. Each member of the diplomatic
corps was given 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 ad-
pillars, where a third stop and bow were
the floor Of the platform. which was about
assembled to the platform, one in "a
middle and on. at each end.
| The ambassadors and ministers stop
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,
who had been standing on the left Of the
Emperor. Taking the papers, he ascend
| ed the steps, approached the table in front
of the Emperor. and laid them upon it.
| not kneeling until he had deposited them
The Emperor replied to the speeches In
the Manchu dialect after the diplomatists
had returned to their places between the
lated into Chinese by Prince Ching. SEN
tence by sentence. The exit from the
hall was made by walking backward,
| with bows at three places.
The sides Of the audience hadd were COW
cred with inscriptions and rare paint
| ings of enormous size. The ceiling was
oneRRa feet IN sse dEded By hes
rafters. The supporting columns were Of
red lacquer. covered with figures Of gold
| dragons.
Prince Pc. on his left Prince ko, and near
him Prince Ching. The room was lined
on either side by two rows Of high ON
Gf tine
Of the imperia! family. No arms were
visible except the swords worn by the
escort, bearing long red lacquered spears.
with silver points and long tiger tall
could be seen. just outside the door,
They presented a picturesque sppear-
was straight stem six feet high, sup
porting at the top what appeared to b
painted limitations of peacock tails sprsed
out, the feathers indicating rank n
Lengthy inscriptions. in Manchu ware
engraved upon marble plinth back Qf
throGe Six nss1'i bowl
immense cloisonne dragon Of great valne.
were placed around the platform, while
from the ceiling were suspended eight
RUang dynast R On the table II fress
Of the Emperor, which was covered with
| yellow satin embroidered with ugufee OF
| dragons, was placed the pipe Of His
Majesty, a piece of carved Jade and gold
the handle formed by the body and tail
Of a dragon, its mouth as the tobacco
bowl.
Within the pink walls that surrounded
the forbidden city are. several temples
and forty or more palaces and other
buildings, which are occupied - resi-
dences by the Emperor's immediate 1T
| PENDANTS and officers Of the guard. they
4 are all Of one story and Of uniform
architecture, differing only IN dimensicns.,
Their exteriors are painted that peeufiAl
white which Europeans have never been
able to initiate, and rooted with tiles o.
Imperial yellow. The Flu Hua, or East
Flower gate, Is reached from the Tartar
city by passing over a marble bridge.
handsomely decorated and bearing sew
eral tablets with inscriptions that petoken
long life prosperity, happiness and other
blessings. Immediately before the gatqe
| are the western gardens, Handsomely
laid out In the highest taste and skiu
In landscape architecture, and surround-
ing a lake that covers several acres. the
nearest temple Is dedicated to the greee
| river god, and there the Emperor onera
sacrifces to appease that discrderly @oa!
who is responsible for the hoods whicn
80 frequently devastate the lowiands Of
About the grounds are stationed thou
sands Of Imperial guards. who are ois.
tinguished by their yellow tunics ana
violet cloaks. They have Q series OF 0nt-
forms, which are changed et tntesvaU
NV the Emperor's orders.