Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-07-22
CHINESE SPLENDOR.
THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS BEFORE THE
REIGNING PoTENTATE.

A Formal RecepClOu ny inc G1AAAPoAoA'
Stiff Necked Ceremony In the Midst Of
Rich ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Temples
and Palaces In the Forbidden City.
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
ner that they are received by the sover-
eigns of Europe. The first ceremony of
the kind, which took place on March 3,
1891, was 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 in 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 Shin Yung
Kung, the temple Of the great river god,
when they were offered tea and sweet
meats An hour later they were escorted
to the Tsu Kuang Ko, or reception hall,
a handsome building profusely decorated
with gilded coverings and ornamented
with gay colors. The hall is approached
by eight marble steps, which lead to a
broad marble terrace. Around this ter
race is a balustrade supported by pillars
of marble, pure white and beautifully
engraved.
The emperor arrived about the same
time in 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 in 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 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-
vanced to point between the two dragon
pillars, where a third stop and bow
were made There a foreign carpet COW
cred the floor Of the platform, which
was about three feet high.
The ambassadors and ministers stop
ped about 10 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,
who had been standing on the left of
the emperor. Taking the papers, he
assembled the steps, approached the table
in 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 ! q
feet in size, divided by heavy rafters,
all gorgeously painted with the dragon
figures. The supporting columns were
of red lacquer, covered with figures Of
gold dragons.
On the right of the emperor stood
Prince Pc, on his left Prince Ko, anc
near him Prince Ching. The room was
lined on either side by two rows Of higf
officers Of the Imperial guards anc
chamberlains, many being princes ant
| dukes of the imperial family. No arms
were visible except the swords worn by
the emperor and the princes. The i'm
perial escort, bearing long red lacqueret
spears, with silver points and long
tiger tail, could be seen just outside
the doors. They presented picturesque
appearance. On either side of the EN-
peror was ctraiGht stem six feet high
supporting at the top what appeared tt
be painted limitations Of peacock tail
spread cut, the feathers indicating ranl
| in China.
| Lengthy inscriptions in Mantchoo wer
engraved upon marble plinth back o
the throne. Six immense incense bowl
of old cloisonne, each guarded by al
immense cloisonne dragon of grea
value, were placed around the platform
while from the ceiling were suspended
eight cloisonne lamps made during tn
Toa-Kuang dynasty. On the table II
front of the emperor, which was GOV
cred with yellow satin, embroidere'
with figures of dragons, was placed tn
pipe Of his majesty, a piece OF carve'
jade and gold, the handle formed b.
the body and tail of dragon, its moutl
as the tobacco bowl.
Within the pink walls that surrounde'
the forbidden city are several temple
and 40 or more palaces and other build
ings which are occupied as residence
by the emperor's immediate attendant
and officers of the guard. They are al
of one story and of uniform architecture
differing only in dimensions. Their eS
teriors are painted that peculiar viii
which Europeans have never been abb
to initiate and rooted with tiles of in
perial yellow. The Flu Hua, or Eas
Flower gate, is reached from the Tarta
city by passing over a marble bridge
handsomely decorated and bearing sey
eral tablets with inscriptions that be
token long life, prosperity, happines
and other blessings. Immediately befo1
the gates are the western gardens, HAND
somely laid out in the highest taste an
skill in landscape architecture, and SUI
rounding lake that covers several acres
The nearest temple is dedicated to tn
great river god, and there the empert
offers sacrifices to appease that disorder
joss, who is responsible for the fioot
which SO frequently devastate the low
lands of northern China. Chicago Re-
ord.
Finger Rings In the British Museum.
The large and varied collection Of fl
ger rings includes some splendid spec
mems OF Roman rings and some remarl
able early Christian rings. Historical
interesting is the gold ring Of Ethe
wulf, king of Wessex, which was four
in a cart rut at Laverstock, Hampshir,
as also one found near York which b