The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-30
CH1NA's EMPEROR ALARMED.
The Ancient Superstition That the Eclipse 81
the Sun Betokens Impending Calamity.

The Ancient Superstition That the Eclipse sf
the Sun Betokens Impending Calamity.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 90. -Coincident with the
reports from Pekin that the Chinese aro or.
cited over the coming eclipse of the sun, the
State Department has received by mail from
Charles DENLY. the United States Minister to
China, q copy Of an official decree issued by the
Emperor, setting forth the ancient superstition
Of the Orientals that tho eclipse of the sun Dor.
tends disaster. The eclipse will occur on the
first day of the twenty-fourth year of the reign
Of Kuang Hau. and, according to Mr.. DENLY. the
Emperor is filed with forebodings as to its Of.
fects. The decree follows:
According to the Chun Chiu tspring and
autumn annals) it has been stated that an eclipse
Of the sun the first day Of tho year bctokens an
impending calamity. hence the sovereigns Of
every dynasty which has preceded us have al
ways made it q point, whenever an eclipse Of
the sun Is prognosticated, to undergo self abase-
ment and humble themselves before heaven in
order to avert tho wrath from above. In the
case of our own imperial dynasty. for Instance.
during the reigns of their Majestics. Kang Hsi
and Chier Lung t16G2-1794), there were OBJ
served two Gclipses of the sun. which foil on Q
New Years Day; and now, according to the
fourth fourth u Year A'e Of our re iaI " (asd p Jsn S d rye 1885, 1851.
there S VII be yet another eclipse Of the sun: We
signs which may. have thus brought the
VIA furt Of cdmno hsa tnat ~, upon the lands;
generalization. usually held on New Year'a Day
in the Taio ,Fo throne hall. be curtailed, and only
changed to the CHEN Using throne hall, instead
Of the Taio Ho throne hall. The banquet
Years Day must also be stopped. and when the
eclipse occurs let all members Of the court wear
palace before the altar set up to heaven to pray
for for5earance and mercy to the country az
selves to show our desire to propitiato high
heaven, but as her Majesty the Empress Dow
aseF Is an elder and Sc senior, # is but right that
Majesty. Let all the Yamens concerned take
The decree Is so Characteristic of other utter
ances OF the Emperor and Chinese officials gem
who are familiar with the methods of those who
govern the Fl2wery Kingdom. It is suspected
| Chinese territory by European nations. issued
the decree to save himself from the.condemna-
the continuance Of a dynasty which submitted
without. Without on a struggle sE I" the rn enrroaahme n of
dynasty has many enemies. we'll organized and
anxious for the opportunity of overthrowing the
SSFrsin Drpps And Tss d0 Ing Tie alsr Power Nr ret to the real ,Sd
rulers OF China have endeavored to keep their
subjects peacefully disposed by appealing TO
decree rHs ' of v E"s se' q s ons q ftRs0 TiSor ., pr q:
lhNCS, wiz lAibpVkth " b'hIIo Ubt NJ th0
hands of his people by appealing to their super
stitions. This Viceroy was charged with keep
Ing In good condition the dykes, which pre-
vented the rivers in his territory from overflow
ing. He failed to do so. however. either through
the money raised for improving tho dykes.
There WAS a disastrous overflow, in which
many human beings and cattle LOST
their lives. and much property. was
destroyed. An uprising against tho Viceroy
was imminent, when he issued a proclamation
charging the overflow to the river devil. and
calling on the people to drive tho evil spirit QUE
Of the turbulent waters, The snPerstitious
sponded. They threw broken glass, stones. and
other things into the stream. and honored
the Viceroy as q great man when the
waters subsidized. 1t was said by the
man who told the story that with tho
ignorant Chinese kept In constant fear
OF the wrath OF honvcn, II they do not propitiate
the gods in the manner directed in the decree.
they will accept the invasion OF the Germans
and other Europeans as an evil over which they
have no control. and even IL they are inclined to
resent forcibly the puissant attitude OF the Gov.
ernment, apprehension OF the terrible conBS-
quences which will follow unruly acts will keen
them In subsection.