Evening journal., 1897-04-20
CHINESE SPLENDOR.
THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS BEFORE The
ReleNlNe PoTENTATE.

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 soyer-
eigns Of Europe. The first ceremony Of
the kind, which took place on March 8,
1891, was an event in Chinese history.
The members Of the several legations
arrived at Fu 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 Shih 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,
handsome building profusely decorated
with gilded coverings and ornamented
with gay colors. The hall is approached
by eight marble steps, which lead to
bread 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 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 elaborately 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 a 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 q third stop and bow
were made There foreign carpet COW
cred the floor Of the platform, which
was about three feet high
The ambassadors and ministers stop
ped about 12 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 thre'
places.
The sides of the audience hall wert
covered with inscriptions and rar'
paintings Of enormous size. The ceiling
was composed of wooden squares IL
feet in size, divided by heavy rafters
all gorgeously painted with the dragon
figures. The supporting columns wer'
of red lacquer, covered with figures O
gold dragons.
On the right Of the emperor stool
Prince Po, on his left Prince Ko, anC
near him Prince Ching The room wa
lined on either side by two rows Of higl
officers Of the Imperial guards anl
chamberlains many being princes ant
dukes Of the imperial family. No arm
were visible except the swords worn b.
the emperor and the princes The i'm
perial escort, bearing long red lacqueTe'
spears, with silver points and q lon
tiger tail, could be seen just outsid
the doors. They presented a picturesqu
appearance. On either side of the EN-
peror was a straight stem six feet high
supporting at the top what appeared t
be painted limitations Of peacock tail
spread out, the feathers indicating ran
in China
Lengthy inscriptions in Mantchoo wer
engraved upon a marble plinth back {
the throne. Six immense incense bow
Of old cloisonne, each guarded by a
immense cloisOnne dragon of grei
value, were placed around the platform
while from tho ceiling were suspende
eight cloisonne lamps made during I'll
front of the emperor, which was CO.
cred with yellow satin, embroidere
with figures Of dragons, was placed Il
pipe Of his majesty, a piece Of carve
Jade and gold, the handle formed I
the body and tail of a dragon, its mout
as the tobacco bowl.
Within the pink walls that surroundC
the forbidden city are several tempt
and 40 or more palaces and other bull
ings which are occupied as residenc
by the emperor's immediate attendan
and officers Of the guard. They are a
of one story and of uniform architectur
differing only in dimensions. Their e
teriors are painted that peculiar whi
which Europeans have never been alb
10 initiate and rooted with tiles of il
perial yellow. The Flu Hua, or Ea
Flower gate, is reached from the Tart
city by passing over a marble bridg
handsomely decorated and bearing Sc