New-York tribune., 1898-10-16

AT CONFUCIUS'S SHRINE.
THE RELIGIOUS DUTIES OF THE CHI
Nt:SE EMPEROR.
GREAT SACR.FICES AND CEREMoNIAI.S PER-
FORMED EVERY STRING AND AUTUMN

TIE .Forbidden CITY and the palace III which
the fmpcror is forced by rite and custom To
pass his !ifc. 1t is composed of two cities. the
new one, built by the Manchurians which con-
tains the palace and imperial quarter. ard the
cid LAO King, to which the Chinese have been
reesated. They are also known as the interior
city and the exterior Old Peking has nine
gates, three en- tie south and two on each Of
tie three other sides The new city, built north
OF This has seven gates, shutting in the imperial
palace. which is in the centre and surrounded
ly a double wall, guarded by the soldiers of
thc imperial banner.
Herc live the Emperor his wives, officers and
rciainers TO the number of thousands. and if
ingress is impossible except by royal command
C.,Iess is more difficult. for not even the En-
Icr0r can come out except on STATE occasions
His chief excuse for leaving his palace is the
Offering of sacrifices at the various temples
such that Of Heaven or Earth the sun or
the Moon The day OF the offering is fixed by
the augurs and announced TO the people and
the spirits Of heaven, earth etc. The officials
make due preparations of incense, offerings on
silks. Of victims, vi1nds fruits. wires. tea etc.
ard compose prayer. The most interesting
ana important Of these ceremonies is that con
ntcted with the tomb of Confucus, and as 1t
las just beer announced that the Emperor, who
was reported dead. has left his palace to go to
the tomb Of Chinas greatest man, description
Of the rites which he viii perform is especially
apiopos
These ceremonies described at length in
pcnderOus Chinese tonnes From the twelfth
book of Tong-h, which has to do with the sacri-
fees to Confuclus and his disciples, this account
is extracted. offerings to Kong fou TIE (Confu-
c.us) are brought annually in the spring and
ta bpl dc .
AIRY conferences, or whenever the aid Of this
great teacher Of the nation seems to be re-
qured Temples to Kong TIE exist in every
city Of any size in China but the greatest Of
his shrines are the one at Peking and one at
shan Tong. near his tomb.
The temple of the capital is in the centre of
the imperial academy in the middle Of gar
den, surrounded by stone wall and a river
crossed by "a marble bridge. The chief hail is
fitted with galleries to right and left. In the
centre. on "A sort Of altar. stands the tablet Of
Kong TIE surrounded by the tablets of his three
principal disciples In the galleries are the
iIbe;s Of the sages and mos; llustrious littera-
J urs Of China, But the temple near the tomb
& much more magnificent than this one. 1t
consists Of a long suite Of square courts, in
closed by walls and Or.Iamented with pavihons
and buildings Of different kinds. In the centre IS
large rectangular court. with galleries around
it, containing the princiTal edifice constructed
like the one in Pekng, but with greater mag
nihconce. The yellow porcelain tiles. the enor-
nous columns, figures Of animals and iron orna-
tents make Up a whoe Of commanding grand
eur In this central hall stands the tablet of
Kong TIE fifteen feet high. At its base is Il
I lain tablet, with the words:
The most holy sage Of ancient times, Kong TIE
Seat Of his spirit.
The grea: ceremonial of spring and autumn
IS as follows: 1t is conducted III the hall Ia
Shng Most PorfecO. The tablets Of the saints
and sages arranged according to rank. The
most holy and ancient teacher. Kong TIE, oc-
Cupies the centre. facing the south dixie a SOY
CrCign). The saints next to him in merit. Yen
TIE and SIZE TIE, face the west. the other saints
to the cast and around the walls. Every year
on the first day # the middle months OF autumn
and spring the offerings are brough'. The prcsi-
dent of the court OF ri!es' goes two days be-
fore and examines the victims in the stable
prepares himself by fasting, and writes the
prayer The watchman chief Of the stables
Gigs hole west of the pavilion in which the
victims stand An cmplOye Of the imperial
academy places a table outside Of this pavilion
Then censor, a director Of sacrifices Of the
court Of rites and an inspector Of the imperial
academy come in ceremonial habit and oversee
the Strengthening Of the inundated animals. The
blood and the hides are buried in the hole al
ready dug The night bcfor" the soemnity
member of the imperial academy, whose duty
it is to offer the wines, comes with his men,
cleans the hall inside and outside and sprlnkles
grain around dusting the tablets Of the spirits
rofully The employees Of the court Of public
works erect a large tent TO the left Of the hall