The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-10-07

second gate which extends TO give some
hint OF the magnificence to be expected
Wltnln. A wide stone cauSeWay ex-
tends north through this courtyard I'D
70 the gate which is called by the
Chinese the Tien-An Nun, or the Gate
or heavenly Rest. This is the So-called
great Pink Gate, so named because its
pillars and woodwork are heavily
enameled with a red lacquer which
has become faded and now presents a
pink appearance. The three arches
through the gate are faced with white
marble, over which are twined Splen-
d1dly carved dragons On the comb
or the roof and running down on the
projecting caves of the pagoda-like
structure over the gate are grotesque
porcelain ornaments, the heads Of
PhOenixes and Griffins.
Within this gate is still another
courtyard. on the north side of which
stands the Wu-Mun, or Meridian Gate.
This is the southern entrance of the
prohibited city itself and the second
gate from the emperor's palace On
the eastern side of the gate stands a
large sun dial of antique design and
magnificent workmanship, being cast in
bronze in the time OF the MOngOI
dynasty which reignedz in the thir-
teenth century. On the western side
of the gate stands a lunar dial of like
workmanship and design. The tower
over the gate holds a large gong, which
was originally intended TO be used like
the drums which now stand before the
magistrates yamenS throughout the
empire. 1t is said that il was so used
during the time of the. Ming dynasty
petitioners who had failed to obtain
justice through the ordinary channels
being permitted to call the attention
of the emperor to their. grievances by
striking on. the gongg but the death
penalty was inflicted on any whose ap-
peal was found to be fu-founded or
frivolous The gong is now used only
as signal of the emperor'S passing
through, either when entering or leav-
ing the city. The courtyard before this
gate is the place of audience for vic
tOriOUs generals who, returning from
successful campaigns, come here to lay
before their monarch the loot and
prisoners which they have taken 1t
is also the place for the distribution of
decorations and presents to foreign
ministers and native officials.
The Precinct of the SOLITARY Man. -
Passing through this gate. one is at
last within the mysterious city itself.
Across the courtyard within the gate
runs a small canal over which lead
five marble bridges with magnificentIy
carved baliustrades and impressive
stone lions guarding their entrances
From each of these bridges runs a
magnificent avenue paved with fine
marble leading up TO an immense
impressive building stands on a marble
basement about twenty feet in height
and rises to total height of over no
feet The ascent to the building is
carved marble bafluStrades leading
from each of the five avenues which
run across the courtyard. The cen
trail one of these avenues is very broad
and is reserved for the use of the en-
perOr alone. The two avenues on Ell
Of hi fcT- lei
of the blood and officers of the highest
rank, while those on the extreme right
and left are for the use of all others.
Back of the Tai-Ho-Tien is the gate
leading to the palace proper.
The palace buildings consist of four
large structures and two smaller ones
arranged around the courtyard within
the gate. The central building is
called the Cheng-Kung, or-the Palace.
Those which flank it on either side are
called the Tung-Kung and Si-Kung, or
the eastern and western palaces, while
the fourth one, which faces the palace
proper, is called the Hall of the Golden
Dragon The smaller buildings are
those reserved for the empress dOwager
and her suite. The palace building
/ like the great audience hall in the
court in front of it, is long and wide,
reaching almost across the court in
( which il stands, built with red bricks,
which, according to Chinese law, are
ACSCIh Cu LUZ use Al the Imperial DUllQ-
ings, with marble facings ornately
carved and surmOunted with a double
roof, the second one of which covers
gallery supported by pillars, the
roofs being covered with yellow pOrce-
lain tile and all the woodwork covered
with a heavy red enamel.
According to the native descriptions,
the interior ofe the palace is painted
with the famous imperial vermillion.
The floors are covered with priceless
yellow Silk-velvet carpets of native
make, and the furniture, which follows
the design and shape common in
China, is constructed of heavy red iron
wood and highly polished In the en-
peror's- own rooms the frames of all
the furniture are of solid gold. The
Chin-Luan-Tien or official reception
room, is carpeted with an immense rug
of rough velvet worked in with yellow
dragons. 1t contains no seats or other
conveniences, except the throne itself
for among the Chinese no one, however
high his rank, is permitted to assume
any other than a PROSTATE position
while in the terrifying position of his
emperor. The throne itself is placed
on an elevated dais- It is assembled
| from behind by a splendidly carved
| staircase and supported by q large
copper dragon heavily giIded. Around