The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-04-28
Forbidden City
Some of China's
Famous Temples.

New York, April 27.-Sydney Adamson,
in Pekin. writes TO the New York Even
ing Post as follows:
I remember a paragraph by Zangwin
in which ne accuses the camera of being
an inveterate liar. He goes on to ex-
plain how photograph represented his
wordday den, with its disorder and dust.
as fine looking place to which he was a.
stranger. But the camera is not merely
| untruthful in a fattering sense; it can
| suppress the facts, even the most impor-
! tant OF them. The full gorgeousness Of
/ Chinese temples and palaces lies in their
blaze OF contrasting yet harmonious col
ors- The very look OF a place is changed
when the cold, unconvincing gray Of a
photograph presents but the dry bones of
| form. 1t is only through the medium of
Photographic reproduction that American
people know anything of those famous
in Chinese history which have recently
had so many lenses snapped at them.
To our eyes, used to the scintiIlating
piles Of red. blue, green and gold against
a cerulean sky. and lit by the sun, the
photographs look like their dull gray
ghosts turned to stone.
a few days ago I paid a second visit
to the Forbidden City and examined
some of its features with closer attention
than was possible during the triumphaI
march on the 18th Of August. In all,
there are five throne rooms, not count
ing the entirely dilapidated one on top
of the Wu-Men. 1t. however. in its dusty
grandeur, is one Of the greatest of them
4t-s~-
hall. surrounded by the prince and his
immediate body-guard, and looking down
from the magnificent altitude of the gate,
the emperor of old received the tribute
bearers from far Thibet, Mongolia, or
the states that border India on the east.
The court was lined with soldiers and
the ambassadors from tributary states
We're not permitted nearer to the Sons Of
Heaven than several hundred feet from
the base of the great edifce on which his
imperial majesty sat. Here they laid
their gifts upon the stones and bowed to
the earth before the awful presence. For |
years the great hall seems to have been |
neglected. The throne is crumbling into |
dust. Pigeons live in the painted re-
cesses Of its gorgeous roof. Great holes |
are cut in the rotten woodwork and |
masses Of tiles are overthrown by the |
shells that burst there on the 18th of |
August.
Within the wu-Men (Which is built in
the center of the southern wall Of the |
Forbidden City is a large rectangular |
stone courtyard with a curving artificial |
watercourse which serves as an excuse /
for many elaborate marble bridges. The
pavements of these bridges are great
marble slabs. with dragons carved in
low relief Guarding the northern gate
way Of this court are two green lions on
pedestals. The gate itself is within a
pillared hallway where stands of spears
indicate the former presence of a guard
Across the next courtyard, raised upon
a very high foundation and approached
by marble stairways is the largest and
most elaborate throne-room in the Sa-
cred City. The marble stairways are
very rich, and in no otllre architecture
have I seen anything even remotely re-
sembling them. Each stairway is en-
closed by a marble rail on both sides.
The marble steps reach from the outer
rail not more than yard inward on each
side of the stairway. The center is a
huge, fat, monolith slab. beautifully
with dragon designs. The exqui-
site work, both in design and execution,
impresses even the careless visitor. Thus
each stairway, instead Of the steps
from one side raj to the ether,
as they do in most European approaches,
is really cut in two by the large panel
shaped slab, which occupies the greater
space in the center, leaving only two mar
row step-ways next to the outer rails.
These stairways, which lead up to a
stone platform in front of the building.
run parallel with each othre The inter
vening spaces are leveIed at intervals,
and on these places magnificent bronze
Irns are placed.
On the platform itself are other urns.
and on each side are a bronze stork and
I tortoise facing the south, the tortoise
behind the stork. Entering the great
painted hail. one sees the throne stand
ng squarely in the center, facing the
south, directly opposite the great door
way. The dials. or more properly speak
ng in this case. the platform on which ]
he trone sits. is about four feet high,
by a carved rail. and led UP s
% by little flights of steps from the I
ront and the two sides. On graceful I
stands between the stairways are beau /
iful cIoisonne vases. On the platform s
tself are other cIoisonne ornaments,
some of them column-shaped. with a
SPIRAL dragon winding up the stem.
The throne is richly emblazoned with S
,ilded carving, which is a mass of inter
wined dragons. AS usual. in all the
arge temples and palaces. the great roof, S
With its enormous beams. is upheld by I
luge, round pillars. They all present a J
I 8
acquer. save two. those Immediately on )
he right and left Of the throne. which Z
AVE carved spiral dragons and are rich c
y gilded. The dragons heads are al
most where the pillars join the first e
.eavy beams, and in them the eyes are {
ainted. The great beams that bind the I
illars and uphold the roof are literally {
overed with intricate designs OF glitter I
ng Oriental patterns in pale green, dark
Teen, blue that is almost purple. a Z
all red and gold. Wriggiing golden
ragons chase each other over the beams,
There eye-like spots OF gold amid the :
loom make a armament of glittering
tars- Mysterious doorways. richly orna-
lented, lead TO hidden chambers in the
rails toward the rising and setting sun. e
he effect Of this interior is rich. bizarre. =
ococo. And YET Il is bat the frame. the !,
laborate setting for those barbarous GER v
so fun OF pomp and gorgeous 7
erviiity- o
Practically. 2 line drawn from south o
o north through the center Of the For =
idden City, would divide every throne Z
oom and touch every throne. After :
rossing anothre courtyard. another :
arone-room is entered by small. square q
uilding. In its presnt condition It IS =