The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-07

realizes high pllared sanctuary In which
the gloom Is almost absolute, and therein
thrown into strange relief against the
obscurity. the soft CLEAN OF the golden zoo
fore him are rows and rows Of great butter
lamps Of solid gold, each shaped IN cur,
chalices OF the English Church. Lighted
by the tender radiance Of these twenty or
thirty beads Of light, the great glowing
ghostlike and shadowless, in the 'murky
recess
1t is not the magnifcence OF the statue
that Is first perceived. and certainly u IL
not that which makes the deepest ana most
lasting impression. For this is no ordinary
representation Of the Master The features
thay are not, but there is no need OF beauty
here. Here is no trace of that inscrutabie
smile which from Mukden to Ceylon ~
inseparable from our conceptions OF the
features Of the Great Teacher. Here there
is nothing Of the saddened smile o. .nd
Melancholia, who has known too much and
has renounced it all as vanity. Here, IN
stead, is the quiet happiness and the quick
capacity for pleasure Of the boy who mad
never yet known either PAIN or disease;
or death 1t Is Gautama as pure ana
eager prince, without a thought for the
morrow or a care for to-day.
No doubt the surroundings, which are
effective almost to the verge OF theatricality,
account for much, but this beautiful statue
is the sum and climax OF Tibet. and as one
gazes one knows 1t and respects the jealousy
OF it's guardians. The legendary history
Of this idol Is worth reteiling IL Is ne ntaa
himself, In the happier days Of his limo.
oence and secusion in Kapali-vastu. II
was made by Vsvakarma- man, but
the constructive force Of the universe
and is of gold, alleged with the four other
elemental metals. silver, "copper" and T I, is
adorned with diamonds. rubies, lapis-
lazuli, emeralds and the unidentified In
draniia, which modern dictionaries pro-
saically explain as sapphire
This priceless image was given by the
King Of Magadha to the Chinese Emperor
e overrunning the plains OF INDIA.
From Pekin it was brought as her dowry
by Princess Konjo in the seventh century.
The crown was undoubtedly given py
Tsong-kapa himself in the early part OF the
golden ornaments which heap the Xiii ;kor
before the image are the presents OF pious
Buddhists from the earliest days to the pres
ent time. Among them are twenty-five
large butter lamps, eight Of a somewhat
smaller size, twelve bowls. two precious
smaller articles ali Of the same metal
These are arranged on the three shelves
of the Khil-ko and the taller articles con-
ceal the whole of the image from his
shoulders downward. To this fact may
perhaps be due the common, but mistaken
description of the 10 as standing figure.
Across and across his breast are innumer-
able necklaces OF gold. set with turquoises,
pearls, and coral. The throne on which
he sits has overhead canopy, supported
by two exquisitely designed dragons OF
silver gilt, each about ten feet in height;
wooden foliage, and the aKyung, or Garuda
Bird, overhead can just be seen in the dark
ness. Closer examination shows that al
most every part OF the canopy and seat 10
gilded, gold, or jewelled.
The crown is perhaps the most inter-
esting jewel. 1t is deep coronet of gold,
heightened by five conventional leaves,
each enclosing a golden image OF Buddha,
and incrusted with precious stones. In the
centre, below the middle leaf, is flawless
turquoise six inches long and three inches
wide. the largest in the world. Behind
huge figures standing back against the
wali of the shrine all round. Rough hewn,,
barbaTous, and unadorned they are, put
nothing else could have SO well supplied
the back ground for this treasure OF treasures
as the Egyptian solemnity Of these dark
Atlantides, standing shoulder to shoulder
on altar stones, where no lamps are ever
lighted and no flowers are ever strewn.
Before the entrance, protecting the treas
ures of the shrine, is the usual curtain
OF horses bits. This was unfastened at
our request, and we were allowed 70 NIKE axe
gems are not, perhaps, up to the standard
Of European market; 30 far as one could
see, the emeralds were large, but fawed,
and, as is OF course inevitable. the pearls,
though OF considerable size, were lustreless;
but L would be difficult to surpass the
nected with this amazing image, and a
closer inspection did but increase the i'm.
preston Of opulence.
Above, on the second floor, is an image
which, after the 10 itself, is the most inn
portant treasure that the Jo-kang contains.
is the armory, where the walls and pillars
alike are loaded with ancient and grotesque
OF war. From this room a
low, narrow passage leads down half
dozen stone steps into small dungeon,
where the statue. OF the guardian goddess,
a most amazing figure. The three-eyed
goddess, crowned with skulls, grins affably
With mother of pearl teeth from her altar;
upon her head and breast are jewels which
he 10 himself might condesce nd to wear
Eight large. square charm arm boxes OF goo
earrings, each half a foot in length and a
diamond studded fllet on the brow be-
meath the crown are perhaps the most con-
spicuous ornaments. Her breast plate
IL turquoise and corals is almost hidden
Nv necklaces, and huge irregular pearl
strongly resembling the Dudley" jewel in
shape, is at last distinguishaole In the centre
eaf Of her crown. Before her burn butter
amps. and brown mice swarm fearlessly
over walls and floor and altar, so tame that
hey did not resent being stroked on the
ap Of the goddess herself.
With this famous image OF the guardian
1eity-who, as every 1ihetan knows. from
the Dalai Lama to the peasant in the field
was reincarnated during the last century
M Queen Victoria, the list Of treasures in
The Jo-kang Of special interest to Euro
peans il perhaps concluded. But for the
Buddhist scholar there Is an UNEMPLOYED
wealth which IL may he many years before
anv second visitor will have the privilege
Of inspecting or the knowledge to ap-
preciate The great eleven faced Shen-
ne-zig, the precious" image Of Tsong-
kapa, the innumerable figures OF divine
teachers, each symbolically represen ting
The spiritual powers with which he was
the great series OF the disciples
Of Buddha, the statue OF the Guru Rim
poche, the usual chamber OF horrors"
and hundreds OF other Objects each worthy
Of the great Pantheon Of Lamaism-- all
these must for the moment remain I'M
noticed But the longer one stays within
these strange and sacred courts, the more