Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-18
AN ANCIENT CAPITAL
Mukden, the Sacred City of
the Chinese Empire.
ITS TOMBS OF MANCHUS
SAID TO HOLD VAST TREASURES
OF EARLY GENERATIONS.
Story of the Founding Of the Cradle
of Race Many Centuries
Ago.
ITS TOMBS OF MANCHUS

Mukden is the capital of Liaotung. one of
Che three provinces of Manchuria. 1t Is
situated on the Hun river, about 500 miles
northeast CT Picking and is the cradle Of
the Manchu race. which has given the pres
ent dynasty to the throne of China.
But II is significant of the decay of Man.
chu influence even here that the city was
until recently generally known by it's Did
Chinese name of Sinyang, it's Manchu name
of Mukdeu-or "Flourishing Capitar'-g.ven
TO IL by it's Manchu conqueror nearly 200
years ago. being used only in official doc
uments. 1t is a hustlng. thriving city of
100000 inhabitants, and 1t has a long, in
Innate connection with the most cherished
associations of the Manchu people In its
neighborhood lie buried the first emperors
OF the imperial line, and in its treasury
has been stored up the gigantic wealth &C.
cumulated by succeeding emperors
Strongly Defended.
The city is strongly defended recent
traveller has described the Notifications as
REALLY magnificent" They are laid out in
regular parallelograms between one and
two miles each way, the wallis being built
or squared stone or brick thick and mas
theltop. "N
They are forty feet in height, twenty-one
"a an wia sn and ana are protected at the top by
an eight-foot parapet, or 'woman's wall"
as the Chinese call 1t. At regular intervals
thlck buttresses break the monotony Of the
iong line of masonry. thanking tower
STANDS at each corner, and in the sides are
lofty fortified gateways surmounted nv
eral stories high
Outside these walls there is a wide moat.
he NH; tai 4
Tor mile or more all sides These
again are inclosed by walls, which, how
ever, are constructed of mud and are of
little value.
The holy Palace.
In the heart of the town is an inner wall,
within which is a small palace. This pal
ace Is the Holy of Holes of Mukden Be-
yond the fact that the walls and roofs are
covered with tiles of imperial yellow little
Is known about this secluded building as
entrance to IL Is absolutely denied to all
but Manchus. 1t is said to contain some
interesting relics of Nurhachu. the great
ancestor OF the Manchus, who is canonized
under the title of Tai Tsu. and who hav-
Ing captured the town of Shenyang
changed its name. as already related, to
Mukden, and there established his seat of
government. According to one story MUIR
hachu was systematically born, and
throughout his career displayed all the at
tributes of his divine origin. But accord
Ing to another legend he first entered the
city which he was destined to rule in the
character of humble peddler. with pack
on his back. and this pack. with the boots
worn by the peddler, are commonly report
ed to be preserved as sacred relics within
the precincts of the palace.
Imperial Tombs.
When Nurhachu died, in his sixty-eighth
year. he was buried with all the parapher-
MALTA of woe at the Fu-ling, or Happy
Tomb" situated in a pine grove, which is
deemed even more sacred than the city it
self, and which stands four or five miles
east of it's walls At the entrance to this
sacred Enclosure stands a funeral hall, to
which admittance is gained by gateway
of handsome construction. Three doors
pierce this massive structure, which is sur
mounted by a richly decorated roof, tiled,
as is the wall which surrounds the whole
Enclosure, with copings of the imperial yell
low color.
The walls are ornamented with bas reliefs
in green majolica, representing huge impe-
rial f1ve-clawed dragons. THE road up to
the gate" says recent writer, passes first
between two lofty pailous (or honorary
gateways) of massive carved stone, the
bases of the columns being carved into the
likeness of frogs. Beyond are two pillars,
each with a lion on the top; and. finally, two
noble couchant lions guard the sacred por-
tai To the center of each door is affixed a
huge, quaint knocker of copper, once richly
gilt, representing bulls head of the same
size and character of the large knocker of
Durham Cathedral" SO sacred is this in
closure considered that death is the punish
ment of any one entering who Is not of the
same race as the great ancestor"
Artistic Tracery.
Contrary to the Chinese custom, the son
and successor of Nurhachu was not buried
with his father, but lies in the Pei-ling, or
northern tomb, amid deep grove of cedars
to the north of the city. Buildings of a SIM
ilarly handsome nature mark the entrance
to this last resting place of Tai Tsung, which
Is still further beautifed by p'aiou of a
peculiarly graceful design. The upturned
yellow roofs are upheld by richly carved
wooden supports, while the tracery on the
stone face is rich and of high artistic merit.
Some. distance in front of this noble struc-
ture stand two huge stone slabs. resting on
the backs of tortoises, on which are carved
IL Manchu and Chinese directions for trav-
elers to dismount from their horses lest the
ashes of the great man should be disturbed
by the clank of hoofs
Other interesting relics in the environs Of
the city are the Temple of Heaven and the
Temple OF Earth, both of which were built
by Tai Tsung. and the remains of which are
still to be seen.
a Vast Treasure.
The peddler's pack and boots are not the
only objects believed to be guarded in the
palace OF Mukden. Enormous wealth, ac
cumulated by the successive emperors Of
the Ming dynasty. Is said to be hidden
within its walls. Should this prove to be
the case. the robbery has been conducted
on a stupendous scale. 1t has been the
custom of the court since the inauguration
of the present dynasty to send every year
TO Mukden about s., 800 900 to be stored,
and. calculating at this rate, the treasure
must have reached the sum of about $780,
100000 by this time, for the reign of the
present dynasty over a vast territory of
400 provinces dates back to 200 years ago.
Like all the cities of Manchuria, Muk-
den Is laid out on regular plan. which
reminds one of the arrangements of Ameri-
The main RIM rth