The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-03-25

king stands what Is called the Yellow Temple. rare work of art The carved figures representing incidents In the life of Buddha are very skillfully wrought and one cannot help feelins indignation at the vandalism ot the foreign soldiers who, during the Boxer troubles, defaced this ancient monu- ment By far the most impressive and elaborate religious structure in China is the Altar of Heaven, not far from the city of Picking. It was built un- der the Ming dynasty 500 years ago and Is still visited twice each year by the emperor, who here offers sacrinces 70 Heaven. The sacrihcial altar IS bnilt entirely of white marble. It IS trlplS circular terrace. the base being ht,le more than 200 feet in diameter. tas middle terrace l5O feet and the top terrace nearly 100 feet, each terrace "e- ing inclosed by a beautifully cHrVed balustrade. It stands about elghtee3 feet high, and the emperor .ascendinS to it alone. kneels at midnight ana as the representative of the whola pc 'pie makes his offering to Heaven. hLi- lock without blemish is use1 as the offering on these occasioGs. In ar chitecture the altar reniin Is one "f tl.e Greek structures, while solE or the features of the ceremony recall the rites of the Israelites as described 'n the old Testament.
 Near to this altar is a pagu h. stend- ing upon another triple but sma'Ier marble terrace 1t Is populariy ki WE as the Temple of Heaven. Here on inc first day of the Chinese yea ihe emperor offers his suppl!ca'io1s to Heaven for a blessing upon the year. This is the most graceful a7d sym metrical pagoda in the empire 1T not in the orient, and no one who NlsltS
 
 the altar and the temple are surfouhu ed by a high wall. and the lnclosed court is shaded by veteran cedars' While Buddhism has been sfgarde as the religion Of China Taolsm mas also influenced the thought or tne na- ton. It teaches the existence or spF- its but has degenerated into super stition and the attempted conclilatloh of evil spirits For instance 'peiore oaob ofHcial residence and before many ! nrIvate residences will be found wall, ] higher and wider than the front doot' ! inc purpose of which Is to keep out lfc 1 evil spirits, which are supposed o | travel only in a straight line. W hrd | a hufldIng Is to be made more thaa two storics high. punches of leaves are often tied to the top of the poles used for scaffolding tu deceive the 1 evil spirits and make them believe that ! fl Is n forest Instead of a building. they ! being supposed 10 be hostile 10 high l buildings After the roof is on, how | ever. the building Is safe, but the ridge pole must curve up at the ends to keep | the spirits from descending. Boys are very much at premium in China. be- cause the duty of guarding the grave devolves upon the oldest son. If man l loses boy or two. he sometimes dress ' es the next boy like a girl in order 50 deceive the spirits. for a girl is, or at 1 least used to be beneath the notice of even evil spirits A very intelligent | Chinaman explained the disinclinatiUn of the ordinary Chinaman to rescue a drowning man on the ground that If 1 the evil spirits were trying to drown the man, they would resent and punish any attempt to save him.
 But more potent than either Bud dhism or Taoism has been the influence Of Confucius and his commentators. | This great philosopher was born 55i