Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-29
new REGIME
Ceremonies When Reign Of
Emperor Pu-Yi Began.
I'M THE LAND OF RITES
State Department Receives the Of
fetal Program.
H0N0Rs PAID TO LATE RULER
Transfer Of Remains From the Win
ter Palace to the Kuan
TIE Tien.

Down to the minutest detail the en-
thronement ceremony of the new En-
peror Of China Is described in the Of
fetal program a copy of which has been
received at the State Department, issued
by the board of rites. and followed at
Picking December =, when Emperor Pu-
yis reign began. After describing the
preliminary arrangements the memorial
says: when the fortunate time is near
the emperor will go in full mourning
dress to the "Huang Chi Palace Hall
and to the "Ch'ien Ching Palace Hall
and at both places perform before the
kneelings and nine prostrations,'' to an
nounce Ito the spirits CT the late en-
press dowager and emperor) his acces-
sion.''
After the "HouShih Kuan," the borol-
ogist Of the imperial board of astronomy.
has announced the time, the emperor
will enter the golden chariot" Ten high
officials will march in front and two be-
hind. Ten spearsmen of the Leopard
Tail Brigade and ten swordsmen will
march as guards at the side.
Ascension Of the Throne.
At the ''Pao Ho' Palace Hall the en-
peror will leave the sedan chair and as
cend the throne OF the Chung Ho'' Hall.
The palace ministers and leading of
ficers of the guard, the grand secre-
tariat, college of literature, imperial
readers, board Of rites, board of censors
be conducted into the hall and will per-
form the kneelings and prostrations
ceremony. The emperor will then pro-
coed to the Tai Ho" Palace Hall, where
he will mount the jeweled seat ana,
with his face to the south, will sit upon
the throne. At the "Wu" gate the
drums and cymbals will sound, but
there will be no music.
The imperial proclamation was then
to be brought forward and the seal i'm
pressed. afterward being taken out to
be published throughout the empire.
me emperor was then to be informed
that the ceremony was finished. He
was then to rise from his throne, enter
ms sedan chair, go to the eastern side
hall and change his clothes to the
mourning costume.
Transfer Of Late Emperor's Remains
Chinese mail advices bring to the State
Department interesting details regard
ing the transfer of the body Of the late
Emperor of China from the winter pal
ace in the forbidden city to the Kuan
TIE Tien at the foot Of Ching Shan,
commonly called Coal Hill, situated in
the Imperial city to the north of the
palace. The transfer was attended with
elaborate ceremonies. both before and
after the coffin had been placed in it's
temporary resting place. At these cere-
monies the princes. mobiles and officers
of every class were present
The initial sacrificial rites before the
imperial catafalque to the names Of the
late emperor took place December and
3 at O'Clock In the morning.
These consisted of the reading of an
obituary address. in which the name of
the late emperor was reverently cited
the placing Of eighty-one tables of food,
fruits and wines and the burning of paper
money and other paper articles Deem
Der similar rites were performed and on
the following day the wooden palace
tcofin) of the late emperor was trans
ferred. that day having been selected by
the imperial board of astronomy as the
proRitious period.S
Imperial Coffin Borne Away.
After the emperor had knelt beside the
bier. lamented and poured out a three
fold libation. prostrating himself each
time, the palace retainers placed the i'm
perial coffin on a small catafalque and
bore it away. The emperor preceded the
catafaAue to the Ching Yum gate, where
the small catafalque was exchanged for a
large one. When the change took place
the emperor made more proStrations and
5000 pieces of paper were burned.
When the cortege started again the
emperor escorted 1t at the left, his at
tendants following. At the Tung Hua
gate a second relay of bearers took the
catafalque, the emperor and all with him
kneeling to the west. When the process
sion had started again the emperor re-
turned to the Forbidden City and then
proceeded to the funeral hall to await
the cortege.
AT that place the Chinese ministers and
officials of every rank knelt and walled
as the catafalque passed. During the
progress of the procession three liba-
tons were poured and 800 pieces Of paper
money were burned whenever a gate or a
bridge was passed.
New Emperor on His Knees.
At the main gate of the Kuan TIE Tien
1OS lamas received the catafalque and
the officers of the imperial household
scattered paper money. At the gate to
knees and wailing All present uttered
lamentations The imperial coffin was
carried into the hall and placed in the
exact center. The emperor entered and
poured three libations, prostratmg him
self each time and being accompanied
by all present. When 5000 sheets OF pa
per money had been burned all ceased
their lamentations, and the emperor and
ladies of the court returned to the palace.
The CAPTAINS and officers of the three BAN
ners of the department of the imperial
household were commanded to gather and
make lamentation until the end Of 100
days