-
Articles/Ads
Article THE GENERAL HISTORY OF CHINA: ← Page 4 of 4
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The General History Of China:
before liis throne : if he falls dangerously sick , it causes a genera ) alarm , in which case the mandarins of all orders assemble in one of the courts of the palace , passing both nights and days on their knees , in order to give a token of their grief , and to intreat heaven to restore his health , not regarding either the inclemencies of the airor the rigour of the season ; for if the Emperor suffersthe
, , whole Empire suffers in his person , his loss being the only misfortune which his subjects dread . In the middle of the courts of the imperial palace there is a path paved with large stones , on which the Emperor walks when he goes out , and those that pass on it must run fast , which is a mark of respect they observe when they before a of quality ;
pass person but they iiave a particular way of running which is very graceful , as the Europeans have of making a handsome bow ; the first missionaries were obliged to learn that exercise before they saluted the late Emperor upon their arrival atPekin ; after they had passed through eight great courts , at last they arrived at his apartment ;
he was in a cong , for thus they call a great hall or parlour that stands by itself , where the Emperor lives , which is carried up ' on slabs of white marble . This cong was composed of a hall , in which there was a throne , and a chamber : he was sitting in a can or alcove raised three feet , which took up the whole length of the room ; the can was covered with a plain white feltperhaps he affected this
sim-, plicity as being in mourning for his grandfather ; his habit was only black sattin lined with fur of sables , such as most of the considerable officers wear ; he sat in the Tartarian fashion , with his legs across , and they made the imperial salute , as is usual when ail } ' one has audience from this prince . As soon as any one is entered the court he must runin a
, graceful manner , till he arrives at the bottom of i \ ie chamber which is opposite to the Emperor , then being in the front on the same line , he must stand a little time with both arms extended , and after bending his knees , bow down to the ground three times , then rise up again and repeat his last ceremony three times , till he is commanded to advance , and kneel at the Emperor ' s feet .
. The yellow is the imperial colour , and is forbidden every body but the Emperor ; his vest is covered with dragons with five claws , which is his coat of arms , none else daring to bear them on pain of punishment : he dates his decrees and all his publick acts with the years of his reign , and the day of the moon ; as for example , the sixteenth year of . my reign , and the sixth of the fourth moon . He hath the disposal of the lives and fortunes of his subjects , nor the soverei
can viceroys , or any gn court of judicature punish a criminal with death , if the sentence is not ' first confirmed by the Emperor ,, [ To be continuedf \
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The General History Of China:
before liis throne : if he falls dangerously sick , it causes a genera ) alarm , in which case the mandarins of all orders assemble in one of the courts of the palace , passing both nights and days on their knees , in order to give a token of their grief , and to intreat heaven to restore his health , not regarding either the inclemencies of the airor the rigour of the season ; for if the Emperor suffersthe
, , whole Empire suffers in his person , his loss being the only misfortune which his subjects dread . In the middle of the courts of the imperial palace there is a path paved with large stones , on which the Emperor walks when he goes out , and those that pass on it must run fast , which is a mark of respect they observe when they before a of quality ;
pass person but they iiave a particular way of running which is very graceful , as the Europeans have of making a handsome bow ; the first missionaries were obliged to learn that exercise before they saluted the late Emperor upon their arrival atPekin ; after they had passed through eight great courts , at last they arrived at his apartment ;
he was in a cong , for thus they call a great hall or parlour that stands by itself , where the Emperor lives , which is carried up ' on slabs of white marble . This cong was composed of a hall , in which there was a throne , and a chamber : he was sitting in a can or alcove raised three feet , which took up the whole length of the room ; the can was covered with a plain white feltperhaps he affected this
sim-, plicity as being in mourning for his grandfather ; his habit was only black sattin lined with fur of sables , such as most of the considerable officers wear ; he sat in the Tartarian fashion , with his legs across , and they made the imperial salute , as is usual when ail } ' one has audience from this prince . As soon as any one is entered the court he must runin a
, graceful manner , till he arrives at the bottom of i \ ie chamber which is opposite to the Emperor , then being in the front on the same line , he must stand a little time with both arms extended , and after bending his knees , bow down to the ground three times , then rise up again and repeat his last ceremony three times , till he is commanded to advance , and kneel at the Emperor ' s feet .
. The yellow is the imperial colour , and is forbidden every body but the Emperor ; his vest is covered with dragons with five claws , which is his coat of arms , none else daring to bear them on pain of punishment : he dates his decrees and all his publick acts with the years of his reign , and the day of the moon ; as for example , the sixteenth year of . my reign , and the sixth of the fourth moon . He hath the disposal of the lives and fortunes of his subjects , nor the soverei
can viceroys , or any gn court of judicature punish a criminal with death , if the sentence is not ' first confirmed by the Emperor ,, [ To be continuedf \