abresented the Emperor Hien fung, attended by his principal ministers, kneeling before the shrine of HW ANG-TIEN SHANGTÍ, Though no foreigner has witnessed this ceremony, a few words concerning this native representation will make plain the chief objects of worship. Upon the triple altar, or TIEN TAN (Volume I., p. 76), the central temporary shrine is dedicated to HWANG-TIEN SHANGTÍ, or Imperial Heaven's Ruler above. Upon the Emperor's right, nearest the chief pavilion, are tablets to his ancestors, Tienming, Shunchi, Yungching, and Kiaking; the corresponding opposite house is similarly devoted to Tientsung, Kanghi, Kienlung, and Taukwang. The small buildings behind and below these are the TAMING CHÍ WEI, the Altar of the Sun' or Great Luminary' (on the right, and the YE-MING CHÍ WEI, or Altar of the Night Luminary.' The last structure on the worshipper's right contains tablets to the CHAU-TIEN SING, or 'All Stars ;' to the URH-SHIH PAT SUHSING, or Twenty-eight Constellations in the Ecliptic;" to the PLH-TAN SING, or Ursa Major; and to the MUH, KIN, SHUI, Fo, and Tv, or Five ElementsWood, Metal, Water, Fire, and Earth Facing this building on the left are shrines to SIUEH-SZ', YÜ-s/', FUNG-Sz', and Lxi-sz', the superintendents of Su, Rain, Wind, and Thunder. 論總國中 THE MIDDLE KINGDOM A SURVEY OF THE GEOGRAPHY, GOVERNMENT, LITERATURE, OF THE CHINESE EMPIRE AND ITS INHABITANTS BY S. WELLS WILLIAMS, LL.D. PROFESSOR OF THE CHINESE LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE AT YALE COLLEGE; AUTHOR REVISED EDITION, WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND A NEW VOLUME I. NEW YORK CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS 1907 |