'We have special pleasure in acknowledging' the receipt of the little Book named above. It supplies a want which all those who have read the comparatively meagre details of the Great Event already published, must have felt and lamented. We knew up tothe date of this publication almost nothing of the august ceremonial of the 16th of October; now swe have a very fair idea of the order of procedure, ando the various rites which accompany the nuptials of an Imperial Pair in China, or to speak in the language of the Court, the Union of the Dragon with the Phoenix. It is in fact a very careful translation of the Official Programme of the ceremonies observed on these auspicious days, published, in accordance with the wishes of the Emperor, to "all under Heaven."
The bridal presents are thus given "The procession first surrounds the Court in a circle, with an open space at the north. In the centre of the circle are placed three tables, richly decorated, on one of which is laid the Golden Tablet, enclosed in a triple casket of gold and jewels, mounted on a costly frame. On the table at the right is placed the imperial seal; in the centre the jewelled sceptre. When all this is properly arranged, an officer of the Astronomical Board proclaims in a loud voice, "The Hour of Joy dawns." At that auspicious moment, the Emperor, in his dragon robes, with a train of body guards, enters the Court from a south gate of the palace, which is close upon the open space in the circle, and is welcomed by the ring ing of bells, and with drums and gongs and trumpets and cymbals and clouds of incense. His Majesty is then escorted by the Grand Master of Ceremonies to the three table son which aretheTablet. Sceptre, and Seal, that are soon to be presented to the Empress elect in his name. After looking at them a moment, and assuring themselves that they are properly arranged for presentation, he is escorted to a Dragon Pavilion and seated; then all the officers of the Vourt, and of the Six Boards, draw near the tables, kneel and prostrate themselves three times, and repeat the kneeling turco times, waking thee prostrations each time, their faces toward the south. The music then ceases, and a Herald proclaims that all are to stand with their "faces to the north!" Another Herald announces, "An edict from the most Illustrious and Merciful Empress, and the most Illustrious and Blessed Empress is to be read." All kneel, except the Emperor, who rem sitting in the Pavilion. And again a herald proclaims, Let the will of their Majesties the two Empresses be known!" Then a duly appointed officer, standing with his face to the West reads in a loud voice The Permission (which has already been engraved on the Golden Tablet enclosed in a triple casket of gold and jewels mounted on a-costly frame, and placed upon a table before the kneeling multitude), and adds "Phe appointed officers here present to An-10-re in the name of Him who sits upon the Dragon Throne, the Sceptre with which she is to rule, and the Golden Tablet and Seal by which she is invested with Imperial Authority." A gong is then struck three times, and the band plays " The Emperor Triumphs."
The ceremonies proper to the various days are minutely described; and are well worthy of attention. One scene must have been peculiarly striking. On the fourth day after the Marriage, the Emperor is presented to his mother and the Empress Dowager, and at the command of a Herald, the Lord of the Dragon Throne with his princes, nobles, and high officers, rulers and subjects, all prostrate themselves before two women To illustrate the minuteness of Chinese etiquette, we may note the fellening difficulty at the imperial banquet.
"The two Empresses hold a Court and receive the Duchess Chung, the mother-inlaw of the Emperor, her daughters, her sons' wives and all the Indy relatives of the family. After the audience they also sit down to a royal banquet, at which the two Empresses preside. At this banquet the young Empress does not appear, as the etiquette of the Dragon Court has no prescribed forms for the entertainment of an Empress with the mother of an Empress According to ordinary Court etiquette, two Empresses may receive and entertain a third, who would take precedence of all other guests; but by all the rules of the Enupire and of the principles of filial piety, a mother must always take precedence of her daughter; yet at an Imperial Ban quer, an Empress must be of the first consideration; therefore if her mother is present, the Empress does not appour; and thus the difficulty is adjusted."
We have only to express our thanks to "LMF." for this interesting contribution to our knowledge of Court and Palace Lifo in Peking. We have often noticed the taste and finish of her translations of Chie nese biographies, legends and historiettes and we earnestly wish so accomplished translator had leisure for the reproduction of some more elaborate and important work. It is only by studying the actual documents which emanate from the Government, that we can form a just idea of that frigid existence of ritual and ceremonial which the semi-deitied Monarch passes, and unless we understand this, we miss one of the reasons which accounts for the space that separates the Northern Capital from the feelings and interests of common humanity.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.