The following Proclamati issued by His Excellency T'u Tsun Viceroy of the Hn kus President of the Board of the War, and ug, do notify, im, and strictly prohibit the annual religious pilgrimage to the mount It is ascertained that there is a oer! temple containing the idol Yuen Wa FOR on the Nu Lan Mountain {Lj in the district of Huang Po KO. of the Hupei province, In the Sth and 9th moons of every year people living in the different prefectures and districts of Hupei and Honan, who have formed societies, each society having a day to distinguish it from others, yatiier the constituents of the sects together to perform religions ceremonies at the moun One from each society walks alead holding a ud striking a go lo one or two hundred believers fol ud, the man with the fag loudly proclaiming the name of the idol. Ihe crowds going ty and fro upon the mountains are very great, and the priests of the temple are much profited peettniarily by such pilgrimages, The custom having been in vogue fur so long a period has ceased to be wondered at. Mut I, finding in the statutes that yethering people for a pilgrim age is illegal, do not approve of suck Moreover the author selves among you may prove injurious to you who are good. I therefore shall take rigorous measures to put a stop to such pilgrimages, both to rectify an obnoxious custom and to restore quiet to the country. all, ers and citizens alike! If the i nation is 10. be observed by you
Buddha is omniscient, your youd thought can move him without burning incense at thy temple. {f blessings can be invoked, the gods are not far above your heads, and, you can worship them at your own homes. Bue in worshipping Buddha and the yeds you convene a multitude, sound the gon, and unfurl the flys; this is openly violutin the law of the country, and the law will take its course in punishing you. Thus instead of obtaining blessings, you bring on your heals, What stupidity is greater than that?" After this proclamation is published, let every father warn and every elder brother admonish the younger, that the custom of pilcing ty the mountains is abolished ever and ever. If there are any adnveked miscreants who incite the peo ple perform pilgeima: 8, shall have all such accosted and wished without love the people as if they were y own children, hate the wicked as if they were my' po enemies, 1 cannot but feel tele ce ty punish without firs uiving and wa ely and patiently, Do.
repent quickly! Do not' tempt with your own persons! Lvt each one tremble and obey! Disobey not! A. Special Peoclamation Och year of Kuang Ush 5th Moon 3th Day.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.