No. 139.
Mr. Avery
to Mr. Fish.
Legation of
the United States,
Peking, January 6, 1875.
(Received February 27.)
No. 21.]
Sir: Referring to my No. 17 of date December 22,
1874, in which the Emperor’s illness and the delegation of his functions to
a temporary regency were noted, I have now the honor to give you the
following additional information. As before stated, the Emperor was taken
with the first symptoms of small-pox on December 9, and by one of those
curious coincidences which the Chinese are always looking for, and to
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which they attach so much
significance, the attack was thought to be connected with or referable to
the transit of Venus on that day. The Emperor being a descendant of the Sun,
nothing could occur to dim the purity of that orb which would not be
portentous to its earthly representative. Then the planet as it crossed the
sun’s disc was likened in size to a pea, which in Chinese is called tau, and the pustules of smallpox are likewise called
tau, the characters which stand for the two words
also resembling each other. Hence to the Chinese mind a clear connection
between the transit and the imperial sickness.
On the twelfth day of the attack, regarded as the turning-point of the
disease, a great religious ceremony was performed, partly as a propitiation
to the Goddess of Small-Pox, partly as a thank-offering to her for the
favorable symptoms then apparent. It should be observed that while this fell
goddess is greatly dreaded and hated, it is the practice of the Chinese to
affect a peculiar regard for her, and to avoid the use of any expressions
which might possibly provoke her anger. Thus, when anybody is taken with the
disease she personifies, friends do not condole with the patient, which
might provoke a fatal result, but congratulate him. This superstition, which
has its parallels in the beliefs of more polished nations, and is common to
a certain stage in the cult of every people, accounts for the expression
used with reference to the Emperor’s sickness, that he had “experienced the
felicity of the heavenly lowers.” When it became
apparent that the felicity was not to have an infelicitous termination, the
imperial astrologers and physicians havii g been consulted, a great outlay
was made for services at the temp es and within the palace. The most notable
of these services was performed publicly outside of the imperial city,
within the enciente of the front gate, where there is a government temple to
the Goddess of Mercy, and in the presence, it is said, of forty or fifty
thousand natives, including an unusual turn-out of women, who were dressed
in gayest attire. The affair consisted of the burning of a great number of
effigies of various kinds in honor of the goddess, who had graciously
prospered the remedies used. There were nine effigies of divinities,
representing not only the Goddess of Small-Pox, but those of nursing,
parturition, descendants, measles, sore-eyes, &c. These figures, with
others representing servants, &c., placed in twenty-seven sedan-chairs,
and accompanied by effigies of horses, attendants, food, on tables, &c.,
were borne in great state to the place named and burned with much ceremony.
The effigies were air made of sorghum stalks, covered with silk and paper of
various colors, exhibiting much ingenuity and having a very showy
appearance. Besides the goddesses and their attendants, in chairs, there
were the mounted attendants, a dozen pairs of banners and state parasols,
thirteen pavilions, with food and fruit, eighty-four tabhs, bearing
clothing, nine large boats, (for ferriage over the Chinese Styx perhaps,)
and three hundred trays of various articles useful to complete an outfit in
the next world. These numerous simulacra, costing, it is said, several
hundred thousand taels, were all consigned to the flames, translated, like
Elijah, in a chariot of fire to the region of spirits.
There seems to be no doubt that this expensive offering was efficacious, for
the Emperor is reported to be convalescent. He has, however, taken a hundred
days’ respite from the cares of state, lasting from December 9 to March 18.
The edict naming the Empress-Mothers as regents has been already forwarded.
As soon as the disease appeared, the government made preparations for
putting the throne in commission. On the 22d of December the edict referred
to was followed by one giving the various orders necessary to carry out
details, chiefly ceremonial,
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which
are confided to the princes, (inclosure 1.) There are four princes imperial,
all of them brothers of the late Emperor Hienfung, and having, of course,
great influence in affairs of state. Their names are Tun, Kung, Ch’un, and
Fau, all of them under forty-five years of age. In addition to this edict,
the Peking Gazette, of December 24, contained four others in relation to
similar matters, three of which, by a state figment, are issued by the
Emperor at the order of the Empress Dowagers, and are supposed to give their
commands. The first of the four is from the Emperor, and states that, on the
outbreak of his disease, he was reverently obliged for the protecting care
of their majesties for his person, in the least particular of which care
they did not fail, even when it involved on their part sympathy and personal
exertion of the highest degree, and a personal oversight and decision on all
the various reports and memorials sent in from the provinces and boards. For
all this extraordinary care His Majesty directs the board of rites to
examine the statutes and select an appropriate title for each of them. This
will indicate his sense of the great affection and care in the trying
circumstances. The names and honorary titles of the empresses are: Her
Imperial Majesty the Empress-Dowager Tsz-ngan, upright in liberality and
excellent in congratulation; Her Imperial Majesty the Empress Dowager
Tsz-hi, upright in protection and excellent in nominating. The first of
these ladies was the chief and only empress wife of Hienfung; the second is
the present Emperor’s own mother.
The second edict, of which a translation is inclosed, (No. 2,) orders a
humane mitigation of criminal penalties, which may or may not be carried
into effect, as a token of reverential gratitude on the part of the Emperor.
The noble declaration that “it is the first duty of a humane government to
pity the multitude of prisoners,” is probably “more honored in the breach
than the observance.”
The third edict, of which a precis is given,
(inclosure 3,) grants increased pay to the Emperor’s uncles, the princes
before named, and various honors and largesses to others. The fourth edict
elevates five of the imperial concubines to higher rank and pay in the
Emperor’s harem. Altogether, the various edicts referred to afford a curious
glimpse of the inner life of the Chinese imperial court, and show how much
more solicitude is bestowed upon personal and ceremonial matters than upon
the graver responsibilities of power.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
21.—Translation.]
Regulations for carrying on the ritual.
From Peking Gazette of December 22, 1874.
Your majesty’s minister, Prince Tun, and others, kneel and beg to state
that they, have carried out the orders received, and now report upon
them.
On the 11th instant Prince Kung and others memorialized the throne to the
effect that as your majesty had an attack of the small-pox, it was
incumbent that complete rest and quiet should be had by withdrawal from
cares; and to attain this end the request was made that as to all
religious worship and sacrifices at the state temples and altars,
audiences to officers introduced by various yamun, and other functions
of a ceremonial character which the regulations require, Princes Tun and
Fan and the high ministers of the presence be ordered, in conjunction
with Prince Kung, to draw up the necessary regulations to carry this
into effect.
The imperial rescript was received: “Let it be done as requested.”
These princes and ministers thereupon jointly consulted upon the matter,
and carefully
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blowing the
prescribed order for carrying out such things, drew up the following
rules, which they reverently submitted to the imperial inspection and
humbly awaited their approval. An imperial rescript was received in due
course: “Let it be done as requested.”
- 1.
- The great sacrifices observed at the state altars and temples
commencing the 9th of December, until the 18th of March next, shall
be reverently performed by princes specially deputed for this
purpose.
- 2.
- When His Majesty goes to make the New Year’s visit at the
Empress-Dowagers’ palace, it is requested that he will himself
perform the customary ceremonies.
- 3.
- Officers whom the rules require to be presented at court are to be
received at the hall of the inner council by princes or high
ministers specially designated for this duty, and such persons are
not to wear their peacock plumes until after the 18th of March,
Officers who come to the capital from the provinces are to be
received and examined by princes or high ministers, and on the next
day the general council will send up a report for directions as to
their appointments or removals. Officers stationed at the capitol
asking for an audience are to be informed that it is for the time
deferred-until public notice be given that audiences are granted,
when their official cards will-again be handed up.
- 4.
- On the 8th inst. Prince Kung and others personally received His
Majesty’s orders that Li-Hung-tsao should receive the replies to
memorials daily presented, and reverently inscribe the same upon all
memorials. It being now highly important that the sacred person
should be relieved from all care, for the sake of quiet, it is
requested that the same mode still be observed with respect to the
daily documents, and that Li-Hung tsao be directed reverently to
inscribe the replies upon them, while Prince Kung do tin same upon
those written in Manchu. The proper rescripts will then be applied,
for and issued in due course.
- 5.
- Until the 18th of March next, on the occurrence of days of
mourning, [for imperial ancestors,] when it will be incumbent for
the princes and high ministers to be called into the presence, and
also to pass in through the Kien-tsing door,
let all those upon whom this duty in any way falls, wear their
ordinary court-dress and beads.
- 6.
- Acts of ceremony and ritual of every kind which occur during the
twelfth moon of this year and the first moon of next year, ought to
be pretermitted, and we now request that all which can may be so
done; but whenever it is necessary to appoint a substitute to
reverently perform such as must be done, at the proper time we will
accordingly report upon it, and an officer can be deputed. As to
arrangements within the palace and making out lists, we will consult
upon the proper names to be inserted which shall be submitted for
His Majesty’s decision.
- 7.
- It being customary at New Year’s time to bestow honorary autograph
tablets containing the character for happiness or longevity, His
Majesty will appoint Hanlin scholars of the south library reverently
and carefully to write them.
- 8.
- The Mongolian princes and beys who come annually intheir turn to
Peking, each having their appropriate duties and requirements, are
to be received, and their wants attended to, according to the
statutes and usages, for which His Majesty’s orders will be
requested at the proper time.
- 9.
- It is proper to request that the state banquets which are usually
conferred shall be for the time omitted; but the donatives and
largesses which are always granted to the tribes beyond the
frontiers and to envoys coming from Core a and other countries,
shall be distributed as usual according to the statutes.
[Inclosure 2 in No.
21—Translation.]
An imperial ediet.
From Peking Gazette of December 24, 1874.
We have received the following gracious commands from their majesties the
Empress-Dowagers Tsz-ngan and Tsz-hi:
His Imperial Majesty having had the fortune of an attack of the small-pox
this month, we have looked upward, trusting in the unseen protection of
the Empyrean that all would be entirely prosperous and lucky, and,
therefore, Our reverential gratitude for the results is very deep.
Reflecting in consequence that the first duty of a humane government is
to pity the multitude of prisoners, it is but right that on this
occasion a special exhibition of favor be shown and extraordinary grace
be manifested.
Let, therefore, the board of punishments and the provincial tribunals
take all those cases already examined, where the criminals are still
detained in prison, (not including heinous, unpardonable crimes, and
those usually set down as beyond revision,) and consult upon them, in
conjunction with the ministers of the general council and of the board
of punishments, considering carefully their various degrees of guilt,
and afterward
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presenting the
list to His Majesty’s inspection, with a view to their melioration and
discharge.
Prisoners who have been sentenced to various degrees of exile and
banishment, and to bambooing, or other lesser punishments, should also
all be alike mitigated, or their eases ended at once, in order that the
dew of this special grace may soon reach them, and they be able to enter
at once upon a new course of life.
By this means Our tender care for the myriads of our people will be
manifested, and our earnest desire that kindness may be shown them
beyond what the law allows. Respect this
[Inclosure 6 in No.
21—Translation.]
An imperial edict.
Precis of a third decree of the same date
We have been honored by the following gracious edict from their Imperial
Majesties the Empress Dowagers:
His Majesty having been, by the unseen protection of the Empyrean,
happily brought through an attack of the small-pox, for which the whole
empire is rejoiced, it is meet that unusual grace be shown and largesses
be granted to many persons.
Let Prince Tun and Prince Chun both receive double the stipend allotted
to a prince imperial, and Prince Kung three times the stipend, he having
now twice the legal allowance; let the two princes royal, Fan and Hwui,
receive the stipend of princes imperial; let the two beili princes,
Tsai-ching and Tsai-chi, have their stipends increased to equal that of
a prince royal; that of three other ministers of the presence increased
to that of a beili’s, with additions to the stipends of two Mongolian
princes.
Let the four members of the general council (Wàn-siang, Pao-yun, Shun
Kwél-Fàn, and Li Hung-tsao) all receive double-eyed peacock feathers, as
well as Ying-kwéi and Chunglun of the imperial clan office, and
Kwēi-ling of the censorate. Let the vice-president, Yung-luh, be made
junior guardian of the heir apparent, and Ming-shen be advanced to be
senior guardian; both of them, with Kwéī-pao and Wan-tsz, to wear
double-eyed peacock feathers, as also may the acting president,
Kwang-shau, the vice-president, Sü Tung, and the brevet minister, Yung
Tung-yuh.
Besides the above-mentioned, and other heads of various boards who are
promoted, and three who are promised advancement on the first vacancy,
the decree closes with:
“Let all princes and dukes and officiate at the capital, of every grade,
have two steps conferred on them in the roll of merit, and all the
soldiers in the eight banners and infantry receive half a month’s pay.
In this way Our earnest desire to exhibit the kind and gracious feelings
of this occasion will be shown. Respect this.”