Mr. Denby to Mr. Blaine.
Peking, March 10, 1891. (Received April 22.)
Sir: I have the honor to report that the foreign representatives were received on the 5th instant by the Emperor.
The ministers of the German Empire, the United States, Great Britain, Japan, Italy, and the Netherlands, were received separately in audience in the order stated, and delivered their respective letters of credence. Afterwards the ministers, accompanied by their staffs, and the chargés d’affaires of Spain, Russia, France, and Belgium, with their staffs, were received together.
The arrangements for the audience and reception were in strict accordance with the programme, a copy whereof is inclosed in my dispatch No. 1256, of February 28 last.
The members of the legations left their residences at a quarter to 10 a.m., all in chairs, escorted by two mounted officers detailed for the purpose by the foreign office. They arrived nearly all together at the Fu Hua gate about 10:30 a.m. This is a gate opening into the imperial grounds. It is near the western end of the marble bridge and not far from the old Peitang. It is very elaborately decorated, covered with [Page 386] the imperial yellow tiles, and bearing several tablets with inscriptions betokening longevity, prosperity, etc.
The locality is called the “Western Gardens.” These gardens are handsomely laid out on the shore of a lake, along which runs the narrow-gauge railroad which the Emperor uses for his pleasure. The cars are drawn by eunuchs. Vast crowds of people, civil and respectful, but curious in demeanor, lined the streets through which we passed. Outside and inside the gate for some distance there were ranged on either side of the way lines of soldiers and civil employés. At the Fu Hua gate we were received by the members of the foreign office, who escorted us to a pavilion situate in the Shih Ying Kung, a temple which contains the River God, and where the Emperor goes to offer sacrifices. There was a table on which were spread cakes, sweetmeats, fruits, and Chinese confections. Tea was served. The room was small and was much crowded by the members of the legations and of the yamên. Prince Ching, president of the tsung-li yamên, came to this room and paid his respects to us.
My colleagues were dressed in full uniform and covered with decorations, except the minister of Great Britain, who wore a uniform but no decoration. My secretaries and I were in plain black evening suits.
The intense desire of the hundreds of eunuchs who crowded around the doors of this room to see the foreigners seemed to be uncontrollable. But, as one side of the glass wall commenced to crack from the pressure, one of the head eunuchs managed to keep the crowd back.
After waiting in this room about an hour we were escorted to several marquees placed within a few steps of the reception hall, the Tzü-Kuang-Ko.
The Emperor had just arrived in his yellow sedan chair, borne by eight men, and was waiting to receive us. This chair was in nowise remarkable. The entire outside and inside are covered with yellow silk. The official button on top is gilded instead of silvered, as with other chairs, and the ends of the bearing poles are elaborately carved and capped with brass or gilded dragons. The chair used by Prince Ching was much like it in appearance.
The Tzü-Kuang-Ko is a very handsome building, profusely ornamented with gilt work and covered with gay colors.
The hall is approached by six or eight marble steps, which lead to a broad marble terrace. Around this terrace is a balustrade supported by numerous pillars of marble, splendidly carved and pure white.
At 12 o’clock Mr. von Brandt, dean of the diplomatic corps, was escorted by a member of the foreign office up these steps and into the hall. I followed, after he had had audience, and then went the other ministers separately in the order stated.
The sides of the approach to the steps, the steps themselves, and the terrace were all crowded with Chinese. The majority of these were eunuchs employed in the palace, but many were civil or military officials whose rank did not entitle them to enter the presence of the Emperor.
The Emperor was seated in a marble chair at the place marked “throne” on the plat which is herewith inclosed.
I was accompanied by the interpreter, Mr. F. D. Cheshire, who remained a little behind me. We bowed as we crossed the threshold, advanced three or four paces and bowed again, and then advanced to a point between the two dragon pillars, where we stopped and bowed the third time. Here a foreign carpet had been placed which covered the floor up to the platform, which was about 3 feet high. There were three [Page 387] flights of stairs ascending the platform, one in the middle and one at each end.
I stood nearly in front of the middle stairs at a distance of about 12 feet from the Emperor. I then read the remarks which are appended hereto. When I finished reading my speech I advanced to the right side of the left flight of steps with my letter of credence in my hand, but before I advanced the interpreter read a Chinese translation of the speech. As I advanced to the platform Prince Ching, who had been standing on the left of the Emperor, came down the steps and approached me, and I handed my letter of credence to him.
He ascended the steps, approached the table in front of the Emperor, and laid the letter of credence upon it in reach of the Emperor. The prince did not kneel until after he had deposited my letter on the table. Then he knelt, and the Emperor replied in Manchu to my speech. A translation of his remarks is herewith inclosed.
I had meantime returned to my place between the dragon pillars. The prince came down from the platform, approached the interpreter, and translated sentence by sentence into Chinese what the Emperor had said, which in like manner the interpreter translated to me in English.
After the interpreter had finished translating my speech, and when the letter of credence was laid on the table, the Emperor made bows or inclinations towards me. We then retired in the same manner that we entered, going out backwards and making three bows.
I add some further description of the hall and the surroundings.
The table in front of the Emperor was covered with yellow satin embroidered with figures of dragons. On his right stood Prince Po, on his left Prince Ko, and near him Prince Ching. The room was lined on either side by a row two deep of high officers of the Imperial Guards and chamberlains, many being princes and dukes of the imperial family. No arms were visible, except that the two princes mentioned and the Emperor himself wore swords. Just outside the doors could be seen the imperial escort bearing long red-lacquered spears with silver points. Suspended from each one was a long tiger tail. They presented a picturesque appearance. On either side and a little back of the Emperor was a straight stem about 6 feet high, supporting at the top what appeared to be painted imitations of peacock tails spread open. The peacock feather is an indication of rank in China.
Back of the throne was a marble plinth, on which lengthy inscriptions in the Manchu language were engraved.
The sides of the hall were covered with incriptions and rare paintings of enormous size. The ceiling of the hall was composed of wooden squares of 1½ feet in size, divided by heavy rafters, all gorgeously painted with the dragon figures in the multitudinous colors used in the outside decorations.
The columns supporting the ceiling were of red lacquer covered with figures of gold dragons. The floor was bare except the small space covered by the carpet on which we stood.
All around the platform stood immense incense bowls of old Cloisonne, six in number, and at each corner stood a large Cloisonne dragon of great value, ideal and graceful in outline and harmonious in color. Erom the ceiling there were suspended eight Cloisonne lamps made during the Tao Kuang dynasty.
The pipe of His Majesty lay on the table before him. This was a beautiful piece of carved jade and gold, the handle formed by the bcdy and tail of the dragon, its mouth serving as the tobacco bowl.
[Page 388]The Emperor was dressed in a plum-colored satin gown, which differed from such as are usually worn only by being heavily embroidered on the sleeves with figures of dragons. On his head he wore a turban of sables.
The Emperor is 21 years old. His reign nominally commenced seventeen years ago. The Empress dowager, as regent, ruled China until two years ago, when the Emperor took actual control of the Government. He has the appearance now of a delicate youth. He is small and thin, pale, and intellectual-looking. His eyes are large and black, and his face smooth and hairless. He performed his duties at the audience without embarrassment and seemed throughout to be pleased. He has since expressed himself as being much gratified with the manner in which the ceremonies were conducted. The foreign representees are no less pleased. It is likely, however, that at future audiences an effort will be made to cause the Emperor to receive envoys standing and not sitting. Such is the practice now of all European monarchs, I believe.
After the separate audiences were over, the whole diplomatic body had a reception. There were six ministers, four chargés d’affaires, and twenty-one secretaries., attaches, and interpreters. Each legation accompanied its chief and the whole body formed three lines—the ministers and charges in the first line, the secretaries in the second, and the interpreters in the third. The dean was on the right and the other ministers and charges on his left in their order of rank. I was accompanied by the two secretaries and the interpreter of this legation.
Prince Ching then presented to His Majesty the chargés d’affaires of Spain, Russia, France, and Belgium. Mr. von Brandt then delivered the speech of which a copy is herewith inclosed. The Emperor replied in the speech a translation whereof is herewith inclosed.
The ceremonies then terminated, the members of the diplomatic body retiring as before.
We were invited to return to the first room into which we had been ushered to partake of refreshments, but the invitation was declined. We proceeded to our chairs, accompanied by the members of the tsung-li yamên, and left the grounds.
The foreign representatives met at the German legation the 7th instant and signed the protocol, a copy of which is herewith inclosed. They expressed themselves as being satisfied that the programme agreed on had been fully carried out.
I inclose herewith a description of the Tzü-Kuang-Ko, translated from the Chinese by the second secretary of this legation.
I have, etc.,
Sketch of the audience hall in the Tzü-Kuang-Ko, according to the measures given by the tsung-li yamên.
17′34.
- A copy in Chinese of the Emperor’s speech was delivered to each legation, in each of which was inserted the title of the chief of the state which the respective diplomatic agents represented.↩
- The Tzü-Kuang-Ko, or “Hall of Purple Brightness,” which lies in the western garden of the imperial city, has been designated by decree as the hall for the reception of the foreign ministers at Peking.” This is a description of this celebrated building, translated from the Chen-yuan-chih-lüeh, an account of Peking published towards the end of the last century.↩