Mr. Denby to Mr.
Sherman.
Legation of the United States,
Pekin, November 23,
1897. (Received December 29.)
No. 2829.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose a newspaper
clipping, setting forth an ancient superstition existing in China that
an eclipse of the sun portends disaster.
[Page 110]
Such an eclipse will occur the first day of the twenty-fourth year of the
reign of Kuang Hsu, and the Emperor is filled with forebodings as to its
effects.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure in No. 2829.—Abstract of
Peking Gazette.—Specially translated for the North China Daily
News, 3d September.]
imperial decrees.
(1) According to the Ch’unch’iu (or Spring and Autumn
Annals—Translator) it has been stated that an eclipse of the sun on
the first day of “the year betokens an impending calamity, hence the
sovereigns of every dynasty which has preceded us have always made
it a point, whenever an eclipse of the sun is prognosticated, to
undergo self-abasement and humble themselves before heaven in order
to avert the wrath from above. In the case of our own imperial
dynasty, for instance, during the reigns of Their Majesties K’ang
Hsi and Ch’ien Lung (1662–1794) there were observed two eclipses of
the sun which fell on a New Year’s Day; and now, according to the
board of astronomy, the first day of the twenty-fourth year of our
reign (22d January, 1898) there will be yet another eclipse of the
sun. We are filled with forebodings at this news and hasten to seek
within ourselves for sins which may have thus brought the wrath of
high heaven upon the land. We further command that the ceremonies of
congratulation usually held on New Year’s Day in the Taiho throne
hall be curtailed and only ordinary obeisances be made, the place
being changed to the Ch’ientsing throne hall. The banquet usually
given to imperial clansmen on New Year’s Day must also be stopped,
and when the eclipse occurs let all the members of the court wear
sober garments and assemble in the inner palace before the altar set
up to heaven, to pray for forbearance and mercy to the country at
large. This is so far as shall concern ourselves, to show our desire
to propitiate high heaven; but, as Her Majesty the Empress Dowager
is an elder and senior, it is but right that the full ceremonies be
observed in paying the court’s obeisances to her majesty on New
Year’s Day. Let all the Yamêns concerned take note.