ASIA 1^ I'll li /) ^4- < /, y CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY THE WASON CHINESE COLLECTION Cornell University Library DS 795.E23 The recent chanqes at Peking , and, Reco 3 1924 023 503 026 Cornell University Library The original of tiiis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924023503026 THE RECENT CHANGES AT PEKING AND RECOLLECTIONS OF PEKING. BY THE REV. J. EDKINS, D,D. EEPRINTED FEOM THE " SHANaHAI MEBCUKY.' .*^»3*'^^ 1902. Printed at the Shanghai Mercury, Ltd. L l^ I: 1 1 \ U A I; V RECENT CHANGES AT PEKING. A LECTURE DELIVERED BY THE ReV. J. EdKINS, D.D., IN CONNECTION WITH THE China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, ON THE 2 1 ST November, 1901. Peking stands on a plain bordered rising very slowly from the level of the by hills two thousand feet high. The sea. whole plain seems to be rising through The Peking plain consists of stratifi- water a,ction flowing from the hills and ed clays which turn to dust and cause bringing down with it earth and stones dust storms. By these storms, when from higher levels. Partly, too, there most violent, day is almost lurned to may be an upward subterranean force night. Travellers, when they meet raising hills and plain from beneath. these storms, experience extreme in- The Pechili Gulf is becoming shallower. convenience from the tliick coating of AtTengchowfu, Dr. C. Mateer told W. dust which covers their clothing, faces me the sea formerly reached the city and hands. At twenty miles, north of and is now distant fro-n it an English Tientsin, clumps of trees begin to varie- mile. He understood from the Teng- gate the couniry, and this feature is chow people that the sea water was continued all th; way to Peking. The then fifteen feet deep where it is now hills form a semi-circle round the city three feet deep. At a later date the sea on the north, the east and the west. came up within one Chinese li from The scenery has already become the city. The city wall was 'built to more agreeaMe to the eye than the protect junks from pirates and from dusty plains further south. the Japanese. _ The land appears to have risen i4,'5th feet in 250 years, or On the hills there are many most ^bout five feet in 100 years nearly. In attractive sites for temples. Springs support of this view Du Halde on in gullies hire and there originate Korea may be consulted. Also the streams which nourish groves of trees. old people at Chefoo say the harbour Here monasteries are built and priests is steadily filling up. The Gulf of Pechi- superintend the newly planted woods. li and the Yellow Sea are shallow. At From the Liau dynasty in the Chefoo, on the western spit of land tenth century Buddhist temples have leading to Chefoo peak, are two perfect been built by eunuchs, princesses sea beaches besides the present one. empresses, and superstitious officers of The highest of them is but a few feet the court. Pine trees are pointed out above the sea. These old beaches as being eight or nine centuries old, and shew ihe changes that were proceeding still growing in some of these temples. in past years. The plain on which Peking stands is At Tientsin the sea beach is con- thirty miles wide and the hills partly stantly going outwards at Taku, the surrounding it are at a distance of ten people say at the rate of thirty li or miles on the west and twenty on the ten English miles in a century. In the east. The rain which falls on these Ming dynasty the sea came up, it is hills keeps the wells of Peking suffi- said, to Tientsin. The whole country, ciently supplied with water to allow of tjierefore, about Peking, appears to be a large population residing in the city. C 2 ] It became the northern capital of it is most impressive; The Chienching- the Liau and Kin dynasties and later kung, one of the palace buildings, cost of the Yuen. The form of the ciiy twenty million taels. The palace proper as it now presents itself to the travel- where the Emperor resides is on the ler is due to the Mong;ols : the north-west of the ceremonial halls positions of the Temple of Heaven, the which stand in a line north and south Altar of Ag-riculture, the Tai Miau, the in the centre of Peking. West of the Sheisi altars in front of the Palace, palace is the Nanhai, a sheet of water, the Palace itself and the astronomical a mile in length, fed by streams from observatory, all were selected by the the western hills. Here were General Mong-ol Emperor, Kublai, acting under von Wa'dersee's headquarters, and the advice of Chinese statesmen. The here the Empress-Dowager . resided most distinguished of these advisers of from the year i8go. Far on the south- the Emperor was Kwo Showking who west is seen the Shunchimen gale made the older astronomical instru- tower, which has not been injured. The ments, which have been taken to Nantang Cathedral close by was burn- Germany, and constructed the Grand ed by the Boxers and is an utter-ruin. Canal. At the back of Prospect Hill is an an- In the old days in Peking a walk on cestral temple called Showhwanglien. the wall was a favourite recreation. 1 he pictures of the former Emperors In i86j|, I think it was, I went from are preserved here, and it is in this the British Legation in a pirt of which building that deceased Emperors in I was then living, to the West Gate of their coffins await burial. Peking. Ascending the w^iU and passing A French soMier who came from the tower at the Tsien Men, which has the garrison of Rochefort was on now been burnt down, my companion guard at this temple. On my asking and I walked for two miles along the him if he had heard on which broad parapet of the wall to the south- tree in the park the last Emperor of west corner near the British Cemetery, the Ming dynasty had hanged him- and then north for two miles more to self, he said he had not, but an aged the West Gate. We had heard Chinese now appeared who knew the that the funeral p*'ocession of tree and conducted us to it. It is an Sangkolinsin would enter the city at old acacia tree on the eastern slope of six. We watched the long train of flag- Prospect Hill. The old man was the bearers and cofBn-bearers with inscrip- wearer of a white button, and had been tions requiring the people in the streets a caretaker in the park for many to be quiet, to retire respectfully and years. When he was young there without speaking. He who was carried was, he told us, an iron chain over the past in that coffin was the same who tree This was to signify that the four years before had upbraided Sir tree was guilty of a crime. The Harry Parkes, who had been taken Emperor, in his despair, hanged himself prisoner, contrary to all civilized rules, from the branch to which this chain for not settling the audience question was afterwards fastened, A faithful by consenting to Manchu require- attendant followed his example. The ments. Prostration or imprisonment, branch itself is broken off over because the Emperor Hienfeng wished some large blocks of stone. Three it to be so, was the principle of this temples crown the three principal deceased champion of Manchu im- summits of Prospect Hill. The copper perialism. In April last it was easy to images on the two outer temples were gain access to the palace and the park taken away by French soldiers, we on the north. On April 26th I walked were told, to sell for old copper. The up the hill called Prospect Hill iu this central image, that of Shakyamunie park with Dr. Sheffield. There are Buddha, is still there, It was pushed three eminences on the hill, the central from its place and somewhat broken ; one and highest is directly north of the overlooking the exact centre of the central palace buildings ; the view from place, it must be exphined, as a pro- t ^ T t€ction. The images of the gods are terrace were two bronze deer. Two supposed to ward off evil influences. brass lions are placed as guardians of This idea of idol-protection has had the second gate. One plays with a much to do with the spread of idolatry young lion, the other with a ball of silk. in China, and it was greatly favoured In front of the outer entrance are two by the Mingf dynasty whose founder stone lions, When an Emperor dies Chu Tai-tsa, was himself at one time a he is carried in his coffin to rest in this Buddhist priest. Prospect Hill has no temple till his tomb is ready for him. outward sign of coal, though it is also Eleven years ago, that is in 1880, the called Meishan, coal hill. At several Empress-Dowager removed from her points it has been dug into, but no coal apartments in the palace adjoining those has been found. of the Emperor to the west park.