2 Field Museum of Natural History 



death, and who faithfully nursed their parents-in-law, 

 were entitled to this honor; likewise children for unusual 

 acts of filial piety, persons who had reached the age of 

 one hundred, and statesmen for loyal devotion to the 

 throne. If such a canonization was recommended, the 

 emperor, on receiving the petition, issued a "holy edict," 

 which was chiseled in stone on the top of the monument, 

 and he contributed the sum of thirty ounces of silver. 

 The balance of the cost was subscribed by the family of 

 the honored person or by the grateful community. 

 The ideal purpose of these gateways, accordingly, was 

 to perpetuate to posterity the memory of excellent men 

 and women and to act as an influence on the conduct of 

 the following generations. 



The number of openings or passages in gateways is 

 usually three, as in the gateway of the Museum, while 

 more rarely five arches occur. Such may be seen, for 

 instance, on the tomb of Confucius in Shantung or on 

 the avenue leading to the mausoleum of the Ming 

 emperors, north of Peking. Marble, granite, sand- 

 stone, and wood are employed for gateways. Wooden 

 structures, as a rule, are less elaborate than those of 

 stone. The gateway shown in the Museum is a very 

 exact reproduction in teakwood of one in stone, with all 

 the rich details of ornamentation. . 



The harmonious construction, the ingenious compo- 

 sition, the pleasing proportions, and skill in workman- 

 ship, are notable features. The four pillars are each 

 adorned with a powerful, scaly dragon, rising from the 

 depths of the sea heavenward into clouds and making 

 for a flamed pearl: the aspiration for an ideal that is set 

 before man, but that can never be reached. The pedes- 

 tals carry figures in the round of lions playing with their 

 young; altogether forty-two lions are represented. It is 

 remarkable that each and every lion is different in 

 posture and action. Some are provided with collar-bands 

 and bells; some have their manes rolled up in spirals, 



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