CHESS AND PLAYING-CARDS. 



811 



figure of a man standing erect.' The third, the "bent scepter," was 

 also A. f'>ot in length and was carried by princes of the third rank 

 (earls). It is explained as probably representijig the figure of a man 

 bending over.' The Emperor himself had a jade scepter, tdi lacai 

 (tig. 126), "grand tablet," so called from its size, it being 3 feet in length. 



Fig. 126. 



GRAND SCEPTER {Tdi kwai) ANCIENTLY CARRIED BY THE EMPEROR. 



Cliiua. 



From till- Chow l.i. 



It became smaller at the top and its head is in the shape of a hammer. 

 Tliis the Emperor wore between his robe and his girdle.- 



In addition he held another scepter called the cluoi Jcicai or scepter 

 of omnipotence (tig. 127). It was If^^ feet in length. The word cltan 

 not only signifies omnipotence, but is also the name given to the four 

 protecting mountains of the frontiers. In the picture added by Chu 



' Le Tcheou li ou rites des Tcheou. Traduit par fidouard Biot, Paris, 1851, I, p. 

 432, uoto 1 



-Idim, 11. p. 522. 



