CIVIL ARCHITECTURE. 



589 



Tempi* of 

 Fo. 



Practice, are bordered in some places with a variety of stones curi- 

 T"'' ously- inlaid. The gates of the city and the temples have 

 a beautiful appearance ; but the most striking edifice is 

 the famous porcelain tower, which is an octagon build- 

 ing, nine stories, or 200 feet high, and 40 in diameter. 

 A winding staircase leads to the top, from whence there 

 is a noble prospect of the surrounding country. On 

 etch story is a room, adorned with paintings and other 

 ornamenti ; but that which is the most beautiful part of 

 this building is the cupola, which rises from the upper- 

 most story, and is supported by a mast fixed in the floor 

 of the eighth story, round which a large iron hoop winds 

 in a spiral direction, giving to the whole the semblance 

 of a hollow cone rising in the air, having on the top a 

 massive golden ball. From each angular projection a 

 bell is suspended by chains or wires, which produces a 

 tinkling sound by every vibration of the wind. This 

 magnificent structure takes its name from the variegated 

 tiles with which it is covered. The Chinese pretend, that 

 it hath stood 700 years, being erected by the Tartars to 

 celebrate their conquest of this country ; but others are 

 of opinion, that it was built by the Emperor Yong-lo, 

 and consequently that it is about 400 years old." Pages 

 9. and 10. of Introduction. 



" In the province of Fo-kien is a famous port called 

 Hiamen, or Emouy. Here is a celebrated temple dedi- 

 cated to Fo. It stands on a plain by the sea coast, and 

 at the foot of a high mountain. The front of this build- 

 ing is 180 feet in length, and the gate is ornamented 

 with figures in relief. Immediately within the entrance 

 is a large portico, having an altar in the middle, on which 

 is a gigantic figure of Fo, made of brass, gilt, sitting 

 cross-legged. At the corners of this portico are four 

 other statues in a sitting form, 18 feet high, each of 

 which is formed of one entire stone. One or them holds 

 a serpent, which is twisted in different folds round his 

 body ; another has a bow and quiver ; the third has a 

 battle-axe ; and the fourth a musical instrument, resem- 

 bling a guitar. Next to this portico is a square outer 

 court, paved with stones of a grey colour, the least of 

 which is 10 feet long, and 4 broad. There is a pavilion 

 on each side of this court, with a dome at the top, 

 which communicate with each other by a gallery. In 

 one of these pavilions is a bell 10 feet in diameter ; in 

 the other is an enormous drum, with which the Bonzes 

 proclaim the new and full moon. The Chinese bells are 

 struck on the outside with wooden hammers. The two 

 other pavilions are appropriated to the use of the Bon- 

 zes, who are obliged to entertain all travellers that come 

 hither. 



" In the middle of this court is a tower, round which 

 winds a stone staircase, that leads to a temple, the dome 

 of which is adorned with Mosaic work, and the walls 

 with stone figures in relief, of animals and monsters. 

 The roof is supported 'by pillars of varnished wood. 

 The pavement is composed of shells so placed, as to re- 

 present birds, insects, flowers," &c. 



"In this u-mple is an altar, on which incense is al- 

 ways burning, and the lamps are always lighted. At 

 one cud of the altar is an urn of brass, which emits a 

 :.vniriiful sound on being struck ; and opposite to it is a 

 wooden machine of an oval form and hollow ; and both 

 are designed to accompany the voices of the Bonzes, in 

 celebrating the praises of their idol. This deity is called 

 Poum, whose image stands on the altar, holding an in- 

 fant in his arms ; several inferior deities are ranged round 

 him in respectful attitudes. On the wall are hierogly- 

 phical characters in praise of the idol ; and among others 

 i> a painting in fresco, representing a burning Take, in 



which several persons appear to be swimming, some Prac!i-?. : 

 borne by monsters, and others guarded by dragons and *~* ~Y~~ " 

 winged serpents. Out of the lake rises a rock, on which A cod 

 sits the god, holding a child, who seems to call t the holding a 

 men in the lake, who are prevented from ascending the' c '"'- 

 rock by an old man, having hanging ears and horns on 

 his head, and who keeps them off by a large club. The 

 Bonzes are themselves ignorant of the meaning of this 

 piece. 



" Leaving the tower, we cross the court into a galle- 

 ry, containing 24 statues of Chinese philosophers ; and 

 at the end is a dining hall for the Bonzes. After pas- 

 sing through a large apartment we enter the temple of 

 Fo, which is decorated with vases, filled with artificial 

 flowers ; but the idol is veiled by a deep curtain of black 

 gauze. On the declivity of the mountain are several gar- 

 dens ; and numerous pleasant grottos are cut out in the 

 rock." Pp. 20, 21, and 22, of Introduction. 



In the further account of the embassy, we are inform- 

 ed, " they stopped to breakfast at a village rear Pekin. Iim uear 

 The inn in which they were refreshed was not like those Pekin. 

 in England. It had neither elegance or ornament ; but 

 the rooms, though small, were neat and cool. All kinds 

 of refreshments were produced. The party were anxi- 

 ous to discover the capital ; but no seats or villas an- ^ a >eats or 

 nounced its appearance. At last they came to one of villa?. 

 the eastern suburbs. They passed through a paved street, 

 full of manufacturers, shop-keepers, and purchasers. 

 The party were about a quarter of an hour passing, . 

 through this suburb, when they came before the walls 

 of Pekin. The ambassador's arrival was announced by 

 the firing of guns ; and refreshments were provided 

 for the suite, at a resting place inside of the gate. 

 The walls near it were paved with stone, but in other Walls of 

 places with brick. Over the gate was a high watch- Pek<n. 

 tower of several stories, each having sham port-holes 

 painted on them. Outside of the gate was a semicircular 

 wall, having a lateral gate, which, bearing a resemblance 

 to the European plan of fortification, is probably a late 

 addition. The walls of the city were about 40 feet high. 

 The parapet was deeply crenated, but without regular 

 embrazures, nor were any cannon seen on the walls; but 

 in the mertons, there were loop-holes for archery. At 

 the base, the walls were about 20 feet thick ; and across 

 the tereplcine, on which stood the parapet, 12. The 

 outside of the wall, though not quite perpendicular, was 

 smooth, but the inside sloped considerably ; the rows of 

 bricks, of which it is built, being ranged like steps, one 

 above and behind the other. Square towers flanked the 

 outside of the walls, the distance between each being 

 about 60 yards, and the projection of the curtain be- 

 tween them 40 or 50 feet. Many horsemen might ride 

 abreast on the ramparts, the ascent to which is by slopes 

 of earth withinside. 



" On the entrance of this city, it appeared different City of 

 from those of Europe, the streets of which are frequent- Ptkiifc 

 ly so narrow, and the houses so high, that at one end of 

 a street, the houses at the other seem to lean, and to 

 bear towards those opposite. Here the houses were 

 mostly of one story, and none above two, while the 

 street itbclf was much above 100 feet in breadth. It ex- 

 hibited also a gay and jovial appearance. As the street 

 had no pavement, water was thrown upon it, to allay the 

 dust. Across it stood a good building, called here Pailoo, 

 which has been erroneously rendered a triumphal arch ; 

 it was built entirely of wood, and consisted of three gate- 

 ways, the largest of which is in the middle ; over these 

 were three roofs, one above another, highly adorned. 

 The design of this structure was expressed by large cha- 



