08 NOTES OX THE SYMBOLISM OF THE 



3. — In the Ninth Heaven, centre of all points of the compass, there 

 opens the Chang Ho Gate, first of all entrances to Heaven, 

 as do the gates of the Halls and Palaces here below. 



4. — The Ten Thousand countries send representatives each in the 

 robe and head-dress of his rank, to raise their hands in 

 worship before that cap from which strings of pearls are 

 suspended. 



5. — The sun colour has just arrived at the high bright "Immortals 

 Palm" whicii caps the metal column. 



6. — Sweet scented smoke envelopes the Emperor's robes of cere- 

 mony — in the floating mist the dragons seem to write — 

 to live. 



7. — The Audience ended, I desire to cut the Five-coloured paper 

 upon which to inscribe the words of the Son of Heaven. 



8. — I return to my study — my jade girdle ornaments giving out 

 clear sweet sounds— to write beside the Pool of the Crested 

 Love Pheasant. 



The T'ai Ho Tien was regularly used three times in the 

 year; on the first day of the lunar year after the Emperor 

 had returned from the ceremonies at the Altar of Heaven 

 when he received his Court in great state, at the Winter 

 Solstice when he again gave audience here, and at the cele- 

 brations in honour of the Imperial birthday which also took 

 place within its walls; as did any extraordinary rejoicing 

 such as took place when the Son of Heaven assumed Office, 

 or upon the occasion of an Imperial wedding. It stands at 

 the southern extremity of the colossal elevation upon which 

 the San Ta Tien are placed, the second of these Three Great 

 Halls, the Chung Ho Tien # *fl .g& Perfectly Balanced, Un- 

 deviating, Harmony Hall, being placed directly behind it. 

 This Hall which is very small was used at the Ch'ing Ming 

 -^ 19 when rites to the ancestors and various spirits were 

 performed; and in the autumn for the inspection of the 

 grain newly harvested, and also for the inspection of the 

 instruments of agriculture. 



The allusion to the "Immortal's hand" is to a very high bronze 

 pillar which Han Wu Ti built at the Chien Chang Kung 



on the top of which was a large metal hand, placed to catch the dew — 

 the drinking water of the Immortals. The line gives the impression of 

 early dawn, when the sun's rays are just touching very high places. 



ill M. ^ ivi Six Offices Instituted by the Ch'in Dynasty. 



255-209 B.C. 



fgj flj Keeper of the Head-dresses. 



fp} $£ Keeper of the Robes. 



fSj j£ Keeper of the Food-stuffs. 



^ Jrfc Keeper of the Washing utensils. 



f£j Jg Keeper of the Sitting Mats. 



$} ^ Keeper of the Writing Materials. This officer also acted as 

 a sort of Secretary, composed the poems which the 

 Emperors enjoyed writing or did any clerical work. 



