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72 NOTES OX THE SYMBOLISM OF THE 



all other birds pay homage. These four designs are re- 

 peated in the order cited on the upper steps and then the 

 Palace itself is entered. 



This is where the Emperor received his Officials, for 

 daily Audience, etc., in the ordinary way, here the Empress 

 and Palace ladies could penetrate if the Ruler so desired. 

 The throne is most elaborate and very deeply carved. The 

 board above it reads; Cheng Ta Kuang Ming iE ^C ft •• 

 Upright, Noble, Honourable, Clear of Intellect (should be 

 the Ruler), while behind the Imperial seat is carved a 

 motto; Only the Perfect Ruler is at all times a Pattern; 



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The centre reads; Wei T'ien Tsung Ming; Wei Sheng 

 Shih Hsien ; Wei Chen Ch' ing Jo ; Wei Min Tsung I. " Only 

 Heaven is All-hearing and All-seeing, is perfect in com- 

 prehension ; Only the Perfect Ruler is at all times a Pattern ; 

 Only the perfectly sincere Official reverently follows the 

 Ruler's example ; Only the virtuous People are obedient and 

 allow their actions to be regulated." In a word, it may be 

 said that only by harmonious co-operation can good govern- 

 ment be arrived at. When the Emperor follows the Way of 

 Heaven then his Officials can and will take him as a pattern 

 and the people can and will accord with the regulations ! 



The precepts on either side run ; Kung Ch'ung Wei Chih ; 

 Yeh Kuang Wei Ch'in; Shou Ch'u Shu Wu; W T an Kuo Hsien 

 Ning and Kai Ti Chun Tzu; Ssu Fang Wei Tse; Chih Jen 

 Tse Che ; An Min Tse Hui. "Achievement that is worthy of 

 admiration springs from Perseverance; Patrimony can be 

 widened only by Diligence; The Emperor is above all 

 creatures; The 10,000 Countries all enjoy Peace and The 

 Superior Man is kind and courteous; He is a model for 

 all the Four Quarters; His knowledge of men shows his 

 Discernment; He is able to conserve the people in peace — 

 this shows his kindness." 



The furnishings are naturally most gorgeous and the 

 colonnades in front of the Palace very imposing. 



As the centre of the ceremonial portion of the Forbidden 

 City consists of the three great Halls "Tien," so the centre 

 of the residential portion consists of three buildings arranged 

 on the same plan. Two large "Kung," that of the Emperor 

 — Palace of the Cloudless Heaven — to the south, that of 

 the Empress — K'un Ning Kung *$ & % Palace of Earthly 



