Page:China- Its State and Prospects.djvu/152

128 or calamity, the ruler of China appears as the high-priest of the people, and constitutes himself the chief medium of intercourse between earth and heaven. At the same periods, throughout the provinces, the various officers and magistrates pay their adorations to the presiding divinities of their several districts, the gods of the land and grain, the god of war, of literature, &c. all of which rites are determined by the board in question. The ceremonies to be observed on court occasions; the introduction and arrangement of nobles at the levees; the number of prostrations each is to make, and when; the clothes, caps, and boots they are to wear; the paths by which they are to come and go, to and from the imperial presence; and all other such like important minutiæ, are gravely and accurately specified by this board. The imperial astronomers are also placed under its superintendence ; for as these gentlemen have to calculate celestial phenomena, as well as to prognosticate terrestrial affairs; as they have to fix the lucky and unlucky days for the performance of civil and religious ceremonies; their labours come necessarily under the cognizance of the board of rites.

The fourth tribunal is that of war; taking the superintendence of the army, navy, and ordnance; appointing the number of troops assigned to each province; and inspecting the state of the forts, and other defences of the country. The army of China is rated at 700,000; who may rather be termed militia, being employed part of the year in cultivating the ground, and contributing to their own support. These generally clothe and arm themselves, according to their own fancy; and are distinguished by the character "robust," being stitched on to their jackets in front, and the word "brave," behind!