Page:Illustrations of China and Its People vol. IV.pdf/51



THIS monument, which is probably the most magnificent in Peking, stands more than a mile beyond the north wall of the city, in the huge pile of buildings known as the Hwang-she. It is said that formerly it was the site of a royal palace, and its history goes back for nearly a thousand years. Last century it appears to have been used as a Thibetan Lama temple, and was then fitted up for the reception of the Banjul Lama towards the close of the reign of Kien-loong.

The Banjin is second only to the Dali Lama, and is also looked upon as a lesser incarnation of Buddha. As Thibet owes an allegiance to China, the Emperor conceived a jealousy of the friendly reception extended to the English by the Banjin, and therefore courteously invited his holiness to visit Peking. The latter is said to have been most unwilling to set out, pretending a dread of small-pox, or some less doubtful poison. Seeing, however, that the missive, though clothed in all the suavity of court etiquette, was far too peremptory to be disobeyed, he reluctantly started from Lassa on the 15th of Jul) -, 1779, and reached this temple early in the following year. His worst fears were realized. After being feted as a divinity, and worshipped in person by the Emperor, he was in due time attacked with small-pox (so the story goes) and died in the chamber adjoining his reception hall, or, as the Chinese phrase it, his spirit changed its abode, and went to animate a body of tender years in Thibet. It has been strongly suspected that he was poisoned at the Emperors suggestion.

The remarkable monument seen in this picture (No. 40) was erected at immense cost to commemorate the Lama's visit, and is built of white marble, after the Thibetan model. The- bell-like cupola and the upper ornaments are of gold, and the whole is most elaborately carved with allegorical subjects; the sides of the lower octagon portion represent, in relief, as many scenes in the mythical life of tins divine personage, and four handsome turrets at the corners of the upper platform are inscribed with Sanscrit mystic prayers engraved in Chinese characters. The two side entablatures of the facade also bear sentences in the ancient Devanagari characters, and on the columns are inscriptions in Chinese. The erection is carefully preserved, and the steps inside the wooden gate are decorated with flowers. The body of the Lama was taken back to Thibet, but it is said that his clothes have been buried in this spot.