Page:Peking the Beautiful.pdf/144

 The Prayer for Rain

LA HIS delightful little courtyard in front of the Empress Dowager's own palace at the Wan Shou Shan was in times of drought the scene of a very pretty and interesting religious ceremony. At this service the tall bronze vase shown on the right was filled with water, and a large willow branch placed in its broad brim. On the day set apart for this cerentony the Empress Dowager, Emperor Kuang Hsü, and the Young Empress, as well as all the Court ladies and servants, each plucked a little willow branch and placed it on the head- the ladies tucking it in their hair, while the men stuck the tiny sprays in their hats. (Willow, according to the Buddhist religion, can bring water; hence the old custom of the Court to wear willow leaves when praying for rain.) Then the head eunuch, kneeling before Her Majesty, announced that everything was ready for the ceremony in the little pavilion in front of her palace. In this room was a large square table on which lay a few large sheets of yellow paper and a jade slab, some vermilion powder, and two little writing brushes. At each side of the table stood a pair of large porcelain vases, containing two large willow branches. Her Majesty's yellow satia cushion was placed in front of this table. Here she stood, and with the help of one of the princesses placed some pieces of sandalwood on an incense bumer, filled with live charcoal. Then Her Majesty knelt on her cushion, the Young Empress knelt behind her, the Court ladies all knelt in a row behind the Young Empress; and all commenced to pray. It was a simple little prayer and all joined heartily in eamest supplication in behalf of the poor farmers. Thrice was the prayer repeated, and nine times the royal worshipers prostrated therselves to the ground while they murmured: "De worship the Heavens, and beg all the Buddhas to take pity on us and save the poor farmers from starving. We are willing to sacrifice for theta. Pray Heaven send us rain ?" The Great Ancestor then ascended her throne for the morning audience. The beautiful bronze deer in the center of the picture is a symbol of long life, while the Ling Chih Ts'ao in his mouth is a symbol of inmortality. This deer is hollow inside, and sandalwood was frequently burned in a receptacle in his back the smoke, like sweet incense, pouring out of mouth and nostrils. The huge bronze basin, or T'ai P'ing Kang, also has an interesting history. In former days it was always filled to the brim with water, and served as a protection against fire. Not that it would prove an effective weapon should fire actually start; but its presence there was believed to add to the "good influences" which would prevent a fire from even starting! We would call these rulers superstitious; but somehow the "good influences" still continue even to these Republican days, and no fire has come for many a decade to destroy the lovely pavilions within the walls of this "Garden of Peaceful Enjoyment."