Page:Peking the Beautiful.pdf/94

 The Shang Ti Tablet

IST TAITHIN the walls of a beautiful rotunda, sheltered from the gaze of M a ke the careless throng, amid the gathering shades and whispering shadows of a dimly lighted background, is enshrined one of the A most remarkable objects to be found anywhere in the world to-day-a tablet erected to the True God in a land that knows very little of Him, and among a people the great masses of whom have never worshiped Him. In China the name of God is seldom spoken, and His character is little known or understood. It is all the more surprising and wonderful, then, to find in Peking a survival of that ancient worship that carries us back to the time when the King of Salem officiated as "Priest of the Most High God," and Abraham sacrificed to the Ruler of Heaven. In this republican age, doors that were formerly closed and barred to all the common people-native and foreign alike-have been opened, and for a small fee one can gain access to all these marvelous temples and shrines. As we ascend the sculptured steps of glistening marble, past the exquisitely carved "Spirit Stairway," and peer through the heavy latticework of the "Imperial World," we find this sacred tablet to the "Lord of Sublime Heaven" standing majestically at the rear of the rotunda. The Shang Ti Tablet, as it is more commonly known, is mounted upon a lofty circular foundation of chiseled marble with nine steps (representing the nine divisions of heaven) leading up to the richly lacquered throne screen, artistically carved with figures of the imperial dragon. Nine more steps of wood, also richly lacquered in deep bronze, lead from the base of the throne screen right up to the door of the sacred chest that shelters from curious eyes the most sacred object--next, perhaps, to the ark of God at Jerusalem -that the world has ever known Few, indeed, of the multiplied millions of the sons of Han have ever enjoyed the privilege of gazing upon those wordrous characters emblazoned in letters of shining gold upon a background of rich, luminous turquoise, and fewer still, besides the Son of Heaven himself, have ever read that inspiring inscription, Huang Tien Shang Ti "Supreme Lord of Sublime Heaven," As one stands before this glorious shrine the mind reverts to those days when, at the mystic hour just before the dawn, the emperor himself knelt in humble adoration before his Sovereign Lord, And as the smoke of the whole burnt offering rose in clouds of white incense toward Heaven, the Spirit of God was believed to descend and rest upon this tablet erected to His name, while he communed with His suppliant child, just as in the time of ancient Israel God's presence was manifested above the Shekinah glory while He revealed His will to men. (See paqes 60, 72, 78, 110, 126 and 146.)