File:Narrative of the Earl of Elgin's mission to China and Japan in the years 1857, '58, '59 (1859) (14587494008).jpg

Identifier: narrativeofearlo02olip (find matches)
Title: Narrative of the Earl of Elgin's mission to China and Japan in the years 1857, '58, '59
Year: 1859 (1850s)
Authors: Oliphant, Laurence, 1829-1888
Subjects: Elgin, James Bruce, Earl of, 1811-1863
Publisher: Edinburgh W. Blackwood
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Toronto

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n, and imported from China. Themost celebrated temple in honour of this deity is atMiako. Passing under an entrance archway, the shops oneach side were replaced by an avenue of handsometrees. This terminated in an open space which wasdensely crowded, as was the broad flight of steps lead-ing up to the verandah. We heard a good deal ofhooting and yelling, but it was not accompanied bypelting or other marks of ill-will, and was probablythe result of excitement and exuberant spirits on thepart of the more juvenile and least reputable part ofthe mob. They were always sufficiently civil to leavea small vacant space immediately round us. As westood at the top of the steps, and looked down uponthe sea of upturned faces gazing at us, I doubtedwhether the spectacle which we presented was asstriking to them as their appearance was to us. The interior of this temple did not differ materiallyfrom those we had already visited. It was the oldestand most cobwebby, and therefore, in an ecclesiastical
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« A FAIK. 213 point of view, the most respectable. The paper lan-terns were more monstrous—some of them were atleast twenty feet in height; I should think doublethat in circumference, and covered with characters.The temple was decorated with numerous pictorialrepresentations; among others were depicted scenesof by no means a religious character, the originals ofwhich were to be found in a neighbouring quarter, towhich I have already alluded as the least reputablepart of the city. We failed to perceive the connectionbetween them and the holy rites to which the templewas dedicated. In the gardens surrounding the building we had astill more striking illustration of this blending of thesacred with the profane. In all the grosser forms ofsuperstition, it seems essential to the very existenceof the religion that it should contain a strong infusionof the carnal and material element. So, while thepriest inside was propitiating the many-armed deityin whose image he saw but the representatio

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