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theEmpire '/CH IN     A. '79 
Temple isby fourlarge Marhle.Siaircafes, each having fe'eral Steps, with
Gates qpening towards the four Q.arters of th6 World;j between which are
four Princely  Gallexies, fupported on all fides by curious Carv'd Pillarsof
Wood, each being at leafd four yards thick, and thirty fix Foot high j all
the 
Cielings being moI exquifitely, and with great Art Painted and Gilded. The
Doors are mofd admirably wrought with Imagery, and Painted; the outward 
Galleries and Windows have as it were a covering of Wyre-work, tokeep the
Birds from rooffingupon, or fouling them which is made fo thin, that it doth
not in the leak darkcn the Temple. 
In the middle or more inward part of the Temple fland two Thrones, 
wrought with extraordinary rarity, and adorn'd with all manner of Precious
Stones. Upon thefe hand two Chairs, in one of Which the Emperor fits when
he Offereth, which in this Place is forbiden to all Perfons, of what Condition
foever, but only himfelf; the other continually remains empty, to be as it
were a Sat for the Deity, fuppos'd to be prefent and ready to receive the
Of- 
fering ;-yet they-permit no Image to be fet before it. In the open Air, or
as 
we fay, Jab Vio, fhand feveral Altars. of red Marble, by which the Chinefes
fig- 
nifie or denote the Sun, Moon, Motuntains, and Floods j and thefe things,
as 
by them is reported., are ereded without the Tempk, be-arue nne fould 
worfhip them; and that everyone (hould rend"' W ofhip and Honor unto,
nothing, but what is venerated and adord by the ,Emperor in the Temple. 
Round about are feveral Cells, wherein formerly were Baths for the Emperoe
to wafh himfelf before he went to Offer; leading to,which are feveral broad
Ways, planted on both tides with Pines, by them efeem'd fo Sacred, that 
no Perfon is faffer'd to break a Bough from them, upon pain of death; all
Which, as well in the Walks as on thefe Hills, are faid to be Planted. 
Much more might be voluminoufly writ of the Tombs and Burial-places 
in general, but efpecially of thofe which the Emperors have caus'd to be
Built near the Royal City Peking, the prefent Placeof their Refidence  But
thefe, and mofd of the refi, have undergoneone and the fame direful iFate,
not cfcaping the fury and rage of the Tartars, who in their lae Invafions
de- 
flroy'd and utterly laid waffe all that ,ws rare or worthy of Remark in this
Emnire. 
And after this manner 
mofi part provide themfelve 
dinary and vulgar fort of Peo 
they Bury promifcuoufly, and 
( 
Of the Form, Sbape, and j 
Clothes. 
T    H E Cbinefes , for the 
Complexion as the P 
who live in the Southern Cou 
with theheatof the Sun, tha 
their Beards, though thin an'c 
fore it appears ; fo that a Mat 
I