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Nieuhof, Johannes, 1618-1672 / An embassy from the East-India Company of the United Provinces, to the Grand Tartar Cham, emperor of China: delivered by their excellencies Peter de Goyer and Jacob de Keyzer, at his imperial city of Peking wherein the cities, towns, villages, ports, rivers, &c. in their passages from Canton to Peking are ingeniously described by John Nieuhoff; also an epistle of Father John Adams, their antagonist, concerning the whole negotiation; with an appendix of several remarks taken out of Father Athanasius Kircher; Englished and set forth with their several sculptures by John Ogilby
(1673)
Chap. IV. Of some strange customs, fashions, and manners, in use amongst the Chineses., pp. 164-175
Page 169
the Empire of CHINA. and that is extraordinary ; for he is Obey'd, Honor'd, and Serv'd more tha any Spiritual or Temporal Prince in the whole World befide. No Perfo: of what Condition or Quality foever, may fpeak to him, but only the Geui den, who wait upon hini in his Chamber in the Palace,and his neareft Kinrec as his Sons and Daughters that live with him in the fime Palace. All the Ms giftrates without the Palace (for the Gelubden have their Degrees of Orde and Preferment.) are only to fpeak to the King /in Writing, in the mannt of a Petition, wherein their Defires are fet forth With the moft humble E9 preifons lmagmnabIC. When it is the new Year, (which always begins with the new Moon beh fore or after the ninth Month of OEIober, at which time alfo they begin their Lent) an Ambaffador is fent from every general Province to Salute the King. This Duty is perforn'd every third year with greater State, and'fuch humble Submiffion, that it feems in a manner a fervjle Obedience. So upon the firft day of the new Moon theMagiftrates, every one in his- own City, meet, and bow to the Royal Throne, which is adorn'd with Pi- 4ures and Images; then with exalted Voices pray, That the King may live ten thoufandyears; and this is loudly feconded by the redoubled Echoes of the People purpofely met together. The fame Honor is done to the Emperor upon his Birth-day through the whole Empire ; and upon the fame day the Magifirates of Peking, and the Ambaffadors which are fent from other Proo vinces, as alfo the Emperors neareft and chiefell Friends, come into the Em- peror's Prefence, to let him know what Day it is, and to confirm their good Wifies for his long Life, by the greatnefs of the Prefents which they then bring unto him. All fuch as are preferr'd by the Kitt to any Place of Magifaracy, or other Office, are fumi~mon'd to appear early inthe Morning-before the King's Throne, to return Thanks for the favor fhewn : At which time they are Cloth'd in red Sattin. with Silver-gilt Zurbants upon their Heads in both lands they hold an Ebony Board four Fingers bro4 they put before their Mouths as often as they fpea his Throne. When formerly the Emperor intended to appe f ew'd himfelf firft out of a large Window, in theh holding an Ebony Board in his Hand before his F Head; both which Boards were befet with fo man that bignefs, that they cover'd his Face, and hincIre perfe& fight of him: But how the Tartar C@am app already related. It is only lawful for-the Emperor to be array'd i ing forbidden-to all others : his Raiment is chiefly gons ; and not only are thefe Dragons upon his Ga graven upon the Vefi-ls of Gold and other Plate bc alfo upon a1 the other Furniture thereof ; infomri of the Palace is of a yellow Colour, figur'd with the has given occafion for fome to believe, that the Roc of God or Copper ; whereas in truth it is only coi yellow in the Baking, and faflued with Nails, whi fo every thing outwardly feen may refemble the E if any Perfon fould be fo audacioufly prefumptu
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