Among the Celestials : vol.1 / Page 34 (Color Image)

0034	Among the Celestials : vol.1

12 AMONG THE CELESTIALS. [CHAP. I.

these the most interesting was to the tomb of

Nurhachu, the founder of the present dynasty.

Manchus have high ideas as to the resting-

places befitting their great men, and there are

few more impressive tombs than this of the

simple mountain chief who raised his clan from

perfect obscurity to be the rulers of the most

populous empire the world has ever seen.

Situated in the country, away from the din of

city life, in the midst of a park of sombre

cypresses many miles in extent, and sur-

rounded by a wall, at the massive gateway

of which guards are placed to prevent any

but Manchus of pure descent from entering,

it impresses the imagination with a sense of

dignified, repose, in truest keeping with its

object.

In Mukden, too, and its neighbourhood there

are many temples, but of the ordinary Chinese

type, and of no special interest. In the matter

of temples, indeed, the Chinese are singularly

unsuccessful in inspiring interest. I did not

see a single temple in China that really im-

pressed me not one to compare with those

which may be seen in any part of India. With

but few exceptions, they are tawdry and even

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