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.
This was too much. The literati argued that at the rate at which
the Emperor was going, it might be expected that he would do away
with chop-sticks and dispense with the queue.
--Rounsevelle Wildman in "China's Open Door."
X
KUANG HSU--AS A PRISONER
The year that Kuang Hsu ascended the throne a great calamity
occurred in Peking. The Temple of Heaven--the greatest of the
imperial temples, the one at which the Emperor announces his
accession, confesses his sins, prays and gives thanks for an
abundant harvest, was struck by lightning and burned to the
ground. When the Emperor worships here it is as the
representative of the people, the high priest of the nation, and
his prayers are offered for his country and not for himself.
There are no idols in this temple, and his prayers go up to
Shang-ti the Supreme Being "by whom kings reign and princes
decree justice." When therefore instead of giving rain Heaven
sent down a fiery bolt to destroy the temple at which the Son of
Heaven prays, the people were struck with dismay.
The pale faces of the women, the apprehensive noddings of the
men, and the hushed voices of our old Confucian teachers as they
spoke of the matter, indicated the concern with which they viewed
it. Here was a boy who had been placed upon the throne by a
woman; he was the same generation as the Emperor who had preceded
him, and hence could not worship him as his ancestor
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