ABSTRACT

In remote antiquity there existed in China a form of worship which was a survival of those ancient days when God had not yet been personified nor creeds elaborated. The object of this worship was the invisible Power resident in the visible heavens, who provides for the needs of man and metes out to him reward or punishment according to his deserts. Twice a year, at the approach of the winter and the summer solstices, the Emperor repairs to this Altar to sacrifice to "Heaven." It is a picturesque and curious sight to see the procession of his Imperial Majesty traversing the streets of Peking on this bi-annual occasion. The road leading to the Temple leaves the Tartar City by the big Southern Gate, the Ch'ien-m'en, and is certainly one of the worst roads in the world, owing to the ruts worn in the paving stones by the serrated wheel-tires of the Peking carts.