Ontario Community Newspapers

Oshawa Daily Times, 12 Dec 1928, p. 13

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5 We Tete pve 1 Lk ( SHAWA DAILY Timi... WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1. 5 - TOMB OF "OLD BUDDHA" AT PEKING LOOTED OF TREASURES The outrage perpetrated at the Im- rial tombs after the fall of Peking wi the coffins of Manchu Em ors 'were rifled of the wealth of ols they contained has brought to ght a remarkable description of the treasures of gold, pearls, jade and sther gems in which the body of the Empress Dowager Tzu Hei, the "Old Buddha" as she was affectionately known, was literally packed, For anything Jie it one must go to the "Arabian Nights." The old Buddha had a favorite eu- nuch named Li Lienying, He amassed a colossal fortune, wielded more power than any Viceroy, and incidenially kept a diary, which would probably be as interesting a document as any ever written, From this diary his grand-nephew, Li Ying. chou, has now published all the cir. cumstances of the burial of the Em- press Dowager, with a list of the treasures put into her coffin, In view of the habits of Oriental potentates, there seems no reason to disbelieve this record, especially as it can hardly be supposed that Li Lien-ying ever thought of its being published. Is is recorded that before the Dow- ager Empress was laid in the coffin the bottom was spread with a matt- ress of gold thread, seven inches thick, in which was woven an em- broidery of pearls, On top of the mattress was laid a silk embroidered coverlet strewn with a layer of pearls. In the pearl layer was a lace sheet of pearls, into which was woven a figure of Buddha, At the head there was placed a jade orna- ment of jade in the shape of a lotus flower. These were arranged in their places and then the body was lifted into the coin. The head of the Dowager Empress rested on the lotus leaves and her feet on the lotus flower. She was dressed in a cere- monial 'robe on which pearls were embroidered in gold thread, and over that an embroidered jacket with a rope of pearls; also, a rope of pearls encircled her body nine times, and 18 pearl images of Buddha were laid by her arms. All these were gifts sent by private persons for the Im- perial obsequies; they are not in- cluded in the official list of valuables. Fine Craftsmanship These private gifts having been so disposed, the body was covered with the sacred Tolo pall, on which are written prayers in Manchu script. A chaplet of pearls was placed on her head, and by her side were laid gold, jade and gem Buddhas to the num- ber of 108. On each side of the feet, right and left, were placed one wa- termelon, two sweet melons of jade, and jems made in the shape of peaches, pears, apricots, dates and other fruits, to the number of 200. By the Empress' left side was placed a gem shaped like a lotus root, with leaves and flowers sprouting from the top. On the right there was a coral tree. The interstices were filled with scattered pearls end gems until the whole was level, and over all was spread a network covering of pearls. As the attendants were in the act of placing the inner lid on the coffin a certain princess entered and took from a casket a gem ornament of eight galloping horses and another of 18 Buddhist Loman, She removed the covering and placed them by the side of the body. She replaced the coverlet, and this concluded the ceremony of encofining the body of the Old Buddha. Li Lien-ying engaged an expert to value the contents of the coffin, and has left a list from which I quote' some of the principal items, in sterl- ing, taking tael as worth roughly 2s, 6d, although it is at the moment a little above that, The, stolen trea sures would certainly be worth much more than when they were buried, The fold mattress was valued at £10,600; the pearls, rubies, sapphires, emeralds and jade with which it was interwoven at £112,600, The jade lotus-leaf ornament, of which the leaves were green and the veins nat- ural, not engraved, was valued at £106,250, and the emerald lotus flow- er, which weighed nearly 87 Chin. ese ounces, at £93,750, but the diar- ist's nephew thinks, probably right- ly, that this is far too little, Pearls by Thousands The ropes of pearls worn by the Empress and the pearl-embroidered jacket (the work of embroidering alone cost £1,000) contained 420 large pearls, 1,000 medium, and 4,600 small, Other gems, large and small, numbered 1,135, the value of the whole being £1,600,000, The Court necklaces, two of pearls and one of | § rubies, are estimated at £396,250, The chaplet of pearls on the head, the making of which cost nearly £7,000, and which is said to have included a pearl weighing four ounces, was valued at £1,250,000. The two jade watermelons placed by the Empress' feet--they had a green rind, red fruit, and white seeds--were estimat- ed to be worth £275,000, The gem lotus root placed at the left side was three sections long and had grey earth adhering to it; from the top sprouted green lotus leaves and a white flower with a black corolla, This was valued at £125,000, but. Li's grand-nephew thinks it was really rarer and more valuable than the melons, Finally, on the body were laid 500 large pearls, 1,000 of med- fum and 2,200 of smaller size, be- sides 2,200 sapphires to the value of £228,750, The items in the valuation given b# Li Lien-ying add up to about £6, 250,000, But many gifts by Manchu Princes are not included. The finest of these, says Li, were the eight gal- loping horses and 18 Buddhist Lohan. The horses were two inches in length and each carved from a separate gem, and the color of each was differ. ent. The 18 Lohan were also all dif- ferent. It would be interesting to know into whose hands all these marvels have passed since the Old Buddha's body was torn from among thems. and left lying on the unfeeling eal BIO-CHEMISTRY MAY PRODUCE NEW, STRANGE, HANDY BEINGS London, Dec. 11--In a thousand years from now man born of woman does the rough physical labor, This startling theory is advanced by H. T. F. Rhodes, the distinguished young scientist who is general sec- retary of the British Association of Chemists. . "We are just on the threshold of the discoveries chemists analysis. We are pass 13H HHH J? HR it o hb ail H 4 i hi "may be doing all the thinking, plan- [52 © gads | al Contest For Batony of Gordon Rests on 500- London, Dee. 11--A 500-year-old claim to a peerage came before the ear-Old Romance Huntly, the King sanctioned the pass- ing of all titles to the heir of the second For five centuries this ruling was unquestioned. : » ig a brother of For Men, from the Men's Store where . are CONBANKIY Siiavany 10 Jnake tals swe so complete in the quality and value of its merchandise, and to serve che public of Oshawa so well that it will be absolutely unneccessary to go outside of Oshawa for men's wear. Men's Handkerchiefs Fine Linen with initial, 50c Colored borders with initial. 3 for $1.00 Plain Linen 25¢ to 75¢ Colored Silks. 50¢ to $1.50 Fine Lawn 15¢ to 25¢ New Scars Just come in and ask to see them. We are sure to have just what you want Priced from $1.50 to $5 Men's Gloves Complete assortments--Deerskin, pec- cary, capes, buck, suedes, chamois, un- lined, wool lined, fur lined, silk lined. Finest quality, latest styles. Priced from $2 io $5 In Gift Boxes Driving Gauntlets $2.95 1 $5 CU + A Navy Serge Suit In the suit for now. Our 18 oz guar- anteed blue is the outstanding value of all the blues. Outstanding in quality, make, style and value. Young men's single and double breasted, and men's single breasted models. Tailored by "Fashion Craft" and priced at $34.50 | MEN'S BLUE OVERCOATS As popular as ever. Beavers, Meltons, Chinchillas, Whitneys, Guard Models, Slip Ons, Ulsters, Chesterfields. Price range - $18 to $39.50 A HICKOK BELT Attractively boxed, is a quality buckles. Just in this week. Pric- ed from Newest designs in initial $1 hh $3 RELIES Ree] A Christmas special in quality shirts at'a new low price. . .. a Broadeloths, ; English Reppai; and fine prints. All guaran- teed fast colors and our best make. Sizes 14 to 17. Each: with newest style separate col: lars. Special price fe $1.95 . IN GIFT BOXES HEIIReees CHOICE | 8 NECKWEAR In endless variety. No trouble choosing here where assortment is largest, quality the finest, styles the latest. C~« Priced $1.00, $1.25, $1.50, $1.75, $200, | When Choosing Gifts Choose Gifts of Valve \ £ ) A ot IAN y " es : plain Pure silk . ...$1.00 to $2.00 Fancy silk and wool mixtures. 50¢. ih $1.50

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