N/A. English: Drawing by William Alexander, draughtsman of the Macartney Embassy to China in 1793. A temple visitor kneeling before the sacred urn, in which perfumed sticks are burning during sacrifice. A priest whose head is entirely shaved wears a loose dress of silk or nankeen, the color of which is characteristic of a particular sect. Against the wall of the temple two statutes are located separated from the worshipers by the low railing. The person on the right is anxiously watching the fall of tallies, which he is shaking in a joint of bamboo; these are marked with certain characters, an
N/A. English: Drawing by William Alexander, draughtsman of the Macartney Embassy to China in 1793. A temple visitor kneeling before the sacred urn, in which perfumed sticks are burning during sacrifice. A priest whose head is entirely shaved wears a loose dress of silk or nankeen, the color of which is characteristic of a particular sect. Against the wall of the temple two statutes are located separated from the worshipers by the low railing. The person on the right is anxiously watching the fall of tallies, which he is shaking in a joint of bamboo; these are marked with certain characters, and as they fall, the characters are inserted by the priest in the book of fate. After the ceremony, the priest communicates to the votary the success of his prayers. Alexander noted that the Chinese had no regular sabbath, or fixed time for worshipping the Deity in congregation. Their temples were constantly open, and were visited on every important undertaking, such as an intended marriage, the commencement of a long journey, building a house, etc. Image taken from The Costume of China, illustrated in forty-eight coloured engravings, published in London in 1805. circa 1800. William Alexander (1767–1816) Alternative names Mr. Alexander; W. Alexander Description English painter and drafter Date of birth/death 10 April 1767 23 July 1816 Location of birth/death Maidstone Maidstone Authority control : Q961465 VIAF: 46805708 ISNI: 0000 0001 0895 7948 ULAN: 500014977 LCCN: n81069035 NLA: 35147199 WorldCat 46 A SACRIFICE AT THE TEMPLE
Size: 2566px × 1948px
Photo credit: © The Picture Art Collection / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., /., 1800., alexander, alt, circa, william
