dz_v02

Title: “Processing the Deity into the Temple”
迎神入廟
Year: 1884 Volume: 2 Page Numbers: 4 & 5

Caption Translation: The new temple of the Queen of Heaven has been built on the site of the previous Hongkou Railway station. On the twenty-fourth day of the fifth month, the statue was carried in procession from the Imperial Quarters and the East gate to the new temple. As it passed through the International Settlement and the French concession, crowds lined the streets, standing still in rapt attention. The whole town turned out to witness the event. All the participants in the procession behaved with the utmost decorum. Chinese and Western policemen, under the direction of the Inspector of Police, took care of every detail and controlled every aspect. The procession was headed by the usual cymbals and gongs to clear the way, followed by the Carriage of the Queen of Heaven and the Master of Ceremonies on horseback. Then came the Presentation Umbrella [with the names of the donors] inscribed in silver characters—a blaze of gorgeous color. Music played continuously. The next group in the procession rode on horseback: people dressed up as characters in traditional operas; young girls approaching the age of fastening the hairpin [marriageable age] in bright feminine attire, their hands on the reins, gracious and well poised.

Then there were celestial boys and jade maidens on white horses, and children dressed up as the Eight Immortals, their horses prancing with quick, light steps—a vivid image indeed. Then came three horses neighing in the wind, with silk saddlecloths and jadelike reins—truly dazzling. Their riders were wearing brand new costumes and boots. Then we saw three portable stages, on which young children enacted scenes from traditional opera. It was remarkably true-to-life. Tis was follwed by a group of Cantonese dressed up in official garb—hat, robe, and trousers—with golden bracelets on their wrists, beating gongs and carrying flags. Others were wearing straw hats and dark glasses, their full-length robes of lotus-colored snow-blue satins and processed silk. Some were holding flags or banners—there must have been thousands of them. Then the sound of gongs and drums, reed wind-pipes continuously playing—this was the hired band. A portable pavilion was then carried by, the sound of drums and gongs could be heard within it. Those hired for the occasion beat gongs as they carried it. Twenty-some men then passed by, carrying ten or so incense burners on their shoulders.

The smoke from the incense wafts upwards, assailing the nostrils. Then several pairs of men on horseback passed, each holding high the personal banner of a high military official. The Cantonese and Fujianese guilds burned incense and made offering of whole pigs and goats, cakes and fruits. They also went by, column after column. Then villagers dressed up as guards rode in chariots, holding up high the imperial edict, and other people just walked past with sticks of plain incense in their hands. All were serious and solemn, with no idle chatter. The Carriage of the Queen of Heaven was ornamented with yellow satin and red pedestals. On its roof stood five cranes reaching toward Heaven. About forty people followed, carrying incense. People crowded into the streets and lanes along the route. It was really a most magnificent procession, a vast panorama of Great Peace.

Translator: Peter Perdue,
revised from Ye pp. 199-200

Caption Text: 本埠虹口鉄路新建天后宮落成，遂於五月二十四日由小東門行宮迎法像至彼所有英法兩租界中應過所在兩旁男女駐足縱觀，殊有萬人空巷之勢。凡執事之入會者無不恪恭，將事捕頭率領中西捕節節照料，處處彈壓，所有儀仗除尋常清道鳴鑼天后聖母之銜牌鑾駕馬執事外，有大萬民傘一頂，嵌以銀字，光采陸離，清音迭奏。頭馬分陳中有扮作戲齣乘馬者，並有年將及笄之女朗，紅籹騎馬，按轡徐行殊有婀娜之態。他若仙童玉女各乘白馬，並童子扮作八仙，亦皆跨馬翩翩而至，栩栩欲仙。看馬三匹錦韉玉勒，耀日嘶風，馬夫亦衣履簇新。臺閣三架亦以童男女扮為戲齣，惟妙惟肖，繼有粵人身穿官紗衫褲，手戲金鐲，敲鑼掮旗，及頭戴涼帽，身穿荷色雪青紡綢熟羅長衫，並戴墨晶眼鏡者，或掮旗或舁額，不知萬幾。俄而鉦鼓喧闐，笙樂迭奏，則為清客班也。其鑼鼓則在船式涼亭中，僱人舁之，隨行隨敲，各種香亭約十隻左右，托臂香者約二十人。香煙繚繞，僕人鼻觀。乘馬執令字旗者數對，閩廣幫進香佚桌如全豬全羊餻果等，按隊齊行，鄉民扮為侍衛，乘輿捧勅，即執清香，步行者肅肅穆穆，絕無喧嘩。神輿係黃緞紅腳，頂用五鶴朝天，隨後垂轎執香者約四十人。凡經過之處觀者填街塞巷，真一時之威會也。此亦可以見太平之景象矣。

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