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Marco Polo, Rustichello of Pisa - The Travels of Marco Polo, 1
["It is interesting to note," writes Mr. Rockhill (Rubruck, p. 22), "that in A.D. 981 the Chinese
Envoy, Wang Yen-te, sent to the Uigur Prince of Kao-chang, refused to make genuflexions (pai)
to him, as being contrary to the established usages as regards envoys. The prince and his family,
however, on receiving the envoy, all faced eastward (towards Peking) and made an obeisance
(pai) on receiving the imperial presents (shou-tzu)." (Ma Twan-lin, Bk 336, 13.) -
H. C.]
(Gaubil, 142; Van Braam, I. 20-21; Baber, 106; N. et E. XIV. Pt. I. 405,
407, 418.)
The enumeration of four prostrations in the text is, I fancy, quite correct. There are several
indications that this number was used instead of the three times three of later days. Thus Carpini, when
introduced to the Great Kaan, "bent the left knee four times." And in the Chinese bridal ceremony of
"Worshipping the Tablets," the genuflexion is made four times. At the court of Shah Abbas an obeisance
evidently identical was repeated four times. (Carp. 759; Doolittle, p. 60; P. Della
Valle, I. 646.)
[1] Gaubil, cited in Pauthier's Hist. des Relations Politiques de la
Chine, etc., p. 226.
CHAPTER XVI. CONCERNING THE TWELVE THOUSAND BARONS WHO RECEIVE
ROBES OF CLOTH OF GOLD FROM THE EMPEROR ON THE GREAT FESTIVALS, THIRTEEN
CHANGES A-PIECE.
Now you must know that the Great Kaan hath set apart 12,000 of his men who are distinguished by the
name of Keshican, as I have told you before; and on each of these 12,000 Barons he bestows
thirteen changes of raiment, which are all different from one another: I mean that in one set the 12,000
are all of one colour; the next 12,000 of another colour, and so on; so that they are of thirteen different
colours. These robes are garnished with gems and pearls and other precious things in a very rich and
costly manner.[NOTE 1] And along with each of these changes of raiment, i.e. 13 times in the year, he
bestows on each of those 12,000 Barons a fine golden girdle of great richness and value, and likewise a
pair of boots of Camut, that is to say of Borgal, curiously wrought with silver thread;
insomuch that when they are clothed in these dresses every man of them looks like a king![NOTE 2] And
there is an established order as to which dress is to be worn at each of those thirteen feasts. The Emperor
himself also has his thirteen suits corresponding to those of his Barons; in colour, I mean (though
his are grander, richer, and costlier), so that he is always arrayed in the same colour as his Barons, who
are, as it were, his comrades. And you may see that all this costs an amount which it is scarcely possible
to calculate.
Now I have told you of the thirteen changes of raiment received from the Prince by those 12,000 Barons,
amounting in all to 156,000 suits of so great cost and value, to say nothing of the girdles and the boots
which are also worth a great sum of money. All this the Great Lord hath ordered, that he may attach the
more of grandeur and dignity to his festivals.
And now I must mention another thing that I had forgotten, but which you will be astonished to learn
from this Book. You must know that on the Feast Day a great Lion is led to the Emperor's presence, and
as soon as it sees him it lies down before him with every sign of the greatest veneration, as if it
acknowledged him for its lord; and it remains there lying before him, and entirely unchained. Truly this
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