The umbrella was the essential symbol of sovereignty in Asia like the
crown in Europe. "Among the ancient Egyptians the umbrella carried
with it a mark of distinction, and persons of quality alone could use
it. The Assyrians reserved it for royal personages only. The umbrella
or parasol, says Layard, that emblem of royalty so universally
adopted by Eastern nations, was generally carried over the king in
time of peace and sometimes even in war. In shape it resembled very
closely those now in common use; but it is always seen open in the
sculptures. It was edged with tassels and usually decorated at the top
by a flower or some other ornament. The Greeks used it as a mystic
symbol in some of their sacred festivals, and the Romans introduced
the custom of hanging an umbrella in the basilican churches as a part
of the insignia of office of the judge sitting in the basilica. It is
said that on the judgment hall being turned into a church the umbrella
remained, and in fact occupied the place of the canopy over thrones
and the like; and Beatian, an Italian herald, says that a vermilion
umbrella in a field argent symbolises dominion. It is also believed
that the cardinal's hat is a modification of the umbrella in the
basilican churches. The king of Burma is proud to call himself The Lord
of Twenty-four Umbrellas, and the Emperor of China carries that number
even to the hunting-field." [495] In Buddhist architecture the 'Wheel
of Light' symbolising Buddha is overshadowed by an umbrella, itself
adorned with garlands. At Sanchi we find sculptured representations
of two and even three umbrellas placed one above the other over the
temples, the double and triple canopies of which appear to be fixed
to the same handle or staff as in the modern state umbrellas of China
and Burma. Thus we have the primary idea of the accumulated honour of
stone or metal discs which subsequently became such a prominent feature
of Buddhist architecture, culminating in the many-storied pagodas of
China and Japan. [496] Similarly in Hindu temples the pinnacle often
stands on a circular stone base, probably representing an umbrella.
The umbrella of state was apparently not black like its successor of
commerce, but of white or another colour, though the colour is seldom
recorded. Sometimes it was of peacock's feathers, the symbol of the
Indian war-god, and as seen above, in Italy it was of red, the royal
colour. It has been suggested that the halo originally represented
an umbrella, and there is no reason to doubt that the umbrella was
the parent of the state canopy.